CONVEYOR BELT FOR A TREADMILL

• US 20110152038A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hübner GmbH, TEO Industriedesign GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hübner GmbH, TEO Industriedesign GmbH
• Inventors: Freitag, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0228 with variable resilience
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia

Abstract

A conveyor belt for a treadmill has a contoured structure on its upper surface which causes a runner to experience bumps and depressions when running. The contoured features may be provided by plates attached to the conveyor belt, and/or by inserts placed onto the belt or within chambers defined in the belt. The contoured features may vary in hardness.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt for a treadmill wherein the conveyor belt has a contoured structure on its upper surface such that a runner who is using the treadmill experiences bumps and depressions.

2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt comprises two separate rotating belts having individual plates affixed to the belts, said plates having a contoured structure on their upper surfaces.

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the width of the plates is a function of the diameter of the rollers of the treadmill.

4. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt comprises at least two separate rotating belts that are connected to a rotating endless mat having a contoured structure on its upper surface.

5. The conveyor belt according to claim 4, wherein the mat is constructed from an elastic flexible material.

6. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein said belt includes at least one textile layer.

7. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt includes a supporting layer of textile, and wherein the supporting layer has a running surface comprising a contoured surface of an elastic material.

8. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the plates have an average height of between 20 and 50 mm.

9. The conveyor belt according to claim 4, wherein the mat has an average height of between 10 and 25 mm.

10. The conveyor belt according to claim 7, wherein the running surface of the conveyor belt has an average height of between 10 and 25 mm.

11. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the contoured structure of the upper surface of the conveyor belt has regions of varying hardness.

12. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the plates have chambers on their lower surfaces.

13. The conveyor belt according to claim 12, wherein the chambers are configured to receive inserts therein.

14. The conveyor belt according claim 2, wherein at least one of the plates includes at least one insert having a hardness which is different from the hardness of the material from which the rest of the plate is made.

15. The conveyor belt according to claim 14, wherein the insert is molded into the material of the plate.

16. The conveyor belt according to claim 4, wherein the mat has at least one chamber on its lower surface.

17. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein said at least one chamber of the mat is configured to receive an insert therein.

18. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt includes chambers which define at least a portion of the contoured surface structure.

19. The conveyor belt according to claim 18, wherein the chambers of the running surface of said belt are configured so that inserts may be inserted in said chambers so as to define said contoured surface structure.

20. The conveyor belt according claim 19, wherein said inserts are constructed of a soft plastic material.