Manual treadmill and methods of operating the same
DCFirst Claim
1. A manually powered treadmill comprising:
- a frame having a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end;
a front shaft rotatably coupled to the frame at the front end;
a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the frame at the rear end;
a first bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the first bearing rail attached to a left side of the frame;
a second bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the second bearing rail attached to a right side of the frame;
a running belt supported by the first bearing rail and the second bearing rail and disposed about the front shaft and the rear shaft, wherein the running belt follows a curved running surface; and
a safety device coupled to at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft, wherein the safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation of the at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A manually operated treadmill is provided. The treadmill includes a treadmill frame, a front shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a running belt including a contoured running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run, wherein the running belt is disposed about the front and rear shafts such that force generated by the user causes rotation of the front shaft and the rear shaft and also causes the running belt to rotate about the front shaft and the rear shaft without the rotation of the running belt being generated by a motor, and a one-way bearing assembly configured to prevent rotation of the running surface of the running belt in one direction.
69 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A manually powered treadmill comprising:
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a frame having a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end; a front shaft rotatably coupled to the frame at the front end; a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the frame at the rear end; a first bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the first bearing rail attached to a left side of the frame; a second bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the second bearing rail attached to a right side of the frame; a running belt supported by the first bearing rail and the second bearing rail and disposed about the front shaft and the rear shaft, wherein the running belt follows a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft, wherein the safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation of the at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A manually powered treadmill, comprising:
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a frame having a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end; a front shaft attached to the frame adjacent the front end; a rear shaft attached to the frame adjacent the rear end; a first bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the first bearing rail attached to a left side of the frame; a second bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the second bearing rail attached to a right side of the frame; a running belt at least partially disposed about the front shaft and the rear shaft and at least partially supported by the first bearing rail and the second bearing rail, wherein the running belt includes a front belt portion proximate the front end, a rear belt portion proximate the rear end, and a central belt portion intermediate the front and rear belt portions, wherein the central belt portion is positioned vertically closer to a ground surface supporting the frame than the front and rear belt portions such that the running belt follows a curved running surface; and a safety device for substantially preventing rotation of at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation of the at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A manually powered treadmill, comprising:
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a frame having a front end and a rear end; a first bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the first bearing rail attached to a left side of the frame; a second bearing rail having a plurality of bearings, the second bearing rail attached to a right side of the frame; a handrail attached to the frame and structured to provide a support structure for a user of the manually powered treadmill; a pair of wheels mounted to the frame, wherein the pair of wheels are mounted so that the pair of wheels are not in contact with a ground surface when the manually powered treadmill is in an operating position; at least two support feet coupled to the frame, wherein the support feet are vertically adjustable to adjust an incline of the manually powered treadmill relative to the ground surface; a running belt supported by the first and second bearing rails, wherein the running belt follows a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the running belt, wherein the safety device is structured to substantially prevent movement of the running belt in a first direction and permit movement of the running belt in a second direction opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method, comprising:
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providing a manually powered treadmill, the manually powered treadmill having a frame with a front end and rear end; providing a first bearing rail and a second bearing rail, the first and second bearing rails each comprising a plurality of bearings and extending longitudinally on the frame, wherein the first and second bearing rails define a curved top profile; disposing a running belt on the plurality of bearings of the first bearing rail and the second bearing rail such that the running belt follows a top curved running surface corresponding to the curved top profile of the first and second bearing rails; permitting movement of the running belt in a first direction; and substantially preventing movement of the running belt in a second direction opposite the first direction.
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Specification