A treadmill has a base with a vertically displaceable platform. A mechanism is provided that resists the downward movement of the platform in response to a load applied to the platform. The mechanism also rebounds the platform upwardly with a force applied to the platform in response to a decrease of a load on the platform. A support structure enables stable vertical positioning of the platform with respect to the base.

A treadmill which utilizes provides for a connection between the floor stand and the treadbase which is toward the front end of the treadbase and provides for generally improved support of the front end of the treadbase at higher angles by providing that the lift mechanism is attached to the treadbase at two fixed points a fixed distance from each other. The lift mechanism then utilizes two different motions, the extension of an extension arm and the rotation of a rigid arm, to produce lift. The rotation of the rigid arm generally utilizes a wheel in an enclosed raceway attached to the floor stand.

A haptic simulation exercise device includes a frame, a contact point supported by the frame, and an actuator. The contact point is configured to allow user contact with the exercise device during use of the exercise device. The actuator is configured to displace the contact point relative to the frame.

A method determines running phases of a user on a treadmill having first and second rotating elements rotating about respective rotational axes transverse to a longitudinal axis of the treadmill. A physical exercise surface connects to the rotating elements. An electric motor operatively associated with one rotating element rotates the rotating elements and the physical exercise surface. A processor connects to the electric motor and controls the electric motor. The processor determines a magnitude variable over time, which is correlated to user interaction with the exercise surface while exercising and has a periodic trend. The processor determines time instants of at least two points of the periodic trend. The time instants of each point representing instants of user interaction with the exercise surface. The processor determines a running phase of the user on the exercise surface as a function of the respective time instants of the periodic trend.

Haptic simulation device that allows a user, by means of natural body movements, to move through a virtual environment displayed by a VR control system (1) and display means (2), using a treadmill with a unidirectional (5) movable miming deck (6). The detection means comprise a control member (7) with a shape such, that the control member extends in front of and/or at least partly to the side of the user, during use of the device when the user is on the treadmill. The control member is coupled to a rotational pressure sensor (8) and one or more transverse pressure sensors (10). The rotational and transverse pressure sensors are coupled to the VR control system and the treadmill control system such that (a) if the user exerts forward or rearward pressure to the control member, the running deck moves rearward and forward, respectively, and (b) if the user additionally exerts a rotational pressure and/or a transverse pressure on the control member, the VR control system moves the virtual environment displayed in the VR display

A gait trainer adapted for use with a treadmill and, optionally, a spinning cycle, provides greater accessibility for therapeutic and rehabilitative gait pattern training to individuals confronting injury, illness, or disability. The gait trainer is adjustable, to accommodate a wide variety of users with different stride lengths and needs.

An exercise machine with a movable belt includes a guard assembly with a flexible guard that extends towards the rear axis and is spaced apart from the movable belt by a first gap and is exposed by the housing body, a rigid guard positioned downstream of the flexible guard with respect to a moving direction of the belt and spaced apart from the movable belt by a second gap, and a channel disposed between the flexible guard and the rigid guard. The guard assembly protects the user from injury and prevents damage to the exercise machine.

An improved exercise equipment including a stationary exercise apparatus, a lever arm pivotably biased about a pivot axis, and a support for supporting the lever arm above the stationary exercise apparatus. The pivot axis extends substantially in a vertical direction. The stationary exercise apparatus is of a type to cause the legs of a user to scissor as the user operates the stationary exercise apparatus. In an exemplary embodiment, the stationary exercise apparatus is a treadmill.

An exercise apparatus includes a motor, an operating member driven by the motor, a sensor operable to detect engagement of a user with the operating member, and a controller in communication with the operating member and the sensor. The controller is configured to generate exercise use data when the operating member is driven by the motor. A communication interface is in communication with the controller. In response to the controller determining that the user is engaged with the operating member, the controller is configured to report the exercise use data to the communication interface. In response to the controller determining that the user is not engaged with the operating member, the controller is configured to stop reporting the exercise use data to the communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate the reported exercise use data to a third party.

A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.