Treadmill Multipurpose Safety System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety system for treadmills. The safety system includes at least one load/weight sensor and a small switch disposed within the base of the treadmill. The system also includes a comparator for comparing the weight of a user standing on the treadmill, and an input weight of the user displayed on a dashboard of the treadmill. The safety system allows the treadmill to activate only when the weight of the user is equal or more than the selected weight on the dashboard. The system can be integrated into a treadmill during manufacturing or can be retrofitted to existing treadmills. The system also controls various variables such as speed, duration and inclination of the treadmill.

Claims

1. A safety system for a treadmill, the safety system comprising: a load sensor disposed on a base of the treadmill, wherein said load sensor measures a weight on said base of said treadmill; a predeterminable input weight control value inputted into a controller of said treadmill; a comparator for comparing said weight on said base of said treadmill to said input weight control value, wherein said comparator determining if said weight on said base is greater than said input weight control value; and a switch for activating a running surface of said treadmill if said weight on said base is greater than said input weight control value.

2. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 1, wherein said running surface is a treadmill belt.

3. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 2, wherein said switch deactivates said running surface of said treadmill if said weight on said base is less than said input weight control value.

4. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 2, wherein said switch prohibits said running surface of said treadmill if said weight on said base is less than said input weight control value.

5. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 4, wherein said input weight control value is a minimum value and said minimum value is 60 lbs.

6. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 2, wherein said activating said running surface includes a running time, a speed, and an inclination.

7. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 2, wherein said load sensor is a strain gauge.

8. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 2, wherein said load sensor is load transducer.

9. A method for activating a treadmill with a safety system, the method comprising the steps of: inputting an input weight control value in a dashboard controller of said treadmill; measuring a weight of a user on said treadmill by a load sensor; comparing said input weight control value to said weight of said user; determining if said input weight control value is more or less than said weight of said user; activating a running surface of said treadmill if said weight of said user is more than said input weight control value; and prohibiting said running surface of said treadmill if said weight of said user is less than said input weight control value.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of deactivating said running surface of said treadmill when said weight of said user on said running surface becomes less than said input weight control value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said load sensor is a strain gauge.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said load sensor is load transducer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said activating said running surface includes rotating said running surface.

14. A safety system for a treadmill, the safety system comprising: a load sensor disposed on a base of the treadmill, wherein said load sensor measures a weight on said base of said treadmill; a predeterminable input weight control value inputted into a controller of said treadmill; a comparator for comparing said weight on said base of said treadmill to said input weight control value, wherein said comparator determining if said weight on said base is greater than said input weight control value; and a switch for activating a running surface of said treadmill if said weight on said base is greater than said input weight control value, wherein said switch deactivates said running surface of said treadmill when said weight on said base becomes less than said input weight control value.

15. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 14, wherein said running surface is a treadmill belt.

16. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 15, wherein said switch prohibits said running surface of said treadmill if said weight on said base is less than said input weight control value.

17. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 16, wherein said input weight control value is at least 40 lbs.

18. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 17, wherein said activating said running surface includes a running time, a speed, and an inclination.

19. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 14, wherein said load sensor is a strain gauge.

20. The safety system for a treadmill of claim 14, wherein said treadmill is a stair climber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one potential embodiment of a treadmill multipurpose safety system of the present invention to be installed in treadmills in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the treadmill apparatus in which the one potential embodiment of the multipurpose safety system of the present invention is installed in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view showing how the treadmill multipurpose safety system of the present invention automatically and safely activates, and/or conditionally activates, a treadmill in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view showing control of various parameters of the treadmill by switch of the multipurpose safety system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing a selected weight on the dashboard of the treadmill, and inactivates the running surface when a required weight or input weight control is not applied or measured on the running surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram showing steps performed in using the treadmill multipurpose safety system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a user running on the treadmill when the safety system of the present invention is installed in the treadmill in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0026] As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that prevents children from accidentally getting on top of a moving treadmill. There is also a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that provides automatic activation and deactivation features to the treadmill. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that eliminates activation of the treadmill by a child climbing on the treadmill. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that improves and maintains the overall safety of the treadmill exercise equipment. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that can be installed in newly manufactured treadmills and also retrofitted to existing treadmills. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety system for a treadmill that prevents activation of the treadmill when a minimum weight has not been detected or when a child/infant has climbed onto the running surface of the treadmill.

[0027] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a novel treadmill with an integrated or retrofitted safety system. The treadmill features a running surface or belt for a user to walk or run on using a rotor, a dashboard having a display that displays a plurality of weight options for selection by a user, a safety system that includes at least one load sensor positioned under the running surface or belt, the load sensor measures a weight of a user, individual, or pet standing on the running surface, a switch disposed near an inclination actuator that can be connected to the load sensor and the dashboard, a comparator for comparing the selected weight option and an actual weight measured by one or more load sensors and a processor for activating or deactivating the running surface based on the comparison.

[0028] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one potential embodiment of a treadmill multi-purpose safety system of the present invention to be installed in treadmills in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The multi-purpose safety system 100 of the present invention is designed to be installed in a conventional treadmill and deactivate the treadmill, or prohibit activation of the treadmill, if a specific amount of weight is not applied to the running surface (belt) of the treadmill. More specifically, the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 includes one or more load sensors 102 that are positioned below the running surface of the treadmill. The load sensor 102 is designed to measure the vertical load applied by a human or pet when standing on the static running surface. The vertical load is primarily the weight of a person standing on the running surface. The load sensor 102 can be in the form of a load transducer or load cell, that measures the load applied on the static running surface and converts same into an electrical signal. Alternatively, the load sensor 102 can be in the form of strain gauge disposed under the running surface. The load sensor 102 used in the safety system 100 measures the weight applied to the treadmill and can be calibrated up to a correction of ±2%.

[0029] The safety system 100 includes a comparator 104 in the form of a chip and can be connected to the load sensor 102. The comparator 104 compares the load or weight value received from the load sensor 102 to the weight value, input weight control or input weight parameter incorporated in weight parameter 108 of the dashboard of a treadmill 200. The system 100 can receive the input weight parameter 108 on a user interface or dashboard prior to using the treadmill 200. The input weight control by the user is compared with the weight measured by the load sensor 102 for automatically activating or prohibiting activation of the treadmill. This comparison is advantageous, as the comparison and matching (at least equal) of the weight sensed by the load sensor 102 and the input weight parameter 108 can be established as a necessary condition for the running surface of the treadmill to activate. In this way, children, infants, and/or pets cannot activate the treadmill, and as soon as a person steps off from the running treadmill, the treadmill automatically shuts off. As stated, the weight sensed by the load sensor 102 needs to be more than the weight parameter 108 input by the user on the dashboard for the running surface 202 of the treadmill 200 to activate and/or to continue activating.

[0030] The safety system 100 includes a switch 106 that closes or opens the circuit of the rotor of the treadmill 200. The switch can either open the wired circuit to the rotor directly without requiring the processor of the treadmill, or alternatively can transmit an instruction signal to the processor of the treadmill for activating or deactivating the treadmill, based on the comparison of the weight sensed by the weight sensor 102, and the weight parameter 108. An additional speaker 110 can be included in the safety system 100 for audible alerts of the difference in weight between that sensed by the weight sensor 102 and that which has been established as the weight parameter 108 input by the user into the dashboard control.

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a treadmill apparatus in which the one potential embodiment of the multipurpose safety system of the present invention is installed in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The exercise machine described herein is depicted as an exemplary treadmill 200. Although the exemplary exercise machine depicted herein is a treadmill, in other examples different exercise machines can include devices designed for rowing, elliptical movements, stair climbing, et. al. The treadmill 200 includes a base 210 that houses a running surface or static belt 202. The running surface or belt 202, on which a user may walk, jog and/or run, moves over the base 210. At least one load sensor 102, such as a piezoelectric load sensor that detects a vertical load placed thereon by a user standing on static belt 202 and provides output signals in response thereto, can be housed at a convenient location in the base 210. The range of detection of the weight by the load sensor 102 spans across the length of the running surface 202. The load sensor 102 can be operatively coupled and fastened to the base/deck 210, and produce electrical signals such as voltage signals that are proportional to the weight detected by the load or weight sensor 102.

[0032] The treadmill 200 includes a switch 106 on the safety system installed near the inclination actuator 212 of the treadmill 200. The switch 106 can be connected through a first wired circuit 204 disposed under the belt 202 within the base 210. The electrical signal from the sensor 102 can be received by the switch 106. A comparator (shown as 104 in FIG. 1) can be formed on a chip in the switch 106, or alternatively as a separate module to receive the signal from the sensor 102, and can be passed to the switch 106. The switch 106 can also be connected to the weight parameter control 108 disposed on the dashboard 214 and can be used for inputting a desired and specific input weight control such as 40 lbs., 50 lbs., 60 lbs. and the like. The switch 106 includes the connection with the weight parameter control 108 through a second wired circuit 206. It should be noted that both the first wired circuit 204 and the second wired circuit 206 are disposed within the body of the treadmill 200, in both the variant where the safety system is integrated in the treadmill 200 during manufacturing, and also when retrofitted in pre-existing treadmills 200.

[0033] The exemplary treadmill 200 includes a display 208 on which a user can view the weight to be inputted 108 for comparison with the weight detected by the load sensor 102. A speaker 110 can also be retrofitted in the dashboard 214 for audible signals, indicating the difference between the weight sensed by the weight sensor 102 and the weight input by the user on the dashboard 214 using the weight parameter control 108.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view showing how the treadmill multipurpose safety system of the present invention automatically and safely activates a treadmill in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The comparator 104 of the multipurpose safety system receives a weight value detected by the load or weight sensor 102 and a weight value input by a user on the dashboard of the treadmill using weight parameter control 108. The values are received by the comparator 104 in the form of electrical signals, such as voltage signals, and the received values are compared by the comparator 104. Once the comparison is made and the values are found to be matching or the weight value received from the load sensor 102 is found to be greater than the input weight control 108 value received from the dashboard, then an instruction signal can be transmitted to the switch 106. The switch 106 can be coupled to the processor 302 of the treadmill and can transmit an instruction signal for activating the rotor 304 of the treadmill to start horizontal movement of the running surface or belt of the treadmill. Accordingly, the processor 302 instructs the rotor 304 of the treadmill to automatically activate the treadmill.

[0035] It should be appreciated that the processor 302 instructs the rotor 304 to activate only after receiving an instruction signal from the switch 106, based on the comparison result of the comparator 104. Thus, if a child accidently or inadvertently tries to start the treadmill, the rotor 304 will not be activated, as the processor 302 does not receive an instruction signal from the switch 106. Alternatively, in one potential implementation, the switch 106 can directly instruct the rotor to activate or deactivate based on comparison of weight values by the comparator 104.

[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view showing control of various parameters of the treadmill by the switch of the multi-purpose safety system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The switch 106 of the safety system based on the weight value detected by the load sensor can control and actuate various control measures of the treadmill in order to make the running experience safer and more personalized for the user. The switch 106 can actuate and control the maximum time 402 for which the rotor 304 can rotate, thereby allowing a predetermined time for the running surface to move. Similarly, the switch 106 can activate and control the inclination control 404 of the treadmill, prohibiting a user to incline the treadmill beyond a safe inclination angle. As known in the state of the art, a prescribed limit can be prescribed or predetermined for a person while running on the treadmill and thus, the switch 106 automatically controls and sets a limit on the maximum speed 406 of the treadmill. These controls set by the switch 106 are followed by the rotor 304 and other components of the treadmill, thereby making the running and use of the treadmill safe.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing a selected weight on the dashboard of the treadmill and inactive running surface when the required weight is not applied on the running surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As shown, a particular weight, such as 60 Lbs., is selected from a list of weights on the display 502 of the dashboard 214. The list of weights can be predefined and displayed on the display 502, and can also be input by the user wherein the user defines a specific input weight control. It should be appreciated that a weight value lower than a threshold value cannot be set to activate the running surface 202. This is useful for preventing situations wherein a child 504 climbs onto the treadmill 200. When the child 504 accidently climbs on the treadmill 200, as the weight of the child 504 is below the input weight control value selected on the display 502, the running surface or belt 202 is prohibited from moving and the child remains safe. Similarly, when a user running on the treadmill hops off, the belt 202 stops moving even if the child 504 climbs onto the treadmill, the child 504 remains safe and secure.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram showing the steps performed in using a treadmill multi-purpose safety system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Initially, a user can input a desired weight into the dashboard of the treadmill or alternatively, a weight value can be preconfigured in the safety system (Block 602). When a user stands on the treadmill, the load sensor measures the load/weight experienced on the running surface/belt of the treadmill (Block 604). The system compares the input weight and the weight experienced by the load sensor (Block 606). If the input weight is more than the weight measured by the load sensor, the running surface of the treadmill is not activated for safety purposes (Block 608). If the input weight is less than the weight measured by the load sensor, the system can activate with a predetermined treadmill time, speed and inclination (Block 610), and actuate the running surface accordingly (Block 612).

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a user running on the treadmill when the safety system of the present invention is installed in the treadmill in accordance with the disclosed architecture. When the input weight by a user 700 is compared with the weight of the user 700 sensed by the load sensor 102 located at the pivot end 702 of the treadmill 200, and is found to be less than the weight of the user, and if the weight of the user is above a pre-set threshold, then the treadmill starts like a conventional treadmill and the user 700 uses the treadmill 200 for running as per the desires and preferences of the user.

[0040] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “treadmill multi-purpose safety system”, “multi-purpose safety system”, “safety system”, and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 of the present invention.

[0041] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the treadmill multi-purpose safety system 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0042] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0043] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.