Treadmill Lubrication System and Method

Abstract

A treadmill lubrication system and method is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the lubrication system comprises a spray bottle with a nozzle including an extended tube through which a silicone-based lubricant may be sprayed. The extended tube of the nozzle is designed to be inserted underneath the belt of a treadmill with the tube having a length sufficient to reach the treadmill components that require lubrication. The extended tube is preferably constructed from a material that provides enough rigidity to prevent significant bending and/or kinking of the tube, while still allowing for enough flexibility that the tube can be inserted underneath the belt of a treadmill without breaking or snapping in half.

Claims

1. A treadmill lubrication system comprising: a container having a spray nozzle adapted for receiving a tube, said spray nozzle further included a trigger mechanism, whereby said trigger mechanism may be activated to release a spray from said container; a tube removably attached to said spray nozzle of said container, said tube extending outwardly from said container, whereby the distal end of said tube may be inserted underneath the belt of a treadmill; and a treadmill lubrication medium placed inside said container, whereby said treadmill lubrication medium may be sprayed from said container and through said tube.

2. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, wherein said spray nozzle includes a threaded portion, and wherein said tube further includes a threaded cap; and whereby said threaded cap may be threaded onto said threaded portion of said spray nozzle, thereby attaching said tube thereon.

3. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 2, wherein the proximal end of said tube is flared and sits flush with the inside of said threaded cap.

4. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, herein said trigger mechanism is a pump and spray trigger.

5. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, wherein said trigger mechanism may be activated and release a spray while said container is the position selected from the group consisting of upside down, sideways, and upright.

6. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the length of said tube is in the range of 4 inches to 12 inches.

7. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, wherein said tube is constructed from the group consisting of acrylic glass and polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The treadmill lubrication system of claim 1, wherein said tube is constructed from a material having a frictional coefficient of less than or equal to 0.5.

9. A. treadmill lubrication system comprising: a treadmill; a container having a spray nozzle adapted for receiving a tube, said spray nozzle further included a trigger mechanism, whereby said trigger mechanism may be activated to release a spray from said container; a tube adapted for attachment to said spray nozzle of said container, said tube extending outwardly from said container, whereby the distal end of said tube may be inserted underneath the belt of said treadmill; and a treadmill lubrication medium placed inside said container, whereby said treadmill lubrication medium may be sprayed from said container and through said tube.

10. A method of lubricating the components of a treadmill comprising the steps of: providing a treadmill; providing a treadmill lubrication medium; providing a container for containing said treadmill lubrication medium, said container including a spray nozzle with a tube extending from said spray nozzle; inserting said tube underneath the belt of said treadmill; activating said spray nozzle to release said treadmill lubrication medium; and spraying the components of said treadmill with said lubrication medium.

11. The method set forth in claim 10, further including the steps of: removing said tube from underneath the belt of said treadmill; and disassembling said container, said spray nozzle, and said tube for storage.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0013] FIG. 1a is a side view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a threaded spray nozzle with extended tube;

[0014] FIG. 1b is an exploded view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a threaded spray nozzle with extended tube;

[0015] FIG. 2a is a side view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a high output spray nozzle with removable extended tube;

[0016] FIG. 2b is an exploded view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a high output spray nozzle with removable extended tube;

[0017] FIG. 3a is a side view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a threaded spray nozzle with removable extended tube having a flared end;

[0018] FIG. 3b is a perspective view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a removable extended tube having a flared end;

[0019] FIG. 3c is an exploded view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating a threaded spray nozzle with removable extended tube having a flared end;

[0020] FIG. 4 is an in-use view of a treadmill lubrication system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, illustrating the extended tube of the lubrication system being inserted underneath the belt of a treadmill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In one embodiment, the basic components of the present invention preferably comprise a container 11 or bottle for containing a treadmill lubrication medium 22, a spray nozzle with trigger mechanism 12 for releasing the lubricant spray, and a tube 13 with extended length, whereby the proximal end of the tube 13 is attached to the spray nozzle 12 and the distal end of the tube is inserted underneath the belt 21 of a treadmill 20 to reach the treadmill components that require lubrication.

[0022] FIGS. a and 1b illustrate one preferred embodiment of the treadmill lubrication system 10 of the present invention comprising a container 11, such as a spray bottle, with attachable extended trigger-type spray nozzle 12 with extended tube 13. In this embodiment, the spray bottle 11 includes a threaded nozzle portion 14 for receiving a corresponding threaded cap 15 of the extended spray tube 13. The extended tube 13 is affixed to the inner surface of the threaded cap 15 such that the threaded cap 15 and extended tube 13 may form a single piece at may be removably attached or threaded onto the corresponding threaded nozzle 14 of the spray bottle 11.

[0023] Alternatively, shown in FIGS. 3a-3c, the threaded cap 15 may be open on both ends, with one end being threaded for attaching to the threaded trigger-type nozzle 12 of the spray bottle 11, and the opposing end defining a hole 16 for receiving the extended tube 13. In this way the extended tube 13 may not be affixed to the inner surface of the threaded cap 15; rather, the extended tube 13 may be inserted through the hole 16 on the opposing end of the threaded cap 15, and the cap 15 with inserted tube 13 may be threaded onto the threaded nozzle portion 14 of the spray bottle 11. Additionally, in this embodiment, the extended tube 13 is preferably flared on one end 17, such that as the tube 13 is inserted through the hole 16 of the threaded cap 15, the flared end 17 sits flush with the inside surface of the cap 15 and is proximal to the spray bottle 11 when attached. It is contemplated that this flared end 17 will help create a tight seal at the tip of the spray nozzle 12.

[0024] In a third embodiment, illustrated by FIGS. 2a-2b, a spray bottle may 11 include a pump and spray type of spray nozzle 18. Preferably, the nozzle tip 19 of the pump and spray nozzle 18 extends slightly and is smooth so that the extended tube 13 may slide on and off the nozzle 18 for easy storage. However, it is understood that the nozzle tip 19 may also be threaded to receive an extended tube 13 with threaded cap. An advantage to this type of nozzle is that the pump and spray type of nozzle is typically high-output and may be used to spray lubricant with the spray bottle in any orientation, such as upside down, sideways, upright, or any other position necessary to reach the components of the treadmill 20.

[0025] The extended tube attachment 13 that forms the extended spray nozzle of the treadmill lubrication system 10 is preferably constructed from a material that provides enough rigidity to prevent significant bending and/or kinking of the tube 13, while still allowing for enough flexibility that the tube 13 can be inserted underneath the belt 21 of a treadmill 20 without breaking or snapping in half. Some examples of preferred materials include acrylic glass (such as plexiglass) and polytetrafluoroethylene (such as Teflon), although similar suitable materials may be used. These types of materials have an inherent surface slipperiness that allows the tube 13 to slide easily between the rotating belt 21 and the support platform; while at the same time, these materials have a strength sufficient to resist kinking and breakage. A preferred material may have a frictional coefficient less than or equal to 1, more preferably less than or equal to 0.8.

[0026] The extended tube 13 may be any desired length for reaching the treadmill components requiring lubrication, although a preferred range of length may be approximately 4 to 12 inches. Additionally, the extended tube 13 has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the dimensions of which may vary as desired. For example, a preferred range in outer diameter may be to inch; a preferred inner diameter may be any diameter sufficient to allow the lubricant to be sprayed though the tube with sufficient pressure and in sufficient volume without excessive resistance. A greater difference in outer diameter versus inner diameter will result in more rigidity of the tube.

[0027] It is contemplated that the treadmill lubrication system 10 may be constructed, for example, according to one of the embodiments described herein, and the spray bottle 11 of the present invention may be filled with a food-grade silicone spray. As shown in FIG. 4, the extended tube 13 of the spray nozzle 12, 18 may be inserted or slid between the belt 21 and support platform of the treadmill 20, or wherever lubrication may be needed. The trigger 12 of the spray bottle 11 may be depressed, releasing the lubricant 22 onto the treadmill components. Once sufficient lubrication has been achieved, the extended tube 13 may be pulled out or removed from the treadmill 20. One advantage to a silicone-based lubricant used in conjunction with this system is that the lubricant may not clog or gunk up the extended tube or spray nozzle of this system. If cleaning of the apparatus 10 is needed, the extended tube 12, cap 15, spray nozzle 12, 18 and bottle 11 may be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled for subsequent uses. Additionally, the system 10 may be partially or fully disassembled for storage and portability.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be, replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.