Leg-powered treadmill

Abstract

A motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill produced that allows people to walk, jog, run, and sprint without making any adjustments to the treadmill other than shifting the user's center of gravity forward and backwards. A closed loop treadmill belt running between front and rear pulley rollers is formed with a low friction running surface of transverse wooden, plastic or rubber slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion, wherein each transverse slat has at least one continuous fin descending downward therefrom.

Claims

1. A motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill comprising: a treadmill frame; a set of respective front and rear pulley rollers for rotation, said front and rear pulley rollers supporting a closed loop treadmill belt; said closed loop treadmill belt comprising a plurality of parallel transverse slats form said belt which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said belt, said parallel transverse slats attached to each other to form a resilient running surface; each said parallel transverse slat having at least one continuous fin extending side to side across each said parallel transverse slat, said at least one continuous fin extending downward from each said transverse parallel slat; said closed loop treadmill running surface having an upper concave running surface, said treadmill running surface being of such a length as compared to the length of said treadmill frame to permit said running surface to assume a required concave upper contour; a means for slackening the upper portion of said running surface while simultaneously keeping the lower running surface portion taut, preventing said lower portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt; wherein said means for slackening the upper running surface portion while simultaneously keeping the lower portion taut, preventing said lower running surface portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave running portion of said closed loop treadmill belt comprises at least a pair of linear arrays of bearings extending along and located at opposite peripheral edges of said treadmill frame, each said array of peripheral edge bearings physically supporting said lower section of said closed loop treadmill belt in a taut non-drooping configuration.

2. A motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein each said transverse parallel slat engages said front and rear pulleys as said closed loop treadmill belt rotates around said front and rear pulleys.

3. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill does not have a handle bar assembly.

4. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill is provided with a removable handle bar assembly, which when installed on said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill, said handle bar assembly helps users who are balance-challenged to use said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

5. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said closed loop treadmill belt is an a closed loop array of said plurality of transverse parallel slats; wherein each said transverse slat is made of a material with sufficient resiliency and strength and weight to lie on and conform to a concave row of upper support peripheral bearings located at each peripheral side of an upper concave portion of said treadmill frame of said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

6. The motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said continuous closed loop treadmill belt is covered by a flexible exterior running surface loop.

7. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said at least one continuous fin extending side to side across said slat is one single fin descending downward from each said transverse parallel slat.

8. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said at least one continuous fin includes a plurality of continuous side to side extending fins descending downward from each said transverse slat; each said continuous side to side extending fin being parallel to each adjacent fin.

9. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said transverse parallel slats are made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic and wood.

10. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising said treadmill frame having respective top and bottom walls which are further connected by an internal brace.

11. A motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill comprising: a treadmill frame; a set of respective front and rear pulley rollers for rotation, said front and rear pulley rollers supporting a closed loop treadmill belt; said closed loop treadmill belt comprising a plurality of parallel transverse slats form said belt which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said belt, said parallel transverse slats attached to each other to form a resilient running surface; each said parallel transverse slat having at least one continuous fin extending side to side across each said parallel transverse slat, said at least one continuous fin extending downward from each said transverse parallel slat; said closed loop treadmill running surface having a top concave surface, said treadmill running surface being of such a length as compared to the length of said treadmill frame to permit said running surface to assume a required concave upper contour; a means for slackening the upper running surface portion while simultaneously keeping the lower running surface portion taut, preventing said lower portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt; wherein said means for slackening, the upper running surface portion while simultaneously keeping the lower running surface portion taut, preventing said lower portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave running surface portion of said closed loop treadmill belt comprises a timing belt.

12. A motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein each said transverse parallel slat engages said front and rear pulleys as said closed loop treadmill belt rotates around said front and rear pulleys.

13. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill is provided without a handle bar assembly.

14. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill is provided with a removable handle bar assembly, which when installed on said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill, said handle bar assembly helps users who are balance-challenged to use said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

15. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said closed loop treadmill belt is an a closed loop array of said plurality of transverse parallel slats; wherein each said transverse slat is made of a material with sufficient resiliency and strength and weight to lie on and conform to a concave row of upper support peripheral bearings located at each peripheral side of an upper concave portion of said treadmill frame of said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

16. The motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said continuous closed loop treadmill belt is covered by a flexible exterior running surface loop.

17. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said at least one continuous fin extending side to side across said slat is one single continuous side to side extending fin descending downward from each said transverse parallel slat.

18. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said at least one continuous side to side extending fin includes a plurality of continuous side to side extending fins descending downward from each said transverse slat; each said continuous side to side extending fin being parallel to each adjacent fin.

19. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 wherein said transverse parallel slats are made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic and wood.

20. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 11 further comprising said treadmill frame having respective top and bottom walls which are further connected by an internal brace.

21. An exercise treadmill comprising: a treadmill frame; said treadmill frame supporting a continuous treadmill running surface belt moving over a set of pulleys communicating with said treadmill running surface belt; said continuous treadmill running surface belt being a closed loop array of a plurality of transverse parallel slats extending between opposing peripheral sides of the treadmill frame; wherein each said transverse parallel slat includes at least one continuous fin extending side to side across said slat, said at least one continuous fin descending downward from each said transverse slat, each said fin of each said slat extending perpendicular down from each said slat; wherein the at least one fin extends continuously uninterrupted over substantially an entire length of each of the transverse slats between the opposing peripheral sides of the treadmill frame.

22. The exercise treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said transverse parallel slats are made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic and wood.

23. The exercise treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said continuous closed loop treadmill belt is covered by a flexible exterior running surface loop.

24. The exercise treadmill as in claim 21 further comprising said treadmill frame having respective top and bottom walls which are further connected by an internal brace.

25. The exercise treadmill as in claim 21 wherein at least one continuous uninterrupted side to side extending fin of said transverse slat comprises one single descending fin descending downward therefrom.

26. The exercise treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said at least one continuous fin includes a plurality of continuous uninterrupted side to side extending fins descending downward from each said respective transverse slat; each said continuous side to side extending fin being parallel to each adjacent fin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of one embodiment of the present invention; showing the runner in a slow walk in the droop of the concave upper portion of the treadmill ball.

(3) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the exterior of the embodiment in FIG. 1, showing the miner running at a fast pace uphill.

(4) FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the exterior of the embodiment in FIG. 1, showing the runner running slowly in the droop of the concave portion.

(5) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the system components for the embodiment of FIG. 1 for implementing the present invention.

(6) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the system components for a second embodiment for implementing the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the system components for a third embodiment for implementing the present invention.

(8) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, having a v-belt and a lower linear array of ball bearings in the curved treadmill, and showing an optional removable handlebar assembly.

(9) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the curved treadmill embodiment of FIG. 5 having a v-belt and a lower linear array of ball bearings, with the side covers and treadmill belt removed to reveal the various operating parts.

(10) FIG. 7 is an end view of the curved treadmill embodiment of FIG. 5 having a v-belt and a lower linear array of ball bearings, illustrating the support of a top slat and a bottom slat using the side extension features of the custom v-belt.

(11) FIG. 7A is a perspective view viewed from below of a treadmill slat with multiple fins as shown in FIG. 6.

(12) FIG. 7B is an end crossectional view of the multi-finned treadmill slat as in FIG. 7A.

(13) FIG. 7C is a front view of the treadmill slat as in FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B, shown with attached v-belts.

(14) FIG. 7D is a bottom view of the treadmill slat as in FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B, shown with attached v-belts.

(15) FIG. 7E is a diagrammatic side view showing treadmill slats with fins engaging around pulley.

(16) FIG. 7F is an end crossectional view of a multi-finned treadmill slat with a pair of descending fins.

(17) FIG. 7G is an end crossectional view of a finned treadmill slat with one single descending fin.

(18) FIG. 7H is an end crossectional view of a multi-finned treadmill slat with a three descending fins.

(19) FIG. 7I is a perspective view viewed from below a treadmill slat with a pair of fins.

(20) FIG. 7J is an end crossectional view of the slat with a pair of fins as in FIG. 7I.

(21) FIG. 7K is a perspective view viewed from below of a treadmill slat with one fin.

(22) FIG. 7L is an end crossectional view of the slat with one fin as in FIG. 7K.

(23) FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the v-belt treadmill chassis of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with a v-belt and a lower linear array of ball bearings, showing the supported path of the v-belt; wherein the vertical side of the outer frame member is rendered invisible for clarity of detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(24) The description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawing should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able to devise other forms thereof.

(25) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leg-powered treadmill 10 constructed and having an operating mode according to the present invention.

(26) As noted in FIG. 1, no hand rails are shown. The curved treadmill 10 can be used without hand rails. Hand rails can be optionally provided for non-athletes with balance or running stabilities limitations.

(27) Illustrated are two leg supports 10 and 12 which lift the treadmill 14 in a clearance position above a support surface 16, said treadmill 10 having space apart sides 18 and 20 which have journalled for rotation end rollers 22 and 24 which support a closed loop treadmill belt 26. Low friction methods to be described are used to hold taut the length of the lower belt portion 26A in a dimension of approximately forty-three inches denoted by dimension line 30. The upper belt portion 26B weighs approximately forty pounds is also denoted by the dimension line 30.

(28) It is to be noted that an essential feature of treadmill 10 is a concave shape subtending an acute angle 34 in the treadmill 10 front end 14A which in practice results in the exerciser 36 running uphill and concomitantly exerting body weight 38 that contributes to driving lengthwise 40 in the direction 42 in which the exerciser runs and achieves the benefits of the exercise. As the runner 36 encounters the different positions on the treadmill belt 26 of the treadmill 14, the angle of the surface of running changes For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the center of gravity of body weight, indicated by downward directional arrow 38, below the hips of the user 36, is in the lower dropping portion of the concave upper portion 26B of the treadmill belt 26, the runner 36 walks or slowly jogs in a generally horizontal orientation, as indicated by directional arrow 42 in a first slow jogging speed. But, as shown in FIG. 1A, as the runner 36 speeds up and advances the runner's hips and center of gravity of body weight further forward up the angled slope at the front end 14A of the treadmill belt 26, the angle of movement 42 changes from a generally horizontal angle 42 in FIG. 1 to an acute angle 42 up off the horizontal as in FIG. 1A, which concurrently causes the runner 36 to run vigorously faster, at the acute angle 42 up the slope of the front 14A of the concave curve of upper belt portion 26B of treadmill belt 26, the runner 36 runs faster uphill. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1B, it does not matter where the runner 36 puts the forward foot to change the speed. In FIG. 1B the center of gravity in the hip region of the runner 36's body weight, indicated by downward directional arrow 38, is still in the lower part of the concave droop of the upper portion 26A of treadmill belt 26. So even though the runner 36 in FIG. 1B is jogging faster than walking or slowly jogging as in FIG. 1, so long as the runner 36 has the forward foot partially up the angled slope of the forward portion 14A of the upper belt portion 26B, the runner will still run slower in FIG. 1B, not because the forward foot is up the slope of upper belt portion 26B of the treadmill belt 26, but because the center of gravity of body weight, as indicated by downward directional arrow 38, is still within the lower confines of the droop of the concave upper belt portion 26B. Therefore, what changes the speed of the runner 36 and the treadmill belt 26, is when the runner 36 moves the center of gravity of the hips of the body weight indicated by downward directional arrow 38 higher up the slope of concave upper portion 26B of treadmill belt 26, which causes the runner to run faster and the belt 26 to concurrently move faster around pulleys 22 and 24 with the pace of the forward advancing runner 36.

(29) It is known from common experience that in prior art treadmills, the upper length portion of their closed loops are flat due, it is believed, because of the inability to maintain the concave shape 34 in the length portion 26B. This shortcoming is overcome by the weight 30 which in practice has been found to hold the concave shape 34 during the uphill running of the exerciser 36.

(30) A closed loop treadmill belt 26 is formed with a mining surface of transverse wooden, plastic or rubber slats 49 (see FIG. 1) attached to each other in a resilient fashion. Since an essential feature of treadmill 10 is the concave shape of the low friction running surface of belt 26 in upper portion 26B, methods are used to insure that this shape is maintained during actual use. These methods must prevent the lower portion 26A of treadmill belt 26 from drooping down (i.e., must be held taut), otherwise top portion 26B would be pulled taut into a flat shape between rollers 22 and 24. Three methods are illustrated by the side view schematic drawings of FIGS. 2-4.

(31) The method of FIG. 2 shows a flat support belt loop 50 engaged with two side pulleys 54 and a third pulley 56 which is attached to treadmill 10 frame. Two springs 52 pulling in opposite directions hold belt 50 taut with a flat top configuration in contact with bottom treadmill belt portion 26A. Since pulleys 54 and 52 are low friction, and there is no relative movement between belt 50 and belt 26, belt 50 imposes very little drag on belt 26 while supporting lower belt portion 26A vertically preventing it from drooping down.

(32) The method shown in FIG. 3 shows the use of a timing belt 67 in achieving a similar result. Here end rollers 60 and 64 are attached to timing belt pulleys 62 and 66 respectively. Timing belt idlers 68 are simply used to configure timing belt geometrically to fit within the constraints of the side contours of treadmill 10. If belt 26 is prevented from slipping relative to end rollers 60 and 64 by high friction coefficient (or by the use an integral timing belt on the inside of belt 26 and rollers with timing belt engagement grooves), once configured as shown, timing belt 67 will not permit drooping down of section 26A since all motion is now synchronous.

(33) In another method shown in FIG. 4, one or more linear arrays of bearings 70 extending along opposite peripheral edges of said treadmill frame physically support lower section 26A of treadmill belt 26 thereby preventing drooping. Bearings 70 may be ball bearings or straight ball bearing casters attached and located at respective side peripheral edges to the bottom surface of the frame of treadmill 10.

(34) In the v-belt treadmill embodiment 80 of FIG. 5, side covers 82 enclose the underlying chassis. Running surface 81 comprises a concave surface of transverse slats. Optional handle bar assembly 83 helps users who are balance-challenged to use treadmill 80; it is both optional and removable.

(35) FIG. 6 shows the chassis of the treadmill of FIG. 5. Robust cross beams 90 attach both outer frames 86 as well as inner frames 92 on each side to each other creating the roughly rectangular chassis. Bolts 108 attach the outer frames 86 to cross beams 90. A few slats 100 are shown; they each have one or more downwardly extending reinforcing fins 101 attached on the inner side. Regardless of the material selected for the slats, they must exhibit the desired resiliency and strength along with sufficient weight to lie on and conform to the concave row of upper support ball bearings 104 at each side. The peripheral bearings are spaced apart from each other on respective left and right sides of the curved treadmill 80, wherein the fins 101 of the transverse slats 100 extend cantilevered downward from each transverse slat 100 so that the transverse slats 100 are resilient to dip slightly under the weight of the user runner without any lower support directly below the transverse slats 100. FIGS. 7A and 7B show a treadmill slat 100 with multiple fins 101, as shown in FIG. 6.

(36) FIGS. 7C and 7D show the slats 100 with descending fins 101 and with v-belts 114, each having crossectional v-belt extensions 115, which engage pulley 94, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7E, where slats 100 with fins 101 engage around pulleys 94. FIG. 7 shows slat 100 with at least one fin 101, where slat 100 is attached to belt 114 having crossectional extensions 115, and where belt 114 goes around pulleys 94, as shown in FIG. 8, which also shows slats 100, belt 114 and pulleys 94.

(37) FIG. 7F shows a finned treadmill slat with a pair of descending fins. FIG. 7G shows a finned treadmill slat with one single descending fin. FIG. 7I-I shows the multi-finned treadmill slat with three descending fins.

(38) FIG. 7I depicts from below a treadmill slat 100 with a pair of descending fins 101, 101.

(39) FIG. 7J shows the slat 100 with a pair of fins 101, 101, as in FIG. 7I.

(40) FIG. 7K depicts from below a treadmill slat 100 with one single fin.101

(41) FIG. 7L shows the slat 100 with one fin 101 as in FIG. 7K.

(42) Transverse slats 100, 100 and 100 may be made of rubber, wood or synthetic plastic materials.

(43) FIGS. 7I and 7J show treadmill slats 100 with a pair of descending fins 101.

(44) FIGS. 7K and 7L show treadmill slats 100 with a single descending fin 1017.

(45) The construction of the treadmill belt and its path around the chassis contour will be illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The v-belt (not shown in this FIG. 6) rides in v-belt pulleys 94 at front and back. Since the treadmill belt formed from two v-belt loops with transverse slats 100 attached is itself a large heavy loop, adjusters 96 on the rear (and/or front) pulleys 94 are used during initial installation and to fine tune the distance between the front and back pulleys 94 for precise smooth operation that is not so tight as to bind, nor too loose as to be noisy. Bolts 106 (on both sides) attach a linear array of ball bearings 112 to support the bottom of treadmill belt 81 to prevent drooping. Level adjusters 88 are used to adjust the tilt of treadmill 80.

(46) FIG. 7 shows the two v-belts 114 in an inner end view near front end pulleys 94. The two v-belt crossections 115 are plainly illustrated showing the short outer extension and the longer inner extension on each side of the v. Top slat 100 with fin 101 facing downward is shown at the top. In this view, at each crossection 115, two bolt heads are clearly shown; they fasten the longer inner flat belt extension to the end of slat 100. At each side the belt v is clearly positioned within the top groove of pulley 94 with ball bearing 104 supporting the edge of treadmill belt 81 through the resilient smooth continuous inner extension of belt 114. Similarly, at the bottom slat 100 fin 101 is now positioned facing up into the vacant midsection. Larger ball bearings 112 supporting the bottom belt 81 section are seen impinging on short outer v-belt 114 extensions at each side.

(47) FIG. 8 is a side view of the chassis with outer vertical side 110 of outer frame 86 rendered invisible to reveal the relative position of the other components in the v-belt support pathway. Only two slats 100 are shown attached to v-belt 114 (on the right pulley 94) for clarity. Note the taut, non-sagging position of the bottom section of belt 114 as supported by array of ball bearings 112. On top, the drooping concave belt 114 is supported by the concave array of ball bearings 104. The three centrally located v-belt idler pulleys 118 keep belt 114 from moving laterally far from large end v-belt pulleys 94. The weight of treadmill belt 81 keeps it in contact with the concave contour of ball bearings 104 at any speed from stopped to full running.

(48) In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

(49) It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.