Motorless Treadmill with Large Flywheel

Abstract

A motorless exercise treadmill has a flywheel of 7 to 10 inches radius, weighing 40 to 60 pounds. The flywheel provides a fluid motion for the belt when the brake system is engaged and smooth transition through increasing or decreasing speeds. Inclination of the treadmill is fixed at 9 to 20 degrees, which accommodates the large size of the flywheel. Handle and other attachments of different designs are provided so the user can exercise in various positions with various resistance levels for developing specific leg, core, arm and other muscles, not normally achievable on a treadmill.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the full benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 782,998 filed Mar. 14, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 858,854 filed Jul. 26, 2013, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to exercise treadmills. In particular, it relates to motorless treadmills—that is, treadmills powered by the user. Handle and other attachments of different designs are provided so the user can exercise in various positions with various resistance levels for developing specific leg, core, arm and other muscles. A large flywheel of a particular design is arranged to provide a fluid motion for the belt when the brake system is engaged and smooth transition through increasing or decreasing speeds. Inclination of the treadmill is fixed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Generally, treadmills are powered by a motor and are used mainly for aerobic (cardiac) exer...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention is a manually powered inclined treadmill with various levels of resistance. The conventional motor is replaced with a large heavy weighted flywheel, obviating the expense and maintenance necessitated by a motor. The motor is replaced with a 40-60 pound flywheel having a large diameter and other attributes explained below, which captures the energy of the belt motion. The flywheel keeps the belt in motion, and maintains a fluid motion through transitions of resistance and speed. A brake effect may be applied to the flywheel at the discretion of the user. The brake system when applied creates resistance on the flywheel, enabling the user to enhance a strength profile. The resistance to the flywheel is applied incrementally, affording the user with a wide range of resistance levels. In order to generate the desired moment of inertia, the large diameter flywheel must contain a high percentage of its mass, or weight, toward its outer edge. Since the user must use muscle power entirely to move the inclined belt and the treadmill can have various levels of resistance applied, he or she simulates actual incline climbing more effectively than when the belt is powered by a motor, burning more calories and effecting greater muscle stimulation.

[0005]The motorless, inclined treadmill is designed to be a crossover between (that is, to incorporate the benefits of) an inclined treadmill and an elliptical. It offers the cardio benefits of a treadmill motion with the muscle stimulation of elliptical, while enabling variable resistance levels and facilitating arm, shoulder and upper body muscle development as well as providing significant leg muscle challenges. It is equipped with multiple vertical and horizontal hand stations so the user can position himself or herself into various postures simulating an elliptical motion, a football sled, or other regimes not readily available with other types of exercise machines.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, treadmills are powered by a motor and are used mainly for aerobic (cardiac) exercise such as walking and running, but provide little or no possibility of simultaneous specific or varied muscle strengthening regimes with resistance training.

Equipping an exercise machine of any kind with a motor adds significant cost, operating expense, liability, and limited mobility.

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