Belt for treadmill or walking machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a belt for a treadmill or walking machine that consists of a single flexible piece (3) or a set of transverse modules (4), the belt comprising an irregular surface (6) on the outer side of said single flexible piece (3) or of said transverse modules (4), said irregular surface being formed either by multiple protrusions (6.1) consisting of independent elements distributed over the surface, which are rigid and / or soft, or by a single piece with irregularities or formed by a plurality of filaments emerging from the surface.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TREAD FOR TREADMILL OR WALKING MACHINE

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, relates to a tread for a treadmill or walking machine that provides, for its intended function, advantages and characteristics that are described in detail below.

[0005] The object of the present invention lies in a tread band for a treadmill or walking machine which, among other particularities, is essentially distinguished by having a configuration such that the surface thereof is irregular, thus forcing the athlete to pay attention to the type of step he must make and so that, in addition, when stepping on the irregular surface, it prevents joint wear from being as severe as it is in those treadmills or walking machines in which the tread band has a uniform surface.

[0006] FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of sports articles, machines and accessories, focusing particularly on the manufacture of treads for running or walking machines.

[0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Treadmills and walking machines are widely used for exercise, as they allow you to exercise indoors in gyms or homes, while remaining protected from the elements.

[0010] On these treadmills or walking machines, the athlete runs or walks on a tread with a uniform surface. This ensures that the stride is always uniform, which causes even more wear on the joints. Furthermore, knowing that the surface on which they run or walk is uniform means that the athlete doesn't pay attention to the type of stride they are trying to make.

[0011] Stepping on uneven surfaces requires paying attention and adapting your stride to the surface, improving balance and even your muscles, since varying your stride exercises more muscle fibers.

[0012] In order to solve the detailed problems, the current invention is presented.

[0013] On the other hand, and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least on the part of the applicant, the existence of any other product, or any other invention of similar application, that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal to or similar to those claimed here is unknown.

[0014] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The tread band for a treadmill or walking machine that the invention proposes is configured as an ideal solution to achieve the objectives previously indicated, the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0016] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously indicated, is a tread for a treadmill or walking machine that is essentially distinguished by having a configuration such that its surface is irregular, not flat, such that it allows the athlete's stride to be different each time and, at the same time, forces them to pay attention to the type of stride they must make, which prevents joint and muscle wear from being as severe as it is on conventional treadmills or walking machines in which the tread has a uniform surface. To this end, preferably, the surface of the outer face of the tread has multiple protuberances distributed irregularly over it that define the irregularity of said surface.

[0017] These protuberances can be rigid, soft, or a combination of both types, emulating a real, uneven surface, such as rocks or vegetation. Soft protuberances also cushion impact and aid recovery, cushioning the impact and minimizing joint strain.

[0018] Optionally, the soft protrusions can consist of elements of a cushioning material and / or flexible compartments with sand inside, to emulate a beach surface.

[0019] And, optionally, the band protuberances can be connected to electronic equipment through which they can be automatically modified, for example by inflating or raising them with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0020] However, in an alternative embodiment, the irregular surface on the outer face of the tread is formed by a single irregularly shaped piece. In another embodiment, the irregular surface is formed by a plurality of filaments that emerge perpendicularly and have different lengths.

[0021] In any case, the tread, in one embodiment of the invention, may be formed by a plurality of transverse modules, for example based on transverse slats or sheets, where the outer face of said transverse modules has an irregular surface, which makes the footprint different each time it is stepped on.

[0022] In this case, the transverse modules, which are hinged together or mounted on a continuous, closed belt, can have different roughnesses and, optionally, can also be interchangeable, allowing the surface irregularity to be modified individually according to individual preferences. They can even be replaced with conventional modules on existing machines to transform the tread from a uniform surface to one with an irregular surface. However, the tread object of the invention with the irregular surface can also be comprised of a single piece with a continuous and flexible surface, in which case, the single piece with an irregular shape or the protuberances will be arranged and comprised in such a way as to allow rotation thereof.

[0023] Furthermore, in one embodiment, some or all of the irregularities or protuberances of the uneven surface of the band include lighting means, such that they can be illuminated to indicate to the runner the irregularity that he is about to receive.

[0024] Furthermore, the treadmill is preferably connected to a screen on the machine that displays a representation of the arrangement and type of bumps that define the uneven surface they are approaching, so that the runner does not have to constantly look down at their feet. Instead, better emulating reality, they can see in advance the type of terrain they are about to tread on and prepare for it.

[0025] Typically, the belt, whether made up of a set of transverse modules or a single piece, forms a closed, concave, flexible structural configuration at the top.

[0026] Thus, the main advantage of the tread for a treadmill or walking machine object of the invention is that, when stepping on its uneven surface, the athlete has to pay attention to their stride and adapt it, which improves their balance and helps them exercise their muscles more effectively.

[0027] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, a sheet of drawings is attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

[0029] Figure 1.- Shows a schematic profile view of an example of the tread for a treadmill or walking machine, according to the invention, specifically an example consisting of a set of transverse modules with irregular surfaces;

[0030] Figure 2.- Shows a schematic profile view of another example of the tread, in this case an example made up of a single flexible piece with an irregular surface.

[0031] Figure number 3.- Shows a schematic top perspective view of a portion of the band of the invention, according to the example shown in Figure 1. and

[0032] And figure number 4.- Shows a schematic profile view of the example of the tread shown in figure 1, in this case, represented once installed in the structure of a fixed machine with an appropriate screen.

[0033] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0034] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one can observe in them a non-limiting embodiment of the tread for a treadmill or walking machine of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0035] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the tread band (1) for the treadmill or walking machine (2) of the invention, which may be made up of a single flexible piece (3) (figure 2) or a set of transverse modules (4) (figures 1 and 3) that move along guides driven by rollers (5), is essentially distinguished by comprising, on the outer face of said flexible piece (3) or of said transverse modules (4), an irregular surface (6), that is, not flat or uniform.

[0036] Preferably, said irregular surface (6) of the external face of the tread is formed by multiple protuberances (6.1) consisting of independent elements distributed over it, as can be seen in the representation of figure 3. The protuberances (6.1) can be rigid, soft or can even be a combination of rigid and soft, emulating a real irregular surface, for example of stones and vegetation.

[0037] Optionally, the soft protuberances (6.1) may consist of elements of a padded material and / or flexible compartments with sand inside, to emulate a beach surface.

[0038] However, in an alternative embodiment (not shown in the figures), the irregular surface (6) may be a single piece which, in turn, may consist of a single piece with irregularities or be formed by a plurality of filaments that emerge perpendicularly from it. Logically, when the band (1) is constituted by transversal modules (4), given that these will be articulated between each other, said piece of the irregular surface (6) may be rigid or soft, whereas, when the band (1) is formed by a single flexible piece (3), the piece with irregularities forming the irregular surface (6) will necessarily be soft or flexible, for example padded, to allow the flexibility of the same.

[0039] On the other hand, optionally, some or all of the protuberances (6.1) that define the irregular surface (6) of the band (1), or where appropriate some of the irregularities of said irregular surface (6) consists of a single piece, are connected to a mechanism (not shown) that, for example controlled through an electronic control unit (7) of the machine (2), allows its volume and / or height to be automatically modified, for example by means of an inflation or lifting mechanism.

[0040] Also optionally, some or all of the protuberances (6.1) or irregularities of the irregular surface (6) of the belt include lighting, for example controlled through an electronic control unit (7) of the machine (2) to light up when they approach the front of the belt (1), to indicate to the runner the irregularity that he is going to receive.

[0041] Furthermore, preferably, the band (1) is connected to a screen (8) incorporated in the machine (2) where a representation of the irregular surface (6) in motion can be shown, in order to see the arrangement and type of protuberances (6.1) or irregularities of the same that are coming.

[0042] In any case, when the tread band (1) is formed by a plurality of transverse modules (4), consisting for example of transverse slats or sheets, where the outer face of each of said transverse modules (4) incorporates the irregular surface (6), preferably, said irregular surface (6) is different in each of them. Although this does not constitute a limitation, they may also all be identical.

[0043] Furthermore, in such a case, preferably, the transversal modules (4) with the irregular surface (6) are removable and interchangeable, allowing the replacement of damaged modules (4) and / or the modification of the configuration of said irregular surface (6) at will or even exchange them with transversal modules (4) with a conventional uniform surface, whether from a machine (2) specifically manufactured for this purpose or from an existing one.

[0044] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Tread for a treadmill or walking machine which, being made up of a single flexible piece (3) or a set of transverse modules (4) that move by guides driven by rollers (5) of the machine (2), is characterized by comprising, on the outer face of said flexible piece (3) or of said transverse modules (4), an irregular surface (6), that is, not flat or uniform. 2.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said irregular surface (6) of the outer face of the band comprises multiple protuberances (6.1) consisting of independent elements distributed over it. 3.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 2, characterized in that the protuberances (6.1) are rigid, soft or a combination of rigid and soft. 4.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that the soft protuberances (6.1) are elements of a padded material. 5.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the soft protuberances (6.1) are flexible compartments with sand inside. 6.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the irregular surface (6) is formed by a single piece with irregularities. 7.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the irregular surface (6) is formed by a single piece made up of a plurality of filaments that emerge perpendicularly from it. 8.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to claim 6, characterized in that, when it is made up of a single flexible piece (3), the single piece that forms the irregular surface (6) is soft or flexible, such as padded. 9.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of claims 2 or 6, characterized in that some or all of the protuberances (6.1) or irregularities that define the irregular surface (6), are connected to a mechanism that automatically modifies its volume and / or height. 10.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of claims 2 or 6, characterized in that some or all of the protuberances (6.1) or irregularities of the irregular surface (6) include lighting. 11.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connected to a screen (8) of the machine (2) where a representation of the irregular surface (6) in motion can be shown. 12.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when it is formed by transverse modules (4), such as transverse slats or sheets, where the outer face of each of said transverse modules (4) incorporates the irregular surface (6), said irregular surface (6) is different in each of them. 13.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, when it is formed by transverse modules (4), such as transverse slats or sheets, where the outer face of each of said transverse modules (4) incorporates the irregular surface (6), said irregular surface (6) is identical in each of them. 14.- Tread band for a treadmill or walking machine, according to any of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that said transversal modules (4) with the irregular surface (6) are removable and interchangeable, to replace damaged modules, or modify the configuration of the irregular surface (6) or exchange them with transverse modules (4) of uniform surface.

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