Treadmill brake system

Abstract

A treadmill is provided with a frame comprising at least two cross members; a rail mounted to the cross members; a running belt assembly; and a brake system. The brake system includes a pair of brake pulleys mounted to the rail and longitudinally spaced apart from each other; a damper disposed between the pair of brake pulleys; and a brake belt disposed about the pair of brake pulleys and the damper. The damper is configured to resist brake belt motion in a first direction while providing a first frictional resistance and resist brake belt motion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance.

Description

TREADMILL BRAKE SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 63 / 734,367 filed December 16, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] One or more embodiments relate to a treadmill brake system to resist motion of the running belt in one direction.BACKGROUND

[0003] A treadmill includes a looped or continuous running belt assembly that is supported on each end by a roller assembly that rotates to allow a person (the treadmill user) to run, j og, or walk. The treadmill may be motorized or manually operated. Treadmills, particularly of the manual type, may be curved, to allow variation in exercise intensity. Manual treadmills may include a one-way device to limit movement of the running belt assembly in the reverse direction, i.e., movement of the top surface from back to front.

[0004] US Patent No. 10,695,606 discloses an example of a curved treadmill with a one-way device to limit movement of the running belt assembly in the reverse direction.SUMMARY

[0005] In one embodiment, a treadmill is provided with a frame and a pair of roller assemblies. The frame includes a pair of side members extending longitudinally and laterally spaced apart from each other, and at least two cross members extending between the pair of side members. The pair of roller assemblies are coupled to opposing ends of the frame. Each roller assembly includes a shaft extending between the pair of side members, a pair of pulleys mounted for rotation about the shaft, and a tube extending between the pair of pulleys. The treadmill also includes a pair of bearingrail assemblies and a running belt assembly. The pair of bearing rail assemblies extend longitudinally along the frame and are laterally spaced apart from each other. Each bearing rail assembly includes a rail mounted to the cross members, and a plurality of bearings mounted for rotation relative to the rail and spaced apart from each other along a length of the rail. The running belt assembly includes a pair of belts that are laterally spaced apart from each other and configured to be received by the pulleys, and a plurality of slats with opposing ends coupled to the belts. The treadmill also includes a brake system. The brake system includes a pair of brake pulleys mounted to the rail and longitudinally spaced apart from each other, a damper disposed between the pair of brake pulleys, and a brake belt disposed about the pair of brake pulleys and the damper. The damper is configured to resist brake belt motion in a first direction while providing a first frictional resistance and resist brake belt motion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance.

[0006] In another embodiment, a treadmill is provided with a frame comprising at least two cross members; a rail mounted to the cross members; a running belt assembly; and a brake system. The brake system includes a pair of brake pulleys mounted to the rail and longitudinally spaced apart from each other; a damper disposed between the pair of brake pulleys; and a brake belt disposed about the pair of brake pulleys and the damper. The damper is configured to resist brake belt motion in a first direction while providing a first frictional resistance and resist brake belt motion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure l is a partially fragmented side perspective view of a treadmill with a brake system to resist motion of a running belt assembly in a first direction.

[0008] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the treadmill of Figure 1 , illustrated without a shroud and without the running belt assembly.

[0009] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a rearward portion of the treadmill of Figure 2.

[0010] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the treadmill of Figure 1, illustrated without a right side member of the frame.

[0011] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a rearward portion of the treadmill of Figure 4.

[0012] Figure 6 is a side view of the treadmill of Figure 4.

[0013] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a rearward portion of the treadmill of Figure 6.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0015] With reference to Figure 1, a brake system is illustrated in accordance with one or more embodiments and generally represented by numeral 100. The brake system 100 is illustrated as part of a treadmill 102. The treadmill 102 includes a frame 104 with a curved shape that supports a running belt assembly 106. The frame 104 is covered by a shroud 107. The brake system 100 resists running belt assembly motion in both a forward direction 108 and a rearward direction 110.

[0016] The frame 104 is illustrated without the shroud 107 in Figure 2. The frame 104 includes a pair of side members, including a left side member 112 and a right side member 114. The side members 112, 114 extend longitudinally along a length of the treadmill 102 and are laterally spaced apart from each other. The frame 104 also includes cross members extending between side members 112, 114. The illustrated embodiment depicts three cross members: a front cross member 116, an intermediate cross member 118, and a rear cross member 120; however other embodiments may include more or less cross members. The treadmill 102 also includes a handlebar structure 122 that is mounted to the frame 104 for supporting the user.

[0017] The treadmill 102 includes a pair of roller assemblies, including a front roller assembly 124 and a rear roller assembly 126, that are coupled to opposing ends of the frame 104. Withreference to Figure 3, the rear roller assembly 126 is representative of the front roller assembly 124 and includes a shaft 128 that is fixed to, and extends between, the pair of side members 112, 114. The rear roller assembly 126 also includes a pair of pulleys, including a left pulley 130 and a right pulley 132, that are mounted for rotation about the shaft 128. The rear roller assembly 126 also includes a tube 134 that extends between and rotates with the pair of pulleys 130, 132 about the shaft 128.

[0018] With reference to Figure 4, the treadmill 102 includes a pair of bearing rail assemblies, including a left bearing rail assembly 136 and a right bearing rail assembly 138. The bearing rail assemblies 136, 138 extend longitudinally along the frame 104 and are laterally spaced apart from each other. Each bearing rail assembly 136, 138 includes a rail 140 and a plurality of bearings 142. The rail 140 is mounted to the cross members 116, 118, 120. The plurality of bearings 142 are mounted for rotation and spaced apart from each other along a length of the rail 140.

[0019] Referring to Figure 5, the running belt assembly 106 includes a pair of continuous belts 144 and a plurality of slats 146. The continuous belts 144 are laterally spaced apart from each other and configured to be received by the pulleys 130, 132 of each roller assembly 124, 126. Each slat of the plurality of slats 146 includes opposing ends that are coupled to the continuous belts 144.

[0020] The treadmill includes first brake systems 100, 100’ that are disposed on each side of the treadmill 102 at a rearward end of the frame 104 and are generally mirror images of each other. With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the brake system 100 includes a pair of brake pulleys, including a forward brake pulley 148 and a rearward brake pulley 150, mounted to the rail 140 and longitudinally spaced apart from each other. The brake system 100 also includes a damper 152 disposed between the brake pulleys 148, 150. The brake system 100 also includes a brake belt 154 that is disposed about the pair of brake pulleys 148, 150 and the damper 152. The damper 152 is configured to resist motion of the brake belt 154 in the forward direction 108, while providing a first frictional resistance. For example, in one embodiment, the damper 152 provides a resistance torque of approximately 50-100 inch-ounces in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, which resists forward belt motion. The damper 152 also resists brake belt motion in the second direction 110, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance. In one embodiment, the damper 152 provides a resistance torque of approximately 50-100 inch-ounces in the clockwise direction to provide a second frictional resistance that is approximately equal to the first frictional resistance. The damper of the first brake system 100’ on the opposite side of the treadmill 102 provides equal torque but in the opposite direction of the damper 152.

[0021] The first brake system 100 is disposed at a rearward portion of the treadmill 102 at a location where a user would typically step when mounting or dismounting the treadmill 102 to provide stability and resist unintended motion of the running belt assembly 106. The continuous belts 144 of the running belt assembly 106 engage the brake belt 154 (shown in Fig. 5).

[0022] The frictional force applied by the brake system 100 on the running belt assembly 106 is a function of the weight applied by the user onto the running surface. Therefore, if the user is walking forward of the first brake system 100 on the running belt assembly 106, the first brake system 100 applies minimal frictional force. This way the first brake system 100 does not apply significant frictional resistance during normal operation of the treadmill 102.

[0023] The treadmill includes second brake systems 156, 156’ (shown in Fig. 5) that are disposed on each side of the treadmill 102 and are generally mirror images of each other according to one or more embodiments. Referring back to Figures 6 and 7, the second brake system 156 includes a pair of brake pulleys, including a forward brake pulley 158 and a rearward brake pulley 160, mounted to the rail 140 and longitudinally spaced apart from each other. The second brake system 156 also includes a damper 162 disposed between the brake pulleys 158, 160. The second brake system 156 also includes a brake belt 164 that is disposed about the pair of brake pulleys 158, 160 and the damper 162. The damper 162 is configured to resist motion of the brake belt 164 in the forward direction 108, while providing a first frictional resistance. For example, in one embodiment, the damper 162 provides a resistance torque of approximately 5-20inch-ounces in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, which resists forward belt motion. The damper 162 also permits brake belt motion in the second direction 110, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance. For example, in once embodiment, the damper 162 provides a resistance torque in the clockwise direction that is less than the resistance torque in the opposite direction. The damper of the second brake system 156’ on the opposite side of the treadmill 102 provides equal torque but in the opposite direction of the damper 162.

[0024] The second brake system 156 is disposed forward of the first brake system 100 at a location where a user may step onto the treadmill when mounting or dismounting the treadmill 102 to provide additional stability and resist unintended motion of the running belt assembly 106. A user may also step onto the running belt proximate the second brake system 156 during exercise, e.g., walking forward or backward such that the second brake system 156 provides resistance in either direction, while still permitting such exercise.

[0025] In another embodiment the first brake systems 100, 100’ and / or the second brake systems 156, 156’ include stationary pads (not shown) that engage the continuous belt 144 to resist motion of the running belt assembly 106 in the forward direction 108 and / or the rearward direction 110. The stationary pads may include a contoured surface, e.g., a sawtooth shaped surface, to provide greater resistance to the running belt assembly in one direction as compared to the other direction.

[0026] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A treadmill comprising: a frame comprising: a pair of side members extending longitudinally and laterally spaced apart from each other; and at least two cross members extending between the pair of side members; a pair of roller assemblies coupled to opposing ends of the frame, each roller assembly comprising: a shaft extending between the pair of side members; a pair of pulleys mounted for rotation about the shaft; and a tube extending between the pair of pulleys; a pair of bearing rail assemblies extending longitudinally along the frame and laterally spaced apart from each other, each bearing rail assembly comprising: a rail mounted to the cross members; and a plurality of bearings mounted for rotation relative to the rail and spaced apart from each other along a length of the rail; a running belt assembly comprising: a pair of belts laterally spaced apart from each other and configured to be received by the pulleys; and a plurality of slats with opposing ends coupled to the belts; a brake system comprising: a pair of brake pulleys mounted to the rail and longitudinally spaced apart from each other; a damper disposed between the pair of brake pulleys; and a brake belt disposed about the pair of brake pulleys and the damper; wherein the damper is configured to resist brake belt motion in a first direction while providing a first frictional resistance and resist brake belt motion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the first frictional resistance is approximately equal to the second frictional resistance.

3. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the first frictional resistance is greater than the second frictional resistance.

4. The treadmill of claim 1 wherein the brake system comprises a first brake system, the treadmill further comprising a second brake system disposed forward of the first brake system and having a frictional resistance that is less than the first frictional resistance of the first brake system.

5. A treadmill comprising: a frame comprising at least two cross members; a rail mounted to the cross members; a running belt assembly; and a brake system comprising: a pair of brake pulleys mounted to the rail and longitudinally spaced apart from each other; a damper disposed between the pair of brake pulleys; and a brake belt disposed about the pair of brake pulleys and the damper, wherein the damper is configured to resist brake belt motion in a first direction while providing a first frictional resistance and resist brake belt motion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, while providing a second frictional resistance.

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