Curved Treadmill Deck with Arced Guide Tracks for Joint Impact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional treadmills lack effective buffering to reduce impact on the knee and ankle joints during long-term use, and existing solutions such as suspension systems or thick belts increase manufacturing costs, making them unaffordable for most consumers with limited buffering effect.
Innovation Solution
A curved treadmill design featuring a frame with arced guide tracks and guide wheels, a belt assembly with connection belts and pedals that abut the arced guide tracks via bearings, and flywheel assemblies for resistance, allowing for ergonomic operation by reducing impact force through the movement of the belt along the arced tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid deck is used to withstand running momentum, then structural strength is improved, but buffering effect deteriorates causing accelerated wear on knee and ankle joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the conventional flat deck with an arched (curved) deck structure. This arch shape provides inherent structural strength to withstand running momentum while simultaneously creating a buffering effect that reduces impact on joints. The curved geometry allows the deck to flex and absorb shock during exercise, resolving the contradiction between needing rigidity for strength and requiring flexibility for joint protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If suspension system is installed to provide buffering, then buffering effect is improved, but manufacturing cost increases making treadmills unaffordable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the arch-shaped deck structure as a cost-effective alternative to expensive suspension systems. The curved geometry itself provides the buffering function through its ability to flex and absorb impact forces, eliminating the need for additional suspension components. This geometric solution achieves joint protection while maintaining affordability for most consumers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter of the deck from flat to arched, fundamentally altering its mechanical properties. This parameter change enables the deck to provide buffering through its shape rather than requiring additional components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the buffering effect needed to protect joints during exercise.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thick belts or pads are installed to provide buffering, then buffering effect is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the buffering function directly into the deck's arched structure rather than adding separate thick belts or pads. This geometric solution provides the necessary shock absorption and joint protection while maintaining a simpler overall device structure, avoiding the complexity associated with multiple additional buffering components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The curved treadmill design effectively reduces impact force on the joints during use, providing a more ergonomic experience while maintaining affordability by utilizing a cost-effective structure that minimizes wear and tear on joints.
Implementation Method 1
multiple bearings mounted on two ends of the plate and selectively abutting against the two arced guide tracks
Data Source
AI summary
A curved treadmill has a frame, a handrail assembly, and a belt assembly. The frame has a support frame, two arced guide tracks and multiple guide wheels. The two arced guide tracks are downwardly concave, and the multiple guide wheels are disposed at a front end and a rear end of the support frame. The belt assembly is mounted around the frame and has at least one connection belt mounted around the guide wheels and multiple pedals fixed with the at least one connection belt. The pedals are adjacent and connected to each other, the pedals are covered on an outer side face of each of the at least one connection belts, and each pedal has a plate fixed to the at least one connection belt and multiple bearings mounted on two ends of the plate and selectively abutting against the two arced guide tracks.