Revolving Belt Treadmill with Elevated Return Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treadmills pose accessibility issues for users with physical disabilities or limitations due to a height gap between the belt and floor, and safety concerns arise from the risk of falling off the belt surface.
Innovation Solution
A physical activity apparatus featuring a revolving belt with an elevated return belt surface, mounted on rollers, allowing the activity belt surface to remain substantially at floor level, reducing the height gap and enhancing safety through a never-ending loop configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the treadmill belt is elevated to provide a moving surface, then the treadmill can function as an exercise machine, but the height gap between the belt and floor increases making it hard to access for users with physical disabilities or elders
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a traditional linear treadmill belt to a circular revolving belt configuration. By changing the spatial dimension and arrangement of the belt from a straight elevated surface to a circular loop with elevated return portion, the activity belt surface can be positioned at floor level while maintaining treadmill functionality through the circular motion path.
2Reliability
If the treadmill belt is elevated to create a running surface, then the treadmill operates effectively, but the risk of falling off the belt increases creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
By reconfiguring the belt into a circular revolving structure with the return portion elevated above the activity surface, the invention creates a contained motion path that reduces falling risk while preserving exercise functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The circular belt structure nests the activity belt surface within the larger circular loop, creating a contained exercise area where the elevated return portion acts as a protective barrier rather than a drop-off edge.
3Device complexity
If a traditional treadmill belt configuration is used, then the structure is simple, but accessibility and safety are compromised due to the height gap
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains relatively simple structural elements (frame, rollers, belt) while changing their spatial arrangement to a circular configuration. This dimensional change allows the activity surface to be at floor level without requiring complex additional mechanisms, preserving ease of access while improving safety.
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
Improves accessibility and safety for users by reducing the risk of falling and allowing for easier integration of additional features and innovative modes of use, making it suitable for indoor and diverse applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of rollers rotatably connected to the frame; a belt mounted on the plurality of rollers and revolving
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus (100, 1001, 1002) for physical activity, comprising: a frame (101); a plurality of rollers (203, 204) rotatably connected to the frame (101); a belt (200) mounted on the plurality of rollers (203, 204) and revolving to define moving belt surfaces (201, 202) comprising: an activity belt surface (201) being configured for physical activity of at least one user (301, 701) and delimited by a side of the frame (101), and a return belt surface (202) being configured for revolving the belt (200) in a never-ending loop; the return belt surface (202) is elevated with respect to the activity belt surface (201).