초록 ▼

An exercise treadmill (10) includes a deck assemlby (12) having a rearward end portion pivotally mounted on an underlying frame (14). A powered endless belt (100) is mounted on the deck assembly (12) to present a moving surface which slides over the top of the deck assembly. The forward end of the d

An exercise treadmill (10) includes a deck assemlby (12) having a rearward end portion pivotally mounted on an underlying frame (14). A powered endless belt (100) is mounted on the deck assembly (12) to present a moving surface which slides over the top of the deck assembly. The forward end of the deck assembly is supported by a suspension system (20) utilizing lever arms (160L and 160R) mounted on the frame (14) to pivot about an axis (169). The lever arms are pivotally interconnected with the deck at a location distal from the pivot axis of the lever arms. Dampeners in the form of shock absorbers (178) are connected between the lever arms and the frame to impart a progressively increasing damping force on the lever arms as the lever arms rotate about their pivot axis under the influence of the descending deck.

대표청구항 ▼

An exercise treadmill apparatus, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) support platform means pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis; and, (c) a suspension system for supporting the support platform means relative to the frame and permitting the support platform means to displace relative to the f

An exercise treadmill apparatus, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) support platform means pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis; and, (c) a suspension system for supporting the support platform means relative to the frame and permitting the support platform means to displace relative to the frame about the pivot axis of the support platform means between a nominal position and a displaced position under loads imparted on the support platform means during use of the apparatus, the suspension system comprising: (i) at least one lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame to pivot about a pivot axis between a nominal orientation and a displaced orientation; (ii) first connection means pivotally interconnecting the lever arm at a location spaced from the pivot axis of the lever arm with the support platform means at a location spaced from the pivot axis of the support platform means; (iii) first resistance means applying a force on the pivoting lever arm to resist the rotational movement of the lever arm in a first rotational direction about the pivot axis of the lever arm corresponding to the rotation of the lever arm from its nominal orientation to its displaced orientation under loads imposed on the support platform means during use of the apparatus, with the magnitude of the resisting force applied by the first resistance means being dependent on the angular orientation of the rotating lever arm; and, (iv) means for applying a return force on the support platform means to return the support platform means to its nominal position between sequential loads imposed on the support platform means during use.