Treadmill with manually adjustable magnetic resistance system and manually adjustable angle of inclination

[0001] The present invention provides a manual treadmill having at least two important features not seen in prior designs. First, it has a resistance system that uses magnets to provide resistance to the rotation of a flywheel. By manually adjusting the position of the magnets, the user is able to easily adjust the resistance. Second, the angle of inclination of the treadmill can easily be adjusted by the user. An advantage of the present invention is that the user's own leg power moves the running surface. Thus, no motor is required. Moving against a variable resistance combined with a variable height/inclination determines which part of the user's running stride is worked on.

[0002] In preferred aspects, the present invention provides a treadmill, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a front roller connected to the frame; (c) a rear roller connected to the frame; (d) a continuous tread wrapping around the front and rear rollers; (e) a flywheel connected to one of the front or rear rollers; and (f) a magnetic resistance unit positioned near the flywheel. The magnetic resistance unit provides resistance to rotation of the flywheel, and is manually moveable to different positions near the flywheel. As such, its position with respect to the flywheel corresponds to the amount of resistance provided to rotation of the flywheel

[0003] In preferred aspects, the magnetic resistance unit comprises a plurality of magnets mounted to a magnet support member that is moveable up and down by moving a rod mounted to the magnet support member. The rod is preferably slidably connected to the frame such that an operator simply moves it up or down to change the resistance applied to the flywheel. An aluminum disk is mounted to the flywheel, with five axially magnetized neodymium magnets being used.

[0004] The present treadmill also includes a positioning system for manually varying the angle of the continuous tread. This positioning system preferably includes a positioning screw passing through the frame and a lower mount, such that a user on the treadmill simply has to rotate the screw to raise or lower the front of the treadmill (and therefore vary the angle of the continuous tread running surface).

[0005] An advantage of having both the resistance and the angle of inclination be manually adjustable by the runner on the device is that the runner is able to easily change speed, angle and running conditions, thereby working on different muscle groups at different times.

[0016] The present invention provides a non-motorized treadmill that is manually adjustable both as to the resistance it provides to the runner and as to the angle of inclination of the treadmill running surface itself.

[0017] As seen in the attached Figures, treadmill 10 comprises a frame 20, a front roller 30, a rear roller 35; and a continuous tread 40 wrapping around the rollers. Frame 20 is made from side members 22, rear member 24 and front member 26.

[0018] The running deck below tread 40 may optionally be made of Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Polyethylene, or other suitable materials. The tread itself may optionally be made of PVC, or other suitable material.

[0019] A flywheel 50 is connected to front roller 30 as shown. The action of a runner on tread 40 causes front roller 30 and flywheel 50 to rotate. In preferred embodiments, an aluminum disk 55 is attached to flywheel 50.

[0020] Handrails 301 and a display unit 302 are also included.

[0021] The present treadmill provides a manually operable magnetic resistance system that permits an operator to easily select the amount of resistance that the treadmill provides. As will be shown, a magnetic resistance unit is connected to the frame and is moveable to different positions near the flywheel. The exact position of the magnetic resistance unit with respect to the flywheel corresponds to the amount of resistance provided to rotation of the flywheel, as follows.

[0022] FIGS. 5 to 7B illustrate the manually adjustable magnetic resistance system 100, as follows. Magnetic resistance unit 100 comprises: a magnet support member 104 and a rod 106. A plurality of magnets 110 are mounted to the magnet support member 104. The orientation of and spacing between the magnets determines the desired strength of the resistance effect.

[0023] Rod 106 is slidably received within a vertical beam 120 that is connected to side member 22 in frame 20. Rod 106 has a series of positioning sockets 107 running along its length and a positining pin 128 is provided on vertical beam 120. Rod 106 also has a positioning handle 109 mounted thereon, as shown.

[0024] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the magnetic resistance unit 100 in a raised position. In this position, the magnets 110 provide only minimal resistance to the rotation of aluminum disk 55 and flywheel 50. To increase the resistance, the user slips positioning pin 128 out of one of positioning sockets 107, and then lowers rod 106 by handle 109 to the position shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Once the magnetic resistance unit 100 has been lowered to this position, the user then re-positions pin 128 in another positioning socket 107. As can be seen, the user is able to easily vary the position of the plurality of magnets 110 by moving rod 106 to different up and down positions.

[0025] A number of positioning sockets 107 are provided on the side of rod 106 such that the location of magnets 110 with respect to flywheel 50 (and aluminum disk 55) can be set precisely. At each setting, a different amount of resistance to the rotation of flywheel 50 will be provided. FIGS. 6A and 6B show a position of minimal resistance, whereas FIGS. 7A and 7B show a position of increased resistance.

[0026] In operation, the resistance to rotation of aluminum disk 55 is created by an eddy current—caused by moving a magnetic field through an electric conductor.

[0027] In optional preferred embodiments, magnet support member 104 is Y-shaped and has five magnets 110 attached thereto, as shown. In one preferred embodiment, magnets 110 are made of neodymium, although other suitable materials may be used instead.

[0028] As can also be seen, electronic display 302 can show measurements including, but not limited to, runner's speed, power, distance covered, or countdown or countup timer functions.

[0029] In preferred embodiments, the angle of inclination of the treadmill running surface is adjusted as seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, as follows. FIG. 2A shows the treadmill at a first (lowered) height, and FIG. 2B shows the treadmill at a second (raised) height. The height of the front of the treadmill is changed by a positioning system 200 for manually varying the angle of frame 20 and thus continuous tread 40. In one exemplary embodiment, positioning system 200 comprises a lower mount 210 pivotally connected to side members 22 at point 215. A long positioning screw 220 passes through front member 26 and is connected to lower mount 210. Simple rotation of positioning screw 220 in one direction causes front member 26 to move closer to lower mount 210 (thereby lowering the front of the frame as seen in FIG. 1A). Similarly, rotation of positioning screw 220 in an opposite direction causes front member 26 to move farther away from lower mount 210 (thereby raising the front of the frame as seen in FIG. 1B).

[0030] An advantage of using long positioning screw 120 is that a runner can reach forward and adjust the angle of inclination. In preferred embodiments, the angle of inclination can be varied from 2% to 35%. Varying the angle of inclination varies which part of the running stride is being worked on.