Treadmill with deck vibration
View Patent ↗A treadmill includes a support structure and a treadbase connected thereto. The treadbase has first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively. A deck is connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails. Front and rear pulleys are connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails. A continuous belt is trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys. One or more vibration assemblies are connected to the deck and selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate. The vibrations are transferred to a user during the performance of exercise to provide various physiological benefits to the user.
1. A treadmill, comprising:
a treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the treadbase comprising:
first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of the first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively;
a deck connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
front and rear pulleys connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
a continuous belt trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys;
one or more vibration assemblies connected to the deck, wherein the one or more vibration assemblies selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate; and
a first isolator connected between the deck and the first side rail and a second isolator connected between the deck and the second opposing side rail to limit the transfer of vibrations from the deck to the first and second opposing side rails;
wherein the first and second isolators are made of a slightly compressible or deformable material that absorbs downward forces applied to the deck; and wherein an intensity or frequency of the vibrations created by the one or more vibration assemblies is related to at least one of a speed of the continuous belt or an incline level of the treadbase.
2. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vibration assemblies comprise a first vibration assembly and a second vibration assembly, the first vibration assembly being connected to the deck adjacent the first side of the treadbase about midway between the first and second ends of the treadbase, and the second vibration assembly being connected to the deck adjacent the second side of the treadbase about midway between the first and second ends of the treadbase.
3. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second isolators comprises a bore extending at least partially therethrough, and wherein a guide pin extends from the deck and into the bore.
4. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vibration assemblies are connected to the deck between the first and second isolators and the continuous belt.
5. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more vibration assemblies comprises a motor, a shaft rotatable by the motor about an axis of rotation, and one or more eccentric weights mounted on the shaft.
6. The treadmill of claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more eccentric weights comprises a center of mass that is offset from the axis of rotation.
7. The treadmill of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the shaft about the axis of rotation causes the centers of mass of the one or more eccentric weights to revolve around the axis of rotation, thereby creating the vibrations.
8. The treadmill of claim 7 , wherein an intensity or frequency of the vibrations is selectively controlled by adjusting the speed at which the centers of mass of the one or more eccentric weights revolve around the axis of rotation.
9. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel having one or more user inputs, the control panel being in electrical communication with the one or more vibration assemblies such that the one or more vibration assemblies are controllable by activating the one or more user inputs.
10. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the treadbase is selectively movable between a plurality of inclined positions, including a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position.
11. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vibration assemblies comprise four vibration assemblies, each of the four vibration assemblies being connected adjacent to a corn er of the deck.
12. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vibration assemblies comprise a vibration assembly connected to an underside of the deck near the center of the deck.
13. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side rail and the second opposing side rail includes an upwardly facing surface upon which at least one of the first isolator and the second isolator is mounted.
14. A treadmill, comprising:
a support structure;
a control panel mounted on the support structure; and
a treadbase connected to the support structure, the treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the treadbase comprising:
first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of the first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively;
a deck connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails, wherein a first isolator is disposed between the deck and the first side rail and a second isolator is disposed between the deck and the second opposing side rail to limit the transfer of vibrations from the deck to the first and second opposing side rails;
wherein the first and second isolators are made of a slightly compressible or deformable material that absorbs downward forces applied to the deck;
front and rear pulleys connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
a continuous belt trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys; and
one or more vibration assemblies connected to the deck, wherein the one or more vibration assemblies selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate, at least one of the one or more vibration assemblies comprising:
a motor,
a shaft rotatable by the motor about an axis of rotation; and
one or more eccentric weights fixedly mounted on the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the one or more eccentric weights to rotate about the axis of rotation, each of the one or more eccentric weights comprising a center of mass that is radially offset from the axis of rotation; and wherein an intensity or frequency of the vibrations created by the one or more vibration assemblies is related to at least one of a speed of the continuous belt or an incline level of the treadbase.
15. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the one or more vibration assemblies comprise:
a first vibration assembly connected to the deck adjacent the first side of the treadbase about midway between the first and second ends of the treadbase; and
a second vibration assembly connected to the deck adjacent the second side of the treadbase about midway between the first and second ends of the treadbase.
16. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more vibration assemblies is connected to the deck with a bracket.