Offsetting treadmill deck weight during operation
A treadmill includes a deck, an incline mechanism attached to the deck, and a lift assist mechanism that offloads a portion of the lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of a portion of the deck.
1. A treadmill, comprising:
a base frame;
a deck including a front portion and a rear portion, wherein a rear portion of the deck is pivotally attached to the base frame at the rear portion;
an incline mechanism attached to the deck; and
a lift assist mechanism that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck.
2. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the incline mechanism further includes:
a first end attached to the deck; and
a second end attached to the base frame.
3. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the lift assist mechanism includes a gas spring.
4. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the gas spring further includes:
a first spring end attached to the deck; and
a second spring end attached to the base frame.
5. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the deck is declinable where the front portion is lower than the rear portion with a decline angle between less than zero degrees and negative 15 degrees.
6. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the lift assist mechanism includes:
a first gas spring connected to the deck and connected to a base frame; and
a second gas spring connected to the deck and connected to the base frame;
the first gas spring and the second gas spring being oriented in a scissor arrangement.
7. The treadmill of claim 1 , further including:
an upright structure;
the lift assist mechanism including
a first end connected to the deck; and
a second end connected to the upright structure.
8. The treadmill of claim 7 , wherein the lift assist mechanism is a gas spring.
9. The treadmill of claim 7 , wherein the lift assist mechanism includes:
a cable;
a cable length adjustment mechanism;
wherein the cable, in part, supports a weight of the portion of the deck when inclined.
10. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the lift assist mechanism includes at least one coiled spring.
11. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the deck is selectively engagable with the lift assist mechanism.
12. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the deck is engaged with the lift assist mechanism when the deck is orientated in a range of engageable angles.
13. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the range of engageable angles include decline angles where the front portion is lower than the rear portion.
14. A treadmill, comprising:
a deck including a front portion and a rear portion;
a base frame pivotally attached to the deck at the rear portion of the deck;
an incline mechanism attached to the deck and attached to the base frame; and
a gas spring that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck.
15. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the deck is declinable where the front portion is lower than the rear portion with a decline angle between zero degrees and negative 15 degrees.
16. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the deck is selectively engagable with the gas spring.
17. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the deck is engagable with the gas spring when the deck is orientated in a range of engageable angles.
18. The treadmill of claim 17 , wherein the range of engageable angles include decline angles.
19. A treadmill, comprising:
a deck including a front portion and a rear portion;
a base frame pivotally attached to the deck at the rear portion of the deck;
an incline mechanism attached to the deck and attached to the base frame; and
a gas spring that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck;
wherein the deck is declinable to a decline angle between zero degrees and negative 15 degrees;
wherein the deck is engagable with the gas spring when the deck is orientated in the decline angle.
20. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the incline mechanism is located underneath the deck.