Exercise system and method
A deck for a treadmill includes a continuous track, and a plurality of slats connected to the track. The track and the plurality of slats at least partly define an inner space of the deck, and are rotatable about the inner space. The deck also includes a first motor configured to modify a speed of rotation of the track, and a second motor configured to modify a position of the deck relative to a support surface on which the deck is supported. The first motor and the second motor are disposed within the inner space.
1. A treadmill comprising:
a deck;
a plurality of connectors;
a first motor; and
a second motor;
the deck comprising:
a first unitary continuous track, and
a plurality of slats, each having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge and each connected to the first unitary continuous track through one of the plurality of connectors and separated from adjacent slats, wherein the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of each slat shaped to assist in mating with the trailing edge and/or the leading edge of the adjacent slats, respectively, during rotation of the first unitary continuous track, wherein the first unitary continuous track and the plurality of slats are configured to:
form a substantially planar running surface,
at least partly define an inner space of the deck, and
rotate about the inner space;
wherein each connector of the plurality of connectors hingedly and/or pivotably connecting only one slat of the plurality of slats to the first unitary continuous track and facilitating independent movement of the corresponding slat relative to the first unitary continuous track and the adjacent slats;
wherein the first motor is configured to modify a speed of rotation of the first unitary continuous track; and
wherein the second motor is configured to modify a position of the deck relative to a support surface on which the deck is supported, wherein the first motor and the second motor are disposed within the inner space.
2. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially rigid frame, at least one of the first motor and the second motor being connected to a component of the frame disposed at least partly within the inner space.
3. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the deck further comprising a second unitary continuous track disposed opposite and substantially parallel to the first unitary continuous track, the plurality of slats further being connected to the second unitary continuous track.
4. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the first continuous track is mated with a first gear, the second unitary continuous track is mated with a second gear disposed opposite the first gear, the first gear and the second gear are connected to a shaft disposed at least partly within the inner space, and at least one of the first gear and the second gear is driven by the first motor.
5. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising: a linkage connected to the second motor, and an incline frame connected to the linkage, at least part of the incline frame extending external to the inner space and being configured to act on the support surface to modify the position of the deck; and wherein the position comprises an incline of the deck relative to the support surface.
6. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slats further comprises a substantially rigid base, wherein the connector is coupled to the slat at a first end of the substantially rigid base; wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are angled, beveled, rounded, and/or curved to assist in mating.
7. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially rigid frame, the frame including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and at least one crossbar extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall forming at least part of the inner space, and at least one of the first motor and the second motor being connected to the at least one crossbar.
8. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least one slat of the plurality of slats comprises a substantially rigid base comprising a top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface, and wherein a portion of the substantially planar bottom surface is adjacent to and/or in contact with the first unitary continuous track; and
wherein each connector comprises a bracket, a pin, a screw, a clip, and/or a bolt.
9. The treadmill of claim 8 , wherein the at least one slat further comprises a polymeric cover connected to the substantially rigid base and wherein the polymeric cover is overmolded onto the substantially rigid base.
10. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least one slat of the plurality of slats comprises a substantially rectangular base comprising a top surface, a substantially planar bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a spine extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substantially rectangular base,
wherein the spine extends from proximate a first end of the at least one slat to proximate a second end of the at least one slat opposite the first end, the spine extending perpendicularly from the bottom surface into the inner space and rotating through the inner space during rotation.
11. A treadmill, comprising:
a deck;
an upper assembly connected to the deck and including a crossbar;
a display supported by the crossbar;
a controller operably connected to the deck and the display,
a plurality of connectors;
a first motor; and
a second motor;
the deck including:
a unitary continuous track, and
a plurality of slats, each having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge and each connected to the unitary continuous track through one of the plurality of connectors and separated from adjacent slats, wherein the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of each slat shaped to assist in mating with the trailing edge and/or the leading edge of the adjacent slats, respectively, during rotation of the unitary continuous track, the unitary continuous track and the plurality of slats configured to form a substantially planar running surface and at least partly define an inner space of the deck,
wherein each connector of the plurality of connectors is hingedly and/or pivotably connecting only one slat of the plurality of slats to the unitary continuous track and facilitating independent movement of the corresponding slat relative to the unitary continuous track and the adjacent slats,
wherein the first motor is configured to modify a speed of rotation of the unitary continuous track, and
wherein the second motor is configured to modify a position of the deck relative to a support surface on which the deck is supported, wherein the first motor and the second motor are disposed within the inner space.
12. The treadmill of claim 11 , the deck further comprising a substantially rigid frame, wherein the first motor, the second motor, and the upper assembly are connected to the substantially rigid frame, and the substantially rigid frame at least partly defines the inner space.
13. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the substantially rigid frame includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and at least one crossbar extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, the inner space extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, and at least one of the first motor and the second motor being connected to the at least one crossbar.
14. The treadmill of claim 11 , the deck further comprising a linkage connected to the second motor, and an incline frame connected to the linkage, at least part of the incline frame extending external to the inner space and being configured to act on the support surface to modify an incline of the deck relative to the support surface.
15. The treadmill of claim 11 , wherein the unitary continuous track is mated with a gear coupled to the first motor and at least partly disposed within the inner space, the first motor being configured to drive rotation of the unitary continuous track and the plurality of slats about the inner space via the gear.
16. The treadmill of claim 11 , wherein at least one slat of the plurality of slats comprises: a substantially rigid base, and a polymeric cover connected to the substantially rigid base, the substantially rigid base including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a spine extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substantially rigid base, wherein the spine extends into the inner space during rotation from proximate the first end of the at least one slat to proximate a second end of the at least one slat opposite the first end and wherein the cover is disposed on the top surface.
17. The treadmill of claim 16 , wherein the cover includes a tread pattern, and wherein the substantially rigid base includes at least one rib opposite the spine and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; wherein the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base is adjacent to and/or in contact with the unitary continuous track during rotation; and wherein each connector comprises a bracket, a pin, a screw, a clip, and/or a bolt.
18. A method of manufacturing a treadmill, comprising:
providing a substantially rigid frame having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, at least one crossbar extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall;
connecting a first motor to the frame;
connecting a second motor to the frame;
engaging a unitary continuous track with the first motor; and
connecting, using a plurality of connectors, a plurality of slats to the unitary continuous track, each slat being separated from adjacent slats, wherein:
each of the plurality of slats comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of each slat being shaped to assist in mating with the trailing edge and/or the leading edge of the adjacent slats, respectively, during rotation of the unitary continuous track,
the unitary continuous track and the plurality of slats form a substantially planar running surface,
the unitary continuous track, the plurality of slats, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall at least partly define an inner space,
the first motor and the second motor are disposed within the inner space, the first motor is configured to modify a speed of rotation of the unitary continuous track,
the second motor is configured to modify a position of the frame relative to a support surface on which the frame is supported; and
each of the plurality of slats is hingedly and/or pivotably directly connected to the unitary continuous track solely through one connector of the plurality of connectors, the one connector facilitating independent movement of the slat relative to the unitary continuous track and the adjacent slats.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
connecting a linkage to the second motor;
connecting an incline frame to the linkage, at least part of the incline frame extending external to the inner space and being configured to act on the support surface to modify an incline of the frame relative to the support surface;
mating the unitary continuous track with a gear, and
coupling the gear to the first motor, the first motor being configured to drive rotation of the unitary continuous track and the plurality of slats about the inner space via the gear.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of slats further comprises a top surface, a substantially planar bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a spine extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface into the inner space;
wherein the plurality of slats are connected to the unitary continuous track such that the bottom surface is in contact with and/or adjacent to the unitary continuous track during rotation.