Dual direction exercise treadmill with moment arm resistance

1. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load;

c) a pivot point, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is pivotable about the pivot point; and

d) a pivot rod, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is attached to the pivot rod in a cantilever manner.

2. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a resistance arm operatively connected to the moment arm weight resistance means, wherein pulling the resistance arm actuates the moment arm weight resistance means.

3. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moment arm weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance.

4. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moment arm weight resistance means comprises a moment arm, an adjustable weight, and a means for adjusting the adjustable weight relative to the moment arm.

5. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moment arm is a structure that can support the adjustable weight, allow the operative attachment of a weight adjusting drive to the weight, and provide for attachment to a moment arm pivot rod.

6. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.

7. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the resistance arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.

8. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the means for adjusting the adjustable weight is selected from the group consisting of motors, pneumatic cylinders, and hydraulic cylinders.

9. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1 , in combination with a forward walking/running treadmill.

10. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load; and

c) a pivot rod, wherein the moment arm is attached to the pivot rod in a cantilever manner,

wherein the moment arm weight resistance means comprises a moment arm, an adjustable weight, and a means for adjusting the adjustable weight relative to the moment arm.

11. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load; and

c) a resistance arm operatively connected to the moment arm weight resistance means, wherein pulling the resistance arm actuates the moment arm weight resistance means,

wherein the resistance arm comprises at least one lower resistance arm section and at least one upper resistance arm section, and the at least one lower resistance arm section is hingedly attached to the at least one upper resistance arm section.

12. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, the moment arm weight resistance means being variable for providing varying weight resistance; and

c) a resistance arm operatively connected to the moment arm weight resistance means, wherein pulling the resistance arm actuates the moment arm weight resistance means,

wherein the resistance arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.

13. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a pivot point, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is pivotable about the pivot point.

14. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a pivot rod, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is attached to the pivot rod in a cantilever manner.

15. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the moment arm weight resistance means comprises a moment arm, an adjustable weight, and a means for adjusting the adjustable weight relative to the moment arm.

16. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the moment arm is a structure that can support the adjustable weight, allow the operative attachment of a weight adjusting drive to the weight, and provide for attachment to a moment arm pivot rod.

17. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, the moment arm weight resistance means being variable for providing varying weight resistance; and

c) a resistance arm operatively connected to the moment arm weight resistance means, wherein pulling the resistance arm actuates the moment arm weight resistance means,

in combination with a forward walking/running treadmill.

18. An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, comprising:

a) an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill;

b) a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, the moment arm weight resistance means being variable for providing varying weight resistance and comprising a moment arm, an adjustable weight, and a means for adjusting the adjustable weight relative to the moment arm;

c) a resistance arm operatively connected to the moment arm weight resistance means and pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position; and

d) a pivot point, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is pivotable about the pivot point, wherein pulling the resistance arm actuates the moment arm weight resistance means.

19. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a pivot rod, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is attached to the pivot rod in a cantilever manner.

20. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 18 , in combination with a forward walking/running treadmill.