Patent ID: 7618353
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a treadmill including a moving belt having an upper belt surface; a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the belt to drive movement of the belt so that the upper belt surface moves in a backward direction; a position sensor arranged to measure a position of a cycle rolling freely in a forward direction on at least a portion of the backward-moving upper belt surface of the moving belt, which position is measured as a distance along the belt relative to a stationary portion of the treadmill; and a speed controller operatively coupled to the position sensor and to the drive mechanism in an arrangement that causes the belt to be driven with a speed of backward movement of the upper belt surface that, during a given continuous operating session, is determined by said measured distance of the freely rolling cycle and increases monotonically with said measured distance, resulting in a steady state more forward position of the cycle with increased backward speed of the upper belt surface.