Patent ID: 8007409
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. An exercise treadmill comprising: a) an endless movable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising; b) a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting; and c) a movable pushing handle operatively attached to the resistance mechanism, whereby movement of the movable pushing handle actuates the resistance mechanism, wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running forward, wherein the resistance mechanism is a moment arm weight resistance means comprising a cantilevered moment arm pivotally attached to an upright at a pivot point, an adjustable weight attached to the moment arm, and a weight adjusting drive for adjusting the adjustable weight along the moment arm, and wherein the position of the adjustable weight along the moment arm creates a moment about the pivot point, and wherein the resistance mechanism exerts an approximately constant and static counterforce to the movable pushing handle generally only in the same direction as the upper run of the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pushing direction, whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the pushing of a load by a combination of gripping and pushing the movable pushing handle to actuate the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and walking or running forward on the endless movable surface, to provide the pushing action.