Patent ID: 6179754
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A speed control system for a sports treadmill having a main body with a running belt movably mounted thereon, and a hand support extending from the main body with an electronic control panel mounted thereon, the electronic control panel including a central processing unit (CPU), the speed control system comprising:a) a motor drivingly connected to the running belt such that a speed of the motor is proportional to a speed of the running belt, the motor speed being controlled by the CPU; andb) a plurality of spaced apart position detectors located on the main body, each position detector comprising a sending terminal located adjacent to a first lateral side of the running belt and a receiving terminal located adjacent to a second lateral side of the running belt, the transmitting terminal emitting a light beam across the running belt and received by the associated receiving terminal, the position detectors transmitting a signal to the CPU when the light beam is interrupted by a runner on the belt, such signal being indicative of an actual position of the runner on the belt, whereby the CPU increases the speed of the motor and the belt if the runner's actual position is forward of a predetermined position and decreases the speed of the motor and the belt if the runner's actual position is rearward of the predetermined position.