Abstract:
A running surface for a common exercise treadmill has an endless belt made of a rubber like material leaving a smooth finish to its upper and lower surfaces. At least one line of spaced apart holes penetrate the belt along its entire length. The holes enable fastening elements to affix generally circular rods to the upper surface to engage fastening eyelets by means of the fastening elements which are installed into at least one strengthening endless belt positioned below and urging against the lower extremity of the endless belt. The generally circular rods have prefabricated objects such as simulated cobblestones of various sizes and configurations in immediate adjacency to the upper extremity of the endless belt.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority date of a prior filed application having Ser. No. 61/343,569 and filing date of Apr. 30, 2010 and entitled: Exercise Treadmill Having a Simulated Cobblestone Running Surface. 
    
    
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Applicant(s) herein incorporate by reference, any and all U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications cited or referred to in this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to exercising equipment and more particular to a treadmill for performing walking, jogging and running having an endless running surface with a particular surface condition. 
     2. Background 
     Exercising treadmills are very common and readily available in various configurations. They are used for performing aerobics, walking, running and the like with the user remaining in a relative stationary position during the exercise. Other treadmills are used for therapy and diagnostic purposes such as cardiovascular stress testing. For all these purposes a user of an exercise treadmill normally performs an exercise routine at a relatively steady and continuous level of physical activity. Exercising treadmills normally have an endless running surface, which is extended between and movable around a pair of substantially parallel pulleys at each end of the treadmill. A running surface may comprise an endless belt of a rubber like material of a given thickness. An endless belt is normally driven by a motorized arrangement having a pulley encircled by an endless chain loop engaging a pinion gear mounted to the axle of a motor shaft engaging a drive sprocket mounted to the axle shaft of a pulley to allow an endless belt to travel in a forward direction. The endless belt of a rubber like material is sturdy with high tensile strength strong enough to withstand continuous pounding and pulling by a user walking or jogging on the endless belt. The endless belt is typically supported along at least its length and width between said pulleys by one of several well-known designs in order to enable the endless belt to support the weight of a user. For example, rollers may be positioned below the endless belt or a web in horizontal plane may be placed contiguous with under side of the endless belt, and in particular a smooth panel made of wood or metal may be used in order to provide the required support. Depending on the general application, the endless belt may be of a homogeneous material or in another application may have a top layer laminated to a bottom layer: the latter consisting of a rubber like material having interwoven nylon fabric or steel wire mesh for strengthening and reinforcement. It is known that many similar configurations of endless belts are common and easily obtained and have been proven to be of particular ruggedness and strength as well as being suitable for conveyor belts used for industrial applications, and therefore have particular suitability for exercising treadmills. The running surface of an endless belt is typically of a smooth and non-textured finish exclusively designed for the convenience of a user in a way to simulate running surfaces such as asphalt or professional track and field type terrain. It is known and has been established that simulation of the running surface to a natural occurring terrain such as non-smoothened natural ground, pebbles and cobble stones are considered to be of great benefit to a user resulting in improved balance control, cardiovascular fitness and weight control. It is now known that walking and running on a cobblestone surface can be of up to 50 percent more beneficial in terms of health benefits to a user than just walking and running on smooth artificial surfaces. Therefore a running surface constructed for a common treadmill to include a cobblestone texture may be considered of great benefit to a user. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     The following art defines the present state of this field. Examples of treadmills for exercising purposes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,510,511, 5,279,528, 4,659,074, 4,635,928, 4,635,927, 4,334,676, and 7,510,511. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,510,511 to von Detten describes a treadmill running surface comprising an endless belt having simulated cobblestones attached thereto and the endless belt extends movably between and around a pair of substantial parallel pulleys at each end of the treadmill belt. U.S. Pat. No. 7,510,511 teaches an attachment method for simulated cobblestones that necessitate a belt of a sufficient thickness to provide for proper retention of the cobblestones. The endless belt for a common treadmill is many times thinner in cross section and therefore is very pliable and flexible which is necessary to circumvent smaller diameter pulleys. As a consequence a thicker belt is more rigid and certainly requires larger diameter pulleys, and in addition makes the treadmill larger and bulkier and requires an electric motor of greater power to move the belt around the pulleys. This gives rise to disadvantages that are obvious and easily recognized, including the fact that a thicker belt is more costly to manufacture, a more powerful electric motor consumes more electricity and a larger and bulkier treadmill is more costly to manufacture and is unsightly. Further disadvantages are the need for a multiple number of through holes penetrating the belt for the attachment of cobblestones whereby once said cobblestones are fixated to the belt there is beside the cost to produce all the through holes which produces an added degree of rigidity to the belt caused by the array and density of eyelets needed for the fastening apparatus of the cobblestones. Furthermore, the method of attachment makes it very labor intensive and cumbersome exchanging the cobblestones in various sizes and patterns in an arrangement using the same belt that necessitates complete disassembly of the treadmill among other requirements. At best there is a very limited number of feasible patterns and arrangements of cobblestones assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use, which give rise to the objectives described below. 
     An endless belt for a common exercise treadmill is made of a rubber like material leaving a smooth finish to upper and lower extremity over the entire length and width thereof. At least one line of through holes evenly spaced apart penetrates the endless belt along the entire length thereof. The through holes are enabling for receiving a plurality of fastening elements to affix a plurality of generally cylindrical rods to the upper extremity of the endless belt with the fastening elements engaging with fastening eyelets thereof installed into at least one strengthening endless belt thereof urging against the lower extremity of the endless belt. Prefabricated objects such as simulated cobblestones of various sizes are disposed onto the cylindrical rods and are configured to be in immediate adjacency to the upper extremity of the endless belt. 
     A primary objective of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that yields advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     A still further objective of the invention is to provide a means to closely simulate a natural cobblestone terrain. 
     Another objective of the invention is that it is capable of being used with common treadmill designs of various sizes and configurations necessitating only minor modifications thereof. 
     A still further objective is to assure that the invention has various sizes and arrays of simulated cobblestones can be used with an endless belt. 
     A still further objective of the invention is that the endless belt has simulated cobblestones that are easily adaptable to any given treadmill configuration for retrofit. 
     A still further objective of the invention is that it is capable of being used with treadmills having a pully of relatively small circumference. 
     A yet still further objective is of the invention is that the endless belt has simulated cobblestones that are not easily deformed and strained when traversing pullies. 
     A further objective of the invention is that it has the ability to readily change a preferred configuration to another preferred configuration without great effort and in a timely manner. 
     A still further objective of the invention is that it provides the ability to readily change a preferred configuration to another preferred configuration without disassembly of any treadmill components. 
     Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by the way of example, the principles of at least one of the possible embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a common treadmill equipped with an endless running surface tread having simulated cobblestones attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the endless running surface tread having uniformly shaped and simulated cobblestones attached to an upper extremity thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  3 - 3  respectively in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  4 - 4  respectively in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional breakaway feature view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  5 - 5  respectively in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional breakaway feature view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  6 - 6  respectively in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective break away feature and partial exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the endless running surface tread as referenced in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a further perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  8 - 8  respectively in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  9 - 9  respectively in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a further perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing an endless running surface tread having non-uniformly shaped simulated cobblestones attached to an upper extremity thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective breakaway view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  11 - 11  respectively in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a further perspective breakaway view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines  12 - 12  respectively in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-described drawing figures illustrate the present invention in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiments, which are further, defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined in the following. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention. A Treadmill  32  has an endless running surface  40  with a plurality of simulated cobblestones  42  attached to an endless belt  50 . A base  21  supports a motorized gear actuator (not shown). Between opposing side brackets (not shown) is mounted drive pulley  46  and idler pulley  48  respectively each rotationally fitted about a center axle (not shown). A support panel  52  is a member of structural integrity rigidly fastened to a plurality of cross members  22  providing support to the underside of the endless belt  40  in contiguous fashion thereto. There are many treadmills of varying configurations readily available in commerce where the aforementioned specification is meant to be of a general nature but specific enough to convey the understanding that the endless running surface  40 , as conceived by this invention can easily be installed with most readily available treadmill configurations. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention. The endless running surface  40  is shown to be separated from treadmill  32 —refer to  FIG. 1 . The endless belt  50  partially encircles drive pulley  46  and idler pulley  48  respectively thereof is rotationally fitted about a pair of center axles  53 . At least one line of a plurality of equally spaced apart through holes  59  are positioned along the entire length of endless belt  50  and are able to receive a plurality of mounting rods  58  fastened thereto by means of a plurality of fasteners—not shown—engaging with a plurality of fastening eyelets  56 . Fastening eyelets  56  are fitted with a plurality of endless strengthening belts  54  configured immediately adjacent to the underside of endless belt  50  in a contiguous fashion. 
     Furthermore the fastening eyelets  56  are equally spaced apart in coaxial alignment with through holes  59  along the entire length of endless strengthening belts  54 . It is noteworthy to mention the configuration of the strengthening belt provides for proper tracking of the running surface enabling a positive and rigid containment of objects such as the mounting rods or other related objects on the endless belt without compromising the integrity of the endless belt so that a standard configured belt, commonly used on any treadmill can be applied to an endless running surface as specified in this present invention. The simulated cobblestones  42  are engaged with mounting rods  58  and are retained with a plurality of spacers  44  and a pair of retainer caps  49  respectively thereof each fastened to each end of mounting rod  58  by means of a fastener  47 . Support panel  52  is immediately adjacent to the lower extremity of endless belt  50  to provide structural support in contiguous fashion thereto. Support panel  52  is supported and fastened to cross members  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top down view of an embodiment of the present invention. The endless running surface  40  is shown to be separated from treadmill  32  as shown in  FIG. 1 . All elements as labeled are referenced in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section view of an embodiment of the present invention. Endless belt  50  partially encircles drive pulley  46  whereas mounting rods  58  are fitted to the upper extremity of endless belt  50  via a plurality of fasteners  60 , each disposed to and surrounded by a countersink hole  58 A provided in mounting rods  58 . The opposite end of fasteners  60  are engaged with fastening eyelets  56  and permanently surrounded by counter bore holes  56 A provided in endless strengthening belts  54 , as referenced in  FIG. 2 , thereby urging the upper extremity thereof against the lower extremity of endless belt  50  and respectively the lower extremity of mounting rods  58  against the upper extremity of endless belt  50  thereby sandwiching endless belt  50  between endless strengthening belts  54  and mounting rods  58 . Simulated cobblestones  42  are engaged with the mounting rods  58  and being laterally retained by means of spacers  44  and retainer cap  49  thereof fastened to each end of mounting rod  58  by means of fastener  47 . Support panel  52  is immediately adjacent to the lower extremity of endless belt  50  to provide structural support in a contiguous fashion thereto. Support panel  52  is supported and fastened to a plurality of cross members  22  as is referenced in  FIG. 1 . Support panel  52  has a plurality of channels  52 A configured for accommodation of endless strengthening belts  54  as such to provide immediate adjacency with support panel  52  and the lower extremity of endless strengthening belts  54  thereby to assure immediate adjacency with the upper extremity of channel  52 A in a contiguous fashion. It is noteworthy to mention that the sliding motion of the endless belt over the support panel during operation of the treadmill is smooth and unimpaired by the contiguous lateral support of the support panel which specifically includes the lower extremity of endless strengthening belts  54 . A plurality of grooves  46 A fully surrounding pulleys  46  and  48  (not shown) are compliant with the outer contour of endless strengthening belts  54 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section breakaway view of an embodiment of the present invention. The endless belt  50  and the endless strengthening belts  54  partially encircle the drive pulley  46  thereof rotationally fitted about center axle  53 . The lower extremity of mounting rods  58  comprise a horizontal surface without slope, tilt or curvature respectively, and include a ledge  58 A elevated from and parallel to the horizontal surface. The lower extremity of mounting rods  58  is immediately adjacent to the upper extremity of endless belt  50 . Simulated cobblestones  42  are disposed to mounting rods  58 , each having a through keyway  61  surrounding the outer shape of the mounting rod  58  and in immediate adjacency thereto. Furthermore, key way  61  is configured as such that the lower extremity of simulated cobblestone  42  is in immediate adjacency with the upper extremity of endless belt  50 . As is easily recognized, the aforesaid arrangement warrants a method for securely retaining simulated cobblestones  42  for negotiating the return loop around drive pulley  46  without impairing the structural integrity of endless belt  50  including endless strengthening belts  54 . Most notably the method for securing mounting rods  58  to endless belt  50  and endless strengthening belts  54 , respectively referring to  FIG. 4 , and the method of engagement for simulated cobblestones  42  with mounting rods  58  as described above enables the lower extremity of endless belt  50  and endless strengthening belts  54  respectively to be contiguous with the outer extremity of drive pulley  46  and support panel  52  respectively, thereby providing proper traction of endless belt  50  during operation of the treadmill. It is noteworthy to mention that the aforesaid arrangement guarantees non-impairment of natural pliability of endless belt  50  having mounting rods  58  and simulated cobblestones  42  and endless strengthening belts  54  respectively when circumventing drive pulley  46 , and provides as a further advantage adaptability to pulleys of smaller circumference as may be found on certain types of common treadmills. This is of significant consequence as to the universal application of this invention to a wide array of types and readily available treadmill endless belts in commerce. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross section breakaway view of an embodiment of the present invention. Fastening eyelets  56  are disposed in counterbored holes  56 A provided to endless strengthening belts  54 . It is noteworthy to mention that the counterbore portion of hole  56 A is slightly greater in depth than the length of the shoulder for fastening eyelet  56  to assure that the underside of endless strengthening belt  54  is flush and unimpaired throughout the entire length and width thereof. Furthermore, the shoulder of each fastening eyelet  56  urges against the land of each counterbore  56 A thereby forcing the upper extremity of endless strengthening belt  54  to urge against the lower extremity of endless belt  50  by means of each fastener  60  thereof disposed to each mounting rod  58  and fastened to each eyelet  56 . The lower extremity of mounting rods  58  comprise a horizontal surface without slope, tilt or curvature respectively thereby urging the upper extremity of endless belt  50  in a contiguous fashion along the entire length and width of mounting rod  58 . All elements as labeled otherwise are referenced in  FIG. 4 . It is noteworthy to mention that the alternate holes and eyelets as shown are available for installing the mounting bars variably spaced apart thereby enhancing the flexibility of this invention providing various walking patterns tailored to the users need. Specifically, smaller or larger cobblestones at various distances from each other can be installed quickly and inexpensive without changing the running surface, which enables the use of a standard endless belt used on common treadmills. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric break away and partially exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. It is noteworthy to mention that the exploded view demonstrates the ease of assembling simulated cobblestones  42  onto the mounting rods  58  and retaining them in stationary positions by means of the spacers  44  and retainer caps  49  with fasteners  47  respectively. Furthermore, it is easily recognizable that the aforesaid method demonstrates a quick and efficient method of reinstalling simulated cobblestones of various sizes and shapes as is referenced in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively compression springs (not shown) can be applied in place of the spacers for proper retention of various sized simulated cobblestones. All elements as labeled otherwise are referenced in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 2   
       FIG. 8  is an isometric top down view of an embodiment of the present invention. The upper portion of simulated cobblestone  42  generally comprises a rounded and convex configuration whereas the lower extremity thereof comprises a horizontal surface without slope, tilt or curvature respectively. Keyway  61  there through along the horizontal plane is configured to be compliant and in immediate adjacency to the outer contour of mounting rod  58  as referenced in  FIG. 5 . It is of specific value to mention that keyway  61  and the outer contour of mounting rod  58  (not shown)—respectively have ledges as shown in FIG.  5 —to provide a positive retention of the simulated cobblestone once mounted as well as to provide an easy and quick method for exchanging the cobblestone for other cobblestones as deemed necessary. 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric bottom up view of an embodiment of the present invention. All elements as labeled otherwise are referenced in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention. The endless running surface  40 A is of identical configuration to the endless running surface  40  as referenced in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  with the exception to the shape, size and configuration of the plurality of simulated cobblestones  42 ,  42 B and  42 C respectively. These are example arrangements of various simulated cobblestone sizes and configurations divided into sections  43 A,  43 B and  43 C and separated by mounting rods  58  shown without simulated cobblestones. That means specifically that any of aforesaid sections among many other arrangements, not shown, can be installed onto the endless running surface  40  as referenced in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Section  43 A shows a combination of a plurality of simulated cobblestones  42 ,  42 A and  42 B respectively disposed to mounting rods  58 . Section  43 B shows a combination of simulated cobble stones  42  and  42 A and section  42 C shows exclusively simulated cobble stones  42 B disposed to mounting rods  58  respectively and furthermore having mounting rods  58  more densely spaced. For further clarification section  43 D shows the mounting rods  58  without cobblestones. Retainer caps  49 , spacers  44  and fasteners  47 , as referenced in  FIG. 4 , have been omitted. All elements as labeled otherwise are referenced in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 11  is a further isometric top down and break-away view of an embodiment of the present invention. A pair of simulated cobblestones  42 A are engaged with mounting rod  58  via a keyway  62  and  62 A respectively showing the pair of simulated cobblestones  42 A in alternating orientation from each other along the horizontal plane. 
       FIG. 12  is an isometric bottom up and break-away view of an embodiment of the present invention. Easily recognized are simulated cobblestones  42 A with keyway  62  axially intersecting with keyway  62 A in angular orientation to each other thereby enhancing the variability in patterns and combinations of the cobblestones beyond mounting bar spacing and simulated cobblestone size as is referenced in  FIG. 10 . All elements as labeled otherwise are referenced in  FIG. 11 . 
     The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of one best mode embodiment of the instant invention and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specifications as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specifications and by the word or words describing the element. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the embodiments of the herein described invention and its related embodiments not described are, therefore, in this specifications to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the invention and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, not known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope of the invention and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The invention and its various embodiments are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can obviously substituted, and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is the invention.