All terrain treadmill

A exercising treadmill (10) having a running platform (28) over which a treadmill belt (30) advances for walking or running thereon including a cam mechanism for adjusting the slope of the running platform (28) and an electric motor (32) for adjusting the driven speed of the treadmill belt. The exercising treadmill (10) also includes a video monitor (65) and a video tape player (66) for displaying an image of an exercising environment. Means are provided for controlling the speed of the treadmill belt (30) and slope of the running surface (28) and for synchronizing said speed and slope of the belt (30) with the speed at which the terrain of the displayed image moves and the slope of the terrain of the displayed image. Thus, the machine can be preprogrammed and fed into the control system and a video image of a race course, for example, can be displayed on the video screen synchronized with the control of the grade of the platform.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to treadmills of the type used by doctors and 
hospitals for testing the cardiac and aerobic conditioning of patients or 
for rehabilitation of such patients. Also, treadmills of this type are 
often used at health clubs by club members for aerobic workouts. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Heretofore, treadmills have been designed with either an exercising 
platform having an inclined tread surface or a horizontal tread surface 
upon which a person walks or runs in place. While such treadmills provide 
users with a good overall workout, they limit the accuracy of cardiac and 
aerobic tests and poorly simulate actual walking or running conditions. 
Furthermore, a treadmill with an inclined grade can often overstress 
certain of the leg muscles and understress various other leg muscles. In 
order to alleviate the problems, some treadmills have been designed so 
that the grade of their exercising platforms can be continually adjusted 
from a level position to a position with an inclined grade in order that 
actual walking or running conditions may be better simulated, but none of 
these known prior art machines provides a successful adjustment feature 
for the tread surface that simulates conditions of walking or running 
downhill. 
Furthermore, many people consider traditional treadmills to be an 
unexciting, tedious, and even boring way to exercise. Consequently, 
treadmills with a variety of features have been introduced in order to 
make exercising more interesting, such as treadmills with an added 
television monitor, added headphone set, and/or a heart monitoring meter. 
However, these features are simply add-on features to the basic treadmill 
and still give the user the tiring and sometimes monotonous feeling that 
he or she is still simply walking or running on a treadmill. Even 
treadmills with computerized exercise programs for automatically varying 
the grade and speed of the exercising platform have only a limited ability 
to overcome the inherent monotony of the treadmill, and the exercising 
platforms of these treadmills usually can only be positioned with their 
tread surfaces in a horizontal or in an upwardly inclined position. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to simulate actual uphill and 
downhill walking and running conditions on a treadmill and thereby to make 
treadmills more versatile and hence more interesting to use. 
It is a further object of the present invention to simulate a realistic 
exercising environment and thereby to make treadmills more interesting to 
use. 
Briefly described, the present invention, in a preferred embodiment 
thereof, is a treadmill with an exercising platform that can be adjusted 
to have an inclining, declining, or horizontal grade whereby the 
conditions of walking or running uphill, downhill, and on a flat terrain 
can be simulated. The treadmill also includes a video monitor for playing 
video footage of a course of a road race, or other outdoor exercising 
environment, and a means for synchronizing the grade of the platform with 
the video wherein the grade of the running platform is automatically 
adjusted to correspond with the continuously changing grade of the portion 
of the course shown on the video monitor. 
The arrangement of the preferred embodiment comprises a treadmill having 
variable drive means for changing the speed thereof and, in accordance 
with a feature of the invention, means for altering the slope of the 
exercising platform of the treadmill to produce either an inclining or 
declining, as well as a horizontal, moving tread surface. A video monitor 
adjacent the treadmill is adapted to display, for example, a road racing 
course as depicted on a video tape, for example. Programmable control 
means, such as a simple computer, is programmed to vary the speed and 
slope of the treadmill to correspond to changes in speed and slope of the 
course as present on the video tape, and hence the monitor. The computer 
receives a start signal from the video tape to start its program in 
synchronization with the changing scene on the video monitor, and the 
program causes it to vary the speed of the variable drive means and the 
slope of the treadmill through the slope adjusting means as the speeds and 
slopes vary in the video display. 
With the present invention, the user of the treadmill is better able to 
test his or her cardiac and aerobic conditioning because he or she can 
experience the simulated conditions of walking or running both up and down 
hills, and the user can observe a video image which enhances the sensation 
of walking or running by the relationship between the position and speed 
of the treadmill and the observed image, to the point that the user may 
actually have the illusion that he or she is out-of-doors exercising. In 
addition, with the present invention, the user is able to get an 
approximate indication of how well he or she would perform in the 
particular road race shown on the video monitor. 
The various objects, features and advantages of the present invention will 
become apparent from the following detailed description read in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like elements 
throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an all terrain treadmill 10 
that embodies the principles of the present invention in a preferred form. 
The treadmill 10 comprises a frame 11 which includes a rectangular support 
base 12 supported by legs 13 and has vertical support members 14, 15, 16, 
and 17, each comprising four support bars, extending upwardly therefrom 
for supporting various components of the treadmill. A treadmill belt 
platform assembly 18, having a pivoting end 19 and a height adjustable end 
20, is pivotally mounted at pivoting end 19 between the top portions of 
support members 14, as shown in FIG. 3, and supported at adjustable end 20 
by a cam mechanism 22, as seen in FIG. 4, which functions as a means for 
adjusting the height of end 20 relative to end 19 and base 12, and hence 
the grade or incline of the platform assembly 18. 
As shown in FIG. 1, platform assembly 18 comprises a rectangular frame 24 
which supports a flat running support surface 28 fastened at its lateral 
side edges to the side beams of frame 24 and defining an upwardly facing 
surface for supporting the upper flight of treadmill belt 30 and a person 
exercising thereon. Belt platform assembly 18 also comprises an end roller 
23 which is journaled to, and extends between, a pair of extension members 
24b on frame 24, a plurality of treadmill belt support rollers 26 
journaled to, and extending between, the side beams of frame 24 at 
longitudinally spaced intervals along the length of the frame, and 
treadmill belt drive roller 29 journaled to, and extending between, 
vertically extending support members 14. Drive roller 29 is mounted on an 
axle 25 which extends between supports 14 and is free to rotate with 
respect thereto. Axle 25 also supports the pivoting end 19 of the platform 
assembly 18 at extension members 24a of the frame 24 at points along the 
axle, such points being on an reference axis lying in a first, or 
horizontal plane above and below which the adjustable end of the platform 
assembly 18 pivots thereby changing the grade of the running surface 28. 
Reference to such first plane will be made hereinafter. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which drive roller 29 is journaled to 
support members 14 and supports extension members 24a of frame 24. The 
four vertically extending support members 14 rotatably support axle 25 of 
drive roller 29 at two points at both ends of roller 29, and between each 
of these support points is coupled belt drive means 31, as best seen in 
FIG. 2 and as will be discussed hereinafter. Alternative arrangements for 
pivoting platform assembly 18, and thereby adjusting its grade, are 
feasible, such as, for example, pivotally supporting assembly 18 at some 
point between the ends thereof and adjusting the height of one of the ends 
of the assembly. However, the arrangement of the aforementioned preferred 
embodiment performs satisfactorily in operation. 
As seen in FIG. 1, an endless treadmill belt 30 extends about displaceable 
roller 23 and drive roller 29 and along a path which defines a lower 
flight over the upper surface of the treadmill belt support rollers 26 and 
an upper flight over the surface of running support surface 28. Belt 30 is 
adapted to move rearwardly across running support surface 28 toward 
pivoting end 19 when drive roller 29 is rotated by belt drive means 31. 
Belt drive means 31 is adapted to rotate roller 29, and hence endless 
treadmill belt 30 along platform assembly 18 As shown in FIG. 2, the drive 
means 31 comprises driven sheaves 32a and 32b mounted to roller 29 between 
support members 14, drive sheaves 33a and 33b mounted to drive axle 34 
which is rotatably supported by vertically extending support members 15 of 
frame 11, V-belts 36a and 36b adapted to rotate around sheaves 32 and 33, 
and variable speed drive motor 37 for rotating drive axle 34. It should be 
understood that many types of conventional drive means that are known to 
those skilled in the art are suitable for variably controlling the 
rotation of endless belt 30 and are within the scope of the present 
invention. 
Cam mechanism 22, as best seen in FIG. 4, is adapted to raise and lower 
height adjustable end 20 of platform assembly 18 with respect to the 
previously mentioned first plane along which the reference axis of axle 25 
lies. Cam mechanism 22 comprises a cam lift arm 41 rotatably mounted to, 
and extending between, a pair of cam wheels 42a and 42b at the outer 
radial edges thereof, and cam axles 43a and 43b fixedly mounted at one of 
their ends to cam wheels 42a and 42b and rotatably mounted to vertical 
support members 16 of frame 11 at their other ends. Cam axles 43a and 43b 
are adapted to rotate wheels 42a and 42b, and hence cam lift arm 41. The 
bottom structural beams of frame 24 at adjustable end 20 of assembly 18 
are supported by cam lift arm 41 and move up and down as wheels 42a and 
42b are rotated, thus, causing the platform assembly 18 to pivot about 
pivoting end 19. 
As depicted in FIGS. 5A through 5C, when cam wheels 42a and 42b rotate in 
unison (only wheel 42b shown), cam lift arm 41 rotates about the axis of 
cam axles 43a and 43b (only axle 43b shown), whereby cam lift arm 41 moves 
up (FIG. 5B) and down (FIG. 5C) and in turn raises and lowers adjustable 
end 20 of platform assembly 18 through a range of positions extending from 
above the first plane to below the first plane, whereby the running 
support surface 28 is moved through a range of slopes extending from an 
inclined slope to a declined slope. Alternative designs for raising and 
lowering one end of platform 18 could be used, such as a pneumatically 
controlled piston/cylinder arrangement or a gear linkage arrangement 
coupled to an electric motor, such arrangements being known to those 
skilled in the art. 
As shown in FIG. 2, cam mechanism 22 also includes a cam drive means 46 for 
rotating cam wheels 42a and 42b, and which, in a preferred embodiment, 
comprises driven sheaves 47a and 47b fixedly mounted on cam axles 43a and 
43b respectively, drive sheaves 48a and 48b, mounted on a drive axle 49 
which is rotatably supported by vertical support members 17 of frame 11, 
V-belts 51a and 51b extending between the drive and driven sheaves 48a, 
47a and 48b, 47b, respectively, and an electric drive step motor 52 for 
rotating drive axle 49, and hence drive sheaves 48a and 48b, V-belts 51, 
driven sheaves 47 and cam wheels 42. 
A control panel 55 is adapted to allow the user of treadmill 10 to select 
the exercise program of his or her choosing, and control means 56 is 
adapted to receive output signals from control panel 55 and to control 
motors 37 and 52 accordingly. For example, control panel 55 may include an 
on/off switch and a speed switch for controlling the speed of the 
treadmill belt and may be designed to allow the user to choose a "flat" 
course or an "all terrain" course whereby control means 56 is adapted 
either to position cam lift arm 41 so that platform assembly 18 is 
positioned horizontally, as shown in FIG. 5A, or rotate cam lift arm 41 so 
that platform assembly 18 alternates from a horizontal position to an 
inclined position to a horizontal position to a declined position, and so 
on, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. 
As shown in FIG. 1, treadmill 10 also includes an accordion pleated curtain 
screen 57 for covering the opening between adjustable end 20 of platform 
assembly 18 and frame 11, which opening varies as cam mechanism 22 moves 
adjustable end 20 up and down. Treadmill 10 also includes a pair of guard 
rails 58 (only one shown) disposed laterally at the sides of the treadmill 
and a hand bar 59 extending between the guard rails for assisting the user 
in maintaining his or her balance during operation. 
The present invention also comprises, in addition to the features discussed 
hereinbefore, a display means, such as, for example, video monitor 65 and 
a tape player 66, wherein tape player 66 is adapted to play a video tape 
and monitor 65 is adapted to receive the video signal from the tape and 
display a visual image. As the user of the treadmill is walking or running 
on platform assembly 18, he or she can view, for example, the course of a 
popular road race on monitor 65. Also, the control means 56 is adapted to 
receive, for example, a tape or disc or other suitable program means known 
to those skilled in the art, preprogrammed in conjunction with the video 
tape of the display means whereby control means 56 receives signals from 
the tape or disc and adjusts the speed of treadmill belt 30 and grade of 
platform assembly 18 in accordance with the visual image displayed on 
monitor 65. Control means 56 is also adapted to synchronize the 
pre-programmed tape or disc with the video tape player 66 by receiving a 
timing signal from the video tape player 66 whereby control means 56 
starts playing the pre-programmed tape when this timing signal is 
received. The video tape of the road race may be produced by moving a 
camera along the course of the road race at a predetermined speed, and the 
preprogrammed tape or disc can thereafter be programmed with the 
information of the speed of the camera and the progressively changing 
grade of the road race course. In operation, the user will see the course 
of the road race while running on running surface 28 with endless belt 30 
moving at a speed in correspondence with the visual image and with 
platform assembly 18 tilted to the corresponding grade of the portion of 
the course shown on the monitor. The timing signal received from tape 
player 66 serves to ensure that the grade changes of platform assembly 18 
correspond to the grade changes of the course shown on the monitor. Other 
scenes can be filmed and programmed onto the tapes or discs, such as 
mountain and beach scenes, and the speed at which the scenes are filmed 
can be varied, with the pre-programmed tape programmed accordingly, for 
allowing the user to experience varying speed conditions. Also, tape 
player 66 may include a means (not shown) for connecting a head set to 
control panel 55 whereby the user can listen to an audio signal from the 
tape player. For clarity, the various connecting wires among the several 
parts have not been shown. 
With the present invention, walkers and runners can select the course they 
would like to train for from, for example, a health center's audio/video 
library of exercise courses; doctors can make audio/video exercise 
programs to fit the exact needs of heart patients; and trainers can make 
audio/video programs to help in the rehabilitation of injured athletes and 
other patients. 
It will be understood that the foregoing relates only to a preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, and that numerous changes and 
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.