Abstract:
A treadmill device includes dual reciprocating treads mounted in side-by-side relation. First ends of the treadmills are pivotably mounted on a base and second ends of the treadmills are pivotably movable upwardly and downwardly through a range of motion. The second ends of the treadmills are independently supported by an interconnection system that creates dependent movement of the treadmills, i.e. downward movement of one treadmill causes corresponding upward movement of the other treadmill.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus that includes a treadmill with two side-by-side treads that reciprocate up and down during use. More specifically, the present invention relates to an exercise apparatus that includes a treadmill with two side-by-side treads that reciprocate up and down in an interlocked fashion that allows angle and resistance adjustment during use thereby providing the benefits of both walking and stair climbing. 
         [0002]    Treadmill apparatus of the type contemplated herein have heretofore been known in the art. Prior art patents disclose a treadmill with dual reciprocating treads comprising a frame and two side-by-side treadmills each having a continuous tread and first and second ends. The first ends of the two treadmills are pivotably supported on a base portion of the frame by a roller shaft which extends through the treadmill rollers. The opposing ends of the treadmills are independently supported by spring-return hydraulic cylinders which are connected between the treadmills and spaced support members of the frame. The continuous treads are driven by a motor which is coupled to the roller shaft. The two treadmills alternately pivot up and down about the axis of the roller shaft as a user treads thereon to provide the aerobic benefits of both walking and stair climbing. 
         [0003]    While this prior art device is highly effective, there are several perceived flaws in the construction despite wide scale commercial production. In the prior art construction, the articulating platforms are supported on the sides by two cylinders. This design creates a cantilevered support system for the tread platforms which is believed to be flawed. Because of the cantilevered support system, the platforms are allowed to twist along their length, front to rear. This twisting effective causes the tread to wander side to side and come completely off the platforms, which in turn makes uniform tread alignment difficult and requires expensive structure to overcome. At best, the problem causes excessive wear to the tread itself and to the cylinder. The platform twisting bends the cylinder rods as the platforms move up and down and wears out the cylinder seals prematurely. The present device eliminates the cantilevered support system by placing the cylinders at the centerline of the forward end of the tread platform. By placing the cylinders on the centerline, the weight is distributed evenly and there is no twisting of the platform. 
         [0004]    Further, in the prior art construction, the tread platforms are not interconnected, i.e. they move independent of one another. It has been found that operators of the prior art, device experienced difficulty feeling properly balanced on the treads. 
         [0005]    There is therefore a need for an improved exercise apparatus that includes a treadmill with two side-by-side treads that reciprocate up and down in an interlocked fashion that allows angle and resistance adjustment during use thereby providing the benefits of both walking and stair climbing. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In this regard, the present invention provides for an exercise apparatus that includes a treadmill with two side-by-side treads that reciprocate up and down during use. The present device further includes a platform interconnect system so that tread movement is dependent. In the prior art construction, the tread platforms are not interconnected, i.e. they move independent of one another. It has been found that operators of the prior art, i.e. non-interconnected, device experienced difficulty feeling properly balanced on the treads. Interconnection of the treads is believed to be a significant improvement for operator stability and comfort in using the device. 
         [0007]    The present device still further includes an adjustment system for adjusting the articulated range of movement of the tread platforms. The starting angle of the platforms is critical to the function of the machine and an optimal range of motion for the starting and stopping points of platform travel exists. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision of an exercise device which offers the benefits of both walking and stair climbing; the provision of an exercise device that can be operated in three modalities including treadmill, stair climber and combined treadmill stair climber; the provision of an exercise device that feels comfortable and stable to use; the provision of an exercise device that provide adjustments for uphill and downhill modalities; and the provision of a treadmill with dual reciprocating treads that is simple is design and construction, and that allows for easy tread replacement. 
         [0009]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior art exercise apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the front end of one tread; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4-6  are various embodiments of a tread interconnect system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Now referring to the drawings, the treadmill of the present invention is illustrated and generally indicated at  10  in  FIGS. 2-6 . As will hereinafter be more fully described, the treadmill apparatus includes dual reciprocating treads that effectively provide the benefits of both walking and stair climbing simultaneously. The treadmill apparatus comprises a frame generally indicated at  12 , first and second side-by-side treadmills generally indicated at  14 , and a drive mechanism. 
         [0016]    The frame  12  is preferably constructed from tubular steel, and it preferably comprises a base, and two spaced support members. The spaced support members are identical in construction, each comprising a horizontal runner portion that extends outwardly from the base portion, a vertical rail portion extending upwardly from the end of the runner, a horizontal hand rail that returns from the top of the vertical rail portion, and an interconnect portion connecting the rear end of the hand rail with the treadmill platform. The support members are maintained in spaced relation by two cross-members, one located between the runner portions, and a second located between the vertical rail portions. 
         [0017]    The two treadmills  14  are identical in construction, each preferably comprising a rigid treadmill platform  16 , rollers  18  rotatably mounted at each of the first and second ends of the platform  16 , and a continuous tread  20  which extends around the platform  16  and is rotatably supported by the rollers  18 . The rear end of the treadmills  14  are pivotably mounted to the frame in side-by-side adjacent relation by an elongated roller shaft which extends through the rollers at the rear ends of the treadmills. The treadmills  14  pivot upwardly and downwardly about the axis of the roller shaft. The second ends of the treadmills  14  are supported in an inclined position by a tread interconnect system  22 . The tread interconnect system  22  includes a pair of pivotal brackets  24 , one on the first end of each of the treadmills  14 . An interconnect cable  26  then extends between the two brackets  24  and loops up over an interconnect support  28  that will be described in further detail below. 
         [0018]    A drive mechanism is provided to the tread mills  14  and serves to drive the belts  20  as in a conventional treadmill. Since both treadmills  14  are driven by a common roller shaft, the continuous treads  20  are driven at the same speed. 
         [0019]    The tread interconnect  22  is mounted between two uprights of the frame  12 . The cable  26  extends upwardly and is supported by the tread interconnect  22 . The interconnect  22  is pivotally received in the frame members and its height is adjustable within slots  30  or other acceptable adjustment arrangements as are well known in the art. In this manner the interconnect  22  can be moved up or down to adjust the angle of the treads  14  creating a flat, uphill or downhill angle of travel for the user. 
         [0020]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 4-6 , the cable  26  or other flexible means such as a cog belt interconnects the first ends of the treads and then supports the treads by passing over pulleys on the interconnect system  22 . The pulleys allow the introduction of a resistance control element  32  that increases the force needed to move the treads up and down and/or a pulley  34  for length adjustment of the cable to control the length of travel of the treads. Further while a resistance element  32  is shown, other resistance systems may be added to interact with the cable  26  such as adjustable friction in the pulleys themselves. 
         [0021]    In operation, a user stands with one leg positioned on each of the side-by-side treadmills  14 , and then walks on the treadmills  14  at a pace equal to the speed of the continuous treads  20 , i.e. in the same manner as a conventional treadmill. As the user alternates his steps and transfers his weight back and forth between the two treadmills  14 , the treadmills  14  alternately pivot up and down against the resistance on the interconnect cable  26 . More specifically, when the user steps forward with one foot onto the inclined end of the respective treadmill  14 , the treadmill  14  pivots downwardly about the axis of the roller shaft  36  against the resistance of the cable causing the opposite tread  14  to rise upwardly. Thereafter, the rotating tread  20  moves the user&#39;s foot rearwardly toward the second end of the treadmill  14  until the user steps forward with the opposite foot onto the inclined end of the opposite treadmill  14  wherein the second treadmill  14  pivots downwardly and the first treadmill  14  is returned upwardly to its original position by the interconnect cable  26 . Accordingly, it can be seen that as a user treads upon the treadmills  14 , they alternately reciprocate up and down in a manner similar to a stair climbing device. 
         [0022]    The treadmill apparatus  10  is further provided with an electronic control and monitoring device which is operative for controlling motor speed, and for measuring and displaying time, horizontal distance traveled, vertical distance traveled, calories burned, heart rate, and other exercise variables. It is contemplated that the electronic control device can include a graphical display which graphically charts the average inclination being traveled by the user by extrapolating the horizontal and vertical distances traveled. The control device is preferably mounted on the frame so that it is readily accessible to the user during operation of the treadmill  10 . 
         [0023]    It can therefore be seen that the instant invention provides an exercise device  10  which is effective for simultaneously providing the exercise benefits of both a conventional treadmill and a stair climbing apparatus. The treadmill apparatus  10  includes dual side-by-side treadmills  14  which operate in a conventional manner to simulate walking. In addition, the dual treadmills  14  pivot up and down as a user treads thereon to simultaneously simulate climbing stairs. The exercise device  10  is simple in design, and construction, and it is inexpensive to manufacture. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art which has substantial commercial merit. 
         [0024]    While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.