Abstract:
A cushioned treadmill is provided for cushioning impact between a runner&#39;s feet and the treadmill platform. The cushioned treadmill includes a base and a platform coupled to the base. The platform has a first side and a second side. A belt assembly is coupled to and extends between the first side and the second side of the platform. The belt assembly includes a movable belt forming a running surface designed for supporting a user on the platform. A cushioning material is contained in a flexible bladder positioned in the platform beneath the running surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to treadmill devices and more particularly pertains to a new treadmill device for cushioning impact between a runner&#39;s feet and the treadmill platform by providing a bladder within the platform structure beneath the treadmill belt. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base and a platform coupled to the base. The platform has a first side and a second side. A belt assembly is coupled to and extends between the first side and the second side of the platform. The belt assembly includes a movable belt forming a running surface designed for supporting a user on the platform. A cushioning material is contained in a flexible bladder positioned in the platform beneath the running surface. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of a cushioned treadmill according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded top side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new treadmill device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the cushioned treadmill  10  generally comprises a base  12  and a platform  14  coupled to the base  12 . The platform  14  has a first side  16  and a second side  18 . A belt assembly  20  is coupled to and extends between the first side  16  and the second side  18  of the platform  14 . The belt assembly  20  includes a movable belt  22  forming a running surface  24  designed for supporting a user on the platform  14 . A granular cushioning material  26  is contained in a flexible bladder  28 . The bladder  28  is positioned in the platform  14  beneath the running surface  24 . Using sand  30  in the bladder  28  simulates the experience of running on sand. 
     A drawer  32  is provided having a bottom  34  and a perimeter wall  36  extending upwardly from the bottom  34 . The drawer  32  is coupled to the first side  16  of the platform  14 . The bladder  28  is positionable in the drawer  32 . The bladder  28  is also configured to rest against the perimeter wall  36  of the drawer  32  to provide lateral support to the bladder  28  during use. The drawer  32  is slidable between an open position  38  providing access to the bladder  28  and a closed position  40  wherein the bladder  28  is positioned beneath the running surface  24 . 
     A track  42  is coupled to the drawer  32 . The track  42  extends along a length of the drawer  32 . A roller assembly  44  is coupled to the track  42  and extends across the bottom  34  of the drawer  32 . The roller assembly  44  is movable along the track  42  beneath the bladder  28  to enhance even distribution of the cushioning material  26  within the bladder  28 . A handle  94  extends from a distal end  46  of said roller assembly  44  relative to the track  42 . The handle  94  is structured for positioning adjacent to a forward edge  48  of the bladder  28  to slide along the forward edge  48  of the bladder  28  to facilitate manipulation of the roller assembly  44  to move the roller assembly  44  in the track  42 . The handle  94  further extends upwardly and is configured to have an upper end  100  that extends upwardly from a top surface  102  of the bladder  28  to facilitate grasping of the handle  94 . A recess  50  may be positioned in the bottom  34  of the drawer  32 . The recess  50  extends transversely from an end  52  of the track  42 . The roller assembly  44  is storable in the recess  50  while the user runs on the running surface  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the roller assembly  44  includes a wheel  96  positioned in the track  42 . A rod  98  extends from the wheel  96 . A roller  98  is coupled to the rod  98  adjacent to the handle  94 . The roller assembly  44  may also be motorized to move said wheel  96  in said track  42 . 
     A first support  54  has an angled medial section  58  and a lower end  56  coupled to the base  12 . The first support  54  extends upwardly from the base  12 . A second support  60  has an angled medial section  64  and a lower end  62  coupled to the base  12 . The second support  60  extends upwardly from the base  12 . A motor  66  is positioned in the base  12  and operationally coupled to the belt assembly  20 . A control panel  68  is operationally coupled to the motor  66  for controlling the belt assembly  20 . The control panel  68  is structurally coupled to the first support  54  and the second support  60 . For better access during use, the control panel  68  extends between the angled medial section  58  of the first support  54  and the angled medial section  64  of the second support  60 . The control panel  68  may also be operationally coupled to the roller assembly  44  to permit operation of the roller assembly  44  by pushing a button on the control panel  68 . 
     A first fan  70  is coupled to the first support  54 . The first fan  70  is designed for directing air towards the user while the user is supported on the platform  14 . The first fan  70  is selectively removable from the first support  54  if desired. A slot  72  is positioned in a top  74  of the first support  54 . A tab  76  extends from a bottom  78  of the first fan  70 . The tab  76  extending from the bottom  78  of the first fan  70  is insertable into the slot  72  in the top  74  of the first support  70  to support the first fan  70  on the top  74  of the first support  70  in a stable position. Similarly, a second fan  80  is coupled to the second support  60 . The second fan  80  is also designed for directing air towards the user while the user is supported on the platform  14 . The second fan  80  is selectively removable from the second support  60 . A slot  82  is positioned in a top  84  of the second support  60 . A tab  86  extends from a bottom  88  of the second fan  80 . The tab  86  on the bottom  88  of the second fan  80  is insertable into the slot  82  of the second support  60  to support the second fan  80  on the top  84  of the second support  60  in a stable position. 
     A first handlebar  90  extends outwardly from the first support  54 . The first handlebar  90  is positioned over the first side  16  of the platform  14 . A second handlebar  92  extends outwardly from the second support  60 . The second handlebar  92  is positioned over the second side  16  of the platform  14  to permit the user to run on the running surface  24  without interference from the first handlebar  90  and the second handlebar  92 . However, the first handlebar  90  and the second handlebar  92  remain conveniently positioned adjacent the user during use. 
     In use, the bladder  28  is filled with a granular cushioning material  26  such as sand  30 . The control panel  68  is used to operate the belt assembly  20  by activating the motor  66  to move the belt  22  over the bladder  28 . After or immediately prior to use, the roller assembly  44  may be passed under the bladder  28  to enhance even distribution of the granular cushioning material  26  in the bladder  28 . One of both fans  70 , 80  may be attached to the supports  54 , 60  for simple cooling or to further enhance a simulation of running on the beach by providing the simulation of breezes on a beach. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.