Patent Publication Number: US-2018043207-A1

Title: Treadmill

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/720,740, filed on May 23, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 62/178,203, filed on Apr. 2, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to the exercise equipment field, and in particular, to treadmills having improvements in one or more areas such as deck support, deck positioning, console positioning and electronic controls. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern society has created a lifestyle for many members of society that can be characterized as sedentary, with many hours of minimal or no physical activity, typically sitting at a desk or computer. Simultaneously, the diet of many people has deteriorated, with ensuing obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many other modern diseases. This lifestyle has also led to high growth in the cost of health care for society. 
     Many of the above issues can be addressed through exercise. The treadmill is one of the most popular exercise machines available, and could play a major role in addressing issues of health and fitness. The treadmill typically provides a continuous rotating surface on which individuals can run or walk in place. In some cases, the surface is formed from an elastic belt driven by rollers and supported by an underlying rigid deck. In other cases, the surface may be formed from a series of rigid slats running perpendicular to the direction of rotation. In both scenarios, a drive motor propels the surface, typically at a variable speed. Often times, an incline motor is able to adjust the angle of the rotating treadmill running or walking surface to simulate uphill and/or downhill movement. 
     However the treadmill, which has been around for many decades, still has many unresolved shortcomings that discourage a wider use. Two major shortcomings of treadmills are: 
     a) Impact: potential damage to joints because of repetitive impact, which eventually causes fatigue failure to joints or bones. Fatigue is a well-known effect in engineering and well described by the Woehler curve, which causes failure of mechanical components due to stresses that can be well tolerated if they happen occasionally but will lead to failure if applied repetitively; an analogy would be bending a wire a couple of times, which probably will not cause damage to the wire, but if that is repeated back and forth many times, it is likely that the wire will break. The legs can be subjected to hundreds of thousands of repetitive impacts on a conventional treadmill, so fatigue is a very real issue in these machines; and 
     b) boredom during usage of the treadmill, which leads to users giving up and not coming back to the treadmill, which often becomes a dust collector in a household. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may address those and/or other issues. Some embodiments provide a technological solution that reduces repetitive impact injury to users and at the same time keeps users motivated to continue the regular usage of the treadmill. Embodiments also integrate the diet and other types of exercise into the treadmill usage program to create a comprehensive lifestyle management system that revolves around the treadmill. 
     There have been many unsuccessful attempts to resolve the above issues, which continue to plague even the latest, most advanced treadmills. One early attempt is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,831, which discloses a treadmill with a complex system of dampeners and lever arms located under the deck of the treadmill, intended to reduce the intensity of the impacts on the user. The proposed structure has issues of excessive complexity and high cost, as well as non-adjustability, meaning that all users are treated equally, despite differences in size, weight, age, gender, health condition, prior injuries, and the like. 
     Another attempt in the prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,810, which discloses a treadmill pivoted at its rear end and resting on a spring/shock absorber combination located at the forward end of the treadmill. This arrangement provides very limited and partial dampening at best, because the rear of the treadmill is sitting undampened on a rigid steel bar. In addition, this system is also non-adjustable and non-controllable. 
     A further attempt is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,155, which discloses a dampening system based on a longitudinally extending leaf spring (similar to some truck suspensions). This system tries to provide some adjustability through possible longitudinal movement of an adjustment metal bar along the treadmill. However, the complexity, cost and weight of such a system make it impractical. In addition, a user would have to stop the treadmill and climb underneath to do any adjustments, and repeat this trial and error procedure until the right point is reached, which is not something most users would be willing to do. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,528 shows a treadmill equipped with air-filled rubber bladders which are laid between the side rails of the treadmill and its deck. Therefore the rubber surface of the bladders is in direct contact, “sandwiched” between the metal rail on one side and the wooden deck on the other side. This arrangement is susceptible to wear, noise, potential cuts and punctures, air leaks, high cost and short useful life of the bladders. It is believed to be an impractical approach that has never reached wide scale commercial implementation, likely for the reasons just mentioned. That same patent mentions as an alternative the use of foam or rubber strips instead of the air bladders. That is a more practical approach that has been used for many years, but of course it lacks adjustability. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,435,160 (“the &#39;160 Patent”) discloses a treadmill based on two main features: a) a set of wheels at the rear end of the treadmill, with said wheels sitting directly on the floor and providing a pivoting axis around which the whole upper structure of the treadmill can be rotated and raised, and b) a set of air springs at the front end of the treadmill intended to cushion the upper structure of the treadmill. This proposed structure has several disadvantages and shortcomings. A major disadvantage is that it dampens only the front of the treadmill, while the rear wheels sit undampened directly on the floor (which is rigid and generates impact reaction forces that may continue to hit the user). It is the equivalent of a car with dampeners only in the front; nobody would be happy inside such a car, not only the rear passengers who would get the full impact of any bumps but also the front passengers, because they would get a substantial portion of those impacts as well (the metal structure propagates the impacts to everybody). A second major issue with that proposed configuration is that the full weight of the treadmill upper structure (including its heavy metal frame structure, deck, stepping board, belt and other components plus user weight) has to be carried by the air springs. That makes it necessary to use relatively stiff air springs with high internal air pressure, and the ability to dampen the user is severely limited (the air springs have to be designed to carry the machine weight plus the person, not just the person). The result is a relatively stiff ride with significant user impact. 
     A further problem in the &#39;160 Patent is the unnatural pivoting motion of the user when potentially using such a machine. Instead of experiencing the normal, primarily vertical “ups and downs” of a walk, the user would be subject to a repetitive circular motion around the contact point of the rear wheel on the floor, which may feel unnatural and potentially uncomfortable or dizzying. 
     Another issue in &#39;160 Patent is the absence of a complete dampening system. In some ways, the air springs are analogous to rubber balls at relatively high pressure, potentially behaving in a “springy” and “bouncy” manner. The undampened air springs can lead to an uncomfortable ride on the treadmill. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,592 describes another approach to reduce impact, based on a foamed cushion layer. Similar foam or polymer layer approaches have been used for many years, but they provide limited cushioning and very limited or no adjustability to different users. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,968,163 addresses the issue of impact and weight by providing a set of supports including a saddle to enable a user to exercise with minimal weight or impact on the body. This is intended primarily for therapy purposes. 
     Another major problem with treadmills is their boring nature which makes many users abandon their exercise program. There have been attempts to address that by connecting video players, TV monitors or computers to the treadmill, in order to be able to provide entertainment and games. U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,295 describes an interface to a computer that constantly displays a speed target to keep the user motivated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,084 describes a motivational display. U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,191 combines the treadmill with a game of chance to maintain motivation and interest. U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,459 describes a game to help keep the treadmill user interested. U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,513 describes an exercise apparatus that can interact with an external video game console such as a Nintendo machine and/or a TV display. Despite all those ideas and concepts, the problem of boredom remains largely unsolved and many users quit the use of the treadmill after a short period of time due to boredom. 
     Some embodiments of the present invention addresses some or all of the health and the boredom issues in treadmills in a novel way that can revolutionize the use of this type of exercise equipment with huge benefits for individuals and society. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes treadmills having improved systems for deck suspension, orientation adjustability and electronic control. In accordance with one aspect, a treadmill includes a rigid treadmill frame, the frame supporting a front roller and rear roller. A flexible belt wraps around the front roller and rear roller. A rigid planar treadmill deck is interposed between the front and rear rollers, beneath the top portion of the belt. The deck is fully suspended relative to the frame by a plurality of air suspension elements. A double hinge may be provided to movably connect the deck with the frame. In some embodiments, one or more of the air suspension elements is formed from an upper fitting, which is secured to the deck, and a lower fitting, which is secured to the frame. A membrane encloses a volume of air between the upper and lower fittings. In some embodiments, the upper and lower fitting are formed from metal, and the membrane is an elastic membrane. 
     In some embodiments, the air suspension elements include a dampening mechanism. For example, the upper and lower fittings may be interconnected by a dampening strap to limit movement of the upper and lower fittings away from one another during unloading of the air suspension element. Such a dampening strap may be, e.g., a fabric strap or an elastic strap. In other embodiments, a dampening mechanism may include a damping piston attached to one of the upper or lower fittings, and a receptacle attached to the other fitting, with the piston configured for movement within the receptacle during loading and unloading of the air suspension element. In some embodiments, the receptacle may be fluid-filled; the piston may include a first orifice enabling bi-direction fluid flow between a first side of the piston and a second side of the piston, with a check valve enabling unidirectional fluid flow from the first side of the piston to the second side of the piston. 
     A system for maintaining a desired level of pressure within the air suspension elements may be provided. In some embodiments, the treadmill includes an air reservoir. The air reservoir may be interconnected with one or more of the air suspension elements by air lines. An electronically-controlled compressor may be operable to control air pressure within the reservoir. In some embodiments, an air pressure sensor may be included to provide output indicative of the measured air pressure within one or more locations such as the air reservoir or one or more air suspension elements. A control input may be provided to the air compressor to control its actuation, thereby contributing to the control of air pressure within the air reservoir. Compressor control inputs may be determined based on one or more factors. In some embodiments, such factors may include one or more of belt speed, user impact level, and a user-controlled configuration setting. 
     In some embodiments, treadmill components such as the belt drive motor, incline motor, and compressor, may be positioned within an area defined by the flexible belt. 
     In some embodiments, a treadmill may include a walking layer, a middle layer below the walking layer, and a foundation layer resting on a ground surface. The walking layer may be fully suspended relative to the middle layer by a plurality of air suspension elements, such as bellows. An incline mechanism may articulate the middle layer relative to the foundation layer to control incline of the treadmill. In other embodiments, a treadmill may include a walking layer suspended directly over a foundation layer via air suspension elements. 
     Deckless treadmills may also be implemented. In some such embodiments, a plurality of adjacent slats extend across a treadmill running surface perpendicularly to the direction of travel. The slats are movably mounted on a slat guide. One or more air suspension elements interconnect the slat guide with a rigid frame. The slat guide may be fully suspended by the air suspension elements, relative to the rigid frame. Various air suspension elements designs may be utilized. 
     In accordance with another aspect, an incline mechanism may be provided. In some such embodiments, a treadmill may include a rigid frame with left and right rails. Incline mechanism slots extend longitudinally within each of the left and right rails. An incline crossbar extends between the left and right rails, with ends extending through each of the incline mechanism slots. Left and right incline support bars each have proximal ends rotatably connected with the incline crossbar ends, and distal ends which may include wheels. Linkage bars have proximal ends rotatably connected with the rails at a position forward of the incline mechanism slots, and distal ends rotatably connected with the incline support bars. An incline motor can operate to rotate a lead screw, which is threaded through an incline mechanism control nut secured to the incline crossbar. Operation of the incline motor alternatively deploys and retracts the incline support bars to increase and decrease the angle of treadmill incline. 
     A treadmill decline mechanism may also be provided, to position the treadmill into declining angles. Decline mechanism slots may be provided within the left and right rails, with a decline crossbar extending between the rails through the decline mechanism slots. Decline support bars have proximal ends rotatably connected with the rails, and a middle portion rotatably connected with decline linkage bars. The decline linkage bars have opposite ends rotatably connected with the decline crossbar. A decline mechanism control nut is secured to the decline crossbar, with the incline motor lead screw threaded through it. In some embodiments, rotation of the lead screw can cause retraction of the incline support bars, followed by deployment of the decline support bars. In some embodiments, upright poles are connected with the treadmill frame, and move with it during inclination of the treadmill. An electronic display can be mounted on the upright poles. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a treadmill includes a continuous rotating surface and a drive motor controlling rotary motion of the rotating surface. An external digital interface, such as an electrical connector or wireless transceiver, is adapted for communication with an external computer. A control board received input via the external digital interface and provides an output control signal to the drive motor. The treadmill may include other systems, sensors and controls, such as electromechanical devices like an incline motor, fan and/or compressor, which receive control signals from the control board, which is in turn controlled by signals received from the external digital interface. In some embodiments, devices such as a mobile phone, tablet or computer may therefore be utilized to control the treadmill. 
     In accordance with another aspect, methods and systems for digital networking of exercise equipment are provided. In some embodiments, a method is provided for displaying digital media on a plurality of exercise machines. Digital media files are downloaded via the Internet onto a central digital storage device managed by an Internet-connected server. The server receives a request from one of the exercise machines for digital medial files. The requested digital media files are transferred from the central server to the requesting exercise machine, either via bulk download for storage on a local exercise machine storage device, or via streaming over a network. 
     Various other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention and embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art treadmill. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation of a prior art treadmill belt, rollers and deck. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation of another prior art treadmill embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation of another prior art treadmill embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded elevation of the incline mechanism of the treadmill of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a treadmill, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a treadmill in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 7  is a lower perspective view of a treadmill in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of a treadmill in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a treadmill in a declined position. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a treadmill with removed side covers. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a treadmill with removed side covers in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a treadmill with removed side covers in an declined position. 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of a treadmill with removed belt. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of an incline/ decline mechanism. 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of a treadmill deck mounting apparatus. 
         FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of a treadmill deck suspension. 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of a treadmill air suspension system. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a treadmill embodiment with components positioned below the belt. 
         FIG. 19  is the treadmill of  FIG. 18  in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 20  is a side elevation cutaway view of the treadmill of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the deck suspension in the treadmill of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 22  is an elevation of an air suspension element, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is section A-A of the air suspension element of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is an elevation of another air suspension element embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is section A-A of the air suspension element of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a partial top plan view of a deckless treadmill embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is an elevation of the embodiment of  FIG. 26 , with covers removed and suspension exposed. 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic block diagram of a computerized treadmill control system. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a treadmill with computer dock. 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a treadmill with tablet computer dock. 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a treadmill with a smart phone dock. 
         FIG. 32  is a schematic block diagram of a digital communications network for exercise machines. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a treadmill embodiment having a walking layer, middle layer and foundation layer. 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 33 , with uprights and belt roller covers removed. 
         FIG. 35  is a perspective view of the treadmill of  FIG. 34 , with side rails and belt removed. 
         FIG. 36  is a perspective view of the treadmill of  FIG. 35 , in an inclined orientation. 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view of the treadmill of  FIG. 36 , with side rails removed. 
         FIG. 38  is a perspective view of the treadmill of  FIG. 37 , with deck removed. 
         FIG. 39  is a side elevation of the treadmill of  FIG. 38 . 
         FIG. 40  is a front perspective view of the treadmill of  FIG. 38 . 
         FIG. 41  is a partial cutaway view of a front portion of the treadmill of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 42  is a perspective view of an alignment element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a typical prior art treadmill. The belt  1  is a rubber belt that the user walks on. The belt wraps around rear roller  2  and front roller  3 . On both sides of the treadmill there are stepping boards  4  that the user can use to rest on without walking. The stepping boards are mounted on the side rails  8 , which are rigid metal beams that define a strong frame, to which various components are mounted, such as rollers  2  and  3 . Upright poles  5  provide to the user through the handlebars  6 , and also carry the console  9 . Base  7  supports the upright poles  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal cross-section of the belt mechanism in the prior art treadmill of  FIG. 1 , with the front roller  3 , the rear roller  2 , the belt  1  and deck  24 . The belt  1  is a relatively thin, flexible belt that would not be able to carry a person walking on it without additional support. The user&#39;s weight is carried by deck  24 , which is typical a large, rigid, flat board located under the belt. Decks are commonly made of wood or MDF (medium density fiberboard). The surface of the board is treated to make it smooth and slippery so that the belt can easily slide on it. The deck is attached to side rails  8  of the treadmill. 
     The opportunity for repetitive stress injury using prior art treadmills can be perceived via a further look at  FIG. 2 . The user is ultimately walking or running on a heavy, rigid MDF plank  24 , which in turns is sitting on rigid metal beams. That typically constitutes a very rigid, unforgiving walking or running surface. Some manufacturers insert rubber blocks between the MDF deck and the supporting metal beams, but that does little to reduce the severity of the repetitive impacts and the potential damage to the user&#39;s joints and bones. 
       FIG. 3  shows another important feature of many prior art treadmills: the ability to incline the deck and belt to increase exercise intensity by simulating uphill walking or running. Incline motor  35  is located under the upper structure  31  of the treadmill. The upper structure pivots around the base  36  of the treadmill. The upper structure includes the belt, the rollers, the MDF deck, the side rails and other components, described further below in connection with  FIG. 4 . Incline motor  35  is typically a linear motor with an actuator  34  that extends linearly when the motor is turned, lifting the front end of upper structure  31  relative to base  36 . Console pole  32  carries the console  33 . The base  36  extends rearward from the rear belt roller, creating a compartment  37  slightly behind the treadmill. The purpose of this compartment  37  is to contain an electric motor that propels the belt (not shown). Some treadmills have a slightly different configuration, with a motor hanging from the bottom of the upper structure  31 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a longitudinal cross-section of the prior art treadmill of  FIG. 3 , further clarifying the internal components of the treadmill. The electric belt motor  48  is located inside the compartment  37 , and propels the rear roller  49  via a short transmission belt  42 , thereby propelling the running belt  41  on top of MDF deck  43 . The desired incline angle of the running surface  41  is determined by the incline motor  45 , which is typically a linear motor with a lead screw  50  which engages with the mating nut  44 . The nut is attached to a pivot point  46 . The incline motor  45  is rotatably attached to a pivot point  47 . The motor  45  causes the lead screw  50  to rotate. That rotation causes the nut  44  to unwind and move axially away from the motor. Thus the distance between pivot points  47  and  46  is increased, causing the rotable part of the treadmill structure with belt  41  to rotate upwards and increasing the incline angle to a steeper position. 
       FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of the details of the incline motor mechanism for better clarity. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an improved treadmill. Instead of the traditional large console of prior art treadmills with numerous buttons and physical controls, the treadmill of  FIG. 5  uses a touchscreen display for user interaction. The large number of buttons and controls that are typical of prior art treadmills is preferably absent; instead the computerized treadmill of  FIG. 5  relies almost completely on the touchscreen to interface with the user. It is believed that most users of prior art treadmills do not use many of the buttons and controls, and instead use almost exclusively the speed buttons (up and down), because they don&#39;t have the patience or desire to try to understand and utilize a wide array of buttons and controls, many of which may be unintuitive. That aggravates the problem of boredom, because most users don&#39;t take advantage of exercise programs or entertainment programs, even to the extent they are made available by the treadmill. Embodiments of a treadmill touchscreen interface can introduce intuitive user interfaces and dynamic screens that create user engagement and entertainment, taking advantage of the fact that most users are already familiar with user interactions common on computer, tablet and smartphone interfaces, which are much easier than learning how to use proprietary arrangements of physical buttons and controls. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , smart treadmill  60  includes touchscreen display  61 . Handlebar  62  can provide support to the user as needed. Upright poles  63  support handlebar  62  and display  61 . Belt  64  is propelled by large, oversized rollers housed under the covers  65 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates how treadmill  60  can be inclined to increase energy consumption by the user. A lifting linkage mechanism is provided, preferably including support bar mechanisms on both of the left and right sides of the bottom side of treadmill  60 . Left side support bar  75 A, which has a support bar wheel or roller  77 A towards its distal end, at a point of contact with the floor, is deployed downwards by operation of an electric motor mechanism described further below. As a result, the front of the treadmill is lifted, pivoting about rear wheels  76  and  78 , mounted on the underside of the treadmill frame towards the rear of treadmill  60 . Support bar  75 A is connected with linkage bar  79 A as part of a lifting linkage mechanism which is explained in more detail in the following figures. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the underside of treadmill  60 , to further clarify the lifting linkage mechanisms. A distal end of linkage bar  79 A is attached to support bar  75 A via a hinge mechanism positioned towards the middle of support bar  75 A. The proximal end of linkage bar  79 A is mounted to the treadmill frame via a fixed hinge, as illustrated further, e.g., below and in  FIG. 11 . The left side incline mechanism is substantially replicated on the right side of treadmill  60  by support bar  75 B, wheel  77 B and linkage bar  79 B. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates treadmill  60  in a high degree of incline, which can be achieved through the special incline mechanism geometry described herein. Embodiments of the treadmill of  FIG. 8  are believed to be able to achieve inclines of approximately 60%, which compares favorably with the maximum incline of 40% that certain prior art treadmills have been able to achieve. Another advantage of the special geometry of treadmill  60  is that when the treadmill is inclined, display  61  and handlebar  62  rise with the walking/running surface of belt  74 , by virtue of being mounted on upright poles  63 , which in turn are connected with a common frame with the belt rollers. By raising display  61  in conjunction with belt  74 , a relatively consistent distance can be maintained between the user and display  61  at varying levels of incline. Such a configuration may be advantageous to users compared to prior art treadmills having a console and handlebar resting at fixed elevation relative to the floor, such that the distance from the user&#39;s upper body increases substantially when the treadmill is inclined, forcing the user to adopt an uncomfortable posture and hold on to special extended supports that protrude from the top of the console. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates how treadmill  60  can also be declined forward, simulating the user running or walking downhill. Decline support bars  101 A and  101 B are deployed through a channel in the lower side of covers  65 , towards the rear of treadmill  60 , by a linkage mechanism to raise the elevation of the rear of treadmill  60 . A proximal end of each decline support bar  101 A and  101 B is pivotally mounted to an electric motor (described further below) positioned primarily within the loop of belt  74 . A distal end of decline support bars  101 A and  101 B includes wheels  102 A and  102 B, respectively, oriented to roll against the ground on which treadmill  60  rests while decline support bars  101  rotate to adjust the level of treadmill declination. Rotation downward of support bars  101  acts to raise the rear of the treadmill, which pivots upwards about frontal feet  103 . Frontal feet  103  are positioned on the front left and right bottom corners of treadmill  60 , and rest on the ground when treadmill  60  is in a decline position as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  shows treadmill  60  in a level orientation, with covers  65  and underlying stepping boards removed. Support bar  75 A and decline support bar  101 A are mounted adjacent to the external surface of frame side rail  111 . 
       FIG. 11  shows treadmill  60 , with covers  65  and underlying stepping boards removed, oriented in an inclined position. The proximal ends of support bars  75  are shifted forward within slot  124  via an electric motor mechanism described below, causing support bars  75  to act against linkage bars  79  and the ground (via wheels  77 ) to raise the front of the treadmill. 
       FIG. 12  shows deployment of the decline mechanism, with covers  65  and underlying stepping boards removed. While for the incline mechanism, the incline motor acts to move the incline support bars that rotate around fixedly hinged linkage bars, for the decline mechanism the action of the motor is reversed: the motor acts against the decline linkage bars, which in turn cause rotation of fixedly-hinged decline support bars. Specifically, the proximal ends of decline linkage bars  133  are shifted rearward along slot  135 , formed within side rail  111 . The distal ends of decline linkage bars  133  are hinged with, and act against, decline support bars  101  to force the distal ends of decline support bars  101  downwards, thereby lifting the rear of treadmill  60  upwards and creating a declination of belt  74  and its underlying deck relative to the ground. 
       FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of treadmill  60 , with belt  74  removed to reveal the underside of the treadmill and its inclination/declination mechanisms. Surface  143  is the underside of the deck. Rollers  141  and  142  are the front and rear rollers for the belt, respectively. Another difference of treadmill  60  compared to many prior art treadmills is that rollers  141  and  142  have relatively larger diameter (e.g. twice the diameter compared to common prior art treadmills), enabling placement of key components (such as belt motor  149 , incline motor  145 , deck, and compressor  144 ) between the top and bottom of belt  74 . Use of larger diameter rollers, in turn, result in lower rotational speeds to achieve the same belt speeds, thereby reducing noise and wear on roller bearings, while increasing component longevity. For example, a typical prior art treadmill may have rollers with a diameter between 1.5 and 3 inches. The architecture of the new treadmill of this invention enables rollers with a diameter between 7 and 9 inches. Larger diameter rollers may also provide greater contact area between the roller and belt, thereby reducing the likelihood of belt slippage on the roller. 
     Other components shown in  FIG. 13  include the belt motor  149 ; the incline motor  145 ; the lead screw  146 ; movable incline crossbar  147 ; movable decline crossbar  148 ; and air compressor  144 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates such an incline/decline mechanism in isolation from a bottom perspective view. The treadmill in this figure is shown with some components removed to better visualize the details of the mechanism. Roller  141  is the front roller, and roller  142  is the rear roller. The right structural rail is illustrated as rail  420 , while the left rail has been removed in this figure. Rail  420  contains slot  407  for the incline mechanism and slot  408  for the decline function. Incline crossbar  405  has a roller  409  at each one of its ends, intended to allow the crossbar  405  to slide longitudinally back and forth along the rails, with the rollers  409  rotating inside incline slot  407  in right rail  420 , and inside an analogous slot in the left rail (not shown). Similarly, decline crossbar  406  has a roller  410  at each one of its ends, allowing crossbar  405  to slide longitudinally along the rails, with the roller  410  rotating inside the slot  408 , and an associated roller  410  on the opposite end of crossbar  406  rotating inside a slot in the left rail (not shown). Incline motor  145  causes the crossbars  405  and  406  to slide longitudinally by rotating lead screw  146 , which mates with an incline mechanism control nut held by bracket  411  (for incline) and with a decline mechanism control nut held by bracket  412  (for decline). The rotation of the lead screw  146  can thus be used to longitudinally move the crossbars  405  and  406  as needed. In this figure the rotation of the lead screw would cause a longitudinal displacement of the crossbar  409  (the incline crossbar), which is pivotably attached to the previously described linkage bars  75 A and  79 A, thus causing their deployment and the incline lifting of the treadmill. The decline mechanism works the same way, with the corresponding linkage bars being deployed when the lead screw  146  reaches a nut in bracket  412  and causes the decline crossbar  406  to slide longitudinally rearward, deploying decline support bars  133  and  101  to lift the rear of the treadmill. 
       FIG. 15  is another view of the underside of the treadmill, shown without belt  74  or the incline and decline mechanisms of  FIG. 13 , which will be used to describe how the deck is supported. Surface  143  is the underside of the deck. The weight of the deck is completely carried by air suspension elements, such as bellows, sometimes also referred to as air springs. Specifically, bellows  153 ,  154 ,  155 ,  156 ,  157  and  158  support deck surface  143 . The bellows are inflated to the desired pressure by, e.g., a computer-controlled compressor (described below), or by a hand pump. Each bellow is attached on one end to the underside surface of the deck  143  and on its opposite end to a frame support mounted to the frame side rails, such as crossbar  151  (bellows  153  and  154 ), crossbar  150  (bellows  157  and  158 ), gusset support structure  152 A (bellows  155 ) and gusset support structure  152 B (bellows  156 ). A double-hinge  159  is also provided to maintain the deck centered in its lateral positioning, and to relieve the bellows from side loads and shear stresses that otherwise may occur. Double-hinge  159  is attached at one end to deck underside  143 , and at the opposite end to crossbar  151 , and preferably has a width that spans the majority of deck underside  143 . 
       FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 , with deck removed, further illustrating the treadmill suspension system. As described above, the deck is supported by the bellows  153 ,  154 ,  155 ,  156 ,  157  and  158 . 
       FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the treadmill suspension system, including a computer-controlled mechanism for bellow pressurization. The embodiment includes bellows  153 ,  154 ,  155 ,  156 ,  157  and  158 ; computer-controled compressor  307 ; and a central reservoir  300 . Compressor  307  pressurized central reservoir  300  via air hose  309 . The air lines  301 ,  302 ,  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306  connect each of bellows  153 ,  155 ,  157 ,  156 ,  158  and  154 , respectively, to reservoir  300 , helping ensure that the deck is supported by the same pressure at all points of support. An air pressure sensor may be mounted to monitor air pressure within the central reservoir  300  and/or one or more of bellows  153 - 158 . A purge valve may be provided within the pressurized system (e.g. within the compressor, reservoir, bellows, or an interconnecting air line) to reduce air pressure. The purge valve may be controlled by one or more factors including, for example, a mechanical pressure release mechanism actuated when pressure exceeds a maximum value, or an electronic control system. 
     In some embodiments, reservoir  300  is pressurized to a desired level based on user preference for ride firmness (as determined by the user through the touchscreen user interface). In such embodiments, a control signal may be provided to compressor  307  based at least in part upon a user-controlled configuration setting. In other embodiments, reservoir  300  pressure is determined algorithmically based upon input parameters which may include measurements like detected user weight, running speed, incline level and/or user impact levels; in which cases, controls signals based at least in part on one or more of those factors may be provided to compressor  307 . User impact levels may be determined in a variety of ways, such as via a pressure transducer mounted to the deck, or via monitoring fluctuation in air pressure within the bellows or central reservoir using an air pressure sensor. 
       FIG. 18  shows an alternative embodiment, in which the internal components are not contained within the belt circumference, but instead they are mounted beneath belt  171 , while still providing a full air suspension for the treadmill running and walking surface.  FIG. 19  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 18 , with the deck inclined, and with external covers removed to show some of the internal components. The belt motor  181  and the compressor  182  are now visible. 
       FIG. 20  shows a side elevation of the treadmill of  FIG. 18 . Belt motor  181  drives belt  171 . Incline motor  192  operates to control the incline to running surface  171 . Left-side bellow support structures  193 ,  194  and  195 , along with three matching bellow support structures on the right side of the treadmill (not shown), carry and support the deck. Bellow support structures  193 ,  194  and  195  are constructed analogously to gussets  152  in  FIG. 16 , providing a solid frame mounting point for air-filled bellows, with the deck fully suspended on the air-filled bellows. 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view from the top of the treadmill, with the belt and the deck removed for clarity. Left side bellow support structures  193 ,  194  and  195  are complemented by right side bellow support structures  201 ,  202  and  203 . Each bellow support structure has a bellow mounted thereon. The deck (not shown for clarity) rests on these six bellows. The double hinge structure  204  operates analogously to hinge  159  in the embodiment of  FIG. 14 , helping reduce or eliminate side loads on the bellows. 
     While preferred embodiments illustrated herein utilize six bellow to support the deck, with front, middle and rear bellows on each of the left and right sides of the deck, it is contemplated and understood that differing quantities and positions of bellows could readily be implemented. For example, cost and build complexity may be reduced by utilizing four bellows, with one positioned at each corner of the deck. 
       FIG. 33  illustrates another treadmill embodiment, providing full air suspension with a drive motor and deck positioning mechanisms placed outside the belt circumference. Such an embodiment may, in some circumstances, provide for reduced cost and/or improved manufacturability.  FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a treadmill base  3300 , with walking belt  3302  running between side rails  3304 A and  3304 B. 
     Uprights  3306  carry a computer monitor or control panel (not shown) used to communicate with the user and receive input commands from the user.  FIG. 34  shows treadmill base  3300 , with uprights  3306  and belt roller covers removed. Under walking belt  3302 , there are cylinders  3310  and  3312  to support belt  3302  and slide it on top of a deck (not visible), typically made out of wood, located underneath belt  3302 .  FIG. 35  shows treadmill base  3300 , without side rails  3304  and belt  3302 , thereby revealing deck  3320 . Analogous to decks described elsewhere herein, deck  3320  may be a rigid board that carries the weight of a user, with belt  3302  sliding across the surface of deck  3320  when driven by roller  3310  and/or  3312 . Rollers  3310  and  3312  help keep belt  3302  taut between them during use. In an exemplary embodiment, propulsion of belt  3302  may be achieved by driving rear roller  3312  using electric motor  3330 . 
       FIG. 36  is a side perspective view of treadmill base  3300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 35 , adjusted to a partially inclined orientation. Base  3300  includes upper structure  3340  and foundation  3350 . Upper structure  3340  includes, inter alia, deck  3320  and rollers  3310  and  3312 . Foundation  3350  may include a rigid frame, to which various components may be mounted. Upper structure  3340  can be inclined with respect to foundation  3350  by a desired angle by incline motor  3352  using linkage mechanism  3354 . Belt motor  3330  propels rear driving roller  3312  via driving belt  3332 . 
       FIG. 37  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 36 , having side rails  3304 A and  3304 B removed to visualize internal components of upper structure  3340 . Upper structure  3340  includes two layers: a) a walking layer; and b) a middle layer. The walking layer constitutes a structure on which a user walks or runs. The walking layer includes deck  3320  and two deck support beams  3322 A and  3322 B. Deck  3320  is fixedly attached to deck support beams  3322 A and  3322 B by a set of screws or similar fasteners. The middle layer provides for suspension of the walking layer over a supporting frame using a set of air suspension bellows  3360 , each containing pressurized air. For example, on a left side of treadmill base  3300 , air bellows  3362 A and  3362 B suspend deck support beam  3322 A over middle layer support beam  3360 A. Analogous structures (visible in the view of  FIG. 38 , having deck  3320  removed for visibility of underlying structures) may be used on the right side of treadmill base  3300 ; specifically, air bellows  3362 C and  3362 D suspend deck support beam  3322 B over middle layer support beam  3360 B. Therefore, the entire walking layer is suspended on air suspension elements, thereby suppressing direction transmission of forces from the walking layer to the ground, thus dampening and eliminating impact and excess stress on the user&#39;s legs and joints. 
     Air suspension elements  3362  compress and expand under the weight of the user while the user walks or runs on top of the deck. Therefore, there is relative movement between deck support beams  3322  and middle layer support beams  3360 . Optionally, a set of alignment elements  3370  may be used to keep the walking layer laterally aligned with respect to the middle layer, and prevent the transmission of excessive lateral forces on air suspension elements  3362 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 36-37 , alignment elements  3370  may be formed as double hinges, with forward and rearward double hinge elements positioned on each of left and right sides, spanning the walking layer (e.g. deck support beams  3322 ) and the middle layer (e.g. middle layer support beams  3360 ). If air suspension elements  3362  have sufficient mechanical strength, double hinges  3370  may be unnecessary. Instead of double hinges, it is also possible to use pins mounted on the walking layer and oriented downwards towards the middle layer, mating with orifices in the middle layer opening towards the pins (or vice versa) to maintain layer alignment. Such a pin and orifice mechanism can include linear bearings to minimize friction and avoid any possible sticking effect. 
       FIG. 39  shows a side elevation of treadmill base  3300  with side rail covers and belt removed, for further clarification of this embodiment&#39;s structure. Foundation  3350  supports middle layer support beams  3360 . The view of  FIG. 39  reveals other components housed under the middle layer, such as compressor  3380  to pressure air suspension elements  3362 ; and air tank  3382  to help maintain a stable pressure and permit running of compressor  3380  only when needed to maintain system pressure, electronic controller  3384  and treadmill computer  3386 , which may include a Windows or Android computer.  FIG. 40  provides a front perspective view, for further clarification. 
       FIG. 41  is an expanded, partial cutaway view of a front portion of treadmill base  3300 , with side rails and deck removed.  FIG. 41  illustrates additional detail of alignment elements  3370 . In the illustrated embodiment, alignment element  3370  includes upper spacer  3371 , lower spacer  3372  and double hinge  3373 .  FIG. 42  further illustrates double hinge  3373 , including lower attachment wing  3373 A, freely pivoting wing  3373 B, and upper attachment wing  3373 C. Lower attachment wing  3373 A is secured to lower space  3372 , which is in turn secured to middle layer support beam  3360 . Upper attachment wing  3373 C is secured to upper spacer  3371 , which is in turn secured to deck support beam  3320 . In use, double hinge  3373  pivots freely as deck support beam  3320  and middle layer support beam  3360  move vertically relative to one another, while inhibiting lateral movement. 
     Upper spacer  3371  and lower spacer  3372  may each be formed from sections of metal box tubing. Upper spacer  3371  and lower space  3372  serve to position the components of double hinge  3373  to minimize longitudinal displacement of the deck as the double hinges rotate, in order to minimize a rocking movement of the deck that may be uncomfortable to some users. 
     As described above, the embodiment of  FIGS. 33-40  includes a walking layer, a middle layer and a foundation layer. Separation of the middle layer from the foundation layer enables articulation of the middle and foundation layers relative to one another to, e.g., incline or decline the walking surface relative to the ground or other surface on which the foundation layer rests. However, a simplified embodiment may be readily achieved by eliminating the incline mechanism. In that case, the middle layer can be eliminated, and the air suspension elements can suspend the walking layer directly on the foundation layer. 
     Various types of air suspension elements may be utilized.  FIG. 22  is an elevation view of an improved air suspension bellows mechanism that has a built-in feature to prevent the bumpiness that can result from having inflated, pressurized bodies like bellows under the deck.  FIG. 23  is a cross-section of the bellows of  FIG. 22 , taken along plane A-A. Top fitting  233  and bottom fitting  232  are connected internally by connecting member  231 . Bellows diaphragm  234  spans top fitting  233  and bottom fitting  232 , is formed from an elastic material, and encapsulates an air chamber  235 . Channel  236  provides a route for pressurization of air chamber  235  through top fitting  233 , such as via the compressor, central pressure canister and tubing assembly described elsewhere herein. 
     Preferably, connecting member  231  is configured to allow fittings  232  and  232  to come closer to one another with little resistance during compression, allowing the air pressure within the bellows chamber to exert an opposing force; meanwhile, connecting member  231  will preferably exert an opposing or limiting force during expansion of the bellows to dampen the expansion. In some embodiments, member  231  can be an elastic strap. In other embodiments, member  231  can be formed from a fabric strap. 
       FIG. 24  shows an alternative bellows mechanism  240 , having a frictional damping element.  FIG. 25  is a cross-section of the bellows of  FIG. 24 , taken along section A-A. Bellows  240  includes upper fitting  241  and lower fitting  242 . Bellows diaphragm  243  spans upper fitting  241  and lower fitting  242 , and encapsulates air chamber  244 . Air channel  245  extends through upper fitting  241  to enable pressurization of the bellows. The lower portion of upper fitting  241  includes piston  238 . The upper portion of lower fitting  242  forms receptacle  239 . Bellows movement is dampened by friction of piston  238  within receptacle  239 . 
     In some embodiments, the damping structure of  FIGS. 24-25  can be implemented as a hydraulic dampener. Receptacle  239  may be formed as a closed, oil-filled chamber, divided into two sections by piston  238 . Oil would be permitted to flow between either side of piston  238  via a small, restrictive orifice, and a one-way check valve providing less resistance to oil flow than the restrictive orifice when upper fitting  241  and lower fitting  242  are moved towards one another. Thus, the piston mechanism provides comparatively little resistance to compression of the bellows, but greater resistance to expansion, thereby dampening the bellows. 
     In other embodiments, a deckless treadmill design replaces a flexible belt with a series of adjacent slats extending across the treadmill perpendicularly to the direction of travel, to form a running surface. Deckless treadmill embodiments can still beneficially utilize variations of the suspension systems described herein. For example,  FIG. 26  is a cutaway top view of the rear portion of a treadmill that does not have a deck. Self-supporting slats  231  are sufficiently rigid to support the weight of a user, without a solid deck underneath. The cutaway side view in  FIG. 27  shows that the slats run on a guide  241 . Slats  231  and guide  241  can all be carried and supported by a set of bellows  242 , mounted on frame  243 . 
     Preferably, the treadmill is managed by a computer, as opposed to typical prior art treadmills run by embedded controls and dedicated circuits with little or no programming flexibility. In accordance with one such embodiment,  FIG. 28  illustrates a schematic block diagram of a control mechanism for the treadmill. The Treadmill Management Application  250  is a computer program executed on computer  255 , which gives instructions to Electronic Control Board  251  through Interface Board  252 . Electronic control board  251  is a circuit board that provides electronic control signals to govern the operation of belt motor  256 , incline motor  257 , compressor  258 , sensors  259 , and other electronic or electromechanical mechanisms  260 . 
     Interface board  252  preferably provides a digital interface between computer  255  and control board  251 . In some embodiments, interface board  252  includes an external connector or dock with physical electronic interconnect, adapted for connecting the treadmill with an external computer  255 , such as a laptop computer, tablet computer or smart phone. In some embodiments, interface board  252  may include a wireless transceiver implementing a wireless communication link between control board  251  and computer  255 , such as a wireless Ethernet connection, or a Bluetooth connection. 
     TMA  250  also communicates with mobile app  253 . Through Applications Programming Interface (API)  254 , TMA  250  enables third parties (such as game developers and exercise program developers) to develop software for the smart treadmill. In some embodiments, computer  255  is provided with and physically integrated with the treadmill, such as a tablet computer mounted within the treadmill display. In other embodiments, computer  255  is a modular component that can be alternatively attached to and detached from the treadmill. In yet other embodiments, computer  255  may be completely detached from the treadmill, such as a smart phone executing a dedicated treadmill management application and communicating with the treadmill (i.e. interface board  252 ) via a wireless communications protocol such as Bluetooth. Use of non-dedicated user computing hardware to operate the treadmill may be beneficial, such as reducing treadmill cost by avoiding the cost of an integral computer. 
       FIG. 29  shows an embodiment of a computer-driven treadmill in which a non-dedicated computing device is used for treadmill management. The treadmill of  FIG. 29  is equipped with a dock  261 , which can be shaped like a tray that can receive and hold computer  262 . Optionally, the dock includes connectors adapted for communication with computer  262 , enabling computer  262  to interact with integrated display  263 , and all other peripherals available to the internal Interface Board, which in turn connects with the Electronic Controller Board that runs the treadmill devices and sensors. Computer  262 , when connected with the dock, can take full control of the treadmill, and even run applications and software resident on the laptop. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 30 , tablet computer  271  can be connected to the treadmill to control and manage the treadmill operation, as described above. In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 31 , smart phone  281  can be connected to the treadmill to control and manage the treadmill operation, as described above. The connection of computer  262 , tablet computer  271  or smart phone  281  to the dock can be through dock connectors, or through regular cables and wires, or wireless communication protocol. Particularly in case of wireless docking, a tray or other physical holding structure is optional. 
     The full computerization of the treadmill in this invention opens up an enormous number of possibilities for new types of exercises and activities, on and off-the-treadmill, where the treadmill can assume a key role as coach, manager, record keeper, motivator and administrator of a fitness, weight, health and lifestyle program, where the mobile app enables these services to be provided not only on or at near proximity to the treadmill, but virtually anywhere. For example, a smart phone application can not only control embodiments of the treadmill described herein, but also integrate the treadmill utilization and exercise data with a comprehensive health and fitness application that tracks user steps via an integrated smart phone motion sensor, logs user nutritional intake, logs user weight data, sleep patterns, and other information. In other embodiments, third party health and fitness applications can be provided with software to control and/or exchange information with the computerized treadmill. These and other applications are contemplated and enabled by the novel systems and devices disclosed herein. 
     Additionally, while the externally-controlled embodiment of  FIGS. 28-31  are illustrated in the context of a treadmill, it is contemplated and understood that other embodiments may be implemented in the context of other types of exercise equipment, such as a stationary bicycle, elliptical machines, stepping machines and rowing machines. In each case, the exercise equipment includes electronic and electromechanical components that may be controlled by the controller board structure of  FIG. 28 , interfacing with an external computer. In some embodiments, TMA  250  may be implemented to control multiple types of exercise equipment using a common user interface design, thereby allowing users to move their computing device between different pieces of exercise equipment. Potential benefits of some embodiments of this arrangement include the ability to carry performance data between different pieces of exercise equipment by using a common computing device; and providing a common user interface with the exercise equipment, thereby reducing a user&#39;s learning barrier in using a different piece of equipment. 
       FIG. 32  illustrates a further embodiment wherein each computerized piece of exercise equipment, such as treadmill  601 , treadmill  602  and treadmill  603 , has its own storage device  604 ,  605  and  606 , respectively, which can be used to download large files which may be too bandwidth-intensive to stream live simultaneously. With complete computerization of treadmills and exercise equipment, gyms and similar facilities with a large number of computerized exercise machines will face the problem of potentially excessive bandwidth demand if a large number of users start streaming live entertainment such as movies on their machines at the same time. The gym could just increase its Internet bandwidth, but that may come at a high cost. The Exercise Network (gymrnet) of  FIG. 32  addresses that problem. The gymnet is based on central server  609 , which is in communication via an Internet connection with cloud providers of digital media, such as files or streamable services from providers such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and others, as well as Cable TV providers (who may be on the cloud or physically linked to the central server or in satellite communication with the central server). The central server  609  downloads the contents to its own storage device  608 . When the high demand arises from the users, central server  609  can upload complete entertainment files (as opposed to live streaming them) to the local storage devices such as  604 ,  605  and  606 , thereby reducing user impact from transitory network congestion or other interruptions. The communication network between the central server and the individual machines can be wired or wireless. The local machines  601 ,  602  and  603  can then locally play the entertainment files form their own storage devices, without a need to rely on live streaming from the cloud, and therefore avoiding bandwidth bottlenecks, whether in the cloud or local network. Other variations of this arrangement can also be implemented, such as live streaming from central server  609  to the individual machines, especially if the individual machines are physically connected to a common high speed data network with the central. The gym can have a large number of entertainment files always loaded on its storage unit  608 , so that at any time the users can play those files even if the communication with the cloud is bandwidth-challenged or completely down. 
     Monitoring Station  610  is a great advantage for the gym as well, providing a user interface with server  609  that can be utilized by, e.g., gym management. Server  609  is preferably configured to retrieve information from all networked exercise machines and monitor them live, reporting and recording key status parameters (motor temperature, usage statistics, vibration status, hours in operation, upcoming service needs, biometric of users, medical emergencies and other relevant parameters) that represent key management data for the efficient and safe operation of the gym. The gym manager should be able to see the status of any machine on a screen provided by monitoring station  610 , in real-time or near-real time, as well be alerted instantly of any situation that requires attention. Alerts can be issued at the monitoring station and also optionally on a mobile device such as a tablet or smart phone, so that management, service personnel and even medical personnel can be alerted if the need arises. 
     While certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, the foregoing description and Figures merely explain and illustrate the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, having the present disclosure before them, will be able to make modifications and variations to that disclosed herein without departing from the scope of any appended claims.