Abstract:
The present invention is an exercise treadmill with included weighted plates. The treadmill is essentially a manual treadmill in which the user pushes or pulls on the treadmill to activate it. To operate it, one pushes against a stationary and adjustable hand rail or platform or pulls on a bar or body harness connected to a cable. The walking surface is a belt track similar to conventional treadmills but wider and longer. In such a manner, the user is provided with a system to transfer force from arms or torso (by pushing or pulling) to the feet, to the belt track, to the spindle and shaft, and thereon to the weights and rollers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Number 444389 filed on Sep. 18, 1998. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to a variable resistance treadmill that simulates the resistance of pushing and pulling large objects such as an automobile or a blocking sled. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the related art, there are many designs for treadmills. Treadmills are a popular way that exercise enthusiasts can enjoy a vigorous cardiovascular workout that one would normally get from jogging or running without having to leave the home or gym. Typically, a continuous loop belt made from high strength rubber is supported between two rotating spindles supported by a frame to provide a surface where an exerciser may walk, jog, or run. Many schemes exist where the resistance of the rotating belt is varied according to the users desire to give an optimum workout. Many treadmills now have modern electronics to control the resistance as well as monitoring performance data on the user such as equivalent distance run, speed, time, and even the heart rate of the user. Some treadmills are even motorized to give the user a constant speed workout. However, this significantly reduces the amount of work required by the user to keep the belt turning. 
     The present invention provides the constant speed workout of a motorized treadmill by utilizing conventional weight lifting plates or other fixed mass placed on the ends of one of the rotating shafts to act as a flywheel. The user can adjust the mass moment of inertia of the belt by selecting plates or other fixed mass of differing weight. A mechanism is placed around the shafts to control the rolling resistance of the belt. Conventional treadmills also are limited in the type of exercise that may be done on them. The present invention also simulates the rolling resistance of objects such as an automobile and pushing/sliding resistance as one would experience in pushing a blocking sled or pulling (sprinting) a sliding weight such as a tractor tire. This gives an exerciser additional workout options not available on conventional treadmills. The present invention is mostly designed from conventional, off-the-shelf materials lending to low cost and ease of construction. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue Date 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 5,595,556 
                 Daleabout et al. 
                 January 21, 1997 
               
               
                   
                 5,282,776 
                 Daleabout et al. 
                 February 1, 1994 
               
               
                   
                 5,527,245 
                 Daleabout et al. 
                 June 18, 1996 
               
               
                   
                 5,318,491 
                 Houston 
                 June 7, 1994 
               
               
                   
                 5,000,440 
                 Lynch 
                 March 19, 1991 
               
               
                   
                 4,687,195 
                 Potts 
                 August 18, 1987 
               
               
                   
                 4,151,988 
                 Nabinger 
                 May 1, 1979 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved treadmill design. 
     It is a main feature of the present invention to provide such a treadmill that will provide the simulation of both a rolling resistance and a moving mass inertia, simultaneously. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to provide an improved workout for overall body and leg strength. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to provide an improved workout for increased cardiovascular endurance. 
     It is yet another feature of the present invention to be easy to use and require no specialized training. 
     It is still yet another feature of the present invention to simulate the pushing and pulling of a varied rolling resistance. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to provide for overall body/leg strength and cardiovascular endurance without the present, better, and optimal body posture. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a Variable Resistance Treadmill  5  for simultaneously simulating a rolling and sliding resistance, and a moving inertia is provided comprised of a textured tread, frame, two spindles, friction resistance system, push rail, a pull rail, a push board/push surface and conventional Olympic weight training plates or other fixed mass. The Variable Resistance Treadmill  5  will include electronic feedback to monitor the performance of the moving tread as well as electronic variation of the friction resistance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of a power mill, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 05 
                 Power Mill 
                   
                 Block 
               
               
                 10a 
                 Rear Spindle 
                 28 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                 10b 
                 Front Spindle 
                   
                 Brake Shoes 
               
               
                 11R 
                 Frame Rail 
                 29 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                 11L 
                 Frame Rail 
                   
                 Hydraulic Plunger 
               
               
                 12a 
                 Floor Cross Beam 
                 30 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                 12b 
                 Floor Cross Beam 
                   
                 Brake Shoe Pads 
               
               
                 12c 
                 Floor Cross Beam 
                 31L 
                 Shaft Bearing 
               
               
                 13 
                 Floor Cross Beam End 
                 31R 
                 Shaft Bearing 
               
               
                   
                 Plates 
                 32 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                 14 
                 Frame Rail and Floor Cross 
                   
                 and Shaft Bearing Assembly 
               
               
                   
                 Beams Machine Screws 
                   
                 Bolts 
               
               
                 15 
                 Floor Plate 
                 33 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                 16 
                 Plastic Floor Plate 
                   
                 Control System 
               
               
                 20 
                 Leveling Feet 
                 41 
                 Push and Pull Rail Quick 
               
               
                 21 
                 Tread Belt 
                   
                 Release Mounting Pins 
               
               
                 22R 
                 Take-up End Plate 
                 42 
                 Pull Rail Anchors 
               
               
                 22L 
                 Take-up End Plate 
                 43 
                 Pull Rail 
               
               
                 23 
                 Take-up Bearing Tracks 
                 44 
                 Push Rail 
               
               
                 24R 
                 Take-up Bearing 
                 45 
                 Mounting Brackets 
               
               
                 24L 
                 Take-up Bearing 
                 46 
                 Push Board/Mounting Bracket 
               
               
                 25R 
                 Take-up Adjusting Rod 
                   
                 Modified Quick Release Pins 
               
               
                 25L 
                 Take-up Adjusting Rod 
                 47 
                 Push Board 
               
               
                 26 
                 Take-up Bearing Track 
                 48 
                 Computer Module 
               
               
                   
                 Machine Screws 
                 49 
                 Conventional Weight Lifting 
               
               
                 27R 
                 Friction Resistance System 
                   
                 Plates 
               
               
                   
                 Block 
                 50 
                 Mounting Bracket 
               
               
                 27L 
                 Friction Resistance System 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a Power Mill  5  is shown, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprised of a continuous loop tread, a steel frame, two spindles, a means to create and control friction applied to said spindles when rotating, a user push rail and pushboard, a user pull rail, and conventional Olympic weight plates of varying weight. 
     Tread Belt  21  is of continuous loop construction being made from high strength flexible rubber-fiber matting. Tread Belt  21  has a textured outer surface for providing a surface for mating with the feet of the user, an inner surface for non-slip mating with Spindles  10   a  and  10   b , and is rotatably suspended there between said Spindles  10   a  and  10   b.    
     Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L are constructed from conventional steel rectangular shaped channel each having a front end, a rear end, and an elongated longitudinal axis. Frame rails  11 R and  11 L are cut to desired length from conventional length steel rectangular shaped channel. Floor Cross Beams  12   a  and  12   c  interconnect Frame rails  11 R and  11 L near each end of said Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L and one Floor Cross Beam  12   b  interconnects said Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L near the center. Floor Cross Beams  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are also cut to desired length from conventional length rectangular channel. Each end of Floor Cross Beam  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  receives one Floor Cross Beam End Plate  13  which is permanently welded thereto. Floor Cross Beam End Plates  13  are drilled and tapped for receiving Frame Rail and Floor Cross Beam Machine Screws  14 . Floor Cross Beam  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  are also drilled and tapped on their upper surfaces for receiving Floor Plate Machine Screws  17  for securing Floor Plate  15  to the upper surface of said Floor Cross Beam  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  and Plastic Floor Plate  16  to the upper surface of said Floor Plate  15 . 
     Providing support and raising the completed frame assembly off of the floor are a plurality of four Frame Legs  18  located one each on each end of said Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L. Welded to one end of each of said Frame Legs  18  is Frame Leg End Plate  19  for permanently receiving one of a plurality of four Leveling Feet  20 . Leveling Feet  20  have a base at one end for resting on the floor surface connected to a threaded shaft that is threaded into a threaded aperture in said Frame Leg End Plate  19 . The other end of Frame Leg  19  is permanently welded to the lower surface on one of the ends of Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L. By wrenching said Leveling Feet  20 , the user may adjust the height of the Power Mill  5  off of the floor as desired. In an alternate preferred embodiment, said leveling feet may be replaced by a plurality of locking wheels to give the Variable Resistance Treadmill added mobility. 
     Spindles  10   a  and  10   b  are cylindrical in shape having two ends, dual outer surfaces located adjacent to each of said ends, a single inner surface located between said dual outer surfaces, and an elongated longitudinal axis. Said Spindles  11   a  and  11   b  are made from high strength steel machined and polished on said dual outer surfaces to a diameter for receiving conventional Olympic size weight training plates or other similarly fixed mass and on said single inner surface to a diameter for receiving and providing a non-slip mating surface for said inner surface of said Tread Belt  21 . Spindle  10   b  is rotatably supported on said dual outer surfaces by Take-Up Bearings  24 R and  24 L slidably fixed inside of the hollow inner cavity of Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L near their respective rear ends. Spindle  10   a  is rotatably supported on said dual outer surfaces by Spindle Bearing  31   a  and  31   b  permanently affixed on the front ends and inboard outer surface of Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L by Friction Resistance System and Shaft Bearing Assembly Bolts  32 . 
     The outer surfaces of Spindle  10   b  protrude through the center aperture of said Take-Up Bearing  24 R and  24 L and continue a length past the outboard edges of said Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L through an elongated semi-circular aperture specially formed in the rear end of Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L for receiving conventional Olympic weight plates or other similarly fixed mass as heretofore described. Conventional means (not shown) to affix said weight plates or fixed mass to said spindle are contemplated such as conventional spanner nut type collars to ensure said weights or similarly fixed mass rotate with said spindle. Similarly, the outer surfaces of Spindle  10   a  protrude through the center aperture of said Shaft Bearing  31 R and  31 L and continue a length past the outboard edges of said Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L through a circular aperture specially formed in the front end of Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L for receiving conventional Olympic weight plates or other similarly fixed mass as heretofore described. The inner surfaces of said Spindles  10   a  and  10   b  are made to a length to fit inboard of Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L with enough room left to allow free rotation of said Spindles  10   a  and  10   b.    
     Take-up Bearing Tracks  23 R,  23 L are constructed of solid steel, with two rails fabricated on each end in a parallel, cantilevered manner from each Take-up end plate  22 R,  22 L. Each Track  23 R and  23 L is design to interface with a conventional U-shaped channel within the Take-up Bearing  24 R,  24 L. Two of said tracks are welded to one side of Take-up end plate  22 R and  22 L, with the open side of the U-channels facing each other, to form a cavity where Take-up Bearing  24 R and  24 L may be slidably received. The resulting assembly is then inserted into the hollow cavity in the rear end of Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L providing a means whereby Spindle  10   b  is positioned by and free to spin within said Take-up Bearing  24 R and  24 L. Take-up Adjusting Rod  25 L and  25 R is threaded about its elongated longitudinal axis and received by a threaded aperture formed in Take -Up End Plate  22 R and  22 L for providing a means whereby the tension in Tread Belt  21  may be adjusted. One end of Take Adjusting Rod  25 R and  25 L is a conventional hex head for receiving a conventional wrench for turning and the other end has starting threads to be received by a threaded aperture formed in Take-up Bearing  24 R and  24 L. In this manner, Take-up bearing  24 R and  24 L is forced to slidably traverse within said Take-Up Bearing Tracks  23  by the user wrenching the hex end of said Take-Up Adjusting Rod  25 R and  25 L until the proper tension is reached in Tread Belt  21 . 
     Friction Resistance System Block  27 R and  27 L are received within the front of the side rails  11 R,  11 L in a multi-step manner. First, each Stationary Bearing  31 L,  31 R is slid into the cavity within the front of the side rail, and placed partially protruding through the sidewall thereof through an orifice designed to receive the bearing. Next, a Friction Resistance System Block  27 L,  27 R is slid in behind the Bearing  31 L,  31 R, thereby being impinged between the Bearing and the opposing rail sidewall. Finally, the resulting assembly is then bolted with the front end of Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L with the outer surface of Spindle  10   a  passing through an aperture formed in the center of said blocks  27 R and  27 L and an aperture formed on the sides of said Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L at the front end. 
     Friction Resistance system Brake Shoes  28 R and  28 L are slidably fitted within an inside cavity on the interior of said Friction Resistance Block  27 R and  27 L with one edge curved and contoured to the outer surface of said Spindle  10   a . Friction Resistance System Brake Shoe Pad  30  are then fitted and bonded to said contour. A cavity on the opposite side slidably receives another Brake Shoe  28  and Brake Shoe Pad  30 R bonded thereto contoured to the radius of Spindle  10   a . A spring contacting the outer surface of Brake Shoe  28  and biased against the wall of said cavity keeps the inner surface of Brake Shoe  28  and Brake Shoe Pad  30  away from the outer surface of said Spindle  10   a . The purpose of Brake Shoes  28  and Brake Shoe Pad  30  bonded thereto is to create friction according to the user&#39;s desire. The other side of Friction Resistance System Block  27 R and  27 L is in communication with and urged by a friction control means. It is envisioned that, as with most currently available exercise equipment, various types of mechanisms can be incorporated for providing an urging force to the Friction Resistance System Blocks  27 R,  27 L. By way of example, and not meant as a limitation, such types can include a direct physical link, pneumatic communication, hydraulic communication, or the like. For purposes of teaching the benefits of the present invention it is felt that the type of friction control means is not important, and for purposes of disclosure can be assumed to be any such means currently available within or modified from the relevant art. As such, it is also envisioned that a data acquisition means, of the type currently known within the art, can also be incorporated therein to provide information feedback to the user in a mechanical or electronic, analog or digital format. What is anticipated as being new to the art, however, would be the incorporation of a means to acquire and display a “power rating”, thereby providing the user with instantaneous or aggregated reading of the power generated by the user while performing on the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, a front view and side view of a Power Mill  5  is shown, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Push Board  46  provides a soft, durable, and safe surface for a full range of varied hand placements and grips. It also provides a broad surface suitable for the user to push backwards against using their back or hips whilst using their legs to cause Tread Belt  21  to rotate about Spindles  10   a  and  10   b , simulating the effort required in pushing a large object such as a car or small truck. Once the belt is rotating, conventional Olympic weight lifting plates placed on the protruding ends of Spindles  10   a  and  10   b  act as a flywheel giving the belt a more constant speed once the user has gotten the belt in motion. Push board  21  is constructed of a lightweight frame and backing board coated with a high density foam that is sealed with a tough rubberized material. Push Board  47  is mounted on Push Rail  44  via Quick Release Pins  46  protruding through a pair of holes drilled in said Push Board  47 , a mounting bracket  45  attached thereto, and holes in the Push Rail  44  tubing. In an alternate preferred embodiment, a simple clamping means may be utilized to mount said Push Board  47  on Push Rail  44 . Push Rail  44  is made from conventional steel tubing bent and formed to desired shape. A plurality of holes located in the vertical riser portion of said Push Rail  44  allow the user to adjust the height of said Push Board  47 . Push Rail  44  is mounted to Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L via Mounting Brackets  50  welded to said Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L for receiving the bottom tubing ends of Push Rail  44  and secured thereto via Push/Pull Rail Quick Release Mounting Pins  41 . Pull Rail  43  is located at the rear end of Push Mill  5  attached to Frame Rails  11 R and  11 L via Push/Pull Rail Quick Release Mounting Pins  41  and Mounting Bracket  50 . Pull Rail  43  provides heavy duty anchoring for pulling a cable hook-up for optional gym accessories such as a straight triceps bar, lat-pull down bar, triangle bars, cable cross-over handles, ropes, body harness, etc. Pull Rail  43  is two arched frame supports joined by three cross members. Each cross member has a heavy duty pulling eyelet for securing the cable hook-up. Each cross member provides a different anchoring level for the pulling cable option allowing for varying pull angle and user body heights. In this manner, the simulating of pulling a heavy object can be accomplished. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5 and 6, a rear view and a top view of a Power Mill  5  is shown, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The detail of the plurality of apertures for adjusting the Push Board  47  to various heights according to user desire is shown. Also shown is the outer surfaces of Spindle  10   a  protruding outboard of Frame Rail  11 R and  11 L for receiving conventional Olympic weight lifting plates or other similarly fixed mass. 
     The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.