Patent ID: 8409059

Claim:
A treadmill comprising: a frame; an endless belt supported on said frame; a first arm member being displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame by a reciprocating arm movement of a user, said displacement providing a principal motivation force for imparting motion to rotate said endless belt in a first direction; a drive roller coupled to said belt for imparting motion to said belt; a transmission system linking said drive roller to said displaceable arm member; and a motor assist device coupled to said endless belt, so that operation of said motor assist device will impart an assisting motivation force to rotate said endless belt in said first direction; wherein said assisting motivation force is insufficient to power said endless belt for aerobic exercise when the user is on said endless belt; and wherein said principal motivation force and said assisting motivation force, in combination, are sufficient to power said endless belt for aerobic exercise when the user is on said endless belt.