Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Treadmill for foot travel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-25
2001-04-17
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Treadmill for foot travel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217487
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to walking- or running-type exercise machines and more particularly to treadmill-type exercisers. More particularly still, the invention relates to a multiple treadmill-type exerciser configured to allow a human subject to assume the gait of a quadruped in order to burn calories more quickly and add interest to exercise routines, especially for children and the young at heart, as well as a method of exercising the human body in a quadruped manner.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
A plurality of machines have been developed to facilitate exercise in restricted and frequently inconvenient places and times, either at home or in commercial or educational institutions where both time and space may be at a premium. Among such apparatus may be running or walking treadmills, stationary bicycle-type machines, artificial stair climbing apparatus, often referred to as “steppers”, simulated ski movement apparatus, weight-lifting apparatus and the like.
In the particular case of treadmill-type exercise equipment, exercise is obtained by walking or running in position on the piece of equipment, thus simulating normal walking or running on an indoor or outdoor track. Such treadmills usually comprise a rubberized support belt which is carried upon multiple axles which turn as the belt passes unidirectionally beneath the feet of the user. In most modern treadmills, the traveling belt is adjustable for various angles, and the support axles may be power driven for independent rotation without regard for the user, allowing such user to merely walk or run in place.
In a second, usually older-type, apparatus, the motion of the user will cause movement of the treadmill. Usually in these older treadmills, the user will grasp hold of side rails or the like so as to have a stationary point which is maintained constant relative to the belt, while the forward to back or back and forth motion of the legs of the user serves to keep the belt moving. In a variation of such apparatus, the user may be prevented or retarded from moving forward on the belt by a transverse waist-height bar over the belt, or by being tied or secured in place on the belt usually by a belt or fastening about the waist of the user which is secured to a post or the like on the base of the treadmill apparatus. In all such non-motorized apparatus, while the overall walking or running movement is less natural, more calories are expended in maintaining the motion so that more overall exercise is obtained by the user in any given period than by the use of a motorized treadmill.
In addition to the above, it is not unusual for a treadmill-type apparatus to be equipped with an arm exercise apparatus, especially of the weighted pulley-type, allowing the arms to be moved in unison with the striding legs. A more extreme form of such an arrangement is typically provided in ski-type exercisers where the alternate sliding forward and backward of the foot pieces or supports is typically accompanied by an opposite, but coordinated, tension on weighted cables attached to the hand grips or hand levers attached to spring biasing means, thus providing simultaneous whole body exercise.
Treadmill-type apparatus has also been provided for animals, such as dogs and racehorses, to provide exercise for such animals where running or walking in the open may not be practical or convenient. In some cases, the treadmills have incorporated separate belts for the legs of the animal on both sides. Frequently, the animal is strapped into position to keep it from wandering off, or, as in older human treadmill apparatus, to provide the restraint to forward motion that allows the movement of the animals feet to propel the treadmill itself. Alternatively, the treadmills themselves may be motorized to ensure continuous or uniform movement.
Modern treadmills are frequently adjustably angled or slantable in order to vary the effort required to operate them. For example, if the treadmill is slanted, the use of it simulates walking uphill because each forward step requires a step up followed by forcing the treadmill downwardly by the force of the legs in a similar manner to lifting the body by the force of the legs when actually climbing a hill. Medical stress test treadmills regularly use this feature to provide progressive degrees of exertion.
It has been frequently found to be difficult to provide exercise apparatus that will encourage relatively young or immature persons to begin with, as well as to stick to, an exercise routine because of the relative lack of interest inspired by the available equipment. Yet it can be quite important to instill an early inclination for exercise in young children to ensure such activity will be followed later in life.
A general survey of treadmill types may be obtained by reference to the following U.S. Patents directed to such apparatus:
U.S. Pat. No. 219,439 issued Sep. 9, 1879 to L. H. Blend discloses a passive-motion walking machine designed for therapeutic use for treatment of conditions such as paralysis and curvature of the spine by producing a passive motion similar to natural walking, and combined with the partial suspension of the patient's body by the waist or head by a pair of straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,766,089 issued Jun. 24, 1930 to A. J. Wood discloses a treadmill exercising device for simulating natural walking or running motions. The treadmill platform is composed of a plurality of supporting rollers on which a single endless tread belt is placed. The platform may be adjustably inclined to simulate uphill walking, and a pair of straps may be attached to a handrail and then loosely tied around the operator's waist to maintain the position and stance of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,017,138 issued Oct. 15, 1935 to F. O'Neill, Jr. discloses a treadmill device with curved guides or flanges attached to both ends of a metal base on which a continuous belt is attached. A spring tension belt may be attached to a handrail and placed around the waist of the operator to give an upward lift to the abdominal organs.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,155,684 issued Apr. 25, 1989 to J. R. Richards discloses an animal exercising device of the treadmill variety in which the animal is strapped to a pair of guardrails or guide rails with a harness in a manner such that the animal may walk or run as appropriate as the inclination of the tread is adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,673 issued May 27, 1980 to J. Speer, Sr. discloses a treadmill exerciser having two separate treadmills adjacent each other with separate continuous treads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,021 issued Aug. 29, 1989 to M. Edwards et al. discloses a safety harness on/off switch assembly for use with motorized treadmills in which a pair of interconnected straps are suspended from a support with loops on each strap to support the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,127 issued Mar. 31, 1992 to D. Melnick et al. discloses a complex, multipurpose exercise treadmill designed for quadrupeds, particularly racehorses. The device comprises a tripartite frame structure and treadmill floor surface provided with shock-absorbing means and a vertically-extending mast to which a belt adapted for use by a quadruped is attached.
While the various devices shown and described in the foregoing patents may be effective within the scope of their designs to provide various amounts of exercise to the users, there is actually a rather limited repertoire of movements and varieties of exercise available with various treadmill-type exercise machines. There has been a need, therefore, to provide exercise machines facilitating a greater variety of exercise movements. There has also been a need to provide an exercise apparatus that will embody various advantages including preferably having some inherent quality which may lead many people to test or try it, and eventually to use it or other equivalent apparatus on a regular basis.
In addition, while young persons have frequently imitated quadrupeds by walking or running like four-footed animals, sometimes with bent legs to avoid the elevation of th
Richman Glenn E.
Wilkinson Charles A.
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