SELF-PROPELLED TREADMILL WITH AN INTRINSIC STORAGE RACK FOR ACCESSORY EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly, to a self-propelled treadmill with an intrinsic rack system for accessory exercise equipment.

Treadmills are exercise machines for running or walking in one place. Currently, treadmills have a moving platform with a wide conveyor belt driven by an electric motor or a flywheel. The belt moves to the rear, requiring the user to walk or run at a speed matching the belt. The rate at which the belt moves is the rate of walking or running.

Typically, these powered treadmills have a resistance handle (or emergency stop switch) as a safety device used in emergency situations to stop or sudden lower its speed. Such a handle/switch is dangerous since a person not using the treadmill can instantly stop the running belt and cause injury for the person that is using the machine. Likewise, a user of the treadmill can accidentally engage such a handle/switch when trying to perform non-linear exercise activities while running on the treadmill. By non-linear, it is understood that the motion of the user may differ directionally and/or orientationally from the straightforward, linear movements and orientation of standard running or walking motion.

Another disadvantage of current treadmills is that they have no place to retrievably store exercise equipment that can enhance a treadmill-based, non-linear exercise routine or workout. For instance, the following exercise equipment can be used to perform specific non-linear exercises on a treadmill: a barbell, a medicine ball, dumbbells, weightlifting plates, and a rear rack cage with straps for performing a backward walk sled drag simulation. Presently, a treadmill user interested in incorporating additional exercise equipment in their treadmill routine would need a separate rack for that equipment, wherein the user would need to dangerously strain to reach the accessories or completely dismount the treadmill to switch between the different types of accessories while using the treadmill. This separate rack would also take up dear gym space.

In sum, today's treadmills do not provide handy storage for accessory treadmill equipment; they also have a resistance handle/emergency stop switch that dangerously sticks out and so can be accidentally engaged by the treadmill user when performing non-linear treadmill-based exercise routines.

A need exists for a self-propelled, multi-geared passive resistance treadmill providing an intrinsic racking system for retrievably storing accessory exercise off the ground and within arm's reach of the treadmill user for an all-in-one multi-exercise treadmill-based workout, wherein the treadmill has a resistance handle that is safely disposed to prevent unintentional and improper engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a combination manual, self-propelled treadmill with an intrinsic storage rack system adapted for making accessory equipment accessible to the treadmill user so they need not break stride when pivoting between different non-linear, treadmill-based exercise routines.

In one aspect of the present invention, a treadmill with an intrinsic storage rack system includes the following: a treadmill deck for engaging a supporting surface; first and second posts transversely extending from the treadmill deck, each post on opposing side of the treadmill deck; successively mechanically communicating along an outward facing surface of the first post, from a lower elevation to a higher elevation away from said supporting surface: a barbell rack component; a weight plate rack component; and a weight ball rack component.

In another aspect of the present invention, a treadmill with an intrinsic storage rack system treadmill with the intrinsic storage rack system further includes wherein said rack components are longitudinally offset relative a longitudinal axis of the treadmill deck, wherein the weight ball rack component is arcuate; further providing a control knob configured to control a resistance of a treadmill belt operatively associated with the treadmill deck, wherein the control knob is disposed along an inward facing surface of the second post, wherein no other features protrude from said inward facing surface; further providing a rear attachment rack component configured to have one or more deck connectors for removably attaching the rear attachment rack component to a rear section of the treadmill deck, wherein the rear attachment rack component comprises two upright members interconnected by a crossbar providing the one or more deck connectors; further comprising a strap rack component disposed along a distal end of each upright member, wherein each strap rack component provides a strap rack hanger for engaging an exercise strap; and further providing a dumbbell rack component disposed along the distal end of each upright member, downward of the strap rack component.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown loaded with the accessory exercise equipment engaged in their respective rack components of an intrinsic rack system.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the treadmill portion of the present invention shown in phantom for highlighting the intrinsic rack system features.

FIG. 3 is a detailed side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the treadmill portion of the present invention shown in phantom for highlighting the barbell rack component 12, the weight plate rack component 14, and the weight ball rack component 16, and particularly their spatial and overall arrangement relative to each other.

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the treadmill portion of the present invention shown in phantom for highlighting the control knob component 24.

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rear treadmill rack attachment component 18 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a strap rack component 20 and a dumbbell rack component, as well as their spatial and overall arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a self-propelled treadmill with an intrinsic storage rack system adapted for making accessory equipment accessible to the treadmill user, so they need not break stride when pivoting between different non-linear, treadmill-based exercise routines. The intrinsic storage rack provides transversely spaced apart, along a first post, weight ball, weight plate, and barbell rack components. A control knob isolated along an inward facing surface of a second post prevents improper engagement therewith. A rear cage attachment provides strap and dumbbell rack components.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may include treadmill 11A in accordance with the present disclosure. The treadmill 11A includes a frame 42, and a treadmill deck 44 connected to the frame. The frame 42 includes a first post 46 and a second post 48. A console 50 may be supported by the first post 46 and the second post 48.

The treadmill deck 44 comprises a first rail 43 and a second rail 45. A first pulley may be in a front section 47 of the treadmill 11A and proximate a first end of both the first and second rails, 43, 45. Also, a second pulley may be in a rear section 49 of the treadmill 11A and proximate a rear end of both the first and second rails 43, 45. A tread belt 55 is disposed between the first pulley and the second pulley. There may be a plurality of intermediate pulleys disposed between the first and second pulleys.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first post 46 may be oriented transverse relative to a supporting surface for the treadmill 11A. Spaced apart along an outward facing surface of the first post 46 may be the following components—successively, from a lower elevation to a higher elevation away from said supporting surface: a barbell rack component 12, a weight plate rack component 14, and a weight ball rack component 16—mechanically communicating (by way of hardware 26) with said outward facing surface. By outward facing it is understood to be surfaces facing away from the treadmill belt 55.

As a result of the transverse orientation of the first post 46 the rack components 12, 14, and 16 are “longitudinally” (horizontally) offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the treadmill 11A. This offset arrangement makes the object of each rack components 12, 14, and 16-a barbell 11B, one or more weight plates 11C, and a weight ball 11D, respectively, easier the access by a user of the treadmill 11A. Also, the lowest elevated rack component 12 retains the longest object, the elongated barbell 11B. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the elongated barbell 11B is coplanar with at least one weight plate 11C, yet longitudinally offset to enable both to simultaneously reside in the same plane. Likewise, a distance that the rack components 14 and 16 are latitudinally (vertically) spaced apart allows the arcuate ball rack component to not interface with the one of more weight plates 11C engaged by the weight plate rack component 14.

Referring the FIG. 4, a control knob 24, which controls the resistance of the self-propelled tread belt 55 is disposed on the inward facing surface of the second post 48. The control knob 24 imposes the resistance on the tread belt 55 by way of at least the first and second pulleys, as well as, in some embodiments, six or more intermediate pulleys. There are no other components or features along the inward or outward facing surface of the second post 48 so as to mitigate accidental engagement of the control knob 24. The control knob 24 may be circular but other shapes can be used as well.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a rear treadmill rack attachment/cage component 18 may be removably connected to a rear section 49 of the treadmill 11A. The attachment component 18 may have two J-shaped members 181 and an upper crossbar 183 and a lower crossbar 185 connecting said J-shaped members 181. The lower crossbar may have deck connectors 18A for removably attaching the rear treadmill rack attachment/cage component 18 to a rear section 49 of the treadmill 11A. Along a distal end of each J-shaped member 181 may be a strap rack component 20 and a dumbbell rack component 22. Each dumbbell rack component 22 (mounted by way of hardware 26) may be dimensioned and adapted to retain a dumbbell 11E. Each strap rack component 20 may have two tabs 20A interconnected along distal ends thereof by a strap rack hanger 20B for engaging an exercise strap 11F (e.g., elastic bands or the like) for performing sled drags or sled pulls form of exercise that a user does while on the treadmill belt 55.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.