TREADMILL MECHANISM

• Main Authors: WILLE, DANIEL R, CLAWSON, CHRISTOPHER E, OSENKARSKI, PAUL D, ANDERSON, TIMOTHY T, YEE, CHUNGKIN, BARRETT, SHAWN, HSING, JOHN JUNG, PORTH, TIMOTHY J, OGLESBY, GARY E, SMITH, THOMAS F., JR, HONDA, EDWARD, MARTIN, ANGELA, CRAY, THOMAS B, PARTYNSKI, JEFFREY J, DALY, JULIETTE CHERLY, HAUGEN, PETER, MINNICH, EDWARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 05.02.2008
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING,CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; GAMES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; SPORTS; TRAINING EQUIPMENT

An exercise treadmill is disclosed which includes various features to enhanc e user operation and to reduce maintenance costs. These features include handlebars with an upwardly curved center section and outwardly flared side portions along with pivoting rear legs for the treadmill frame. The control panel features include snap-in use r trays and an overlay covering the numerical key pad along with an auxiliary control panel having a subset of user controls that are larger and more easy to use than the same controls on the main control panel. Maintenance enhancing features include the provision for acce ss panels in the treadmill housing and a belt lubrication system that uses a priming pulse to clear the wax spraying nozzle. For injection molded parts such as the control panel, structural strength is enhanced by utilizing gas-assist injection molding to form structural ribs. Another feature includes pre-glazing the treadmill belt. Sound and vibration are reduced in a treadmill by mounting the treadmill belt drive motor on motor isolation mounts that inclu de resilient members. A further feature is a double sided waxed deck where one side of th e deck is covered by a protective tape.