Treadmill

Abstract

A treadmill is provided that includes an upright assembly, a frame deck for supporting a conveyor, and an incline assembly for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck. The incline assembly adjusts the inclination of the frame deck by rotating the frame deck relative to the upright assembly. The incline assembly also adjusts the inclination of the frame deck by increasing the elevation of the end of the frame deck adjacent to the upright assembly. The frame deck can also be folded upwardly towards the upright assembly. The frame deck also includes structural reinforcement to prevent flexing of the conveyor during use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A treadmill, comprising: 
 an upright assembly;    a frame deck supporting a conveyor belt; and    an incline assembly pivotally coupled to the upright assembly and the frame deck for controllably adjusting the inclination of the frame deck.    
     
     
         2 . The treadmill of    claim 1   , wherein the upright assembly includes: 
 a base; and    a pair of uprights coupled to the base.    
     
     
         3 . The treadmill of    claim 2   , wherein the incline assembly is pivotally coupled to the uprights.  
     
     
         4 . The treadmill of    claim 1   , wherein the frame deck includes: 
 a pair of side deck frame members;    a rear deck frame member coupled to the rear ends of the side deck frame members;    a front deck frame member coupled to the front ends of the side deck frame members;    a cross brace coupled to the side deck members and spaced apart from the front deck frame member; and    a tie brace coupled to the front deck frame member and the cross brace.    
     
     
         5 . The treadmill of    claim 4   , wherein the incline assembly is pivotally coupled to the cross brace.  
     
     
         6 . The treadmill of    claim 4   , further including one or more frame pivot brackets coupled to the cross brace member.  
     
     
         7 . The treadmill of    claim 4   , further including a trunnion.  
     
     
         8 . The treadmill of    claim 4   , wherein the tie brace is approximately J shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The treadmill of    claim 4   , wherein the incline assembly includes: 
 a swing arm cross member;    a pair of swing arms coupled to the swing arm cross member and pivotally coupled to the upright assembly;    one or more swing arm pivot brackets coupled to the swing arm cross member and pivotally coupled to the cross brace; and    an actuator pivotally coupled to the front deck frame member and the swing arm cross member for actuating the swing arm cross member.    
     
     
         10 . The treadmill of    claim 2   , wherein the incline assembly includes: 
 a swing arm cross member;    a pair of swing arms coupled to the swing arm cross member and pivotally coupled to the pair of uprights;    one or more swing arm pivot brackets coupled to the swing arm cross member and pivotally coupled to the frame deck; and    an actuator pivotally coupled to the frame deck and the swing arm cross member for actuating the swing arm cross member.    
     
     
         11 . The treadmill of    claim 10   , wherein the frame deck includes: 
 a pair of side deck frame members;    a rear deck frame member coupled to the rear ends of the side deck frame members;    a front deck frame member coupled to the front ends of the side deck frame members and pivotally coupled to the actuator;    a cross brace coupled to the side deck members and spaced apart from the front deck frame member and pivotally coupled to the swing arm pivot brackets; and    a tie brace coupled to the front deck frame member and the cross brace.    
     
     
         12 . The treadmill of    claim 11   , wherein the tie brace is approximately J shaped.  
     
     
         13 . The treadmill of    claim 1   , wherein the incline assembly includes: 
 a swing arm cross member;    a pair of swing arms pivotally coupled to the upright assembly;    one or more swing arm pivot brackets coupled to the swing arm cross member and pivotally coupled to the frame deck; and    an actuator pivotally coupled to the frame deck and the swing arm cross member for actuating the swing arm cross member.    
     
     
         14 . The treadmill of    claim 1   , wherein the incline assembly is adapted to controllably elevate an end of the frame deck adjacent to the upright assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The treadmill of    claim 1   , wherein the incline assembly is adapted to permit the frame deck to be folded toward the upright assembly.  
     
     
         16 . A treadmill, comprising: 
 an upright assembly;    a frame deck pivotally coupled to the upright assembly; and    means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck.    
     
     
         17 . The treadmill of    claim 16   , further including: 
 means for folding the frame deck towards the upright assembly.    
     
     
         18 . The treadmill of    claim 16   , wherein the means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck includes means for rotating the frame deck about a first and a second axis of rotation.  
     
     
         19 . The treadmill of    claim 16   , wherein the means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck includes: 
 means for pivoting the frame deck relative to the upright assembly.    
     
     
         20 . The treadmill of    claim 19   , wherein the means for pivoting the frame deck relative to the upright assembly includes a linear actuator.  
     
     
         21 . The treadmill of    claim 16   , wherein the means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck includes means for elevating an end portion of the frame deck adjacent to the upright assembly.  
     
     
         22 . A treadmill, comprising: 
 an upright assembly; and    a frame deck coupled to the upright assembly supporting a conveyor belt, including: 
 a pair of side deck frame members;  
 a rear deck frame member coupled to the rear ends of the side deck frame members;  
 a front deck frame member coupled to the front ends of the side deck frame members;  
 a cross brace coupled to the side deck members and spaced apart from the front deck frame member; and  
 a tie brace coupled to the front deck frame member and the cross brace.  
   
     
     
         23 . An incline assembly for controllably adjusting an end portion of a frame deck for a conveyor belt for a treadmill having an upright assembly, comprising: 
 a swing arm cross member;    a pair of swing arms extending from the swing arm cross member adapted to be pivotally coupled to the upright assembly;    one or more swing arm pivot brackets extending from the swing arm cross member and adapted to be pivotally coupled to the frame deck; and    an actuator adapted to be pivotally coupled to the frame deck and pivotally coupled to the swing arm cross member for actuating the swing arm cross member.    
     
     
         24 . An incline assembly for controllably adjusting an end portion of a frame deck for a conveyor belt for a treadmill having an upright assembly, comprising: 
 means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck; and    means for actuating the means for adjusting the inclination of the frame deck.    
     
     
         25 . The incline assembly of    claim 24   , further including: 
 means for folding the frame deck toward the upright assembly.    
     
     
         26 . The incline assembly of    claim 24   , further including: 
 means for elevating an end portion of the frame deck adjacent to the upright assembly.    
     
     
         27 . A deck frame for supporting a conveyor for a treadmill, comprising: 
 a pair of side deck frame members;    a rear deck frame member coupled to the rear ends of the side deck frame members;    a front deck frame member coupled to the front ends of the side deck frame members;    a cross brace coupled to the side deck members and spaced apart from the front deck frame member; and    a tie brace coupled to the front deck frame member and the cross brace.    
     
     
         28 . The deck frame of    claim 27   , further including one or more frame pivot brackets coupled to the cross brace member.  
     
     
         29 . The deck frame of    claim 27   , further including a trunnion coupled to the front deck frame member.  
     
     
         30 . The deck frame of    claim 27   , wherein the tie brace is approximately J shaped.  
     
     
         31 . A deck frame for supporting a conveyor for a treadmill, comprising: 
 a pair of side deck frame members;    a rear deck frame member coupled to the rear ends of the side deck frame members;    a front deck frame member coupled to the front ends of the side deck frame members;    a cross brace coupled to the side deck members and spaced apart from the front deck frame member; and    means for transmitting tensile loads between the front deck frame member and the cross brace.    
     
     
         32 . A method of operating a treadmill including an upright assembly and a frame deck for supporting a conveyor, comprising: 
 adjusting the inclination of the frame deck by pivoting the frame deck relative to the upright assembly.    
     
     
         33 . The method of    claim 32   , further including: 
 elevating an end portion of the frame deck that is adjacent to the upright assembly.    
     
     
         34 . The method of    claim 32   , further including: 
 folding the frame deck towards the upright assembly.    
     
     
         35 . A method of reinforcing a frame deck for supporting a conveyor for a treadmill, the frame deck including a pair of side deck frame members positioned in opposing relation, a rear deck frame member for connecting the rear ends of the side deck frame members, a front deck frame member for connecting the front ends of the side deck frame members and positioned in opposing relation to the rear deck frame member, and a cross brace member spaced apart from the front deck frame member and connecting the side deck frame members, comprising: 
 transmitting tensile loads between the front deck frame member and the cross brace member.    
     
     
         36 . A method of coupling a frame deck to an upright assembly in a treadmill, comprising: 
 pivotally coupling frame deck to the upright assembly using a plurality of axes of rotation.