Automatic safety shut-off switch for exercise equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety off switch for a treadmill exercise device. If the treadmill exercise device running belt is still rotating even after user has left the treadmill exercise device, then, after a programmed time duration, the treadmill exercise device automatically turns off the running belt and/or completely powers itself down.

1 . A method for automatically powering down an exercise device when no one is using said exercise device, the method comprising detecting changes with respect to time in current supplied to a motor which changes result from foot impacts upon a running belt of said exercise device.  
   
   
       2 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein detecting changes comprises inducing a current signal in a current detection circuit.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising amplifying said current signal, transforming said current signal into a voltage signal, filtering said voltage signal, and integrating said voltage signal with respect to time.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein filtering comprises passing low frequencies.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein filtering comprises filtering low frequencies and filtering high frequencies.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising comparing said integrated voltage signal value with a threshold value, enabling a timeout circuit, and automatically powering down said exercise device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein enabling comprises resetting said timeout circuit.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein enabling comprises both enabling and resetting a counter programmed for a time duration.  
   
   
       9 . A method for automatically switching off a rotating running belt in a treadmill exercise device when no one is on said rotating running belt, the method comprising sensing for electrical perturbations from said motor in said treadmill exercise device during a first time duration, and automatically powering down said rotating running belt exercise device after a second time duration if a threshold number or magnitude of electrical perturbations is not sensed.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising powering down a control panel after said second time duration if said threshold number or magnitude of electrical perturbations is not sensed.  
   
   
       11 . A method of automatically stopping a rotating running belt in a treadmill exercise device when no one is on said rotating running belt, the method comprising sensing a level of electrical perturbation from a motor that drives said running belt, sensing a change in said level of electrical perturbation from said motor over a time period, and disabling said motor when said sensed change in said level of electrical perturbation indicates that no one is on said rotating belt.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein disabling said motor comprising waiting a preset time duration during which substantial electrical perturbations are not detected.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein disabling said motor comprising waiting a preset time duration during which electrical perturbations exceeding a predetermined threshold are not detected.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said predetermined threshold is set to distinguish between electrical perturbation caused by a user and electrical signals caused by electrical noise.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said predetermined threshold is set equal to about a multiple of an average electrical noise signal.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said predetermined threshold is set as a function of a weight of a user.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined threshold is set to fifty percent of a peak amplitude of a signal reflecting said electrical perturbation created by a user of said weight.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said time period during which said change in said level of electrical perturbation from said motor is sensed is set as a function of a speed of said running belt.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said speed is an actual speed of said running belt.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said speed is a programmed speed of said running belt.