Exercise treadmill for pulling and dragging action

Abstract

An exercise treadmill of the type having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, an exercise surface on for walking or running while exercising, and a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards.

1 . An exercise treadmill of the type having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, comprising 
 a) a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load;    b) a pivot arm operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm directly actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the weight resistance means is selected from the group consisting of springs, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, flexible rods, friction members, rods, levers, electric motors, electric motors coupled with brake controllers, and eddy current/electromagnetic.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the pivot arm extends generally upwards from the lower base and is attached to the lower base at a position in front of the endless movable surface.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position below where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position approximately the same as where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position above where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       8 . An exercise treadmill comprising: 
 a) a lower base housing an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and the upper run comprising an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising;    b) a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load; and    c) a pivot arm operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load,    wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards,    whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load.    
   
   
       9 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the weight resistance means is selected from the group consisting of springs, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, flexible rods, friction members, rods, levers, electric motors, electric motors coupled with brake controllers and eddy current/electromagnetic.  
   
   
       10 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance.  
   
   
       11 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one step off platform attached to or a part of the lower base to provide a surface that can be stepped onto before, during or after use of the treadmill.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one step off platform is attached to the side of the lower base.  
   
   
       15 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a rear safety arm attached to and extending generally upwards from the lower base at a position in back of the endless movable surface opposite the endless movable surface from the pivot arm.  
   
   
       16 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position below where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       17 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position approximately the same as where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       18 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position above where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       19 . An exercise treadmill comprising: 
 a) a lower base housing an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and the upper run comprising an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising;    b) a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance; and    c) a pivot arm pivotally connected to the lower base and operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load,    wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards, whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load.    
   
   
       20 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position below where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       21 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position approximately the same as where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       22 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position above where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       23 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.  
   
   
       24 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.  
   
   
       25 . An exercise treadmill comprising: 
 a) a lower base housing an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and the upper run comprising an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising;    b) a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance; and    c) a pivot arm pivotally connected to the lower base and operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load,    wherein the endless movable surface moves in a first direction simulating walking or running backwards, whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load and the endless movable surface moves in a second opposite direction for use of the exercise treadmill in a forward ambulatory mode.    
   
   
       26 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position below where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       27 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position approximately the same as where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       28 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base at a position above where the weight resistance means is operationally attached to the pivot arm.  
   
   
       29 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.  
   
   
       30 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the pivot arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.