Dual direction exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action

Abstract

An exercise treadmill 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, a weight resistance mechanism for providing a weight resistance for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the weight resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific weight resistance setting; a movable hand grip controller operatively attached to the weight resistance mechanism for operating and controlling the exercise treadmill and the weight resistance mechanism, wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards, and wherein the weight resistance mechanism applies an approximately constant and static force to the hand grip controller generally only in the same as the direction the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pulling direction, whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load by a combination of the actuation of the weight resistance mechanism to simulate the load and the walking or running backwards to provide the dragging or pulling action.

1 . An exercise treadmill of the type having a base comprising 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; and a console support structure, the exercise treadmill further comprising:
 a) a weight resistance mechanism for providing a weight resistance for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the weight resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific weight resistance setting, and wherein the weight resistance mechanism is located generally between uprights of the console support structure and is pivotally attached at a first end to a first of the uprights and is pivotally acted upon at a second end proximal to the second of the uprights; and   b) a movable hand grip controller operatively attached to the weight resistance mechanism for operating and controlling the exercise treadmill and the weight resistance mechanism,   wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards,   wherein the weight resistance mechanism exerts an approximately constant and static counterforce to the hand grip controller generally only in the same direction as the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pulling direction, and   whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load by a combination of the actuation of the weight resistance mechanism to simulate the load and the walking or running backwards to provide the dragging or pulling action.   
   
   
       2 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the weight resistance mechanism is a moment arm weight resistance mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the counterforce is static and approximately constant at the set weight throughout an entire range of movement of the movable hand grip controller. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the moment arm weight resistance mechanism can be set to a chosen weight resistance level that is adjustable for providing weight resistance only against the pulling direction. 
   
   
       5 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the grade of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline. 
   
   
       6 . An exercise treadmill comprising:
 a) a base comprising an endless moveable surface for walking or running, wherein the endless movable surface is movable in a direction simulating walking or running backwards;   b) a console support structure;   c) a weight resistance mechanism for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the weight resistance mechanism provides weight resistance only generally opposite a pulling direction, and wherein the weight resistance mechanism is located generally between uprights of the console support structure and is pivotally attached at a first end to a first of the uprights and is pivotally acted upon at a second end proximal to the second of the uprights; and   d) a movable hand grip controller operatively attached to the weight resistance mechanism for operating and controlling the exercise treadmill and the weight resistance mechanism,   wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards, and   wherein the weight resistance mechanism applies an approximately constant and static counterforce to the hand grip controller generally only in the same direction as the endless movable surface moves and opposite the pulling direction and approximately at the set weight throughout an entire range of movement of the movable hand grip controller,   whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load by a combination of the actuation of the weight resistance mechanism to simulate the load and the walking or running backwards to provide the dragging or pulling action.   
   
   
       7 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the weight resistance mechanism is a moment arm weight resistance mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the weight resistance mechanism can be set to a chosen weight resistance level that is adjustable for providing weight resistance. 
   
   
       9 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the grade of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline. 
   
   
       10 . An exercise treadmill comprising:
 a) a base comprising an endless moveable surface for walking or running, wherein the endless movable surface is movable in a direction simulating walking or running backwards;   b) a console support structure;   c) a moment arm weight resistance mechanism for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load and that can be set to a chosen weight resistance level that is adjustable for providing weight resistance, wherein the moment arm weight resistance mechanism provides weight resistance only generally opposite a pulling direction, and wherein the moment arm weight resistance mechanism is located generally between uprights of the console support structure and is pivotally attached at a first end to a first of the uprights and is pivotally acted upon at a second end proximal to the second of the uprights; and   d) a movable hand grip controller operatively attached to the moment arm weight resistance mechanism for operating and controlling the exercise treadmill and the moment arm weight resistance mechanism,   wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards, and   wherein the moment arm weight resistance mechanism applies an approximately constant and static counterforce to the hand grip controller generally only in the same direction as the endless movable surface moves and opposite the pulling direction and approximately at the set weight throughout an entire range of movement of the movable hand grip controller,   whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load by a combination of the actuation of the moment arm weight resistance mechanism to simulate the load and the walking or running backwards to provide the dragging or pulling action.   
   
   
       11 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the grade of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.