Exercise treadmill for simulating pushing and pulling actions and exercise method therefor

Abstract

An exercise treadmill having an endless exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting. A movable pushing and pulling means is or are operatively attached to the resistance mechanism to transfer the load to the user. The resistance mechanism applies a constant and static force to the pushing and pulling means only in the same direction the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pushing or pulling direction such that operating the treadmill simulates the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of gripping and pushing or pulling and moving the pushing and pulling means forward or backwards while walking or running forward or backwards.

1 . An exercise treadmill of the type having a movable surface for walking or running while exercising, comprising:
 a) a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting;   b) a movable console operatively attached to the resistance mechanism, the movable console being movable in a first pushing direction and in a second pulling direction, whereby movement of the movable console in both the first pushing direction and the second pulling direction actuates the resistance mechanism; and   c) a support structure for supporting the movable console, wherein the movable console is movable relative to the support structure,   wherein the movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running forwards and backwards, and   wherein the resistance mechanism exerts an approximately constant and static counterforce to the movable console generally only in the same direction as the movable surface is moving and opposite a direction of the movable console,   whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of (i) pushing or pulling the movable console in the first pushing direction or the second pulling direction, respectively, to actuate the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and (ii) the walking or running forward or backward on the movable surface, to provide the pushing or pulling action, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the counterforce is static and approximately constant at a set resistance level throughout an entire range of movement of the movable console. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism can be set to a chosen resistance level that is adjustable for providing resistance only against the first pushing direction or the second pulling direction. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a console support structure, wherein the movable console is operatively connected to the resistance mechanism via the console support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the movable console rests in a neutral position unless and until acted upon by the pushing or pulling of the movable console. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the resistance mechanism is unactuated when the movable console is in the neutral position. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the movable console is operatively connected to the resistance mechanism via a cable. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable console is movable both in a forward and in a backward direction relative to the direction of motion of the endless belt. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable console is movable between the neutral position and a fully extended position in the first pushing direction and between the neutral position and a fully extended position in the second pulling direction, and can be maintained at any position between the at rest position and either of the fully extended positions. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is pivotable about the pivot point. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the movable console is slidable. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a console arm extending from the console support structure, the console arm comprising a slide, wherein the movable console is slidable along the slide. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the slide is approximately horizontal and the movable console slides approximately horizontally along the slide. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the slide is approximately parallel to the movable surface and the movable console slides along the slide approximately parallel to the movable surface. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism does not directly cooperate with the movable surface. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism is a moment arm weight resistance means comprising:
 a) a cantilevered moment arm pivotally attached to an upright at a pivot point;   b) an adjustable weight attached to the moment arm; and   c) a weight adjusting drive for adjusting the adjustable weight along the moment arm,   wherein the position of the adjustable weight along the moment arm creates a moment about the pivot point.   
     
     
         18 . The exercise treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 c) a belt, the movable surface comprising the belt; and   d) a motor for moving the belt,   wherein the movable surface is moved by the motor in a direction simulating walking or running forwards and backwards,   whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of (i) pushing or pulling the movable console in the first pushing direction or the second pulling direction to actuate the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and (ii) the walking or running forward or backward on the movable surface, as the movable surface is being moved by the motor, to provide the pushing or pulling action, respectively.   
     
     
         19 . An exercise method simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, comprising the steps of:
 a) stepping onto a movable surface for walking or running while exercising;   b) grasping a movable console operatively connected to a resistance mechanism and adjusting the resistance mechanism to a chosen resistance level;   c) pushing or pulling and moving the movable console, wherein moving the movable console in a pushing direction actuates the resistance mechanism so as to provide resistance generally only opposite a pushing direction for simulating the pushing of a load, and moving the movable console in a pulling direction actuates the resistance mechanism so as to provide resistance generally only opposite a pulling direction for simulating the pulling of a load; and   d) walking or running in a forward motion on the movable surface while pushing on the movable console or walking or running in a rearward motion on the movable surface while pulling on the movable console,   wherein the resistance mechanism applies an approximately constant and static counterforce to the movable console generally only in the same direction as the movable surface moves and opposite the pushing or pulling direction,   whereby the moving of the movable console in the pushing or pulling direction causes the actuation of the resistance mechanism, thus simulating the pushing or pulling, respectively, of a load by a combination of the actuation of the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and walking or running forwards or rearwards on the movable surface, to provide the pushing or pulling, respectively, action.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein when the user pushes or pulls on and moves the movable console, the resistance mechanism exerts the counterforce on the user of a set resistance level, and wherein the counterforce is static and constant at the set resistance level throughout an entire range of movement of the movable console. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 (i) using a motor to move the movable surface; and   (ii) walking or running in a forward motion on the movable surface as the movable surface is being moved by the motor while pushing on the movable console or walking or running in a rearward motion on the movable surface as the movable surface is being moved by the motor while pulling on the movable console,   whereby the moving of the movable console in the pushing or pulling direction causes the actuation of the resistance mechanism, thus simulating the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of the actuation of the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and walking or running forwards or rearwards on the movable surface, as the movable surface is being moved by the motor, to provide the pushing or pulling, respectively, action.