Shock-absorbing treadmill

Abstract

A treadmill having one or more air springs attached to the underside of the treadmill and one or more wheels on the underside of the treadmill near the back end of the treadmill, to provide increased shock-absorption over conventional treadmills. Other embodiments disclosed herein include treadmills with the above-discussed components as well as one or more air compressors, pressure sensors, and/or weight sensors for adjusting the level of pressure in the one or more air springs, based on the weight of a person using such a treadmill.

1 . A treadmill comprising:
 a front end, a back end, a left side, a right side, and an underside;   at least one air spring attached to the underside of treadmill;   at least one wheel rotatably connected to the underside of the treadmill at back end of the treadmill;   a weight sensor adapted to sense the weight of a person on the treadmill;   at least one pressure sensor adapted to sense a pressure within at least one air spring; and   means for inflating or deflating the at least one air spring, wherein the means are electrically connected to the weight sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The treadmill of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a processor connected to a computer memory,   wherein the processor is further connected to the weight sensor and an output device adapted to visually or audibly provide information,   wherein the computer memory contains processor-executable instructions for:
 electronically receiving information regarding a weight associated with a person located on the treadmill; and 
 determining an optimal pressure for the at least one air spring based on the weight of the person. 
   
     
     
         3 . The treadmill of  claim 2 , wherein the computer memory further contains processor-executable instructions for:
 providing information through the output device regarding the optimal pressure for the at least one air spring.   
     
     
         4 . The treadmill of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further connected to the at least one air compressor and the at least one pressure sensor,
 and the computer memory further includes processor-executable instructions for:
 detecting, via the at least one pressure sensor, the air pressure in the at least one air spring; and 
 causing the at least one air compressor to inflating or deflating the at least one air spring until the at least one air spring has the optimal pressure. 
   
     
     
         5 . The treadmill of  claim 4 , further comprising a control panel attached to the treadmill and the processor,
 said control panel providing an interface adapted to allow a person to input a desired pressure in the at least one air spring, and   wherein the computer memory further contains processor-executable instructions for:
 detecting, via the at least one pressure sensor, the air pressure in the at least one air spring; and 
 causing the at least one air compressor to inflate or deflate the at least one air spring until the pressure in the at least one air spring is equal to the desired pressure. 
   
     
     
         6 . The treadmill of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the at least one air spring attached to the underside of treadmill is a first air spring connected at the front end, at the left side, a second air spring connected at the front end, at the right side, a third air spring attached to the underside of the treadmill approximately one-third of the length from the front end, at the left side; and a fourth air spring attached to the underside of the treadmill approximately one-third of the length from the front end, at the right side, and   wherein the at least one wheel rotatably connected to the underside of the treadmill at back end of the treadmill is a first wheel rotatably connected to the underside of the treadmill at the back end, at the left side, and a second wheel rotatably connected to the underside of the treadmill at the back end, at the right side.