Treadbelts Comprising a Specialized Surface, Treadmills Including Such Treadbelts, and Related Methods

Abstract

A treadbelt for a treadmill may comprise a major surface comprising a plurality of tufts extending therethrough. The treadbelt may further comprise a first textile layer and a plurality of fibers extending through the first textile layer to provide the plurality of tufts. Additionally, the plurality of fibers may be sized, shaped and positioned to exhibit the appearance of turf. An additional treadbelt may comprise a major surface comprising a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. The plurality of protrusions may be spatially distributed on the major surface of the treadbelt in an irregular and non-repeating configuration and may comprise irregular and non-repeating shapes. In some embodiments, a treadbelt may comprise a major surface configured to approximate to a runner the impact response of at least one of turf, sand, a trail, a ground vulcanized rubber track, and a hardwood surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treadbelt for a treadmill, the treadbelt comprising a major surface, wherein said major surface includes a top surface and a plurality of tufts extending through said top surface. 
     
     
         2 . The treadbelt of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first textile layer having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein said first side defines said top surface; and   a plurality of fibers extending through the first textile layer to provide the plurality of tufts.   
     
     
         3 . The treadbelt of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers are sized, shaped and positioned to exhibit the appearance of turf. 
     
     
         4 . The treadbelt of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise fibers having a cross-sectional shape exhibiting a breadth that is greater than a width thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The treadbelt of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise fibers having a cross-section sized and shaped generally as a cross-section of a blade of grass. 
     
     
         6 . The treadbelt of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise fibers having a generally circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . The treadbelt of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise polymer fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The treadbelt of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise at least one of polyamide fibers and polytetrafluoroethylene fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The treadbelt of  claim 2 , wherein a middle portion of each of the plurality of fibers extends over a portion of said second side of the first textile layer and the free ends of each of the plurality of fibers extend from said first side of the first textile layer. 
     
     
         10 . The treadbelt of  claim 9 , wherein the first textile layer comprises a woven textile layer. 
     
     
         11 . The treadbelt of  claim 9 , further comprising a second textile layer adhered to the second side of the first textile layer and extending over the middle portion of each of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The treadbelt of  claim 9 , wherein the first textile layer comprises a polyester yarn. 
     
     
         13 . The treadbelt of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise fibers extending substantially straight from the first side of the first textile layer. 
     
     
         14 . The treadbelt of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fibers further comprise fibers extending in a generally helical shape from the first side of the first textile layer. 
     
     
         15 . A treadbelt for a treadmill, the treadbelt comprising a major surface, wherein said major surface includes a top surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from said top surface. 
     
     
         16 . The treadbelt of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are spatially distributed on the major surface of the treadbelt in an irregular and non-repeating configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The treadbelt of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protrusions comprise irregular and non-repeating shapes. 
     
     
         18 . The treadbelt of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protrusions exhibit the appearance of naturally occurring rock shapes. 
     
     
         19 . A treadbelt for a treadmill, the treadbelt comprising a major surface configured to approximate to a runner the impact response of at least one of turf, sand, a trail, a ground vulcanized rubber track, and a hardwood surface. 
     
     
         20 . The treadbelt of  claim 19 , wherein the major surface configured to approximate to a runner the visual appearance of at least one of turf, sand, a trail, a ground vulcanized rubber track surface, and a hardwood surface.