Continuous omnidirectional treadmill device and related methods

Abstract

An omnidirectional treadmill includes a treadmill deck assembly having a deck, and first omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the deck, and a support assembly. The support assembly includes a base, second omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the base and to abut the first omniwheels, and motors coupled to the second omniwheels. The omnidirectional treadmill also includes a tread surrounding the treadmill deck assembly and being between the first omniwheels and the second omniwheels. The first omniwheels and the second omniwheels are configured to pinch the tread. The omnidirectional treadmill also includes a controller coupled to the motors and configured to control movement of the motors to drive the tread.

1 . An omnidirectional treadmill comprising:
 a treadmill deck assembly comprising a deck, and a first plurality of omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the deck;   a support assembly comprising
 a base, 
 a second plurality of omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the base and to abut the first plurality of omniwheels, and 
 a plurality of motors coupled to the second plurality of omniwheels; 
   a tread surrounding the treadmill deck assembly and being between the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels;   the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels configured to pinch the tread; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of motors and configured to control movement of the plurality of motors to drive the tread.   
     
     
         2 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 1  further comprising a fabric management assembly coupled to the tread below the treadmill deck assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 2  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a plurality of rings adjacent to the tread, the plurality of rings having different diameters. 
     
     
         4 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 3  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a tensioning device within the tread and configured to tension the tread against the plurality of rings. 
     
     
         5 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 4  wherein the tensioning device comprises an annular weight. 
     
     
         6 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 1  wherein the treadmill deck assembly comprises a first plurality of bearing devices coupled to the periphery of the deck; wherein the support assembly comprises a second plurality of bearing devices coupled to the periphery of the base; and wherein the tread is between the first plurality of bearing devices and the second plurality of bearing devices. 
     
     
         7 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 6  wherein each of the first plurality of bearing devices comprises a first transfer bearing facing away from the deck. 
     
     
         8 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 7  wherein each of the second plurality of bearing devices comprises a set of second transfer bearings facing inwardly and being radially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 8  wherein each respective first transfer bearing sits onto and between the set of second transfer bearings. 
     
     
         10 . An omnidirectional treadmill comprising:
 a treadmill deck assembly comprising
 a deck, 
 a first plurality of omniwheels coupled to the periphery of the deck, and 
 a first plurality of bearing devices coupled to the periphery of the deck; 
   a support assembly comprising
 a base, 
 a second plurality of omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the base and to abut the first plurality of omniwheels, 
 a plurality of motors coupled to the second plurality of omniwheels, and 
 a second plurality of bearing devices coupled to the periphery of the base; 
   a tread surrounding the treadmill deck assembly and being between the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels;   a fabric management assembly coupled to the tread below the treadmill deck assembly;   the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels configured to pinch the tread, the tread being between the first plurality of bearing devices and the second plurality of bearing devices; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of motors and configured to control movement of the plurality of motors to drive the tread.   
     
     
         11 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 10  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a plurality of rings adjacent to the tread, the plurality of rings having different diameters. 
     
     
         12 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 11  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a tensioning device within the tread and configured to tension the tread against the plurality of rings. 
     
     
         13 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 12  wherein the tensioning device comprises an annular weight. 
     
     
         14 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 10  wherein each of the first plurality of bearing devices comprises a first transfer bearing facing away from the deck. 
     
     
         15 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 14  wherein each of the second plurality of bearing devices comprises a set of second transfer bearings facing inwardly and being radially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The omnidirectional treadmill of  claim 15  wherein each respective first transfer bearing sits onto and between the set of second transfer bearings. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making an omnidirectional treadmill, the method comprising:
 providing a treadmill deck assembly comprising a deck, and a first plurality of omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the deck;   positioning a support assembly comprising
 a base, 
 a second plurality of omniwheels coupled to a periphery of the base and to abut the first plurality of omniwheels, and 
 a plurality of motors coupled to the second plurality of omniwheels; 
   positioning the treadmill deck assembly within a tread, the tread being between the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels;   the first plurality of omniwheels and the second plurality of omniwheels configured to pinch the tread; and   coupling a controller to the plurality of motors and configured to control movement of the plurality of motors to drive the tread.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising coupling a fabric management assembly to the tread below the treadmill deck assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a plurality of rings adjacent to the tread, the plurality of rings having different diameters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fabric management assembly comprises a tensioning device within the tread and configured to tension the tread against the plurality of rings.