Rollback Braking for Non-Motorized Treadmills

Abstract

This disclosure describes devices for providing rollback braking to a non-motorized treadmill. The device can include a rollback control mechanism configured to be coupled to a frame of a non-motorized treadmill. The rollback control mechanism can be configured to be in contact with a belt upper portion of the non-motorized treadmill thereby causing resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least a forward direction. The device may be used with a non-motorized treadmill, and the device and non-motorized treadmill may be implemented in a workout system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for providing rollback braking to a non-motorized treadmill, the device comprising:
 a rollback control mechanism configured to be coupled to a frame of a non-motorized treadmill;   wherein the rollback control mechanism is configured to be in contact with a belt upper portion of the non-motorized treadmill thereby causing resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least a forward direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rollback control mechanism comprises a cam configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the cam is in the first position when the belt upper portion moves or attempts to move in the forward direction, and is in the second position when the belt upper portion moves in a rearward direction, and wherein the cam is configured to press against the belt upper portion when the cam is in the first position thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward direction, and is configured to not press against the belt upper portion when the cam is in the second position thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the rearward direction. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is spring-loaded such that the cam is biased to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is configured to be coupled to the frame along an axis, and the cam is rotatable about the axis when moving between the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is configured to press against an underside of the belt upper portion when the cam is in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rollback control mechanism is positioned only along a rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion and comprises a skid pad, and wherein the skid pad is configured to be in contact with the belt upper portion when a user steps on the rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the skid pad is configured to not be in contact with the belt upper portion when the user steps on the front three-quarters portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least the rearward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rollback control mechanism is positioned only along a rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion and comprises a non-rotatable belt guide, and wherein the non-rotatable belt guide is configured to be in contact with the belt upper portion when a user steps on the rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the non-rotatable belt guide is configured to not be in contact with the belt upper portion when the user steps on the front three-quarters portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least the rearward direction. 
     
     
         10 . A workout system comprising:
 a non-motorized treadmill comprising:
 a frame; and 
 a belt comprising a belt upper portion; and 
   a rollback control mechanism coupled to the frame;   wherein the rollback control mechanism is configured to be in contact with the belt upper portion thereby causing resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least a forward direction.   
     
     
         11 . A method of using a workout system, the method comprising:
 providing a non-motorized treadmill comprising:
 a frame; and 
 a belt comprising a belt upper portion; and 
   providing a rollback control mechanism coupled to the frame;   wherein the rollback control mechanism is in contact with the belt upper portion thereby causing resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least a forward direction, when a user is positioned on the belt upper portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rollback control mechanism comprises a cam that moves between a first position and a second position, wherein the cam is in the first position when the belt upper portion moves or attempts to move in the forward direction, and is in the second position when the belt upper portion moves in a rearward direction, and wherein the cam presses against the belt upper portion when the cam is in the first position thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward direction, and does not press against the belt upper portion when the cam is in the second position thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the rearward direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cam is spring-loaded such that the cam is biased to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cam is coupled to the frame along an axis, and the cam rotates about the axis when moving between the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cam presses against an underside of the belt upper portion when the cam is in the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rollback control mechanism is positioned only along a rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion and comprises a skid pad, and wherein the skid pad is in contact with the belt upper portion when a user steps on the rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the skid pad is not in contact with the belt upper portion when the user steps on the front three-quarters portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least the rearward direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rollback control mechanism is positioned only along a rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion and comprises a non-rotatable belt guide, and wherein the non-rotatable belt guide is in contact with the belt upper portion when a user steps on the rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing the resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in the forward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-rotatable belt guide is not in contact with the belt upper portion when the user steps on the front three-quarters portion of the belt upper portion thereby causing no resistance of movement of the belt upper portion in at least the rearward direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rollback control mechanism is positioned only along a rear quarter portion of the belt upper portion.