Running belt, treadmill device, running belt slat and method of producing a running belt

Abstract

The invention relates to a running belt for a treadmill device, comprising a tread portion having a running surface for a user to tread upon, a support portion, and a connecting portion between the tread portion and the support portion, wherein the tread portion is connected to the support portion by the connecting portion, and wherein the connecting portion comprises a lattice structure having a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells of the lattice structure. Moreover, the invention relates to a treadmill device, a running belt slat, and a method of producing a running belt.

1 . A running belt for a treadmill device, comprising
 a tread portion having a running surface for a user to tread upon,   a support portion, and   a connecting portion between the tread portion and the support portion,   wherein the tread portion is connected to the support portion by the connecting portion, and   wherein the connecting portion comprises a lattice structure having a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells of the lattice structure.   
     
     
         2 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of cells includes first cells and second cells,   wherein the first cells are arranged between the running surface and the second cells.   
     
     
         3 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lattice structure is formed as a three-dimensional lattice structure and/or is formed by additive manufacturing.   
     
     
         4 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lattice structure is more flexible than the support portion and/or the tread portion.   
     
     
         5 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of cells includes third cells and fourth cells,   wherein the third cells are more flexible than the fourth cells.   
     
     
         6 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lattice structure comprises a first region and a second region,   wherein the first region and the second region each extend transversely to the running surface from the support portion to the tread portion, and   wherein the lattice structure is more flexible in the first region than in the second region.   
     
     
         7 . The running belt according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the lattice structure in the first region differs from the lattice structure in the second region by at least one of the following parameters:
 a geometry of the lattice structure, a length of the struts, a cross-section of the struts, a material of the struts, and a size of the cells. 
   
     
     
         8 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lattice structure comprises first lattice points and second lattice points,   wherein the first lattice points define a first lattice plane and the second lattice points define a second lattice plane,   wherein the second lattice plane preferably extends parallel to the first lattice plane.   
     
     
         9 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the running belt is designed as a slatted running belt having a plurality of slats,   wherein preferably at least one of the slats comprises the tread portion, the support portion and the connecting portion.   
     
     
         10 . The running belt according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the tread portion is mechanically coupled to the support portion exclusively by means of the connecting portion and/or by means of the lattice structure   and/or wherein the support portion is connected to the connecting portion by a non-destructively detachable connection or by a positive material connection,   and/or wherein the support portion has a reinforcement device preferably on its rear side opposite to the connecting portion.   
     
     
         11 . A treadmill device, comprising
 a running belt according to  claim 1 , and   a frame upon which the running belt is revolvingly supported.   
     
     
         12 . A slat for a running belt, comprising
 a tread portion having a running surface for a user to tread on,   a support portion, and   a connecting portion between the tread portion and the support portion,   wherein the tread portion is connected to the support portion by the connecting portion, and   wherein the connecting portion comprises a lattice structure having a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells of the lattice structure.   
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a running belt, comprising the steps of:
 providing a support portion;   forming a connecting portion on the support portion such that the connecting portion includes a lattice structure having a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells of the lattice structure; and   providing a tread portion on the connecting portion so that the tread portion is connected to the support portion by means of the connecting portion.