Precor Incorporated

Wes A Williams

Soddy Tsang

Daniel A Schwandt

Mark D Sands

Cole J Dalton

Rick Wanzer

A treadmill (10) having a belt (12) and deck (14) with a relatively long, useful lifetime is disclosed. The belt of this assembly has a tread layer (54) formed of PVC plastic or other material that serves as the layer of the belt upon which a person actually steps, and a fabric layer (62). The fabric layer has weft threads (64) that extend laterally across the belt and that are substantially embedded in the plastic material and warp threads (66) that extend longitudinally along the belt that have exposed sections that extend outside of the plastic material. The fabric layer is woven so that the exposed sections of the warp threads are equal to at least 50% of their overall length. The deck of this treadmill is formed with a plywood substrate (70) and a wax-embedded hardboard (72). The substrate provides structural support for the hardboard and the persons using this treadmill. The hardboard serves as the surface along which the belt rides when a person steps on the treadmill.

Belt and deck assembly for an exercise treadmill

A treadmill having a belt and deck with a relatively long, useful lifetime is disclosed. The belt of this assembly has a tread layer formed of PVC plastic or other material that serves as the layer of the belt upon which a person actually steps, and a fabric layer. The fabric layer has weft threads that extend laterally across the belt and that are substantially embedded in the plastic material and warp threads that extend longitudinally along the belt that have exposed sections that extend outside of the plastic material. The fabric layer is woven so that the exposed sections of the warp threads are equal to at least 50% of their overall length. The deck of this treadmill is formed with a plywood substrate and a wax-embedded hardboard. The substrate provides structural support for the hardboard and the persons using this treadmill. The hardboard serves as the surface along which the belt rides when a person steps on the treadmill.

Method of forming a deck assembly for an exercise treadmill

An exercise treadmill (10) includes a main frame (12) on which is mounted an endless belt (14) trained over a forward drive roller (16) and a rearward idler roller (18) both axled on the main frame. A deck (20) closely underlies and supports the upper run of the endless belt. A subframe (22) is pivotally mounted on the forward position of the main frame 12 adjacent the front of the deck (20) to pivot relative to the main frame about the same transverse axis (24) about which the drive roller is powered by an electric motor (28) mounted on the subframe (22). The orientation of subframe (22) relative to the main frame is selectively alterable through a linear actuator (26) which may be controlled while standing on the treadmill deck (20).

Integrated drive and elevation system for exercise apparatus

An exercise treadmill (10) includes a main frame (12) on which is mounted an endless belt (14) trained over a forward drive roller (16) and a rearward idler roller (18) both axled on the main frame. A deck (20) closely underlies and supports the upper run of the endless belt. A subframe (22) is pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the main frame 12 adjacent the front of the deck (20) to pivot relative to the main frame about the same transverse axis (24) about which the drive roller is powered by an electric motor (28) mounted on the subframe (22). The orientation of subframe (22) relative to the main frame is selectively alterable through a linear actuator (26) which may be controlled while standing on the treadmill deck (20).

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Arlington, WA, United States of America

Wes A Williams