The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2000
Timothy T. Anderson, Antioch, IL (US);
Shawn Barrett, Grayslake, IL (US);
Christopher E. Clawson, Palatine, IL (US);
Thomas B. Cray, Chicago, IL (US);
Juliette Cherly Daly, Chicago, IL (US);
Peter Haugen, Edon Prarie, MN (US);
Edward Honda, Chicago, IL (US);
John Jung Hsing, Glendale Heights, IL (US);
Edward Minnich, Grayslake, IL (US);
Angela Martin, Chicago, IL (US);
Paul D. Osenkarski, Westmont, IL (US);
Jeffrey J. Partynski, Lockport, IL (US);
Timothy J. Porth, Bloomington, MN (US);
Thomas F. Smith, Jr., Downers Grove, IL (US);
Daniel R. Wille, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Chungkin Yee, Kenosha, WI (US);
Gary E. Oglesby, Manhattan, IL (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
An exercise treadmill is disclosed which includes various features to enhance user operation and to reduce maintenance costs. These features include handlebars with an upwardly curved center section and outwardly flared side portions along with pivoting rear legs for the treadmill frame. The control panel features include snap-in user trays and an overlay covering the numerical key pad along with an auxiliary control panel having a subset of user controls that are larger and more easy to use than the same controls on the main control panel. Maintenance enhancing features include the provision for access panels in the treadmill housing and a belt lubrication system that uses a priming pulse to clear the wax spraying nozzle. For injection molded parts such as the control panel, structural strength is enhanced by utilizing gas-assist injection molding to form structural ribs. Another feature includes pre-glazing the treadmill belt. Sound and vibration are reduced in a treadmill by mounting the treadmill belt drive motor on motor isolation mounts that include resilient members. A further feature is a double sided waxed deck where one side of the deck is covered by a protective tape.