Motorless Treadmill with Large Flywheel

Abstract

A motorless exercise treadmill has a flywheel of 7 to 10 inches radius, weighing 40 to 60 pounds. The flywheel provides a fluid motion for the belt when the brake system is engaged and smooth transition through increasing or decreasing speeds. Inclination of the treadmill is fixed at 9 to 20 degrees, which accommodates the large size of the flywheel. Handle and other attachments of different designs are provided so the user can exercise in various positions with various resistance levels for developing specific leg, core, arm and other muscles, not normally achievable on a treadmill.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A motorless treadmill comprising (a) a frame, (b) a high front roller and a low rear roller held by said frame, (c) a continuous treadmill belt in contact with said front and rear rollers, said treadmill belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface in contact with said rollers, said rollers and said treadmill belt defining an exercise surface inclined at a fixed angle of 9 to 20 degrees from said low rear roller to said high front roller, (d) a flywheel fixed to said front roller, said flywheel having a radius of 7 to 10 inches and a perimeter weighted mass of 40 to 60 pounds. 
     
     
         2 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said fixed angle of inclination is in the range of 11 to 13 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  including a brake operable by a user on said treadmill, said brake including a brake pad for contacting said flywheel. 
     
     
         4 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said mass of said flywheel is 45 to 55 pounds, 
     
     
         5 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said flywheel includes a brake for said flywheel, said brake including a brake pad adapted to contact said flywheel and a screw adapted to move said brake pad. 
     
     
         6 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said flywheel is directly attached to said front roller so as to rotate with said front roller. 
     
     
         7 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said flywheel has two parts, said parts attached to opposite ends of the front roller, each part thereof having a radius of at least  7  inches, said parts each having a mass of at least 20 pounds. 
     
     
         8 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  including an elongated socket mounted on the front of said frame, said elongated socket adapted to receive and fix a shaft of one or more interchangeable accessory positioners. 
     
     
         9 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 1  wherein said frame includes stationary shoulders next to said exercise surface. 
     
     
         10 . A motorless treadmill comprising (a) a treadmill frame including a front end and a rear end, said frame including a treadmill belt, a front roller on said front end, and a rear roller on said rear end, said front and rear rollers for enabling said treadmill belt to turn, said treadmill frame including at least one front support member fixedly elevating said front roller at an angle of 9 to 20 degrees from said rear roller, (b) an elongate socket fixed to the front end of said frame, said socket being adapted to receive and fix a shaft of one or more interchangeable handles for grasping by a user to assume a variety of positions and apply a variety of muscles by a user, and (c) a perimeter weighted flywheel fixed to said front roller, said perimeter weighted flywheel having a mass of 40 to 60 pounds. 
     
     
         11 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 10  fixed at an incline between 11 and 13 degrees and wherein said flywheel has a radius 7 to 10 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 10  including side rails mounted on the sides of said frame. 
     
     
         13 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 10  including a screw operated brake pad for said flywheel. 
     
     
         14 . A motorless treadmill having a fixed inclination of 9 to 20 degrees comprising (a) a frame including a socket for receiving an accessory shaft, and (b) a plurality of accessory shafts adapted to fit securely in said socket and having handles deployed in various orientations. 
     
     
         15 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 14  including a flywheel adapted to provide inertial energy to said treadmill, said flywheel having a radius of 7 to 10 inches and a perimeter weighted mass of 40 to 60 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . The motorless treadmill of  claim 14  wherein an accessory shaft (b) has an arm rest.