Lateral Tilting Treadmill Systems

Abstract

A lateral tilting system comprising one or more crossbeams that are each pivotably supported by a respective base member for pivotable motion about a common longitudinal axis. A drive mechanism is operably connected to a drive shaft to mechanically drive pivotable motion of the crossbeams about the axis, and resulting lateral tilt of an associated treadmill deck. A control system may be included to receive a user's input for controlling an oscillation rate or other parameter of the lateral tilting, and optionally longitudinal incline of the treadmill deck. A novel treadmill including a lateral tilting system and a lateral tilting accessory for conventional exercise equipment are provided also.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lateral tilting system for a treadmill, the lateral tilting system comprising:
 a first pivot support member permitting lateral tilting of a supported member; and   a second pivot support member permitting lateral tilting of the supported member; and   a drive mechanism configured to drive the supported member in lateral tilting motion by pivoting the supported member relative to said first pivot support member and said second pivot support member.   
     
     
         22 . The lateral tiling system of  claim 21 , further comprising a control system operably connected to said drive mechanism and selectively supplying control signals to said drive motor to cause operation of said drive motor. 
     
     
         23 . The lateral tilting system of  claim 21 , further comprising a control system communicatively coupled to said drive mechanism, said control system being configured to provide instructions to said drive mechanism to laterally tilt said supported member during a first period and provide instructions to an elevation system to elevate said first pivot support member relative to said second pivot support member during a second period. 
     
     
         24 . The lateral tilting system of  claim 23 , wherein said first period and second period at least partially overlap. 
     
     
         25 . The lateral tilting system of  claim 21 , wherein said supported member is supported on said first and second pivot support members for pivotal motion about a common axis. 
     
     
         26 . A treadmill comprising:
 an elongated deck supporting an endless belt;   at least one lateral tilt assembly supporting said elongated deck, said at least one lateral tilt assembly being configured to provide lateral tilting of said elongated deck about a first axis extending in a direction of elongation of said elongated deck;   a drive mechanism operably coupled to said at least one lateral tilt assembly and selectively operable to drive lateral tilting of said elongated deck about said first axis; and   a control system operably connected to said drive mechanism and selectively supplying control signals to said drive mechanism to cause operation of said drive mechanism.   
     
     
         27 . The treadmill of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one lateral tilt assembly comprises
 a first lateral tilt assembly and a second lateral tilt assembly:   said first lateral tilt assembly comprising:   a first pivot support member;   a first crossbeam supported on said first pivot support member for pivotable motion relative thereto; and   a first drive hub coupled to said first crossbeam; and   said second lateral tilt assembly comprises:   a second pivot support member; and   a second crossbeam supported on said second pivot support member for pivotable motion relative thereto; and   a second drive hub coupled to said second crossbeam.   
     
     
         28 . The treadmill of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one drive shaft coupled to said first drive hub and said second drive hub, and wherein said drive mechanism is coupled to said at least one drive shaft and configured to drive said drive shaft to pivot said first crossbeam and said second crossbeam. 
     
     
         29 . The treadmill of  claim 27 , further comprising an elevation system configured to longitudinally incline said deck. 
     
     
         30 . The treadmill of  claim 27 , wherein said control system communicates instructions to said drive mechanism to drive said first lateral tilt assembly and said second lateral tilt assembly in accordance with said user input. 
     
     
         31 . The treadmill of  claim 27 , wherein said control system is configured to be responsive to user input to responsively cause tilting of said elongated deck. 
     
     
         32 . The treadmill of  claim 27 , wherein said first drive hub comprises a first pin coupled to a drive shaft such that axial rotation of said drive shaft provided by said drive mechanism causes eccentric motion of said pin and reciprocating lateral tilting of said first crossbeam, and said second drive hub comprises a second pin coupled to said drive shaft such that axial rotation of said drive shaft provided by said drive mechanism causes eccentric motion of said pin and reciprocating lateral tilting of said second crossbeam. 
     
     
         33 . The treadmill of  claim 26 , wherein said control system is configured vary said lateral tilting of said deck based on at least one of a predefined program, passage of a predetermined time interval, and a cyclical tilting rate. 
     
     
         34 . The treadmill of  claim 26 , wherein said first drive hub comprises a first pin coupled to a drive shaft such that axial rotation of said drive shaft provided by said drive mechanism causes eccentric motion of said pin and reciprocating lateral tilting of said deck, and said second drive hub comprises a second pin coupled to said drive shaft such that axial rotation of said drive shaft provided by said drive mechanism causes eccentric motion of said pin and reciprocating lateral tilting of said deck. 
     
     
         35 . The treadmill of  claim 26 , further comprising an elevation system configured to longitudinally incline said deck. 
     
     
         36 . The treadmill of  claim 34 , wherein said control system is configured to provide instructions to said drive mechanism to laterally tilt said deck during a first period and provide instructions to an elevation system to longitudinally include said deck during a second period. 
     
     
         37 . An accessory for supporting exercise equipment having a base, the accessory comprising:
 an elongated rigid base;   at least one pivot mount supported on said base, said at least one pivot mount having a respective support surface and being disposed to provide tilting of said support surface laterally relative to said base;   a support table supported on said at least one pivot mount, said support table being sized to support the base of the equipment;   a drive mechanism operably connected between said support table and said base and selectively operable to drive lateral tilting of said support table; and   a control system operably connected to said drive mechanism and selectively supplying control signals to said drive mechanism to cause operation of said drive mechanism.   
     
     
         38 . The accessory of  claim 37 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises at least one of an electric motor and a linear actuator operable to extend or retract a drive member. 
     
     
         39 . The accessory of  claim 37 , wherein each of said at least one pivot mounts comprises an upper brace having a support surface pivotably supported on and joined to a lower brace by a pivot pin. 
     
     
         40 . The accessory of  claim 37 , wherein said support table comprises a clamp member adjustable in position relative to said support table to abut and support the base of the exercise equipment.