Systems and methods for restricting transverse movement of a treadmill belt

Abstract

A treadmill includes a frame having a front end and a rear end, substantially opposite the front end; a front shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the front end of the frame; a rear shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the rear end of the frame; a running belt disposed about the front and rear shaft assemblies that has a running surface including a curved portion; and a first bumper and a second bumper, the first and second bumpers coupled to the frame proximate the running belt such that the first and second bumpers are each disposed between the running belt and the frame. In use, the first and second bumpers are configured to selectively engage and restrict movement of the running belt towards at least a portion of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treadmill, comprising;
 a frame having a front end and a rear end, substantially opposite the front end;   a front shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the front end of the frame;   a rear shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the rear end of the frame;   a running belt disposed about the front and the rear shaft assemblies, wherein the running belt defines a running surface including a curved portion;   a first bumper and a second bumper, the first and second bumpers coupled to the frame proximate the running belt such that the first and second bumpers are each disposed between the running belt and the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper comprises a first top surface substantially adjacent the curved portion. 
     
     
         3 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a right side and a left side opposite the right side, and wherein one of the right side or the left side is coupled to both of the first and second bumpers. 
     
     
         4 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises an angled portion, and wherein the first bumper is coupled to the angled portion. 
     
     
         5 . The treadmill of  claim 4 , wherein a top surface of the first bumper is substantially parallel with the angled portion. 
     
     
         6 . The treadmill of  claim 4 , wherein the frame further comprises a flat or substantially flat portion, and wherein the second bumper is coupled to the flat or substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         7 . The treadmill of  claim 6 , wherein a top surface of the second bumper is substantially parallel with the flat or substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         8 . The treadmill of  claim 4 , further comprising a third bumper coupled to the angled portion. 
     
     
         9 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper has a first orientation relative to the frame and the second bumper has a second orientation relative to the frame different than the first orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper and the second bumper are at least partially constructed from at least one of Nylon or ultra-high molecular weight Polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein in use, each of the first and second bumpers are each configured to selectively engage and restrict movement of the running belt towards at least a portion of the frame. 
     
     
         12 . A treadmill, comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end substantially opposite the front end;   a front shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the front end of the frame;   a rear shaft assembly coupled to the frame proximate the rear end of the frame;   a running belt disposed about the front and rear shaft assemblies, wherein the running belt defines a running surface including a curved portion;   a first left side bumper coupled to the frame proximate the running belt such that the first left side bumper is disposed between the frame and the running belt, wherein in use, the first left side bumper is configured to selectively restrict movement of the running belt toward the frame; and   a first right side bumper coupled to the frame proximate the running belt such that the first right side bumper is disposed between the frame and the running belt, wherein in use, the first right side bumper is configured to selectively restrict movement of the running belt toward the frame,   wherein each of the first left side bumper and the first right side bumper are configured to selectively engage the running belt.   
     
     
         13 . The treadmill of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first left side bumper or the first right side bumper comprises a first top surface substantially adjacent the curved portion. 
     
     
         14 . The treadmill of  claim 12 , wherein the frame further comprises an angled portion, and wherein one of the first left side bumper or the first right side bumper is coupled to the angled portion. 
     
     
         15 . The treadmill of  claim 14 , wherein a top surface of the one of the first left side bumper or the first right side bumper is substantially parallel with the angled portion. 
     
     
         16 . The treadmill of  claim 14 , wherein the frame further comprises a flat or substantially flat portion, and wherein the other of the one of the first left side bumper or the first right side bumper is coupled to the flat or substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         17 . The treadmill of  claim 16 , wherein a top surface of the other of the one of the first left side bumper or the first right side bumper is substantially parallel with the flat or substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method of restricting movement of a running belt of a treadmill relative to a frame of the treadmill, the method comprising:
 providing a frame including a left side member and a right side member, the left side member spaced apart from the right side member;   providing a running belt coupled to the frame, wherein the running belt defines a running surface including a curved portion;   disposing a first bumper between the right side member of the frame and the running belt;   disposing a second bumper between the left side member of the frame and the running belt; and   selectively engaging, by at least one of the first bumper or the second bumper, the running belt to restrict movement of the running belt toward at least one of the right side member or the left side member of the frame.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first bumper or the second member comprises a first top surface substantially adjacent the curved portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each of the left side member and the right side member comprises a flat or substantially flat portion and an angled portion, and wherein one of the first or second bumper is coupled to the angled portion and the other of the first or second bumper is coupled to the flat portion.