U.S. patent application number 11/335384 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-19 for endless belt for exercise treadmill.
Invention is credited to Hai Pin Kuo.
Application Number | 20070167291 11/335384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38263927 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070167291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo; Hai Pin |
July 19, 2007 |
Endless belt for exercise treadmill
Abstract
A belt device includes an outer peripheral layer having one or
more conductive wires engaged in the inner portion for eliminating
static electricity. The outer peripheral layer includes a number of
longitudinal fibers arranged parallel to the conductive wire, or a
number of lateral fibers arranged parallel to the conductive wire.
An inner peripheral layer may be engaged with the outer peripheral
layer. The inner peripheral layer also includes one or more
conductive wires for eliminating static electricity, and includes a
number of longitudinal fibers arranged parallel to the conductive
wire or a number of lateral fibers arranged parallel to the
conductive wire.
Inventors: |
Kuo; Hai Pin; (Tainan,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
SUITE 309
90 JOHN STREET
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
38263927 |
Appl. No.: |
11/335384 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0285 20130101;
A63B 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A belt device comprising: an outer peripheral layer including at
least one conductive wire engaged therein for eliminating static
electricity.
2. The belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
peripheral layer includes a plurality of longitudinal fibers
arranged parallel to said at least one conductive wire.
3. The belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
peripheral layer includes a plurality of lateral fibers arranged
parallel to said at least one conductive wire.
4. The belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
peripheral layer includes an outer covering layer made of carbon
material.
5. The belt device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an
inner peripheral layer engaged with said outer peripheral
layer.
6. The belt device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said inner
peripheral layer includes at least one conductive wire engaged
therein for eliminating static electricity.
7. The belt device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said inner
peripheral layer includes a plurality of longitudinal fibers
arranged parallel to said at least one conductive wire.
8. The belt device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said inner
peripheral layer includes a plurality of lateral fibers arranged
parallel to said at least one conductive wire.
9. The belt device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising at
least one intermediate layer disposed between said inner and said
outer peripheral layers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an endless belt device for
an exercise treadmill, and more particularly to an endless belt
device for an exercise treadmill having a structure for reducing or
eliminating static electricity.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical exercise treadmill comprise an endless belt device
disposed on rollers to present a walking surface in an inclined
plane for supporting a user thereon and for allowing the user to
conduct walking or jogging exercises or the like.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,541 to Seaman discloses one
of the typical exercise treadmills of the type used in gymnasiums,
health clubs, and sanitaria to provide a controlled form of
exercise within a confined indoor space, and the typical exercise
treadmill also comprises an endless belt device disposed on a
relatively large number of rollers that are disposed transversely
in a supporting frame, for forming a walking surface in an inclined
plane and for supporting a user thereon and for allowing the user
to conduct various exercises.
[0006] Recently, electrical facilities are attached to the exercise
treadmills for sensing or detecting or measuring the rotational or
moving speed of the endless belt, and/or various information of the
exercisers, such as the breath, the heart beat, or other health or
body condition of the exercisers.
[0007] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,725 to Watterson et al.
discloses one of the typical exercise treadmills having a
microprocessor to generate signals and to control the exerciser,
and to regulate the heart rate of the user by varying the
resistance to the exercise.
[0008] However, the endless belt of the typical exercise treadmills
are normally made of polymer materials, such as polyester, and may
generate static electricity when the endless belt is moved or
rotated around the rollers, and the static electricity may affect
the sensing or detecting or measuring the rotational or moving
speed of the endless belt or of the information of the
exercisers.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional belt devices
for exercise treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an endless belt device for attaching to an exercise treadmill and
including a structure for reducing or eliminating static
electricity and for allowing various information to be effectively
sensed or detected or measured by the electrical facilities.
[0011] The other objective of the present invention is to provide
an endless belt device having a charcoal or carbon outer covering
layer for further reducing or eliminating static electricity.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a belt device comprising an outer peripheral layer
including at least one conductive wire engaged therein for
eliminating static electricity and for allowing various information
to be effectively sensed or detected or measured by the electrical
facilities.
[0013] The outer peripheral layer includes a plurality of
longitudinal fibers arranged parallel to the conductive wire. The
outer peripheral layer includes a plurality of lateral fibers
arranged parallel to the conductive wire. The outer peripheral
layer may further include an outer covering layer made of carbon
material.
[0014] An inner peripheral layer may further be provided and
engaged with the outer peripheral layer. One or more intermediate
layers may further be provided and disposed between the inner and
the outer peripheral layers.
[0015] The inner peripheral layer may also include at least one
conductive wire engaged therein for eliminating static electricity,
and includes a plurality of longitudinal fibers arranged parallel
to the conductive wire and/or a plurality of lateral fibers
arranged parallel to the conductive wire.
[0016] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a partial upper plan schematic view of an endless
belt device in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a partial side or end plan schematic view of the
endless belt device,
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the
endless belt device;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view
illustrating an upper or outer layer of the endless belt
device;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar
to FIG. 4, illustrating the other arrangement of the endless belt
device; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar
to FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating the further arrangement of the
endless belt device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, an
endless belt device 10 in accordance with the present invention is
provided or arranged for attaching to an exercise treadmill (not
shown) of the type used in gymnasiums, health clubs, and sanitaria
to provide a controlled form of exercise within a confined indoor
space, and the endless belt device is disposed on a relatively
large number of rollers that are disposed transversely in a
supporting frame of the exercise treadmill, for forming a walking
surface in an inclined plane and for supporting a user thereon and
for allowing the user to conduct various exercises.
[0024] The endless belt device 10 comprises an upper or outer
peripheral layer 20 (FIGS. 1-3), and a lower or inner peripheral
layer 30 (FIGS. 2-3), and/or one or more insert or intermediate
layers 40, 41 (FIG. 3) disposed or engaged between the outer and
the inner peripheral layers 20, 30. The outer peripheral layer 20
includes a number of longitudinal threads or fibers 21 and a number
of lateral threads or fibers 22 alternatively interwoven together
or engaged with each other to form an outer peripheral layer 20 of
a woven or non-woven cloth type or structure. The intermediate
layers 40, 41 are preferably made of plastic or polymer or
synthetic fibers, such as polyvinyl chloride, or the like.
[0025] The inner peripheral layer 30 also includes a number of
longitudinal threads or fibers 31 and a number of lateral threads
or fibers 32 alternatively interwoven together to form an inner
peripheral layer 30 of a woven or non-woven cloth type or
structure. The longitudinal threads or fibers 21, 31 and the
lateral threads or fibers 22, 32 of the outer and the inner
peripheral layers 20, 30 may be made of various natural fiber
materials, such as natural plant fibers, or plastic or polymer or
synthetic fibers, such as polyester, etc.
[0026] The outer and the inner peripheral layers 20, 30 each
further includes one or more conductive metallic cables or wires
23, 33 interwoven in either or both of the longitudinal threads or
fibers 21, 31 and the lateral threads or fibers 22, 32. For
example, the outer peripheral layer 20 may include one or more
conductive metallic cables or wires 23 interwoven in and/or
parallel to the longitudinal threads or fibers 21 and/or in the
lateral threads or fibers 22, and the inner peripheral layer 30 may
also include one or more conductive metallic cables or wires 33
interwoven in and/or parallel to the longitudinal threads or fibers
31 and/or in the lateral threads or fibers 32.
[0027] The interwoven conductive metallic cables or wires 23, 33 of
the outer and the inner peripheral layers 20, 30 may be
electrically contacted with each other and may be used or provided
for reducing or eliminating static electricity and for allowing
various information to be effectively sensed or detected or
measured by the electrical facilities. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the
outer peripheral layer 20 may further include an outer covering
layer 24 which is preferably made of charcoal or carbon materials
for further reducing or eliminating static electricity.
[0028] In operation, the endless belt device may be rotated or
moved in a relatively large moving speed relative to the supporting
rollers, and a friction or rubbing or abrasion may be generated
between the endless belt device and the supporting rollers, and
thus a static electricity may be generated by the friction or
rubbing or abrasion between the endless belt device and the
supporting rollers. The interwoven conductive metallic cables or
wires 23, 33 of the outer and the inner peripheral layers 20, 30
and/or the outer covering layer 24 of the outer peripheral layer 20
may be used to suitably reduce or eliminate the static
electricity.
[0029] Accordingly, the endless belt device for the exercise
treadmill in accordance with the present invention includes a
structure for reducing or eliminating static electricity and for
allowing various information to be effectively sensed or detected
or measured by the electrical facilities.
[0030] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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