EP2419180B1 - Belt for a treadmill and treadmill wit a belt - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a belt for a treadmill according to the preamble of claim 1. Tapes for treadmills or exercise equipment are known from the prior art.

DE 101 33 863 A1 shows a tape for a treadmill, which has an uneven surface, so that the foot when running does not occur monotonously, but must adapt to changing conditions. To obtain an easy to clean and even surface, the uneven surface can be provided with an easily compressible layer. In addition, different subsoil can be simulated by filled with sand or gel material chambers. This should increase the training effect.

WO 98/13109 A1 shows a tape for a treadmill with a cushion layer. The cushioning layer has protrusions which extend across the band. In order to protect the padding layer or the projections from excessive wear, their surface is coated with an abrasion-resistant film. The cushioning layer has the particular effect that the training should be easier on the joints compared to conventional treadmills.

DE 199 22 822 B4 shows a training device with a band which receives trained as cross struts lamellae. The tread on which the athlete appears over the plurality of cross struts is curved. The radius of curvature of the tread corresponds approximately to the radius of the legs during the running movement describe. Thus, the runner does not have to compensate for up and down movements and do not make jumps. In addition, both the lamellae and the band are elastically deformable, so that the joint-gentle effect is enhanced.

WO 2009/059722 A1 shows a treadmill, which is equipped with a band which has a thick cushion layer. On the one hand, the cushioning layer absorbs the shocks which act on the joints when running, and on the other hand serves to intensify the training effect. Since the trainer's foot sinks deeply into the padding material at each step, it must be raised while running before the next step can be performed. In addition, a training device is shown, which has a control of the drive to optimize the training effect with the help of training and recovery micro-intervals.

When the treadmill is used by different people, especially with different weights, the ground does not always have the ideal characteristics. In particular, the known tapes have the disadvantage that they can not be converted to different running properties. Depending on the filling of the chambers, high expansion forces can also occur in the deflection area, which can lead to damage.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, an individual adaptation of the tread to the performance, the weight and the desired degree of comfort of the athlete should be made possible. The band should be easy to produce and mechanically resistant.

This object is achieved by a tape having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

An inventive tape for a treadmill for training the human body comprises a carrier tape and a running layer arranged on the carrier tape. The running layer has a plurality of chambers which are filled or filled with a filling material. The chambers form separate pockets which are arranged separately on the carrier tape.

A treadmill is here and below understood to mean a training device in which the athlete performs running movements on a type of "conveyor belt", with both the training device and the athlete remaining stationary. Accordingly, the "conveyor belt" is referred to as a band.

Here and below, a bag is understood to mean a device which makes it possible to pick up different materials. In this case, the bag can be formed as a loop, with two opposite open sides or on all sides closed or lockable. Of particular importance is the separation of each individual pocket on the carrier tape, which overall ensures optimum flexibility of the tape.

The carrier tape primarily serves the mechanical stability of the tape. There are conceivable designs of treadmills, where the tape absorbs the entire weight of the rotor, so that special demands are placed on the stability of the carrier tape. Alternatively, the treadmill below the belt in the running area of the athlete may have a load bearing. As a result, then the band no longer has the entire weight of the runner take up. Accordingly, the construction of the carrier tape can be adjusted. Due to the design with bottom load bearing, it may be useful if the carrier tape has on its, the load-receiving side facing a sliding layer, which minimizes the frictional resistance between the tape and load bearing. Alternatively, the load bearing can be equipped with roles. Due to the design with carrier tape and running layer, both the carrier tape and the running layer can be optimized to the particular properties required.

The pockets are arranged on the carrier tape so that they are separated from each other and have no common side wall. The pockets are made of a material which is easily deformable and does not significantly affect the property of the material in the pockets. The tread is formed by the top of the pockets. By suitable choice of the material of the bag, the care, in particular with regard to hygiene, can be simplified. Preferably, a material is used for this purpose, which is easily washable and disinfectable. For example, the bag may comprise a plastic film. For this purpose, films of rubber, latex or a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane mixture (PVC / PU) are conceivable. Preferably, the film consists of about 97% PVC and about 3% PU. Other materials are also conceivable. Filled pockets make it possible to consciously influence the properties of the running layer and, for example, to provide tapes for different requirements. By fillable design of the pockets, they can be filled on site and thus the property of the overlay to be adjusted according to the needs of the user.

The pockets can be detachably arranged on the carrier tape. For example, the pockets on the carrier tape by sewing, Be fixed welding and / or gluing. A removable attachment allows easy replacement of worn pockets or replacement of pockets filled with other materials. Thus, on the one hand maintenance work is simplified and on the other hand, the individual adaptability of the properties of the tread made even simpler. Detachable connections can be realized, for example, with snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.

At least one bag can be filled or filled with several materials with different properties. Thus, the characteristic of the running layer can be influenced again. For example, a bag can be equipped with a soft underlayer and a harder layer lying thereon. The soft layer ensures that the appearance on the tread is damped and thus gentle on joints, while the overlying harder layer provides stability of the foot occurring.

At least two filled pockets of the overlay may also have different properties. Running on such a band is particularly attractive, the muscles of the athlete is not monotonously loaded but must adapt to different circumstances.

The running layer of the band can have a plurality of pockets in the running direction and / or transversely to the running direction of the band. Several pockets in the direction of travel reduce the resistance of the belt when deflecting over pulleys, as the walking is reduced. The dimensions of the pockets with respect to a diameter of a pulley used in a treadmill are to be considered accordingly. So it has been shown that the optimal dimension of the pockets in the direction of travel in relation to Diameter of the deflection roller between 0.1 and 1, preferably between 0.2 and 0.8. The height of the pockets or the thickness of the running layer is between 1 cm and 10 cm, in particular between 1.5 cm to 8 cm, preferably between 2 cm to 5 cm.

An embodiment of several pockets transversely to the running direction makes it possible, for example, to adapt the properties of the running layer for the right or the left foot differently. This includes the arrangement of bags of different heights.

The pockets can also be arranged obliquely to the direction of travel. In addition, the arranged transversely to the direction of the pockets can be arranged offset to one another in the direction of rotation, which allows further variations.

The pockets can be open or closable on the side. Depending on the filling material can thus be prevented that leaking through the use of filling material from the pockets. The bags can also be closed on the side, in particular welded.

The filling material may be selected from the group comprising a cushion filled with a fluid, sand, gravel, stone, wood, cork and / or plastic. In addition, the filler material may have different shapes, in particular granules, spheres, ellipsoids, cylinders, cubes, cuboids and / or rods. Other materials and forms of filling material are conceivable.

The filling material comprises a foamed polyurethane. These are both open-pore as well as closed-pore variants with their different properties can be used.

The foamed plastic is compressible with a base area of 10cm x 10cm and a surface load of 1'000N between 40% and 95%. A training device according to the invention for training the muscles of the human body required for running on a running surface has a carrier belt which revolves endlessly over two axes parallel to each other in one direction, the upper strand of which is assigned to the running surface for training on the upper side of the carrier belt facing away from the deflection rollers , In this case, at least one of the two guide rollers on a controlled via a controller drive. The lower strand facing the underside of the upper strand of the carrier tape is associated with respect to the training equipment immovable load bearing. In addition, the carrier tape on its side facing away from the guide rollers on a resilient layer of plastic, which is provided with a skin and extending from the free outer side of the layer in the direction of the upper side extending valleys leaving the webs. The skin is guided in the area of the valleys up to the top of the carrier tape and fixed there to form pockets. The plastic consists of individual bars and each bag is filled with at least one of the bars. Each bar preferably has a perpendicular to the top of the carrier tape measured greater height of the valleys than the width defining distance between two adjacent valleys.

By the formation of the skin with respect to the top of the carrier tape stationary and stable, laterally open pockets can this in contrast a more resilient, softer and also because of the greater height than the width of the bags a thick plastic, eg injected or used in the form of rods, which must have no great inherent stability and associated lower elasticity, but at the same time allows a deep compression. The pockets can be formed laterally open or closed.

According to the invention, therefore, the weight of the human body of the exerciser is absorbed by the load suspension and derived in the training equipment. Thus, it is again possible to simulate a natural surface with the endless circulating carrier tape with the thick, resilient, soft plastic, in which you sink quickly and deeply, so that it is necessary at the beginning of the next step, the foot first order to raise the sunken mass to be at the level of the free outside again. Thereafter, the foot must be raised further to the end of the next step and put forward. It is possible by the control of the drive to adjust to the respective condition of the exerciser and / or the training goal.

With the inventive training equipment not only the sinking in sand or the like natural surface is simulated, but also on the same distance in the direction of the carrier tape requires a higher effort and / or trained by the deep sinking other muscle and thus achieve a better training result.

In the case of the training device according to the invention, each rod can be enveloped by the skin completely and / or leaving pockets open at the sides, and the skin in the contact region can be fixed to the upper side of the carrier band to form the pockets, eg glued and / or welded on.

It has proven to be preferred if the thickness and / or compliance of the training equipment's layer is such as to be 40% to 95%, preferably 50% to 90%, cm, and most preferably about 40% when loaded by the human body 60% to 80% in their thickness is compressible.

In order to protect at least the outside of the layer against damage and or sweat, the free outside of the plastic is assigned to serving as the actual tread, preferably viscoelastic skin. In this case, this skin can either be at least partially cohesively connected to the free outer side of the plastic, e.g. be glued.

In order to also simulate slopes as a training effect, advantageously at least one of the axes of the two guide rollers can be raised or lowered perpendicular to their extent, e.g. od by means of an electrically operated threaded rod. Like. Be formed.

Furthermore, it is advantageously possible with the control of the training device according to the invention to drive the drive in individually adjustable, alternating, different lengths of training as well as subsequent recovery microintervals in a slower, respectively controlled manner, the training microintervals being between 8 and 40s, preferably between 9 to 35 seconds and most preferably between 10 to 30 seconds and the recovery microintervals may be between 13 and 90 seconds, preferably between 14 and 75 seconds and most preferably between 15 and 60 seconds.

Also, if the thick, resilient, soft layer is an air-filled volume, it may also be If necessary, the pressure of the drive can be adjusted in a controlled manner, so that the surface, for example, hard wet sandy soil, as on the beach or soft pine needle soil in the forest, can be simulated artificially.

Thus, it is possible with the inventive control of the training equipment, virtually every training terrain with ups and downs, training and recovery distances and possibly with hard and soft soils map.

In the case of the training device according to the invention, each rod can be enveloped by the skin completely or leaving aside pockets open at the side, and the skin in the contact region can be fixed on the upper side of the carrier band to form the pockets.

The rods may be round, semi-elliptical, semicircular, rectangular or trapezoidal in cross-section.

At least a portion of the rods may consist of at least two surface-connected partial bars and the plastics of the partial bars may have different compliance or elasticity.

The layer may have an elastically yielding, soft plastic.

The plastic may be formed as a foamed plastic and open and (partially) / or closed-pore.

The layer may be from 2 to 10 cm, preferably 2.5 to 8 cm and most preferably 1.5 to 6 cm thick.

The layer may be compressible in its thickness by 40% to 95%, preferably 50% to 90% cm and most preferably by 60% to 80% when loaded by the weight of the human body.

The valleys may be narrow compared to the width of the webs measured in the direction of the circulating carrier tape.

The valleys can be narrower than the width of the webs measured in the direction of the circulating carrier strip by a factor of 3 to 15, preferably 6 to 14 and very particularly preferably 8 to 13.

The valleys may extend parallel to the two axes of the rotatable guide rollers

The valleys may extend angularly with respect to the top of the carrier tape.

The taler may extend at right angles with respect to the top of the carrier tape.

The valleys can end at a distance from the two arranged in the extension of the axes of the guide rollers spaced outer edges of the top of the carrier tape.

The free outside of the plastic may be associated with a serving as an actual tread skin.

The skin may be tough-elastic.

The skin may be materially bonded to the free outside of the plastic or as on the free outside be formed and formed with this circumferential separate tread band, which is deflected by separate guide rollers.

At least one of the axes of the two guide rollers may be designed to be raised or lowered perpendicular to their extent.

The controller can drive the drive in individually adjustable, alternating, different length training and subsequent recovery micro-intervals quickly or contrast slower.

The training micro-intervals may be between 8 and 40s, preferably between 9 to 35s and most preferably between 10 to 30s.

The recovery microintervals may be between 13 and 90 seconds, preferably between 14 and 75 seconds, and most preferably between 15 and 60 seconds.

Figur 1a

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemässen Bandes mit in Laufrichtung mehreren unterschiedlich befüllten Taschen,

Figur 1b

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemässen Bandes mit sowohl in Laufrichtung als auch quer zur Laufrichtung mehreren unterschiedlich befüllten Taschen,

Figur 1c

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemässen Bandes mit einer Vielzahl von schräg zur Laufrichtung angeordneten unterschiedlich befüllten Taschen,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Detailansicht auf ein erfindungsgemässes Band mit mehreren befüllten und verschlossenen Taschen, wobei eine Tasche offen dargestellt ist,

Figur 3

eine Detailansicht auf ein erfindungsgemässes Band im Bereich einer Umlenkwalze, und

Figur 4

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Trainingsgerätschaft in Seitenansicht.

On the basis of figures, which represent only embodiments, the invention will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

FIG. 1a

a schematic representation of an inventive tape with several differently filled pockets in the direction,

FIG. 1b

a schematic representation of an inventive tape with both in the running direction and transverse to the direction a plurality of differently filled pockets,

Figure 1c

1 is a schematic representation of a band according to the invention with a multiplicity of differently filled pockets arranged at an angle to the direction of travel;

FIG. 2

a detailed perspective view of a tape according to the invention with a plurality of filled and closed pockets, wherein a bag is shown open,

FIG. 3

a detailed view of an inventive band in the region of a guide roller, and

FIG. 4

an embodiment of an inventive training equipment in side view.

The FIGS. 1a) to 1c ) show in a plan view of schematic representations in different embodiments of an inventive tape 1 with in the running direction 11 a plurality of differently filled pockets 3. The tape 1 is shown only partially and each provided with two different arrangements of pockets 3.

In FIG. 1a Each bag 3, 3 'is continuous throughout and spans more or less the entire width of the belt 1. Each of the upper three pockets 3 in the illustration is filled with only one filling material 25 across the width of the belt 1. The lower three pockets 3 'in the illustration are each filled with different fillers 25 in their width. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the pockets 3 'have four different filling materials 25 arranged next to one another. However, any other number of fillers 25 may be used become. Moreover, it is also conceivable that instead of transverse to the direction 11 juxtaposed filling materials 25, these are arranged side by side or even one above the other in the running direction 11.

FIG. 1b ) shows correspondingly an arrangement with differently filled pockets 3, 3 ', wherein both in the running direction 11 and transversely to the running direction 11 a plurality of pockets 3, 3' are arranged. The upper three rows of pockets 3 in the illustration are arranged in an aligned manner next to one another. The pockets 3 'shown in the illustration below are arranged laterally offset next to one another. The filling of the pockets 3, 3 'with filling material 25 can take place arbitrarily. All pockets 3, 3 'can be filled with the same filling material 25 or else with filling material 25 having different properties. There are also fillings according to the FIG. 1 possible. The different fillings can be combined to any desired patterns.

In Figure 1c ), a band 1 is shown, in which the pockets 3, 3 'are arranged obliquely to the running direction 11. The pockets 3 can each be inclined in one direction. But it is also conceivable that the pockets 3 'extend first in one direction and then change direction. Thus, any pocket profiles are conceivable. The filling with different filling material 25 corresponds to those possibilities according to the FIGS. 1a) and 1b) ,

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a band 1 with a plurality of arranged on a carrier tape 16 pockets 3, 3 '. The pockets 3 are filled and closed, the bag 3 'is shown open. The pockets 3, 3 'are as in the upper illustration of FIG. 1b ) arranged. Other arrangements are also possible.

The pockets 3 each have two lateral closure elements 29, which are closed by a push button 28. Thus, even with intensive use of the tape 1, the filler 25 does not escape laterally. The closure elements 29 are made of the same material, as the bag 3 itself. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure elements 29 are integrally connected to the bag 3 and are wing-shaped on both sides of the bag 3 from. Of course, other shapes and configurations of the closure elements are conceivable. Also, other elements instead of a push button can be used for closing, for example, a hook and loop fastener. The bags can also be filled at the factory and tightly closed, in particular welded.

The opened pocket 3 'is shown without closure elements for the sake of simplicity. The layered structure of the filling material 25 can be clearly seen. The filling material 25 is formed from a lower layer 26 and an upper layer 27. It goes without saying that other arrangements of the filling material 25 as described FIG. 1a ) possible are.

The tread 30 on which the user of the belt 1 stands is formed by the top of the pockets 3, 3 '. However, with a suitable selection of the filling material 25, the user does not feel a hard running surface 30 but perceives the entire running layer 2, which is formed by the filled pockets 3, 3 'and the carrier tape 16.

The filled pockets 3, 3 'shown have a base area of 4 cm × 10 cm at a height of 3 cm. The distance between two pockets 3, 3 'across the direction of travel is 0.5cm. The distance of the pockets 3, 3 'in the direction of travel is measured at the Base or on the carrier tape 16 0.2cm and at the height of the tread 30 at a stretched band 0.5cm. In another embodiment (see FIG. 1a ) only one pocket extends across the width of the band. This bag has a base of 2cm x 50cm at a height of 2cm. The distance of the pockets in the direction of travel is identical to the embodiment shown. However, other dimensions and distances are also conceivable.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the band in the region of a guide roller 15 formed as a treadmill exercise equipment 10 (see FIG. 4 ), which is not part of the invention. Clearly visible is the carrier tape 16, on which the pockets 3 are arranged. The pockets 3 are filled with a filling material 25 in the form of a resilient layer 20. The bag 3 forms a non-slip skin 31, which hold the layer 20 and the filler 25 in place and protects against abrasion. At the point 23, the skin 31 of the pocket 3 is fixed on the carrier tape 16. In the embodiment shown, the skin 31 is welded to the carrier tape 16. Conceivable, however, are other mounting options, in particular a stitching or gluing.

FIG. 4 shows a training equipment. This serves to train the muscles of the human body required during running on a running surface and has an endless endless belt 12 in a direction 11 about two parallel axes 12/13 deflectable guide rollers 14/15 circulating carrier tape 16 whose upper run 161 on the guide rollers 14th / 15 facing away from the top 163 of the carrier tape 16, the tread 30 is assigned to train. Furthermore, a drive 18 controlled by a controller 17 is provided.

The lower strand 162 facing bottom 164 of the upper strand 161 of the carrier tape 16 is associated with respect to the training equipment 10 immobile housing-load suspension 19 on which the upper strand 161 are supported and over which the force due to the weight of the human body in the form of the exerciser can be derived ,

In order to also simulate inclines as a training effect, the one axis 13 of the deflecting roller 15 is perpendicular to its extent by means of e.g. an electrically operated (40) threaded rod 41 od. Like. According to direction double arrow 42 raised or lowered trained.

On its side facing away from the guide rollers 14/15 top 163, the carrier tape 16 has a plurality of mutually parallel, formed by a tough elastic skin 31, in the illustrated embodiment laterally open pockets, with a layer 20 of a thick, resilient, soft plastic are filled and which is guided in the region of valleys 21 to the top 163 of the belt 16 as a contact area 23 and fixed there to form the pockets, as in FIG. 2 is shown schematically. The tread 30 is assigned to the free outside of the layer.

In this case, the layer 20 extending from the free outer side in the direction of the top 163 of the carrier tape 16 extending valleys 21, leaving webs 22, the valleys 21 narrow compared to the measured in the direction 10 of the circulating carrier tape 16 width of the webs 22, preferably are narrower by a factor of 3 to 15, preferably 6 to 14 and most preferably 8 to 13 compared to the measured in the direction of the circulating carrier tape 16 width of the webs. The valleys 21 extend parallel to the two axes 12/13 of the rotatable Deflection rollers 14/15. Furthermore, the valleys 21 extend at right angles with respect to the upper side 163 of the carrier tape 16 in the embodiment shown.

The e.g. As a foamed, open and (partially) / or closed-pored plastic according to the teachings of the invention consists of individual rods and each bag is filled with at least one of the rods, each rod measured perpendicular to the top 163 of the band 16 greater height of the valleys 21 as the width defining the distance of two adjacent valleys, wherein the layer 2 to 10 cm, preferably 2.5 to 8 cm and most preferably 1.5 to 6 cm thick or high and when loaded by the human body to 40% to 95%, preferably 50% to 90% cm and most preferably by 60% to 80% in their thickness is compressible.

With the training equipment it is about the inventive control 17 of the drive 18 and the possibility of at least one of the axes 13 of a guide roller 15 by means of electrically operated by the control drive 40 threaded rod 41 perpendicular to its extent to raise or lower possible, virtually any training area with Imagine descending and descending as well as training and recreational stretches possibly with hard and soft bottoms with the training device according to the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Belt (1) for a treadmill for training the human body comprising a carrier belt (16) and a tread layer situated on the carrier belt (16), which has multiple chambers, which are filled with a filler material, characterized in that the chambers form separate pockets (3, 3'), which are situated separately from one another on the carrier belt (16), wherein the pockets (3, 3') are configured as loops having two opposite open sides or are implemented as closed or closable on all sides, and the filler material comprises a foamed polyurethane which is compressible between 40% and 95% with an area of 10 cm x 10 cm and a surface load of 1000 N.
2. Belt (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pockets (3, 3') are removably situated on the carrier belt (16).
3. Belt (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one pocket (3, 3') is filled or fillable with multiple filler materials having different properties.
4. Belt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two filled pockets (3, 3') of the tread layer have different properties.
5. Belt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tread layer has multiple pockets (3, 3') in the running direction (11) and/or transversely to the running direction (11) of the belt (1).
6. Belt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pockets (3, 3') are situated at an angle to the running direction (11).
7. Belt (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the pockets (3, 3') situated transversely to the running direction (11) are situated offset to one another in the running direction (11).
8. Belt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a further filler material is selected from the group comprising:

   - a cushion filled with fluid,

   - sand,

   - gravel,

   - rock,

   - wood,

   - cork,

   - plastic.
9. Belt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the filler material has a shape which is selected from the group comprising:

   - granules,

   - balls,

   - ellipsoids,

   - cylinders,

   - cubes,

   - cuboids,

   - rods,

   - prisms.

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