US3332683A - Physical conditioning treadmill apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1967 1. 1. RAND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TREADMILL APPARATUS lFiled March 18, 1965 INVENTOR J. Rond MZ 4Q/5X ATTORNEY Fig. 2

United States Patent 3,332,683 PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TREADMILL APPARATUS Jimmy J. Rand, Rte. 1, Box 223, Groesbeek, Tex. 76642 Filed Mar. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 440,734 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) The present invention relates to physical conditioning apparatus and more particularly to physical conditioning apparatus of a treadmill type. The apparatus provided by `the present invention is especially useful -in the development of fundamental skills in football and is also beneficial in any physical conditioning program.

The popularity of football as a spectator sport has in creased to very high levels in recent years. The sport is played by participants over a wide range of ages and competition between teams is quite high. Since football is an extremely rigorous contact sport, it is very important that the participants be in excellent physical condition in order that they can play to their maximum physical ability as well as prevent physical injury.

The present invention provides physical conditioning apparatus which can be utilized as a year round training and conditioning machine for athletes. Moreover, the apparatus of the present invention can be used as an excellent aid in teaching an athlete to assume the proper stance, weight distribution and leg action as would be used in blocking, tackling and ball carrying.

In accordance with the present invention, a continuous rubber belt moves across two spaced apart rollers. Two vertically disposed body resistors which are individually adjustable horizontally zare positioned slightly in front of the belt. A friction brake is also provided for controlling the force required to move the belt. In Operating the device, pressure is applied by the individual against the body resistor. The body resistor acts as resistance or opposing force which creates thrust or driving power by the individuals leg action upon the belt. The amount of work output by the individual is controlled by the brake. When the brake is released, the belt will move quite freely and the work required to run on the device will be comparable to any sprint or dash.

Features of the invention which are believed novel are set forth with greater particularity in the appended claims. Many objects and advantages of the invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention unfolds when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which like reference numerals denote like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the physical conditioning apparatus provided by the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus provided by the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation view with the body resistors of the present invention in one position;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation view showing the body resistons in a different position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation view illustrating the manner in which tension of the belt can be adjusted; and

3,332,683 Patented. July 25, 1967 ICC' FIGURE 6 is `a view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the braking device of the present invention in somewhat greater detail.

Turning now to the drawings, it can be seen that there is provided a frame, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, which consists of twoelongated runners 12 and 14 which are suitably formed of heavy gauge steel and are of channel configuration. Two horizontally disposedchannel members 16 and 18 extend betweenmembers 12 and 14 for holdingmembers 12 and 14 in spaced apart parallel' relation.Members 16 and 18 are suitably attached tomembers 12 and 14 by welding.

As best seen in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, each of themembers 12 and 14 are of generally channel configuration a-nd include aweb portion 20, atirst leg portion 22 and a second leg portion 24. The second leg portion 24 is elongated and bent inwardly at 26 and outwardly at 28. The outwardly extendingportion 28 suitablyy bears against the upper side of thechannels 16yand 18, as shown. The ends of each of the channels suitably slant upwardly from thebottom leg 22 as show-n in FIGURE 1 andrunners 30 and 32 are suitably provided over the ends for purposes of covering any edges which may be present and facilitating sliding of the apparatus across a surface.

A iirst pair ofpillow block bearings 40 are mounted tochannel members 12 and 14, suitably byscrews 42 andnuts 44 as shown in FIGURE 6. Ashaft 46 extends between the pair ofbearings 40 and is journalled for rotation therein. Theshaft 46 suitably extends past one of thebearings 40 as indicated at 48 of FIGURE 6, and apulley 50 having agroove 51 formed in its periphery is mounted on theshaft 46 for rotation therewith. Also mounted on theshaft 46 is aroller 52.Roller 52 is suitably of greater diameter at itsvcenter portion than `at itsends 56. It will also be noticed that the periphery of theroller 52 extends below the upper edge of thechannels 12 and 14 and faces the inwardly extending shoulder 26.

A pair ofupright channel members 60 and 62 are connected at their lower ends to the front of thechannels 12 and 14, respectively, suitably by welding. A iirst horizontally disposedrod 64 is connected to `and extends between theupright members 60 and 62 at their upper extremity. A second horizontally disposedrod 62 also extends betweentheupright members 60 and 62, therod 66 being substantially lower than therod 64.

Two body resistors and 72 are also provided. In the form shown, thebody resistors 70 and 72 each include a ilatelongated member 74 which is attached to thecross bars 64 and 66, suitably by clips 76. By loosening the .clips 76, the position of the body resistor along thecross bars 64 and 66 can be adjusted horizontally. Apad 78, suitably of rubber cushion, is attached to the upper portion of thebody resistors 70 and 72 as shown in FIGURE 1. Thepad 78 is covered and held to themember 74 by alayer 80 of expanded vinyl or similar material.

Extending rearwardly from the upright member 60 and connected thereto, suitably by welding is a brake support 90. Abrake arm 92 is pivotally attached to the support at point 94. Thebrake arm 92 suitably includes a plurality ofnotches 96 formed along its upper edge at graduated positions. Aweight 98 is also provided. Theweight 98 is suitably of conventional type having a slot 100 formed therein whereby theweight 98 can move along the brake arm k92 and includes an edge portion for engaging thenotches 96 to hold the weight in a desired position. Ablock 102 of wood or similar material is also provided, thelower edge 104 of theblock 102 being arranged in a V-conguration which conforms to thegroove 51 of thepulley 50. Theblock 102 is mounted to thebrake handle 92, suitably byscrew 106 andnut 108 in a position such that thelower edge 104 of theblock 102 will engage thegroove 51 of thepulley 50.

As best shown in FIGURE of the drawings, the upper edge of themembers 12 and 14 are each slotted at 110 and 112. A pair of L-shaped brackets 1,14 and a second pair ofpillow block bearings 116 are also provided.Bearings 116 andbrackets 114 are each connected to thechannel members 12 and 14 bybolts 118 andnuts 120 as shown, with the bearings resting on the Y horizontally disposed portion ofbrackets 114. Each of therunners 32 extend above the upper surface of thechannels 12 and 14 at 122 and has anaperture 124 formed therein. A stud 126 is connected at one end to the L-shaped bracket 114, with the stud extending through theaperture 124. A second shaft 130 extends between the pair ofbearings 116, and is journalled for rotation therein. Asecond roller 132 is connected to the shaft 130, in the manner described previously with regard toshaft 48 androller 52.

Acontinuous belt 140 is also provided.Belt 140 er1- circles the tworollers 52 and 132. The tension of thebelt 140 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of thebearings 116 in which the shaft 130 is journalled for rotation. This can suitably be accomplished by loosening thenuts 120, permitting thebolts 118 to move in theslots 110 and 112 and adjusting the nuts 144 to cause thebearings 116 to be pulled towardportion 122 of theskid member 32. In this regard, it will be noted that it isimportant that provision be made for adjusting the tension of the belts since under use, they will normally stretch to some extent. If the belts are too tight, it will be extremely diiiicult to cause the belt to move, and if the belt is too loose, it will sag to such an extent that the athlete utilizing the apparatus cannot properly maintain his balance.

In operation ofthe apparatus,body resistors 70 and 72 are positioned in accordance with the training desired. Thus, if it is desired to teach the proper stance, weight distribution and leg action for blocking and tackling, the body resistors would suitably be adjusted to the position shown in FIGURE 3, in which event only the left shoulder of the athlete would bear against the body re-V sistors. As mentioned previously, the body resistors act as a resistance or opposing force which creates thrust or driving power by the individuals leg action upon the belt. The belt will start turning and continue to turn as long as there is driving force by the legs on the belt.

It will be noted that the brake is positioned at a point that will be convenient for either the athlete to vary the position of theweight 98 or for the coach or trainer to do so. The position of the Weight along thehandle 92 determines the amount of force with which thewooden block 102 bears against thepulley 50, therebycontrolling the amount of work required by the athlete to cause the belt to move. The position of thebody resistors 70 and 72 would be moved to the extreme right position, of course, if it were desired to utilize the right shoulder `of the athlete in the blocking or tackling exercise.

If the apparatus is to be used only for conditioning, it is practical to separate thebody resistors 70 and 72 to the extreme position shown in FIGURE 4, which position is practical for two athletes to utilize the apparatus simultaneosuly. In other instances, it is practical to lmove both thebody resistors 70 and 72 toward the center position from that shown in FIGURE 4 such that the space betweenV thebody resistors 70 and 72 will only be suicient to permit the athletes head to pass therethrough with both shoulders bearing against one of the body resistors.

As mentioned previously, the rollers S2 and 132 are each suitably of a greater diameter at its center portion than at its end portions. The belt will therefore tend to move toward the center of the rollers rather than toward the ends as the belt moves and the rollers turn. Moreover, if thebelt 140 should move toward one of the ends, the distance it can move is limited by the presence of the inwardly turned portion 26 of thechannels 12 and 14. Further, the outwardly extendingportion 28 of thechannels 12 and 14 provide a track for the belt to support the belt when it is being installed and to prevent the edge of the belt rubbing against a sharp edge and producing undue wear.

Although the invention has only been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment thereof, many changes Vand modications will become Vapparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. The foregoing description is therefore intended to be illustrative and not limiting of the invention dened in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A training and conditioning apparatus comprising:

(a) first and second elongated rollers, each of said rollers having a shaft projecting from each end thereof;

(b) a frame;

(c) a first and second pairV of bearings mounted to said frame, the shaft of each roller being journalled for rotation in a respective pair of said bearings;

(d) two upright spaced apart members connected to said frame;

(e) two vertically spaced apart horizontally disposed members extending between said upright members;

(f) two upright body arresting members;

(g) means releasably connecting each said body arresting members to both said horizontally disposed members whereby the position of said body arresting members along said horizontally disposed members can be changed;

(h) continuous belt means supported by said first and second rollers whereby a person pushing against said body arresting members where supported on said belt means will produce movement of said continuous belt means; and

(i) variable braking means for retarding rotation of one of said rollers to thereby control the amount of force necessary to produce movement of said continuous belt means.

2. A training and conditioning apparatus as dened inclaim 1 further including means for adjusting the separation between said first and second pair of bearings to control the tension of said continuous belt means.

3. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined inclaim 1 wherein said rollers are each of a greater diameter at their median point than at their ends.

4. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined inclaim 1 wherein said braking means comprises a pulley connected to the shaft of one of said rollers, said pulley having a groove formed in its periphery, a body of material softer than the material of said pulley engaging the groove of said pulley, means pivotally connecting said body of material to said frame and means for varying the force with which said body of material bears against the groove of said pulley.

5. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined inclaim 1 wherein said braking means comprises a pulley connected to the shaft of oneV of said rollers, said pulley having a groove formed in its periphery, an elongated member pivotally connected to said apparatus above said pulley, a body of material softer than the material of said pulley engaging the groove of said pulley and carried by said elongated member, and a weight carried by said elongated member for controlling the force with which said body of material bears against said pulley.

6. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined in 5 6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,296 5/ 1904 Morairty 272-69 921,755 5/ 1909 Volk 272-69 1,211,765 1/ 1917 Schmidt 272-69 2,315,485 4/ 1943 Jones 272-69 3,193,287 7/ 1965 Robinson 272-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 416,105 9/ 1934 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A TRAINING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED ROLLERS, EACH OF SAID ROLLERS HAVING A SHAFT PROJECTING FROM EACH END THEREOF; (B) A FRAME; (C) A FIRST AND SECOND PAIR OF BEARINGS MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME, THE SHAFT OF EACH ROLLER BEING JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION IN A RESPECTIVE PAIR OF SAID BEARINGS; (D) TWO UPRIGHT SPACED APART MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME; (E) TWO VERTICALLY SPACED APART HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS; (F) TWO UPRIGHT BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS; (G) MEANS RELEASABLY CONNECTING EACH SAID BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS TO BOTH SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS WHEREBY THE POSITION OF SAID BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS ALONG SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS CAN BE CHANGED; (H) CONTINUOUS BELT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS WHEREBY A PERSON PUSHING AGAINST SAID BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS WHERE SUPPORTED ON SAID BELT MEANS WILL PRODUCE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTINUOUS BELT MEANS; AND (I) VARIABLE BRAKING MEANS FOR RETARDING ROTATION OF ONE OF SAID ROLLERS TO THEREBY CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY TO PRODUCE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTINUOUS BELT MEANS.

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