JPS6213028B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a movable surface device, particularly a movable surface device for physical exercise and training, in which a motor-driven person riding on the surface is forced to walk, run or similar movements. Regarding.

Various types of moving surface devices have been proposed, usually consisting of endless belts or the like.

Generally, in devices of this type, a wide endless belt made of rubber is supported, for example over its entire width, by stationary supports in order to prevent bending due to the weight of the user. In such instances, the engagement of the movable rubber belt with the support surface results in significant friction between the rubber belt and the support surface, requiring a significant drive force. Additionally, rubber belts inevitably wear out due to friction between them and the support. Furthermore, the feeling of stepping on the rubber belt is not comfortable. This is due to the fact that the belt is rigid, which limits the thickness of the rubber belt.

There are also belts in which the entire width of the belt is supported by rotating support rollers, etc., but with such belts, the elasticity on the roller support portion is poor, causing discomfort when used for long periods of time. There is a drawback.

The object of the invention is to provide a movable surface device that requires only a small driving force, has a low noise level during operation, and that provides a comfortable jumping feeling when stepping or jumping without being subjected to excessive stress due to bending or curving. Our goal is to provide the following.

The movable surface device for physical exercise and training of the present invention includes a support frame and at least one movable surface supported by the support frame via a horizontally extending axis.
A pair of drums, an endless belt running along an upper running section and a lower running section suspended on the drums, a plurality of tread slats fixed to the belt, and a plurality of tread slats arranged below both sides of the tread slats. a plurality of back support rollers having rotational axes parallel to the rotational axis of the drum; and an elastic buffer support extended from the endless belt to be inserted between the support rollers and the tread slats. It is characterized by

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 1 is a movable surface driven by a motor 33 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A person standing on this movable surface 1 must walk or run if he wishes to remain in his position.
2 is a housing, 3 is a support rod, and a control device C is attached to one of the support rods 3 to control the operation of the motor 33, such as starting, stopping, and speed of the motor.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 36 and 37 are frames, and at the tip of this frame 37 are two operating drums 10.
is rotatably supported. The drum 10 has an outer peripheral surface formed with teeth or ribs. Two endless ribbed belts 5 (FIG. 4) having teeth or ribs 7 on their inner circumferential surface engage a drum 10, which causes the two ribbed belts 5 to move as indicated by arrows A in FIG. direction without slipping.
The ribbed belt 5 is flexible and made of rubber or a suitable flexible plastic material. One of the drums 10 has a motor 3
3, preferably via a reduction gearing and drive belt 34 (FIG. 3). The ends 38 of a group of tread slats 4 forming the movable surface 1 are secured to the ribbed belt 5 by rivets 9 (FIG. 4).

The slats 4 are preferably made of lightweight metal, such as aluminum, and extend transversely to the direction of travel of the movable surface as indicated by arrow A. The slat 4 has a substantially T-shaped cross section;
It has a central web 8. The central web 8 does not extend to the ends of the slats 4.

Width B of the connecting end 38 of the slat 4 to the belt 5
are smaller than the width of the slat 4, width B and length L
(the fourth
figure). Further, the offset amount of the web 8 (the length recessed from the end portion 38) is larger than the length L.
The distance between adjacent tread slats 4 is selected such that a small spacing or gap remains between the slats 4, just enough to prevent interference of the adjacent slats during movement. The upper surface of the slat 4 is covered with a shock-reducing cover 16 so that when a person stands on it, a person feels soft and can walk comfortably and obediently (Figs. 5 and 6). (See FIG. 7; this cover 16 is omitted in FIG. 4). The material of the cover 16 is
It can be rubber, corky materials, high density sponge rubber, plastic foam, artificial turf surfaces, outdoor or indoor carpets, especially those with rubber backings.

When a load is applied due to a person walking, the belt 5
Ribbed belt 5 to prevent bending in
A yielding layer 17 made of the same elastic material as shown in FIG. It is supported by a group of support rollers 12 arranged adjacent to each other at the ends. These support rollers 12 are rotatable around a fixed axis. A support roller supports the upper run of the movable surface 1 formed by said slats 4 and supports at least two drums 1.
0 over the entire working length of the support surface 1.
The diameter of roller 12 is smaller than the diameter of drum 10.

In the device of the invention, the belt 5 forms an elastic cushioning layer for the slats 4 and the support roller 12, and at the same time forms a longitudinal reinforcing element that holds the slats 4 in adjacent alignment.

As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the support roller 12 is rotatably supported by a U-shaped groove member 20 via a screw or bolt 21. U-shaped groove material 20
is carried by angle or groove rails 32 secured to the frame of the device. The connection between the U-shaped channel 20 and the rail 32 is preferably made by screws 28, but any other suitable connection means may be used, such as for example welding. The support roller 12 is supported by a low-friction bearing, such as a needle bearing or a ball bearing (FIG. 5). However, it is also possible to use sleeve bearings that operate with low friction on the bolt 21. Support roller 1
2 and the lower surface 14 of the elastic buffer layer 17 attached to the lower side of the tread slat 4 is such that when no load is applied to the movable surface 1, there is a small distance of about 1/2 cm, for example. selected. For example, when a load is applied by a user riding on the tread slat 4, the lower surface engages the support roller 12.

In this case, the bolts 21 of the support roller 12 are arranged in a fixed position on the frame, and the force applied to the tread slat 4 is received by the support roller 12, so that the belt 5 does not bend or droop. . In this way, the movable surface 1 is substantially flat while retaining some elasticity, resembling natural soft grass or other soft surface competition tracks.

FIG. 6 shows another specific example of the present invention,
In this embodiment, instead of support rollers 12, there are in each case very small support rollers 12' supported by each bolt 21' and arranged closely adjacent to each other.
is used. At least two rollers 12' are provided at any position of the slat 4.
are positioned in supporting engagement with each slat. As shown, an arrangement of three rollers engaging one slat 4 is preferred.

8 and 9 show another specific example of the structure for moving the foot slat 4. FIG. It should be noted that the elements already described are indicated by the same reference numerals, and a re-description of these elements will be omitted.

In this embodiment, instead of using the two transversely ribbed belts 5, a central endless belt 35 is used which is suspended in a loop around the two end drums 25. Preferably, belt 35 is made from rubber. This belt 35 is relatively wide and comprises an angular member 23 secured, for example by riveting, screwing or the like, to the central web 8 of the foot slat 4. The points of connection of the tread slats 4 to the belt 35 should be as far apart as possible from each other so that the slats 4 are guided correctly perpendicular to their running direction without distortion. Step slat 4
The central web 8 has both end portions offset inwardly, and supports rollers 12 (or 1
2'). drum 25
is provided with a laterally projecting rim 30 for guiding the belt 35 and preventing its lateral displacement. The drum 25 is supported by ball bearings 27 on a central shaft 26 fixed to the frame structure or, in the illustrated embodiment, to the side wall of the housing 2. The tread slat 4 is slightly shorter than the spacing between the side walls of the housing 2, and a small side gap is formed between the end of the tread slat and the housing side wall.

However, the width of the belt 35 is
Preferably, the width is substantially less than the length of the slat, and approximately one-third the length of the slat.

The moving surface device can be in a horizontal position or alternatively in a slightly tilted orientation. The use of rubber or similar elastic materials provides quieter operation. As an example of typical device dimensions, the overall length is approximately 2 m, the width is 3/4 m, and the height from the ground to the upper run of the moving surface is approximately 1/4 m.
m. A distance counter can be provided in the box of the control element C to display, for example, the distance the user has run or walked during training with the device.

As described above, the present invention provides a device that can be used for a long time without causing discomfort to the user's feet, and that can realize smooth and uniform movement of the movable surface 1 with little friction under load. There are great benefits that can be gained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the physical exercise and training device of the present invention, FIG.
a side view schematically showing the movable surface and its drive;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the movable surface with a portion of the housing cut away, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure for attaching the slat to the drive belt, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 7. Figure 6 is the line in Figure 7 -
FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, showing another specific example of the present invention, and FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8. 2... Housing, 36, 37... Frame,
4... Slut, 5, 35... Flexible endless belt, 12, 12'... Support roller, 33... Motor, 3... Support rod, C... Control device, 10, 2
5... Drum, 34... Drive belt, 38... End, 16... Buffer cover, 20... U-shaped groove material,
32...Grooved rail, 17...Elastic buffer layer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A support frame; at least one pair of drums supported by the support frame via horizontally extending shafts; and an upper running section and a lower running section suspended on the drums. a running endless belt; a plurality of tread slats fixed to the belt; and a plurality of back support rollers arranged below both sides of the tread slats and having rotation axes parallel to the rotation axis of the drum; A movable surface device for physical exercise and training, comprising: an elastic cushioning support extending from the endless belt to be interposed between the support roller and the tread slat.