US 12,168,163 B2
Mechanical braking system for exercise machines
Jared Kueker, St. Charles, MO (US)
Assigned to True Fitness Technology, Inc., O'Fallon, MO (US)
Filed by True Fitness Technology, Inc., O'Fallon, MO (US)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/478,372.
Application 17/478,372 is a division of application No. 15/861,437, filed on Jan. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,123,602.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/441,789, filed on Jan. 3, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0001233 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 22/02 (2006.01); A63B 21/005 (2006.01); A63B 22/00 (2006.01); A63B 24/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/00 (2006.01); A63B 21/008 (2006.01); A63B 21/015 (2006.01); A63B 21/22 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 22/0257 (2013.01) [A63B 21/0056 (2013.01); A63B 22/0023 (2013.01); A63B 22/0235 (2013.01); A63B 22/025 (2015.10); A63B 22/0264 (2015.10); A63B 24/0087 (2013.01); A63B 71/0054 (2013.01); A63B 21/008 (2013.01); A63B 21/0085 (2013.01); A63B 21/015 (2013.01); A63B 21/225 (2013.01); A63B 2071/0081 (2013.01); A63B 2220/18 (2013.01); A63B 2220/30 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for braking moving components of an exercise machine, the method comprising:
providing a treadmill including:
a running deck having a belt roller disposed at one end thereof and a continuous belt disposed around said running deck and belt roller;
an electric belt motor comprising a stator and rotor, said electric belt motor operatively coupled to said belt roller via a motor axle;
a flywheel disposed on said motor axle;
a mechanical brake which is an electromagnetic brake comprising:
a brake mount sized and shaped to mount to said electric motor, said brake mount mounting said mechanical brake to said stator;
an armature movable between a braking position and a non-braking position and biased to said braking position by a biasing means;
a brake pad disposed between said brake mount and said armature; and
a brake coil; and
a main circuit board;
supplying said electric belt motor with electricity;
operating said electric belt motor with said electricity, said operating turning said belt roller to move said continuous belt around said running deck;
supplying said mechanical brake with electricity to energize said brake coil, said energized brake coil moving said armature from said braking position to said non-braking position;
said main circuit board:
accessing an amount of incline of said running deck;
detecting a stopping event; and
instructing a brake controller to brake and hold said continuous belt with said mechanical brake only if said amount of incline is above a predefined threshold when said stopping event is detected, by removing said electricity supply from said mechanical brake, said removing said electricity supply de-energizing said brake coil such that said biasing means moves said armature to said braking position.