Treadmill having variable running surface suspension

摘要

A treadmill of the present invention comprises a base, a pair of spaced rollers journalled in the base, an endless belt, a longitudinally extending support deck, and a deck spacer. One of the rollers constitutes a rear roller and the other roller constitutes a forward roller spaced forward of the rear roller. The endless belt is entrained around the rollers and includes an upper reach that extends longitudinally between the rollers. The upper reach of the belt is adapted to enable a user to walk or run thereon. The support deck is connected to the base and is operatively engageable with an underside of the upper reach of the endless belt for supporting the upper reach. The deck spacer includes a deck engaging portion adapted for operatively engaging the support deck. The deck engaging portion is adapted to operate in at least a first condition and a second condition. The deck spacer is adapted to provide a first resistance to downward movement of the deck relative to the base when the deck engaging portion is in the first condition, and to provide a second resistance to downward movement of the deck relative to the base when the deck engaging portion is in the second condition. The second resistance is different than the first resistance. The deck spacer includes a linearly moveable member that is linearly moveable relative to the base. The linearly moveable member is adapted for varying the deck engaging portion between its first and second conditions. In another aspect of the present invention, the deck spacer includes a rotatable member that is rotatably moveable relative to the base. The rotatable member is adapted for varying the deck engaging portion between its first and second conditions.