Patents by Inventor Vance E. Emons

Vance E. Emons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260108775
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame; a running belt configured to rotate relative to the frame; and a motor coupled to the running belt. The motor is operable in a plurality of user controlled operating modes. In a first operating mode, a holding torque of the motor is disabled to allow the running belt to substantially freely rotate so that a user of the treadmill provides a force of rotation to the running belt. In a second operating mode, the motor is adapted to resist rotation of the running belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas Oblamski, Vance E. Emons
  • Patent number: 12521603
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame; a running belt configured to rotate relative to the frame; and a motor coupled to the running belt. The motor is operable in a plurality of user controlled operating modes. In a first operating mode, a user of the treadmill provides a force of rotation to the running belt. In a second operating mode, the motor is adapted to resist rotation of the running belt. In a third operating mode, the motor is adapted to provide a force of rotation to the running belt at a desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: WOODWAY USA, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas Oblamski, Vance E. Emons
  • Publication number: 20240424335
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a treadmill frame; a running belt supported by the treadmill frame; a first rotatable element supported by the treadmill frame and rotationally coupled to the running belt; a brake selectively coupled to the first rotatable element and adapted to selectively restrict a speed of rotation of the first rotatable element depending upon an established limit for a speed of the running belt; and a motion restricting element coupled to the first rotatable element and the brake such that the motion restricting element restricts relative rotation of the first rotatable element to the brake in the first rotational direction and permits relative rotation of the first rotatable element to the brake in a second rotational direction opposite the first.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas Oblamski
  • Publication number: 20240416168
    Abstract: A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; front and rear running belt pulleys coupled to the frame; a first bearing rail including a first plurality of bearings and a second bearing rail including a second plurality of bearings; a running belt at least partly supported by the first and second plurality of bearings and at least one of the front or rear running belt pulleys, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device to prevent rotation of one of an inner outer rings of the safety device and one of the front or rear running belt pulleys in a first rotational direction, but allow in a second rotational direction, the one of the front or rear running belt pulleys and the one of the inner or outer rings to freely rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Publication number: 20240359051
    Abstract: An exercise and therapeutic device is provided. The device includes a treadmill including a running belt coupled to a treadmill frame and an offloading system coupled to the treadmill. The offloading system includes an air chamber at least partially surrounding the running belt; a user seal coupled to the air chamber and configured to receive at least a portion of a body of a user so that in an operating condition, at least a portion of the user is positioned within the air chamber and to substantially seal the air chamber around the user; a pump operable to inflate the air chamber; and a user seal frame configured to substantially surround the user seal. The device further includes first support column including a first actuator controllable to adjust a position of the user seal frame relative to the running belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons, Ben Peterson, Derek T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 12115405
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a treadmill frame having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a pulley coupled to the treadmill frame; a running belt disposed about the pulley, the running belt defining a non-planar running surface; a motion restricting element coupled to the frame and configured to limit rotation of the pulley to only one rotational direction; and a brake coupled to the running belt and adapted to selectively restrict the speed of rotation of the running belt depending upon an established limit for a speed of the running belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas Oblamski
  • Patent number: 12090356
    Abstract: A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Patent number: 12064662
    Abstract: An offloading system for use with a treadmill includes an air chamber configured to be selectively inflated between a deflated condition and an inflated, operating condition, a user seal coupled to the air chamber and adapted to receive a user so that, in the operating condition, at least a portion of the user is received in the user seal and positioned within the air chamber, a pump operable to inflate the air chamber, and a controller configured to determine an occurrence of a loss of pressure in the air chamber and, in response to the occurrence, cause a reduction of speed of a running belt of the treadmill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons, Ben Peterson, Derek T. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20240131392
    Abstract: An exercise and/or therapeutic machine includes a controller. The controller is configured to: receive at least one input indicating a number of users of the exercise and/or therapeutic machine for a multi-user routine and a number of segments of the multi-user routine, each segment of the number of segments having an interval specific to each user of the number of users; receive at least one completion designation associated with at least one interval, wherein the at least one completion designation indicates a completion of the at least one interval; transition between each interval of each segment based on detecting the at least one completion designation associated with the at least one interval so that each user of the number of users participates in the multi-user routine on the same exercise and/or therapeutic machine; and generate and provide a display regarding a summary of the multi-user routine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Eric Weber, Vance E. Emons, Jacob Hilsabeck, Scott D. Hoerig
  • Publication number: 20230158355
    Abstract: A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Publication number: 20230158363
    Abstract: An offloading system for use with a treadmill includes an air chamber configured to be selectively inflated between a deflated condition and an inflated, operating condition, a user seal coupled to the air chamber and adapted to receive a user so that, in the operating condition, at least a portion of the user is received in the user seal and positioned within the air chamber, a pump operable to inflate the air chamber, and a controller configured to determine an occurrence of a loss of pressure in the air chamber and, in response to the occurrence, cause a reduction of speed of a running belt of the treadmill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons, Ben Peterson, Derek T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11590377
    Abstract: A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Publication number: 20230047181
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame; a running belt configured to rotate relative to the frame; and a motor coupled to the running belt. The motor is operable in a plurality of user controlled operating modes. In a first operating mode, a user of the treadmill provides a force of rotation to the running belt. In a second operating mode, the motor is adapted to resist rotation of the running belt. In a third operating mode, the motor is adapted to provide a force of rotation to the running belt at a desired speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas Oblamski, Vance E. Emons
  • Patent number: 11559720
    Abstract: An exercise and therapeutic device includes a treadmill comprising a running belt coupled to a treadmill frame and an offloading system coupled to the treadmill. The offloading system includes an air chamber surrounding the running belt adapted to be selectively inflated between a deflated condition and an inflated, operating condition, a user seal coupled to the air chamber, adapted to receive a user so that, in an operating condition, at least a portion of a user is received in the user seal and positioned within the air chamber and to seal the air chamber around the user, a pump operable to inflate the air chamber, at least one strap coupled to the treadmill frame and adapted to restrict the expansion of the air chamber and adjust a spacing of the user seal relative to a running surface of the running belt when the air chamber is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons, Ben Peterson, Derek T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11465005
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame; a rotatable element coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partially supported by the rotatable element; and, a first element and a second element, both of which are coupled to the running belt. The running belt includes a running surface, at least a portion of which is curved. Further, one of the first and second elements and the running belt freely rotate in a first direction of rotation relative to the frame. However, in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, the one of the first and second elements is substantially prevented from rotation relative to the frame to substantially prevent or resist rotation of the running belt relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Patent number: 11420092
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame; a running belt configured to move relative the frame; and a motor coupled to the running belt. The motor is operable in a plurality of user controlled operating modes. In a first operating mode, the force of rotation of the running belt is provided by a user of the treadmill. In a second operating mode, the motor applies a desired braking force to resist rotation of the running belt. In a third operating mode, the motor applies a torque output to the running belt based on a force exerted on the running belt by a user of the treadmill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas Oblamski, Vance E. Emons
  • Publication number: 20220233904
    Abstract: A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Scott D. Hoerig, Matthew J. Zank, Robert L. Zimpel, Joel W. Richards
  • Patent number: 11298284
    Abstract: A device for therapy or exercise includes a frame, a base at least partially supporting and extending from the frame, a user support moveably coupled to the base and positioned adjacent the frame, a foot crank system coupled to the frame, a hand crank system coupled to the frame, and a motor coupled to at least one of the foot crank system and the hand crank system. The motor selectively powers the foot crank system and the hand crank system and is operable in an active mode and a passive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons, Kasey Mylin
  • Publication number: 20220080245
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a treadmill frame having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a pulley coupled to the treadmill frame; a running belt disposed about the pulley, the running belt defining a non-planar running surface; a motion restricting element coupled to the frame and configured to limit rotation of the pulley to only one rotational direction; and a brake coupled to the running belt and adapted to selectively restrict the speed of rotation of the running belt depending upon an established limit for a speed of the running belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas Oblamski
  • Patent number: 11179589
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a treadmill frame having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a front running belt pulley coupled to the treadmill frame at or near the front end; a rear running belt pulley coupled to the treadmill frame at or near the rear end; a running belt disposed about the front and rear running belt pulleys, the running belt adapted for rotation about the front and rear running belt pulleys and defining a non-planar running surface; and a brake coupled to the running belt and adapted to selectively restrict the speed of rotation of the running belt depending upon an established limit for the speed of the running belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Vance E. Emons, Nicholas Oblamski