Kenneth George Lantz

US Patent:

6436008, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Nov 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/723702

Inventors:

Richard E. Skowronski - Elk Grove Village IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Oak Park IL
Tomas F. Leon - late of Chicago IL
Donald James Alexander - Milwaukee WI
George Kolomayets - Chicago IL
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL
Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL
Edward W. Minnich - Palatine IL
Wade K. Totzke - Algonquin IL

Assignee:

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

A63B 2200

US Classification:

482 54, 482 51

Abstract:

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

US Patent:

6443875, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Aug 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/651248

Inventors:

Young-Chul Kim - Hickory Hills IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Poquoson VA
Robert J. Sutkowski - Naperville IL

Assignee:

Brunswich Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

A63B 2202

US Classification:

482 54, 482 51

Abstract:

A motor control for exercise treadmill having an AC motor is disclosed which includes various features to enhance operation of the treadmill. These features include a motor control that can vary by shifting or staggering the phases of drive signals applied to the motor in order to reduce treadmill frame vibration. The features also include having the motor controller increase the slip of the motor to improve low speed operation of the motor and to increase the amperage of the drive signals when the motor is operating at a given speed in order to maintain that speed. In addition, a power factor control circuit can be used to increase the efficiency of the motor.

US Patent:

6923746, Aug 2, 2005

Filed:

Dec 6, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/455959

Inventors:

Richard E. Skowronski - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Kenneth F. Lantz - Oak Park IL, US
Jose A. Leon - Chicago IL, US
Donald James Alexander - Milwaukee WI, US
George Kolomayets - Chicago IL, US
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL, US
Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US
Edward W. Minnich - Palatine IL, US
Wade K. Totzke - Algonquin IL, US

Assignee:

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

A63B022/00

US Classification:

482 54, 482 51

Abstract:

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

US Patent:

54336791, Jul 18, 1995

Filed:

Nov 5, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/148605

Inventors:

Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL
Kenneth E. Lantz - Oak Park IL

Assignee:

Life Fitness - Franklin Park IL

International Classification:

A63B 2202

US Classification:

482 54

Abstract:

An exercise treadmill is disclosed which includes means for lubricating the endless belt treadmill components. In each embodiment, a lubricant is applied to either the inner surface of the treadmill belt or to the treadmill support deck, thereby reducing the treadmill belt to support deck friction. The applied lubricants can be either solid aerosol or liquid in form, and can be dispersed as a function of treadmill operating time, treadmill belt distance traversed or in response to a measured parameter indicative of belt to deck friction. Additionally, methods are disclosed for lubricating treadmills to reduce belt to deck friction.

US Patent:

55992595, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Nov 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/556629

Inventors:

Richard E. Skowronski - Elk Grove Village IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Oak Park IL
Tomas F. Leon - late of Chicago IL
Donald J. Alexander - Milwaukee WI
George Kolomayets - Chicago IL
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL
Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL
Edward V. Minnich - Palatine IL
Wade K. Totzke - Algonquin IL

Assignee:

Life Fitness - Franklin Park IL

International Classification:

A63B 2202

US Classification:

482 54

Abstract:

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

US Patent:

54843626, Jan 16, 1996

Filed:

Jun 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/254030

Inventors:

Richard E. Skowronski - Elk Grove Village IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Oak Park IL
Tomas F. Leon - late of Chicago IL
Donald J. Alexander - Milwaukee WI
George Kolomayets - Chicago IL
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL
Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL
Edward V. Minnich - Palatine IL
Wade K. Totzke - Algonquin IL

Assignee:

Life Fitness - Franklin Park IL

International Classification:

A63B 2202

US Classification:

482 54

Abstract:

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

US Patent:

53822072, Jan 17, 1995

Filed:

Apr 17, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/686906

Inventors:

Richard E. Skowronski - Elk Grove Village IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Oak Park IL
Tomas F. Leon - Chicago IL
Donald J. Alexander - Milwaukee WI
George Kolomayets - Chicago IL
Vincent C. Adams - Buffalo Grove IL
Eugene B. Szymczak - Glen Ellyn IL

Assignee:

Life Fitness - Franklin Park IL

International Classification:

A63B 2202

US Classification:

482 54

Abstract:

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

US Patent:

47665416, Aug 23, 1988

Filed:

May 22, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/054094

Inventors:

Charles R. Bleich - Palatine IL
Walter E. Smolucha - Melrose Park IL
Gregory W. Wepner - Clarendon Hills IL
Kenneth F. Lantz - Chicago IL
Scott C. Herschler - Chicago IL

Assignee:

Williams Electronics Games, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06F 1544
G06F 314
A63F 922

US Classification:

364410

Abstract:

A video game or the like including a real-time interactive video disk game-play background generation system. The disk player incorporates track skipping capability which is under the direct control of the game processor, on a frame-by-frame basis, whereby substantially instantaneous jumps to alternative video scenes can be effected in response to changing game play. Video scene data is stored on the disk in horizontally compressed format. A video expander/scroller effectively stretches the compressed video from the disk by a factor of two and selects, under game processor control, one frame width, or one-half the expanded background scene, for display. A color programmable read-only-memory (PROM) having at least two pre-programmed color pallets is provided to redefine color relationships of game symbols stored in read-only-memory (ROM) thereby reducing the storage of redundant game symbol data in this ROM.