ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,226,667, issued on Feb. 18.
"Omnidirectional treadmill system" was invented by Mark Joseph Hanfland (Brentwood, Tenn.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention provides an omnidirectional treadmill system that uses an inner core which is inflated within a tread membrane. On the outside surface of the inflated inner core are ball casters which push outward against the interior of the membrane, resulting in a low friction barrier between the inner core and the inside surface of the tread membrane. The tread membrane rests on a sphere directly below the user in the center of the device. When the sphere is rotated it drives the tread arou...