U.S. patent application number 09/888518 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill.
Invention is credited to Wang, Leao, Wu, Peter.
Application Number | 20030004037 09/888518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25393317 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030004037 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang, Leao ; et al. |
January 2, 2003 |
ROPE TYPE FOLDING MECHANISM FOR AN EXERCISE TREADMILL
Abstract
The present invention relates to a rope type folding mechanism
for an exercise treadmill. Each end of the U-shaped handrail is
provided with a rope wheel whose shaft is pivotably mounted on the
extension part at the top of each of the supporting arms.
Thereafter, a strong rope is fixed at one side of the rope wheel
and pulled downward to the bottom of the frame. When the U-shaped
handrail is raised and turned around the shaft, the rope wheel is
also rotated to pull the strong rope upward. Thereafter, the frame
is raised up to the top by means that the rear roller is turned
around the first pivot.
Inventors: |
Wang, Leao; (Taiping,
TW) ; Wu, Peter; (Taiping, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE H TROXELL
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
SUITE 1404
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Family ID: |
25393317 |
Appl. No.: |
09/888518 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill
comprising a coupling mechanism between a U-shaped handrail and a
walking frame so that when said handrail is rotated in preset
direction, said frame is folded up to the folding top to complete
the folding up action.
2. A folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill comprising a
U-shaped handrail, two supporting arms, a frame, a front support, a
motorized assembly and a rear treading plate; wherein the
improvement is characterized by: said frame having a platform the
front and rear ends of which are fitted with a front and rear
rollers between which a treadmill walking belt circles, said rear
roller of said frame being positioned on horizontal parts of said
supporting arms by means of a first pivot; said motorized assembly
having a motor, a belt, a driven wheel and a protection cover, said
motor being fixed behind said horizontal parts of said supporting
arms by means of a fastening member, said belt extending between a
power output shaft and said driven wheel while said rear roller is
driven by said driven wheel for a rotational movement of said
treadmill walking belt; and each end of said U-shaped handrail
being provided with a rope wheel whose shaft is pivotably mounted
on said extension part at the top of each of said supporting arms;
a strong rope being thereafter fixed at one side of said rope wheel
and pulled downward to said bottom of said frame so that, when said
U-shaped handrail is raised and turned around said shaft, said rope
wheel is also rotated to pull said strong rope upward while said
frame is raised up to the top by means that said rear roller is
turned around said first pivot.
3. A folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill as recited in
claim 2, wherein said strong rope can be substituted by any
equivalent components.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a rope type folding
mechanism for an exercise treadmill, and more particularly, an
exercise treadmill whose frame can be folded or unfolded by moving
the handrail. Therefore, the convenience in use is achieved and the
safety is ensured.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The frame of the conventional treadmills (for example, the
disclosed U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,674,453, and 6,033,347) is designed to
be foldable in order to reduce the occupied space and to facilitate
the movement thereof. However, these products have to include an
auxiliary lifting member (like pneumatic or oil-pressurized
cylinder) behind the frame in order to prevent the frame from an
unexpected collapse endangering the operator or the other around.
Accordingly, the whole design and use show much inconvenience.
[0005] Moreover, this conventional design doesn't fit the old or
the disable in waist or lower limbs because they have much
difficulty in bending down to perform the folding movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is a primary object of the present invention to remove
the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a folding mechanism
for an exercise treadmill through which the operator doesn't need
to bend down to perform the folding movement of the frame.
Furthermore, the frame can be folded to the top at an automatic
locking position by means of rope wheels, strong ropes and
corresponding pivots for achieving a full safety for operators and
people around.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention showing the
fold-up action; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is another side view of the present invention in the
fold-up state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] First of all, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a preferred
embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a U-shaped
handrail 10, two supporting arms 20, a frame 30, a front support
40, a motorized assembly 50 and a rear treading plate 60. The frame
30 has a platform 31 the front and rear ends of which are fitted
with a front and rear rollers 32, 33 between which a treadmill
walking belt 34 circles. Besides, the rear roller 33 of the frame
30 is positioned on horizontal parts 21 of the supporting arms 20
by means of a first pivot 35.
[0012] The motorized assembly 50 comprises a motor 51, a belt 52, a
driven wheel 53 and a protection cover 54. The motor 51 is fixed
behind the horizontal parts 21 of the supporting arms 20 by means
of a fastening member. The belt 52 extend between a power output
shaft 56 and the driven wheel 53 while the rear roller 33 is driven
by the driven wheel 53 for a rotational movement of the treadmill
walking belt 34.
[0013] Each end of the U-shaped handrail 10 is provided with a rope
wheel 11 whose shaft 12 is pivotably mounted on the extension part
22 at the top of each of the supporting arms 20. Thereafter, a
strong rope 70 is fixed at one side of the rope wheel 11 and pulled
downward to the bottom 36 of the frame 30. When the U-shaped
handrail 10 is raised and turned around the shaft 12, the rope
wheel 11 is also rotated to pull the strong rope 70 upward.
Thereafter, the frame 30 is raised up to the top by means that the
rear roller 33 is turned around the first pivot 35.
[0014] Based on the above-mentioned components, the frame 30 can be
folded up for storage or unfolded for exercise operation only by
moving the U-shaped handrail 10. Meanwhile, when the U-shaped
handrail 10 is moved up to the top (see FIG. 3), the handrail 10 is
considerably turned to the other side of the frame 30 in a hung
state at a locked angle. Therefore, the frame 30 won't be
unexpectedly collapsed even in case of being moved. The frame 30
can only be lowered by moving the U-shaped handrail 10 in proper
operation steps so that the safety is more ensured.
[0015] In order to facilitate the movement of the strong rope 70, a
plurality of locating rolls 71 are disposed on the supporting arms
20. This belongs to prior art so that further descriptions won't be
given.
[0016] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claim.
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