U.S. patent application number 10/051674 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for treadmill having an adjustable cushioning device.
Invention is credited to Kuo, Hai Pin.
Application Number | 20030139261 10/051674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21972711 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030139261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo, Hai Pin |
July 24, 2003 |
Treadmill having an adjustable cushioning device
Abstract
A treadmill includes an endless belt disposed in a base and
driven by such as a motor. A cushioning device is engaged in the
endless belt and rotatably secured in the base with a shaft. One or
more pads are disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the
cushioning device and selectively rotatable toward the endless belt
to cushion the endless belt by rotating the shaft relative to the
base. The pads may be made of different cushioning materials, or
different numbers of pads may be disposed on the shaft. The shaft
may be rotated manually with a ferrule, or rotated with a
motor.
Inventors: |
Kuo, Hai Pin; (Tainan,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
Hart, Baxley, Daniels & Holton
59 John St, 5 FI
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
21972711 |
Appl. No.: |
10/051674 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20130101;
A63B 22/0228 20151001; A63B 22/0235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A treadmill comprising: a base, an endless belt provided in said
base, means for driving said endless belt, and a cushioning device
engaged in said endless belt, and rotatably secured in said base
with a shaft, and including an outer peripheral surface having at
least one pad extended therefrom, said at least one pad being
selectively rotatable toward said endless belt to cushion said
endless belt by rotating said shaft relative to said base.
2. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning
device includes an outer peripheral portion having a first and at
least one second longitudinal areas provided therein, said at least
one pad is supported on said first longitudinal area of said
cushioning device.
3. The treadmill according to claim 2, wherein said cushioning
device includes at least one second pad supported on said at least
one second longitudinal area of said cushioning device.
4. The treadmill according to claim 1 further comprising means for
rotating said shaft relative to said base to selectively rotate
said at least one pad toward and to cushion said endless belt.
5. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein said rotating means
includes a ferrule, and means for coupling said ferrule to said
shaft and to rotate said shaft relative to said base.
6. The treadmill according to claim 5, wherein said coupling means
includes a rod secured to said ferrule and having a first end
having a notch and a leg formed therein, said shaft includes a
first end having an extension and a notch formed thereon for
engaging with said notch and said leg of said rod respectively, and
for allowing said rod to be slided and movable relative to said
shaft and to be rotated by said rod.
7. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein said base includes a
duct secured therein and having a bore formed therein for slidably
and rotatably receiving said rod.
8. The treadmill according to claim 5 further comprising means for
positioning said ferrule to said base at different selected angular
positions.
9. The treadmill according to claim 8, wherein said positioning
means includes a pin provided on said base, and at least one cavity
formed in said ferrule for selectively receiving said pin to
position said ferrule to said base.
10. The treadmill according to claim 9 further comprising means for
biasing said ferrule toward said base and to engage said pin into
said at least one cavity of said ferrule.
11. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein said rotating means
includes a gear secured on said shaft and rotated in concert with
said shaft, and means for driving said gear to rotate said rod.
12. The treadmill according to claim 11, wherein said driving means
includes a motor coupled to said gear for driving said gear to
rotate said rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more
particularly to a treadmill including an adjustable cushioning
device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical treadmills may include a tread base or a deck
supported on a frame with cushioning pads or the like. The pads are
solidly provided between the tread base or the deck and the frame
and may not be adjusted to different pads or to the other different
cushioning devices, such that the treadmill may not be adjusted to
different cushioning effects. In addition, once the cushioning pads
have been cured or have become aged, the treadmill may include a
bad cushioning effect.
[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional
treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a treadmill including an adjustable cushioning device for adjusting
the treadmill to different cushioning effects.
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a treadmill comprising a base, an endless belt provided in
the base, means for driving the endless belt, and a cushioning
device engaged in the endless belt, and rotatably secured in the
base with a shaft, and including an outer peripheral surface having
at least one pad extended therefrom, the pad being selectively
rotatable toward the endless belt to cushion the endless belt by
rotating the shaft relative to the base.
[0008] The cushioning device includes an outer peripheral portion
having a first and at least one second longitudinal areas provided
therein, the pad is supported on the first longitudinal area of the
cushioning device. The cushioning device includes at least one
second pad supported on the second longitudinal area of the
cushioning device. For example, the cushioning device may include
the pads of different cushioning or resilient materials or may
include different number of pads disposed on different longitudinal
areas of the cushioning device, which may be selectively rotated or
adjusted toward and to support the endless belt, for providing
different cushioning effects to the endless belt.
[0009] A device is further provided for rotating the shaft relative
to the base to selectively rotate the pad toward and to cushion the
endless belt and includes a ferrule, and means for coupling the
ferrule to the shaft and to rotate the shaft relative to the
base.
[0010] The coupling means includes a rod secured to the ferrule and
having a first end having a notch and a leg formed therein, the
shaft includes a first end having an extension and a notch formed
thereon for engaging with the notch and the leg of the rod
respectively, and for allowing the rod to be slided and movable
relative to the shaft and to be rotated by the rod.
[0011] The base includes a duct secured therein and having a bore
formed therein for slidably and rotatably receiving the rod.
[0012] A device is further provided for positioning the ferrule to
the base at different selected angular positions, and includes a
pin provided on the base, and at least one cavity formed in the
ferrule for selectively receiving the pin to position the ferrule
to the base.
[0013] A spring biasing device may further be provided for biasing
the ferrule toward the base and to engage the pin into the cavity
of the ferrule.
[0014] The rotating device may include a gear secured on the shaft
and rotated in concert with the shaft, and means for driving the
gear to rotate the rod. The driving means includes a motor coupled
to the gear for driving the gear to rotate the rod.
[0015] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a treadmill in
accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view showing an adjusting
device for the treadmill;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cushioning device of the
treadmill;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an expanded plan view of the cushioning device of
the treadmill;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 1,
illustrating the operation of the treadmill and
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating
the operation of the treadmill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a
treadmill in accordance with the present invention comprises a base
10 including a pair of longitudinal and parallel side beams 12, and
including one or more foot members 14 attached to the bottom
thereof, and including one or more bars 21 secured between the
beams 12. The bars 21 may each include a soft or resilient or
cushioning pad 22 thereon. A deck or a board 23 may be engaged on
the bars 21, or on the pads 22. Two rollers 41, 42 are rotatably
secured between the beams 12 and located on the opposite ends of
the board 23. An endless belt 43 is engaged around the rollers 41,
42 and engaged on the board 23 for supporting the users.
[0023] Alternatively, if the endless belt 43 includes a suitable
thickness, the endless belt 43 may also be directly engaged on the
pads 22 of the bars 21, instead of being supported on the board 23.
A number of rollers may be engaged between the bars 21 for
supporting the upper portion of the endless belt 43 in a planer
structure. One of the rollers 41 includes a sprocket or a gear or a
pulley 44 secured thereon and rotated in concert therewith. A motor
46 is secured in the base 10 and coupled to the pulley 44 or to the
roller 41 with a sprocket-and-chain coupling mechanism, or a pulley
and belt coupling device 47, for driving the roller 41 to actuate
or to drive the endless belt 43.
[0024] The treadmill in accordance with the present invention
further includes an adjustable cushioning device 3 rotatably
secured between the beams 12 with a shaft 30. The adjustable
cushioning device 3 includes a cylindrical structure or member 300
secured on the shaft 30, and includes an outer peripheral surface
separated into two or more longitudinal areas 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36 that are parallel to the shaft 30 and that may be rotated around
a longitudinal axis of the shaft 30 one by one or alternatively.
The longitudinal areas 31-36 of the cushioning device 3 include
different numbers of cushioning pads 37 extended or provided
thereon.
[0025] For example, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first
longitudinal area 31 of the cushioning device 3 includes one, two
or three cushioning pads 37 extended or provided thereon; the
second longitudinal area 32 of the cushioning device 3 includes
four cushioning pads 37 extended or provided thereon; and the third
and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth longitudinal areas 33-36
of the cushioning device 3 each includes four, five, six, seven,
eight cushioning pads 37 extended or provided thereon respectively.
The cushioning pads 37 may be engaged with the board 23 or may be
directly engaged with the endless belt 43 for cushioning the
endless belt 43. The cushioning device 3 may also include one of
the longitudinal areas having no cushioning pads 37 provided
thereon, or may include one pad 37 provided on each of the
longitudinal areas of the cushioning device 3 and made of different
cushioning or resilient materials.
[0026] In operation, either of the longitudinal areas 31-36 of the
cushioning device 3 may be rotated or adjusted and faced upward
toward the endless belt 43, such that the different numbers of
cushioning pads 37 provided on the different longitudinal areas
31-36 of the cushioning device 3 may be adjusted and selectively
rotated to engage with the endless belt 43 for providing different
cushioning effects to the endless belt 43. For example, when three
pads 37 are engaged with the endless belt 43, a greater resilience
may be applied onto the endless belt 43. When four or more pads 37
are engaged with the endless belt 43, a less resilience may be
applied onto the endless belt 43.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a duct 52 is secured in one of
the beams 12 and includes a bore 521 and an aperture 523 formed
therein and having different diameters for forming or defining a
peripheral shoulder 524 therebetween. For example, the bore 521 of
the duct 52 includes an inner diameter greater than that of the
aperture 523 of the duct 52. The duct 52 includes a screw hole 522
formed in the outer end thereof and facing outward of the base 10.
Alternatively, the bore 521 and the screw hole 522 and the aperture
523 may be directly formed in the beam 12 instead of being formed
in the duct 52. A positioning pin 53 is extended outward of the
base 10 and includes a threaded end 531 threaded with the screw
hole 522 of the duct 52.
[0028] One end of the shaft 30 includes a cut off portion or a
notch 38 formed therein for forming or defining an extension 39
thereon. A rod 55 is slidably received in the bore 521 of the duct
52 and includes a cut off portion or a notch 550 formed therein for
forming or defining a leg 553 thereon and for slidably engaging
with the corresponding extension 39 and the notch 38 of the shaft
30 respectively. The rod 55 may thus be slidably received in the
bore 521 of the duct 52 and slidable relative to or toward and away
from the shaft 30, and may be rotated by the shaft 30 by the
engagement of the extension 39 and the leg 553. The rod 55 includes
a pole 551 extended outward through the aperture 523 of the duct 52
and includes a threaded end 554. A spring 54 is engaged between the
shoulder 524 of the duct 52 and the rod 55 for biasing the rod 55
toward the shaft 30.
[0029] A ferrule 51 includes a screw hole 511 formed in the center
thereof, a fastener 57 is threaded to the screw hole 511 of the
ferrule 51 and includes a screw hole 571 formed therein for
threading with the threaded end 554 of the pole 551 of the rod 55
and for securing the ferrule 51 to the rod 55. The ferrule 51
includes one or more cavities 512 formed therein and formed around
the center screw hole 511 thereof for selectively receiving the pin
53 and for positioning the ferrule 51 and thus the rod 55 and the
shaft 30 to the base 10. The spring 54 may bias the rod 55 and the
ferrule 51 toward the shaft 30, and may thus bias the pin 53 to
engage into either of or the selected cavities 512 of the ferrule
51, for positioning the ferrule 51 and the shaft 30 relative to the
base 10 at the selected angular position.
[0030] In operation, the ferrule 51 may be pulled away from the
base 10 and the duct 52 against the spring 54 to disengage the pin
53 from the cavities 512 of the ferrule 51. At this moment, the leg
553 of the rod 55 is still engaged with the extension 39 of the
shaft 30 and may still be rotated by the shaft 30. When the pin 53
is disengaged from the ferrule 51, the ferrule 51 may be rotated
relative to the base 10, in order to rotate the shaft 30 and the
cushioning device 3 relative to the base 10, and in order to adjust
or to rotate different number of pads 37 upward to engage with and
to support the endless belt 43. The cushioning force against the
endless belt 43 may thus be adjusted by rotating or adjusting the
ferrule 51 relative to the base 10.
[0031] Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, the shaft 30 includes a
worm or a gear 64 secured thereon. A motor 61 is secured to the
base 10 and includes a reduction gearing 62 attached thereto, and a
worm 63 attached or extended from the reduction gearing and engaged
with the gear 64 for allowing the motor 61 to rotate the shaft 30,
and thus to adjust or to rotate different number of pads 37 upward
to engage with and to support the endless belt 43. The cushioning
force against the endless belt 43 may thus also be adjusted by the
motor 61.
[0032] In operation, the shaft 30 may be rotated manually with the
ferrule 51, or may be rotated by the motor 61, in order to adjust
cushioning force against the endless belt 43. The treadmill may
include one or more cushioning devices 3 secured between the beams
12 for uniformly supporting or cushioning the endless belt.
[0033] Accordingly, the treadmill in accordance with the present
invention includes an adjustable cushioning device for adjusting
the treadmill to different cushioning effects.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *