U.S. patent application number 10/795306 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform of a treadmill.
Invention is credited to Tsou, Chun Heng.
Application Number | 20040266589 10/795306 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32961073 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040266589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsou, Chun Heng |
December 30, 2004 |
Lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform of a
treadmill
Abstract
A lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform of a
treadmill includes a wiggler pivotally mounted to the front portion
of the platform. The wiggler has a stopping section and a swing
section. The stopping section extends toward a rear portion of the
platform and has a free end abutting against the base member of the
treadmill. The swing section extends toward a bottom of the
platform and has a free end pivotally connected to a rear end of a
driving device that is pivotally mounted to the front portion of
the platform. A power source is pivotally mounted to the front
portion of the platform for driving the driving device.
Inventors: |
Tsou, Chun Heng; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
32961073 |
Appl. No.: |
10/795306 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0023 20130101;
A63B 2210/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2003 |
TW |
92212065 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform of a
treadmill, wherein the treadmill includes a base member and a
platform with a front portion pivotally connected to the base
member, the lifting pivotally mounted to base member under the
front portion of the platform and comprising: the lifting device
including a wiggler pivotally mounted to the front portion of the
platform, the wiggler having a stopping section and a swing
section, the stopping section extending toward a rear portion of
the platform and having a free end abutting against the base
member, the swing section extending toward a bottom of the platform
and having a free end pivotally connected to a rear end of a
driving device that is pivotally mounted to the front portion of
the platform, a power source pivotally mounted to the front portion
of the platform for driving the driving device.
2. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
member comprises two supporting rods parallel to each other, a
first lateral rod having two opposite ends respectively secured on
a middle portion of each of the two supporting rods and a second
lateral rod having two opposite ends respectively secured on a rear
end of each of the two supporting rods, a stopper having two
opposite sides respectively securely connected to a middle portion
of the first and the second lateral rods for slidably supporting
the free end of the stopping section of the wiggler, an axle
laterally extending through the wiggler and having two opposite
ends respectively pivotally connected to the two opposite sides of
the platform.
3. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive
device comprises a tubular shaft having a first pivotally connected
to a free end of the swing section and an open second end toward
the power source, and a threaded rod having a first end screwed
into the open second end of the tubular shaft and a second
operationally connected to the power source that is a motor.
4. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
supporting device having two opposite ends respectively pivotally
connected to the base member and the platform for user to easily
lifting the platform.
5. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
supporting device comprises a telescope shaft having a tube with a
first end pivotally connected to a bottom of the platform and an
inn shaft extending into the tube via a second end of the tube, the
shaft having a free end pivotally connected to base member and
reciprocally moved relative to the tube, a fastener pivotally
connected to the base member for positioned the telescope shaft
after expanding.
6. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fastener
comprises an outer tube having a first end pivotally connected to
the base member and partially receiving the telescope shaft in the
fastener, the outer tube having an opening defined and extending
through the outer tube and a locking lever partially extending into
the outer tube via the opening to hold the tube in place when the
inner shaft extends from the tube.
7. The lifting assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
telescope shaft is an air spring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a lifting assembly, and
more particularly to a lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate
of a platform of a treadmill.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional treadmill in accordance with the prior art
shown in FIG. 8 comprises main frame (50) and a platform (51)
mounted on the main frame (50). The main frame (50) includes an
H-shaped base member (501) and a stand (502) upwardly extending
from the base member (501). The platform (51) includes a frame
(511) with a front end pivotally connected to the stand (502). An
endless strap (512) is mounted around the frame (511) for user to
run thereon. The platform (51) can be upwardly moved toward the
stand (502) for easily stored because the front end of the platform
(51) is pivotally connected to the stand (502).
[0005] The platform (51) is connected to the stand (502). However,
the stand cannot provide a stable support to the platform (51).
Consequently, the conventional treadmill needs a base member (5001)
to provide a stable support to the stand (502) and the platform
(51) whatever the treadmill is operated of stored. For the
stability of the structure of the treadmill, the base member (501)
usually has a great cross-section and is heavy. Consequently, the
weight and the material cost are hard to be reduced.
[0006] Another conventional treadmill in accordance with the prior
art shown in FIG. 9 comprises supporting device (60), a platform
(61), a lifting device (62) and a stand (63). The supporting device
(60) includes two opposite sides each having a base member (601)
adapted to abut a supporting surface and two rods (602) for
laterally securely connecting the two base members (601). Each base
member (601) has a groove (604) longitudinally defined therein. The
two grooves (604) face and correspond to each other. A guiding
shaft (603) is slidably mounted between the two base members (601)
and having two opposite ends each slidably received in a
corresponding one of the two grooves (604) respectively in a
corresponding one of the two base members (601). The platform (61)
includes a frame (611) with a front portion has two opposite ends
each pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the two base
members (601) of the supporting device (60) and a rear portion
adapted to abut the supporting surface. The lifting device (62)
includes a motor (621) pivotally connected to a lower portion of
the stand (63), and a piston (622) driven by the motor (621)
reciprocally moved relative to the motor (621). The piston (622)
has a free end pivotally connected to the guiding shaft (603) for
pulling/pushing the guiding shaft (603) and making the guiding
shaft (603) linearly moved within the grooves (604) to adjust the
angle formed by the supporting surface and the platform (61).
[0007] The treadmill, as shown in FIG. 9, mitigates and/or obviates
the disadvantages of the conventional treadmill in FIG. 8. However,
the piston (622) loads the gravity of the platform (61) such that
the active force from the platform (61) directly acts on the piston
(622) when the treadmill, as shown in FIG. 9, is operated.
Consequently, the piston (622) is easily worn out and influences
the lifting effect of the platform (61).
[0008] With reference to FIG. 10, for mitigating and/or obviating
the disadvantages of the conventional treadmill in FIG. 8, another
conventional treadmill is marketed. The conventional treadmill, as
shown in FIG. 10, comprises supporting device (70), a platform (71)
connected to the supporting device (70), a lifting device (72) for
lifting the platform (71) and a stand (73) upwardly extending from
the supporting device (70).
[0009] The supporting device (70) includes seats (701) respectively
disposed on two opposite sides of the platform (71) and abutting on
a supporting surface. A connecting rod (702) has two opposite ends
each connected to a corresponding one of the two seats (701). The
supporting device (70) includes two shafts (703) each having a
first end pivotally received in a corresponding one of the two
seats (701) and a second opposite to the first end of the shaft
(703). The platform (71) includes a frame (711) with a front
portion having two opposite sides respectively pivotally connected
to a corresponding one of the two shafts (703) near the second end
of each of the shaft (703). The frame (711) has a rear portion
abutting on the supporting surface. The platform (71) has two walls
extending from the two opposite sides of the front portion of the
platform (71). The stand (73) is pivotally connected to the two
walls (712) of the platform (71). The lifting device (72) includes
a motor (721) pivotally connected to the front portion of the frame
(711) and a piston (722) partially slidably received in the motor
and reciprocally moved relative to the motor (721). The piston
(722) has a free end pivotally connected to the connecting rod
(702) for pulling the connecting rod (702) and adjusting the angle
formed by the platform (71) and the supporting surface.
[0010] However, the structure of the conventional treadmill in FIG.
10 is similar to the conventional treadmill in FIG. 9.
Consequently, the piston (722) is easily worn out and influences
the lifting effect of the platform (71).
[0011] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the disadvantages of the conventional treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform
of a treadmill.
[0013] To achieve the objective, the lifting assembly in accordance
with the present invention comprises a wiggler pivotally mounted to
the front portion of the platform. The wiggler has a stopping
section and a swing section. The stopping section extends toward a
rear portion of the platform and has a free end abutting against
the base member of the treadmill. The swing section extends toward
a bottom of the platform and has a free end pivotally connected to
a rear end of a driving device that is pivotally mounted to the
front portion of the platform. A power source is pivotally mounted
to the front portion of the platform for driving the driving
device.
[0014] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill including a
lifting assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lifting
assembly in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the lifting assembly in FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an operational side plan view of the lifting
assembly when lifting a platform of a treadmill;
[0019] FIG. 5 is side plan view of the treadmill is FIG. 1 when
being folded;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a supporting device of the
lifting assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a side schematic view of the treadmill in FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first conventional
treadmill in accordance with the prior art;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a side plan view of a second conventional
treadmill in accordance with the prior art; and
[0024] FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the third conventional
treadmill in accordance with the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a
lifting assembly for adjusting a slant rate of a platform of a
treadmill in accordance with the present invention comprises base
member (1), a platform (2) having a front portion connected to the
base member (1), a lifting device (3) pivotally mounted to the
front portion of the platform (2) and a supporting device (4)
pivotally connected to the base member (1) and the front portion of
the platform (2).
[0026] The base member (1) includes two supporting rods (11)
parallel to each other and adapted to abut a supporting surface. A
first lateral rod (15) has two opposite ends each securely
connected to a middle portion of each of the two supporting rods
(11) and a second lateral rod (16) has two opposite ends each
securely connected to a rear end of each of the two supporting rods
(11). A stopper (17) has two opposite sides each securely connected
to a middle portion of the first and the second lateral rods (15,
16). A pair of ears (18) laterally extends from the first lateral
rod (15) opposite to the second lateral rods (16). A stand (12)
extends from a front end of each of the two supporting rods (11). A
U-shaped arm (13) is secured on a free end of each of the stand
(12) and a computer (14) mounted on the arm (13) for user to
control the treadmill.
[0027] The supporting device (4) includes a telescope shaft (41)
having a tube (410) with a first end pivotally connected to a
bottom of the platform (2) and an inner shaft (411) extending into
the tube via a second end of the tube (410). The inner shaft (411)
has a free end pivotally connected to the pair of ears (18) and is
reciprocally moved relative to the tube (410). A fastener (42) is
pivotally connected to the base member (1). The fastener (42)
includes an outer tube (421) has a first end pivotally connected to
the pair of ears (18) and partially receiving telescope shaft (41)
in the fastener (42). The outer tube (421) has an opening (423)
defined and extending through the outer tube (421) and a locking
lever (422) partially extending into the outer tube (421) via the
opening (423) to hold the tube (410) in place when the inner shaft
(411) expands from the tube (410).
[0028] The platform (2) includes an endless strap (21) mounted
around the platform (2) and driven by a motor (22) for round moving
relative to the platform (2). The platform (2) has two first pivot
seats (23) respectively downwardly extending from two opposite
sides of the front portion of the platform (2). The two first pivot
seats (23) each pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the two
supporting rods (11). Two second pivot seats (24) downwardly
extending from tow opposite sides of the platform (2). The two
second pivot seats (24) are backward relative to the two first
pivot seats (23). A third pivot seat (25) upwardly extending from a
front side of the platform (2) and two pads (26) are rotatably
mounted to two opposite sides of the rear portion of the platform
(2).
[0029] The lifting device (3) includes a wiggler (31) having a
stopping section (311) toward the rear portion of the platform (2)
and a swing section (312) upwardly extending from the stopping
section (311). An axle (313) extends through the wiggler (31) and
has two opposite ends each pivotally mounted to a corresponding one
of the two second pivot seats (24). The stopping section (311) has
a free end with two opposite sides each having a roller (314)
rotatably mounted to the stopping section of the wiggler (31). The
two rollers (314) abut the stopper (17) of the base member (1) when
the treadmill is operated. A drive device (32) is pivotally
connected to a free end of the swing section (312) and the third
pivot seat (25) of the platform (2). The drive device (32) includes
a tubular shaft (320) having a first end connected to the swing
section (312) for driving the wiggler (31) and a power source (321)
is pivotally mounted to the third pivot seat (25) for driving a
threaded rod (322) that is screwed into the tubular shaft (320).
Consequently, the tubular shaft (320) is moved back and forth
relative to the power source (321) for pulling and pushing the
wiggler (31) to adjust the slant rate of the platform (2) because
the rollers (314) abut the stopper (17) of the base member (1). In
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power source
(321) is a motor.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 3 and 4, the roller (314) is moved
toward the bottom of the platform (2) and the front portion of the
platform (2) is moved toward the supporting surface when the power
source (321) drives the tubular shaft (320) moved toward the power
source (321) due to the threaded rod (322) because the platform (2)
is pivotally mounted to the base member (1) and the lifting device
(3). Comparatively, the roller (314) acts on the stopper (17), the
lifting device (3) lifts the front portion of the platform (2) via
the axle (313) and the platform (2) lifting the base member (1)
because the front portion of the platform (2) is pivotally
connected to the two supporting rods (11) of the base member (1)
when the tubular shaft (320) is driven and moved toward the rear
portion of the platform (2) by the power source (321) due to the
threaded rod (322).
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the platform (2) is lifted
and moved toward the stand (12) due to reduce the volume of the
treadmill when being stored. The inner shaft (411) automatically
expands from the tube (410) to assist the user to easily lift
platform (2) such that supporting device (4) is labor-saving
design. Furthermore, the tube (410) is secured due to the locking
lever (422) such that the fastener (42) loads the gravity of the
platform (2) for elongating the using life of the telescope shaft
(41).
[0032] The drive device (32) of the lifting device (3) is connected
to the wiggler (31) that abuts against the supporting surface and
the wiggler (31) is pivotally connected to the platform (2) by the
axle (313). Consequently, the gravity from the platform (2) is
shared by the wiggler (31) and the driving device (32) so that the
using life of the driving device (32) is elongated.
[0033] In addition, the supporting device (4) assists the user to
lift the platform (2) and the fastener (42) locking the telescope
shaft (41) after expanding. Consequently, the platform (2) is
positioned for promoting safety after being lifted due to the
telescope shaft (41) and the fastener (42).
[0034] With reference to FIG. 7, the two stands (12) are
respectively pivoted to two opposite sides of the front portion of
the base member (1) so that the angle formed by the stand (12) and
base member (1) is changed for user to easily read the data from
the computer (14) when the front portion of the platform (2) is
lifted.
[0035] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *