U.S. patent application number 10/653114 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-03 for height adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill.
Invention is credited to Lo, Pai Hua.
Application Number | 20050049119 10/653114 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34217825 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050049119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo, Pai Hua |
March 3, 2005 |
Height adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill
Abstract
A height adjusting device includes two lifting arms pivotally
mounted to a main frame of a treadmill. Each lifting arm has a
first end pivotally mounted to the main frame and a second end
upwardly extending therefrom. The second end of each of the two
lifting arms is pivotally connected to two opposite sides of the
platform. A lateral rod has two opposite ends respectively secured
on the two lifting arms such that the two lifting arms are
synchronously operated and a pivot seat formed on a middle section
of the lateral rod. A telescopic rod has a first end pivotally
connected to the pivot seat and a second end pivotally mounted to a
bottom of the platform for reciprocally driving the lateral rod and
the two lifting arms to adjust a height of the platform.
Inventors: |
Lo, Pai Hua; (Taichung
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
34217825 |
Appl. No.: |
10/653114 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2003 |
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 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A height adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill,
comprising: two lifting arms respectively adapted to be pivotally
mounted to two opposite ends of a main frame of the treadmill, each
lifting arm having a first end adapted to be pivotally mounted to
the main frame and a second end upwardly extending from each of the
two lifting arms, the second end of each of the two lifting arms
adapted to be pivotally connected to a corresponding one of two
opposite sides of the platform; a lateral rod having two opposite
ends respectively secured on the two lifting arms such that the two
lifting arms are synchronously operated, the lateral rod having a
pivot seat formed on a middle section thereof, the pivot seat
having a connecting portion extending therefrom and corresponding
to the second end of each of the two lifting arms; and a telescopic
rod having a first end pivotally connected to the connecting
portion of the pivot seat and a second end adapted to be pivotally
mounted to a bottom of the platform for reciprocally driving the
lateral rod and the two lifting arms to adjust a height of the
platform.
2. The height adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising a power source mounted adjacent the telescopic rod for
reciprocally driving the telescopic rod.
3. The height adjusting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
telescopic rod is a threaded rod.
4. The height adjusting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
telescopic rod is a threaded rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a height adjusting device,
and more particularly to a height adjusting device for a platform
of a treadmill to adjusting an angle of the platform of the
treadmill relative to a supporting surface.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional height adjusting device in accordance with
the prior art shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises two L-shaped
linkages (4). Each L-shaped linkage (4) has a first end (41)
pivotally connected to a corresponding one side of a platform (5)
of the treadmill, a corner (42) pivotally connected to a supporting
rod (51) of the platform (5) and a second end pivotally connected
to a connector (431) that is pivotally mounted to a adjusting
device (6). The adjusting device (6) forward extends relative to
the platform (5) and is secured on a seat (511) that is formed on a
free end of the supporting rid (51). The free end of the supporting
rod (51) abuts against a supporting surface for supporting a front
portion of the platform (5) of the treadmill.
[0005] The adjusting device (6) includes a sleeve (62) secured on
the seat (511) of the supporting rod (51) and having a threaded
inner periphery. A threaded rod (61) has a first end screwed into
the sleeve (62) and a second end pivotally connected to the
connector (431) such that the threaded rod (61) pulls/pushes the
connector (431) with the L-shaped linkage (4) to make the L-shaped
linkage (4) circularly moved relative to the first end of the
L-shaped linkage (4) for adjusting the height of the platform (5)
of the treadmill.
[0006] The front portion of the platform (5) is pivotally mounted
to the supporting rod (51) by the two L-shaped linkages (4) and the
height of the front portion of the platform (5) is adjusted by the
threaded rod (61) such that the two L-shaped linkages (4) and the
threaded rod (61) load most of the gravity from the treadmill
during operating. Consequently, a bending stress occurred to the
threaded rod (61) and the bending stress corresponds to the
extending length of the threaded rod (61). The threaded may be
broken and out of order after loading the bending stress for a long
time.
[0007] Furthermore, the second end (42) of each of the two L-shaped
linkages (4) is used as a fulcrum when adjusting the height of the
front portion of the platform (5) such that a moment (L1) between
the first end (41) and the second end (42) of each of the two
L-shaped linkages (4) is necessary and the moment (L1) corresponds
to the adjust range of the front portion of the platform (5). When
upward folding the platform (5), the moment (L1) may increase the
load of the corner (42) of each of the linkages (4) and cannot
stably stand the upward folded platform (5).
[0008] In addition, the L-shaped linkage (4) downward extends such
that a height (H1) is necessary to the front portion of the
platform (5) for containing the L-shaped linkages (4) and the
adjusting device (6). However, a high center of gravity of
treadmill will make the exerciser feel unsafe.
[0009] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, another conventional height
adjusting device is provided to adjust the height of a platform of
a treadmill. The conventional height adjusting device includes a
gear (71) pivotally mounted to a bottom of the platform (7) and a
linkage set (8) pivotally mounted to a main frame (72) of the
treadmill. The linkage set (8) includes two L-shaped linkages (81)
respectively pivotally mounted to two opposite sides of the main
frame (72). Each L-shaped linkage (81) has a first end (811)
pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the two opposite
sides of the platform (7) and a second end (812) having a connector
(82) pivotally connected to the L-shaped linkage (81). A rack (9)
has a first end pivotally connected to the connector (82) and a
second end extending toward the bottom of the platform (7). The
rack (9) and the gear (71) are engaged to each other. The length of
the rack (9) is limited because the rack (9) extends toward the
bottom of the platform (7). Consequently, the adjust range of the
front portion of the platform (7) is limited and the minimum height
(H2) cannot be overcome.
[0010] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the disadvantages of the conventional height adjusting devices for
a platform of a treadmill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved height adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill. The
height adjusting device of the present invention can reduce an
original height of a front portion of the platform.
[0012] To achieve the objective, the height adjusting device in
accordance with the present invention comprises two lifting arms
pivotally mounted to a main frame of a treadmill. Each lifting arm
has a first end pivotally mounted to the main frame and a second
end upwardly extending therefrom. The second end of each of the two
lifting arms is pivotally connected to two opposite sides of the
platform. A lateral rod has two opposite ends respectively secured
on the two lifting arms such that the two lifting arms are
synchronously operated and a pivot seat formed on a middle section
of the lateral rod. A telescopic rod has a first end pivotally
connected to the pivot seat and a second end pivotally mounted to a
bottom of the platform for reciprocally driving the lateral rod and
the two lifting arms to adjust a height of the platform.
[0013] 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
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a height adjusting
device for a platform of a treadmill in accordance with the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of a treadmill in which
the height adjusting device of the present invention is
mounted;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an operational side plan view of the height
adjusting device when the platform of the treadmill is downward
moved to a minimum height;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an operational side plan view of the height
adjusting device when the platform of the treadmill is upwardly
moved to a maximum height;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an operational side plan view of the height
adjusting device when the platform of the treadmill is upwardly
circularly folded;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a first conventional height
adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an operational side plan view of the height
adjusting device in FIG. 6, wherein the platform is upwardly
circularly folded;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an operational side plan view of a second
conventional height adjusting device for a platform of a treadmill
when the platform is downward moved to a minimum height; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is an operational side plan view of the height
adjusting device in FIG. 8, wherein the platform is upwardly moved
to a maximum height.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a
height adjusting device (3) for a platform of a treadmill in
accordance with the present invention comprises two lifting arms
(31) respectively adapted to be pivotally mounted to two opposite
sides of a main frame (1) of the treadmill. Each lifting arm (31)
has a first end (311) adapted to be pivotally mounted to the main
frame (1) and a second end (312) upwardly extending from each of
the lifting arms (31). The second end (312) of each of the lifting
arms (31) is pivotally connected to a corresponding one of two
opposite sides of the platform (2). A lateral rod (33) has two
opposite ends respectively secured on the two lifting arms (31)
such that the two lifting arms (31) are synchronously operated. The
lateral rod (33) has a pivot seat (331) formed on a middle section
thereof. The pivot seat (331) has a connecting portion (332)
extending therefrom and corresponding to the second end (312) of
each of the lifting arm (31). A telescopic rod (32) has a first end
pivotally connected to the connecting portion (332) of the pivot
seat (331) and a second end pivotally mounted to a bottom of the
platform (2). A power source (321) is mounted adjacent the
telescopic rod (32) for reciprocally driving the telescopic rod
(32) with the lateral rod (33) and the two lifting arms (31) to
adjust the height of the platform (2). In the preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the telescopic rod (32) is a threaded rod
and the power source (321) is a motor.
[0024] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the angle between the
lifting arm (31) and the bottom of the platform (2) is changed when
the total length of the telescopic rod (32) is changed. The
platform (2) is forward moved and lifted when the total length of
the telescopic rod (32) becomes short, that is, the first end (311)
of each of the two lifting arm (31) is used as a fulcrum and the
second end (312) of each of the two lifting arms (31) is upwardly
circularly moved to lift the platform (2) relative to the first end
(311) of each of the two lifting arms (31). On the contrary, the
second end (312) of each of the lifting arms (31) is downward
circularly relatively to the first end (311) of each of the lifting
arms (31) when the front portion of the platform (2) is downward
moved.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 5, the first end (311) of each of the
lifting arms (31) is used as a fulcrum when the platform (2) is
upward circularly moved to reduce of the volume of the treadmill
for being easily stored.
[0026] The treadmill with the present invention does need to
previously defined a space under the platform (2) for containing
the rotating lifting arm (31) such the original height (H3) of the
front portion of the platform (2) is reduced because the second end
(312) of each of the lifting arms (31) extends upwardly and the
connecting portion (332) of the pivot seat (331) extend to
correspond to the second end (312) of each of the lifting arms
(31).
[0027] Furthermore, the platform (2) does not limit the length of
the lifting arms (31) such that the length of each of the lifting
arms (31) can be lengthened to enhance the lifting range of the
front portion of the platform (2). The lifting arms (31) is moved
with the platform (2) when the platform (2) is upward circularly
moved for being folded to reduce the stored volume of the treadmill
such that the moment (L2) of folding the platform (2) is shortened
and the lifting arms (31) can stably support the platform (2) after
being folded.
[0028] 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.
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