U.S. patent application number 10/813159 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for folding exercise treadmill with front inclination.
Invention is credited to Chen, James.
Application Number | 20050096189 10/813159 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34134458 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050096189 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, James |
May 5, 2005 |
Folding exercise treadmill with front inclination
Abstract
An exercise treadmill includes a base frame, a treadmill frame
having a front side detachably connected to the base frame, a
locking mechanism for locking the front side of the treadmill frame
to the base frame, two wheeled crank arms pivoted to the treadmill
frame, and a lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism has a motor
and a transmission unit coupled to the motor and the crank arms for
lifting or lowering the front side of the treadmill frame after
unlocking of the locking mechanism or for lifting or lowering a
rear side of the treadmill frame after locking of the front side of
the treadmill frame to the base frame by the locking mechanism.
Inventors: |
Chen, James; (Sa Lu Chen,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
34134458 |
Appl. No.: |
10/813159 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/56 20130101;
A63B 22/0235 20130101; A63B 22/0023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 |
International
Class: |
A63B 024/00; A63B
022/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2003 |
TW |
92219229 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercise treadmill comprising: a base frame for placing on a
floor; a treadmill frame having a front side detachably connected
with said base frame, and a rear side; a locking mechanism provided
at a front side of said base frame for locking the front side of
said treadmill frame to said base frame; at least one crank arm
pivoted to said treadmill frame, said crank arm having a sliding
member for supporting on the floor; and a lifting mechanism mounted
in said treadmill frame, said lifting mechanism including a motor,
and a transmission unit coupled between said motor and said crank
arm for moving said sliding member of said crank arm on the floor
upon operation of said motor to either force the front side of said
treadmill frame to move vertically relative to said base frame
while the front side of said treadmill is detached from the base
frame or force the rear side of said treadmill frame to move
vertically relative to said base frame while the front side of said
treadmill is locked to the base frame by the locking mechanism.
2. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
transmission unit comprises a sliding block coupled to said motor
and forwardly backwardly movable by said motor in direction between
the front side and rear side of treadmill frame, and at least one
link pivotally coupled between said sliding block and said at least
one crank arm.
3. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
locking mechanism comprises a locating plate affixed to said base
frame, said locating plate having a center insertion hole and at
least one stop rod protruded from a side thereof, a lock pin
inserted through the center insertion slot of said locating plate
and movable between a first position where said lock pin is engaged
into a part of the front side of said treadmill frame to lock the
front side of said treadmill frame to said base frame and a second
position where said lock pin is disengaged from the front side of
said treadmill frame to unlock the front side of said treadmill
frame from said base frame, said lock pin having a stop flange,
which is moved through the center insertion hole of said locating
plate when said lock pin is set in said first position, or stopped
against said at least one stop rod to hold said lock pin in said
second position after said lock pin has been disengaged from the
front side of said treadmill frame and rotated relative to said
locating plate through an angle.
4. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
at least one torsional spring having a distal end connected to said
crank arm and the other distal end connected to said treadmill
frame.
5. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base
frame comprises two upright sidewalls symmetrically disposed at two
opposite lateral sides thereof, said upright sidewalls each having
a vertically extended guiding slot and a sliding slot horizontally
forwardly extended from a bottom end of said guiding slot; said
treadmill frame comprises two locating rods respectively protruded
from two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively coupled to
the guiding slots of said upright sidewalls and movable between the
guiding slots and sliding slots of said upright sidewalls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise treadmill and
more particularly, to an exercise treadmill having a fold-up
capability and a front that is adjustable in the vertical
direction.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional exercise treadmill essentially includes a
base frame and a treadmill frame. The base frame is placed on the
floor, having an upright upwardly extended from the front side for
holding by the user walking on the treadmill belt of the treadmill
frame. In order to simulate walking on a slope, the treadmill frame
is provided with a locating hole on the front side for connection
to one of a vertical row of locating holes at the front side of the
base frame selectively by a lock pin. After use, the user can lift
the rear side of the treadmill frame and receive the treadmill
frame to the upright of the base frame to reduce space
occupation.
[0005] This manual design is suitable for a small scale exercise
treadmill, not practical for use in a big scale exercise treadmill.
When received in the non-operative position, an additional lock
device is necessary to lock the treadmill frame in the received
position. A mistake during operation may cause the treadmill frame
to fall, resulting in an accident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide an exercise treadmill, which enables the treadmill frame to
be received in the non-operative position or adjusted to the
desired angle of inclination by means of an electric control.
[0007] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an exercise treadmill, which provides a self-locking function
during turning of the treadmill frame, ensuring a safety use.
[0008] To achieve these objectives of the present invention the
exercise treadmill comprises a base frame, a treadmill frame having
a front side detachably connected with the base frame, a locking
mechanism provided at a front side of the base frame for locking
the front side of the treadmill frame to the base frame, at least
one crank arm pivoted to the treadmill frame and having a sliding
member for supporting on the floor, and a lifting mechanism mounted
in the treadmill frame. The lifting mechanism includes a motor, and
a transmission unit coupled between the motor and the crank arm for
moving the sliding member of the crank arm on the floor upon
operation of the motor so as to either force the front side of the
treadmill frame to move vertically relative to the base frame while
the front side of the treadmill is detached from the base frame or
force a rear side of the treadmill frame to move vertically
relative to the base frame while the front side of the treadmill is
locked to the base frame by the locking mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top view of an exercise treadmill according to
the present invention, wherein an upright of the base frame is not
shown.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the present invention showing
the treadmill frame set in horizontal.
[0011] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the front of the
treadmill frame lifted.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the present invention showing
the received status of the exercise treadmill.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1,
showing the stop flange of the lock pin inserted through the
locating plate; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing the stop flange of
the lock pin stopped against the stop rods of the locating
plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise treadmill provided by
a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised
of a base frame 10, a treadmill frame 20, a locking mechanism 30,
two crank arms 40, and a lifting mechanism 50.
[0016] The base frame 10 is a rectangular open frame formed of
metal rod members by welding for placing on the floor. The base
frame 10 comprises an upright 12 upwardly extended from the top
near the front side for holding by the user using the exercise
treadmill, a control panel 13 mounted on the upright 12, a
retaining member, namely a lug 14, at the front side of the upright
12, and two upright sidewalls 15 bilaterally longitudinally
disposed at the front left and right sides. The sidewalls 15 each
have a vertically extended guiding slot 16 and a sliding slot 17
horizontally forwardly extended from the bottom end of the guiding
slot 16 to the periphery of the sidewall.
[0017] The treadmill frame 20 is mounted on the base frame 10,
having a front side 21, a rear side 22, a left side 23, a right
side 24, a walking belt 25 provided between the left side 23 and
the right side 24 for walking by the user using the exercise
treadmill, a foot member 26 at the bottom of the rear side 22 for
supporting the rear side of the treadmill frame 20 on the floor, a
first retaining member, namely a first lug 27 having a through
hole, at the bottom of the front side 21, two second retaining
members, namely two second lugs 28, symmetrically disposed at the
left side 23 and the right side 24 and connected with each other by
a rod 28a, two locating rods 29 respectively outwardly protruded
from the left side 23 and the right side 24 between the first lug
27 and the second lugs 28 and respectively coupled to the guiding
slots 16 of the base frame 10.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the
locking mechanism 30 comprises a lock pin 32, a locating plate 33,
and a compression spring 34. The lock pin 32 has a stop flange 35
protruded from the periphery of the middle part. The locating plate
33 has a center insertion hole 36, and two stop rods 37
perpendicularly symmetrically extended from one side. The lock pin
32 is transversely provided at the front side of the base frame 10
and inserted through the center insertion hole 36 of the locating
plate 13, having one end extended out of the base frame 10 and
provided with a handle 31, and the other end inserted into the
trough hole of the first lug 27 of the treadmill frame. When
pushing the lock pin 32 toward the inside of the base frame 10 to
force the stop flange 35 through the center insertion hole 36 of
the locating plate 13, the lock pin 32 is engaged into the lug 14
of the base frame 10 and the through hole of the first lug 27 of
the treadmill frame 20 to lock the front side of the treadmill
frame 20 to the base frame 10. On the contrary, when pulled the
lock pin 32 outwards and then rotated the lock pin 32 through an
angle to disengage the lock pin 32 from the lug 14 of the base
frame 10 and the first lug 27 of the treadmill frame 20 and to stop
the stop flange 35 of the lock pin 32 against the stop rods 37 of
the locating plate 33, the treadmill frame 20 is unlocked from the
base frame 10. Further, the spring member 34 is sleeved onto the
lock pin 32 to push the lock pin 32 inwards from the unlocking
position toward the locking position.
[0019] The two crank arms 40 are respectively pivoted to the rod
28a that is connected to the second lugs 28 of the treadmill frame
20, each having a first segment 41 and a second segment 42
integrally extended from an end of the first segment 41 at an angle
at an angle. The first segment 41 has the distal end mounted with a
sliding member, namely a roller 43, which is supported on the
floor. Torsional springs 44 are respectively sleeved onto the rod
28a. The torsional spring 44 has a distal end fastened to the
treadmill frame and the other distal end pressed on the first
segment 41 of the crank arm 40 for imparting a downward force to
the first segment 41 of each crank arm 40 and an upward force to
the treadmill frame 20.
[0020] The lifting mechanism 50 is mounted in the treadmill frame
20, comprising a motor 51 and a transmission unit 52 driven by the
motor 51. The output shaft 53 of the motor 51 is a screw rod
extended in parallel to the length of the treadmill frame 20. The
transmission unit 52 is comprised of a sliding block 54 threaded
onto the output shaft 53 of the motor 51, and two parallel links 55
pivotally connected to two lateral sides of the sliding block 54.
The links 55 each have one end respectively pivoted to the sliding
block 54 and the other end respectively pivoted to the distal ends
of the second segments 42 of the crank arms 40. During rotary
motion of the output shaft 53 of the motor 51, the sliding block 54
is forced to move along the output shaft 53, thereby causing the
links 55 to move the crank arms 40, and therefore the rollers 43
are moved forwards or backwards on the floor.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when wishing to increase the
angle of inclination of the treadmill frame 20, hold the handle 31
of the lock pin 32 with the hand and then pull the lock pin 32
outwards to unlock the front side of the treadmill frame 20 from
the base frame 10, and then operate the control panel 13 to rotate
the output shaft 53 of the motor 11 of the lifting mechanism 50
clockwise (viewed from the front side of the treadmill frame 20),
causing the slide 54 to move along the output shaft 53 toward the
rear side 22 of the treadmill frame 20. At this time, the links 55
are forced to turn the crank arms 40 and to move the rollers 43 on
the floor toward the front side, and therefore the treadmill frame
20 is turned about an axis passing through the foot member 26 to
lift the front side 21 of the treadmill frame 20 from the base
frame 10 and the locating rods 29 are moved upwards along the
respective guiding slots 16. When wishing to reduce the angle of
inclination of the treadmill frame 20, operate the control panel
138 to rotate the output shaft 53 of the motor 51 of the lifting
mechanism 50 in counter-clockwise direction, thereby causing the
sliding block 54 to move along the output shaft 53 toward the front
side 21 of the treadmill frame 20. At this time, the links 55 are
forced to turn the crank arms 40 and to move the rollers 43 on the
floor toward the rear side, and therefore the treadmill frame 20 is
turned about an axis passing through the foot member 26 to lower
the front side 21 of the treadmill frame 20 to the base frame 10
and the locating rods 29 are moved downwards along the respective
guiding slots 16.
[0022] When wishing to receive the treadmill frame 20, move the
treadmill frame 20 to horizontal according to the aforesaid angle
of inclination adjustment procedure, and then push the lock pin 32
toward the inside of the base frame 10 to lock the front side 21 of
the treadmill frame 20 to the base frame 10, and then operate the
control panel 13 to rotate the output shaft 53 of the motor 51 of
the lifting mechanism 50 in clockwise direction and to further move
the sliding block 54 along the output shaft 53 toward the rear side
22 of the treadmill frame 20, thereby causing the links 55 to pull
the second segments 42 of the crank arms 40. At this time, the
rollers 43 are moved on the floor toward the front side, thereby
causing the treadmill frame 20 to be turned about the lock pin 32
and to lift the rear side 22 of the treadmill frame 20 from the
floor, and therefore the treadmill frame 20 is received to the
upright 12 and held in the non-operative position. Because the
sliding block 54 is coupled to the output shaft 53 through screw
joint, the output shaft 53 can drive the sliding block 54 to move;
however the sliding block 54 cannot drive the output shaft 53 to
rotate. This one-way self-locking function prevents falling of the
treadmill frame 20 accidentally during lifting or receiving
operation.
[0023] By means of the aforesaid design, the exercise treadmill can
be electrically controlled to adjust the angle of inclination and
automatically received in the non-operative position.
[0024] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *