U.S. patent application number 11/213690 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for buffer apparatus of a treadmill.
Invention is credited to Shen Yi Wu.
Application Number | 20070049465 11/213690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37805082 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070049465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Shen Yi |
March 1, 2007 |
Buffer apparatus of a treadmill
Abstract
A buffer apparatus of a treadmill including a bed rested on the
ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus. A rail upward
extends from the bed for a user to hold. The buffer apparatus is
connected under the tread apparatus. The buffer apparatus includes
an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit for
inflating the main body. The main body has a buffer section and a
fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread apparatus.
The buffer section has a large interior space. After the main body
is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a bottom end of the buffer
section is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section. The
main body further has an intake and an exhaust port. After the
pressurizing unit is activated, the air can go into and out of the
main body through the intake and the exhaust port.
Inventors: |
Wu; Shen Yi; (Wufeng
Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
37805082 |
Appl. No.: |
11/213690 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0214 20151001;
A63B 2225/62 20130101; A63B 22/0235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A buffer apparatus of a treadmill comprising a bed rested on the
ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus, a rail upward
extending from the bed for a user to hold, the buffer apparatus
being connected under the tread apparatus, the buffer apparatus
including an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit
for inflating the main body, the main body having a buffer section
and a fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread
apparatus, the buffer section having a large interior space,
whereby after the main body is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a
bottom end of the buffer section is still lower than a bottom end
of the fixing section, the main body further having an intake and
an exhaust port, whereby after the pressurizing unit is activated,
the air can go into and out of the main body through the intake and
the exhaust port.
2. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the tread apparatus includes a tread board supported by a
frame body, the tread board being looped with an endless flexible
tread belt which can circularly revolve, two buffer apparatuses
being respectively arranged under two sides of a substantially
middle section of the tread board.
3. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under front section of
the frame body between the frame body and the bed.
4. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under middle and rear
sections of the tread apparatus between the tread apparatus and the
ground.
5. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the pressurizing unit is disposed inside the main body, the
pressurizing unit including a motor fixed in the main body, a
pressurizing cylinder also fixed in the main body and an air
pressure sensor disposed on outer side of the main body, the air
pressure sensor communicating with the exhaust port of the main
body for exhausting the air and detecting the air pressure.
6. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the motor is connected with a crank for driving a piston to
reciprocally move within the pressurizing cylinder, the piston
serving to one-way stop the air from flowing, the pressurizing
cylinder having a first conduit communicating with the intake of
the main body and positioned on one side of the piston and a second
conduit communicating with the interior space of the main body and
positioned on the other side of the piston, whereby the air is
sucked into the pressurizing cylinder from the intake and goes
through the piston to be compressed into the interior space of the
main body.
7. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the first and second conduits are respectively equipped
with check valves for avoiding backflow of the air.
8. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the air pressure sensor of the pressuring unit can detect
internal air pressure of the main body, in the case that the air
pressure is too great, the air pressure sensor properly exhausting
part of the air, in the case that the air pressure is insufficient,
the air pressure sensor being electrically connected with the motor
to turn on the motor for sucking air into the main body to achieve
necessary air pressure.
9. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1,
wherein by means of the fixing sections and fixing members, the
main bodies are respectively fixed under two sides of the
substantially middle section of the tread board, the buffer section
being positioned on outer side of the fixing section.
10. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the fixing members are screws.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a buffer apparatus of a
treadmill, and more particularly to a buffer apparatus with damping
effect.
[0002] FIG. 8 shows a buffer apparatus 6 for a conventional
treadmill. The buffer apparatus 6 is made of rubber material for
buffering the instantaneous reaction force and protecting a user
from getting hurt when treading the tread board. However, such
rubber-made buffer apparatus 6 can hardly provide different
buffering effects for different users with different weights.
Therefore, the safety in use of the treadmill can be hardly
ensured.
[0003] FIG. 9 shows another type of buffer apparatus 7 having
different sections made of different materials with different
densities. Such buffer apparatus 7 can provide different buffering
effects according to different requirements of different users.
However, before using the treadmill, a user must first try
different materials and then choose one suitable for the weight of
the user. This is quite inconvenient to the user.
[0004] FIG. 10 shows still another type of buffer apparatus 8 of a
treadmill. Such buffer apparatus 8 is filled up with a liquid to
provide better buffering effect. However, the buffering effect of
such buffer apparatus is not adjustable in accordance with the
weights of different users.
[0005] It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide an
improved buffer apparatus of a treadmill to solve the problems
existing in the above conventional buffer apparatuses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a buffer apparatus of a treadmill. The buffer apparatus is
connected under a tread apparatus on which a user treads. When
different users with different weights tread on the tread
apparatus, the buffer apparatus can adjustably provide better
buffering effect for the users according to the users' weight.
Accordingly, the buffer apparatus is able to achieve damping effect
and protect the users from getting hurt.
[0007] According to the above object, the buffer apparatus of the
treadmill of the present invention includes a bed rested on the
ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus. A rail upward
extends from the bed for a user to hold. One end of a frame body is
connected with the bed. The tread apparatus includes a tread board
supported by the frame body. The tread board is looped with an
endless flexible tread belt which can circularly revolve. The
buffer apparatus is connected under the tread board. The buffer
apparatus can provide adjustable buffering effects for different
users with different weights so as to properly reduce the reaction
force exerted onto the users in treading.
[0008] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the position where the buffer apparatus of the
present invention is mounted;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between
the buffer apparatus, tread board and frame body of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the relationship between
the pressurizing unit and the main body of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the automatically sensing
operation of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side view of a first type of conventional buffer
apparatus;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side view of a second type of conventional
buffer apparatus; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a side view of a third type of conventional
buffer apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 1. The treadmill of the present
invention includes a bed 1, a tread apparatus 2 and a buffer
apparatus 3. A rail upward extends from the bed 1 for a user to
hold. One end of a frame body 12 is connected with the bed 1. The
tread apparatus 2 includes a tread board 21 supported by the frame
body 12. The tread board 21 is looped with an endless flexible
tread belt 211 which can circularly revolve. When a user treads on
the tread board 21, the user generally exerts a greatest downward
treading force onto a substantially middle section of the tread
board 21. Accordingly, two buffer apparatuses 3 are respectively
arranged under two sides of the substantially middle section of the
tread board 21 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0020] In this embodiment, each buffer apparatus 3 includes an
inflatable hollow main body 31 and a pressurizing unit 32. The main
body 31 is made of flexible and stiff material such as rubber. The
pressurizing unit 32 is disposed inside the main body 31 for
inflating the main body 31.
[0021] Each main body 31 has a buffer section 311 and a fixing
section 312. By means of the fixing sections 312 and fixing members
313 ( such as screws ), the main bodies 31 are respectively fixed
under two sides of the substantially middle section of the tread
board 21. In this embodiment, the buffer section 311 is positioned
on outer side of the fixing section 312. The buffer section 311 has
a large interior space. After inflated, a bottom end of the buffer
section 311 is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section
312 to keep abutting against the frame body 12. The main body 31
has an intake 314 and an exhaust port 315. After the pressurizing
unit 32 is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body
31 through the intake 314 and the exhaust port 315 for regulating
the internal air pressure of the main body 31 so as to provide
suitable buffering effect for the user.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, the pressurizing unit 32 includes a
motor 321 fixed in the main body 31, a pressurizing cylinder 322
also fixed in the main body 31 and an air pressure sensor 323
disposed on outer side of the main body 31. The air pressure sensor
323 communicates with the exhaust port 315 of the main body 31 for
exhausting the air and detecting the air pressure.
[0023] The motor 321 is connected with a crank 325 for driving a
piston 326 to reciprocally move within the pressurizing cylinder
322. The piston 326 serves to one-way stop the air from flowing.
The pressurizing cylinder 322 has a first conduit 327 communicating
with the intake 314 of the main body 31 and positioned on one side
of the piston 326 and a second conduit 328 communicating with the
interior space of the main body 31 and positioned on the other side
of the piston 326. The air is sucked into the pressurizing cylinder
322 from the intake 314. The air goes through the piston 326 to be
compressed into the interior space of the main body 31. The first
and second conduits 327, 328 are respectively equipped with check
valves 329 for avoiding backflow of the air.
[0024] In use, the motor 321 is activated to drive the crank 325
for reciprocating the piston 326. When the piston 326 is pushed
toward the second conduit 328, the air is sucked from the intake
314 into the pressurizing cylinder 322. Then the piston 326 moves
in reverse direction and the air goes through the piston 326 to be
compressed by the piston 326 into the interior space of the main
body 31. The above operated is repeated to continuously fill the
air into the main body 31. The air pressure sensor 323 serves to
detect the air pressure in the main body 31.
[0025] When a user treads on the treadmill 2, the user can adjust
the air pressure in the main body 31 according to his/her own
weight and the comfortableness in treading. Accordingly, when the
user treads on the tread apparatus 2, the treading force is
absorbed by the buffer apparatus 3. When treading, the heels,
ankles and knees of the user bear less reaction force. Therefore,
the present invention is able to achieve damping effect and protect
the user from getting hurt.
[0026] Furthermore, the present invention can employ an
automatically sensing measure. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the
automatically sensing operation. With respect to different users
with different weights, the air pressure sensor 323 of the
pressuring unit 32 can detect the internal air pressure of the main
body 31. In the case that the air pressure is too great, the air
pressure sensor 323 can properly exhaust part of the air. In the
case that the air pressure is insufficient, the air pressure sensor
323 is electrically connected with the motor 321 to turn on the
motor 321 for sucking air into the main body 31 to achieve the
necessary air pressure.
[0027] In addition, the main bodies 31 are respectively arranged
under two sides of the tread board 21. Therefore, the buffer
apparatuses 3 only bear vertical pressure without bearing any
transverse frictional force. Therefore, the buffer apparatuses 3
have longer using life.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention,
in which the tread apparatus 2A further includes a frame body 12A
for supporting the tread board 21A. The buffer apparatuses 3A are
mounted under front section of the frame body 12A between the frame
body 12A and the bed 1A.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in
which the tread apparatus 2B further includes a frame 12B for
supporting the tread board 21B. The buffer apparatuses 3B are
mounted under middle and rear sections of the tread apparatus 2B
between the tread apparatus 2B and the ground. This can also
protect the user from getting hurt.
[0030] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the
present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many
modifications of the above embodiments can be made without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *