U.S. patent application number 11/347743 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for deflectable treadle of an exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Leao Wang.
Application Number | 20070135269 11/347743 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46325236 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070135269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Leao |
June 14, 2007 |
Deflectable treadle of an exercise apparatus
Abstract
A deflectable treadle of an exercise apparatus including at
least one flexible connecting element for attaching the treadle to
a treadle plank of the exercise apparatus. Based on this
configuration, a swinging and reciprocating motion can be imparted
to the treadle according to the force applied by the operator.
Meanwhile, the ankle joints of the operator may be sufficiently
protected from injuries by use of the flexible connecting
elements.
Inventors: |
Wang; Leao; (Taiping,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUO-HSIUNG CHIU
13F., NO.23, JIUN-HO STREET, PEITUN DISTRICT
TAICHUNG
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
46325236 |
Appl. No.: |
11/347743 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11299229 |
Dec 12, 2005 |
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11347743 |
Feb 6, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0664 20130101;
A63B 2071/0063 20130101; A63B 22/0017 20151001; A63B 22/0046
20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101; A63B 2022/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/052 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/04 20060101
A63B022/04 |
Claims
1. A deflectable treadle of an exercise apparatus, comprising at
least one flexible connecting element for attaching the treadle to
an underlying treadle plank of the exercise apparatus, whereby a
swinging and reciprocating motion is imparted to the treadle
according to the force applied by the operator, and the ankle
joints of the operator are protected from injuries by use of the
flexible connecting elements.
2. The deflectable treadle of an exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein each of the treadles is connected to the respective treadle
plank by two or more of the flexible connecting elements.
Description
[0001] This invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/299,229
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Fields of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a treadle assembly of an exercise
equipment, and more particularly to a treadle assembly that
undergoes a proper angle change with the up and down movement of
the treadle plank of the exercise equipment in adjustment to the
soles of both feet of the operator for protecting his ankle joints
from injuries.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The soles of the feet of the operators are subject to a
certain angle change with the up and down movement of the treadle
plank of the exercise equipment when an operator takes exercise on
a treadmill or an elliptical cross trainer. For example, the soles
of the feet tend to be raised while they rise, and they tend to be
downwardly inclined when they sink.
[0006] It's never seen that any means for adjusting the change of
the treading angle is fitted to the treadle of the conventional
exercise equipment. Therefore, the operator has to be forced to
adjust himself to the angle change of the treadle. When the
operator only uses the exercise equipment for a short time, the
aforementioned design may not pose an injury risk to the operator.
However, the ankle joints of the long-term operator would be
subjected to exercise injuries due to the mechanic compulsory force
caused by the unnatural positions for a long time. Most of the
operators who do not realized the potential hazard would get
unknown injuries in the area of the ankle joints in the future. If
it's true, the manufacturers of the exercise equipment must be
responsible for it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, it is a primary object of the invention to
provide a treadle assembly of an exercise equipment that protects
the ankle joints of the long-term users from potential injuries,
thereby achieving more safety in operation.
[0008] By use of flexible material like rubber with ductility,
compressibility und resilience, the treadle can be simultaneously
deformed according to the applied force. Therefore, the treadle can
adjust to the change of sole's angle during the whole exercise
session. When the external force is removed, the treadle can be
restored to its original position by use of a flexible connecting
element. In this way, the ankle joints of the operator can be
sufficiently protected from injuries.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a further preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment in accordance
with the invention is applied to an elliptical cross trainer 10.
It's apparent from FIG. 1 that a flexible connecting element 20 is
employed to connect a treadle 12 to a treadle plank 14 of an
elliptical cross trainer 10. In this way, a swinging and
reciprocating motion can be imparted to the treadle 12 according to
the force applied by the operator. Meanwhile, the ankle joints can
be sufficiently protected from injuries by use of the flexible
connecting element 20.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, other preferred embodiments of
the invention are shown. According to FIGS. 2 and 3, two or more
flexible connecting elements 20 are employed to connect the treadle
12 to the treadle plank 14 of a respective exercise apparatus (not
shown) for achieving the same expected effect. Meanwhile, the use
of fixing elements 30 permits a tight attachment of the flexible
connecting element 20 to the treadle 12 and the treadle plank
14.
[0015] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
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