U.S. patent application number 11/355722 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for foldable treadmill.
Invention is credited to Hai Pin Kuo.
Application Number | 20070191190 11/355722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38369387 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070191190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo; Hai Pin |
August 16, 2007 |
Foldable treadmill
Abstract
A foldable treadmill includes a seat, and a two-part tread base
having a front carriage pivotally attached to the seat with a pivot
axle for allowing the carriage to be rotated relative to the seat,
and a rear treadmill frame pivotally secured to the carriage for
allowing the treadmill frame to be rotated and folded relative to
the carriage, and the carriage is foldable and engageable with the
seat for lowering a center of gravity of the treadmill and for
preventing the treadmill from falling down when the treadmill frame
is rotated and folded relative to the carriage and the seat. A
spring biased latch may selectively latch the treadmill frame to
the carriage at an upwardly erecting position.
Inventors: |
Kuo; Hai Pin; (Tainan,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
38369387 |
Appl. No.: |
11/355722 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 22/0023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A foldable treadmill comprising: a seat, and a two-part tread
base including a front carriage pivotally attached to said seat
with a pivot axle for allowing said carriage to be rotated relative
to said seat with said pivot axle, and including a rear treadmill
frame pivotally secured to said carriage for allowing said
treadmill frame to be rotated and folded relative to said carriage,
and said carriage being foldable and engageable with said seat for
lowering a center of gravity of said treadmill and for preventing
said treadmill from falling down when said treadmill frame is
rotated and folded relative to said carriage and said seat.
2. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a spring biased latch for selectively latching said treadmill frame
to said carriage and for stably supporting said treadmill frame to
said carriage at an upwardly erecting and folding position.
3. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
spring biased latch is disposed in said treadmill frame and biased
to selectively engage with said carriage.
4. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
treadmill frame includes a beam having a hollow space to receive
said spring biased latch.
5. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
treadmill frame includes a bracket disposed in said beam, said
spring biased latch is disposed in said bracket.
6. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
treadmill frame includes a hand grip coupled to said spring biased
latch for disengaging said spring biased latch from said
carriage.
7. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
two-part tread base includes at least one supporting device coupled
between said treadmill frame and said carriage for supporting said
treadmill frame at an upwardly erecting and folding position
relative to said carriage.
8. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
means for rotating said carriage relative to said seat.
9. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
rotating means includes a motorized threaded member rotatably
disposed in said seat, a follower threaded onto said threaded
member and movable and adjustable along said threaded member when
said threaded member is rotated relative to said seat, and a stand
coupled between said carriage and said follower.
10. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
stand includes at least one roller slidably engaged with said seat
for guiding said stand to move relative to said seat.
11. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
seat includes at least one tube having a bore for slidably
receiving said at least one roller of said stand.
12. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 11, wherein said
seat includes a channel formed in said at least one tube and
communicating with said bore of said at least one tube, said stand
includes a panel, said at least one roller is pivotally attached to
said panel with a pivot pin and said pivot pin is slidably engaged
in said channel of said at least one tube.
13. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
two-part tread base includes a detecting device for detecting a
relative angular position between said carriage and said treadmill
frame.
14. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
detecting device is attached to said carriage, and an actuating
device is attached to said treadmill frame and moved in concert
with said treadmill frame, and said actuating device is rotatable
relative to said carriage and said detecting device by rotating
said treadmill frame relative to said carriage.
15. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 13, wherein a
threaded member is rotatably disposed in said seat, a follower is
threaded onto said threaded member and coupled to said carriage,
said follower is movable and adjustable along said threaded member
when said threaded member is rotated relative to said seat, and a
motor is coupled to said threaded member for rotating said threaded
member, and said actuating device is coupled to said motor for
actuating said motor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a foldable treadmill, and
more particularly to a foldable treadmill having an improved
structure for allowing the treadmill to be easily folded to an
upwardly erecting or folding position and to be easily folded to a
downwardly horizontal working position.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical foldable treadmills comprise a handle device
extended upwardly from a seat or vertically supported on the seat,
and a tread base having a front portion pivotally attached to the
seat or the handle device for allowing the tread base to be rotated
or folded relative to the seat or the handle device between an
upwardly erecting or folding position and a downwardly horizontal
working position.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,368 to Clem et al.
discloses one of the typical foldable treadmills also comprising a
treadmill frame having a front portion pivotally or rotatably
attached to a carriage, and a lifting and motorized structure
coupled between the treadmill frame and the carriage for rotating
or folding the treadmill frame relative to the carriage between an
upwardly erecting or folding position and a downwardly horizontal
working position.
[0006] However, the treadmill frame includes a long integral
structure that the motorized lifting structure has to spend more or
great energy to rotate or to fold the treadmill frame relative to
the carriage. In addition, when the treadmill frame is rotated or
folded relative to the carriage, the center of gravity of the
treadmill will be offset from the carriage such that the treadmill
will be unstable and may have a good chance to fall down.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,518 to Lin discloses another typical
foldable treadmill also comprising a tread base having a front
portion pivotally or rotatably attached to a seat, and a power
driving device coupled between the tread base and the seat for
rotating or folding the tread base relative to the seat.
[0008] However, similarly, the tread base also includes a long
integral structure that the power driving device also have to spend
more or great energy to rotate or to fold the tread base relative
to the seat. In addition, when the tread base is rotated or folded
relative to the seat, the center of gravity of the treadmill will
be offset from the seat such that the treadmill will be unstable
and may have a good chance to fall down.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional foldable
treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foldable treadmill including a structure for allowing the
treadmill to be easily folded to an upwardly erecting or folding
position and to be easily folded to a downwardly horizontal working
position.
[0011] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a
foldable treadmill including a foldable two-part tread base for
preventing the center of gravity of the treadmill from being offset
from the seat and for allowing the treadmill to be retained or
maintained in a stable structure and to be prevented from falling
down when the tread base is rotated or folded relative to the
seat.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a foldable treadmill comprising a seat, and a two-part
tread base including a front carriage pivotally attached to the
seat with a pivot axle for allowing the carriage to be rotated
relative to the seat with the pivot axle, and including a rear
treadmill frame pivotally secured to the carriage for allowing the
treadmill frame to be rotated and folded relative to the carriage,
and the carriage is foldable and engageable with the seat for
lowering a center of gravity of the treadmill and for preventing
the treadmill from falling down when the treadmill frame is rotated
relative to the carriage and the seat.
[0013] A spring biased latch may further be provided for
selectively latching the treadmill frame to the carriage and for
stably supporting the treadmill frame to the carriage at an
upwardly erecting and folding position. The spring biased latch is
disposed in the treadmill frame and biased to selectively engage
with the carriage.
[0014] The treadmill frame includes a beam having a hollow space to
receive the spring biased latch. The treadmill frame includes a
bracket disposed in the beam, the spring biased latch is disposed
in the bracket. The treadmill frame includes a hand grip coupled to
the spring biased latch for disengaging the spring biased latch
from the carriage.
[0015] The two-part tread base includes at least one supporting
device coupled between the treadmill frame and the carriage for
supporting the treadmill frame at an upwardly erecting and folding
position relative to the carriage.
[0016] A rotating device may further be provided for rotating the
carriage relative to the seat. The rotating device includes a
motorized threaded member rotatably disposed in the seat, a
follower threaded onto the threaded member and movable and
adjustable along the threaded member when the threaded member is
rotated relative to the seat, and a stand coupled between the
carriage and the follower.
[0017] The stand includes at least one roller slidably engaged with
the seat for guiding the stand to move relative to the seat. The
seat includes at least one tube having a bore for slidably
receiving the roller of the stand.
[0018] The seat includes a channel formed in the tube and
communicating with the bore of the tube, the stand includes a
panel, the roller is pivotally attached to the panel with a pivot
pin and the pivot pin is slidably engaged in the channel of the
tube.
[0019] The two-part tread base includes a detecting device for
detecting a relative angular position between the carriage and the
treadmill frame. The detecting device is attached to the carriage,
and an actuating device is attached to the treadmill frame and
moved in concert with the treadmill frame, and the actuating device
is rotatable relative to the carriage and the detecting device by
rotating the treadmill frame relative to the carriage.
[0020] A threaded member is rotatably disposed in the seat, a
follower is threaded onto the threaded member and coupled to the
carriage, the follower is movable and adjustable along the threaded
member when the threaded member is rotated relative to the seat,
and a motor is coupled to the threaded member for rotating the
threaded member, and the actuating device is coupled to the motor
for actuating the motor.
[0021] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a foldable treadmill in
accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a partial side plan schematic view of the foldable
treadmill;
[0024] FIGS. 3, 4, 5 are partial side plan schematic views similar
to FIG. 2, illustrating the folding operation of the foldable
treadmill;
[0025] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view
illustrating a sensing or detecting device of the foldable
treadmill; and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a further enlarged partial side plan schematic
view illustrating the sensing or detecting device of the foldable
treadmill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
foldable treadmill 1 in accordance with the present invention
comprises a seat 10 including one or more, such as two ears 11
extended upwardly from the front portion 12 of the seat 10, and
including two side tubes 13, and a rear link 14 coupled or secured
between the rear portions of the side tubes 13, in which each of
the side tubes 13 includes a bore 15 formed therein, and a channel
16 is formed in the inner portion of each of the side tubes 13 and
communicating with the bore 15 of the respective side tubes 13
(FIG. 1).
[0028] A bolt or threaded member 20 is rotatably disposed or
supported or engaged in the middle portion of the seat 10 and
disposed between the side tubes 13 and parallel to the side tubes
13, and a motor 21 is also attached to the seat 10 and coupled to
the threaded member 20 with various typical coupling mechanisms
(not shown), such as pulley-and-belt, sprocket-and-chain, gear
coupling, or other coupling mechanisms for allowing the threaded
member 20 to be rotated or driven by the motor 21. A nut or
follower 22 is threaded onto the threaded member 20 and movable or
adjustable along the threaded member 20 when the threaded member 20
is rotated or driven by the motor 21.
[0029] A two-part tread base 3 includes a front carriage 30 and a
rear treadmill frame 40 to be pivotally or foldable secured
together for allowing the carriage 30 and the treadmill frame 40 to
be pivoted or rotated or folded relative to each other (FIGS. 3-5).
The carriage 30 includes a front portion 31 pivotally or rotatably
attached or coupled to the front portion 12 or the ears 11 of the
seat 10 with such as a pivot axle 18 for allowing the carriage 30
to be rotated relative to the seat 10 with the pivot axle 18, best
shown in FIGS. 2-5. The carriage 30 includes one or more, such as
two bars 33 extended downwardly and rearwardly from the rear
portion 32 of the carriage 30.
[0030] The treadmill frame 40 includes a front portion 41 pivotally
or rotatably attached or coupled to the rear portion 32 of the
carriage 30 with such as a pivot shaft 36 for allowing the
treadmill frame 40 to be rotated relative to the carriage 30 with
the pivot shaft 36, for allowing the treadmill frame 40 to be
rotated relative to the carriage 30 between an upwardly folding
position (FIG. 5) and a downwardly working position (FIG. 2) and
for allowing the treadmill frame 40 to be rotated or adjusted
relative to the carriage 30 to different angular positions (FIGS.
3-4).
[0031] The treadmill frame 40 includes two side beams 42, in which
one of the side beams 42 includes a hollow space 43 formed therein
(FIG. 1) for receiving a control device 70 therein. The treadmill
frame 40 further includes a typical deck and a typical endless belt
(not shown) provided thereon for supporting the user on the
treadmill frame 40. The carriage 30 further includes a flap 34
extended from or attached to one side of the rear portion 32 of the
carriage 30, and a notch 35 formed in the flap 34 for anchoring or
positioning purposes which will be discussed hereinafter.
[0032] A pivotal stand 50 is pivotally or rotatably attached or
coupled to the rear portion 32 of the carriage 30 with such as a
pivot rod 38 for allowing the stand 50 to be rotated relative to
the carriage 30 with the pivot rod 38. For example, the stand 50
includes an arm 51 having two side panels 52 for pivotally or
rotatably attaching to the rear portion 32 of the carriage 30 with
the pivot rod 38, and includes one or more, such as two limbs 53
extended from the middle portion for pivotally or rotatably
attaching to the follower 22 with one or more fasteners 54, for
allowing the carriage 30 and thus the treadmill frame 40 to be
rotated or adjusted relative to the seat 10 to different angular
positions by the motor driven threaded member 20 and the follower
22 (FIGS. 2-3).
[0033] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the follower 22 may be
moved or adjusted relative to or along the threaded member 20 when
the threaded member 20 is rotated or driven by the motor 21, and
the carriage 30 and the treadmill frame 40 may be rotated or
adjusted relative to the seat 10 to different angular positions by
the stand 50 and the follower 22 when the follower 22 is moved or
adjusted relative to or along the threaded member 20, to allow the
treadmill frame 40 to be rotated or adjusted relative to the seat
10 to different angular positions according to the users' need. The
threaded member 20 and the motor 21 and/or the stand 50 may thus be
used or acted as a rotating means for rotating the carriage 30
relative to the seat 10.
[0034] It is preferable that the treadmill frame 40 includes one or
more wheels 44 attached to the rear portion 45 for facilitating the
movement or adjustment of the treadmill frame 40 relative to the
seat 10. It is also preferable that the stand 50 includes one or
more, such as two wheels or rollers 55 pivotally or rotatably
attached to the side panels 52 respectively with such as pivot pins
56 and rotatably or slidably received or engaged in the bores 15 of
the respective side tubes 13 of the seat 10 for guiding the stand
50 to move relative to the seat 10 and for facilitating the sliding
movement of the stand 50 relative to the seat 10. The pivot pins 56
are slidably engaged in the channels 16 of the side tubes 13
respectively.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-7, a circuit board 60 is attached
or secured to the flap 34 or the rear portion 32 of the carriage 30
with one or more fasteners 61, and a sensing or detecting device or
detector 62 is attached to the circuit board 60 and coupled to the
motor 21 and/or to the typical processor or control device (not
shown) of the treadmill 1 with such as electric wires or cables 63
for controlling or actuating the motor 21. The sensing or detecting
device 62 may be selected from the typical infrared ray detecting
device 62 or the like for generating and/or for receiving such as
infrared rays, and for detecting the relative angular position
between the carriage 30 and the treadmill frame 40.
[0036] An actuating device 64 is attached or secured to the front
portion 41 of the treadmill frame 40 and moved in concert with the
treadmill frame 40, such that the actuating device 64 is rotatable
or movable relative to the flap 34 and the carriage 30 and the
sensing or detecting device 62 and the circuit board 60. The
actuating device 64 includes a reflective or non-marked area 65 for
such as reflecting the infrared ray generated by the detecting
device 62, and for preventing the motor 21 from being actuated, for
example. The actuating device 64 further includes a non-reflective
or marked area 66 for such as absorbing or dissipating the infrared
ray generated by the detecting device 62, and for allowing the
motor 21 to be actuated or operated, for example.
[0037] The non-reflective or marked area 66 of the actuating device
64 may be rotated or moved relative to the sensing or detecting
device 62 by the treadmill frame 40 in order to shield or to block
the detecting device 62 (FIG. 6), and so as to actuate or operate
the motor 21 which may then move or adjust the follower 22 along
the threaded member 20 in order to rotate or to adjust the carriage
30 relative to the seat 10 to different angular positions. For
example, after the carriage 30 and the treadmill frame 40 have been
rotated or adjusted relative to the seat 10 to the inclined
position as shown in FIG. 3, the treadmill frame 40 may be elevated
or folded or rotated relative to the carriage 30 by the user.
[0038] In operation, when it is required to fold the treadmill 1,
the treadmill frame 40 may be elevated or folded or rotated
relative to the carriage 30 by the user from the position as shown
in FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, and the non-reflective or marked area 66 of
the actuating device 64 may be rotated or moved to shield or to
block the sensing or detecting device 62 (FIGS. 4, 6) by the
treadmill frame 40, to allow the motor 21 to be operated to actuate
or to move or adjust the follower 22 along the threaded member 20
in order to rotate or to adjust the carriage 30 downwardly toward
the seat 10 from the position as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 5, for
example, and for allowing the treadmill frame 40 to be further
upwardly folded or rotated relative to the carriage 30 by the user
to the erected folding position as shown in FIG. 5.
[0039] One or more, such as two supporting devices 46, and such as
pneumatic or hydraulic actuators or cylinders 46 may further be
provided and attached or coupled between the treadmill frame 40 and
the carriage 30 for supporting the treadmill frame 40 at the
erected folding position relative to the carriage 30. It is
preferable that the supporting devices or actuators or cylinders 46
may be arranged to allow the treadmill frame 40 to be easily folded
or rotated relative to the carriage 30 by the user, or to prevent
the upwardly folding or rotating movement of the treadmill frame 40
relative to the carriage 30 from being interfered by the supporting
devices 46, and to allow the supporting devices 46 to support the
treadmill frame 40 at the erected folding position relative to the
carriage 30.
[0040] The control device 70 is engaged in the hollow space 43 of
one of the side beams 42 and includes a latch or spring biased
latch 71 slidably attached to or engaged in the side beam 42, such
as slidably engaged in a bracket 47 that is disposed or engaged in
the front portion 41 of the side beam 42, and a spring member 72
may be engaged between the latch 71 and the bracket 47 or the side
beam 42 for biasing the latch 71 to selectively engage into the
notch 35 of the flap 34 or of the carriage 30 (FIG. 5), and for
further firmly or stably supporting or locking or latching the
treadmill frame 40 to the carriage 30 at the erected folding
position.
[0041] The control device 70 further includes a pole 73 slidably
attached to or engaged in the side beam 42, such as slidably
engaged in another bracket 48 that is disposed or engaged in the
rear portion 45 of the side beam 42, and the pole 72 is coupled to
the latch 71 with a coupling cable or member 74, and a further
spring member 72 may be engaged between the pole 72 and the bracket
48 or the side beam 42 for further biasing the latch 71 to
selectively engage into the notch 35 of the flap 34 or of the
carriage 30. A knob or hand grip 76 may be pivotally coupled to an
outer end of the pole 72 that is extended out of the side beam 42,
for selectively pulling and disengaging the latch 71 from the notch
35 of the flap 34 or of the carriage 30 and for allowing the
treadmill frame 40 to be rotated or folded downwardly toward the
downwardly horizontal working position relative to the carriage 30
by the user.
[0042] It is to be noted that the two-part tread base 3 includes
the rear treadmill frame 40 pivotally or foldable secured to the
front carriage 30 for allowing the treadmill frame 40 to be pivoted
or rotated or folded relative to the carriage 30 and for avoiding
the carriage 30 from rotating or folding relative to the seat 10.
It is not required to rotate or fold the whole two-part tread base
3 relative to the seat 10. The engagement of the carriage 30 with
the seat 10 (FIG. 5) may lower the center of gravity of the
treadmill 1 or may prevent the center of gravity of the treadmill 1
from being offset from the seat 10 and may thus prevent the
treadmill 1 from falling down when the treadmill frame 40 is
rotated or folded relative to the carriage 30 and the seat 10.
[0043] Accordingly, the foldable treadmill includes a structure for
allowing the treadmill to be easily folded to an upwardly erecting
position and to be easily folded to a downwardly horizontal working
position, and includes a two-part tread base foldable relative to
each other for preventing the center of gravity of the treadmill
from being offset from the seat and for allowing the treadmill to
be retained or maintained in a stable structure and to be prevented
from falling down when the tread base is rotated or folded relative
to the seat.
[0044] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *