U.S. patent application number 11/480165 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for exercise treadmill with power driven folding device.
Invention is credited to James Chen.
Application Number | 20080004162 11/480165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38877413 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080004162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; James |
January 3, 2008 |
EXERCISE TREADMILL WITH POWER DRIVEN FOLDING DEVICE
Abstract
An exercise treadmill includes a control panel; a moving tread
belt including, at either side, a front contact member and a slide
having a rear first sensor and a front second sensor; a link
assembly; a lift assembly including a motor, a rotating direction
change member, and a threaded movable member; a spring-biased
direction switching assembly, at either side, including a rear
pivotal detent bar, a pivotal returning bar having a front stop and
a rear end connected to the detent bar, and a pivotal rail
including first and second sections and an intermediate joint, and
a lock member. Pressing a key will rotate the motor until a
predetermined height of the tread belt is reached with second
pivots contacted the second sensors to enable the rotating
direction change member to change the motor to a counterclockwise
rotation. The motor then rotates until the tread belt is
folded.
Inventors: |
Chen; James; (Nantou City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRO-TECHTOR INTERNATIONAL
20775 Norada Court
Saratoga
CA
95070-3018
US
|
Family ID: |
38877413 |
Appl. No.: |
11/480165 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20130101;
A63B 2210/56 20130101; A63B 22/0235 20130101; A63B 22/0023
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a housing; left and right
uprights extending upward from the housing; left and right hand
grips extended rearward from a top of the uprights; a control panel
mounted at the top of the uprights and including an incline up key,
an incline down key, a start key, a stop key, and a reset key; a
moving tread belt extended rearward from the housing and supported
by an underlying frame, the tread belt being disposed on which a
user runs or walks while exercising, the tread belt including a
front contact member at either side, a slide at either side and
having a first sensor at a rear end, and a second sensor at a front
end, and one or more wheel at either side; a link assembly mounted
in the housing and, at either side, including a first link having a
front first pivot pivotably provided in the housing, and a rear
second pivot slidably secured to the slide, and a second link
having a rear third pivot pivotably secured to an intermediate
point of the first link, a front fourth pivot pivotably provided in
a front end the tread belt, and an intermediate fifth pivot; a lift
assembly affixed to the front end of the tread belt and including a
motor having a rotating shaft, a rotating direction change member
for controlling a rotating direction of the motor, a worm gear
extended from an end of the rotating shaft, and a movable member
having interior threads in mesh with the worm gear and one end
pivotably secured to the fifth pivots; a direction switching
assembly mounted in the housing and, at either side, including a
rear pivotal detent bar, a pivotal returning bar having a front
stop and a rear end resiliently connected to the detent bar, and a
pivotal rail including a first section, a second section, and a
joint interconnected the first and second sections, a first spring,
a second spring having one end engaged with the first spring and
the other end urged against the stop, and a lock member; wherein in
response to pressing the incline up key the motor rotates clockwise
to rotate the worm gear, the movable member extends out of the worm
gear, the extending movable member pushes the front end of the
tread belt upward by pivoting the second links by pivoting about
the fourth pivots, the slides lift the first links through the
second pivots, the first links pivot away from the second links
about the third pivots, the first links pivot upward about the
first pivots, and the first and second links pivot away each other
to continuously push the front end of the tread belt upward until a
predetermined height is reached wherein the contact members push
the detent bars, the detent bars push the returning bars, the stops
disengage with the lock member to release the stored elastic force
of the first springs for pivoting the rails, and the second pivots
contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction change
member to change the rotation of the motor from the clockwise
rotation to a counterclockwise rotation; wherein in response to the
counterclockwise rotation of the motor the movable member moves
toward the worm gear to lower the front end of the tread belt, the
second links pivot about the fourth pivots, the first and second
links pivot toward each other by pivoting about the third pivots,
the contact members contact the first sections and move from the
first sections to the joint, the rails incline upward rearward, the
lock members lock the stops, and the contact members further move
from the joint to the second sections until the tread mill is fully
folded with the second pivots contacted the first sensors to stop
the motor; and wherein in response to pressing the reset key the
motor rotates clockwise, the folded tread belt pivots with the
first and second links pivoted away each other, the contact members
move from the second sections to the joints with a rear end of the
tread belt being lowered, and the contact members further move from
the joints to the first sections to cause the lock members to lock
the stops, the rails do not contact the contact members, the
elastic force of the second springs pivots the rails to cause the
second sections to dispose in a horizontal position, the second
pivots contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction
change member to change the rotation of the motor from the
clockwise rotation to a counterclockwise rotation, the contact
members contact the detent bars, and the detent bars pivot to fully
unfold, the tread belt in a horizontal position with the motor
being disabled as the second pivots contact the second sensors.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and
second sensors is a mechanical or electronic limit switch.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further
comprises two internal seat having a concave top surface, and the
link assembly, at either side, further comprises a third link
having one end pivotably secured to the third pivot and a roller
formed at the other end and placed on the top surface of either
seat, a moving distance of the roller being defined by two ends of
the top surface of the seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to power driven exercise
treadmills and more particularly to such an exercise treadmill
having a power driven folding device with improved
characteristics.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Conventional exercise treadmills having a mechanism for
lifting and lowering its tread belt are well known. It is
understood that an exercise treadmill is a bulky device. Hence, it
may occupy a great space. For decreasing the occupied space of an
exercise treadmill in its inoperative state, a type of exercise
treadmill having a folding device is commercially available.
However, such the folding device is a manual one. Thus, its folding
or unfolding operation is not convenient. Further, the hand(s) may
be hurt by the treadmill if a sufficient care is not taken while
folding or unfolding same. Thus, the need for improvement still
exists in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art and
contribute significantly to the advancement of the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an exercise treadmill having a power driven folding device
such that a folding of the exercise treadmill in its inoperative
state is made easy.
[0006] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
exercise apparatus comprising a housing; left and right uprights
extending upward from the housing; left and right hand grips
extended rearward from a top of the uprights; a control panel
mounted at the top of the uprights and including an incline up key,
an incline down key, a start key, a stop key, and a reset key; a
moving tread belt extended rearward from the housing and supported
by an underlying frame, the tread belt being disposed on which a
user runs or walks while exercising, the tread belt including a
front contact member at either side, a slide at either side and
having a first sensor at a rear end, and a second sensor at a front
end, and one or more wheel at either side; a link assembly mounted
in the housing and, at either side, including a first link having a
front first pivot pivotably provided in the housing, and a rear
second pivot slidably secured to the slide, and a second link
having a rear third pivot pivotably secured to an intermediate
point of the first link, a front fourth pivot pivotably provided in
a front end the tread belt, and an intermediate fifth pivot; a lift
assembly affixed to the front end of the tread belt and including a
motor having a rotating shaft, a rotating direction change member
for controlling a rotating direction of the motor, a worm gear
extended from an end of the rotating shaft, and a movable member
having interior threads in mesh with the worm gear and one end
pivotably secured to the fifth pivots; a direction switching
assembly mounted in the housing and, at either side, including a
rear pivotal detent bar, a pivotal returning bar having a front
stop and a rear end resiliently connected to the detent bar, and a
pivotal rail including a first section, a second section, and a
joint interconnected the first and second sections, a first spring,
a second spring having one end engaged with the first spring and
the other end urged against the stop, and a lock member; wherein in
response to pressing the incline up key the motor rotates clockwise
to rotate the worm gear, the movable member extends out of the worm
gear, the extending movable member pushes the front end of the
tread belt upward by pivoting the second links by pivoting about
the fourth pivots, the slides lift the first links through the
second pivots, the first links pivot away from the second links
about the third pivots, the first links pivot upward about the
first pivots, and the first and second links pivot away each other
to continuously push the front end of the tread belt upward until a
predetermined height is reached wherein the contact members push
the detent bars, the detent bars push the returning bars, the stops
disengage with the lock member to release the stored elastic force
of the first springs for pivoting the rails, and the second pivots
contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction change
member to change the rotation of the motor from the clockwise
rotation to a counterclockwise rotation; wherein in response to the
counterclockwise rotation of the motor the movable member moves
toward the worm gear to lower the front end of the tread belt, the
second links pivot about the fourth pivots, the first and second
links pivot toward each other by pivoting about the third pivots,
the contact members contact the first sections and move from the
first sections to the joint, the rails incline upward rearward, the
lock members lock the stops, and the contact members further move
from the joint to the second sections until the tread mill is fully
folded with the second pivots contacted the first sensors to stop
the motor; and wherein in response to pressing the reset key the
motor rotates clockwise, the folded tread belt pivots with the
first and second links pivoted away each other, the contact members
move from the second sections to the joints with a rear end of the
tread belt being lowered, and the contact members further move from
the joints to the first sections to cause the lock members to lock
the stops, the rails do not contact the contact members, the
elastic force of the second springs pivots the rails to cause the
second sections to dispose in a horizontal position, the second
pivots contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction
change member to change the rotation of the motor from the
clockwise rotation to a counterclockwise rotation, the contact
members contact the detent bars, and the detent bars pivot to fully
unfold the tread belt in a horizontal position with the motor being
disabled as the second pivots contact the second sensors.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention each of the first
and second sensors is a mechanical or electronic limit switch.
[0008] In a further aspect of the present invention the housing
further comprises two internal seat having a concave top surface,
and the link assembly, at either side, further comprises a third
link having one end pivotably secured to the third pivot and a
roller formed at the other end and placed on the top surface of
either seat, a moving distance of the roller being defined by two
ends of the top surface of the seat.
[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of
exercise treadmill according to the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of some important components of
the treadmill in its lower front portion including the direction
switching assembly and the tread belt;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the direction switching
assembly;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where a front end of the
tread belt is being lifted;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the front end of
the tread belt is being further lifted;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the front end of
the tread belt has lifted to its maximum height;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 8;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where a rear end of the
tread belt is being lifted;
[0020] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 10;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the rear end of
the tread belt is being further lifted;
[0022] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 12;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the tread belt has
been fully folded;
[0024] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 14;
[0025] FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are enlarged views of some important
components of the treadmill in its lower front portion including
the direction switching assembly, the tread belt, and the link
assembly showing the tread belt extending to its operational
position;
[0026] FIG. 19 is a view identical to FIG. 8; and
[0027] FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of some important components in
FIG. 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 20, an exercise treadmill in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a
housing 10 including left and right uprights 101 extending upward,
and left and right hand grips extended rearward from a top of the
uprights 101; a control panel mounted at the top of the uprights
101; and a moving tread belt 20 extended rearward from the housing
10 and supported by an underlying frame, the tread belt 20
including a surface 22 on which a user runs or walks while
exercising, a front contact member 21 at either side, left and
right slides 23 having a first sensor 231 at a rear end, and a
second sensor 232 at a front end, both sensors 231 and 232 being
implemented as a mechanical or electronic limit switch, and left
and right wheels 24 proximate its rear.
[0029] The treadmill further comprises a link assembly 30 mounted
in the housing 10 and, at either left or right side, including a
first link 31 having a front first pivot 311 pivotably provided in
the housing 10, and a rear second pivot 312 slidably secured to the
slide 23, and a second link 32 having a rear third pivot 321
pivotably secured to an intermediate point of the first link 31, a
front fourth pivot 322 pivotably provided in a front end the tread
belt 20, and an intermediate fifth pivot 323.
[0030] The treadmill further comprises a lift assembly 40 affixed
to the front end of the tread belt 20 and including a fixedly
provided motor 41, a rotating direction change member 44 provided
in the motor 41, a worm gear 42 extended from an end of a rotating
shaft of the motor 41, and a movable member 43 having interior
threads in mesh with the worm gear 42 and one end pivotably secured
to the fifth pivots 323.
[0031] The treadmill further comprises a direction switching
assembly 50 mounted in the housing 10 and, at either side,
including a rear pivotal detent bar 51, a pivotal returning bar 52
having a front stop 521 and a rear end resiliently connected to the
detent bar 51, and a pivotal rail 53 including a first section 531,
a second section (i.e., joint) 532, a third section 533, a first
spring 534, and a second spring 535 having one end engaged with the
first spring 534 and the other end urged against the stop 521. But
the second spring 535 may be disengaged with the stop 521 by
operating both the detent bar 51 and the returning bar 52 as
detailed later.
[0032] Folding and unfolding including lifting and lowering
operations of the invention will be described in detailed below. In
a horizontal state of the tread belt 20 the worm gear 42 is
concealed by the movable member 43, and the first pivot 311 is
proximate the fourth pivot 322.
[0033] For adjusting incline of the tread belt 20, a user may press
an incline up key (not shown) on the control panel. Next, the motor
41 activates (i.e., the motor 41 rotates clockwise) to rotate the
worm gear 42 (see FIG. 4). The movable member 43 then extends out
of the worm gear 42. The extending movable member 43 pushes the
front end of the tread belt 20 upward through the link assembly 30.
The second link 32 then pivots by pivoting about the fourth pivot
322 due to the upward movement of the front end of the tread belt
20. At the same time, the lifting slide 23 lifts the first link 31
through the second pivot 312. The first link 31 pivots away from
the second link 32 about the third pivot 321. The first link 31
pivots upward about the first pivot 311.
[0034] The first and second links 31 pivot away each other to
continuously push the front end of the tread belt 20 upward until a
predetermined height is reached. At this position (as indicated by
arrow P1), a user runs or walks on the tread belt 20 in a manner
similar to climbing a mountain. Alternatively, a user may press a
stop key to position the tread belt 20 at a desired incline during
the upward movement. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the contact
member 21 pushes the detent bar 51. And in turn, the detent bar 51
pushes the returning bar 52. The stop 521 disengages with a lock
member 536 (see FIG. 3). The stored elastic force of the first
spring 534 is then released together with the weight of the rail
53. As a result, the rail 53 pivots to a position indicated by
arrow P2.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second pivot 312 contacts the
second sensor 232 at the end of the upward pivoting of the tread
belt 20 as indicated by arrow P3. The rotating direction change
member 44 is then enabled by the second sensor 232 to switch the
motor 41 to a reverse rotation (i.e., changed from clockwise
rotation to counterclockwise rotation).
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the reverse rotation of the motor
41 will move the movable member 43 toward the worm gear 42 by
threading. And in turn, the front end of the tread belt 20 lowers
as the movable member 43 moves. Further, the second link 32 pivots
about the fourth pivot 322. Also, the second pivot 312 moves
rearward relative to the slide 23 while the slide 23 slightly moves
forward and the first link 31 lowers by pivoting. In addition, the
first link 31 and the second link 32 pivot toward each other by
pivoting about the third pivot 321. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,
the contact member 21 contacts the first section 531.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the front end of the tread belt
20 lowers further and the first and second links 31 and 32 further
pivot toward each other as the motor 41 continuously rotates
counterclockwise. And in turn, the contact member 21 moves from the
first section 531 to the second section 532. At this position, the
tread belt 20 is on its course of folding. Weight of the tread belt
20 causes the rail 53 to change from position P2 to position P4
(i.e., inclined upward rearward). The lock member 536 locks the
stop 521 again. As a result, the returning bar 52 returns to its
original position.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the front end of the tread belt
20 lowers further and the first and second links 31 and 32 further
pivot toward each other as the motor 41 continuously rotates
counterclockwise. And in turn, the contact member 21 moves from the
second section 532 to the third section 533. As a result, the tread
mill 20 disposes in position P5 (i.e., folded position). Also, the
second pivot 312 contacts the first sensor 231. As a result, the
motor 41 stops and the folding operation of the tread belt 20 ends
successfully.
[0039] For unfolding the tread belt 20 disposed in a position as
shown in FIG. 14, a user may press a reset key to activate the
motor 41 (i.e., the motor 41 rotates clockwise). The tread belt 20
then pivots from the folded position P5 (see FIG. 14) with the
first and second links 31 and 32 pivoted away each other. The
contact member 21 moves from the third section 533 (see FIG. 15) to
the second section 532 (see FIG. 16) with a rear end of the tread
belt 20 lowered by pivoting.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 17, the contact member 21 moves from the
second section 542 to the first section 531. As such, the rail 53
pivots to cause the lock member 536 to lock the stop 521 again. As
a result, an elastic force is stored in the second spring 535 and
the force is adapted to pivot the rail 53 in a reverse direction
thereafter.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 18, the rail 53 does not contact the
contact member 21 as the motor 41 continuously rotates clockwise.
The elastic force of the second spring 535 pivots the rail 53 to
cause the third section 533 to dispose in a horizontal position. As
a result, the inclined first section 531 clears the lowering path
of the contact member 21 (i.e., disengaged).
[0042] As shown in FIG. 19, the rear end of the tread belt 20 is
disposed in position P3 and the second pivot 312 contacts the
second sensor 232. The rotating direction change member 44 is then
enabled by the second sensor 232 to switch the motor 41 to a
reverse rotation (i.e., changed from clockwise rotation to
counterclockwise rotation). The front end of the tread belt 20 may
continue to lower without being hindered by the rail 53. As shown
in FIG. 20, the contact member 21 contacts the detent bar 51 during
the lowering. And in turn, the detent bar 51 pivots to facilitate
the tread belt 20 to dispose horizontally again the same as shown
in FIG. 1. In this horizontal position, the motor 41 is disabled as
the second pivot 312 contacts the second sensor 232.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 again, the link assembly 30, at
either left or right side, further comprises a third link 33 having
one end pivotably secured to the third pivot 321 and the other end
formed as a roller 331 which is placed on a concave top surface of
either seat 102 provided on a bottom of the housing 10. Further, a
moving distance of the roller 331 is defined by two ends of the
concave top surface of the seat 102. The provision of the third
links 33 and the seats 102 aims at increasing a structural strength
of the link assembly 30. As an end, the treadmill is made robust
and durable.
[0044] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *