U.S. patent application number 11/656398 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for cushioning mechanism for a treadmill.
Invention is credited to Leao Wang.
Application Number | 20080176717 11/656398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39641846 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080176717 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Leao |
July 24, 2008 |
Cushioning mechanism for a treadmill
Abstract
A cushioning mechanism for a treadmill having a pair of -shaped
rigid connection elements and a pair of pivotal rigid cushioning
elements that are interposed between the bottom surface of both
sides of the platform frame and the base bars. The pivotal rigid
cushioning element includes a guidewheel at one end thereof. In
this way, the guidewheel is movable on the surface of the base bar
when the platform frame is moved up and down by the external forces
applied to it. Accordingly, the cushioning and restoring effects
can be achieved. Moreover, an auxiliary supporting element is
pivotally interposed between both sides of the platform frame and
the handle frame assembly, respectively. As a result, a complete
cushioning and restoring effect can be ensured.
Inventors: |
Wang; Leao; (Taiping,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUO-HSIUNG CHIU
13F., NO.23, JIUN-HO STREET, PEITUN DISTRICT
TAICHUNG
406
omitted
|
Family ID: |
39641846 |
Appl. No.: |
11/656398 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0214 20151001;
A63B 22/0235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. A cushioning mechanism for a treadmill comprising: a) a handle
frame assembly having an electronic console located on a top
thereof and two base bars located on a bottom thereof; b) a
platform frame pivotally mounted above two base bars of the handle
frame assembly and having a continuous belt working in cooperation
with a motor, a belt, a front roller, and a rear roller to ensure a
circulating operation; c) two -shaped rigid connection elements,
one connection element of the two -shaped rigid connection elements
pivotally connecting each side of the platform frame to a
corresponding one of the two base bars of the handle frame; d) two
pivotal rigid cushioning elements, one cushioning element of the
two pivotal rigid cushioning elements having a first end connected
to each of two opposing sides of the platform frame and a guide
wheel located on a second end thereof and slidably engaging a top
surface of the corresponding one of the two base bars of the handle
frame; and e) two auxiliary support elements, one of the two
auxiliary support elements is connected between each of the two
opposing sides of the platform frame and the handle frame
assembly.
6. The cushioning mechanism according to claim 5, further
comprising two soft stop elements, one of the two soft stop
elements is located between each of the two opposing sides of the
platform frame and the handle frame assembly.
7. The cushioning mechanism according to claim 5, further
comprising two ground-contacting elements and two adjustable feet,
one of the two ground-contacting elements and one of the two
adjustable feet extending downwardly from each of the two base bars
of the handle frame, the two ground-contacting elements and two
adjustable feet selectively controlling an angle of the platform
frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Fields of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a cushioning mechanism for a
treadmill, and more particularly, to a cushioning mechanism having
a compact configuration while achieving an optimal shock-absorbing
effect.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A cushioning mechanism of a treadmill is adapted to support
a platform frame. A vibration action is created when the platform
frame is exposed to a continuous treading force by an operator
thereon. A reaction force will, in turn, act on the feet of the
operator, thereby giving him a little discomfort now and again.
This discomfort can be relieved by the cushioning mechanism.
[0005] Accordingly, a few rows of resilient pads are provided
between the platform frame and the base frame of the treadmill to
achieve an expected shock-absorbing effect. Such a conventional
configuration can be easily obtained from e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,077,200, 5,746,682, etc.
[0006] However, the aforementioned construction is prone to trouble
with respect to its assembly, maintenance, and replacement. In
particular, the disassembly and assembly of the continuous moving
belt and the platform often frustrate do-it-yourselfers during the
maintenance of the treadmill. Finally, they often have no choice
but to turn to professional mechanic for help.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Thus, based on the above described drawbacks of the prior
art, the designer would like to employ a mechanism exposed to the
outside of the main body of the treadmill for an easy assembly
while achieving the same effects. In this way, maintenance and
replacement operations can be considerably simplified. Thus, a pair
of -shaped rigid connection elements and a pair of pivotal rigid
cushioning elements that are interposed between the bottom surface
of both sides of the platform frame and the base bars. Moreover, an
auxiliary supporting element is pivotally interposed between both
sides of the platform frame and the handle frame assembly,
respectively. As a result, a complete cushioning and restoring
effect can be ensured. In this way, the drawbacks of the prior art
in use can be eliminated. This is the main object of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention according to FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention according to FIG. 1 after application of the external
forces; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a treadmill in accordance
with the invention includes a handle frame assembly 10 and a
platform frame 20.
[0014] The handle frame assembly 10 is positioned at both sides of
a front end of the platform frame 20. An electronic console 11 is
installed at a top side of the handle frame assembly 10 while two
base bars 12 are attached to a bottom end of the handle frame
assembly 10.
[0015] The platform frame 20 is pivotally mounted near a bottom
portion of the handle frame assembly 10. A continuous moving belt
25 works in cooperation with a motor 21, a belt 22, a front roller
23, and a rear roller 24 to ensure a circulating operation.
[0016] A pair of -shaped rigid connection elements 30 and a pair of
pivotal rigid cushioning elements 40 are interposed between the
bottom surface of both sides of the platform frame 20 and the base
bars 12. The pivotal rigid cushioning element 40 includes a
guidewheel 41 at one end thereof. In this way, the guidewheel 41 is
movable on the surface of the base bar 12 when the platform frame
20 is moved up and down by the external forces applied to it (see
FIG. 3). Accordingly, the cushioning and restoring effects can be
achieved. Moreover, an auxiliary supporting element 50 is pivotally
interposed between both sides of the platform frame 20 and the
handle frame assembly 10, respectively. As a result, a complete
cushioning and restoring effect can be ensured.
[0017] In addition, the -shaped rigid connection elements 30 can
also achieve the cushioning effect. In other words, the -shaped
rigid connection elements 30 regain their original shape after
being compressed or deformed by the external forces applied
thereto. Accordingly, an optimal cushioning action may be achieved
by the cooperation of the -shaped rigid connection elements 30, the
pivotal rigid cushioning elements 40 and the auxiliary supporting
elements 50.
[0018] In order to ensure the use safety, a soft stop element 60
can be attached to the surface of the base bars 12, respectively.
In case of overload on the platform frame 20 or damage of relevant
elements, the soft stop element 60 can act against the downward
movement of the platform frame 20. In this way, the operator's
safety can be assured.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4 for another embodiment of the invention,
a ground-contacting portion 13 and an adjustable foot 14 are
attached to the bottom side of the base bars 12. In this way, the
supporting feet 14 allow for an adjustment of the supporting angle,
thereby bringing the platform frame 20 in an inclined position.
[0020] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiments 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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