U.S. patent application number 11/924614 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for foldind treadmill offering buffering effect during folding and unfolding thereof.
Invention is credited to Jong-Jyr Kau.
Application Number | 20090111664 11/924614 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40583605 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090111664 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kau; Jong-Jyr |
April 30, 2009 |
FOLDIND TREADMILL OFFERING BUFFERING EFFECT DURING FOLDING AND
UNFOLDING THEREOF
Abstract
A folding treadmill offering buffering effect during folding and
unfolding comprises a base that has a circular tread belt as well
as a power cylinder. The power cylinder includes a pressurization
chamber and an oil-air cylinder chamber, wherein the oil-air
cylinder chamber is loaded with pressured air and oil of a
predetermined amount. Due to velocity difference between air and
oil, a phased-changeable deceleration resistance can be provided
during folding and unfolding the treadmill. Further, the
characteristics of the power cylinder is related to buffer and
balance so as to achieve the buffering effect in both lifting and
lowering of the base. Thereupon, a safe altitude of the base can be
defined and a designed structure contributing to users' safety can
be accomplished.
Inventors: |
Kau; Jong-Jyr; (Sinjhuang
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jong-Jyr Kau
235 Chung - Ho, Box 8-24
Taipei
235
TW
|
Family ID: |
40583605 |
Appl. No.: |
11/924614 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20130101;
A63B 71/0054 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A folding treadmill offering buffering effect during folding and
unfolding thereof, comprising a base that has a circular tread belt
as well as a power cylinder therein, wherein the power cylinder
includes a pressurization chamber and an oil-air cylinder chamber
loaded with pressured air and oil of a predetermined amount,
whereby a phased-changeable deceleration resistance can be provided
during folding and unfolding the treadmill due to velocity
difference between air and oil and the buffering effect effective
in both lifting and lowering of the base can be achieved.
2. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein when pressures in the
pressurization chamber and the oil-air cylinder chamber are
balance, the power cylinder balances and stops operating.
3. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein the power cylinder can
be installed at a proper position on the treadmill in either of
opposite directions.
4. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein a handle, a
positioning block and a wheel are provided at each end of a
horizontal rod under the tread belt,
5. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein a driving device for
driving the tread belt is deposited at one side of the base
6. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein the base is connected
with a bottom brace by means of a supporting frame and a pivot
shaft.
7. The folding treadmill of claim 6, wherein each said power
cylinder is deposited at a proper position on either side of the
bottom brace.
8. The folding treadmill of claim 6, wherein two cushion pads are
deposited at proper positions near where the bottom brace joints
the horizontal frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to folding treadmills for
indoor exercise and, more particularly, to one offering buffering
effect during folding and unfolding thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Treadmills are commonly used in limited spaces to provide
exercise and fun by simulating outside terrain with a tread belt
moving in circles. A conventional treadmill may be bulky and heavy,
resulting in unnecessarily taking up more indoor space when not in
use.
[0005] Though some efforts have been made to develop folding
treadmills, which can be folded into smaller size for convenient
storage, treadmills are still bulky and heavy. Therefore, during
frequent folding and unfolding operations, treadmills are apt to
bring danger to users. Especially during an unfolding operation,
the potential danger may even serious due to the weight of the
treadmill. Once there is any carelessness, such potential danger
significantly related to safety concerns may substantially harm a
user. Hence, a need exits for an improved folding treadmill without
the foregoing disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under these
circumstances in view.
[0007] In view of that conventional folding treadmills lack for
buffer structures and functions, the inventor of the present
invention, urged by the motive of ameliorating the prior arts, has
conducted repeated research and experiments to develop a folding
treadmill offering buffering effect during folding and unfolding
thereof. The disclosed subject matter primarily comprises a base
that has a circular tread belt as well as a power cylinder therein
such that the disclosed treadmill can have the base lifted upward
or drawn downward by the cylinder so as to offer a buffering effect
related to the lifting and lowering motions of the base.
[0008] On the other hand, in the present invention, it is also
taken into consideration that if a simple "air cylinder" which
implements variation of air pressure to control the stretch and
retraction thereof is used as power cylinder of the present
invention, since air molecules are unstable and uncontrollable, a
user may be jammed accidentally when the pressure release of the
air cylinder can not be stopped properly, or when the air cylinder
stretches and retracts out of control to make the base fall or
raise suddenly. Thus, the present invention implements the power
cylinder having an oil-air cylinder chamber so as to alternately
utilize oil pressure and air pressure. Thereupon, during a folding
or unfolding operation of the disclosed treadmill, a
phased-changeable deceleration resistance can be provided due to
the velocity difference between air and oil so that safety on using
the disclosed subject matter is enhanced.
[0009] Moreover, the present invention provides a simplified
operating method that allows a user to easily fold or unfold the
disclosed treadmill by lightly pulling the base to unbalance the
pressure in the oil-air cylinder chamber. Thereby, the user can
enjoy the pleasure of jogging while safe folding and unfolding
operations are ensured with the advantage of simplified operating
method and reduced manufacturing costs.
[0010] To achieve above object, the present invention provides a
folding treadmill offering buffering effect during folding and
unfolding operation, comprising a base that has a circular tread
belt as well as a power cylinder therein. The power cylinder
includes a pressurization chamber and an oil-air cylinder chamber
loaded with pressured air and oil of a predetermined amount,
whereby a phased-changeable deceleration resistance can be provided
during folding and unfolding the treadmill due to velocity
difference between air and oil and the buffering effect effective
in both lifting and lowering of the base can be achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by
reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative
embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross sectional view of the
power cylinder according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of the power
cylinder according to the present invention showing a stretching
motion thereof;
[0014] FIG. 3 is another schematic cross sectional view of the
power cylinder according to the present invention showing a
retracting motion thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folding treadmill
according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the folding motion of
the folding treadmill according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 provides one embodiment of the folding treadmill
according to the present invention folding; and
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the folding
treadmill according to the present invention folding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 1 for a partial schematic cross
sectional view of a power cylinder in the disclosed subject matter
of the present invention. As shown, the power cylinder 5 has
internally loaded with oil pressure and air pressure. The power
cylinder 5 mainly comprises a piston assembly 57 installed on a
wall 531 of a cylinder body 53 thereof. The piston assembly 57 is
screwed to one end of a piston shaft 52. The body of the piston
shaft 52 pierces through central shaft holes respectively belonging
to a terminal bush 54, an oil seal 55, and an inner fixed bush 56
inside the cylinder body 53 and extends out of the cylinder body
53. An upper end of the piston shaft 52 is connected to an upper
end piece 51 for being further assembled to a proper joint position
of the treadmill.
[0020] Additionally, an oil-air cylinder chamber 59 is provided
between the piston assembly 57 and a lower end piece 60 in the
power cylinder 5 while a pressurization chamber 58 is arranged
between the piston assembly 57 and the inner fixed bush 56 of the
cylinder body 53. Thereby the air and oil in the pressurization
chamber 58 can be reciprocally moved between the pressurization
chamber 58 and the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 by the movement of
the piston shaft 52 so as to achieve the internal balance of the
power cylinder 5.
[0021] The oil-air cylinder chamber 59 of the present invention
accommodates pressured air and oil of a predestined amount
partially filled therein so as to keep providing the piston
assembly 57 with an outward pushing force. The cylinder body 53
functions as a track where the piston shaft 52 linearly moves
along. When the piston shaft 52 is pushed to move drive the piston
assembly 57, a resistance generated by the pressured air and oil
stored in the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 against the piston
assembly 57 buffs the moving force of the piston shaft 52. At this
time, due to the resistance, the base 3 lowers with a "buffed
lowering effect" so that the base 3 can be controlled from falling
down suddenly and the potential danger of hurting a user can be
prevented.
[0022] When the moving force of the piston shaft 52 is reduced or
eliminated, the piston shaft 52 can be pushed back to the initial
position thereof under the restoration of the pressured air and oil
in the cylinder body 53 as well as the pressure variation generated
thereby. Therefore, the base 3 can be controlled by a "buffed
lifting effect" and prevented from rising up sharp so that a user
can be protected from being rammed and hurt.
[0023] The power cylinder 5 of the present invention has the piston
shaft 52 piercing through the central shaft holes respectively
belonging to the terminal bush 54, the oil seal 55, and the inner
fixed bush 56 settled at one end of the cylinder body 53. A piston
571, a spacer 573, and a special spacer 574 are sequentially put
around an end portion 521 of the piston shaft 52. A nut 575 is
embedded into a terminal surface of the end portion 521 so that the
piston 571 can be permanently fixed to the end portion 521 of the
piston shaft 52 in a screwed way. An annular groove 576 is formed
on the surface of the piston 571 and an O-shaped ring 572 is
assembled to the annular groove 576 such that the O-shaped ring 572
snugly contacts the wall 531 of the cylinder body 53 in an airtight
manner.
[0024] When the treadmill is to be folded for storage, since the
pressurization chamber 58 is presently full of pressured air as
well as oil and bears the weight of the base 3, once the base 3 is
slightly pulled up to depart from cushion pads 43 on a bottom brace
4 of the treadmill, internal balance of the power cylinder 5 is
broken. As a result, the pressured air and oil in the
pressurization chamber 58 are continuously drained into the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 through the annular groove 576 on the piston
571, as indicated by the dotted arrow sign in the drawing. Since
the size of the annular groove 576 on the piston 571 is properly
designed for the purpose of controlling the velocity where the
pressured air and oil are drained, and since the draining process
is preset as that the pressured air is drained into the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 prior to the oil, the power cylinder 5 is
filled with a buffering force gradually. While the pressure ratio
and counterforce in the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 are getting
increased, the piston shaft 52 of the power cylinder 5 can slowly
stretch to an ultimate position. Simultaneously, the piston shaft
52 gets lubricated so as to keep moving smoothly. Consequently, the
base 3 of the treadmill is lifted slowly until it arrives the
position alongside two upright supports 2 of the treadmill. The
stretch motion of the power cylinder 5 can be seen clearly in FIG.
2.
[0025] When the treadmill is to be unfolded for use, once the base
3 is slightly pulled downward to depart from the position alongside
the upright supports 2, the piston shaft 52 of the power cylinder 5
can be retracted into the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 under the
weight of the base 3. When the internal space of the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 is compressed by the piston shaft 52, the
pressured air and oil therein is inversely forced toward the
pressurization chamber 58 through the annular groove 576 on the
piston 571 in a continuous and slow manner, as indicated by the
dotted arrow sign in the drawing. The base 3 of the treadmill keeps
lowering continuously and slowly until pressure balance between the
oil-air cylinder chamber 59 and pressurization chamber 58 is
achieved. At the time that the pressure balance between the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 and pressurization chamber 58 is achieved, the
base 3 of the treadmill arrives a safe altitude. Then, since the
pressure in the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 can not rival the
pressure caused by the weight of the base 3, most of the oil and
modicum of the pressured air remained in the oil-air cylinder
chamber 59 are continuously drained into the pressurization chamber
58 through the annular groove 576 on the piston 571. At this time,
since the oil takes the most part of the remains in the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 and the velocity where the oil flows to the
pressurization chamber 58 through the annular groove 576 on the
piston 571 is relatively slower than that of the air, the present
velocity of draining the remains is substantially lower than that
before the base 3 arrives the safe altitude. Thereupon, a second
phase of the movement of the base 3 of the treadmill is realized
and the base 3 keeps lowering slowly until all pressure in the
oil-air cylinder chamber 59 is drained out. By design under
accurate calculation, the base 3 of the treadmill can at this time
right touch the cushion pads 43. As the pressure now in the
pressurization chamber 58 cannot rival the pressure caused by the
weight of the base 3, the base 3 keeps lowering until its stably on
the cushion pads 43. By the resistance generated from the pressured
air and oil against the piston assembly 57, the moving force of the
piston shaft 52 can be buffered and consequently the "buffed
lowering effect" is achieved so that the base 3 can be controlled
from falling down suddenly and the potential danger of hurting the
user can be prevented. The above retracting motion of the power
cylinder 5 is illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0026] During the base 3 of the treadmill lowering toward the
bottom brace 4, if a user lightly pushes the lowering base 3
upward, the pressure ration between the oil-air cylinder chamber 59
and the pressurization chamber 58 inside the power cylinder 5 can
be impacted and the pressure start to move inversely so that the
base 3 of the treadmill can automatically return back to the
position alongside the upright supports 2 of the treadmill slowly
and the treadmill can get folded again.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 4 for the perspective view of the
folding treadmill according to the present invention. As clearly
shown in the drawing, the disclosed subject matter is formed by
some bent steel planks. The upright supports 2 are installed at
both sides of the treadmill, respectively, and connected with a
horizontal frame 11 of the base 3. A wheel 44 is arranged at each
side of the horizontal frame 11 for convenient moving of the
treadmill. And a handrail 22 is arranged on each said upright
support 2. A connecting rod 21 is arranged perpendicular to the
tops of the upright supports 2 for connecting the two upright
supports 2. Further, a circular tread belt 31 is assembled to the
base 3. A handle 32, a positioning block 33 and a wheel 34 are
provided at each end of a horizontal rod under the tread belt 31,
for being used during folding or unfolding the folding treadmill of
the present invention. In the case that the treadmill is an
electric one and requires a driving device 10 for driving the tread
belt 31 so as to provide a user with particular exercise intensity,
the driving device 10 may be deposited at one side of the base 3.
Otherwise, the driving device 10 can be omitted. Moreover, the base
3 is connected with the bottom brace 4 by means of a supporting
frame 41 and a pivot shaft 42. One said power cylinder 5 is
provided at a proper position on each side of the bottom brace 4.
The upper end pieces 51 and lower end pieces 60 are fastened to
proper positions on the treadmill so as to provide the resistance
to the lifting or lowering motions of the base 3 in order to buffer
the moving speed thereof. Additionally, the cushion pads 43 are
provided near the positions where the bottom brace 4 joints the
horizontal frame 11 for bearing the base 3 of the treadmill.
Thereupon, the pivot shaft 42 pivots to facilitate smooth movement
of the base 3.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates the folding motion of the folding
treadmill according to the present invention. When the treadmill is
to be folded for storage, since the pressurization chamber 58 is
presently full of pressured air as well as oil and bears the weight
of the base 3, once the base 3 is slightly pulled up to depart from
the cushion pads 43 on a bottom brace 4, the pressured air and oil
in the pressurization chamber 58 are continuously drained into the
oil-air cylinder chamber 59 through the annular groove 576 on the
piston 571. Since the size of the annular groove 576 on the piston
571 is properly designed for the purpose of controlling the
velocity where the pressured air and oil are drained, and since the
draining process is preset as that the pressured air is drained
into the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 prior to the oil, the power
cylinder 5 is filled with the buffering force gradually. While the
pressure ratio and counterforce in the oil-air cylinder chamber 59
are getting increased, the piston shaft 52 of the power cylinder 5
can slowly stretch to the ultimate position. Simultaneously, the
piston shaft 52 gets lubricated so as to keep moving smoothly.
Consequently, the base 3 of the treadmill is lifted slowly until it
arrives the position alongside upright supports 2 of the treadmill.
The stretch of the power cylinder 5 can be seen clearly in FIG.
2.
[0029] When the treadmill is to be unfolded for use, once the base
3 is slightly pulled downward to depart from the position alongside
the upright supports 2, the piston shaft 52 of the power cylinder 5
can be retracted into the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 under the
weight of the base 3. When the internal space of the oil-air
cylinder chamber 59 is compressed by the piston shaft 52, the
pressured air and oil therein is inversely forced toward the
pressurization chamber 58 through the annular groove 576 on the
piston 571 in a continuous and slow manner. The base 3 of the
treadmill keeps lowering continuously and slowly until the pressure
balance between the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 and pressurization
chamber 58 is achieved. At the time that the pressure balance
between the oil-air cylinder chamber 59 and pressurization chamber
58 is achieved, the base 3 of the treadmill arrives the safe
altitude. Then, since the pressure in the oil-air cylinder chamber
59 can not rival the pressure caused by the weight of the base 3,
most of the oil and modicum of the pressured air remained therein
are continuously drained into the pressurization chamber 58 through
the annular groove 576 on the piston 571. At this time, since the
oil takes the most part of the remains in the oil-air cylinder
chamber 59 and the velocity where the oil flows to the
pressurization chamber 58 through the annular groove 576 on the
piston 571 is relatively slower than that of the air, the present
velocity of draining the remains is substantially lower than that
before the base 3 arrives the safe altitude. Thereupon, the second
phase of the movement of the base 3 of the treadmill is realized
and the base 3 keeps lowering slowly until all pressure in the
oil-air cylinder chamber 59 is drained out. By design under
accurate calculation, the base 3 of the treadmill can at this time
right touch the cushion pads 43. As the pressure now in the
pressurization chamber 58 cannot rival the pressure caused by the
weight of the base 3, the base 3 keeps lowering until it sits
stably on the cushion pads 43. After the base 3 of the treadmill is
successfully positioned on the cushion pads 43 of the bottom brace
4, a user can utilize the wheels 44 at the horizontal frame 11 and
the wheels 34 at the ends of the base 3 to easily move and
reposition the treadmill, for example, placing the treadmill by a
window, in a balcony or at any other convenient or desired
locations. Then the user can pull the handle 32 downward to make
the position blocks 33 protrude and snugly contact the ground so
that the disclosed subject matter can be firmly positioned on the
ground. Afterward, the driving device 10 on the treadmill can be
started and the user can take jogging with the treadmill.
[0030] During the base 3 of the treadmill lowering toward the
bottom brace 4, if a user lightly pushes the lowering base 3
upward, the pressure ration between the oil-air cylinder chamber 59
and the pressurization chamber 58 inside the power cylinder 5 can
be impacted and the pressure start to move inversely so that the
base 3 of the treadmill can automatically return back to the
position alongside the upright supports 2 of the treadmill slowly
and the treadmill can get folded again.
[0031] According to FIG. 6, in one concept of the present
invention, for implementing the minimum amount of components, the
present invention may use a single power cylinder 5 to perform the
folding or unfolding motions as described previously and the user's
safety can be also protected.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, the power cylinders 5 can be also
installed to the treadmill in a reverse direction with respect to
the direction shown in FIG. 4 and same efficiency can be achieved.
Further, the power cylinders 5 may be of various types or
implemented in other diverse ways so as to provide more flexible
practicability.
[0033] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous
variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without
going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the
claims.
* * * * *