U.S. patent application number 12/378444 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-25 for folding treadmill.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOHNSON HEALTH TECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Wen-Pin Chiu, Chung-Tseng Hsu, Te-Chang Huang.
Application Number | 20090163327 12/378444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35514731 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090163327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Te-Chang ; et
al. |
June 25, 2009 |
Folding treadmill
Abstract
A folding treadmill includes a tread base supported by a foot
structure which has guide plates formed with elongated slots on two
sides of the tread base. The tread base is connected pivotally on
the base support through pivot members which are mounted movably
within the respective slots so that the tread base is turnable
between a folded position and an unfolded position and movable
rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or
forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position. The
foot structure further includes a guide rail structure on two sides
of the tread base to support movably a first roller which is
attached to the tread base and a lifting device for lifting the
tread base.
Inventors: |
Huang; Te-Chang; (Lu-Kang
Chen, TW) ; Hsu; Chung-Tseng; (Ching-Shui Chen,
TW) ; Chiu; Wen-Pin; (Taichung City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joe Chen;JOHNSON HEALTH TECH
No.26, CHINCHUAN RD.
TA YA HSIANG, TAICHUNG HSIEN
428
TW
|
Assignee: |
JOHNSON HEALTH TECH CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
35514731 |
Appl. No.: |
12/378444 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10884443 |
Jul 2, 2004 |
|
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12378444 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0023 20130101;
A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 22/0235 20130101; A63B 22/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A folding treadmill comprising: (a) a base support having a foot
structure positioning on a surface; (b) a tread base including a
frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame, the tread base
being rotatable between a use position and a storage position; (c)
at least one upward member extending from the foot structure and
having an open therein; (d) a coupler including left and right
coupling members, each of the coupling members having a second arm
pivotally connected to the tread base and a first arm extending
upwardly from the front portion of the second arm, the first arm
being substantially perpendicular to the second arm, the upper
portion of the first arm connected to the open of the upward
member; (e) an inclining device connected between the tread base
and the coupler to move the tread base between a non-inclined and
an inclined position; and (f) a pivot member mounted between the
upper portion of the first arm of one of the coupling members and
the open of the upward member wherein the first arm is
substantially perpendicular to the surface when the tread base is
in the use and non-inclined position and the first arm is
substantially parallel to the surface when the tread base is in the
storage and non-inclined position.
2. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein the open of the upward
member is a slot which extends substantially in a front-to-rear
direction.
3. The folding treadmill of claim 2, wherein the pivot member
coupled within the slot for moving substantially along the
front-to-rear direction.
4. The folding treadmill of claim 3, wherein the pivot member is
moved rearward when the tread base is moved from the use position
to the storage position.
5. The folding treadmill of claim 3, wherein the pivot member is
moved downward when the tread base is moved from the use position
to the storage position.
6. The folding treadmill of claim 5, wherein the pivot member is
respectively at lowest position within the slot when the tread base
is in the storage position.
7. A folding treadmill comprising: (a) a base support having a foot
structure positioning on a surface; (b) a tread base including a
frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame, the tread base
being rotatable between a use position and a storage position; (c)
at least one upward member extending from the foot structure and
having an open therein; (d) a coupler including left and right
coupling members, each of the coupling members having a second arm
pivotally connected to the tread base and a first arm extending
upwardly from the front portion of the second arm, the first arm
being substantially perpendicular to the second arm, the upper
portion of the first arm connected to the open of the upward
member; (e) an inclining device connected between the tread base
and the coupler to move the tread base between a non-inclined and
an inclined position; and (f) a pivot member mounted between the
upper portion of the first arm of one of the coupling members and
the open of the upward member wherein the first arm is
substantially parallel to the surface when the tread base is in the
storage and non-inclined position which has an included angle of 80
degrees to 90 degrees relative to the surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/884,443, entitled "Folding Treadmill," filed Jan. 5, 2006.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a treadmill, more particularly to
a folding treadmill having a tread base movable rearward or forward
relative to a base support when turning to a folded or unfolded
position.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Treadmills are popular exercise apparatuses which permit a
user to perform physical activities, such as walking, jogging or
running movements, so as to exercise the cardiovascular system and
the other parts of the body. Since treadmills are bulky and occupy
a considerable space, it becomes a trend to design a treadmill with
a foldable tread base in order to decrease the volume of the
treadmill when the treadmill is stored.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,834 discloses a foldable treadmill with
a deck having a rear end that is hingedly attached to a stationary
base. The treadmill comprises structures capable of performing a
linear translation of a handrail relative to the deck. The handrail
is automatically collapsed into alignment with the deck when the
deck is rotated into a storage position. However, the collapsible
design of the handrails renders the handrails unstable. Thus, when
a user grips the handrails for support while walking or jogging on
the treadmill, the user may lose balance and fall backward. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,960,893 discloses a treadmill having a deck that is
hingedly attached to a cabinet and having folding handrails which
are folded into the cabinet while the treadmill is positioned into
a storage position. However, the handle structures disclosed in the
aforesaid patents are weak.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,696 discloses a folding treadmill which
includes a tread base, and two rollers attached respectively to two
sides of the tread base and mounted respectively inside two
vertical slide rails. The tread base is turnable about the axes of
the rollers to move between a storage position and an operational
position. Through upward movement of the rollers along the vertical
slide rails, the tread base can move upward to an inclined
position. However, since the rollers move only in a vertical
direction, the movement of the tread base is restricted by the
vertical slide rails so that the tread base moves only upward or
downward while the tread base is folded or elevated to its inclined
position.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,076 discloses a folding treadmill with a
console pivotally mounted about a hinge. The console can be rotated
about the hinge while the tread base is placed in a storage
position so that the tread base could be substantially vertical
without interference between the tread base and the console.
However, the construction of the console is complicated since the
console must be pivotal about the hinge in order to avoid
interference.
[0009] While various forms of foldable treadmills have been
suggested in the art, there is a need for an improved treadmill
having a stable folding structure.
SUMMARY
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a folding
treadmill including a tread base which can be moved rearward, when
being folded upward, so as to move away from a console or control
board mounted on an upright structure so that the tread base can be
folded to a nearly vertical position without interfering with the
console or control board.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
folding treadmill with a stable construction which can stabilize a
tread base, especially when the tread base is in a folded
position.
[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, A folding
treadmill comprising: a base support including a front end and a
rear end; a guider provided on the base support adjacent the front
end and having a slide rail extending substantially in a
front-to-rear direction; a pivot member supported movably and
guided by said slide rail; a tread base which includes a frame and
an endless belt mounted to the frame and which is mounted pivotally
to the base support through the slide rail and the pivot member to
turn between a folded position and an unfolded position and to move
rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or to
move forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position;
and a first roller attached to the tread base and guided and
supported by the base support.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
folding treadmill comprises: a base support including a front end
and a rear end; a guider provided on the support base adjacent the
front end and having a slide rail which extends substantially in a
front-to-rear direction and which is inclined downward and
rearward; a tread base including a frame and an endless belt
mounted to the frame; and a coupler mounted movably on the base
support and connected pivotally to the tread base and the guider so
as to enable the tread base to turn relative to the support base
between a folded position and an unfolded position. The coupler
includes a pivot member which is supported movably and guided by
the slide rail and which is connected to the tread base so that the
tread base is movable rearward and downward when turning to the
folded position or is movable forward and upward when turning to
the unfolded position. The treadmill further includes a first
roller attached to the coupler and supported movably on the base
support so as to mount movably the coupler on the base support.
[0014] According to still another aspect of the invention, a
folding treadmill comprising: a base support including a foot
structure and an upright structure extending upward from the foot
structure, the foot structure having a front end and a rear end;
left and right guide members mounted on the foot structure
rearwardly of the upright structure and provided respectively with
left and right slots which extend substantially in a front-to-rear
direction; left and right pivot members mounted movably and
respectively within the left and right slots for moving
substantially along the front-to-rear direction; and a tread base
which includes a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame and
which is mounted pivotally to the left and right guide members
through the pivot members to turn between a folded position and an
unfolded position and to move rearward when the tread base turns to
the folded position or to move forward when the tread base turns to
the unfolded position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the
treadmill according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in an
operative unfolded position;
[0018] FIG. 2A is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the
treadmill shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view showing that a tread base is being
turned upward toward an inoperative folded position;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view showing that the tread base is in its
inoperative folded position;
[0021] FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 but with a portion of a
foot structure thereof being removed;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in
its folded position;
[0023] FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 2 but with the tread base
being inclined; and
[0024] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred
embodiment.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A, a preferred embodiment of a
folding treadmill according to the present invention is shown to
comprise a base support 2, and a tread base 40 mounted on the base
support 2. The base support 2 includes a foot structure 20 and an
upright structure 30 extending upward from the foot structure 20.
The foot structure 20 has left and right bars 21 which are
interconnected by front and rear bars 22 provided at front and rear
ends of the foot structure 20. A guide rail structure includes left
and right guide rails or grooves 24 which are provided respectively
in inner sides of the left and right bars 21.
[0026] The upright structure 30 includes two upright tubes 31 and a
top panel 34 mounted to top ends of the upright tubes 31. A handle
32 is associated with the top panel 34. The upright tubes 31 are
respectively fixed to two positioning posts 23 which extend upward
respectively from front ends of the side bars 21.
[0027] The tread base 40 includes a frame 43 which has left and
right side bars 41, and a wheeled rear foot 45. An endless belt 44
is mounted on the frame 43 and extends between the side bars 41. A
motor 46 is mounted to the frame 43 between the side bars 41 in
front of the endless belt 44.
[0028] According to the present invention, the tread base 40 is
mounted to the foot structure 20 through the cooperation of a
coupler 60 and a guider 70 for moving between a use position and a
storage position. In the embodiment, the tread base 40 is moved
between a folded position and an unfolded position. The guider 70
has a slide rail that extends substantially in a front-to-rear
direction so that the tread base 40 is movable rearward when
turning to the folded position and forward when turning to the
unfolded position.
[0029] Specifically, the guider 70 includes left and right guide
plates 71 projecting upward from the respective side bars 21
rearwardly of the upright structure 30. The slide rail of the
guider 70 includes left and right elongated slots 72 which extend
respectively in the left and right guide plates 71 and
substantially in a front-to-rear direction and which are inclined
rearward and downward from a front end 721 to a rear end 722 while
extending in the front-to-rear direction.
[0030] The coupler 60 includes left and right coupling members each
of which includes a first arm 64, and a second arm 61 which is
connected rigidly and angled to the first arm 64. The second arm 61
has an extension 611 which projects forwardly from a juncture of
the first and second arms 64, 61 in a direction away from the first
and second arms 64, 61. A first transverse bar 62 has two ends
connected respectively to the extension 611 of the second arms
61.
[0031] The first arms 64 have first ends 641 which are connected
pivotally to the respective guide plates 71. The pivot connection
between the first ends and the guide plates may be accomplished
through one or more pivot member. In this embodiment, left and
right pivot members 73 are provided to connect the first arms 64 to
the slots 72 of the respective guide plates 71. Each pivot member
73 includes a rolling pin 731 passing through the corresponding
slot 72, two stop pieces 732 and 733 disposed outside the slot 72
on two sides of the rolling pin 731, a headed screw 734 which
passes through the rolling pin 731, the stop pieces 732, 733, and
one of the first arm 64. A locking nut 735 is attached threadedly
to the screw 734. The rolling pin 731 is thus held movably in the
corresponding slot 72.
[0032] The second arms 61 have second ends 612 which are attached
pivotally and respectively to two brackets 65, that project
downward from the bottom sides of the side bars 41 of the tread
base 40, by means of pivot members 67.
[0033] The coupler 60 is mounted movably on the foot structure 20
by using at least a pair of left and right first rollers 63. The
left and right first rollers 63 are attached respectively to two
spindles 66 (only one is shown) projecting outwardly in opposite
directions from the extensions 611 of the second arms 61. The first
rollers 63 are received movably within the guide grooves 24 of the
side bars 21, respectively.
[0034] Each of the left and right coupling members of the coupler
60 further includes a third arm 81 which has a front end 811
mounted on the spindle 66 provided at the extension 611 of the
second arm 61. The third arm 81 is therefore pivoted to the
extension 611 coaxially with the corresponding first roller 63. In
other words, the third arm 81 is pivotal about the spindle 66 which
is journaled in the first roller 63. A second transverse bar 82 has
two opposite ends respectively connected to flanges 813 projecting
from rear ends 812 of the third arms 81.
[0035] Left and right second rollers 84 are attached respectively
to two spindles 83 which are mounted respectively to the rear ends
812 of the third arms 81 and which are received movably and
respectively in the guide grooves 24.
[0036] An inclining device 90 is connected between the tread base
40 and the coupler 60 for moving the tread base 40 to an inclined
position. Specifically, the inclining device 90 is a power-operated
first lifting member or telescopic member 93 which has a motor 94
to rotate an extension rod 95 to extend outward or retract inward.
The first telescopic member 93 is connected pivotally to a bracket
91 mounted on the frame 43 of the tread base 40 adjacent to a motor
46. One end of the extension rod 95 is pivoted to another bracket
92 which is mounted on the first transverse bar 62.
[0037] A lifting device 80 is connected between the tread base 40
and the coupler 60 for moving the tread base 40 to the folded
position. Specifically, the lifting device 80 includes
power-operated left and right lifting members or second telescopic
members 86 each of which has one end attached a bracket 85
projecting downward from the bottom side of one of the side bars 41
and another end connected to the flange 813 of the corresponding
third arm 81.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8 in combination with FIG. 2, a top
cover 100 and a bottom cover 101 are provided on the tread base 40
to cover the motor 46.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the treadmill is in use, the
tread base 40 is in an operative unfolded position. In particular,
the wheeled rear support 45 of the tread base 40 rests on a
supporting surface F, and the tread base 40 is substantially
horizontal. In this situation, the pivot members 73 are proximate
to the front ends 721 of the slots 72, and the first arms 64 of the
coupler 60 are substantially vertical, whereas the second arms 61
are substantially horizontal. Each first roller 63 and Each second
roller 84 are received within one of the guide grooves 24 of the
foot structure 20.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, when the rear part of the
tread base 40 is turned upward by applying an external force
thereto, the front end of the tread base 40 moves downward and the
second arms 61 are pulled upward and rearward so that the first
arms 64 and the pivot members 73 are moved downward and rearward.
When the tread base 40 reaches its inoperative folded position, the
pivot members 73 are at the lowest rear ends 722 of the slots 72.
In the folded position, the tread base 40 leans against the handle
unit 30 and is angled to the support surface F by an angle of
substantially 85 degrees.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2, 2A, 7 and 8, when the tread base 40 is
to be moved to an inclined position from a horizontal position, the
motor 94 is actuated to cause the extension rod 95 of the
telescopic member 93 to extend outward and raise the tread base 40.
As the tread base 40 is raised, the first arms 61 are turned upward
about the axis of the first rollers from a position shown in FIG.
2A to a position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 so that the second arms 64
are raised and the pivot members 73 are moved upward along a
vertical slot section (x) at the front ends 721 of the slots 72.
When the tread base 40 is to be lowered, the motor 94 may be
actuated to rotate in an opposite direction to retract the
extension rod 95 of the telescopic member 93.
[0042] The advantageous effects of the present invention are
described as follows:
[0043] Since the second telescopic members 86 of the lifting device
80 are mounted on the foot structure 20 through the moving coupler
60 and the first and second rollers 63 and 84, when the tread base
40 is lifted by the second telescopic members 86, the second
telescopic members 86 can be moved rearward together with the tread
base 40 so that the tread base 40 can be moved to a nearly vertical
stable position.
[0044] The slots 72 of the slide rail of the guider 70 which are
inclined rearward and downward permit the tread base 40 to move
rearward and downward when the tread base 40 is turned upward so
that the center of gravity of the tread base 40 can be lowered and
the tread base 40 can be stabilized in its folded position.
[0045] Due to the front and rear rollers 63 and 84 which are spaced
apart from each other by the third arms 81, the tread base 40 can
be supported stably on the foot structure 20 when placed in the
folded position. In addition, since the front and rear rollers 63
and 84 are held together by the third arms 81 that are movable
along with the second arms 61, the tread base 40 and the lifting
members 86 are permitted to move together relative to the foot
structure 20 for effecting positional adjustment, thereby
increasing the stability of the tread base 40 in a folded position.
In case the tread base 40 in its folded state is subjected to
impacts, the tread base 40 is able to self-balance through movement
on the foot structure 2 and thus prevented from falling down
accidentally.
[0046] Since the tread base 40 is supported by the first telescopic
member 93 which is attached to the bracket 91, the second
telescopic members 86 which are attached to the brackets 85 and the
coupler 60 which is attached to the bracket 65, the entire load on
the tread base 40 is shared by the first and second telescopic
members 93, 86 and the coupler 60, thereby minimizing damage to the
components of the tread mill due to stress concentration.
[0047] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *