U.S. patent application number 11/965287 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for support deck for treadmill.
This patent application is currently assigned to ODENWALD WOOD PRODUCTS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yung-Chang Chiang.
Application Number | 20090170666 11/965287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40799202 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090170666 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiang; Yung-Chang |
July 2, 2009 |
Support Deck for Treadmill
Abstract
A support deck for a treadmill is disposed under an upper
stretch of an endless tread belt to support the tread belt and a
user thereon. The support deck includes a plurality of indentations
on a top surface thereof. Lubricant or lubricating oil is received
in the indentations for lubrication between the support deck and
the tread belt, thereby reducing friction between the support deck
and the tread belt. Thus, the wear of the tread belt decreases, and
the life of the tread belt increases. Moreover, the support deck
may further include a plurality of ridges on the top surface
thereof to offer foot reflexology.
Inventors: |
Chiang; Yung-Chang;
(Kaohsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WPAT, PC;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEYS
2030 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1300
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
ODENWALD WOOD PRODUCTS CO.,
LTD.
Kaohsiung
TW
|
Family ID: |
40799202 |
Appl. No.: |
11/965287 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0285 20130101;
A63B 2225/30 20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A support deck for a treadmill disposed under an upper stretch
of an endless tread belt, a top surface of the support deck being
contacted with a bottom surface of the upper stretch of the tread
belt, and supporting the tread belt and a user thereon, the support
deck comprising: a plurality of indentations on the top surface of
the support deck for receiving one of lubricant and lubricating
oil; wherein the lubricant and the lubricating oil provides
lubrication between the support deck and the tread belt.
2. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are circular cavities.
3. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are longitudinal grooves.
4. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are transverse grooves.
5. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are slanted grooves.
6. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are V-shaped grooves.
7. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations
are short grooves.
8. The support deck as claimed in claim 7, wherein the short
grooves are alternately arranged in rows and along a longitudinal
direction of the support deck.
9. The support deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support deck
comprises ridges on the top surface of the support deck.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a support deck for a
treadmill that supports a tread belt and an exercising user
thereon.
[0003] 2. The Prior Arts
[0004] A treadmill is an indoor sporting equipment used to allow
for running or walking while staying in one place. The treadmill
provides a convenient way to regularly exercise in all weather
conditions in the comfort and safety of indoor. Referring to FIGS.
1 and 2, a conventional treadmill includes a support deck 1, a
tread belt 2, a driving roller 3 and a driven roller 4. The driving
roller 3 and the driven roller 4 are mounted on a tread frame of
the treadmill. The tread belt 2, which is made of an elastomeric
material of high strength and high toughness, is entrained around
driving roller 3 and the driven roller 4. The driving roller 3 is
driven by a motor and the tread belt 2 is driven by the driving
roller 3. The endless tread belt 2 includes an upper stretch
extending longitudinally between the rollers 3 and 4 adapted to
enable a user to walk or run thereon. The support deck 1 is
disposed under the upper stretch of the tread belt 2 for supporting
the upper stretch and the user thereon.
[0005] The tread belt 2 continuously moves above the support deck
1. An under side of the upper stretch of the tread belt 2 rubs
against a top surface of the support deck 1, which wears the tread
belt 2. Moreover, the weight of the user is applied on the support
deck 1 so the friction between the support deck 1 and the tread
belt 2 increases. Accordingly, the conventional support deck 1 is
provided with a very smooth top surface to reduce the friction
between the support deck 1 and the tread belt 2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Friction wears away contact surfaces of moving parts and
therefore the friction between a tread belt and a support deck for
a treadmill shortens the life of the tread belt. The friction also
generates noises while the treadmill is in operation. Moreover, the
friction results in energy inefficient problem because a motor of
the treadmill needs a larger load capacity to overcome the
friction. A conventional support deck for a treadmill has a smooth
top surface to reduce the friction between the support deck and the
tread belt. However, reduction of the friction by this method is
limited. It is hard to further reduce the friction by providing a
much smoother surface. A primary objective of the present invention
is to provide a support deck for a treadmill that can solve the
problems mentioned above.
[0007] The solution of the present invention is to provide a
plurality of cavities or grooves on the support deck to receive
lubricant or lubricating oil. When the endless tread belt rubs
against the support deck, the lubricating oil or lubricant makes a
film between them so as to minimize direct contact between them.
Thus, the friction and wear of the tread belt decrease. The life of
the tread belt increases.
[0008] In addition to providing the cavities and the grooves on the
support deck, a top surface of the support deck is provided with a
very smooth surface, such as a surface having mirror finish. Thus,
lubrication and very smooth surface can further decrease the
friction between the support deck and the tread belt.
[0009] The cavities on the support deck according to the present
invention may be circular cavities or cavities in any shapes.
[0010] The grooves on the support deck according to the present
invention may be longitudinal grooves, transverse grooves, slanted
grooves, V-shaped grooves or short grooves.
[0011] The support deck according to the present invention
minimizes the wear of the tread belt and the support deck and thus
increases the life of the tread belt and the support deck. Also,
the support deck reduces the noises while the treadmill is in
operation. Because the direct contact between the tread belt and
the support deck is minimized, the load capacity of the motor is
reduced. Therefore, the treadmill uses less energy, saves money,
and helps protect the environment.
[0012] The support deck according to the present invention may
further include a plurality of ridges. When the user runs on the
treadmill, the ridges on the support deck massage the feet and
offer foot reflexology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional
treadmill;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the conventional
treadmill that has a tread belt and a support deck;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing a support deck for a
treadmill according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
an endless tread belt and rollers;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing a support deck for a
treadmill according to a second embodiment of the present
invention, the tread belt and the rollers;
[0018] FIG. 4A is a schematic view showing a plurality of circular
cavities on the support deck according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 4B is a schematic view showing a plurality of
longitudinal grooves on the support deck according to the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 4C is a schematic view showing a plurality of
transverse grooves on the support deck according to the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4D is a schematic view showing a plurality of slanted
grooves on the support deck according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4E is a schematic view showing a plurality of V-shaped
grooves on the support deck according to the present invention;
and
[0023] FIG. 4F is a schematic view showing a plurality of short
grooves on the support deck according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3A, a support deck 1 for a treadmill is
disposed under an upper stretch of an endless tread belt 2 to
support the tread belt 2 and an user thereon. The tread belt 2 is
entrained around roller 3 and 4. The support deck 1 according to
the present invention includes a plurality of indentations on a top
surface thereof. Lubricant or lubricating oil 5 is received in the
indentations for lubrication between the support deck 1 and the
tread belt 2. The support deck 1 may include curved ridges 10 (as
shown in FIG. 3A) or flat surfaces (as shown in FIG. 3B) at
portions between the indentations. The top surface of the support
deck 1 is provided with a very smooth surface, such as a surface
having mirror finish. Thus, the lubrication and the very smooth
surface can further decrease the friction between the support deck
1 and the tread belt 2, thereby reducing the wear of the support
deck 1 and the tread belt 2. Therefore, the life of the support
deck 1 and the tread belt 2 increases. The ridges 10 offer foot
reflexology and improve general health.
[0025] The indentations on the support deck 1 may be in various
forms. For example, the indentations may be circular cavities 11
(as shown in FIG. 4A), longitudinal grooves 12 extended along a
longitudinal direction of the support deck 1 (as shown in FIG. 4B),
transverse grooves 13 extended along a transverse direction of the
support deck 1 (as shown in FIG. 4C), slanted grooves 14 (as shown
in FIG. 4D), V-shaped grooves 15 (as shown in FIG. 4E), short
grooves 16 alternately disposed in rows (as shown in FIG. 4F) or
indentations in any shapes. No matter which shapes the indentations
are, the lubricant and the lubricating oil can well be received in
the indentations.
[0026] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
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