U.S. patent application number 12/007490 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-16 for cushioning device for treadmill.
Invention is credited to Shen Yi Wu.
Application Number | 20090181829 12/007490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40851178 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090181829 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Shen Yi |
July 16, 2009 |
Cushioning device for treadmill
Abstract
The present invention is related to a cushioning device for
treadmill, wherein the treadmill has a base with a side frame on
each of its both sides, a deck disposed on the base to allow for
the motions of running or walking by users, and a track surrounding
and disposed on the deck. The deck is fastened to the base at least
at its one end. At least one cushioning devices with adjustable
cushion force are correspondingly disposed between the both sides
of the deck and the side frames of the base. Each cushioning device
has a plunger cylinder used to provide a cushion force in the
reverse direction to cushion impact loads imparted on the deck
while running or walking.
Inventors: |
Wu; Shen Yi; (Wufeng
Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
40851178 |
Appl. No.: |
12/007490 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 ;
482/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0228 20151001;
A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B 22/0214 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 ;
482/74 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02; A63B 71/00 20060101 A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A cushioning device for treadmill, wherein the treadmill has a
base with a side frame on each of its both sides, a deck disposed
on the base to allow for the motions of running or walking by
users, and a track surrounding and disposed on the deck, and the
deck is fastened to the base at least at its one end, characterized
in that at least one cushioning devices with adjustable cushion
force are correspondingly disposed between the both sides of the
deck and the side frames of the base, and each cushioning device
has a plunger cylinder.
2. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 1,
wherein the plunger cylinder has a cylinder block, a piston rod
extending from one end of the cylinder block, and at least one
positioning portions disposed on the both sides of either the side
frames of the base or the deck and fastened to the end of the
piston rod, and each positioning portion has at least one
positioning punches for adjusting the cushion angle between the
position where the plunger cylinder is located at the deck and the
position where the plunger cylinder is located at the base, and the
other is pivotally connected to the cylinder block of the plunger
cylinder.
3. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 2,
wherein the positioning portion is fastened to the deck and has a
notch therein, and the positioning punches of the positioning
portion are curved and disposed on the both sides of the notch as
well as symmetrically disposed below the side frames, and a
pivoting base is outwardly disposed between the both ends of the
plunger cylinder, and the pivoting base has between the both ends
thereof a pivoting rod extending toward the side frame and pivoted
to a pivoting hole of the side frame, and a fastener passes through
the positioning punches at the both sides of the positioning
portion and the other end of the plunger cylinder and is fastened
inside the notch of the positioning portion after adjusting the
angle of the plunger cylinder.
4. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 2,
wherein the positioning portion is disposed at the side frame of
the base and has a notch therein, and the positioning punches of
the positioning portion are curved and disposed on the both sides
of the notch as well as symmetrically disposed below the side
frames, and the end of the piston rod of the plunger cylinder is
pivoted to the deck, and a fastener passes through the positioning
punches at the both sides of the positioning portion and the end of
the piston rod of the plunger cylinder and is fastened inside the
notch of the positioning portion after adjusting the angle of the
plunger cylinder.
5. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 3,
wherein the positioning punch has therein a plurality of screw
mounting holes with a diameter slightly larger than that of the
punch, and the fastener has a rotating portion, an external thread
portion extending from the rotating portion, and the external
thread portion passes through the positioning punches at the both
sides of the positioning portion from the exterior to the interior,
and the other end of the rotating portion and an internal thread
portion are screw mounted to the outer sides of the two positioning
punches of the positioning portion.
6. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 4,
wherein the positioning punch has therein a plurality of screw
mounting holes with a diameter slightly larger than that of the
punch, and the fastener has a rotating portion, an external thread
portion extending from the rotating portion, and the external
thread portion passes through the positioning punches at the both
sides of the positioning portion from the exterior to the interior,
and the other end of the rotating portion and an internal thread
portion are screw mounted to the outer sides of the two positioning
punches of the positioning portion.
7. The cushioning device for treadmill as described in claim 1,
wherein a connector is disposed between the cushioning devices
correspondingly disposed between the both sides of the deck and the
side frames at the both sides of the base and below the deck to
avoid the deformation of the deck.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cushioning device for
treadmill, and more particularly to a device with cushioning
plunger cylinders disposed at the deck and the side frames of a
treadmill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, there is a conventional treadmill
8. It can be seen from the figures that a plunger cylinder 82 with
a constant cushion force is disposed between each of the two side
frames 801 of the base 1 and each of the both sides of the deck 81.
The plunger cylinder 82 is used to reduce the counteracting force
exerted on users' feet by the deck 81 while the users are running
thereon.
[0003] Though such treadmill 8 could achieve the cushioning effect
by the cushioning device with a constant cushion force, however,
the constant cushion force could only satisfy a certain body weight
or certain practicing requirements. When the users with different
body weights or asking for different practicing requirements are
practicing or running on the treadmills with such cushioning
devices, the users would feel uncomfortable. In other words, when
the cushioning effect is required for heavier body weights or
stronger practicing requirements, the users would feel the deck 81
is too soft while running or practicing; contrariwise, when the
cushioning effect is required for lighter body weights or weaker
practicing requirements, the users would feel the deck 81 is too
hard while running or practicing, so that their cushioning effect
cannot meet the users' requirements.
[0004] Also referring to FIG. 10, a conventional treadmill 9 is
shown. It can be seen from the figures that the treadmill has a
hand support 91 located on a base 90, and a cushioning device 93
with adjustable cushion force is disposed between a deck 92 and the
hand support 91. In such treadmills, one end of the deck 92 is
suspended on the cushioning device 93, and a cushion is provided
for the deck 92 by adjusting the cushion force of the cushioning
device 93 when users are practicing or running thereon. Even if
such treadmills have the cushioning effect and adjustable cushion
force, however, the members of their cushioning devices are
complicated and the volume of the cushioning device is relatively
large in comparison with that of the entire treadmill, so that it
occupies a lot of space for running.
[0005] Furthermore, the deck of a treadmill is usually made of a
slightly flexible plate, so that downward sags would occur where
impact loads imparted on the deck while running. This would result
in the deformation of the deck after use for a long time. Not only
cannot the cushioning devices for the foregoing two kinds of
treadmills solve this problem, but also the performance of the
cushioning devices would be affected due to the deformation of the
deck.
[0006] Accordingly, the main point of the present invention is to
solve the problems caused by the cushioning devices for
conventional treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a cushioning device for treadmill, which can solve the above
problems by means of the cushioning devices with adjustable cushion
force disposed between the side frames of the base and the deck,
such that users can adjust different cushion forces according to
the requirements of their body weights and habits while running or
walking on the deck. Besides, the members of the present invention
are simpler than the adjustable cushioning devices for conventional
treadmills, and they are installed between the deck and the side
frames of the base without occupation of the space for running or
practicing.
[0008] The secondary objective of the present invention lies in
that a connector is disposed below the deck and between the
cushioning devices on the both sides of the deck, thus preventing
the deck from easy deformation after use for a long time so as to
avoid affecting the cushioning effect of the cushioning device.
[0009] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the treadmill of the
present invention has a base with a side frame on each of its both
sides, a deck disposed on the base to allow for the motions of
running or walking by users, and a track surrounding and disposed
on the deck, and the deck is fastened to the base at least at its
one end, characterized in that at least one cushioning devices with
adjustable cushion force are correspondingly disposed between the
both sides of the deck and the side frames of the base, and each
cushioning device has a plunger cylinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional outline of the treadmill and
cushioning device according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the
cushioning device according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the plunger cylinder
is adjusted to a higher cushion force according to the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the plunger cylinder
is adjusted to a lower cushion force according to the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional outline of the treadmill and
cushioning device according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the
cushioning device according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional outline of a conventional
treadmill and cushioning device.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a structural plan view of the cushioning device
for the treadmill in FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a cushion of the
cushioning device for the treadmill in FIG. 7.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a structural plan view of another conventional
treadmill and cushioning device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2, those shown in the figures are
the structures of the embodiments selected from the present
invention, which are only illustrative and not meant to restrict
the scope of the invention in any manner.
[0021] In this embodiment, a cushioning device for treadmill is
provided, wherein the treadmill has a base 1 with a side frame 11
on each of its both sides, a deck 2 disposed on the base 1 to allow
for the motions of running or walking by users, and a track 3
surrounding and disposed on the deck 2, and the deck 2 is fastened
to the base 1 at least at its one end, and at least one cushioning
devices 4 are correspondingly disposed between each of the both
sides of the deck 2 and the side frame 11 of the base 1, and each
cushioning device 4 has a plunger cylinder 41 to allow for
adjusting the cushion force. In this embodiment, a connector 44 is
disposed between the cushioning devices 4 correspondingly disposed
between the both sides of the deck 2 and the two side frames 11 of
the base 1 and disposed below the deck 2 to avoid the deformation
of the deck 2. A hand support 12 extends upwardly from one end of
the base 1 to provide auxiliary support for users while running or
walking.
[0022] The above plunger cylinder 41 has a cylinder block 411, a
piston rod 412 extending from one end of the cylinder block 411,
and at least one positioning portions 42 disposed on each of the
both sides of either the side frames 11 of the base 1 or the deck
2, and each positioning portion 42 is fastened to the end of the
piston rod 412 and has at least one positioning punches 421 for
adjusting the cushion angle between the position where the plunger
cylinder 41 is located at the deck 2 and the position where the
plunger cylinder is located at the base 1, and the other is
pivotally connected to the cylinder block 411 of the plunger
cylinder 41.
[0023] In this embodiment, the positioning portion 42 is disposed
on the both sides of the deck 2 and has a notch 422 therein, and
the positioning punches 421 of the positioning portion 42 are
curved and disposed on the both sides of the notch 422 as well as
symmetrically disposed below the side frames 11, and a pivoting
base 413 is outwardly disposed between the both ends of the plunger
cylinder 41, and the pivoting base has between the both ends
thereof a pivoting rod 414 extending toward the side frame 11 and
pivoted to a pivoting hole 111 of the side frame. A fastener 43
passes through the positioning punches 421 at the both sides of the
positioning portion 42, and the plunger cylinder 41 is fastened
inside the notch 422 of the positioning portion 42 after adjusting
the angle of the plunger cylinder 41.
[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the positioning punch 421
has therein a plurality of screw mounting holes 421a with a
diameter slightly larger than that of the punch 421, and the
fastener 43 has a rotating portion 431, an external thread portion
432 extending from the rotating portion 431, and the external
thread portion 432 passes through the positioning punches 421 at
the both sides of the positioning portion 42 from the exterior to
the interior, and the other end of the rotating portion 431 and an
internal thread portion 433 are screw mounted to the outer sides of
the two positioning punches 421 of the positioning portion 42.
[0025] It can be seen from the structure of the above cushioning
device 4 that the plunger cylinder 41 can be tilted at different
angles between the deck 2 and the side frame 11 of the base 1 to
change the cushion force. When the plunger cylinder 41 is adjusted
to be vertical as shown in FIG. 3, the acting force due to the
impact loads imparted on the deck 2 is almost completely supported
by the plunger cylinder 41, so that the plunger cylinder 41 would
generate a counteracting force with respect to the deck 2 based on
the preset values of the cushion force. On the other hand, when the
plunger cylinder 41 is adjusted to be more tilted as shown in FIG.
4, the deck imparted by the impact loads would vibrate up and down
vertically, that is, the downward pressure on the deck imparted by
the impact loads is vertically downward, so that the plunger
cylinder 41 only bears the component of the downward pressure along
the direction of the axis of the plunger cylinder 41 and the other
component thereof is vertical to the plunger cylinder 41.
Therefore, the plunger cylinder 41 could only cushion the component
of the downward pressure, and the other component thereof is
supported by the pivoting end and counteracted by its pivotal
rotation. As the result, when the plunger cylinder 41 is maintained
at the preset values of the cushion force and the deck 2 is under
the same downward pressure, the effective cushion force would be
reduced.
[0026] When the body weights of users are heavier or a greater
cushion force is required for running, the plunger cylinder 41
could be appropriately adjusted to be upright between the deck 2
and the side frame 11 of the base 1, such that the cushioning
device 4 has a higher cushion force and the more upright the
plunger cylinder is, the more increased the cushion force will
relatively become. On the other hand, when the body weights of
users are lighter or a lower cushion force is required for
practicing, the plunger cylinder 41 could be appropriately adjusted
to be tilted between the deck 2 and the side frame 11 of the base
1, such that the cushioning device 4 has a lower cushion force and
the more tilted the plunger cylinder is, the more reduced the
cushion force will relatively become.
[0027] Therefore, it can be seen in comparison with the cushioning
devices for conventional treadmills that the cushioning device
according to the present invention has the cushioning effect of the
function of adjustable cushion force, such that users can adjust
different cushion forces according to the requirements of their
body weights and habits while running or walking on the deck 2.
Besides, the members of the present invention are simpler than the
adjustable cushioning devices for conventional treadmills, and they
are installed between the deck 2 and the side frames 11 of the base
1 without occupation of the space for running.
[0028] Additionally, in order to overcome the deformation of the
flexible deck 2 caused by running and walking for a long time,
which would affect the cushioning effect of the cushioning device
4, in this embodiment, a connector 44 is disposed below the deck 2
and between the cushioning devices 4 on the both sides. Thus, when
impact loads imparted on the deck 2 while running or walking, the
downward pressure the deck 2 bears can be supported by the
connector 44 and distributed more evenly on the deck 2.
[0029] Needless to say, there are still many examples of the
present invention which differ only on the details. Referring to
FIGS. 5 to 6, a second embodiment of the present invention is
shown, whose difference lies in that the positioning portion is
disposed on the side frames 11 of the base 1, and the end of the
piston rod 412 of the plunger cylinder 41 is pivoted to the deck,
and the one end of the cylinder block 411 of the plunger cylinder
41 is pivoted inside the notch 422 of the positioning portion 42
located at the side frame 11, thereby achieving the cushioning
effect as same as that of the first embodiment.
* * * * *