U.S. patent application number 12/708279 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-18 for buffering platform unit of a treadmill.
Invention is credited to Chiu Hsiang LO.
Application Number | 20110201481 12/708279 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44370055 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110201481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LO; Chiu Hsiang |
August 18, 2011 |
Buffering Platform Unit of a Treadmill
Abstract
An elastic platform is provided a treadmill. The elastic
platform includes a frame and a piece of fabric. The frame is
connected to the treadmill. The piece of fabric is supported on the
frame. The piece of fabric supports a section of a belt wound
around two rollers of the treadmill.
Inventors: |
LO; Chiu Hsiang; (Taichung
City, TW) |
Family ID: |
44370055 |
Appl. No.: |
12/708279 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0235 20130101;
A63B 22/0207 20151001; A63B 22/0023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. An elastic platform for use in a treadmill, the elastic platform
comprising: a frame connected to the treadmill; and a piece of
fabric supported on the frame, wherein the piece of fabric supports
a section of a belt wound around two rollers of the treadmill.
2. The elastic platform according to claim 1, wherein the piece of
fabric is a piece of elastic fabric.
3. The elastic platform according to claim 2, wherein the frame
includes two longitudinal beams and two transverse beams extending
between the longitudinal beams.
4. The elastic platform according to claim 3, wherein the frame
includes a reinforcing beam extending between the longitudinal
beams.
5. The elastic platform according to claim 3, including transverse
adjusting sets operable to adjust the distance between the
longitudinal beams to adjust tension in the piece of elastic
fabric.
6. The elastic platform according to claim 5, wherein each of the
transverse adjusting sets includes: a socket securely located in a
related one of the transverse beams; a nut non-rotationally located
in a related one of the longitudinal beams; and a threaded bolt
abutted against the socket and engaged with the nut.
7. The elastic platform according to claim 6, including
longitudinal adjusting sets for adjusting the distance between the
transverse beams.
8. The elastic platform according to claim 7, wherein each of the
longitudinal adjusting sets includes: a threaded lining movably
located in a related one of the longitudinal beams and connected to
the nut of a related one of the transverse adjusting sets; a cap
secured to the related longitudinal beam; and a threaded bolt
inserted through the cap and engaged with the threaded lining.
9. The elastic platform according to claim 8, wherein each of the
longitudinal beams includes two slots through which the threaded
bolt of a related one of the transverse adjusting sets is
inserted.
10. The elastic platform according to claim 2, wherein the frame
includes two longitudinal beams and two transverse beams each
including a first bent end connected to one of the longitudinal
beams and a second bent end connected to the other longitudinal
beams.
11. The elastic platform according to claim 10, including adjusting
sets operable to adjust the distance between the longitudinal beams
to adjust tension in the piece of elastic fabric.
12. The elastic platform according to claim 11, wherein each of the
adjusting sets includes: a socket secured to the second bent end of
a related one of the transverse beams; a nut located within and
secured to one of the longitudinal beams; and a threaded bolt
engaged with the nut and abutted against the socket.
13. The elastic platform according to claim 12, including two
covers for protectively covering the adjusting sets.
14. The elastic platform according to claim 13, wherein each of the
covers includes a groove for receiving a related one of the
longitudinal and recesses for receiving heads of the threaded
bolts.
15. The elastic platform according to claim 1, including two rods
inserted through two loops formed on the piece of fabric.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more
particularly, to a buffering platform unit of a treadmill.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] A treadmill includes a belt in the form of a loop wound
around two parallel rollers. A section of the belt is supported on
a platform or more rollers located between the rollers. A runner
exerts horizontal forces and vertical forces on the treadmill while
running the treadmill. The horizontal forces cause the belt to
spin. The vertical forces are supposed to be absorbed with the
platform or the rollers. However, the effect of the absorption of
the vertical forces with the platform is inadequate since the
platform and the rollers are made of metal. Some of the vertical
forces are bounced back to the runner's feet. Thus, the runner's
feet are not well protected. On the other hand, the treadmill is
vulnerable to damages caused by the vertical forces.
[0005] To overcome the foregoing problem, there have been many
attempts to provide a buffer apparatus beneath the platform as
disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication Nos. 390207, 507582 and
576227 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,336,144 and 5,441,468 for example. The
buffer apparatus is supposed to absorb the vertical forces. The
buffer apparatus includes several soft pads located beneath the
platform. The effects of buffer provided with the soft pads are
however inadequate.
[0006] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a treadmill with an elastic platform.
[0008] To achieve the foregoing objective, the elastic platform
includes a frame and a piece of fabric. The frame is connected to
the treadmill. The piece of fabric is supported on the frame. The
piece of fabric supports a section of a belt wound around two
rollers of the treadmill.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description
referring to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings
where:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill equipped with a
buffering platform unit according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the buffering platform unit
shown in
[0013] FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an elastic platform of the
buffering platform unit shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partial, side view of the elastic platform shown
in FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial, side view of the elastic platform in
another position than shown in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the elastic
platform shown in FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the elastic
platform in another position than shown in FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a top view of the elastic platform shown in FIG.
3;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a buffering platform unit
according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an elastic platform of the
buffering platform unit shown in FIG. 9;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a front view of the elastic platform shown in
FIG. 9; and
[0023] FIG. 12 is a front view of the elastic platform in another
position than shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a treadmill 100 includes two feet 10,
two posts 11 supported on the feet 10, two handles 12 supported on
the posts 11, a control panel 13 supported on the handles 12 and a
buffering platform unit 20 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. The buffering platform unit 20 is connected to
the feet 10 or the posts 11.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the buffering platform unit 20 includes
two lateral beams 21, two rollers 22 located between the lateral
beams 21, a belt 23 wound around the rollers 22 and an elastic
platform 30. The elastic platform 30 is located within and
supported on a rectangular structure consisting of the lateral
beams 21 and the rollers 22. Moreover, the elastic platform 30 is
located beneath a section of the belt 23.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the elastic platform 30 includes a
piece of elastic fabric 31 supported on a frame 40. The piece of
elastic fabric 31 includes two extended portions 32 and two
extended portions 34 extending from a substantially rectangular
middle portion.
[0027] The frame 40 includes two longitudinal beams 41, two
transverse beams 42 and a reinforcing beam 43. All of the beams 41,
42 and 43 are tubes. The transverse beams 42 and the reinforcing
beam 43 are located between the longitudinal beams 41.
[0028] Each of the extensive portions 32 of the piece of elastic
fabric 31 is wound around a related one of the longitudinal beams
41. Each of the extensive portions 34 of the piece of elastic
fabric 31 is wound around a related one of the transverse beams 42.
The extensive portions 34 of the piece of elastic fabric 31 are
securely connected to the beams 41 and 42.
[0029] By operating two adjusting sets 50 each located in a related
one of the longitudinal beams 41, the distance between the
transverse beams 42 is adjustable as shown in FIG. 8. Similarly, by
operating two adjusting sets 50' each located in a related one of
the transverse beams 42, and/or by operating an adjusting set 50''
located in the reinforcing beam 43, the distance between the
longitudinal beams 41 is adjustable. Therefore, tension in the
piece of elastic fabric 31 is adjustable. Furthermore, one of the
transverse beams 42 will be referred to as the "front transverse
beam 42" while the other transverse beam 42 will be referred to as
the "rear transverse beam 42" within the following description for
clarity. A track 44 is securely attached to each of the
longitudinal beams 41. The track 44 includes a U-shaped form.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the adjusting sets 50
includes a socket 56, a nut 51' and a threaded bolt 52'. The socket
56 is securely located in the rear transverse beam 42. The nut 51'
is located in a related one of the longitudinal beams 41. The nut
51' is movable longitudinally but not transversely in the related
longitudinal beam 41. The nut 51' is not rotational in the related
longitudinal beam 41. The threaded bolt 52' includes a head located
outside the frame 40, a threaded body engaged with the nut 51', and
a tip rotationally inserted in the socket 56.
[0031] Similarly, each of the adjusting sets 50'' includes a
socket, a nut and a threaded bolt. The socket is securely located
in the reinforcing beam 43. The nut is securely connected to a
related one of the tracks 44. The threaded bolt includes a head
located outside the frame 40, a middle section engaged with the nut
and a tip rotationally inserted in the socket.
[0032] By rotating the threaded bolts relative to the nuts of the
adjusting sets 50' and 50'', the distance between the longitudinal
beams 41 is adjustable. Therefore, the tension in the piece of
elastic fabric 31 is adjustable.
[0033] Each of the longitudinal beams 41 includes two opposite
slots 53 since it is a tube, not a solid rod. The threaded bolts
52' are inserted through the slots 53.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the adjusting sets 50
includes a threaded lining 51, a threaded bolt 52 and a cap 54. The
threaded lining 51 is like any proper nuts except that it is made
with a large length. The threaded lining 51 is movably but not
rotationally located in a related one of the longitudinal beams 41
and securely connected to a related one of the nuts 51'. The cap 54
is securely connected to a rear end of a related one of the
longitudinal beams 41. The threaded bolts 52 includes a head
located outside related longitudinal beam 41 and abutted against
the cap 54 and a threaded body engaged with the threaded lining
51.
[0035] By rotating the threaded bolts 52 relative to the threaded
linings 51, the threaded linings 51 are moved in the longitudinal
beams 41, and so are the nuts 51'. The threaded bolts 52' are moved
in and along the slots 53. Hence, the rear transverse beam 42 is
moved relative to the front transverse beam 42. Hence, the tension
in the piece of elastic fabric 31 is adjusted.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 9 through 12, there is shown a buffering
platform unit 20 according to a second embodiment. The second
embodiment is like the first embodiment except including an elastic
platform 60 instead of the elastic platform 30. The elastic
platform 60 includes a piece of elastic fabric 61, a frame 70 for
supporting the piece of elastic fabric 61, and two covers 80 for
protectively covering portions of the piece of elastic fabric 61
and the frame 70.
[0037] The piece of elastic fabric 61 includes two edges rolled
into loops. A rod 62 is inserted through each of the loops. Thus,
the piece of elastic fabric 61 can be extended evenly.
[0038] The frame 70 includes two longitudinal beams 71 and three
transverse beams 72. One of the longitudinal beams 71 will be
referred to as the "stationary longitudinal beam 71" while the
other longitudinal beam 71 will be called the "movable longitudinal
beam 71" within the follow description for clarity. Each of the
transverse beams 72 includes two bent ends. One of the bent ends is
securely connected to the stationary longitudinal beam 71.
[0039] There are adjusting sets 90 operable to change the distance
between the longitudinal beams 71 to adjust tension in the piece of
elastic fabric 61. Each of the adjusting sets 90 includes a socket
91, a nut 92 and a threaded bolt 93. The socket 91 is securely
connected to the other bent end of a related one of the transverse
beams 72. The nut 92 is securely located in the movable
longitudinal beam 71. The threaded bolt 93 includes a head located
outside the movable longitudinal beam 71, a threaded body engaged
with the nut 92, and a tip rotationally located within and abutted
against the socket 91.
[0040] The piece of elastic fabric 61 is connected to the
longitudinal beams 71 with several screws inserted through washers
94. Each of the washers 94 includes a head located outside the
piece of elastic fabric 61 and a body inserted into the
longitudinal beams 71 through the piece of elastic fabric 61.
[0041] Each of the covers 80 includes a groove 81 and recesses 82.
The groove 81 receives a related one of the longitudinal beams 71.
Each of the recesses 82 receives the head of a related one of the
threaded bolts 93.
[0042] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can
derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall
not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the
claims.
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