U.S. patent application number 13/186289 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-28 for apparatus for pivoting a platform of a treadmill.
Invention is credited to TAI-YANG LU.
Application Number | 20120165162 13/186289 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45084239 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120165162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LU; TAI-YANG |
June 28, 2012 |
Apparatus for Pivoting a Platform of a Treadmill
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for pivoting a platform on a base of a
treadmill. The apparatus includes two front tracks secured to the
base, two front casters movable in the front tracks, an axle
connected to the front casters, a sleeve for receiving the axle,
two front rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the
platform and another end connected to an end of the sleeve, a motor
supported on the platform, an extensible element including an end
operatively connected to the motor and another end connected to
sleeve, two rear tracks secured to the base, two rear casters
movable in the rear tracks, two rear rockers each including an end
pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a
related one of the rear casters, and two connectors each for
connecting a related one of the front rockers to a related one of
the rear rockers.
Inventors: |
LU; TAI-YANG; (US) |
Family ID: |
45084239 |
Appl. No.: |
13/186289 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0235 20130101;
A63B 2210/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 2010 |
TW |
099225010 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base of a
treadmill, the apparatus including: two front tracks secured to the
base; two front casters each movably located in a related one of
the front tracks; an axle connected to the front casters; a sleeve
for receiving the axle; two front rockers each including an end
pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a
related end of the sleeve; a motor supported on the platform; an
extensible device including an end operatively connected to the
motor and another end pivotally connected to sleeve; two rear
tracks secured to the base; two rear casters each movably located
in a related one of the rear tracks; two rear rockers each
including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another
end connected to a related one of the rear casters; and two
connectors each including an end pivotally connected to a related
one of the front rockers and another end pivotally connected to a
related one of the rear rockers.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a sleeve
located between and connected to the rear tracks.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including: a rod
connected to the rear rockers; and a pneumatic cylinder including
an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end
pivotally connected to the rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more
particularly, to an apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a
base of a treadmill.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] A conventional treadmill includes a base, a platform and a
conventional apparatus for pivoting the platform relative to the
base. The conventional pivoting apparatus lifts a rear end of the
platform for storage and lifts a front end of the platform for
imitation of an uphill slope to be encountered by a runner. The
operation of the conventional pivoting apparatus is not smooth. In
addition, the structure of the conventional pivoting apparatus is
weak and vulnerable to deformation, fracture or even breakage, and
this is dangerous for the runner.
[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a reliable apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a
base of a treadmill.
[0007] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the apparatus includes
two front tracks secured to the base, two front casters each
movably located in a related one of the front tracks, an axle
connected to the front casters, a sleeve for receiving the axle,
two front rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the
platform and another end connected to a related end of the sleeve,
a motor supported on the platform, an extensible element including
an end operatively connected to the motor and another end pivotally
connected to sleeve, two rear tracks secured to the base, two rear
casters each movably located in a related one of the rear tracks,
two rear rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the
platform and another end connected to a related one of the rear
casters, and two connectors each including an end pivotally
connected to a related one of the front rockers and another end
pivotally connected to a related one of the rear rockers.
[0008] In an aspect, the apparatus may further include a sleeve
located between and connected to the rear tracks.
[0009] In another aspect, the apparatus may further include a rod
and a pneumatic cylinder. The rod is connected to the rear rockers.
The pneumatic cylinder includes an end pivotally connected to the
platform and another end pivotally connected to the rod.
[0010] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following description referring
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill equipped with an
apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus shown
in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus in
another position than shown in FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in
FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus in
another position than shown in FIG. 4; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in
FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a treadmill includes a base 10, a
platform 20 and an apparatus 100 for pivoting the platform 20
relative to the base 10 according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention. The base 10 is in the form of a rectangular
frame. Two posts 11 are provided on the base 10.
[0020] The platform 20 includes two lateral beams 21, front and
rear rollers 22 located between and connected to the lateral beams
21, a primary plate 25 supported on the lateral beams 21, a belt 26
in the form of a loop around the front and rollers 22 and the
primary plate 25, two wheels 27 each attached to a related one of
the lateral beams 21, a secondary plate 28 supported thereon, and a
mount 29 supported thereon. The platform 20 includes a front end 23
and a rear end 24. The lateral beams 21 extend between the front
end 23 and the rear end 24 of the platform 20. The primary plate 25
is located between the lateral beams 21 and the front and rear
rollers 22. The belt 26 includes an upper section movably supported
on the primary plate 25. The secondary plate 28 is supported by two
crossbars located between and connected to the lateral beams 21.
The mount 29 includes a lower end connected to one of the
crossbars.
[0021] A motor 30 is supported on the secondary plate 28. A wheel
or pulley 32 is connected to the front roller 22. A bet 31 is in
the form of a loop around the mandrel of the motor 30 and the
pulley 32. Thus, the motor 30 is operable to drive the belt 26
through the belt 31, the pulley 32 and the front roller 22.
[0022] The pivoting apparatus 100 includes a motor 33 and a linkage
40. The linkage 40 includes a sleeve 41, an axle 42, two front
rockers 43, four lugs 44, two front casters 45, two front tracks
46, two connectors 47, two rear tracks 50, two rear rockers 51, a
rod 52, two rear casters 53, a sleeve 54 and a pneumatic or
hydraulic cylinder 56. Each of the front tracks 46 is secured to a
related lateral bar of the base 10 while the rear tracks 50 are
secured to a crossbar connected to the lateral bars of the base
10.
[0023] The lugs 44 are connected to the platform 20 and, more
particularly, to a crossbar located between and connected to the
lateral beams 21. Each of the front rockers 43 includes an end
pivotally connected to a related one of the lugs 44 and another end
connected to a related end of the sleeve 41. The axle 42 is
rotationally inserted through the sleeve 41, with two ends of the
axle 42 located outside the sleeve 41. The front casters 45 may be
bearings. Each of the front casters 45 is rotationally connected to
a related one of the ends of the axle 42 and movably located in a
related one of the front tracks 46. Each of the connectors 47
includes an end pivotally connected to a related one of the front
rockers 43 and another end pivotally connected to a related one of
the tracks 50.
[0024] Each of the rear rockers 51 includes an end pivotally
connected to a related one of the lugs 44. The rod 52 is located
between the rear rockers 51, with two reduced ends of the rod 52
inserted through an aperture defined in the end of a related one of
the rear rockers 51. The rear casters 53 may be bearings. Each of
the rear casters 53 is rotationally connected to another end of a
related one of the rear rockers 51 and movably located in a related
one of the rear tracks 50. The pneumatic cylinder 56 includes an
end pivotally connected to the rod 52 and another end pivotally
connected to the platform 20 and, more particularly, to a crossbar
located between and connected to the lateral beams 21.
[0025] The sleeve 54 is secured to the tracks 50. Each of the
wheels 55 is connected to a related end of an axle inserted through
the sleeve 54.
[0026] There is provided an extensible device 34. The extensible
device 34 includes a screw connected to the mandrel of the motor 33
and a tube pivotally connected to the sleeve 41. The screw is
driven in a screw hole defined in the tube. Thus, the motor 33 is
operable to spin the screw relative to the tube so that the
extensible 34 can be extended or shrunk.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a rear end of the platform 20 is
manually lifted for storage of the treadmill. The pneumatic
cylinder 56 is useful in the lifting of the rear end of the
platform 20. The wheels 55 are useful for transportation of the
treadmill when the rear end of the platform 20 is lifted.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end of the platform 20
is manually lowered for use of the treadmill. The pneumatic
cylinder 56 is useful in buffering the lowering of the rear end of
the platform 20. The front rockers 43 are pivotally toward the
front end 23 of the platform 20 as the front casters 45 are moved
toward the front ends of the front tracks 46. The rear rockers 51
are pivotally toward the rear end 24 of the platform 20 as the rear
casters 53 are moved toward the rear ends of the rear tracks 50.
That is, the front rockers 43 and the rear rockers 51 are pivoted
away from each other. The connectors 47 are lowered.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the motor 33 is operated to
extend the extensible device 34. The front rockers 43 are pivotally
toward the rear end 24 of the platform 20 as the front casters 45
are moved toward the rear ends of the front tracks 46. The rear
rockers 51 are pivotally toward the front end 23 of the platform 20
as the rear casters 53 are moved toward the front ends of the rear
tracks 50. That is, the front rockers 43 and the rear rockers 51
are pivoted toward each other. The connectors 47 are lifted.
[0030] The operation of the linkage 40 is smooth since the front
casters 45 are smoothly moved in the front tracks 46 while the rear
casters 53 are smoothly moved in the rear tracks 50. Furthermore,
the structure of the linkage 40 is strong for the use of the sleeve
41, the connectors 47 and the rod 52.
[0031] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art
can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present
invention defined in the claims.
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