Weight-Based Cushion-Adjusting Apparatus

Abstract

A treadmill includes a base, a lever, an elevator, a cushion, a scale and an adjustor. The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushion is connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, to a treadmill equipped with an apparatus for adjusting a cushion based on the weight of a user.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent 1323669, a conventional treadmill includes a base, a control panel supported on the base, two rollers supported on the base, a platform supported on the base between the rollers, a belt in the form of a loop wound around the rollers and the platform, an acceleration sensor located beneath the platform and electrically connected to the control panel, and an adjustable cushion located beneath the platform and electrically connected to the acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor senses actual acceleration of the platform and sends a signal to the control panel. The control panel compares the actual acceleration with data related to speed, acceleration and weight recorded in a memory located therein. When actual acceleration is determined to be identical to the data, the adjustable cushion is not adjusted. Only when the actual acceleration is determined to be different from the data, the adjustable cushion is adjusted.

[0005] However, it is practically impossible for an exerciser to maintain constant acceleration no matter he or she is running or walking. Hence, the adjustable cushion is adjusted all the time. The frequent adjustment is a heavy load on the adjustable cushion. Therefore, the life of the adjustable cushion is short, and this is not desirable.

[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 an objective of the present invention to provide a treadmill with a cushion that is adjustable based on the weight of a user.

[0008] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the treadmill includes a base, a lever, an elevator, a scale and an adjustor in addition to the cushion. The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushion is connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.

[0009] 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

[0010] The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric treadmill equipped with a cushion that is adjustable based on the weight of a user according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scale provided on the electric treadmill shown in FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cushion used in the electric treadmill shown in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting the cushion shown in FIG. 3;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of an elevator and the cushion shown in FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of the elevator and cushion in another position than shown in FIG. 5; and

[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the cushion based on the weight of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an electric treadmill 10 equipped with a cushion 40 that is adjustable based on the weight of a user according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The electric treadmill 10 includes a base 11, a control panel 12 supported on the base 11, front and rear rollers 16 supported on the base 11, a platform 15 supported on the base 11 between the front and rear rollers 16, a belt 17 in the form of a loop wound around the platform 15 and the front and rear rollers 16, and a board 18 supported on the base 11. The base 11 is in the form of a frame including two longitudinal bars extending between two crossbars. The base 11 includes a front end 13 and a rear end 14. The control panel 12 and the board 18 are located near the front end 13 of the base 11. The front roller 16 is located near the front end 13 of the base 11 while the rear roller 16 is located near the rear end 14 of the base 11.

[0019] The treadmill 10 further includes a motor 24 supported on the board 18, a small pulley connected to the mandrel of the motor 24, a large pulley 26 connected to the front roller 16, and a belt 25 in the form of a loop wound around the small pulley and the large pulley 26. The motor 24 is electrically connected to the control panel 12. Thus, the control panel 12 is operable to actuate the motor 24 to drive the large pulley 26 through the belt 25. Then, the large pulley 26 drives the front roller 16, and the front roller 16 drives the belt 17.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, the treadmill 10 further includes an elevator 60 for elevating the base 11. In specific, the elevator 60 is operable to pivot the base 11 relative to the ground or a floor. The elevator 60 includes a strut 19 pivotally connected to the base 11, a motor 61, and an extensible unit 62 connected to the strut 19 at an end and connected to the motor 61 through a transmission (not shown) at another end. In detail, the unit 62 includes a screw pivotally connected to the strut 19 and a sleeve including a screw hole for receiving the screw. The sleeve is connected to the motor 61 through the transmission. The motor 61 is electrically connected to the control panel 12. Thus, the control panel 12 is operable to actuate the motor 61 to rotate the sleeve around the screw, thus extending or shrinking the extensible unit 62 to pivot the strut 19 further from or closer to the base 11. Hence, the base 11 is pivoted relative to the ground or floor about the second end 14 of the base 11.

[0021] The treadmill 10 further includes two S-shaped levers 50 extending parallel to each other. Each of the levers 50 includes an end pivotally connected to the base 11 and another end pivotally connected to a portion of the elevator 60.

[0022] The cushion 40 includes a cylinder 41, a plunger 43 and a spring 45. The cylinder 41 includes a closed end pivotally connected to a middle section of each of the levers 50 and an open end for receiving an end of the plunger 43. Another end of the plunger 43 is pivotally connected to the base 11. A ring 42 is formed on the cylinder 41 near the open end. Another ring 44 is formed on the plunger 43. The spring 45 is located around the plunger 43 and compressed between the rings 42 and 44. As described above, the cushion 40 is connected to the base 11, the levers 50 are connected to the cushion 40, the elevator 60 is connected to the levers 50, and the strut 19 is connected to the base 11 at an end and located on the ground or floor at another end. Thus, the cushion 40 is operable to provide cushion for the treadmill 10.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control panel 12 is operable to actuate the motor 61 to drive the extensible unit 62 through the transmission. Thus, the length of the extensible unit 62 is changed. Hence, the strut 19 is pivoted away from or closer to the base 11. That is, the base 11 is lifted or lowered.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, the treadmill further includes an adjustor for adjusting the cushion 40. The adjustor includes a motor 30, a sleeve 32, a transmission 33, a valve 34, a mount 35, a pipe 36 and a reservoir 37. The motor 30 includes a mandrel 31. The motor 30 is supported on the board 18. The motor 30 is electrically connected to the control panel 12. The sleeve 32 is provided on the mandrel 31. The transmission 33 is provided between the sleeve 32 and the valve 34. The valve 34 is connected to the reservoir 37. An inlet and outlet of the reservoir 37 is controlled by the valve 34. The reservoir 37 is supported on the mount 35. The mount 35 is supported on the board 18. The mount 35 is M-shaped. The pipe 36 includes an end connected to the valve 34 and another end connected to the cylinder 41. A hydraulic medium such as cushion oil is circulated in a loop formed by the reservoir 37, the valve 34, the pipe 36 and the cylinder 41.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the treadmill 10 further includes two scales each supported on a related one of the longitudinal bars of the base 11. Each of the scales includes a tread 20, a sensor 21 provided between the tread 20 and the related longitudinal bar of the base 11, and a signal calculator 22 supported on the related longitudinal bar of the base 11. The signal calculator 22 is electrically connected to the sensor 21 at an end and electrically connected to the control panel 12 at another end.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the adjustment of the cushion 40 based on the weight of the user will be described. At 70, the adjustment is initiated. At 71, the cushion 40 is returned to an original position. At 72, a screen is shown on the control panel 12. The screen may include a reminder of an acceptable range of the weight of the user. For example, the acceptable range of the weight of the user may be 20 to 250 kilograms. At 73, the user stands on the scales. The weight of the user is measured by the scales. The process goes to 75 if the weight of the user is acceptable and goes to 74 if not. At 74, a warning is shown on the control panel 12 to instruct the user to send for an engineer to repair the treadmill 10. At 75, the weight of the user, in kilogram or pound, is shown on the control panel 12. At 76, the user operates the control panel 12 to select "Retest" or "OK." The process goes to 77 if "OK" is selected and returns to 72 if "Retest" is selected. At 77, under the control of the control panel 12, the cushion 40 is automatically adjusted based on the weight of the user.

[0027] 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.

Claims

1. A treadmill including: a base; a lever connected to the base; an elevator connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end; a cushion connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end; a scale supported on the base; and an adjustor electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.

2. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the scale includes: a tread; and a sensor provided between the tread and the base.

3. The treadmill according to claim 2, wherein the scale includes a signal calculator electrically connected to the sensor.

4. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the cushion includes: a cylinder including a closed end pivotally connected to the lever and an open end; and a plunger inserted in the open end of the cylinder at an end and pivotally connected to the base at another end.

5. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein the cushion further includes: a ring formed on the cylinder; another ring formed on the plunger; and a spring located around the plunger and compressed between the rings.

6. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein the adjustor includes: a reservoir supported on the base; a valve connected to the reservoir; and a pipe connected to the valve at an end and connected to the cylinder at another end so that the cylinder, the reservoir, the valve and the pipe form a loop in which a hydraulic medium is circulated under the control of the valve.

7. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes a motor operable for driving the valve.

8. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes a mount for supporting the reservoir on the base.