U.S. patent application number 13/043620 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-13 for treadmill with a firmly located belt.
Invention is credited to Chiu Hsiang LO.
Application Number | 20120231934 13/043620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46796065 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120231934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LO; Chiu Hsiang |
September 13, 2012 |
Treadmill with a Firmly Located Belt
Abstract
A treadmill includes a frame, front and rear roller, a belt and
at least two upper guiding units. The front and rear rollers are
supported on the frame. The belt is wound around the front and rear
rollers. The upper guiding units are connected to the frame and
used for contact with the upper section of the belt to alleviate
suspension of the upper section of the belt above the frame.
Inventors: |
LO; Chiu Hsiang;
(US) |
Family ID: |
46796065 |
Appl. No.: |
13/043620 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A treadmill including: a frame; front and rear rollers supported
on the frame; a belt wound around the front and rear rollers and
formed with upper and lower sections; and at least two upper
guiding units connected to the frame and used for contact with the
upper section of the belt to alleviate suspension of the upper
section of the belt above the frame.
2. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein each of the guiding
units includes a rod with a first end secured to the frame and a
second end in contact with an upper face of the upper section of
the belt.
3. The treadmill according to claim 2, wherein each of the guiding
units includes a block secured to the frame, wherein the first end
of the rod is secured to the block.
4. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein each of the guiding
units includes a strip with a portion secured to the frame and
another portion in contact with an upper face of the upper section
of the belt.
5. A treadmill including: a frame; front and rear rollers supported
on the frame; a belt wound around the rollers and formed with upper
and lower sections and two edges; and at least two lower guiding
units connected to the frame and used for contact with the lower
section of the belt to alleviate suspension of the upper section of
the belt above the frame.
6. The treadmill according to claim 5, wherein each of the lower
guiding units includes a roller in contact with a lower face of the
lower section of the belt.
7. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein each of the lower
guiding units includes a rod in contact with an upper face of the
lower section of the belt.
8. The treadmill according to claim 7, wherein each of the lower
guiding units includes a bracket including a section connected to
the frame and another section connected to the rod and the
roller.
9. The treadmill according to claim 5, further including at least
two upper guiding units connected to the frame and used for contact
with the upper section of the belt to alleviate suspension of the
upper section of the belt above the frame.
10. The treadmill according to claim 9, wherein each of the guiding
units includes a rod with a first end secured to the frame and a
second end in contact with an upper face of the upper section of
the belt.
11. The treadmill according to claim 10, wherein each of the
guiding units includes a block secured to the frame, wherein the
first end of the rod is secured to the block.
12. The treadmill according to claim 9, wherein each of the guiding
units includes a strip with a portion secured to the frame and
another portion in contact with an upper face of the upper section
of the belt.
13. The treadmill according to claim 5, further including two
lateral guiding units connected to the frame and each used for
contact with a related one of the edges of the belt to prevent
lateral movement of the belt on the frame.
14. The treadmill according to claim 13, wherein each of the
lateral guiding units includes a pulley with an annular groove for
receiving the related edge of the belt so that the lateral guiding
units prevent lateral movement of the belt on the frame but allow
smooth rolling of the belt on the front and rear rollers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more
particularly, to a treadmill including a firmly located belt.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] A conventional treadmill includes a frame, front and rear
rollers supported on the frame, a belt wound around the front and
rear rollers, and a platform or a series of intermediate rollers
supported on the frame between the front and rear rollers and
beneath an upper section of the belt. The platform may be planar or
concave. The intermediate rollers may be arranged in a rectilinear
or concave manner. To reduce impacts on a user's feet, angles,
knees and legs, the platform is concave, or the intermediate
rollers are arranged in a concave manner. The upper section of the
belt suspends on the platform or the intermediate rollers because
the upper section of the belt is shorter and lighter than a lower
section of the belt. Hence, there is a gap between the upper
section of the belt and the platform or the intermediate rollers.
The user often neglects the gap and assumes that the belt is firmly
supported on the platform or the intermediate rollers. The user
could lose balance and, in the worst case, fall on the belt and get
hurt. The risks are higher with the concave platform or the
intermediate rollers arranged in a concave manner than with the
planar platform or the intermediate rollers arranged in a
rectilinear manner.
[0005] Furthermore, while exercising with the treadmill, the user
inevitably moves the belt transversely as well as longitudinally.
This causes edges of the belt to rub against the frame. This would
eventually wear the belt and might entail a jam of the belt and
cause the user to lose balance and, in the worst scenario, fall on
the belt and get hurt.
[0006] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a reliable and smooth treadmill.
[0008] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the treadmill includes
a frame, front and rear roller, a belt and at least two upper
guiding units. The front and rear rollers are supported on the
frame. The belt is wound around the front and rear rollers. The
upper guiding units are connected to the frame and used for contact
with the upper section of the belt to alleviate suspension of the
upper section of the belt above the frame.
[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 three embodiments referring to the drawings
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill according to the
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the treadmill shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the treadmill shown in
FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a treadmill according to
the second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a treadmill according to the
third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a treadmill 10 includes a frame
20, a front roller 30, a rear roller 40, a series of intermediate
rollers 23, a belt 50, upper guiding units 60, lower guiding units
70 and lateral guiding units 80 according to a first embodiment of
the present invention. The frame 20 includes two lateral bars
extending in a concave manner. A caster 22 is supported on a
bracket 21 attached to a front end of each of the lateral bars of
the frame 20. The casters 22 are used for rolling on the ground or
a floor for transporting the treadmill 10.
[0017] Two feet 24 are connected to the frame 20. In detail, each
of the feet 24 includes a horizontal section extending between two
vertical sections. Each of the vertical sections of each of the
feet 24 is connected to a related one of the lateral bars of the
frame 20. The horizontal sections of the feet 24 are used for
contact with the ground or floor for positioning the treadmill
10.
[0018] Each of the rollers 23, 30 and 40 are supported on the
lateral bars of the frame 20. In detail, each of the rollers 23, 30
and 40 includes an end supported on one of the lateral bars of the
frame 20 and an opposite end supported on the other lateral bar of
the frame 20. The intermediate rollers 23 are located between the
front roller 30 and the rear roller 40. The front roller 30 is
located between the casters 22.
[0019] The belt 50 is in the form of a loop wound around the front
roller 30, the rear roller 40 and the intermediate rollers 23. All
of the rollers 30, 40 and 23 are located between upper and lower
sections of the belt 50. The upper section of the belt 50 is
shorter and lighter than the lower section. Without any guiding
units, the upper section of the belt 50 would dangle from the
rollers 30 and 40 less than the lower section of the belt 50 and
hence suspend above the series of intermediate rollers 23.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, the upper guiding units 60 are arranged
in two series. Each of the series of upper guiding units 60 is
connected to an upper face of a related one of the lateral bars of
the frame 20 for contact with a related one of two opposite margins
of the upper section of the belt 50. Each of the series of upper
guiding units 60 includes an adequate number of upper guiding units
60 to push almost the entire upper section of the belt 50 against
the series of intermediate rollers 23.
[0021] Each of the upper guiding units 60 includes a rod 61 and a
block 62. The rod 61 includes an end in contact with the related
margin of the upper section of the belt 50 and an opposite end
secured to the block 62 by welding for example. The block 62 is
secured to the upper face of the related lateral bar of the frame
20 by welding for example.
[0022] The upper face of each of the lateral bars of the frame 20
is located lower than a concave plane defined by upper portions of
the intermediate rollers 23. The blocks 62 compensate the gap
between a concave plane defined by the upper faces of the lateral
bars of the frame 20 and the concave plane defined by the upper
portions of the intermediate rollers 23. The blocks 62 are secured
to the upper faces of the lateral bars of the frame 20 so that
upper faces of the blocks 62 are located in the concave plane
defined by the upper portions of the intermediate rollers 23.
[0023] The lower guiding units 70 are arranged in two series. Each
of the series of lower guiding units 70 is connected to a lower
face of a related one of the lateral bars of the frame 20 for
contact with a related one of two opposite margins of the lower
section of the belt 50.
[0024] Each of the lower guiding units 70 includes a rod 71, a
bracket 72 and a roller or bearing 73. The bracket 72 includes a
horizontal section secured to the lower face of the related lateral
bar of the frame 20 by welding for example and a vertical section
extending from the horizontal section. The rod 71 includes an end
in contact with the related margin of the lower section of the belt
50 and an opposite end secured to the vertical section of the
bracket 72 by welding for example. The roller or bearing 73 is
supported on an axle secured to the vertical section of the bracket
72 by welding for example. The lower section of the belt 50 is
located between the rod 71 and the roller or bearing 73.
[0025] The lateral guiding units 80 are arranged in two series.
Each of the series of lateral guiding units 80 is connected to a
related one of the lateral bars of the frame 20 for contact with a
related one of two opposite edges of the lower section of the belt
50. Each of the lateral guiding units 80 includes a pulley 81
supported on an axle 82 secured to the lower face of the related
lateral bar of the frame 20 by welding for example. Each of the
pulleys 81 includes an annular groove for receiving the related
edge of the lower section of the belt 50. Lateral movement of the
belt 50 on the rollers 23, 30 and 40 is avoided by the lateral
guiding units 80.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a treadmill according to
a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment
is like the first embodiment except several things. At first, the
upper face of each of the lateral bars of the frame 20 is located
higher than the concave plane defined by the upper portions of the
intermediate rollers 23. Hence, the blocks 62 are omitted.
Furthermore, each of the rods 61 includes an end inserted in and
secured to the related lateral bar of the frame 20.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a treadmill according to
a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment
is like the first embodiment except including two upper guiding
units 90 instead of the two series of upper guiding units 60. Each
of the upper guiding units 90 includes a concave strip 91 with a
portion secured to a related one of the lateral bars of the frame
20 by welding for example and another portion in contact with a
related one of the margins of the upper section of the belt 50.
[0028] Although not shown, the upper guiding units 60 and the lower
guiding units 70 may be exchanged in another embodiment.
[0029] 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. Hence, the embodiments shall not
limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
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