U.S. patent application number 13/448366 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-17 for rotary type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill.
The applicant listed for this patent is Leao Wang. Invention is credited to Leao Wang.
Application Number | 20130274071 13/448366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49325596 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130274071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Leao |
October 17, 2013 |
ROTARY TYPE ADJUSTABLE CUSHIONING MECHANISM OF A TREADMILL
Abstract
A rotary type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill,
comprising a cushioning unit being interposed the base frame and
the running board such that an expected and proper cushioning
effect is created after the running board is subject to a force.
The cushioning unit consists of two regulating mechanisms and a
resilient element. Each of the regulating mechanisms includes a
scale displaying disc, an adjustment knob, a transmission gear set,
a position-adjusting threaded bolt, an elastic cushioning element,
a coupled compression lever, and a coupled bracket pivotably
attached to the running board. The resilient element is pivotably
connected between both of the coupled brackets. When the adjustment
knob is turned, the elastic cushioning element can move up and down
on the position-adjusting threaded bolt, thereby changing the
compression force between the elastic cushioning element and the
coupled compression lever.
Inventors: |
Wang; Leao; (Taichung,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wang; Leao |
Taichung |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
49325596 |
Appl. No.: |
13/448366 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0214 20151001;
A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B 24/0087 20130101; A63B 22/0228
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A rotary type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill,
the treadmill including a base frame, a running board, a continuous
moving belt, an electronic console with a handrail frame at both
side thereof, a front roller, and a rear roller, a front roller
support, and a rear ground-touching support, a cushioning unit
being interposed the base frame and the running board such that an
expected and proper cushioning effect is created after the running
board is subject to a force; wherein the cushioning unit consists
of two regulating mechanisms and a resilient element; and wherein
each of the regulating mechanisms includes a scale displaying disc,
an adjustment knob, a transmission gear set, a position-adjusting
threaded bolt, an elastic cushioning element, a coupled compression
lever, and a coupled bracket pivotably attached to the running
board, and the resilient element is pivotably connected between
both of the coupled brackets; whereby, when the adjustment knob is
turned, the position-adjusting threaded bolt conducts an in-place
rotation through the transmission gear set so that the elastic
cushioning element can move up and down on the position-adjusting
threaded bolt and the cushioning force acting on the running board
can be effectively adjusted.
2. The rotary type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill
as recited in claim 1, wherein a window cover is fitted to the top
of the regulating mechanisms at the base frame.
3. The rotary type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill
as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating mechanism is an
electrically driven mechanism.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Fields of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a rotary type adjustable cushioning
mechanism of a treadmill, and more particularly, to a structure
that can conduct a fine adjustment of the cushioning force of the
running board when subject to a force. In this way, the operator
can easily obtain the exercise comfort and the exercise effect,
thereby meeting his personal use habits.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With respect to the basic design for cushioning the running
board of a conventional treadmill after being subject to a force,
it is general to provide a few rubber pads at the contact surface
between the periphery of the running board and the base frame. In
this way, the operator will directly obtain only a fixed, soft/hard
cushioning force. This simple design has advantages in the economic
aspect and the convenient application. However, when we get to the
bottom of its genuine benefits, it is not difficult to find that
the conventional solutions are not entirely able to meet the actual
needs of the users. After all, each user has significant
differences in individual needs and physical conditions. As a
result, the invention is intended to provide a more user-friendly
and more practical cushioning design to meet the actual needs such
that the user can be protected against excessive sports injuries
during the exercise sessions. Moreover, it is necessary to provide
a more comfortable product for the users in order to maintain or
even improve the willingness in use of the products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A primary object of the invention is to provide a rotary
type adjustable cushioning mechanism of a treadmill in which a fine
adjustment of the cushioning force can be easily done. Meanwhile,
the reactive force of the running board acting on the operator can
be adjusted by himself at any time, thereby obtaining a proper
exercise comfort and achieving an optimal exercise effect.
[0006] According to the invention, a rotary type adjustable
cushioning mechanism of a treadmill comprises a cushioning unit
being interposed the base frame and the running board such that an
expected and proper cushioning effect is created after the running
board is subject to a force. The cushioning unit consists of two
regulating mechanisms and a resilient element. Each of the
regulating mechanisms includes a scale displaying disc, an
adjustment knob, a transmission gear set, a position-adjusting
threaded bolt, an elastic cushioning element, a coupled compression
lever, and a coupled bracket pivotably attached to the running
board. The resilient element is pivotably connected between both of
the coupled brackets. When the adjustment knob is turned, the
elastic cushioning element can move up and down on the
position-adjusting threaded bolt, thereby changing the compression
force between the elastic cushioning element and the coupled
compression lever. As a result, the cushioning force acting on the
running board can be effectively adjusted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cushioning mechanism
assembled to a treadmill according to the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the invention; P FIG. 3 is
a side view of the regulating mechanism according to FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the regulating mechanism
according to FIG. 2 after adjustment;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the regulating mechanism according
to FIG. 4; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an installation example of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] The present invention will now be described in more detail
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show
various embodiments of the invention.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6, a treadmill 10 includes a
base frame 11, a running board 12, a continuous moving belt 13, an
electronic console 14 with a handrail frame 15 at both side
thereof, a front roller 16, and a rear roller 17, a front roller
support 18, and a rear ground-touching support 19. The running
board 12 is encircled by the continuous moving belt 13 while the
continuous moving belt 13 positioned around the front roller 16 and
the rear roller 17 to conduct a in-place rotation. A cushioning
unit 20 is interposed the base frame 11 and the running board 12
such that an expected and proper cushioning effect is created after
the running board 12 is subject to a force. The cushioning unit 20
consists of two regulating mechanisms 22 and a resilient element
30. Each of the regulating mechanisms 22 includes a scale
displaying disc 221, an adjustment knob 222, a transmission gear
set 223, a position-adjusting threaded bolt 224, an elastic
cushioning element 225, a coupled compression lever 226, and a
coupled bracket 227 pivotably attached to the running board 12. The
resilient element 30 is pivotably connected between both of the
coupled brackets 227.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the adjustment knob 222 is
turned, the position-adjusting threaded bolt 224 conducts an
in-place rotation through the transmission gear set 223. In this
way, the elastic cushioning element 225 can move up and down on the
position-adjusting threaded bolt 224, thereby changing the
compression force between the elastic cushioning element 225 and
the coupled compression lever 226. As a result, the cushioning
force acting on the running board 12 can be effectively
adjusted.
[0016] The coupled compression lever 226 is inclined in a certain
manner. When the elastic cushioning element 225 is located at
different height, the compression force acting on the coupled
compression lever 226 is also different before being subject to a
force. In other words, the elastic cushioning element 225 is
different compressed. In this way, the cushioning effect can be
either soft or hard when the force acting on the above-mentioned
components is changed.
[0017] When the running board 12 is compressed, the coupled bracket
227 pivotably coupled with the running board 12 will sink due to
the application of force. At that time, the resilient element 30
will be pulled in an extended position such that the coupled
compression lever 226 pivotably connected to the coupled bracket
227 is pushed toward the elastic cushioning element 225 to create
the compression and the cushioning effect. When the external force
is removed, all components subject to the force will return to
their original position due to the resilience of the resilient
element 30.
[0018] In order to make visible the mounting position of the
related components, the continuous moving belt 13, the running
board 12 and the trim strip 111 of the base frame are deliberately
removed from the FIG. 1. Likewise, the rear roller 17, the trim
strip 111 and the cross strips 112 of the base frame as well as the
continuous moving belt 13 are removed from the FIGS. 2 and 4.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a window cover 21 is fitted to
the top of the regulating mechanisms 22 at the base frame 11 so
that the scale value on the scale displaying disc 221 is visible
for the operator.
[0020] Alternatively, the regulating mechanisms 22 of the invention
can be electrically driven (not shown) so that the operator may
control the cushioning force more easily. The electrically driven
mechanism is a conventional and easy design so that no further
descriptions thereto are given hereinafter.
[0021] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
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