Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6811518
-
Patent Number
6,811,518
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 28, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 2, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A treadmill includes a handle device disposed on a seat, a tread base rotatable between a downward working position and an upward folding position. Two arms and two levers and two bars are pivotally secured between the tread base and the seat, for allowing the tread base to be rotated relative to the seat. A tube may be secured to the arms, a bolt is threaded with the tube, and a motor may be coupled to the bolt for rotating the bolt to move the tube away from and toward the bolt, and thus to rotate the tread base between the downward working position and the upward folding positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly to a treadmill having a powered folding device for folding the treadmill.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical treadmills may include a tread base foldable relative to a seat and foldable between a downward working position and an upward folding and storing position. The applicant has developed one of the treadmills and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,200 to Lin. The tread base is required to be folded upward to the folding position or rotated downward to the working position manually.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional treadmills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill including a powered folding device for folding the treadmill automatically, without being folded manually.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill including a safety device for allowing the powered folding device to be safely operated, and for preventing the children from being hurt by the treadmill.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a treadmill comprising a seat, a handle device disposed on the seat, a tread base disposed above the seat, and rotatable between a downward working position and an upward folding position, power driving means for moving the tread base between the downward working position and the upward folding position, a switch button for actuating the power driving means to move the tread base, and a safety switch for actuating the power driving means to move the tread base only when both the switch button and the safety switch are depressed simultaneously.
The handle device includes an upper portion and a front portion, the switch button is provided on the upper portion of the handle device, and the safety switch is provided on the front portion of the handle device.
The power driving means includes a pair of arms having a first end pivotally secured to the tread base and a second end slidably secured to the seat, a pair of levers having a first end pivotally secured to a front portion of the tread base and a second end pivotally secured to the seat.
The power driving means includes a pair of bars pivotally secured between the seat and the levers respectively.
The bars each includes a first end pivotally secured to the seat, and a second end having an oblong hole formed therein, the levers each includes a middle portion having a stud secured thereto and slidably engaged in the oblong holes of the bars respectively.
A switch may further be provided and attached to the second end of the bar, the stud is engageable with the switch in order to stop the power driving means.
The seat includes a pair of tracks provided therein, and two rollers secured to the second ends of the arms respectively and slidably engaged in the tracks of the seat respectively.
Another switch may further be provided and attached to a first end of the track, the roller is engageable with the switch in order to stop the power driving means.
The power driving means includes a column secured between the second ends of the arms, a tube secured to the column, a bolt threaded with the tube, and means for rotating the bolt relative to the tube to move the tube relative to the bolt.
The rotating means includes a housing secured to the seat, a motor secured to the housing and having a spindle and a first gear secured to the spindle, a second gear secured to the bolt and engaged with the first gear, for allowing the bolt to be driven by the motor.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a treadmill in accordance with the present invention, in which the tread base is rotated downward to the downward working position;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the treadmill similar to
FIG. 1
, in which the tread base is rotated or folded upward to the upward folding or storing position;
FIG. 3
is a side view of the treadmill;
FIGS. 4
,
5
,
6
are enlarged partial perspective views illustrating the operation of the treadmill;
FIG. 7
is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines
7
—
7
of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 8
is a partial cross sectional view similar to
FIG. 7
, illustrating the operation of the treadmill; and
FIGS. 9 and 10
are side views similar to
FIG. 3
, illustrating the operation of the treadmill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
FIGS. 1-3
, a treadmill in accordance with the present invention comprises one or more posts or a handle device
10
disposed or extended upward from a seat
14
. The handle device
10
may also be arranged to be selectively folded downward toward and to engage with the seat
14
. One or more hand grips
11
,
13
and a control panel
12
are provided and disposed on top of the handle device
10
. The seat
14
includes a pair of parallel side beams
15
, and a rear beam
16
secured between the rear portions of the side beams
15
. The handle device
10
may include one or more safety switches
17
provided or disposed thereon, particularly attached to the front and upper portion of the handle device
10
.
The seat
14
includes one or more, such as two channels or tracks
18
formed and provided in the front portion thereof. For example, each of the side beams
15
includes a pair of parallel flaps or flanges
19
extended inward from the front portion thereof and parallel to each other for forming or defining the tracks
18
thereof, best shown in
FIGS. 3-6
. A tread base
20
is disposed above the seat
10
, and includes a typical endless belt
21
provided therein for supporting the users, and for allowing the users to conduct jogging, walking or the other exercises. The tread base
20
is rotatable or foldable between a downward working position (
FIGS. 1
,
3
) and an upward folding or storing position (
FIGS. 2
,
10
).
One or more, such as two arms
50
each includes one end pivotally or rotatably secured to the middle and bottom portion of the tread base
20
with pivot axles
23
, and a column
51
is secured between the other ends of the arms
50
for solidly coupling the arms
50
together, and for forming a substantially parallelepiped structure. The arms
50
each includes a wheel or a roller
52
secured to the other end thereof and slidably engaged in the respective tracks
18
of the seat
14
, best shown in
FIG. 4
, for allowing the other ends of the arms
50
to be moved along the tracks
18
of the seat
14
.
The tread base
20
includes one or more, such as two grooves
24
formed in the front and bottom portion thereof (FIG.
2
). One or more, such as two levers
40
are further provided and each includes one end pivotally or rotatably secured to the middle portion of the seat
10
with pivot shafts
41
respectively, and the other ends engaged into the grooves
24
of the tread base
20
and pivotally or rotatably secured to the front and bottom portion of the tread base
20
with pivot pins
42
(
FIGS. 3
,
9
,
10
). The levers
40
each preferably includes a bent portion formed in the middle portion thereof and having a stud
47
attached thereto.
Two bars
43
each includes one end pivotally or rotatably secured to the middle portion of the seat
10
with pivot rods
44
which are located in front of the pivot shafts
41
respectively (
FIGS. 5
,
6
). The bars
43
each includes the other ends having an oblong hole
45
formed therein for slidably receiving the studs
47
therein, and for allowing the studs
47
to be moved between the ends of the oblong holes
45
of the bars
43
respectively (
FIGS. 5
,
6
). The arms
50
and the levers
40
and the bars
43
are arranged for allowing the tread base
20
to be rotatable or foldable between the downward working position (
FIGS. 1
,
3
) and the upward folding or storing position (
FIGS. 2
,
10
).
The treadmill further includes a powered folding or driving device for automatically folding the tread base
20
. A housing
30
is secured to the rear portion of the seat
14
, such as secured to the rear beam
16
of the seat
14
. A motor
31
is secured to the housing
30
, and includes a worm or a gear
32
secured to the spindle
33
thereof and rotatably received and supported in the housing
30
. A bolt
34
has one end
35
rotatably received in the housing
30
, and another worm or gear
36
is secured on the end
35
of the bolt
34
and engaged with the gear
32
, for allowing the bolt
34
to be rotated and driven by the motor
31
.
A tube
37
has one end pivotally or rotatably secured to the middle portion of the column
51
, and includes a bore
38
formed therein for receiving the bolt
34
, and includes an inner thread
39
formed in the other end thereof for threading with the bolt
34
. In operation, as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, when the bolt
34
is rotated or driven by the motor
31
, the tube
37
may be caused to be moved away from and toward the bolt
34
by the threading engagement of the inner thread
39
of the tube
37
and the outer thread of the bolt
34
, best shown in
FIGS. 2
,
3
, and
7
-
10
.
In operation, when the tube
37
is caused to be moved away from the bolt
34
by the threading engagement of the inner thread
39
of the tube
37
and the outer thread of the bolt
34
, and by the motor
31
, the column
51
and the arms
50
may be moved forward by the tube
37
, and the rollers
52
may be caused to move toward the front ends of the tracks
18
respectively. The levers
40
may retain the front portion of the tread base
20
relative to the seat
14
; i.e., the front portion of the tread base
20
may not be moved forward relative to the seat
14
, such that the rear portion of the tread base
20
may be moved or rotated downward to the working position as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
.
On the contrary, when the tube
37
is caused to be moved toward the bolt
34
or toward the housing
30
by the motor
31
, the column
51
and the arms
50
may be moved rearward by the tube
37
, and the rollers
52
may be caused to move toward the rear ends of the tracks
18
respectively. The levers
40
may retain the front portion of the tread base
20
relative to the seat
14
such that the rear portion of the tread base
20
may be moved or rotated upward to the upward folding or storing position as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 10
.
As shown in
FIGS. 3-6
,
9
and
10
, two switches, such as two microswitches
70
,
72
are disposed in the front and the rear portions of either or both of the tracks
18
of the seat
14
. For example, when the roller
52
is engaged with the front microswitch
70
, the motor
31
may be stopped for preventing the roller
52
from moving further forward relative to the tracks
18
, or for preventing the roller
52
from being disengaged from the tracks
18
. When the roller
52
is engaged with the rear microswitch
70
, the motor
31
may also be stopped for limiting the rearward movement of the roller
52
relative to the tracks
18
, or for preventing the roller
52
from being disengaged from the tracks
18
.
Another switch, such as the microswitch
71
is disposed on the free end of either or both of the bars
43
for engaging with the stud
47
. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5
, when the tread base
20
is moved or rotated downward to the working position, the stud
47
will not contact the microswitch
71
. However, as shown in
FIGS. 2
,
6
, and
10
, when the tread base
20
is moved or rotated upward to the folding or storing position, the the stud
47
may be caused to move toward the other end of the oblong hole
45
of the bar
43
, and may engage with the microswitch
71
in order to stop the motor
31
.
Accordingly, the motor
31
may be stopped when either or both the stud
47
is engaged with the microswitch
71
and the rollers
52
are engaged with the microswitches
72
. The engagement of the stud
47
with the microswitch
71
, and the engagement of the rollers
52
with the microswitches
72
, form a double security device for limiting the upward movement of the tread base
20
to the upward folding and storing position.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, when a switch button
73
, for example, is depressed by the users, the tread base
20
may be moved or rotated downward to the working position as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
. When the other switch button
74
is depressed by the users, the tread base
20
may be moved or rotated upward to the upward folding or storing position as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 10
. For safety purposes, the treadmill further includes one or more safety switches
17
provided or disposed on the handle device
10
, particularly attached to the front and upper portion of the handle device
10
.
The safety switch
17
and the switch button
74
are preferably or should both be depressed for allowing the tread base
20
to be rotated upward to the upward folding position, for preventing the tread base
20
from being rotated upward to the upward folding position inadvertently, and for preventing the children from being clamped between the tread base
20
and the handle device
10
inadvertently.
The safety switch
17
and the switch button
73
should also both be depressed by the users, for allowing the tread base
20
to be rotated downward to the downward working position, for preventing the tread base
20
from being rotated downward to the downward working position inadvertently, and for preventing the children from being clamped or hit or hurt by the tread base
20
inadvertently. The switch button
73
or
74
may also be used for controlling the upward and downward movement of the tread base
20
, by such as depressing the switch button
73
or
74
twice.
Accordingly, the treadmill in accordance with the present invention includes a powered folding device for folding the treadmill automatically, without being folded manually, and includes a safety device for allowing the powered folding device to be safely operated, and for preventing the children from being hurt by the treadmill.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. A treadmill comprising:a seat, a handle device disposed on said seat, a tread base disposed above said seat, and rotatable between a downward working position and an upward folding position, power driving means for moving said tread base between said downward working position and said upward folding position, said power driving means including a pair of arms having a first end pivotally secured to said tread base and a second end slidably secured to said seat, a pair of levers having a first end pivotally secured to a front portion of said tread base and a second end pivotally secured to said seat, said power driving means including a pair of bars pivotally secured between said seat and said levers respectively, each of said bars including a first end pivotally secured to said seat, and a second end having an oblong hole formed therein, each of said levers including a middle portion having a stud secured thereto and slidably engaged in said oblong holes of said bars respectively, a switch button for actuating said power driving means to move said tread base, a safety switch for actuating said power driving means to move said tread base only when both said switch button and said safety switch are depressed simultaneously, and a switch attached to said second end of said bar, said stud being engageable with said switch in order to stop said power driving means.
- 2. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said handle device includes an upper portion and a front portion, said switch button is provided on said upper portion of said handle device, and said safety switch is provided on said front portion of said handle device.
- 3. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said seat includes a pair of tracks provided therein, and two rollers secured to said second ends of said arms respectively and slidably engaged in said tracks of said seat respectively.
- 4. The treadmill according to claim 3 further comprising a switch attached to a first end of said track, said roller being engageable with said switch in order to stop said power driving means.
- 5. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said power driving means includes a column secured between said second ends of said arms, a tube secured to said column, a bolt threaded with said tube, and means for rotating said bolt relative to said tube to move said tube relative to said bolt.
- 6. The treadmill according to claim 5, wherein said rotating means includes a housing secured to said seat, a motor secured to said housing and having a spindle and a first gear secured to said spindle, a second gear secured to said bolt and engaged with said first gear, for allowing said bolt to be driven by said motor.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5855537 |
Coody et al. |
Jan 1999 |
A |
6077200 |
Lin |
Jun 2000 |
A |