EXERCISE TREADMILL WITH POWER DRIVEN FOLDING DEVICE

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to power driven exercise treadmills and more particularly to such an exercise treadmill having a power driven folding device with improved characteristics.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Conventional exercise treadmills having a mechanism for lifting and lowering its tread belt are well known. It is understood that an exercise treadmill is a bulky device. Hence, it may occupy a great space. For decreasing the occupied space of an exercise treadmill in its inoperative state, a type of exercise treadmill having a folding device is commercially available. However, such the folding device is a manual one. Thus, its folding or unfolding operation is not convenient. Further, the hand(s) may be hurt by the treadmill if a sufficient care is not taken while folding or unfolding same. Thus, the need for improvement still exists in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art and contribute significantly to the advancement of the art.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an exercise treadmill having a power driven folding device such that a folding of the exercise treadmill in its inoperative state is made easy.

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an exercise apparatus comprising a housing; left and right uprights extending upward from the housing; left and right hand grips extended rearward from a top of the uprights; a control panel mounted at the top of the uprights and including an incline up key, an incline down key, a start key, a stop key, and a reset key; a moving tread belt extended rearward from the housing and supported by an underlying frame, the tread belt being disposed on which a user runs or walks while exercising, the tread belt including a front contact member at either side, a slide at either side and having a first sensor at a rear end, and a second sensor at a front end, and one or more wheel at either side; a link assembly mounted in the housing and, at either side, including a first link having a front first pivot pivotably provided in the housing, and a rear second pivot slidably secured to the slide, and a second link having a rear third pivot pivotably secured to an intermediate point of the first link, a front fourth pivot pivotably provided in a front end the tread belt, and an intermediate fifth pivot; a lift assembly affixed to the front end of the tread belt and including a motor having a rotating shaft, a rotating direction change member for controlling a rotating direction of the motor, a worm gear extended from an end of the rotating shaft, and a movable member having interior threads in mesh with the worm gear and one end pivotably secured to the fifth pivots; a direction switching assembly mounted in the housing and, at either side, including a rear pivotal detent bar, a pivotal returning bar having a front stop and a rear end resiliently connected to the detent bar, and a pivotal rail including a first section, a second section, and a joint interconnected the first and second sections, a first spring, a second spring having one end engaged with the first spring and the other end urged against the stop, and a lock member; wherein in response to pressing the incline up key the motor rotates clockwise to rotate the worm gear, the movable member extends out of the worm gear, the extending movable member pushes the front end of the tread belt upward by pivoting the second links by pivoting about the fourth pivots, the slides lift the first links through the second pivots, the first links pivot away from the second links about the third pivots, the first links pivot upward about the first pivots, and the first and second links pivot away each other to continuously push the front end of the tread belt upward until a predetermined height is reached wherein the contact members push the detent bars, the detent bars push the returning bars, the stops disengage with the lock member to release the stored elastic force of the first springs for pivoting the rails, and the second pivots contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction change member to change the rotation of the motor from the clockwise rotation to a counterclockwise rotation; wherein in response to the counterclockwise rotation of the motor the movable member moves toward the worm gear to lower the front end of the tread belt, the second links pivot about the fourth pivots, the first and second links pivot toward each other by pivoting about the third pivots, the contact members contact the first sections and move from the first sections to the joint, the rails incline upward rearward, the lock members lock the stops, and the contact members further move from the joint to the second sections until the tread mill is fully folded with the second pivots contacted the first sensors to stop the motor; and wherein in response to pressing the reset key the motor rotates clockwise, the folded tread belt pivots with the first and second links pivoted away each other, the contact members move from the second sections to the joints with a rear end of the tread belt being lowered, and the contact members further move from the joints to the first sections to cause the lock members to lock the stops, the rails do not contact the contact members, the elastic force of the second springs pivots the rails to cause the second sections to dispose in a horizontal position, the second pivots contact the second sensors to enable the rotating direction change member to change the rotation of the motor from the clockwise rotation to a counterclockwise rotation, the contact members contact the detent bars, and the detent bars pivot to fully unfold the tread belt in a horizontal position with the motor being disabled as the second pivots contact the second sensors.

[0007] In another aspect of the present invention each of the first and second sensors is a mechanical or electronic limit switch.

[0008] In a further aspect of the present invention the housing further comprises two internal seat having a concave top surface, and the link assembly, at either side, further comprises a third link having one end pivotably secured to the third pivot and a roller formed at the other end and placed on the top surface of either seat, a moving distance of the roller being defined by two ends of the top surface of the seat.

[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 20, an exercise treadmill in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a housing 10 including left and right uprights 101 extending upward, and left and right hand grips extended rearward from a top of the uprights 101; a control panel mounted at the top of the uprights 101; and a moving tread belt 20 extended rearward from the housing 10 and supported by an underlying frame, the tread belt 20 including a surface 22 on which a user runs or walks while exercising, a front contact member 21 at either side, left and right slides 23 having a first sensor 231 at a rear end, and a second sensor 232 at a front end, both sensors 231 and 232 being implemented as a mechanical or electronic limit switch, and left and right wheels 24 proximate its rear.

[0029] The treadmill further comprises a link assembly 30 mounted in the housing 10 and, at either left or right side, including a first link 31 having a front first pivot 311 pivotably provided in the housing 10, and a rear second pivot 312 slidably secured to the slide 23, and a second link 32 having a rear third pivot 321 pivotably secured to an intermediate point of the first link 31, a front fourth pivot 322 pivotably provided in a front end the tread belt 20, and an intermediate fifth pivot 323.

[0030] The treadmill further comprises a lift assembly 40 affixed to the front end of the tread belt 20 and including a fixedly provided motor 41, a rotating direction change member 44 provided in the motor 41, a worm gear 42 extended from an end of a rotating shaft of the motor 41, and a movable member 43 having interior threads in mesh with the worm gear 42 and one end pivotably secured to the fifth pivots 323.

[0031] The treadmill further comprises a direction switching assembly 50 mounted in the housing 10 and, at either side, including a rear pivotal detent bar 51, a pivotal returning bar 52 having a front stop 521 and a rear end resiliently connected to the detent bar 51, and a pivotal rail 53 including a first section 531, a second section (i.e., joint) 532, a third section 533, a first spring 534, and a second spring 535 having one end engaged with the first spring 534 and the other end urged against the stop 521. But the second spring 535 may be disengaged with the stop 521 by operating both the detent bar 51 and the returning bar 52 as detailed later.

[0032] Folding and unfolding including lifting and lowering operations of the invention will be described in detailed below. In a horizontal state of the tread belt 20 the worm gear 42 is concealed by the movable member 43, and the first pivot 311 is proximate the fourth pivot 322.

[0033] For adjusting incline of the tread belt 20, a user may press an incline up key (not shown) on the control panel. Next, the motor 41 activates (i.e., the motor 41 rotates clockwise) to rotate the worm gear 42 (see FIG. 4). The movable member 43 then extends out of the worm gear 42. The extending movable member 43 pushes the front end of the tread belt 20 upward through the link assembly 30. The second link 32 then pivots by pivoting about the fourth pivot 322 due to the upward movement of the front end of the tread belt 20. At the same time, the lifting slide 23 lifts the first link 31 through the second pivot 312. The first link 31 pivots away from the second link 32 about the third pivot 321. The first link 31 pivots upward about the first pivot 311.

[0034] The first and second links 31 pivot away each other to continuously push the front end of the tread belt 20 upward until a predetermined height is reached. At this position (as indicated by arrow P1), a user runs or walks on the tread belt 20 in a manner similar to climbing a mountain. Alternatively, a user may press a stop key to position the tread belt 20 at a desired incline during the upward movement. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the contact member 21 pushes the detent bar 51. And in turn, the detent bar 51 pushes the returning bar 52. The stop 521 disengages with a lock member 536 (see FIG. 3). The stored elastic force of the first spring 534 is then released together with the weight of the rail 53. As a result, the rail 53 pivots to a position indicated by arrow P2.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second pivot 312 contacts the second sensor 232 at the end of the upward pivoting of the tread belt 20 as indicated by arrow P3. The rotating direction change member 44 is then enabled by the second sensor 232 to switch the motor 41 to a reverse rotation (i.e., changed from clockwise rotation to counterclockwise rotation).

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the reverse rotation of the motor 41 will move the movable member 43 toward the worm gear 42 by threading. And in turn, the front end of the tread belt 20 lowers as the movable member 43 moves. Further, the second link 32 pivots about the fourth pivot 322. Also, the second pivot 312 moves rearward relative to the slide 23 while the slide 23 slightly moves forward and the first link 31 lowers by pivoting. In addition, the first link 31 and the second link 32 pivot toward each other by pivoting about the third pivot 321. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the contact member 21 contacts the first section 531.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the front end of the tread belt 20 lowers further and the first and second links 31 and 32 further pivot toward each other as the motor 41 continuously rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the contact member 21 moves from the first section 531 to the second section 532. At this position, the tread belt 20 is on its course of folding. Weight of the tread belt 20 causes the rail 53 to change from position P2 to position P4 (i.e., inclined upward rearward). The lock member 536 locks the stop 521 again. As a result, the returning bar 52 returns to its original position.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the front end of the tread belt 20 lowers further and the first and second links 31 and 32 further pivot toward each other as the motor 41 continuously rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the contact member 21 moves from the second section 532 to the third section 533. As a result, the tread mill 20 disposes in position P5 (i.e., folded position). Also, the second pivot 312 contacts the first sensor 231. As a result, the motor 41 stops and the folding operation of the tread belt 20 ends successfully.

[0039] For unfolding the tread belt 20 disposed in a position as shown in FIG. 14, a user may press a reset key to activate the motor 41 (i.e., the motor 41 rotates clockwise). The tread belt 20 then pivots from the folded position P5 (see FIG. 14) with the first and second links 31 and 32 pivoted away each other. The contact member 21 moves from the third section 533 (see FIG. 15) to the second section 532 (see FIG. 16) with a rear end of the tread belt 20 lowered by pivoting.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 17, the contact member 21 moves from the second section 542 to the first section 531. As such, the rail 53 pivots to cause the lock member 536 to lock the stop 521 again. As a result, an elastic force is stored in the second spring 535 and the force is adapted to pivot the rail 53 in a reverse direction thereafter.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 18, the rail 53 does not contact the contact member 21 as the motor 41 continuously rotates clockwise. The elastic force of the second spring 535 pivots the rail 53 to cause the third section 533 to dispose in a horizontal position. As a result, the inclined first section 531 clears the lowering path of the contact member 21 (i.e., disengaged).

[0042] As shown in FIG. 19, the rear end of the tread belt 20 is disposed in position P3 and the second pivot 312 contacts the second sensor 232. The rotating direction change member 44 is then enabled by the second sensor 232 to switch the motor 41 to a reverse rotation (i.e., changed from clockwise rotation to counterclockwise rotation). The front end of the tread belt 20 may continue to lower without being hindered by the rail 53. As shown in FIG. 20, the contact member 21 contacts the detent bar 51 during the lowering. And in turn, the detent bar 51 pivots to facilitate the tread belt 20 to dispose horizontally again the same as shown in FIG. 1. In this horizontal position, the motor 41 is disabled as the second pivot 312 contacts the second sensor 232.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 again, the link assembly 30, at either left or right side, further comprises a third link 33 having one end pivotably secured to the third pivot 321 and the other end formed as a roller 331 which is placed on a concave top surface of either seat 102 provided on a bottom of the housing 10. Further, a moving distance of the roller 331 is defined by two ends of the concave top surface of the seat 102. The provision of the third links 33 and the seats 102 aims at increasing a structural strength of the link assembly 30. As an end, the treadmill is made robust and durable.

[0044] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.