FLATTENED TREADMILL

[0001] The entire contents of China Patent Application No. 201310538355.1, filed on Nov. 4, 2013, from which this application claims priority, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly relates to a treadmill with flat configuration.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Nowadays, people tend to lack adequate exercise due to busy lifestyles. To the extent running has become popular as a simple and effective means for squeezing physical activity into a tight schedule, it is not always practicable.

[0006] FIG. 1A shows a conventional treadmill 10, and FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1A. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, conventional treadmill 10 typically has a wide conveyor belt 12 allowing a user for walking or running in the same place, and a driving assembly 14 for driving the conveyor belt 12 to rotate. The driving assembly 14 includes a front roller 140 and a rear roller 141. The conveyor belt 12 surrounds the front roller 140 and the rear roller 141, and the rotation of the front roller 140 or the rear roller 141 can drive the conveyor belt 12 to rotate. The driving assembly 14 further includes a motor 142, a small pulley 143, a timing belt 144, and a large pulley 145. The motor 142 couples with the small pulley 143, the small pulley 143 couples with the large pulley 145 via the timing belt 144, and the large pulley 145 coaxially couples with an end of the front roller 140. Accordingly, the rotation of the motor 142 will drive the small pulley 143, which in turn drives the large pulley 145 via the timing belt 144, and the large pulley 145 in turn drives the front roller 140 causing the rotation of the conveyor belt 12.

[0007] Conventional treadmill has a drawback that the elevation of the large pulley 145 and motor 142 is higher than the conveyor belt 12, so that a motor housing 146 is needed to cover the motor 142 and the related components, as shown in FIG. 1B. Because the motor housing 146 is protruded in relation to the conveyor belt 12, the user frequently kicks the motor housing 146 and thus results in stumble of the user or the broke of the motor housing 146.

[0008] In one general aspect, the present invention relates to treadmills, and more particularly relates to a treadmill with flat configuration.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, a flattened treadmill is provided with a conveyor belt and a driving system. The endless conveyor belt allows a user for walking or running in the same place. The driving system drives the conveyor belt to rotate, comprising a front roller, a motor, a first wheel, a second wheel, and a medium wheel mechanism. The front roller is arranged under the conveyor belt and is surrounded by the conveyor belt. The motor has an elevation equal to or under than an elevation of the conveyor belt. The first wheel couples with the motor and has an elevation equal to or under than the elevation of the conveyor belt. The second wheel is arranged at a first end of the front roller and has a diameter equal to or smaller than a diameter of a second end of the front roller. The medium wheel mechanism couples with the first wheel and the second wheel. Whereby the motor drives the first wheel to rotate, the first wheel drives the medium wheel mechanism rotating, and the medium wheel mechanism drives the second wheel and the front roller rotating and thus causing the rotation of the conveyor belt.

[0010] In an embodiment, the medium wheel mechanism comprises a large wheel and a small wheel coaxially connected with the large wheel.

[0011] In an embodiment, the medium wheel mechanism comprises a large wheel having a diameter equal to a diameter of the second wheel.

[0012] In an embodiment, the large wheel couples with the first wheel via a first linking member, and the small wheel couples with the second wheel via a second linking member.

[0013] In an embodiment, the first linking member and the second linking member comprise a belt, a gear, or a timing belt.

[0014] In an embodiment, the large wheel and the small wheel comprise a pulley, a sprocket, a gear, or a timing pulley, gear, or wheel.

[0015] In an embodiment, the first wheel comprises a pulley, a sprocket, a gear, or a timing pulley, gear, or wheel.

[0016] In an embodiment, the second wheel comprises a pulley, a sprocket, a gear, or a timing pulley, gear, or wheel.

[0017] In an embodiment, the flattened treadmill further comprises a flattened housing for covering the motor, the first wheel, the second wheel, and the medium wheel mechanism.

[0018] In an embodiment, the flattened housing having an elevation equal to the elevation of the conveyor belt.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, instances of which are to be interpreted to be to scale in some implementations while in other implementations, for each instance, not. In certain aspects, use of like or the same reference designators in the drawings and description refers to the same, similar or analogous components and/or elements, while according to other implementations the same use should not. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are mechanism forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations and components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. While drawings are illustrated in detail, it is appreciated that the quantity of the disclosed components may be greater or less than that disclosed, except where expressly restricting the amount of the components.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a simplified view showing a flattened treadmill 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, some components are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the flattened treadmill 20 comprises a conveyor belt 22 and a driving system 24. The conveyor belt 22 allows a user for walking or running in the same place, and the driving system 24 drives the conveyor belt 22 to rotate and comprises a front roller 240, a rear roller 241, a first wheel 242, a second wheel 243, a medium wheel mechanism 244, and a motor 245.

[0026] The front roller 240 and the rear roller 241 are arranged under the conveyor belt 2 and are surrounded by the conveyor belt 22. The motor 245 is arranged near to an end, typically the front end of treadmill 20, and the elevation of which equals to or is below the elevation of the conveyor belt 22.

[0027] In this text, an elevation of a component means the elevation of the top portion, point, or surface of the component. According to the preferred embodiment, the first wheel 242 couples with the motor 245, and the elevation of the motor 245 is below the elevation of the conveyor belt 22. The second wheel 243 is arranged at a first end 240a of the front roller 240. The diameter of the second wheel 243 is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the second end 240b of the front roller 240, so that the elevation of the second wheel 243 is equal to or blow the elevation of the conveyor belt 22. The medium wheel mechanism 244 couples with the first wheel 242 and the second wheel 243. The medium wheel mechanism 244 employs a first linking member 246 to couple with the first wheel 242, and employs a second linking member 247 to couple with the second wheel 243. By doing so, the motor 245 drives the first wheel 242 to rotate, the first wheel 242 drives the medium wheel mechanism 244 rotating via the first linking member 246, and the medium wheel mechanism 244 drives the second wheel 243 and the front roller 240 rotating via the second linking member 247 and thus causing the rotation of the conveyor belt 22.

[0028] The medium wheel mechanism 244 is used as a medium for the first wheel 242 and the second wheel 243. The medium mechanism 244 can modulate the rotational speed of the second wheel 243. The medium wheel mechanism 244 may comprise a large wheel 2440 and a small wheel 2442 coaxially connected with the large wheel 2440. The first wheel 242 couples with the large wheel 2440 via the first linking member 246, and the second wheel 243 couples with the small wheel 2442 via the second linking member 247. Preferably, the diameter of the large wheel 2440 is greater than the diameter of the small wheel 2442 and the diameter of the first wheel 242, and the diameter of the small wheel 2442 is equal to or approximates the diameter of the second wheel 243.

[0029] In this preferred embodiment, the second wheel 243 is arranged at the first end 240a of the front roller 240. In another embodiment, the first end 240a of the front roller 240 is used as a wheel and is directly coupled with the small wheel 2442 via the second linking member 247.

[0030] The first wheel 242, the second wheel 243, the large wheel 2440, and the small wheel 2442 may be a pulley, a sprocket, a gear, or a timing pulley, gear, or wheel. The first linking member 346 and the second linking member 247 may be a belt, a gear, or a timing gear or a timing belt corresponsive thereto. In this preferred embodiment, the first wheel 242, the second wheel 243, the large wheel 2440, and the small wheel 2442 are pulleys, and the first linking member 246 and the second linking member 247 are belts. In another embodiment of this invention, the first wheel 242, the first linking member 246, and the large wheel 2440 are gears; the second wheel 243, the small wheel 2442 are pulleys, and the second linking member 247 is belt. In addition, the first linking member 246 may be omitted, and the first wheel 242 directly engages the large wheel 2440.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the flattened treadmill 20 according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The flattened treadmill 20 may comprise a flat housing 26 covering motor 245, the first wheel 242, the second wheel 243, the medium wheel mechanism 244, the first linking member 246, and the second linking member 247. Because the elevations of these covered components are equal to or lower than the elevation of the conveyor belt 22, the flat housing 26 can have a flat configuration, and therefore avoid the user being tumbled and the housing being broken.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows another flattened treadmill 30 according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The treadmill 30 differs from the treadmill 20 in that all of the wheels and linking members are gears, and the following describes the detail. The driving system 34 drives the conveyor belt 22 to rotate and comprises a front roller 340, a rear roller (not shown), a first wheel 342, a second wheel 343, at least a medium wheel mechanism 344, and a motor 345.

[0033] The front roller 340 and the rear roller are arranged under the conveyor belt 2 and are surrounded by the conveyor belt 22. The motor 345 is arranged near to an end, typically the front end of treadmill 20, and the elevation of which is equal to or under than the elevation of the conveyor belt 22.

[0034] The first wheel 342 couples with the motor 345, and the elevation of the motor 345 is below the elevation of the conveyor belt 22. The second wheel 343 is arranged at a first end 340a of the front roller 340. The diameter of the second wheel 343 is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the front roller 340, so that the elevation of the second wheel 343 is equal to or blow the elevation of the conveyor belt 22. The medium wheel mechanism 344 couples with the first wheel 342 and the second wheel 343. The medium wheel mechanism 344 employs a first linking member 346 to couple with the first wheel 342, and employs a second linking member 347 to couple with the second wheel 343. By doing so, the motor 345 drives the first wheel 342 to rotate, the first wheel 342 drives the medium wheel mechanism 344 rotating via the first linking member 346, and the medium wheel mechanism 344 drives the second wheel 343 and the front roller 340 rotating via the second linking member 347 and thus causing the rotation of the conveyor belt 22.

[0035] The medium mechanism 344 can modulate the rotational speed of the second wheel 343. The medium wheel mechanism 344 may comprise a large wheel 3440 and a small wheel 3442 coaxially connected with the large wheel 3440. The first wheel 342 couples with the large wheel 3440 via the first linking member 346, and the second wheel 343 couples with the small wheel 3442 via the second linking member 347. Preferably, the diameter of the large wheel 3440 is greater than the diameter of the small wheel 3442 and the diameter of the first wheel 342, and the diameter of the small wheel 3442 is equal to or approximates the diameter of the second wheel 343.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first wheel 342, the second wheel 343, the large wheel 3440, the small wheel 3442, the first linking member 346, and the second linking member 347 are gears. In addition, the flattened treadmill 30 may comprise a flat housing 36 covering motor 345, the first wheel 342, the second wheel 343, the medium wheel mechanism 344, the first linking member 346, and the second linking member 347. The other features of this invention may be same as mentioned in FIGS. 2 and 3. In another embodiment, the first linking member 346 is omitted, and the first wheel 342 directly engages with the large wheel 3440.

[0037] Accordingly, embodiments of this invention employ the medium wheel mechanism to modulate the rotational speed, so that the elevation of all wheels and the related components can be lower than the elevation of the conveyor belt. A flattened treadmill is thus can be achieved to increase safety and decrease damage.

[0038] The intent accompanying this disclosure is to have each/all embodiments construed in conjunction with the knowledge of one skilled in the art to cover all modifications, variations, combinations, permutations, omissions, substitutions, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments, to the extent not mutually exclusive, as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods disclosed or referenced herein, and/or in any and all co-pending, abandoned or patented application(s) by any of the named inventor(s) or assignee(s) of this application and invention, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, wherein such incorporation includes corresponding or related structure (and modifications thereof) which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any part(s) of the present invention according to this disclosure, that of the application and references cited therein, and the knowledge and judgment of one skilled in the art.

[0039] Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that embodiments include, and in other interpretations do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or interpretations thereof, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0040] All of the contents of the preceding documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been presented by way of example rather than limitation. For example, any of the particulars or features mechanism out or referenced herein, or other features, including method steps and techniques, may be used with any other structure(s) and process described or referenced herein, in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation as a non-equivalent, separate, non-interchangeable aspect of this invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods specifically contemplated and disclosed herein as part of this invention, to the extent not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art, including, modifications thereto, which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any parts of the present invention according to this disclosure, include: (I) any one or more parts of the above disclosed or referenced structure and methods and/or (II) subject matter of any one or more of the inventive concepts mechanism forth herein and parts thereof, in any permutation and/or combination, include the subject matter of any one or more of the mentioned features and aspects, in any permutation and/or combination.

[0041] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.