Folding mechanism for treadmills

[00002] The present invention relates to folding mechanism far treadmills and includes a movable member which is driven by a motor and connected to an end of the frame so as to easily pivoting the frame of the treadmills.

[00003] A conventional treadmill generally includes a base which has two side rails and two posts are connected on the two side rails. A control panel and a handle are connected between the two posts. A frame has two sides and a running belt is reeved onto two ends of the frame. The user is running on the running belt and the data of speed, calorie consuming and the rate of slope can be displayed on the control panel. The frame has one end pivotably connected between the two side rails of the base so that the frame can be pivoted upright when not in use so as to reduce the space occupied. The frame of treadmills is so heavy that the user cannot fold or unfold the, treadmill easily. Therefore, a folding mechanism is needed, especially when the frame is folded at a large angle, the user has to support the frame and this is not an easy job for most of the users. Besides, when an electrical folding mechanism is chosen, some inherent shortcomings are involved which includes too many parts, high cost, and high maintenance fee is required.

[00004] The present invention intends to provide a folding mechanism which has less number of parts and is easily to fold or unfold the frame.

[00005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a treadmill which comprises a base having two side rails and two posts extend from the two side rails. Two transverse bars are connected between the two side rails. Two guide members are connected between the two transverse bars and a motor is fixed to the base.

[00006] A frame connected to a running belt is located between the two side rails of the base and a connection board is connected between two sides of the frame. The connection board is located close to an end of the base and the posts. Two connection plates are respectively connected to the two sides of the frame and each connection plate has an extension which is pivotably connected to respective one of the posts.

[00007] A movable member is driven by the motor and movable on the two guide members. Two arms on the movable member have one end thereof pivotably connected to the connection board so that the frame can be pivoted relative to the blase by moving the movable member.

[00008] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

[00013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the treadmill 30 of the present invention comprises a base 10 having two side rails and two transverse bars 100 are connected between the two side rails. Two posts 11 extend from the two side rails and two guide members 31 and two guide rods 37 are respectively connected between the two transverse bars 100. A motor 32 is fixed to the base 10 and drives a threaded rod 321.

[00014] A frame 20 for the running belt (not shown) to be installed thereto is located between the two side rails of the base 10 and a connection board 360 is connected between two sides of the frame 20. The connection board 360 is located close to an end of the base 10 and the posts 11. Two connection plates 36 are respectively connected to the respective undersides of the two sides of the frame 20 and each connection plate 36 has an extension 361 which is pivotably connected to respective one of the posts 11.

[00015] A movable member 34 has a sleeve 33 fixed thereto and the threaded rod 321 driven by the motor 32 is threadedly extends through the sleeve 33. Two rollers 341 are connected to two ends of the movable member 34 and roll on the two guide members 31. The two guide rods 37 freely extend through the movable member 34 so that the movable member 34 is moved on the two guide members 31 in a stable condition.

[00016] Two arms 35 each have one end thereof pivotably connected to the connection board 360 and the other end of each of the arms 35 is connected to the movable member 34.

[00017] When the motor 32 is activated, the threaded rod 321 is rotated and drives the movable member 34 to move toward the connection board 360. This movement of the movable member 34 allows the arms 35 to pivot the frame 20 about the connection points of the extensions 361 and the posts 11, so that the frame 20 is pivoted upright.

[00018] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the threaded rod 321 is rotated in an opposite direction, the movable member 34 is moved away from the connection board 360 and this makes the arms 35 to pivot the frame 20 downward to its operation position as shown.

[00019] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.