EP1327464A9

EP1327464A9 - Rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill

Info

Publication number: EP1327464A9
Application number: EP20020000590
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-10
Filing date: 2002-01-10
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-10
Also published as: EP1327464A1; DE60210917D1; EP1327464B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill. Each end of the U-shaped handrail (10) is provided with a rope wheel (11) whose shaft is pivotably mounted on the extension part at the top of each of the supporting arms (20). Thereafter, a strong rope (70) is fixed at one side of the rope wheel and pulled downward to the bottom (36) of the frame (30). When the U-shaped handrail is raised and turned around the shaft, the rope wheel is also rotated to pull the strong rope upward. Thereafter, the frame is raised up to the top by means that the rear roller (33) is turned around the first pivot.

Description

The present invention relates to a rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill.
A frame of conventional treadmills (for example disclosed in US 5,674,453 and US 6,033,347) is designed to be foldable in order to reduce the occupied space and to facilitate the movement thereof. However, these products have to include an auxiliary lifting member (like a pneumatic or oil-pressurised cylinder) behind the frame in order to prevent the frame from an unexpected collapse endangering the operator or the other around. Accordingly, the whole design and use show much inconvenience.
Moreover, this conventional design doesn't fit the old or the disable in waist or lower limbs because they have much difficulty in bending down to perform the folding movement.
It is a primary object of the present invention to remove the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill through which the operator doesn't need to bend down to perform the folding movement of the frame. Furthermore, the frame can be folded to the top at an automatic locking position by means of rope wheels, strong ropes and corresponding pivots for achieving a full safety for operators and people around.
The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention showing the fold-up action; and
FIG. 3 is another side view of the present invention in the fold-up state.
First of all, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a U-shaped handrail 10, two supporting arms 20, a frame 30, a front support 40, a motorised assembly 50 and a rear treading plate 60. The frame 30 has a platform 31, whereby the front and rear ends of said platform 31 are fitted with a front and rear roller 32, 33 between which a treadmill walking belt 34 circles. Besides, the rear roller 33 of the frame 30 is positioned on horizontal parts 21 of the supporting arms 20 by means of a first pivot 35.
The motorised assembly 50 comprises a motor 51, a belt 52, a driven wheel 53 and a protection cover 54. The motor 51 is fixed behind the horizontal parts 21 of the supporting arms 20 by means of a fastening member. The belt 52 extends between a power output shaft 56 and the driven wheel 53 while the rear roller 33 is driven by the driven wheel 53 for a rotational movement of the treadmill walking belt 34.
Each end of the U-shaped handrail 10 is provided with a rope wheel 11 whose shaft 12 is pivotably mounted on the extension part 22 at the top of each of the supporting arms 20. Thereafter, a strong rope 70 is fixed at one side of the rope wheel 11 and pulled downward to the bottom 36 of the frame 30. When the U-shaped handrail 10 is raised and turned around the shaft 12, the rope wheel 11 is also rotated to pull the strong rope 70 upward. Thereafter, the frame 30 is raised up to the top by means that the rear roller 33 is turned around the first pivot 35.
Based on the above-mentioned components, the frame 30 can be folded up for storage or unfolded for exercise operation only by moving the U-shaped handrail 10. Meanwhile, when the U-shaped handrail 10 is moved up to the top (see FIG. 3), the handrail 10 is considerably turned to the other side of the frame 30 in a hung state at a locked angle. Therefore, the frame 30 won't be unexpectedly collapsed even in case of being moved. The frame 30 can only be lowered by moving the U-shaped handrail 10 in proper operation steps so that the safety is more ensured.
In order to facilitate the movement of the strong rope 70, a plurality of locating rolls 71 are disposed on the supporting arms 20. This belongs to prior art so that further descriptions won't be given. The strong rope 70 can be substituted by any equivalent components.

Claims

A rope type folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill comprising a coupling mechanism between a U-shaped handrail (10) and a walking frame (30) so that when said handrail (10) is rotated in pre-set direction, said frame (30) is folded up to the folding top to complete the folding up action.
A folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill comprising a U-shaped handrail (10), two supporting arms (20), a frame (30), a front support (40), a motorised assembly (50) and a rear treading plate (60) ;
wherein the improvement is characterised by:

said frame (30) having a platform (31) the front and rear ends of which are fitted with a front and rear roller (32, 33) between which a treadmill walking belt (34) circles, said rear roller (33) of said frame (30) being positioned on horizontal parts (21) of said supporting arms (20) by means of a first pivot (35) ;

said motorised assembly (50) having a motor (51), a belt (52), a driven wheel (53) and a protection cover (54), said motor (51) being fixed behind said horizontal parts (21) of said supporting arms (20) by means of a fastening member, said belt (52) extending between a power output shaft (56) and said driven wheel (53) while said rear roller (33) is driven by said driven wheel (53) for a rotational movement of said treadmill walking belt (34); and

each end of said U-shaped handrail (10) being provided with a rope wheel (11) whose shaft (12) is pivotably mounted on said extension part (22) at the top of each of said supporting arms (20).
A folding mechanism for an exercise treadmill as recited in claim 2, characterised by a strong rope (70) being thereafter fixed at one side of said rope wheel (11) and pulled downward to a bottom (36) of said frame (30) so that, when said U-shaped handrail (10) is raised and turned around said shaft (12), said rope wheel (11) is also rotated to pull said strong rope (70) upward while said frame (30) is raised up to the top by means that said rear roller (33) is turned around said first pivot (35).