GB2327194A

GB2327194A - Self-folding treadmill

Info

Publication number: GB2327194A
Application number: GB9814964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Hung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-11
Filing date: 1998-07-09
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Also published as: ITRM980464A0; ITRM980464A1; FR2767483B3; FR2767483A3; DE29812356U1; GB9814964D0; IT1299555B1

Abstract

A treadmill comprises a base (14) for supporting the treadmill on a support surface, a tread frame (12) having an endless belt (34) positioned between opposing parallel frame members (18,20), and a lift mechanism (54), the tread frame (12) is rotatably mounted to the base (14) for movement between a first position in which the belt (34) is substantially horizontal for operation by a user and a second position in which the belt (34) is substantially vertical for storing the treadmill, the lift mechanism (54) is operable to move the tread frame (12) between the first position and second position. A control means (40) may be used for inhibiting the use of the treadmill as the frame is moving from the first position. A locking bar may lock the tread frame in the second position. The lift mechanism may comprise a motorized screw drive (16).

Description

SELF-FOLDING TREADMILL The present invention pertains to treadnijils and, more particularly, to treadmil. having an electronically controlled, motorized lift that urges the tread deck of the treadmill between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position.

Home exercise equipment is becoming increasingly popular among the healthconscious public and the exercise treadmill is an integral part of this equipment. The size of most treadmills, however, dictates that a relatively large amount of space is needed for the treadmill, even when not in use. It is known in the art, for example U.S. Patent No. 931,391, to provide folding capabilities for a treadmill and thus save space when the treadmill is not in use.

Present day folding ueadmills, however, require the operator manually to lift one end ofthe tread frame, which is relatively heavy and cumbersome, to its stored position and secure the frame in the folded position by use of pins or latches. These treadnills likewise require the operator to support the tread deck as it is rotated to rest on the floor. For some, especially the elderly, lifting or supporting the tread frame of the treadmill is undesirable, if not impossible.

Some present day treadmills use a hydraulic assist to reduce the load encountered when lifting or supporting the tread frame as it is lowered. These assists, however, still require the operator to carry a substantial load and are not adequate for the elderly, people in rehabilitation or people who have other physical ailments.

Moreover, the effort involved in relocating the tread frame between its stored and inuse positions prompts a substantial portion of the users to leave the treadmill in the spaceconsuning, ready-for-use position.

Thus, a continued need exists for a treadmill that efficiently urges the tread frame between a substantially horizontal position for operation by the user and a vertical position for storage, without the need for any manual assist by the user.

It would be desirable to be able toprovide a treadmill that mechanically repositions the tread frame between a folded position and an in-use position without the user manually manipulating the tread frame.

It would also be desirable to be able to provide a treadmill that the elderly or infirm can fold into the stored position.

It would be further desirable to be able te provide a treadmill having a motorized belt that cannot operate when the treadmill is not in the substantiallv horizontal, ready-to-use position.

Accordingly, the treadmill of the present invention comprises a base for supporting the treadmill on a support surface, a tread frame having an endless belt, and a lift interconnected between the tread frame and base. The tread frame is rotatably mounted to the base for movement between a fist position in which the belt is substantially horizontal for operation by a user and a second position in which the belt is substantially vertical for storing the treadmill. The treadmill further comprises a control mechanism associated with the lift for electronically inhibiting the use of the treadmill as the frame is positioned awav from the first position and an actuation device that is mechanically associated with the hydraulic lift to lift the tread deck upon activation by a user.

By way of examples only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the treadmill in the use position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the treadmill in the folded position; Figure 3 is a schematic of one embodiment of the electronic interlock; Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternative embodiment of the electronic interlock; and Figure 5 is a schematic of an automatic fold-inhibiting control system.

Referring to Fig. 1, a treadmill in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The treadmill includes a tread frame 12, a support base 14 for sustaining the treadmill in both the in-use position, where the treadmill frame is substantially horizontal for use by an operator, and stored position, where the tread frame is in a substantially vertical position and a usercontrolled motorized lift mechanism 16 to transfer the treadmill between the in-use and stored positions.

The tread frame of the treadmill includes two elongate frame members 18, 20 spaced apart from one another and positioned in substantial alignment, and a transverse member 22 interconnected between the two substantially aligned members. The elongate frame members each have a front end 24 and a rear end 26. A tread deck 28 is attached to the frame and extends between the two elongate frame members along substantially the entire length of these members to support an exercising user thereon.

As shown in Fig. 1, a drive roller 30 is rotatably mounted transversely between the two elongate members 18, 20 at the front ends 24 of these members immediately forward of the tread deck 28. Positioned on the opposing end 26 of the frame members 18, 20 is a cylindrical tail roller 32 that is similarly rotationally mounted to extend transversely between the elongate, spaced frame members.

The elongate cylindrical rollers 30, 32 provide a patb-defining structure for an endless belt 34 which is trained about the drive roller and tail roller. The endless belt thus has an upper stretch positioned on top of the tread deck 28 and a lower stretch that extends between the drive roller 30 and uil roller 32 below the tread deck. The user may walk, jog or run on the upper stretch of the endless belt 34 and thereby exercise with the weight of the user being supported by the tread deck 28. The deck is constructed of a phenolic resin with a diamond-cut belt and the exercising surface is approximately 17 in. by 54 in. It is to be understood that the dimensions and materials for both the belt and tread deck may be fabricated from many different materials and dimensioned in different sizes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A drive means, generally indicated at 36, is secured to the frame 12 of the treadmill 10 and connected to rotate the drive roller 30. The drive means includes a motor 38 interconnected by a pulley belt (not shown) secured to the drive roller 30.

When the motor 38 is actuated it rotates the pulley, which in turn rotates the drive roller 30 causing the belt 34 to be driven over the rollers 30, 32 in an endless continuous path. The operation of the motor 38 is controlled by electrical control means preferably positioned on a console 40 mounted to the treadmill. The control means is electrically connected to the motor in a manner that is well known in the art.

The motor 38 is selected to be a variable speed DC motor, or an AC motor connected to an appropriate controller, capable of altering the speed of the pulley belt and thus vary the treadmill speed as selected by the exercising user. This variance in belt speed may also be accomplished through structure to mechanically vary the speed of the pulley belt.

The support base 14 is configured both to T,zvsut the treadmill 10 from tipping in the in-use position and to sustain the treadmill in an upright position in the stored position. As shown in Fig. 2, the support base 14 is generally U-shaped and positioned to lie flat on a surface, e.g., floor. The base 14 may be fabricated from steel or some other rigid structural material. It is to be understood that the base may be of many different configurations and fabricated from other material and still be within the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the base is equipped with a pair of wheels, each indicated at 15, for facilitating the relocation of the treadmill. The wheels 15 are positioned at the end of each arm 17 and are mounted by an axle that extends through a pair of aligned aperrures on each wall of each arm of the base. Thereby, in the folded position, the treadmill may be tipped by grabbing the upright supports 42, 44 and tilting the treadmill such that it rests solely on the wheels. Positioned on its wheels 15, the treadmill 10 is easily relocated.

The support base 14 further includes two upright supports 42, 44. Each upright support is securely mounted to a respective arm of the support base at each end 46 of the U-shaped base. The upright supports 42, 44 include a transverse upper portion 48 extending between the supports that is configured to be used as handrails by the user exercising on the belt. As shown in Fig. 1, the upright supports are configured to permit the user to walk through the upright portion of the supports with the transverse upper portion extending along side of the user and then in front of the user. As such, the user can grab the side segment 45 of the upper portion as a rail during use of the treadmill. The transverse portion 48 of the supports 42. 44 is configured for a console 40 to be mounted thereto. The console 40 is positioned on the upright supports to be easily viewed by the user exercising on the treadmill and preferably includes a LCD/LED dot matrix display that informs the user of the time period of exercising, the current speed of the belt, the distance covered, the elevation of the tread deck, and the approximate amount of calories burned. It is to be understood that the console can be of many different styles without departing from the scope of this invention.

The frame 12 of the treadmill 10 is rotatably mounted to a lower portion 50 of each opposing support adjacent the front end 24 of the tread frame 12 through the use of a housing 52 mounted to each support. lEach housing 52 includes a bushing (not shown), which is adapted to receive a shaft (not shown) mounted adjacent the front end 24 of each side of the spaced tread frame members 18, 20, such that the shaft is rotatably mounted therein. As such, the tread frame 12 is swingedly mounted on the supports of the treadmill such that the rear end 26 of the frame 12 may be rotated from a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1., to a substantial vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lifting means to fold and unfold the tread frame electro-mechanically is generally indicated at 54 and includes an electronically controlled, motorized screw drive 16 that is mounted at one end 55 to a rear support 57 of the tread frame and at its other end 56 to the U-shaped portion of the support base 14. The support base includes a floating axle 51 extending between the arms 17 of the U-shaped base and is pivotally mounted to the arms to pivot at least 90 . This floating axle 51 is preferably positioned near the ends of the arms 17 and the screw drive 16 mounted at the midspan of this axle, as shown in Fig. 2. The end extension 55 of the screw drive 56 is mounted to the rear support 57.

The rear support 57 includes a pair of elongate support legs, each indicated at 59, and a cross bar 61 mounted transversely between the support legs at a location intermediate the opposing ends of each support leg. Positioned along the length of the cross bar 61 and preferably midway between the support legs 59 is a mounting bracket 63. As illustrated, the mounting bracket 63 is mounted to the cross bar 61 to extend outwardly therefrom. The bracket 63 includes two extensions, each having an aperture in registry with the other. The end extension 55 of the screw drive 16 is formed with an eye and a bolt extends through the apertures of the bracket and the eye of the screw drive to pivotally mount the end extension of the screw drive to the rear support 57.

Outward movement of the end extension 55 of the screw drive 16 causes the rear end 26 of the tread frame to lift from the underlying surface and pivot about the point of attachment 52 to the upright supports 42, 44 until the tread frame reaches the vertical position. The screw drive 16 mounted to the floating axle likewise pivots with respect to the support base to transfer the tread frame 12 from the first position (Fig. 1) to the second position (Fig. 2).

The operation of the motorized screw drive 16 is controlled by an actuation means. The actuation means is electrically connected to the lift motor 19 in a manner that is well lcnown to those skilled in the art. The motor 19 may be distinct from the motor 38 that operates the drive roller. Model 04451 from Home Run Motor Industrial Corporation may be used as the lift motor 19 and Model number B2FJ3 1 from Turdan Industrial Motor Corporation may be used as the drive motor 38. Preferably, however, the motor 38 that drives the drive roller 30 also drives the screw drive 16 to raise and lower the tread frame 12 between its in-use and stored position. It is to be understood that other motors may be used to drive the rollers and operate the screw drive without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be understood that alternatively the lifting means may be a pulley and cable system, a rack and pawl system or any other mechanical device that would raise and lower the tread frame without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the lifting screw drive 16 is also operable to vary the inclination of the tread frame 12 with respect to the underlying surface, e.g., the ground or floor, and thus modify the intensity of the exercise. For this purpose, the elongate support legs 59 are each pivotally mounted to a respective frame member 18, 20 by means of a nut and bolt arrangement. Each support leg 59 includes on a first end thereof a clevis (not shown), each arm of which has an aperture defined therethrough.

Extensions (not shown) are mounted to each frame member 18, 20 and the extensions include a channel therethrough. The channel in each extension is aligned with the apertures of each respective clevis and a bolt is extended through the apertures and clevis to form the pivot mounting for each support leg. An angle (not shown) is mounted to each frame member 18, 20 to restrict the pivoting of the rear support beyond approximately perpendicular.

A wheel 65 is rotatably mounted to the opposing end of each support leg 59 by means of an elongate axle extending through an aperrure in this end of each support leg and the wheel. Each wheel 65 is positioned to contact and abut the underlying surface on which the treadmill 10 is placed in the unfolded position.

The screw drive rod 67 is mounted within a cylinder 69 of the screw drive 16.

As the end extension 55 of the screw drive rod 67 is moved toward the screw drive cylinder 69, the rear support 57 of the treadmill 10 is pivoted about its attachment to the tread frame toward the tread members 18, 20 thereby lowering the rear end 26 of the tread frame 12 with respect to the front end 24 and thus inclining the tread deck.

Likewise, as the end extension 55 is moved outwardly from the screw drive cylinder, the rear support 57 is moved outwardly and the tread deck 28 moves to a substantially horizontal position. Once the rear support 57 is approximately perpendicular to the tread frame 12, the rear support is prevented from pivoting any further by the pair of angles mounted to the frame mernbers 18, 20. In this position, the tread deck is horizontal. Further ourward movement of the end extension 55 of the screw drive 16 causes the rear end 26 of the tread frame 12 to lift from the underlying surface and pivot about the point of attachment 52 to the upright supports 42, 44 until the tread frame reaches the second, storage position.

In the preferred embodiment, the tread 10 further comprises an electronic interlock. shown schematically at Figs 5 and 4. that inhibits the operation ot the motor 38 powering the drive roller 30 as the tread frame is positioned away from the first, inuse position. This electronic interlock does not work to cut-off the drive motor 38 for the endless belt 34 when the tread frame 12 is merely inclined or declined. Only when the rear end 26 of tread frame 12 is spaced from the support surface does the interlock prevent the operation of the endless belt 34.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the electronic interlock comprises a synchronous switch corresponding to an incline:decline position and a folding/unfolding position on an actuator on the console. In the incline/decline position, the lift motor 19 operates to allow the user to adjust the inclination of the tread frame 12 and thereby vary the intensity of the exercise regimen, but prevents the lift motor from folding the tread frame 12. In the folding/unfolding position, the synchronous switch electronically inactivates the drive motor 35 to prevent the tread belt 34 from operating during the folding and storage of the treadmill. Thus, the endless belt 34 of the tread frame 12 is inoperable as the tread frame 12 is shifted between the first, in-use position and the second, storage position and as the treadmill is stored.

In an alternative embodiment of the electronic interlock, the switch operates to prevent the operation of the drive motor ,8 through the use of a key 71 inserted in a slot of the console. With the key in the slot (as shown in Fig. 1), an actuator 75 cotrols the inclination of the treadmill. When the key 71 is removed from the slot thus same actuator 75 controls the folding and unfolding of the treadmill. This electronic interlock, with the key removed. aiso disabled the drive motor. Thus. the belt 34 is unabie to operate as the tread frame is being folded or in the stored position.

This key may also be attached to the user a: ts other end 77 through a clamp 79. If the operator falls or steps away from the treadmill ill while the drive motor is turning the belt, the removal of the key irom the slot by the cord S1 pulling the key from the e slot deac:ivates the drive motor.

Preferably, the treadmill 10 further includes an automatic unfolding inhibitor control that inhibits the unfolding of the treadmill upon meeting a resistance during the movement between the stored and in-use position. As shown schematically in Fig. 5, this unfolding inhibitor comprises a microswitch. such as Gloso Tech Inc.'s Model Number DMC. This sensor is mounted to the tread frame 12 and upon encountering a resistance against the lowering of the tread frame, the switch opens and the lift motor 19 is deactivated. This unfolding inhibitor thus prevents the deck from continuing to unfold on small children, pets or furniture.

In one embodiment, the treadmill 10 also includes a locking tube (not shown) mounted at one end to the U-shaped portion of the support base 14 and at its other end to the tread frame 12. The locking tube includes two spring loaded pins, which when the tread frame is its stored position correspond to two slots (not shown) in the locking tube. The spring-loaded pins thus engage the slots as the tread frame is in the locked position to secure the tread frame 12 in Lie stored position. The locking rube s released by squeezing the spring-loaded pins to release the pins from the slots. It will be understood by those stiled in the art that the locking rube may be of numerous ropes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In operation. the treadmill 10 in its stored position is released from the locking tube by depressing inc spring-loaded pins to disengage them from the slots of the tube.

The electronic interlock switch is positioned to the untold position and the acruation mechanism 75 is activated. which electronically concols the lift motor 16 to lower the tread frame 12 by reversing the extended arm 55 of the screw drive. The tread frame 12 lowers until it engages the ground. The user can then stand on the endless belt of the treadmill, switch the interlock to the incline/decline position and operate the console 40 to select the sped. incline elevation of the tread frame and select a pre-set program for the treadmill.

After finishing exe.cising, the operator dismounts the treadmill 10, switches the interlock to the fold position, and activates the actuation device 75, which controls the lift motor 16 to operate the screw drive. The tread frame 12 is thus lifted from its inuse position by the motorized screw drive to the stored position. The motor 3S driving the drive roller, and thus the endless belt, are electronically prevented from operating as inc electronic interlock deactives the drive motor as the treadmill is away from the in-use.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising a base for supporting the treadmill on a support surface, a tread frame having an endless belt positioned between opposing parallel frame members, the tread frame being rotatably mounted to the base for movement between a first position in which the belt is substantially horizontal for operation by a user and a second position in which the belt is substantially vertical for storage, and lift means for moving the tread frame between said first position and second position.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the lift means comprise an electro-mechanical lift interconnected between the tread frame and the base.

3. The treadmill of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the treadmill further comprises actuation means to electronically activate the lift means to reposition the tread frame between said first position and said second position.

4. The treadmill of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the treadmill further comprises a locking bar for securely locking the tread frame in said second position, the locking bar having release means for releasing said locking bar and permitting the tread frame to move toward said first position.

5. The treadmill of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the treadmill further comprises a control means associated with the lift means for electronically inhibiting the use of the treadmill as the frame is positioned from said first position.

6. The treadmill of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the treadmill further comprises an unfolding inhibitor control associated with the lift means for electronically inhibiting the operation of the lift means upon encountering a resistance as the frame is rotated from the second position and to the first position.

7. A treadmill comprising a base for supporting the treadmill on a support surface, a tread frame having an endless belt positioned between opposing parallel frame members, the tread frame being rotatably mounted to the base for movement between a first position in which the belt is substantially horizontal for operation by a user and a second position in which the belt is substantially vertical for storage, and control means for inhibiting the use of the treadmill as the frame is positioned from said first position.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the treadmill further comprises lift means for moving the tread frame between said first position and second position.

9. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein the treadmill further comprises actuation means to electronically activate said lift means to reposition the tread frame between said first position and said second position.

10. The treadmill of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the lift means comprise a hydraulic lift.

11. A treadmill substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.