JP3125925U - Treadmill with changeable suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

A treadmill having a changeable or adjustable suspension system.
A treadmill comprising a tread deck supported on a tread base and disposed under the tread deck to cushion the tread deck and absorb impact loads imparted on the tread deck by a user. And one or more buffer members that engage the tread deck, the buffer members having different elasticity for applying different buffer forces on the tread deck when the buffer member is rotated relative to the tread base. including. A rod is disposed on the tread base to support the cushioning member. One or more gears may be attached to the rod and engage the tread base rack. Thereby, when the rod and the gear move with respect to the rack, the rod and the buffer member are rotated with respect to the tread base.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly, a treadmill having a changeable or adjustable suspension system, which supports a changeable or adjustable treadmill deck and uses adjustable shock suppression. Related to the treadmill to be provided.

  A typical treadmill includes a base frame or treadmill deck supported on the treadmill base and an endless belt engaged around the treadmill deck to support a user. Further, a spring structure may be provided and disposed between the treadmill base and the treadmill deck to provide the user with an elastic or cushioning effect.

  For example, US Pat. No. 5,827,155 to Jensen et al. Discloses one typical treadmill that includes an adjustable spring structure. The adjustable spring structure has a longitudinally extending leaf spring that can be adjusted to different elasticity with a slidable adjustment bar. However, the adjustment bar may not be accurately moved or adjusted with respect to the treadmill base and may not be easily adjusted or operated by the user.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,358 to Gureghian et al. Discloses another exemplary treadmill. The treadmill includes an adjustable or controllable suspension system with a spring mount and a controllable device that provides user adjustable shock suppression. However, a controllable suspension system has a rather complex configuration and cannot be easily manufactured, which is disadvantageous for commercial purposes.

  US Pat. No. 6,013,011 to Moor et al. Discloses a further exemplary treadmill. The treadmill includes a plurality of extension springs having adjustable stiffness to absorb impact loads applied on the deck by the user. However, the extension spring cannot be easily adjusted to a different elasticity.

  The present invention was born to reduce and / or eliminate the disadvantages described above for conventional suspension systems of treadmills.

  The present invention is a treadmill including a changeable or adjustable suspension system for supporting a treadmill deck in a changeable or adjustable manner and providing shock suppression that can be adjusted by a user, The main purpose is to bring

According to one aspect of the present invention,
Treadmill:
With tread base,
A tread deck supported on a tread base;
At least one cushioning member disposed on the tread deck and engaged with the tread deck to cushion the tread deck and to absorb impact loads imparted on the tread deck by a user;
Have
The at least one cushioning member includes different elasticity for applying different cushioning forces on the tread deck when the cushioning member is rotated relative to the tread base;
Provide a treadmill.

  Further, a rod may be provided to support the cushioning member and slidably or rotatably received and supported on the tread base. The tread base includes two side beams, each side beam having a channel that receives the end of the rod.

  The rod includes at least one gear rotatably disposed on the rod and coupled to the cushioning member, and at least one rack attached to the tread base and engaged with the gear so that the gear is relative to the rack. The gear and the buffer member are rotated with respect to the tread base when moving. A collar is rotatably disposed on the rod and connected to the buffer member and the gear.

  A moving device for moving the rod relative to the tread base may be further provided. For example, the moving means includes an actuator connected between the rod and the tread base, thereby moving the rod relative to the tread base.

  The cushioning member includes one or more curved grooves that form different elasticity in the cushioning member. Each of the curved grooves of the cushioning member includes a depth that varies from a wider end to a narrower end, thereby forming different elasticity in the cushioning member.

  Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings and upon reading the detailed description that follows.

  Referring to the drawings and referring first to FIGS. 1-7, a treadmill according to the present invention comprises a tread base 10 including two side beams 11 and one or more bars 12. Bars 12 are arranged or spanned laterally between beams 11 that support a tread deck 20 (FIGS. 4-8) on a tread base 10. FIG. The tread base 10 may include a typical support 13 (FIG. 1) extending upward from the front portion, and the support 13 supports a typical control panel or control device 14. A control panel or controller 14 is typically provided to control the treadmill.

  The tread base 10 may further include a typical endless belt (not shown). The endless belt engages on and around the tread deck 20 and is movable about the tread deck 20 to allow the user to perform jogging or running exercises. The tread base 10 may further include a typical power or motor drive (not shown). A power or motor drive rotates or drives the endless belt. The tread base 10 may further include a typical folding structure. The folding structure allows the treadmill to be folded into a small folding or storage configuration. The treadmill configuration described above is exemplary and will not be described in further detail.

  The treadmill according to the present invention is a changeable or adjustable suspension system 30 for supporting the tread deck 20 in a changeable or adjustable manner and providing shock suppression that can be adjusted by a user. I will provide a. For example, one or both side beams 11 of the tread base 10 each include a rectangular hole or channel 16 that is formed in an intermediate or central portion 17. Each side beam also includes a rack 18 that is attached or secured to an intermediate or central portion 17 and is preferably aligned or arranged in parallel with a respective channel 16 of the side beam 11.

  The adjustable suspension system 30 includes a rod 31 having two ends 32 (FIGS. 7-8) slidably and / or rotatably received in the channel 16 of the side beam 11, for example one or more, eg Two nests or collars 33 are rotatably engaged on the end 32 or the like of the rod 31, thereby allowing the collar 33 to rotate relative to the rod 31. One or more, for example two, gears 35 are mounted or fixed on the collar 33 and are rotated in coordination with the collar 33. This engages or engages each of the racks 18 and causes the collar 33 and gear 35 to rotate relative to the rod 31 or tread base 10.

  The adjustable suspension system 30 further includes one or more, for example two, elastic members or cushioning members 36, which are mounted or fixed on the collar 33, and the collar 33. Rotate in coordination with. The elastic member or cushioning member 36 may be made of rubber or synthetic material and is disposed or arranged under the tread deck 20 and engages the tread deck 20. Thereby, the tread deck 20 is elastically buffered and the impact load applied on the tread deck 20 by the user is absorbed.

  Each buffer member 36 includes one or more, eg, two, opposite curved grooves 37 (FIG. 7) formed in the buffer member 36, each curved groove 37 changing in stages. With a thickness or depth varying from a wider or larger end 38 to a narrower or smaller end 39. This is best shown in FIGS. 3-7, where varying thicknesses or depths create different or altered resilience or cushioning forces in or around each cushioning member 36. Alternatively, when the buffer members 36 are rotated relative to the tread base 10, each buffer member 36 allows different elasticity to be applied on the tread deck 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and FIGS. 4-5, the adjustable suspension system 30 further includes a power drive or actuation or movement means or device 40. The power drive or moving device 40 is connected to the rod 31 and, for example, one of the bars 12 is connected to the connector 41 in a pivotable manner. The power drive or movement device 40 can be selected from a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, an electric bolt and nut device, a solenoid actuator, and the like. Thereby, the rod 31 is moved along the channel 16 of the side beam 11, and in this way, the buffer member 36 is rotated with respect to the rod 31 or the tread base 10. This is intended to change or adjust the position of the groove 37 with different or stepped thicknesses or depths, whereby the elasticity of the cushioning member 36 applied to the tread deck 20. Alternatively, the buffering force is adjusted or changed.

  During operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, when the rod 31 causes movement or sliding along the channel 16 of the side beam 11, the engagement between the rack 18 and the gear 35 is the gear 35 and therefore the buffer. The member 36 can cause rotation relative to the rod 31 or the tread base 10. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, when the rod 31 causes movement or sliding along the channel 16 of the side beam 11, and the gear 35 and the buffer member 36 cause rotation with respect to the rod 31 or the tread base 10. Sometimes, the groove 37 with a different or stepped thickness or depth can change the elasticity or cushioning force of the cushioning member 36 applied to the tread deck 20.

  The power drive or actuating or moving means or device 40 is preferably controllable by remote control or wire control via the control panel or control device 14 so that the user stops his jogging or running movement. In addition, the elasticity or buffering force of the buffer member 36 applied to the tread deck 20 can be easily adjusted.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the curved groove 37 may be a single curved groove 37 formed through two sides of the cushioning member 36, and It also includes a stepped thickness or depth that varies from a wider or larger end 38 to a narrower or smaller end 39. Thereby, when the cushioning member 36 rotates relative to the tread base 10, the cushioning member 36 allows changing or adjustable elasticity or cushioning force to be applied to the tread deck 20.

  Further alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, in the absence of power drive or actuation or movement means or device 40, knob 50 may optionally be attached to rod 31, and gear 35 and cushioning member. 36 may be fixed to the rod 31 and rotated in cooperation with the rod 31. Thereby, the rod 31 and thus the cushioning member 36 is manually rotated with respect to the tread base 10 to change or adjust the position of the groove 37 of different or stepped thickness or depth, and thus The elasticity or buffering force of the buffer member 36 applied to the tread deck 20 is adjusted or changed.

  Accordingly, the treadmill according to the present invention includes a changeable or adjustable suspension system for supporting the treadmill deck in a changeable or adjustable manner and providing shock suppression that can be adjusted by the user.

  Although the present invention has been described in some detail, the present disclosure has been made by way of example only, and various changes in detailed construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as set forth in the appended claims. It should be understood that it may be exercised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a treadmill according to the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the tread base of the treadmill. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a tread base of a treadmill. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tread base taken along line 4-4 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the operation of the treadmill. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic plan view of the tread base shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tread base taken along line 7-7 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing another arrangement of the treadmill. FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the tread base shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a further arrangement of the treadmill.

Explanation of symbols

10 Tread Base 11 Side Beam 12 Bar 13 Support 14 Controller 16 Channel 17 Center Part 18 Rack 20 Tread Deck 30 Suspension System 31 Rod 32 End 33 Collar 35 Gear 36 Buffering Member 37 Curved Groove 38 Larger End 39 Smaller end 40 moving device 41 coupler

Claims (5)

Treadmill:
With tread base,
A tread deck supported on the tread base;
At least one cushioning member disposed on the tread deck and engaged with the tread deck to cushion the tread deck and to absorb impact loads imparted on the tread deck by a user;
A rod slidably received and supported on the tread base to support the at least one cushioning member;
Have
The at least one cushioning member includes different elasticity for applying different damping forces on the tread deck when the cushioning member is rotated relative to the tread base;
The tread base includes two side beams, each side beam having a channel for receiving the end of the rod;
The rod is rotatably disposed on the rod and coupled to the at least one buffer member; and at least one rack attached to the tread base and engaged with the at least one gear. The rack rotates the at least one gear and the at least one cushioning member relative to the tread base when the at least one gear is moved relative to the at least one rack.
treadmill. A moving means for moving the rod with respect to the tread base;
The moving means includes an actuator connected between the rod and the tread base for moving the rod with respect to the tread base.
The treadmill according to claim 1. The at least one cushioning member includes at least one curved groove that forms different elasticity on the at least one cushioning member;
The treadmill according to claim 1. The at least one curved groove of the at least one cushioning member includes a depth that varies from a wider end to a narrower end;
The treadmill according to claim 3. The at least one cushioning member includes two opposing curved grooves that form different elasticity on the at least one cushioning member;
The treadmill according to claim 1.

Images