TWI739978B - Treadmill including a lift assistance mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A treadmill may include a lift assistance mechanism operative to assist movement of a deck assembly between one or more positions relative to a base frame. A portion of the lift assistance mechanism may translate along a length dimension of the treadmill when inclining the deck assembly. The lift assistance mechanism may assist a user in moving the deck assembly into a storage position and may also assist a deck assembly lift motor in inclining the deck assembly.

Description

Treadmill with lifting auxiliary mechanism

This disclosure relates to fitness machines as a whole. And more particularly, it relates to a treadmill including a lifting assist mechanism.

Fitness treadmills generally cover a considerable amount of floor space during operation or use of the structure. Therefore, many fitness treadmills include a floor assembly that is pivotally connected to the frame. The bottom plate assembly can be positioned in a substantially horizontal operation or use position and a substantially upright storage position, so as to reduce the floor space occupied by the treadmill when the treadmill is not in use. In order to move the floor assembly between the substantially horizontal operating position and the substantially upright storage position, various types of lifting assist mechanisms have been developed and commercialized. In order for the technology to improve the user's experience, improvements in this field may be needed.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 15/391,680, which was filed on December 27, 2016 and named "Treadmill Including a Lift Assistance Mechanism", the entire disclosure of the U.S. patent application is by reference The method is incorporated into this article.

According to the present disclosure, a treadmill may include a frame; a bottom plate assembly, which is operably connected to the frame and can be positioned in an operating position and a storage position; and a lifting assist mechanism, which is tied at a supporting position Supported by the frame and connected to the bottom plate assembly. The supporting position can be moved relative to the frame along a length of the treadmill to adjust the angle between the lifting assist mechanism and the bottom plate assembly during the movement of the bottom plate assembly.

In some embodiments, the support position is restricted to moving in a substantially straight line along a length of the treadmill.

In some embodiments, the supporting position can be at least one of rolling or sliding relative to the bottom plate assembly.

In some embodiments, when the floor assembly is positioned in the operating position, the support position can move between the first position and the second position along the length of the treadmill.

In some embodiments, during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly in the operating position, the support position is moved from the first position to the second position.

In some embodiments, the support position is positioned in the first position during the movement of the bottom plate assembly between the operating position and the storage position.

In some embodiments, during the tilting of the front end portion of the floor assembly with respect to the rear end portion of the floor assembly, the support position moves along the length of the treadmill.

In some embodiments, the treadmill further includes a track connected to the frame and extending in the length direction along the length of the treadmill; and a mounting seat connected to the lifting aid at the supporting position The mechanism can move along a length of the track.

In some embodiments, the mount includes one or more rollers that are connected to the lifting assist mechanism at the supporting position, and the one or more rollers may be along the length of the track scroll.

In some embodiments, the mount further includes an axle connected to the lifting assist mechanism at the supporting position, and the one or more roller systems are connected to the axle.

In some embodiments, the one or more rollers include a first roller and a second roller, and the first and second rollers are positioned on opposite sides of the lifting assist mechanism at the supporting position superior.

In some embodiments, the mounting base includes a bracket, and the lifting assist mechanism supports The position is pivotally connected to the bracket, and the bracket is restricted by the rail to slide in a substantially straight line along the length of the rail.

In some embodiments, the treadmill further includes a tilt assembly connected to the bottom plate assembly and supported by the frame; and a link pivotally connected to the lifting assist mechanism and the tilt Assembly.

In some embodiments, the connecting rod has a variable length between the connecting portion to the lifting assist mechanism and the tilt assembly.

In some embodiments, the connecting rod has a fixed length between the connecting portion to the lifting assist mechanism and the tilt assembly.

In some embodiments, the tilt assembly includes a lifting motor operable to lift the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly relative to the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly.

In some embodiments, when the lifting motor lifts the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly relative to the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly, the lifting assist mechanism moves the mounting seat forward relative to the frame, To help the lifting motor.

In some embodiments, the lifting auxiliary mechanism is a lifting cylinder.

According to the present disclosure, a method for adjusting the bottom plate assembly of a treadmill includes: when in an operating position, moving the bottom plate assembly from a substantially horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation; and tilting the bottom plate in the operating position When assembling, move the supporting position of the lifting assist mechanism forward along a length of the treadmill.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: moving the bottom plate assembly from the operating position to the storage position; and when moving the bottom plate assembly to the storage position, moving the support position of the lifting assist mechanism along the The length of this section of the treadmill remains substantially stationary.

The description of the invention of the present disclosure is provided to help understand, and those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field will understand that the various viewpoints and technical features of the present disclosure can be advantageously It is used individually in some situations, or combined with other viewpoints and technical features of this disclosure in other situations. Accordingly, although the present disclosure is presented in the form of embodiments, it should be ascertained that individual viewpoints of any embodiment can be claimed individually, or are different from the viewpoints of this embodiment or any other embodiment and Combination of technical features.

100: treadmill

102: bottom plate assembly

102a: Front end part

102b: Rear end part

104: Frame

106: Left upright member

108: Upright member on the right

110: Left base member

112: Right base member

114: Cross member

116: left armrest

118: Right handrail

120: display console

122: left frame rail

124: Right frame rail

126a: The first cross member

126b: Second cross member

128: running belt

129: treadmill floor

130: front roller

131: Support

136: Locking System

138: Inner Tube

138a: first end part

138b: second end part

140: Outer tube

140a: first end part

140b: second end part

142: Locking Mechanism

144: Actuator component

144a: Front end part

144b: Rear end part

145: Cover

146: Cable

146a: Front end part

146b: Rear end part

147: Cable guide

148: pivot axis

152: Arrow

156: Arrow

158: Arrow

160: Channel

162: cover

164: Fastener

166: pole

168: Orifice

170: Fastener

172: Washer

174: Biasing member/torsion spring

174a: first tang

174b: second tang

176: Bolt

180: Orifice

182: Bracket

184: Orifice

188: Nut

190: Bolt

192: Orifice

194: Bracket

196: Orifice

198: Bolt

202: Journal

204: Fastener

206: Orifice

208: Orifice

210: Shell

212: Internal chamber

214: Orifice

216: Slot

216a: Lower end

216b: Upper end

218: Cover

220: Joining member

220a: End part

224: Spring

228: Orifice

229: Arrow

230: Arrow

232: Arrow

236: Arrow

252: Lifting auxiliary mechanism

252a: Support position

252b: connecting part

254: Cylinder body

256: Piston

260: Lift Motor

264: Tilt assembly

264a: The front end of the tilt assembly

264b: The rear end of the tilt assembly

268: connecting rod

268a: The front end of the connecting rod

268b: The rear end of the connecting rod

270: Arrow

272: pivot connection

276: track

278: The base of the track

280: Wall of Track

284: mount

288: Bracket

289: Fastener

290: Lid

292: The base of the bracket

294: The wall of the bracket

296: The base of the lid

298: The wall of the lid

300: Mounting seat

302: Roller

304: Axle

306: Fastening Features

308: Slot

A: Angle

L: length

Figure 1 is a left side bottom view of a treadmill including a bottom plate assembly in an operating or use position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a left side bottom view of the treadmill of Figure 1, wherein the bottom plate assembly It is in a substantially upright storage position according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a part of the treadmill in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Sectional view; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the treadmill in Figure 1 taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5 is an implementation based on the present disclosure Example of a partial exploded view of a part of the treadmill of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of an actuator member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 7 is a lock according to an embodiment of the present disclosure An exploded view of the system; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the locking system of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the present disclosure A cross-sectional view of the locking system of FIG. 7 taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 2; Enlarged view; Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the locking system of Figure 8, which shows that it is used in accordance with the present disclosure While accommodating an embodiment of the treadmill, the movement of the locking mechanism during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly; FIG. 12 is an embodiment according to the present disclosure and the line 12-12 in FIG. 9 circumscribed Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the locking system; Figure 13 is a top right side perspective partial view of the treadmill of Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the lifting assist mechanism is operatively coupled to the bottom plate assembly and the The frame of the treadmill; FIG. 14 is a right side view of part of the treadmill in FIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the bottom plate assembly is in a substantially horizontal operation or use position; FIG. 15 is based on the present disclosure Fig. 13 is a right side view of the treadmill part of an embodiment, and the bottom plate assembly is in an inclined operating or use position; Fig. 16 is a right side view of the part of the treadmill in Fig. 13 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure View, and the bottom plate assembly is positioned between the operating or use position and the substantially upright storage position; FIG. 17 is a right side view of part of the treadmill of FIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the bottom plate assembly Located in a substantially upright storage position; FIG. 18A is an enlarged view of the lifting assist mechanism of FIG. 13 connected to a fixed-length connecting rod according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 18B is an enlarged view of the lifting assist mechanism according to the present disclosure An enlarged view of the lifting assist mechanism of FIG. 13 connected to a variable-length link of an embodiment; FIG. 19 is the lifting assist of FIG. 13 connected to the mounting base according to an embodiment of the present disclosure End view of the mechanism; FIG. 20 is a partial exploded view of the mounting base of FIG. 19 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 21 is connected to the alternative mounting base of FIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure An enlarged view of the lifting auxiliary mechanism; FIG. 22 is a partial exploded view of the mounting base of FIG. 21 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 23 is a lifting assist mechanism of FIG. 13 connected to an alternative mounting base according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Enlarged view; and FIG. 24 is a partial exploded view of the mounting base of FIG. 23 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following description of some exemplary embodiments is merely exemplary in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention or its application or use in any way. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and among these drawings, illustrative specific embodiments are used for description. The composition, mechanism, system, and method can be implemented in these embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail so that those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can implement the currently disclosed assemblies, mechanisms, systems, and methods, and it should be understood that other implementations can be used Examples, and structural and logical changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, for the purpose of clarity, when certain technical features are well understood by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field, detailed descriptions of these technical features will not be discussed, so as not to conceal the originality. Description of the assembly, mechanism, system and method of the invention. The following detailed description should therefore not be considered restrictive, and the scope of the assembly, mechanism, system, and method of the present invention is only defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

The embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a locking mechanism for use with a foldable fitness treadmill. As described in more detail below, some treadmills are constructed with a bottom plate assembly that is pivotally connected to a frame to provide users with a selective way to position the treadmill in an operating configuration or storage Ability in the structure. The bottom plate assembly can be locked in the operating configuration, storage configuration or two configurations. When locked in the operating configuration, the bottom plate is always The resulting incline can be adjusted during use of the treadmill. The locking mechanism embodiments described and depicted herein can be used with various types of fitness treadmills, and should not be construed as being limited to use with the treadmills disclosed herein.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example treadmill 100 with a locking system that is adapted to lock the treadmill 100 in the operating configuration and the storage configuration in a selective manner. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a treadmill 100 locked in an operating configuration, and FIG. 2 illustrates a treadmill 100 locked in a storage configuration. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fitness treadmill 100 includes a floor assembly 102 that is pivotally connected to a frame 104. The front end portion 102a of the floor assembly 102 may be pivotally connected to the frame 104, and the rear end portion 102b of the floor assembly 102 may be seated away from the front end portion 102a. The rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 can pivot around the pivotal connection portion from the front end portion 102a to the frame 104. When the treadmill 100 is in the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the bottom plate assembly 102 can be oriented in a substantially horizontal position, and the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 can be supported by a supporting surface, such as a floor. Or supported by the ground. In order to position the bottom plate assembly 102 in the storage position of FIG. 2, the user can lift up the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102, causing the bottom plate assembly 102 to pivot to the frame 104 about its pivotal connection. , Until the bottom plate assembly 102 extends upward in a substantially vertical position (see FIG. 2).

1 and 2, the frame 104 may include an upright member 106 on the left and an upright member 108 on the right, which extend upward from the left base member 110 and the right base member 112 respectively. The left and right base members 110, 112 can rest on a supporting surface, such as a floor or ground, to provide a base or base for the treadmill 100 in the operating and storage configuration. The cross member 114, such as a cross bar, may extend between the left and right base members 110, 112 and be connected to the left and right base members 110, 112. The cross member 114 may be positioned behind the pivotal connection portion of the bottom plate assembly 102 to the frame 104. In order to provide users with the treadmill 100 while supporting the upper body, the left and right armrests 116, 118 can be connected to the left and right upright members 106, 108, respectively, and can extend back from the left and right upright members 106, 108, respectively. The display console 120 may be supported between the upright members 106, 108 on the left and right sides.

The bottom plate assembly 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may include a left frame guide rail 122 and a right frame guide 124, both of which extend rearward from the pivot connection portion of the bottom plate assembly 102 to the frame 104. The floor assembly 102 may include one or more cross members, such as cross bars, which extend between the left and right frame rails 122,124. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom plate assembly 102 includes a first cross member 126a and a second cross member 126b. The first cross member 126a may be seated behind the cross member 114 of the frame 104, and the second cross member 126b may be seated behind the first cross member 126a near the rear end of the bottom plate assembly 102 Location 102b.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the floor assembly 102 includes a running belt 128 to provide a walking or running surface on the treadmill 100. The running belt 128 can move above a treadmill bottom plate 129 (see FIG. 3) between a front roller 130 (see FIG. 3) and a rear roller, and the front roller 130 is positioned close to the bottom plate assembly 102. The front portion 102a and the rear roller are positioned close to the rear end portion 102b of the floor assembly 102. The front and rear rollers can be rotatably supported between the left side of the bottom plate assembly 102 and the frame rails 122, 124. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 may include support members 131, which extend downward from the left and right frame rails 122, 124 to serve as the bottom plate assembly 102 When it is in the operating position of FIG. 1, lift the walking belt 128 above a supporting surface, such as the floor or above the ground. Wheels can be attached to these supports 131 for contact with the ground or the floor.

The treadmill 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may include a locking system 136 for selectively locking the floor assembly 102 in the operating position of FIG. 1 and/or the storage position of FIG. 2. The locking system 136 may include a first elongated member, which is shown as the inner tube 138, and a second elongated member, which is shown as the outer tube 140, which are operatively connected to the floor assembly 102 and frame 104. exist In FIG. 1, although the inner tube 138 can be connected to the bottom plate assembly 102 and the outer tube 140 can be connected to the frame 104 without affecting the function of the locking system 136, the inner tube 138 is connected to the frame 104 and the outer tube The tube 140 is connected to the bottom plate assembly 102. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner tube 138 can be slidably received in the outer tube 140, so that the outer tube 140 can follow the outer surface of the inner tube 138 during the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102. Sliding between the operating position in and the storage position in Figure 2.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the locking system 136 may include a locking mechanism 142 operable to lock the bottom plate assembly 102 in the operating position of FIG. 1 and the storage position of FIG. 2. The locking system 136 may extend between the floor assembly 102 and the frame 104 and be connected to the floor assembly 102 and the frame 104. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the locking system 136 extends between the cross member 126a of the floor assembly 102 and the cross member 114 of the frame 104 and is connected to the cross member of the floor assembly 102 126a and the cross member 114 of the frame 104. The locking system 136 may be positioned to be substantially equidistant between the left and right frame rails 122, 124 along the length of the cross member 114, 126a. The locking mechanism 142 can be connected to the outer tube 140 and can selectively engage the inner tube 138 to fix the position of the outer tube 140 relative to the inner tube 138. The locking mechanism 142 can be selectively actuated by an actuator member 144 that is positioned away from the locking mechanism 142. The actuator member 144 can be any member that can be disengaged from the locking mechanism 142.

The actuator member 144 may be attached to the floor assembly 102. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuator member 144 may be connected to the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 to provide easy access for the user. For example, the actuator member 144 can be connected to an end of one of the frame rails 122, 124, and can be seated along the bottom side of the individual frame rails. The actuator member 144 may be substantially covered by a cover 145 on the bottom side of the frame 124, and only a part of the actuator member 144 is exposed for actuation by the user. The actuator member 144 may be operatively connected to the locking mechanism 142 by a flexible member, such as a cable 146. The cable 146 may be connected to the locking mechanism 142 at a first end, extend along one of the frame rails 122, 124, and at a second It is connected to the actuator member 144 at the end. The cable 146 can be covered by a protective cover between the ends of the cable 146. The cable 146 may be held in position along the frame rail 124 by one or more cable guides (eg, the cable guide 147 in FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the treadmill 100 taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the inner tube 138 can be telescopically accommodated in the outer tube 140. The inner tube 138 may be pivotally connected to the cross member 114 of the frame 104 at a first end location 138a and may include a second end location 138b remote from the first end location 138a. The outer tube 140 may be pivotally connected to the cross member 126a of the floor assembly 102 at a first end location 140a, and may include a second end location 140b remote from the first end location 140a. The second end portion 138b of the inner tube 138 can be slidably accommodated inside the outer tube 140, so that the outer tube 140 can be in the operating position of the bottom plate assembly 102 shown in FIG. 1 and shown in FIG. 2 During the movement between the storage positions shown, it slides along the outer periphery of the inner tube 138.

In order to move the bottom plate assembly 102 from the operating position shown in FIG. 1 to the storage position shown in FIG. 2, the user can engage the actuator member 144 to disengage the locking mechanism 142. Referring to FIG. 4, the actuator member 144 may be pivotally connected to the frame rail 124 near the rear end portion 102 b of the bottom plate assembly 102. By pressing upward on the rear end portion 144b of the actuator member 144 substantially along the arrow 152 in FIG. 4, the actuator member 144 is pivoted about a pivot axis 148 (see arrow 156), And it causes the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144 to move downward and backward. This downward and backward movement of the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144 causes the cable 146 to move backward substantially along the arrow 158 of FIG. 4. The backward movement of the cable 146 disengages the locking mechanism 142, thereby allowing the bottom plate assembly 102 to move upward relative to the frame 104 into the storage position of FIG. 2.

5 and 6, the actuator member 144 may be operatively connected to the cable 146 such that movement of the actuator member 144 causes the cable 146 to move, and vice versa. The front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144 can define a passage 160 to accommodate the rear end portion 146b of the cable 146, and a cover plate 162 can fasten the rear end portion 146b to the passage 160 middle. The cover plate 162 may be releasably connected to the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144 with at least one fastener 164, for example.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the actuator member 144 can be pivotally mounted on a pole 166 that protrudes inward from the frame rail 124 on the right side substantially toward the frame rail 122 on the left side. The pole 166 can be received in an aperture 168 formed in the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144, and a fastener 170 can fix the front end portion 144a to the pole 166. A washer 172 may be positioned between the front end portion 144a and the fastener 170.

Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a biasing member 174 can bias the actuator member 144 into a position corresponding to the engaged position of the locking mechanism 142. After the locking mechanism 142 is pressed by the user, it can provide sufficient biasing force to reset the actuator member 144, and such biasing force can be transmitted to the actuator member via the cable 146 144. The biasing member 174 can selectively provide a supplementary biasing force to ensure that the actuator member 144 is reset after being depressed by the user. For example, referring back to FIG. 4, the biasing member 174 can bias the actuator member 144 from a depressed position (see the actuator member 144 represented by a solid line in FIG. 4) toward a non-depressed position Position (see the actuator member 144 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4), this movement can cause the cable 146 to move in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 158. In order to ensure that the actuator member 144 is reset in a fixed non-depressed position, when the actuator member 144 is completely reset, the actuator member 144 can contact a stop, such as the horizontal Cross member 126b.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the biasing member 174 may be a torsion spring. The torsion spring 174 may include a first tang 174a connected to the frame rail 124 and a second tang 174b connected to the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144, so that the torsion spring 174 is in the actuator The pivotal movement of the member 144 relative to the frame guide 124 provides a biasing force. The first and second tangs 174a, 174b may extend in substantially opposite directions. As shown in FIG. 5, the biasing member 174 may be installed on the pole between the frame rail 124 and the front end portion 144a of the actuator member 144 166 on.

FIG. 7 shows a partially exploded view of the locking system 136 of the treadmill 100. As shown in FIG. The locking system 136 may include an inner tube 138 and an outer tube 140. The first end portion 138a of the inner tube 138 may be pivotally connected to the cross member 114 via a fastener, such as a bolt 176 as shown, which is inserted to form a bracket 182 (which is It is connected to the orifice 180 in the cross member 114) and the orifice 184 formed in the first end portion 138a of the inner tube 138, and is fixed in place by, for example, a screw cap 188. Similarly, the first end portion 140a of the outer tube 140 may be pivotally connected to the cross member 126a (see FIG. 3) via a fastener, such as a bolt 190 as shown in the figure, which is inserted and formed in A bracket 194 (which is connected to the cross member 126a) in the opening 192 and the opening 196 formed in the first end portion 140a of the outer tube 140, and is fixed in place by, for example, a bolt 198 middle. A journal 202 can be inserted into the end of the second end portion 140b of the outer tube 140 and fixed in place by a fastener 204 which is inserted through one of the journals 202. The orifice 206 is also received in an orifice 208 formed in the second end portion 140b. The journal 202 can support the inner tube 138 within the outer tube 140, and can act as a bearing, so that the inner tube 138 can be stored in the bottom plate assembly 102 between the operating position of FIG. 1 and the storage of FIG. 2 Slip during movement between positions.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, the locking mechanism 142 may be operatively connected to the outer tube 140 to selectively engage one or more engagement features of the inner tube 138. The locking mechanism 142 may be housed in a housing 210 connected to the outer tube 140, and the housing 210 may define an internal cavity 212 opened in the inner space of the outer tube 140. When housed in the housing 210, the locking mechanism 142 can selectively protrude into the inner space of the outer tube 140 to engage the joint features of the inner tube 138, so as to constrain the bottom plate assembly 102 to the drawing. In the operating position of 1 or in the storage position of FIG. 2. The locking mechanism 142 may be actuated by the movement of the cable 146, which may be incurred by the movement of the user of the actuator member 144 (see FIGS. 4-6).

Still referring to Figure 7, the inner tube 138 may define a plurality of The joint feature of the joint is used to fasten the bottom plate assembly 102 in the operating position of FIG. 1 and the storage position of FIG. 2. The inner tube 138 may define a first engagement feature, such as an aperture 214, and a second engagement feature, such as a slot 216. The locking mechanism 142 may engage the aperture 214 when the floor assembly 102 is in the storage position of FIG. 2 and may engage the slot 216 when the floor assembly 102 is in the operating position of FIG. 1. The slot 216 may extend in the length direction along a length of the inner tube 138, and may be sized to allow between the inner tube 138 and the outer tube 140 when the locking mechanism 142 is at least partially inserted into the slot 216 The relative movement between. The relative movement between the inner tube 138 and the outer tube 140 can accommodate the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102 during the operation of the treadmill 100, while ensuring that the bottom plate assembly 102 is secured in the operating position of FIG. 1 .

Figures 8 and 9 show a cross-sectional view of the locking system 136 when the treadmill 100 is in the operating and storage configuration in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, when the treadmill 100 is in the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the first tube and the outer tubes 138, 140 can be folded so that the second end portion 138b of the inner tube 138 It is seated close to the first end portion 140 a of the outer tube 140, and the second end portion 140 b of the outer tube 140 is seated close to the first end portion 138 a of the inner tube 138. When the treadmill 100 is in the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the locking mechanism 142 is at least partially inserted into the slot 216 of the inner tube 138, thereby allowing the user to adjust the tilt of the bottom plate assembly 102, and There is no need to disengage the locking mechanism 142 from the slot 216.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the treadmill 100 is in the storage configuration of FIG. 2, the inner tube and the outer tube 138, 140 can extend away from each other, so that the second end portion 140b of the outer tube 140 can be connected to the inner tube 138 The second end portion 138b of the overlapped. When the treadmill 100 is in the storage configuration of FIG. 2, the locking mechanism 142 is at least partially inserted into the orifice 214 of the inner tube 138, thereby fixing the first tube and the outer tube 138, 140 relative to And keep the bottom plate assembly 102 in the storage position of FIG. 2.

Figures 10 to 12 provide enlarged views of the locking mechanism 142, which can be formed as a pop-up nail assembly. As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the housing 210 of the locking mechanism 142 can be connected To the outer tube 140 and may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer tube 140. The housing 210 may be formed as a cylinder, and a cover 218 may be installed on the housing 210 to fix a joining member 220 in the housing 210. The engaging member 220 can be slidably received in the housing 210, so that the engaging member 220 can move between an engaged position and a disengaged position in which the engaging member engages the inner tube 138 In the disengaged position, the engagement member is disengaged from the first or second engagement feature of the inner tube 138. The engaging member 220 may be referred to as a pin. A biasing member, such as a spring 224, may be disposed between the housing cover 218 and the engaging member 220, and the spring 224 may push the engaging member 220 away from the housing cover 218 and toward the inner tube 138. The cable 146 may be inserted through an aperture formed in the housing cover 218 and connected to the joint member 220. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the end of the cable 146 may be retained in an aperture 228 formed in the joint member 220. Alternatively, the cable 146 may be attached to the joint member 220 by any known method or device.

In operation, the spring 224 of FIGS. 10 to 12 can apply a biasing force to the joint member 220, thereby pushing an end portion 220a of the joint member 220 to extend from the housing 210 to the inner space defined by the outer tube 140 . By extending into the inner space defined by the outer tube 140, when the end portion 220a is aligned with the opening 214, the end portion 220a of the joining member 220 can extend into the opening 214 of the inner tube 138, when When the end portion 220a is aligned with the slot 216, the end portion 220a of the engagement member 220 may extend into the slot 216 of the inner tube 138 or when the end portion 220a is not aligned with the opening 214 or the slot 216 , The end portion 220a of the joint member 220 can sit along the outer surface 28 of the inner tube 138. The extension of the engagement member 220 into the aperture 214 substantially prevents relative movement between the inner tube 138 and the outer tube 140, thereby precluding the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the frame 104. The extension of the engaging member 220 into the slot 216 generally limits the movement of the inner tube 138 relative to the outer tube 140, thereby restricting the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the frame 104. According to one embodiment, when the treadmill 100 is in the storage configuration of FIG. 2, the engaging member 220 is received in the orifice 214, and when the treadmill 100 is in the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the engaging member 220 is received in the slot 216.

During the use of the treadmill 100, the user can adjust the inclination of the floor assembly 102, so that the front end portion 102a of the floor assembly 102 can be raised relative to the rear end portion 102b. During this tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, the first tube and the outer tubes 138, 140 generally pivot in an upward direction (see arrow 229 in FIG. 10) around the pivotal connection of the inner tube 138 to the frame 104 The first tube and the outer tubes 138, 140 move linearly away from each other as the distance between their connection points and the frame 104 and the bottom plate assembly 102 increases, respectively. During this separation of the first and outer tubes 138, 140, the locking mechanism 142 moves substantially in unison with the outer tube 140 (see arrow 230 in FIG. 10), causing the end portion 220a of the engaging member 220 to be in the slot Glide within 216. The length of the slot 216 may be based on the maximum inclination angle of the bottom plate assembly 102.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the treadmill is in the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the joint member 220 may extend into the slot 216 of the inner tube 138. As shown in FIG. 10, the slot 216 is elongated and has a length defined between a lower end 216a and an upper end 216b. When the bottom plate assembly 102 is oriented to be substantially horizontal (see the joint member 220 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 10), the joint member 220 can be separated by the upper end 216b of the slot 216, and is interposed between The distance between the member 220 and the upper end 216b of the slot 216 generally allows for the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102 when the engaging member 220 is positioned in the slot 216. During the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, the end portion 220a of the joint member 220 can slide along the length of the slot 216 toward the upper end 216b of the slot 216 and the second end portion 138b of the inner tube 138 in a substantially straight line. (See Figure 8 and the arrow in Figure 10).

Still referring to FIG. 10, lifting the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 (causing the tilt of the bottom plate assembly 102) may cause the engagement member 220 to be within the slot 216 toward the upper end 216b of the slot 216 and the inner tube 138 The second end part 138b slips. Therefore, when the bottom plate assembly 102 is When in the operating position of FIG. 1, the user can lift the rear end portion 102 b of the bottom plate assembly 102 for a certain distance without first pulling out the joint member 220 from the slot 216. In other words, the user can lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 until the end portion 220a of the engaging member 220 abuts the upper end 216b of the slot 216, at which point the user can press down The actuator member 144 (see FIG. 1) is used to disengage the engagement member 220 from the slot 216 and continue to lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 toward the storage position of FIG.

Referring to Figure 11, in order to reposition the treadmill 100 from the operating position of Figure 1 to the storage configuration of Figure 2 (see Figures 1 and Figures), the user can reach under the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 (see Figure 1 ) And apply an upward force on the actuator member 144 to pivot the actuator member 144 relative to the frame rail 124 (see FIG. 4), causing the cable 146 to resist the bias of the spring 224 and move laterally Away from the first tube and the outer tube 138, 140 (see the arrow 232 in FIG. 11) until the end portion 220a of the joint member 220 is extracted from the slot 216 to be only (see the arrow 234 in FIG. 11, which represents the joint The movement of the member 220 from an extended position (indicated by the dashed line) to a non-extended position (indicated by the dashed line)). As described above, the user can slightly lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 before pressing down the actuator member 144 to provide the user with a better initial storage of the actuator member 144. Pick. Once the engagement member 220 is withdrawn from the slot 216 (see FIG. 11), the outer tube 140 can freely move relative to the inner tube 138, and thus the bottom plate assembly 102 can freely pivot relative to the frame 104. Once the user moves the bottom plate assembly 102 upward a sufficient distance so that the engagement member 220 is no longer aligned with the slot 216 in the inner tube 138, the user can release the actuator member 144, which allows the spring 224 to The end portion 220a of the joint member 220 is forced to abut against the side wall of the inner tube 138.

12, once the bottom plate assembly 102 is lifted to the upright storage position so that the engagement member 220 is aligned with the aperture 214, the spring 224 forces the end portion 220a of the engagement member 220 into the aperture 214 ( See arrow 236 in FIG. 12), the end portion 220a holds the inner tube 138 in a fixed position relative to the outer tube 140, and locks the bottom plate assembly 102 in one of the storage positions in FIG. middle. The force of the spring 224 may cause the cable 146 to move away from the actuator member 144 and reset the position of the actuator member 144 (see the actuator member shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4). In order to restore the bottom plate assembly 102 to the operating configuration of FIG. 1, the user can depress the actuator member 144 to extract the end portion 220a of the engagement member 220 from the aperture 214 and then lower the bottom plate assembly 220 until The spring 224 forces the end portion 220a of the engaging member 220 into the slot 216 (see FIG. 8). With the engagement member 220 engaged in the slot 216, the user can adjust the inclination of the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the frame 104 without having to withdraw the engagement member 220 from the slot 216.

Figures 3 and 7-9 illustrate the lifting assist mechanism 252, which is constructed to resist the downward pivoting movement of the bottom plate assembly 102. The lifting assist mechanism 252 controls the speed of the bottom plate assembly 102 when the bottom plate assembly 102 is pivoted downward from the storage position of FIG. 2 to the operating position of FIG. The relatively high speed during free fall pivots downward. In addition, by providing supplementary force to reduce the force required to lift and pivot the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 can help lift the bottom plate assembly 102 from the operating structure of FIG. 1 And pivot to the storage structure of Figure 1. The embodiments of the lift assist mechanism 252 described and depicted herein can be used with various types of fitness treadmills, and should not be construed as being limited to use with the treadmills described herein.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 to 9, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is positioned inside the inner tube 138 and the outer tube 140. The lift assist mechanism 252 as shown includes a lift cylinder, which includes a cylinder body 254 operatively connected to a piston 256. As shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical body 254 can be pivotally connected to the cross member 114 of the frame 104 at the same pivot connection where the inner tube 138 is connected to the cross member 114, and the piston 256 can It is pivotally connected to the cross member 126a of the floor assembly 102 at the same pivot connection where the outer tube 140 is connected to the cross member 126a. The piston 256 may include a head positioned within the cylindrical body 254, and the cylindrical body 254 may contain pressurized air that resists the downward movement of the piston head within the cylindrical body 254, thereby resisting The bottom plate assembly 102 is opposite This is the downward pivoting action of the frame 104. In other words, the pressurized air inside the cylindrical body 254 acts to force the piston head to leave the cylinder body 254 to the pivotal connection of the cross member 114 of the frame 104, and the pressurized air resists The downward pivoting action of the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the frame 104. During use, as the bottom plate assembly 102 pivots upward and downward relative to the frame 104, the piston 256 extends away from the cylindrical body 254 and is compressed into the cylindrical body 254, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, when the bottom plate assembly 102 is in the upright storage position of FIG. 2, the lifting cylinder 252 defines a relatively extending length. Conversely, when the bottom plate assembly 102 is in the downward operating position of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the lifting cylinder 252 defines a considerable length. As the bottom plate assembly 102 pivots from the storage position in FIG. 2 to the operating position in FIG. 1, the movement of the piston 256 into the cylinder body 254 may cause the air pressure inside the cylinder body 254 to increase, causing the cylinder to be lifted. The acting force increases.

Lifting cylinders of various sizes, types, and configurations can be used, and are not limited to the configurations described herein. Depending on the length and weight of the bottom plate assembly, the lifting mechanism may include one or more lifting cylinders. Furthermore, the lifting assist mechanism is not limited to an air-pressurized lifting cylinder, and may include any mechanism that can apply upward force to the bottom plate, such as a spring or a hydraulic system.

In use, the user can disengage the locking mechanism 142 by applying an upward force to the actuator member 144. More specifically, when the user presses upward on the actuator member 144, the actuator member 144 pulls the cable 146 attached thereto in a downward direction, and the cable 146 thereby operates to Disengage the locking mechanism 142. As described in the foregoing, the movement of the cable 146 can cause the engagement member 220 to be withdrawn from the opening 214 and the slot 216 in the inner tube 138, thereby disengaging the locking mechanism 142 and being able to The bottom plate assembly 102 is repositioned between operating and storage positions. When the user releases the actuator member 144, the spring 224 extends the engagement member 220 toward the inner tube 138, which causes the cable 146 to pull on the actuator member 144 and pivot the actuator member 144 To its original unpressed position.

The use of the actuator member 144 in conjunction with the locking mechanism 142 is only exemplary. For example, the actuator member 144 can be used with other locking mechanisms that can inhibit the relative movement between the first tube and the outer tubes 138, 140, and similarly, the locking mechanism 142 can be used with other engaging members 220. Actuator members that move between extended and non-extended positions are used together. For example, instead of using the lever described above, other forms of actuator members may include knobs or handles on the bottom plate assembly, and are adapted to slide, pivot, rotate or move in other ways, with To activate the locking mechanism. The actuator member may be mechanically, electronically electronically (wired or wirelessly), or mechanically and electronically operatively connected with the joint member. The term "tube" as used herein includes a structure that is at least partially hollow, has a length dimension greater than the width dimension, and includes a continuous or discontinuous cross-section along its length. The cross-sectional shape of an embodiment tube may be a geometric shape, for example, including, but not limited to, a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, or a star. The cross-sectional shape of an embodiment tube can receive another tube having a corresponding cross-sectional shape or other shapes, so that the two tubes can telescopically move relative to each other.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 22, the lifting assist mechanism 252 (see FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7 to 9) can move at an angle relative to the bottom plate assembly 102. By adjusting the angle of the lifting assist mechanism 252 relative to the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 can be at least one of the following: help the lifting motor 260 to lift the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102; During the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, help the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 to maintain contact with a supporting surface (for example, the ground); or help the user to lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102. To reposition the bottom plate assembly 102 in the storage configuration. For example, the angle adjustment lifting assist mechanism 252 can apply a reduced force on the bottom plate assembly 102 during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, so that during operation, when the bottom plate assembly 102 is tilted At this time, the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 will not be lifted off the ground. Additionally or alternatively, the angle-adjustable lifting assist mechanism 252 can provide sufficient lifting force to the bottom plate assembly 102 for storage, so that the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 can be lifted. The force required to move the bottom plate assembly 102 from the operating position to the storage position is lower than the threshold requirement (for example, 150N at 15 degrees), which can be set by one or more industrial organizations.

In order to adjust the angle relative to the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be supported by the frame 104 at a supporting position 252a and connected to the bottom plate assembly 102 at a connecting portion 252b. At least one of the supporting position 252a or the connecting portion 252b can move along a length L of the treadmill 100 (see FIGS. 14 and 15). For example, the supporting position 252a can move along the length L of the treadmill 100 relative to the frame 104 to adjust the angle between the lifting assist mechanism 252 and the bottom plate assembly 102 during the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102 . In some embodiments, the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be pivotally and slidably connected to the frame 104 at the support position 252a, and may be pivotally connected to the floor assembly 102 at the connection portion 252b. Referring to Figures 13 to 22, a fragmentary view of the treadmill 100 shown in Figures 1 to 12 is provided, and similar to Figure 3 and Figures 7 to 9, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is shown in dashed lines on the inner tube 138 and the inner side of the outer tube 140. In FIGS. 1 to 12, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is pivotally connected to the bottom plate assembly 102 and is connected to the frame 104. In FIGS. 13-22, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is pivotally connected to the bottom plate assembly 102, similar to FIGS. 1-12. However, in FIGS. 13 to 22, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is pivotally and translationally connected to the frame 104 to allow the support position 252a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 to move relative to the frame 104. Contrary to FIGS. 1 to 12, in FIGS. 1 to 12, the lifting assist mechanism 252 is pivotally connected to the frame 104, but not translationally.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 22, the supporting position 252 a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be pivotally connected to the frame 104 so that the supporting position 252 a can move along the length L of the frame 104. 14 and 15, when the bottom plate assembly 102 is positioned in the operating or use position, the supporting position 252a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 can be along the length L of the treadmill 100 in a first position and a second position. Move between two positions. 14 and 15, when in the operating position, the support position 252a can be moved from the first position (see FIG. 14) to the second position (see FIG. 14) during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102 15). As shown in FIG. 14, when the treadmill 100 is in a non-inclined operating position, the support position 252a of the lift assist mechanism 252 may be positioned in a backward position along the length L of the treadmill. As shown in FIG. 15, when the treadmill 100 is in the inclined operating position, the support position 252a of the lift assist mechanism 252 may be positioned in a forward position along the length L of the treadmill. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 18, the supporting position 252 a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be positioned close to the cross member 114 in this rearward position. The distance between the backward position and the forward position depends on the amount of tilt set by the user during use.

During the tilting of the floor assembly 102, the support position 252a can move forward in a substantially straight line along the length L of the treadmill 100. By moving forward in a substantially straight straight line, if the supporting position 252a is not translatable, the supporting position 252a can be defined relative to the reduced angle defined between the lifting assist mechanism 252 and the bottom plate assembly 102 The angle A between the lift assist mechanism 252 and the bottom plate assembly 102. Reducing the angle A defined between the lifting assist mechanism 252 and the bottom plate assembly 102 can reduce the upward force exerted by the lifting assist mechanism 252 on the bottom plate assembly 102 during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, and The upward force generated may be sufficient to lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 off the ground when the bottom plate assembly 102 is tilted.

Continuing to refer to Figures 14 and 15, the treadmill 100 may include a tilt assembly 264 for raising the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the rear end portion 102b for tilting the bottom plate assembly during use 102. The tilt assembly 264 may be connected to the bottom plate assembly 102 and supported by the frame 104. For example, the tilt assembly 264 may be wrapped or pivotally connected to the rear end portion 264b of the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102 and may include one that is pivotally connected to the front end portion 104a of the frame 104 The front end part 264a. A lifting motor 260 of the tilt assembly 264 can be connected to the frame 104 and can be operated to raise or lower the rear end portion 264b of the tilt assembly 264 relative to the front end portion 264a according to the user's preference. By raising or lowering the rear end portion 264b of the tilt assembly 264, the lifting motor 260 can be adjusted according to the tilt of the bottom plate assembly 102 of the user. For oblique preference, the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102 is raised or lowered relative to the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102.

Still referring to Figures 14 and 15, the lift assist mechanism 252 may be operatively connected to the tilt assembly 264 so that the pivoting action of the tilt assembly 264 causes the support position 252a to move along the length L of the treadmill 100 . For example, raising or lowering the rear end portion 264b of the tilt assembly 264 may cause the support position 252a to move forward or backward with respect to the frame 104, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be connected to the tilt assembly 264 by a link 268. As shown in FIG. 18A, the connecting rod 268 may have a fixed length defined between the front end portion 268a and the rear end portion 268b of the connecting rod 268. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18B, the link 268 may have a variable length. For example, the connecting rod 268 may be formed as a bumper (as shown in FIG. 18B), a spring, or other structures with variable length. Referring back to Figures 14 and 15, the link 268 may be pivotally connected to the lifting assist mechanism 252 at its rear end portion 268b and may be pivotally connected to the tilt assembly at its front end portion 268a 264. The rear end portion 268b of the link 268 may be pivotally connected to the lifting assist mechanism 252 at the supporting position 252a. The supporting position 252a and the rear end portion 268b of the link 268 can move together along the length L of the treadmill 100 in unison.

Further referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the movement of the support position 252 a of the lifting auxiliary mechanism 252 in the forward direction during the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102 helps the lift motor 260 to tilt the bottom plate assembly 102. During the tilting of the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting motor 260 and the lifting assist mechanism 252 can move the tilting assembly 264 around the tilting assembly 264 in an upward direction (see arrow 270 in FIG. 15). The pivotal connection portion 272 of the front end portion 264a to the frame 104 pivots. The upward movement of the rear end portion 264b of the tilt assembly 264 can lift the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102 for tilting the bottom plate assembly 102. During the tilting of the floor assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 may be biased to extend (for example, via a lifting cylinder), causing the support position 252a to move forward along the length L of the treadmill 100. The forward movement of the support position 252a may cause the rear end of the connecting rod 268 268b moves in the forward direction, and this may cause the front end portion 268a of the link 268 to move in the forward and/or upward direction, causing the tilt assembly 264 to pivot in the upward direction and provide a supplementary effect Force to lift the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102. By guiding the axial force of the lifting assist mechanism 252 to the connecting rod 268, the force acting on the bottom plate assembly 102 via the connecting portion 252b of the lifting assist mechanism 252 can be reduced, so that the During the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 will not lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 off the ground. Because of the supplementary lifting force provided by the lifting assist mechanism 252 to the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102, a smaller and/or less expensive lift motor 260 can be used to tilt the bottom plate assembly 102.

In order to reposition the treadmill 100 from the operating position of FIG. 14 to the storage structure of FIG. 17, the user can lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 to pivot the bottom plate assembly 102 relative to the frame 104 change. 14, 16 and 17, the support position 252 a can continue to be maintained in a substantially stationary axial position during the repositioning of the bottom plate assembly 102 from the operating configuration to the storage configuration. For example, during the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102 between the operating configuration (see FIG. 14) and the storage configuration (see FIG. 17), the support position 252a may be positioned in a backward position (see FIG. 14) . The link 268 can inhibit the axial movement of the support position 252a during the repositioning of the floor assembly 102 between the operating and storage configuration. By maintaining the support position 252a in a substantially stationary position during the movement of the bottom plate assembly 102 between the operation and the storage structure, the connecting rod 268 can ensure the axial action of the lifting assist mechanism 252 The force system is directed to the bottom plate assembly 102 via the connecting portion 252b. The position of the supporting position 252a and the force of the lifting auxiliary mechanism 252 can ensure that sufficient lifting force is applied to the bottom plate assembly 102, so that the user lifts the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 and The force required to move the bottom plate assembly 102 from the operating position to the storage position is lower than a threshold requirement (for example, 150N at 15 degrees), which can be set by one or more industrial organizations. When the bottom plate assembly 102 is in the storage configuration (see FIG. 17), the connecting rod 268 can maintain the supporting position 252a at a substantially fixed axial position, so that the lifting assist mechanism 252 can A fixed force is provided to the bottom plate assembly 102 to help maintain the bottom plate assembly 102 in the storage configuration.

18-22, the support position 252a may be limited to move along the length L of the treadmill 100 in a substantially straight line. The supporting position 252a can be operatively connected with a track 276 that defines a path for the movement of the supporting position 252a. The track 276 may be connected to the frame 104 and may extend along the length L of the treadmill 100. For example, the track 276 may be connected to the cross member 114 of the frame 104 and extend in length substantially perpendicular to the cross member 114 of the frame 104. 20 and 22, the track 276 may include a base 278 and a wall 280 extending upward from the base 278 to define a channel for guiding the support position 252a along the length L of the treadmill 100 .

Referring to Figures 18 to 22, a mounting base may be connected to the lifting assist mechanism 252 at a supporting position 252a. The mount can allow the pivoting action of the lifting assist mechanism 252 relative to the rail 276 and can move along a length of the rail 276. When the lift motor 260 lifts the front end portion 102a of the bottom plate assembly 102, the lift assist mechanism 252 can move the mounting seat forward relative to the frame 104, and when the lift motor 260 lowers the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly 102 At 102a, the connecting rod 268 can move the mounting seat backward relative to the frame 104. The mounting base can be at least one of rolling or sliding relative to the frame 104.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a mounting seat 284 can slide relative to the frame 104 along a length of the track 276. The mounting base 284 may include a bracket 288 to which the lifting assist mechanism 252 is pivotally connected at a supporting position 252a. The bracket 288 can be limited by the track 276 to slide in a substantially straight line along the length of the track 276. The bracket 288 may include a base 292 positioned below the auxiliary lifting mechanism 252 and a wall 294 extending upward from the base 292 along opposite sides of the auxiliary lifting mechanism 252. Fasteners 289, such as bolts and nuts, may extend through the walls 294 of the bracket 288 to connect the bracket 288 to the lifting assist mechanism 252 at the support position 252a. The mounting base 284 may include a cover 290 attached to the bottom side of the bracket 288 for lifting Provide the required amount of friction between the mounting seat 284 and the rail 276. For example, the cover 290 may be formed from a material with a low coefficient of friction (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene) to provide a substantially frictionless interface between the mounting seat 284 and the rail 276. The cover 290 may include a base 296 and a wall 298 extending upward from the base 296. During use, the base 296 of the cover 290 can bear against the base 278 of the rail 276, and the wall 298 of the cover 290 can bear against the wall 280 of the rail 276, so as to limit the lateral direction of the mounting seat 284 relative to the rail 276. Movement, but allows axial movement.

Referring to FIGS. 21 to 24, a mounting seat 300 can roll relative to the frame 104 along a length of the track 276. The mounting seat 300 may include one or more rollers 302 that are rotatably connected to the lifting auxiliary mechanism 252 at the supporting position 252a, and the rollers 302 can roll along a length of the track 276. For example, the mounting seat 300 may include first and second rollers 302 positioned on opposite sides of the lifting assist mechanism 252, and the rollers 302 may be positioned at the supporting position 252a via a wheel shaft 304 It is connected to the lifting assist mechanism 252 via one. One or more fastening features 306 can secure the roller 302 to the axle 304. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 23, the rollers 302 can be positioned inside the wall 280 of the rail 276. 23, the rollers 302 can bear against the walls 280 of the rail 276, so that during use, the rollers 302 can roll along a length of the base 278 of the rail 276, and the rail 276 The walls 280 can restrain the lateral movement of the mounting seat 300 relative to the rail 276. Additionally or alternatively, referring to FIG. 21, the axle 304 may extend through the rollers 302 and may be fixed to the rail 276 via fastening features 306 to limit the lateral movement of the mount 300 relative to the rail 276 . As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the axle 304 can extend through slots 308 formed in the walls 280 of the rail 276, and the slots 308 can extend along the length of the rail 276. A length is extended to allow the mounting seat 300 to move axially relative to the track 276 during the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102 of the treadmill 100. As shown in FIG. 21, the rollers 302 can be positioned inside the walls 280, and the fastening features 306 can be positioned outside the walls 280. During use, the rollers 302 can roll along the base 278 of the track 276, and the axle 304 can It moves along the slots 308 formed in the wall portions 280 of the rail 276 to allow the mounting seat 300 to move axially relative to the rail 276. The length of the slots 308 may be based on the maximum inclination angle of the bottom plate assembly 102. For example, for a treadmill including the bottom plate assembly 102 with greater tilt adjustment capability, the length of the slots 308 may be longer.

During operation, the user can move the bottom plate assembly 102 from a substantially horizontal orientation to an oblique orientation when in an operating position (see FIGS. 1 and 13 to 15). While tilting the bottom plate assembly 102 in this operating position, the supporting position 252a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 can be displaced forward along the length L of the treadmill 100 (see FIGS. 14 and 15 continuously). Once the bottom plate assembly 102 is in the desired tilt position, the support position 252a can continue to be maintained in a stationary forward position (see FIG. 15). If the inclined bottom plate assembly 102 is no longer needed, the user can tilt the bottom plate assembly 102 from an inclined position (see FIG. 15) to a substantially horizontal operating position (see FIG. 14). While tilting the bottom plate assembly 102 in this operating position, the supporting position 252a of the lifting assist mechanism 252 can be translated backward along the length L of the treadmill 100 (see FIGS. 14 and 15 in the reverse order). Once the bottom plate assembly 102 is in the substantially horizontal operating position, the support position 252a can continue to remain in a stationary rearward position (see FIG. 14). Once the user has finished using the treadmill 100, the user can move the floor assembly 102 to the storage position (see FIG. 17). In order to move the bottom plate assembly 102 to its storage position, the user can lift the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 (see Figure 14, Figure 16, and Figure 17 continuously). While moving the bottom plate assembly 102 to the storage position, the support position 252a of the lift assist mechanism 252 can continue to be maintained in a substantially stationary position along the length of the treadmill 100. The treadmill 100 (continuously refer to FIG. 14. Figure 16 and Figure 17).

13-22, the supporting position 252a of the lifting auxiliary mechanism 252 can be moved relative to the frame 104 to allow the angle of the lifting auxiliary mechanism 252 relative to the bottom plate assembly 102 during the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102 Angle adjustment. By allowing the lifting assist mechanism 252 to adjust its angle relative to the bottom plate assembly 102 during the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102, the lifting assist mechanism 252 can Therefore, it is at least one of the following: when the bottom plate assembly 102 is tilted, the lifting motor 260 is assisted, and the force exerted by the lifting assist mechanism 252 on the bottom plate assembly 102 is reduced, so that the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly 102 102b will not lift off the ground during the tilt adjustment of the bottom plate assembly 102, or supplement the lifting force to store the bottom plate assembly 102, so that the user lifts the rear end portion 102b of the bottom plate assembly 102 to the bottom plate assembly 102. The force required to move 102 from the operating position to the storage position is lower than a threshold requirement (for example, 150N at 15 degrees), which can be set by one or more industrial organizations.

Although various representative embodiments of the present invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can do so without departing from the scope of the subject matter proposed in the specification and the scope of the patent application. , Many changes are made to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the locking mechanism of the present disclosure can be used with various types of treadmills, and should not be construed as being limited to having only exemplary functions of the treadmill shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

All orientation references (for example, above, below, up, down, left, right, left, right, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only It is used for the purpose of identification to help readers understand the embodiments of the present invention, and especially regarding the position, orientation or use of the present invention, unless specifically proposed in the scope of the patent application, it is not intended to create a limitation. Combined references (e.g., attachment, coupling, connection, and the like) should be interpreted broadly, and may include intermediate members between the connecting portions of the elements and relative movement between the elements. Therefore, the combined reference does not necessarily infer that the two elements are directly connected and have a fixed relationship with respect to each other.

In some cases, elements are described with reference to "locations" that have special features and/or are connected to another component. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to components that terminate immediately beyond the point of connection with other components. Therefore, the term "location" should be broadly used to include a specific element, link, component, component, component, or the like that is adjacent to, behind, in front of, or close to it. Explain in a regional way. In the methods directly or indirectly proposed in this article, various steps and operations are described in a possible sequence of operations, but those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field will recognize that the steps and operations can be rearranged , Is replaced or deleted without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the system, device and method of the present invention, any one of the above embodiments or processes can be combined with one or more of other embodiments and/or processes, or be independent of individual devices or device parts and/ Or execute in a separate device or device location. The description of exemplary embodiments is intended to illustrate only examples according to the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the accompanying patent application to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Therefore, although the examples have been specifically described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments, many modifications and alternative embodiments can be widely used by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field without departing from the scope of the present disclosure proposed in the following patent applications. And conceived under the desired range. Accordingly, the description and drawings should be regarded as illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the accompanying patent application.

100: treadmill

102: bottom plate assembly

102a: The front end of the bottom plate assembly

102b: Rear end part

104: Frame

106: Left upright member

108: Upright member on the right

110: Left base member

112: Right base member

114: Cross member

116: left armrest

118: Right handrail

120: display console

122: left frame rail

124: Right frame rail

126a: The first cross member

126b: Second cross member

128: running belt

131: Support

136: Locking System

138: Inner Tube

140: Outer tube

142: Locking Mechanism

144: Actuator component

145: Cover

146: Cable

Claims (19)

A treadmill, comprising: a frame; a bottom plate assembly operably connected with the frame, the bottom plate assembly can be positioned at an operating position and a storage position; and a tilt assembly with a pivot Ground connected to a rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly and pivotally connected to a front end portion of the frame, the inclined assembly includes a supporting structure pivotally coupled to the bottom plate assembly and the frame , In order to change an inclination angle of the bottom plate assembly relative to the frame; a lifting auxiliary mechanism, which is supported by the frame at a supporting position and connected to the bottom plate assembly, wherein the supporting position can be Relative to the frame, it moves along a length of the treadmill for adjusting the angle between the lifting assist mechanism and the bottom plate assembly during the movement of the bottom plate assembly; and wherein the lifting assist mechanism A connecting rod is connected to the tilt assembly, wherein in the supporting position, a rear end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the lifting assist mechanism, and a front end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected To the tilt assembly. For example, the treadmill of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the supporting position is restricted to move in a substantially straight line along the length of the treadmill. For example, the treadmill of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the supporting position can be at least one of rolling or sliding relative to the bottom plate assembly. For example, the treadmill of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the bottom plate assembly is positioned in the operating position, the supporting position can be along the treadmill between a first position and a second position The segment length moves. Such as the treadmill of item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the bottom plate assembly is tilted in the operating position, the supporting position moves from the first position to the second position. For example, the treadmill of item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein during the movement of the bottom plate assembly between the operating position and the storage position, the supporting position is positioned in the first position. For example, the treadmill of the first item in the scope of the patent application, wherein when the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly is inclined relative to the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly, the support position moves along the length of the treadmill. For example, the treadmill of claim 1, further comprising: a track connected to the frame and extending in the length direction along the length of the treadmill; and a mounting seat at the supporting position It is connected to the lifting assist mechanism and can move along a length of the track. For example, the treadmill of item 8 of the scope of patent application, wherein: the mounting base includes one or more rollers, which are connected to the lifting auxiliary mechanism in a rotatable manner at the supporting position; and the one or more The roller can roll along the length of the track. For example, the treadmill of claim 9, wherein: the mounting base further includes an axle, which is connected to the lifting assist mechanism at the supporting position; and the one or more rollers are connected to the axle. For example, the treadmill of claim 9, wherein: the one or more rollers include a first roller and a second roller; and the first and second rollers are positioned at the supporting position On the opposite side of the lifting assist mechanism. For example, the treadmill of claim 8, wherein: the mounting base includes a bracket, and the lifting assist mechanism is pivotally connected to the bracket at the supporting position; and The carriage is restricted by the track to slide in a substantially straight line along the length of the track. For example, the treadmill of item 11 of the scope of patent application, wherein the connecting rod has a variable length between its connection with the lifting assist mechanism and the tilt assembly. For example, the treadmill of item 11 in the scope of patent application, wherein the connecting rod has a fixed length between its connection with the lifting assist mechanism and the tilt assembly. For example, the treadmill of claim 11, wherein the tilt assembly includes a lifting motor that can be operated to lift the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly relative to the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly. For example, the treadmill of item 15 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the lifting motor lifts the front end portion of the bottom plate assembly relative to the rear end portion of the bottom plate assembly, the lifting assist mechanism sets the The mounting seat moves forward relative to the frame to help the lifting motor. Such as the treadmill of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the lifting assist mechanism includes a lifting cylinder. A method for adjusting a bottom plate assembly of a treadmill, the method comprising: providing a treadmill, which includes: a frame; a bottom plate assembly; and a tilt assembly pivotally connected to a rear of the bottom plate assembly The end part is pivotally connected to a front end part of the frame, and the inclined assembly includes a supporting structure pivotally coupled to the bottom plate assembly and the frame for changing the relative position of the bottom plate assembly At an inclination angle of the frame; a lifting auxiliary mechanism, which is supported by the frame at a supporting position and connected to the bottom plate assembly, wherein the supporting position can be relative to the frame along the treadmill The length of the movement is used to adjust the angle between the lifting auxiliary mechanism and the bottom plate assembly during the movement of the bottom plate assembly The lifting assist mechanism is connected to the tilt assembly by a connecting rod, and a rear end portion of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the lifting assisting mechanism when in the supporting position, and the connecting rod A front end portion is pivotally connected to the inclined assembly; wherein moving the floor assembly to the inclined position includes moving the floor assembly from a substantially horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation; and in the operating position While tilting the bottom plate assembly, a supporting position of a lifting auxiliary mechanism is translated forward along a length of the treadmill. For example, the method of claim 18, which further comprises: moving the bottom plate assembly from the operating position to a storage position; and while moving the bottom plate assembly to the storage position, along the treadmill The length of the section maintains the supporting position of the lifting auxiliary mechanism substantially fixed.

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