US20030130094A1 - Ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser - Google Patents

Abstract

An ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser. The running board frame is connected with a linking mechanism and driven thereby. A telescopic tube assembly of a supporting device is telescoped so as to move the caster support back and forth for adjusting the inclination of the running board. By means of rotating a threaded rod, a long sleeve of the linking mechanism is telescoped into a short sleeve, whereby the running board frame is turned upward. Therefore, the running board can be electrically folded. In the case that there is no power supply, a user can directly manually turn the running board upward and fold the running board.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is related to an ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser. The inclination of the running board can be electrically adjusted and the running board can be electrically folded. In the case that there is no power supply, a user can directly manually turn the running board upward and fold the running board.[0001]
• FIG. 13 shows a conventional running exerciser including a[0002]base seat50 and a runningboard frame51 pivotally mounted on thebase seat50. Opposite caster supports52 are pivotally mounted on rear end of the runningboard frame51. A linkingmechanism53 is drivingly connected between the caster supports52 and thebase seat50. The linkingmechanism53 via amotor531 is pivotally mounted on thebase seat50. Themotor531 serves to drive a threadedrod532.
• The[0003]motor531 drives the threadedrod532 to operate the caster supports52 at rear end of the runningboard frame51 and thus change the inclination thereof. When a user desires to fold25 the runningboard frame51 to reduce the occupied room, the user must manually turn the runningboard frame51 upward as shown in FIG. 14. The runningboard frame51 is quite heavy so that such procedure is very unsuitable for those having insufficient strength, such as an old man and a rehabilitated patient.
• FIG. 15 shows another type of running exerciser in which a driving motor (not shown) is mounted on the[0004]base seat60 for driving the running belt to revolve. A folding unit is disposed under the runningboard frame61. The folding unit includes amotor62 for driving a threadedrod621 to rotate. In addition, an inclination unit is provided for driving the runningboard frame61 to adjust the inclination. The inclination unit has another motor (not shown) mounted on thebase seat60. The motor drives atelescopic rod63 which is linked with the caster supports64 under the runningboard frame61. Accordingly, the inclination of the runningboard frame61 can be adjusted.
• The above structure is able to electrically adjust the inclination of the running board frame and fold the running board frame as shown in FIG. 16. The structure includes two motors respectively for driving the caster supports[0005]64 to change the inclination of the runningboard frame61 and for folding the runningboard frame61. In addition, the structure further includes a motor for driving the running belt. Therefore, the structure totally has three motors so that the cost for the structure is high. Moreover, the structure further includes reducing gear case, threaded rod, etc. so that the structure is relatively complicated. Furthermore, such structure lacks function of manual folding. In case there is no power supply, the user will be unable to fold the running board frame and the running exerciser will occupy much room.
• FIG. 17 shows still another type of conventional running exerciser in which a[0006]motor72 is disposed on a pivot section of the runningboard70 and therail71. Themotor72 serves to drive a threadedrod73 to rotate. One end of the threadedrod73 is pivotally connected with apivot point74. When the threadedrod73 is driven by themotor72, the threadedrod73 pushes thepivot point74 to fold the runningboard70.
• The above structure includes one[0007]single motor72 for driving the runningboard70 to electrically fold the same as shown in FIG. 18. Moreover, in case there is no power supply, the runningboard70 can be manually folded. However, the force arm for themotor72 to drive the threadedrod73 is shorter, while the force arm from the runningboard70 to thepivot point74 is longer. Therefore, the load between themotor72 and the threadedrod73 is greater and themotor72 is likely to damage. Furthermore, it is necessary to use amotor72 with greater power so that the cost is relatively high. In addition, there is little space below the runningboard70. In the case that a larger motor is used, the space will be insufficient to receive the motor. Also, such structure is unable to electrically change the inclination of the running board. An additional motor is required for achieving such function. This also increases the cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser. The running board frame is connected with a linking mechanism and driven thereby. A telescopic tube assembly of a supporting device is telescoped so as to move the caster support back and forth for adjusting the inclination of the running board. By means of rotating a threaded rod, a long sleeve of the linking mechanism is telescoped into a short sleeve, whereby the running board frame is turned upward. Therefore, the running board can be electrically folded. In the case that there is no power supply, a user can directly manually turn the running board upward and fold the running board.[0008]
• The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:[0009]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;[0010]
• FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled view of the present invention;[0011]
• FIG. 3 is a side assembled view of the present invention;[0012]
• FIG. 4 is a sectional assembled view of the long sleeve and short sleeve of the present invention;[0013]
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention in a state prior to electric adjustment of the inclination of the running board;[0014]
• FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention in a state after electric adjustment of the inclination of the running board;[0015]
• FIG. 7 is a side view of the present invention in a state prior to electric folding of the running board;[0016]
• FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention in which the running board is electrically folded by 45 degree angle;[0017]
• FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention in which the running board is electrically folded by 90 degree angle;[0018]
• FIG. 10 is a side view of the present invention in a state prior to manual folding of the running board;[0019]
• FIG. 11 is a side view of the present invention in which the running board is manually folded by 45 degree angle;[0020]
• FIG. 12 is a side view of the present invention in which the running board is manually folded by 90 degree angle;[0021]
• FIG. 13 is a side assembled view of a first conventional running exerciser;[0022]
• FIG. 14 is a side view of the first conventional running exerciser in a folded state;[0023]
• FIG. 15 is a side assembled view of a second conventional running exerciser;[0024]
• FIG. 16 is a side view of the second conventional running exerciser in a folded state;[0025]
• FIG. 17 is a side assembled view of a third conventional running exerciser; and[0026]
• FIG. 18 is a side view of the third conventional running exerciser in a folded state.[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Please refer to FIGS.[0028]1 to4. The ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser of the present invention includes abase seat10 and a runningboard frame20 pivotally mounted on thebase seat10. The runningboard frame20 is connected with a supportingdevice30 which is drivingly connected with a linkingmechanism40, whereby the runningboard frame20 can be inclined by different angles.
• The[0029]base seat10 is substantially rectangular. Twoupright frames11 are respectively disposed on two sides of thebase seat10. Anupright column12 is fitted in eachupright frame11. Arail14 having acontroller13 is connected between the twoupright columns12.
• The running[0030]board frame20 is a rectangular frame body composed of four beam members connected with each other. The front end of the runningboard frame20 is pivotally mounted between the twoupright frames11 of thebase seat10. Afirst hinge21 is fixed on the runningboard frame20. A runningboard22 is disposed on the runningboard frame20. A runningbelt23 is wound on the runningboard22 and driven by afirst motor24 to revolve on the runningboard22.
• The[0031]linking mechanism40 includes a supportingdevice30 and a power telescopic rod. The supportingdevice30 has two opposite caster supports31 which are respectively pivotally mounted on the runningboard frame20 in predetermined opposite positions. Afirst beam32 is connected between the two caster supports31. Asecond hinge33 is fixed on thefirst beam32. Twocasters34 are respectively mounted under the bottoms of the two caster supports31. One of the caster supports31 is further connected with atelescopic tube assembly35. One end of aninner tube351 of thetelescopic tube assembly35 is fixed on thecaster support31. One end of anouter tube352 of thetelescopic tube assembly35 is pivotally mounted on thebase seat10. Thetelescopic tube assembly35, thebase seat10, thecaster support31 and the runningboard frame20 form a four-link mechanism A. The length of theinner tube351 telescoped into theouter tube352 is changeable so as to change the angle of thecaster support31, whereby the inclination of the runningboard frame20 can be adjusted.
• In this embodiment, the power telescopic rod via a[0032]second motor41 is pivotally mounted on thefirst hinge21 of the runningboard frame20. Thesecond motor41 has a threadedrod42 fitted in ashort sleeve43 connected with thesecond motor41. Along sleeve44 is fitted in theshort sleeve43. A locatingblock441 is disposed at one end of thelong sleeve44. The locatingblock441 has aninner thread442 in which the threadedrod42 is screwed. The other end of thelong sleeve44 is pivotally mounted on thesecond hinge33 of thefirst beam32. By means of rotating the threadedrod42 of thesecond motor41, thelong sleeve44 can move within theshort sleeve43 so as to ascend or descend the runningboard frame20.
• Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. A user can press a press button (not shown) on the[0033]controller13 to make thefirst motor24 drive the runningbelt23 to revolve on the runningboard22. The user can run and exercise on the runningbelt23. In addition, by means of pressing an inclination adjusting button on thecontroller13, thesecond motor41 is powered to drive the threadedrod42 to rotate. The threadedrod42 drives the locatingblock441 of thelong sleeve44 and makes thelong sleeve44 move toward theshort sleeve43. At the same time, thefirst beam32 of the supportingdevice30 is driven to pivot thecaster support31. At this time, theinner tube351 of thetelescopic tube assembly35 is telescoped into theouter tube352 so as to change the inclination of the runningboard22 on the runningboard frame20. After the runningboard22 reaches a position of a desired inclination, the user stops pressing the press button and the electric adjustment of inclination of the runningboard22 is completed.
• Please refer to FIGS.[0034]7 to9. After the user completes the running exercise, the user can press a running board folding button on thecontroller13 to make thesecond motor41 drive the threadedrod42. The threadedrod42 is rotated to drive the locatingblock441 of thelong sleeve44 and make thelong sleeve44 move toward theshort sleeve43. At the same time, thefirst beam32 of the supportingdevice30 is driven to pivot thecaster support31. At this time, theinner tube351 of thetelescopic tube assembly35 is entirely telescoped into theouter tube352 so that the angle of thecaster support31 cannot be further changed. Under such circumstance, the runningboard frame20, thebase seat10, thetelescopic rod30 and thecaster support31 form a parallel four-link mechanism. By means of rotating the threadedrod42 of thesecond motor41, thelong sleeve44 is further telescoped into theshort sleeve43. The runningboard frame20 is turned upward about the pivot point of the upright frames11 of thebase seat10 until the runningboard frame20 and thebase seat10 contain a 90 degree angle. At this time, the electric folding of the runningboard22 is completed. Thereafter, the threadedrod42 of thesecond motor41 is fixed so that thelong sleeve44 is truly pulled and located to prevent the runningboard frame20 from falling down.
• Referring to FIGS.[0035]10 to12, in the case that there is no power supply and the user desires to fold the runningboard22, the user can directly use his/her hands to turn the rear end of the runningboard frame20 upward about the pivot section of the runningboard frame20 and thebase seat10. With a 90 degree angle contained between the runningboard frame20 and thebase seat10, a locatingbolt36 is passed through thetelescopic tube assembly35 to lock theinner tube351 with theouter tube352 without telescoping. At this time, the runningboard frame20 is fixed in a folded state. Accordingly, in the case that there is no power supply, a user can still conveniently manually fold the running board.
• In conclusion, in the ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser of the present invention, the running board frame is connected with a linking mechanism and driven thereby. A telescopic tube assembly of a supporting device is telescoped so as to move the caster support back and forth for adjusting the inclination of the running board. By means of rotating a threaded rod, a long sleeve of the linking mechanism is telescoped into a short sleeve, whereby the running board frame is turned upward. Therefore, the running board can be electrically folded. In the case that there is no power supply, a user can directly manually turn the running board upward and fold the running board.[0036]
• The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.[0037]

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:

1. An ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser, comprising:

a base seat having two pivot sections on two sides thereof;

a running board frame, two sides of one end of the running board frame being respectively pivotally mounted on the two pivot sections of the base seat, a running board being disposed on the running board frame, a running belt being wound around the running board; and

a linking mechanism capable of adjusting the inclination of the running board frame and folding the running board frame, the linking mechanism including a supporting device and a power telescopic rod, the supporting device having a caster support pivotally mounted under the running board frame in a predetermined position distal from the end of the running board frame pivotally connected with the base seat, at least one caster being disposed under the bottom of the caster support, the caster support being pivotally connected with one end of a telescopic tube assembly, the other end of the telescopic tube assembly being pivotally mounted on the base seat, the telescopic tube assembly, the base seat, the caster support and the running board frame forming a four-link mechanism, one end of the power telescopic rod being pivotally mounted on the caster support, while the other end thereof being pivotally mounted on the running board frame, the power telescopic rod being driven by a power source.

2. The ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the pivot sections on two sides of the base seat are two upright frames, an upright column being fitted in each upright frame, a rail having a controller being connected between the two upright columns.

3. The ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the linking mechanism via a second motor is pivotally mounted on the running board frame, the second motor having a threaded rod fitted in a short sleeve connected with the second motor, a long sleeve being fitted in the short sleeve, a locating block being disposed at one end of the long sleeve, the locating block having an inner thread in which the threaded rod is screwed, the other end of the long sleeve being pivotally mounted on the caster support.

4. The ascending/descending and folding structure for running exerciser as claimed inclaim 1, wherein one end of the inner tube of the telescopic tube assembly is fixed on the caster support, an outer tube being fitted around the inner tube, one end of the outer tube being pivotally mounted on the base seat.

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