US20070049464A1 - Folding device for treadmills - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable treadmill includes a base and a rectangular frame has an end pivotably connected to the base. An endless belt is reeved through rollers connected to the frame. A folding device is connected between the base and the frame and includes two guide members connected to base and each guide member has an L-shaped groove. A U-shaped frame is connected to the base and has two legs, each leg has a first pivot and a second pivot, both of which are movably engaged with the two respective L-shaped grooves of the two guide members. A support device is connected between the base and an underside of the frame so as to assist the frame to be folded relative to the base. The pivots are moved within the L-shaped grooves to guide the pivoting action of the frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a folding device for folding the frame relative to the base of treadmills.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• FIGS.9 to11 show two conventional treadmills and each treadmill has a base60(70), a frame62(72) and a folding device63(73). The folding device63(73) includes link assembly64(74) connected between the posts61(71) and the frame62(72). When the power is transferred to the link assembly64(74), the frame62(72) is pivoted toward the posts61(71) relative to the base60(70) so as to be the folded status which occupies less space and is convenience for storage.
• Another conventional treadmill having a folding device is shown inFIG. 12 and includes abase80 and twoplates81 are respectively connected to two extensions of thebase80. One end of each of theplates81 is pivotably connected to theframe83 of the treadmill and the other end of eachplate81 is pivotably connected to thebase80. Alink82 is connected between the twoplates81. A cylinder is connected between thelink82 and a transverse bar of theframe83 so that theframe83 can be adjusted by operating the cylinder.
• However, the conventional folding devices include too many parts which require a lot of time to assemble and have higher manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a foldable treadmill comprising a base and a rectangular frame which has an end pivotably connected to the base. An endless belt is connected to the frame. A folding device is connected between the base and the frame and includes two guide members which are connected to two extensions of the base. Each guide member has an L-shaped groove composed of a first groove and a second groove. A U-shaped frame is connected between the two extensions of the base and has two legs, each leg has a first pivot and a second pivot. The first and second pivots are movably engaged with the two respective L-shaped grooves of the two guide members. A support device is connected between the base and an underside of the frame.
• The primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding device for a treadmill wherein the folding device includes a simple structure and less number of parts.
• The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the treadmill with the folding device of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show with the folding device of the present invention;
• FIG. 2A shows that the lifting device of the folding device is pivoted relative to the base;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the folding device of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a side view to show the folding device;
• FIG. 5 shows that an end of the frame is lifted upward an angle;
• FIG. 6 shows that the frame is pivoted relative to the base and supported by the support device;
• FIG. 7 shows that the frame is positioned at an upright position;
• FIG. 8 shows the two pivots are moved in the L-shaped grooves when pivoting the frame;
• FIG. 9 shows a side view of a first conventional treadmill;
• FIG. 10 shows that the frame of the conventional treadmill inFIG. 9 is lifted;
• FIG. 11 shows a second conventional treadmill;
• FIG. 12 shows a third conventional treadmill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring toFIGS. 1, 2,2A,3 and4, the treadmill of the present invention comprises abase10 which has two extensions and twoposts12 extend from thebase10. Eachpost12 includes a handle and acontrol unit13 is connected between the two handles on theposts12.
• Arectangular frame20 has an end pivotably connected between the two extensions of thebase10 and atransmission unit22 is connected to theframe20. Thetransmission unit22 includes rollers (not shown), adriving device24 for driving the rollers and anendless belt23 which reeves through the rollers. Thedriving device24 is electrically connected to thecontrol unit13. The other end of theframe20 includes twocaster units25.
• Afolding device30 is connected between thebase10 and theframe20 and including twoguide members31 which are connected to the two extensions of thebase10. Eachguide member31 has an L-shaped groove32 which is composed of afirst groove321 and asecond groove322. Theguide members31 can be two blocks or theguide members31 can be directly embedded into the two extensions of thebase10. A U-shapedframe33 is connected between the two extensions of thebase10 and has two legs. Each leg has afirst pivot34 and asecond pivot35, the first andsecond pivots34,35 can be two rods and movably engaged with the two respective L-shaped grooves32 of the twoguide members31.
• Alifting device40 includes an H-shaped frame including twoside rods41 and atransverse bar42. The twoside rods41 are pivotably connected between the U-shapedframe33 and afront bar21 of theframe20. Thelifting device40 further includes amotor43 which has one end pivotably connected to theframe20 and the other end of themotor43 is pivotably connected to the U-shapedframe33. An end of themotor43 is pivotably connected to twocurve plates211 on thefront bar21 of theframe20, and the other end of themotor43 has a threadedrod431 which is pivotably connected to twolugs331 on the U-shapedframe33.
• Asupport device50 is connected between thebase10 and an underside of theframe20. Thesupport device50 includes a pneumatic cylinder pivotably connected to theframe20 and the pneumatic cylinder includes a threadedrod51 which is pivotably connected to the underside of theframe20.
• Referring toFIGS. 2A and 5, when adjusting the angle of theframe20 relative to the ground, the threadedrod431 of themotor43 is activated so as to pivot thecurve plate211 and theside rods41 are lifted to adjust the angle of theframe20 relative to the ground. When the threadedrod431 extends to let themotor43 be located at the highest position, theframe20 is lifted to an upright position. In the meanwhile, thesupport device50 assists the pivotable movement of theframe20.
• As shown in FIGS.6 to8, when theframe20 is located in horizontal position, the first andsecond pivots34,35 are located in thefirst groove321. When theframe20 is pivoted about theguide members31 to upright position, the twopivots34,35 are moved in the first andsecond grooves321,322. When theframe20 is pivoted to the upright position, the twopivots34,35 are located in thesecond groove322.
• While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A foldable treadmill comprising:

a base having two extensions and two posts extending from the base, a control unit connected between the two posts;

a rectangular frame having an end pivotably connected between the two extensions of the base and a transmission unit connected to the frame, the transmission unit having an endless belt;

a folding device connected between the base and the frame and including two guide members which are connected to the two extensions of the base, each guide member having an L-shaped groove which is composed of a first groove and a second groove, a U-shaped frame connected between the two extensions of the base and having two legs, each leg having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first and second pivots movably engaged with the two respective L-shaped grooves of the two guide members, and

a support device connected between the base and an underside of the frame.

2. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a lifting device is connected between the base and the end of the frame, the lifting device includes a motor which has one end pivotably connected to the frame and the other end of the motor is pivotably connected to the U-shaped frame.

3. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the lifting device includes an H-shaped frame including two side rods and a transverse bar, the two side rods are pivotably connected between the U-shaped frame and a front bar of the frame.

4. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 3, wherein an end of the motor is pivotably connected to two curve plates on the front bar of the frame, the other end of the motor has a threaded rod which is pivotably connected to the U-shaped frame.

5. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a driving device is connected to the frame and electrically connected to the control unit.

6. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the guide members each are a block.

7. The treadmill as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the support device includes a pneumatic cylinder pivotably connected to the frame and the pneumatic cylinder includes a threaded rod which is pivotably connected to the underside of the frame.

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