US20080318737A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080318737A1
Application number: US11/812,977
Authority: US
Inventors: Yu-Ming Chu
Original assignee: Inray Fitness Products Corp
Current assignee: Inray Fitness Products Corp
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2007-06-22
Publication date: 2008-12-25

Abstract

A buffering structure is coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device. The buffering structure comprises a rockshaft and a buffering cushion. The rockshaft is mounted on the bottom of the support device and pivotally connected to the treadmill. The buffering cushion is connected to the outer surface of the rockshaft. The rockshaft and the buffering cushion are able to buffer the action route of the support device. As a result, the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a buffering structure, and more particularly to a buffering structure of a treadmill to buffer the action route of a support device by means of a rockshaft and a buffering cushion, wherein the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to protect the user's legs from being hurt by excessive large counterforce created transiently by the runway platform, the common commercial treadmill generally has a buffering mechanism. However, the general buffering mechanism has poor performance and only provides single buffer action. Therefore, it is unable to provide different degrees of adjustment for different users. Accordingly, the exerciser's legs, especially knees and ankles, may get injured easily.

Although the existing exercise treadmill may equip with another buffering mechanism to stagedly adjust the degree of shock absorption. In addition, it has complicated configuration and is easy to get damaged. In addition, it has high cost, resulting in degraded competitiveness. In addition, every user must adjust the buffering structure individually, resulting in the inconvenience in use and affecting the user's desire to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the conventional drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a buffering structure, which has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged.

In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, a buffering structure is coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device. The buffering structure comprises a rockshaft and a buffering cushion. The rockshaft is mounted on the bottom of the support device and pivotally connected to the treadmill. The buffering cushion is connected to the outer surface of the rockshaft.

As a result, the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the treadmill in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is coupled to;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the buffering cushion departs from the ascending/descending route of the support device;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the buffering cushion enters the ascending/descending route of the support device;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A inFIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a buffering structure of the present invention is coupled to atreadmill1, wherein thetreadmill1 comprises abase11. Twolateral plates111 are mounted respectively on both sides of thebase1. Arunway platform112 is mounted between these twolateral plates111. Arunway belt113 is sleeved onto the surface of therunway platform112. In addition, an ascending/descendingmechanism12 is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the front end of thebase11. The ascending/descending mechanism12 has a buffering structure2 (3) on the inside. In addition, the ascending/descendingmechanism12 comprises aconnection plate121 having respectivelateral frames122 on both sides. The inner lateral surface of eachlateral frame122 is pivotally, connected to arespective support device123. Thesupport device123 is designed to support the weights of therunway platform112 and therunway belt113. In addition, anelastic device125 is held between the front end of thesupport device123 and theconnection plate121. Theelastic device125 is designed to absorb the downward pressing force from thesupport device123. In addition, an ascending/descendingrod set124 is slidably positioned in thesupport device123. The ascending/descendingrod set124 is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the front end of thebase11. In addition, twosupport frames13 are vertically, laterally mounted on both sides of theconnection plate121. The top ends of thesupport frames13 are connected to acontroller14. Twohandles15 are extended from the rear end of thecontroller14 to allow the user to hold them.

Referring toFIGS. 2 through 5, thebuffering structure2 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Thebuffering structure2 is designed to buffer the action route of thesupport device123. Thebuffering structure2 comprises arockshaft21, apositioning device22, acontrol rod23, agrip24 and abuffering cushion25. Therockshaft21 is parallel-mounted on the bottom of thesupport device123. One end of therockshaft21 is pivotally connected to the bottom of thelateral frame122 of thetreadmill1. The other end of therockshaft21 is pivotally connected to one end of thepositioning device22. The other end of thepositioning device22 is pivotally connected to the bottom of thelateral frame122 of thetreadmill1. Thepositioning device22 is designed to confine the shift angle of therockshaft21. In addition, the outer surface of therockshaft21 is connected to thebuffering cushion25. Thebuffering cushion25 is of an elastic material. Thebuffering cushion25 is such as a rubber cushion or an equivalent cushion. The outer surface of therockshaft21 is connected to thecontrol rod23. The top end of thecontrol rod23 is fixedly connected to thegrip24. As a result, the user can shift therockshaft21 by means of thegrip24 and thecontrol rod23 so as to further control the positions of therockshaft21 and thebuffering cushion25.

Referring toFIG. 3 andFIG. 4, the utilization status of the above-mentioned components is shown. When in use, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention may have two adjustment stages.

When the user requires a larger buffer route, therockshaft21 can be shifted toward one side by means of thegrip24 and thecontrol rod23 so as to enable thebuffering cushion25 to depart from the ascending/descending route of thesupport device123, as shown inFIG. 3. Consequently, when the user operates thetreadmill1, thesupport device123 supports the weights of therunway platform112, therunway belt113 and the user, and thesupport device123 achieves the buffer effect by means of theelastic device125 held between the front end of thesupport device123 and theconnection plate121, wherein theelastic device125 has a complete, large action route since it is completely not interfered with by thebuffering cushion25.

When the user requires a smaller buffer route, therockshaft21 can be shifted toward the other side by means of thegrip24 and thecontrol rod23 so as to enable thebuffering cushion25 to enter the ascending/descending route of thesupport device123, as shown inFIG. 4. Consequently, when the user operates thetreadmill1, thesupport device123 supports the weights of therunway platform112, therunway belt113 and the user, and thesupport device123 achieves the buffer effect by means of theelastic device125 held between the front end of thesupport device123 and theconnection plate121, wherein theelastic device125 has a smaller action route since it is interfered with by thebuffering cushion25.

Referring toFIGS. 6 through 8, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Before describing the second preferred embodiment, it is specially noted that thesupport device123 is pivotally connected to one end of thelateral frame122 and raised gradually toward the other end. Thebuffering structure3 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is coupled with thetreadmill1. Thebuffering structure3 is designed to buffer the action route of thesupport device123. Thebuffering structure3 comprises a connection rod set31, at least two

control devices

32,33, at least two

positioning devices

34,35, and at least two

buffering cushions

36,37.

The connection rod set31 has afirst rockshaft311 and asecond rockshaft312, which are pivotally connected to the bottom of thelateral frame122 of thetreadmill1. Thefirst rockshaft311 and asecond rockshaft312 are parallel to and located against each other, and they affect each other. The both ends of thefirst rockshaft311 are respectively, pivotally connected to the

control devices

32,33. The

control devices

32,33 are extended toward the outside of thelateral frame122. In addition, the

control devices

32,33 can shift in opposite directions by means of thefirst rockshaft311, and they are protrudent to the outside of thelateral frame122 oppositely. In addition, two

positioning parts

321,331 are extended respectively from the outer surfaces of the

control devices

32,33. The

positioning parts

321,331 have a triangular form. The

positioning devices

34,35 are respectively mounted on the laterals of the

positioning parts

321,331. The

positioning devices

34,35 have respective

elastic rods

341,351 and respective rolling

wheels

342,352. The

elastic rods

341,351 are bended and have a compression route. The

elastic rods

341,351 are connected to the inner sides of thelateral frame122 of thetreadmill1 via respective one ends thereof. In addition, the respective other ends of the

elastic rods

341,351 are movably connected to the rolling

wheels

342,352. The rolling

wheels

342,352 are located to lean against the laterals of the

positioning parts

321,331. The buffering cushions36,37 are respectively, pivotally connected to both ends of thesecond rockshaft312. The buffering cushions36,37 can shift in opposite directions by means of thesecond rockshaft312. When the buffering cushions36,37 shift in opposite directions, the outer sides of the buffering cushions36,37 can lean against a retainingpart122A (shown inFIG. 6) extending from the bottom of thelateral frame122 so as to position the buffering cushions36,37 in the buffer action route of thesupport device123.

Referring toFIG. 7 andFIG. 8, the utilization status of the above-mentioned components is shown. When in use, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention may have two adjustment stages.

When the user requires a smaller buffer route, thefirst rockshaft311 can be shifted toward one side by means of thecontrol device33, wherein thefirst rockshaft311 can also shift thesecond rockshaft312 to enable thebuffering cushion37 to enter the ascending/descending route of thesupport device123. Thesupport device123 is located slantingly and thebuffering cushion36 is located more near one end of thesupport device123 that pivotally connects to thelateral frame122 so the buffer route is small.

On the contrary, when the user requires a larger buffer route, thefirst rockshaft311 can be shifted toward one side by means of thecontrol device32, wherein thefirst rockshaft311 can also shift thesecond rockshaft312 to enable thebuffering cushion36 to enter the ascending/descending route of thesupport device123. Thesupport device123 is located slantingly and thebuffering cushion36 is located far from one end of thesupport device123 that, pivotally connects to thelateral frame122 so the buffer route is large.

In addition, it is worth to mention that in the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, the

buffering structures

2,3 are mounted inside the ascending/descending mechanism12 of thetreadmill1. However, the

buffering structures

2,3 are generally designed to cooperate with thesupport device123 that supports the weights of therunway platform112, therunway belt113 and the user. Thus, it can be shown that thebuffering structure2 only needs to be mounted between a hold of therunway platform112 and therunway belt113 and the action route of the hold. Thebuffering structure2 is not limited to be disposed inside the ascending/descending mechanism12. The foregoing purposes and effects can be achieved as long as thebuffering structure2 is disposed properly.

Claims

1. A buffering structure of a treadmill, said buffering structure being coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device, said buffering structure comprising:

a rockshaft mounted on the bottom of said support device and pivotally connected to said treadmill; and

a buffering cushion connected to an outer surface of said rockshaft.

2. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 1, further comprising a positioning device having a first end pivotally connected to one end of said rockshaft and a second end pivotally connected to said treadmill.

3. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 1, further comprising a control rod connected to said rockshaft and a grip fixedly connected to a top end of said control rod.

4. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 1, wherein said buffering cushion is of an elastic material.

5. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 1, wherein said buffering cushion is a rubber cushion.

6. A buffering structure of a treadmill, said buffering structure being coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device, said buffering structure comprising:

a connection rod having a first rockshaft and a second rockshaft pivotally connected to said treadmill, said first rockshaft and said second rockshaft being parallel to and located against each other;

at least two control devices respectively, pivotally connected to both ends of said first rockshaft for controlling the action of said connection rod; and

at least two buffering cushions respectively, pivotally connected to both ends of said second rockshaft, said buffering cushions being able to shift in opposite directions by means of said second rockshaft.

7. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 6, wherein said buffering cushions are of an elastic material.

8. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 6, wherein said buffering cushions are rubber cushions.

9. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 6, wherein said control devices are extended outward and able to shift in opposite directions by means of said first rockshaft, wherein two positioning parts are extended respectively from outer surfaces of said control devices.

10. A buffering structure of a treadmill according toclaim 9, further comprising at least two positioning devices, wherein said positioning devices have respective elastic rods and respective rolling wheels, and said elastic rods have respective first ends connected to said treadmill and respective second ends respectively, movably connected to said rolling wheels, wherein said rolling wheels are located to lean against laterals of said positioning parts.