US20090069159A1 - Folding mechanism of a treadmill - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a slide pusher at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. By use of a pneumatic cylinder, the platform frame may push the rear support in an opposing direction to keep a ground-touching slide action when the platform frame is moved upward and downward. In this way, an effective, strong, and auxiliary support force is created until the platform frame is moved in a vertical storage position or in a horizontal operation position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Fields of the Invention
• The invention relates to a folding mechanism of a treadmill, and more particularly, to a folding mechanism utilizing a pneumatic cylinder and a slide pusher to provide an excellent auxiliary supporting force.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• As well-known, the treadmill has a large volume and a great weight. It is therefore common to provide the platform frame of the treadmill with a fold-up function for facilitating the transportation and the storage. In view of the basic accessories of the treadmill, the fold-up mechanism can be divided into an electric and a manual folding configuration. The invention is intended for the manual folding configuration.
• In fact, the conventional treadmills are not able to provide an excellent auxiliary supporting force for helping the operator to complete the fold-up or fold-down process when the platform frame is moved either in a storage position or in an operation position. Thus, the women often regard the fold-up or fold-down process of the treadmill as an impossible mission because any careless action would cause injuries to the body.
• The worry about the above-mentioned operation of the treadmill can be attributed to the improper or insufficient design of the treadmill in addition to the bulky platform frame. This is the key point of the problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a folding mechanism of a treadmill that employs a pneumatic cylinder and a slide pusher to provide an effective and auxiliary supporting force when the platform frame is moved in a vertical position or in a horizontal position.
• According to the invention, a folding mechanism of a treadmill includes a slide pusher at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. By use of a pneumatic cylinder, the platform frame may push the rear support in an opposing direction to keep a ground-touching slide action at all times. In this way, an effective, strong, and auxiliary support force is created when the platform frame is moved in a vertical storage position or in a horizontal operation position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a side view ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side view ofFIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted in an inclined position;
• FIG. 4 is a side view ofFIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted in a storage position; and
• FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.
• Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, aplatform frame10 includes atransmission motor11 at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt (not shown) into rotation by use of atransmission belt12, afront roller13, and arear roller14. Meanwhile, a liftingmotor15 is employed to move an adjustingsupport16 upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of theplatform frame10. Moreover, twoconnection pins17,18 are disposed at both sides of theplatform frame10, respectively, for pivotally coupling ahandrail assembly19 and arear support20, respectively.
• Aslide rail22, on which aslipper21 moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengtheningbar101,102. Aslide pusher23 is pivotally attached to the bottom of theslipper21. The other end of theslide pusher23 is pivotally connected to therear support20. Besides, apneumatic cylinder24 is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengtheningbar103 of theplatform frame10. Meanwhile, the other end of thepneumatic cylinder24 is pivotally attached to acentral crossbar231 of theslide pusher23.
• As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, thepneumatic cylinder24 is brought into a compressed state by the weight of theplatform frame10 when theplatform frame10 is moved in a horizontal operation position. Thepneumatic cylinder24 provides an auxiliary supporting force to push theslide pusher23 toward the front end of theplatform frame10 when the operator lifts the rear end of theplatform frame10. In this way, therear support20 may be also pushed toward the front end of theplatform frame10 for a ground-touching rotation until theplatform frame10 is moved in a vertical storage position. Accordingly, theplatform frame10 may be stably supported by means of ground-touchingfeet25 at the frontmost end of theplatform frame10 andguide wheels201 at the rear end of therear support20 that are brought into contact with the ground.
• Likewise, theguide wheels201 of therear support20 are also brought into a ground-touching rotation under the influence of the shock mitigation provided by thepneumatic cylinder24 when theplatform frame10 is compressed downward until theplatform frame10 is moved in a horizontal position. Accordingly, a stable and effort-saving effect is achieved.
• As shown inFIG. 5, thepneumatic cylinder24 according to the invention can be pivotally attached to the rear end of theslide pusher23. This may achieve the same effect.
• Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (2)

1. A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively,

wherein a slide rail, on which a slipper moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar;

wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support; and

wherein a pneumatic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar of the platform frame while the other end of the pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to a central crossbar of the slide pusher.

2. A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively,

wherein a slide rail, on which a slipper moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar;

wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support; and

wherein a pneumatic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar of the platform frame while the other end of the pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher.

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