US20090124466A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20090124466A1
Application number: US12/291,558
Authority: US
Inventors: Hao Zhang
Original assignee: Johnson Health Tech Co Ltd
Current assignee: Johnson Health Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-09
Filing date: 2008-11-13
Publication date: 2009-05-14

Abstract

The treadmill comprises a base frame adapted to rest on a surface which has left and right inner sides and left and right outer sides; a tread base having a frame including a front end, a rear end, and left and right outer surfaces; a linkage assembly having a first end connected to the front of the tread base and a second end connected to the base frame. The lateral width between the left and right outer sides of the base frame is substantially same with the lateral width between the left and right outer surfaces of the tread base; the linkage unit is approximately mounted in a space which is formed by the left and right inner surfaces of the base frame and the bottom of the tread base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Invention Patent Application No. 200720195335.9, filed on Nov. 9, 2007, and Chinese Invention Patent Application No. 200810111151.9, filed on Jun. 10, 2008.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to treadmills, more particularly to the treadmills with a compact size for save the space in transport and increase the capacity of the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Treadmills are popular exercise apparatuses which permit a user to perform physical activities, such as walking, jogging or running movements, so as to exercise the cardiovascular system and the other parts of the body. Since treadmills are bulky and occupy a considerable space, it becomes a trend to design a treadmill with foldable tread base in order to decrease the volume of the treadmill when the treadmill is stored.

CN 200420064728.2 shows a foldable treadmill which includes a tread base supported by a foot structure, a pair of guide plates formed with elongated slots on two sides of the tread base. The tread base is connected pivotally on the base support through pivot members which are mounted movably within the respective slots so that the tread base is turnable between rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position. However, since the guide plates are mounted on the sides of the tread base and the top side of the foot structure, the width of the foot structure must be larger than the width of the tread base. In other words, the size of the treadmill is a little larger.

CN 200420002326.X discloses another foldable treadmill which has a linkage unit. Said linkage unit comprises left and right guide members and left and right linked members. Said each of the left and right guide members has a first end pivoted to the base frame and a second end pivoted to the guided portion of the linked member. Each of the left and right linked members has one end pivoted to the tread base and the other end which has a roller pivotally mounted thereon. Said left and right guide members are approximately mounted nearby the second end of the left and right linked members and extended perpendicular therefrom. Each of the left and right guide members and each of the left and right linked members are respectively mounted on the left and right side of the base frame.

While various forms of foldable treadmills have been suggested in the art, however, there is a common limitation in the most of the treadmills. That is the width of the base frame is bigger than the width of the tread base, so that the tread base can be accommodated in the base frame Therefore, there is a need for an improved treadmill having compact size.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a treadmill which has a compact size. More particularly, the lateral width thereof is narrower. Therefore, the treadmill is easily to transport or store.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the treadmill comprises a base frame adapted to rest on a surface, which having a left and right inner surfaces, a left and right outer surfaces. The treadmill comprises a tread base having a frame that includes a front portion connected to the base frame and a rear portion. The treadmill also comprises left and right support structures. Each of the left and right support structures has a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end thereof respectively mounted on the outer surface of the left side and right side of the base frame, and the width of the base frame is approximately same as the width of the tread base.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the treadmill comprises a base frame adapted to rest on a surface, which having left and right outer surfaces. The treadmill also comprises a tread base coupled to the base frame. The tread base also has left and right outer surfaces. The left and right outer surfaces of the tread base are substantially positioned over the left and right outer surfaces of the base frame. The treadmill further comprises left and right guide members connected to the base frame and left and right linking members respectively interconnected to the left and right guide members and the tread base. Both the left and right guide members and left and right linking members are arranged inside the left and right outer surface of the tread base. The treadmill further comprises a linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the front of the tread base and a second end coupled to the base frame. The width between the left and right inner surfaces of the base frame is substantially smaller than the width between the left and right outer surfaces of the tread base. The linkage assembly is approximately positioned in a space which is formed by the left and right inner surfaces of the base frame and the bottom of the tread base.

Several objects and advantages of the present invention are: (a) to provide a treadmill comprising a base frame which has a proper lateral width smaller than the tread base, so that the treadmill has a compact size; (b) to provide a treadmill concluding a base frame which has a suitable lateral width approximately same as the tread base, so that the treadmill has a compact size.

The reader is advised that this summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are described and illustrated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill of the present invention with the tread base in horizontal position for a user to perform exercise;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the treadmill ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the treadmill ofFIG. 1 with the tread base folded to upright position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the treadmill ofFIG. 1 when the treadmill is taken apart;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a support structure and a base frame of the treadmill ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an another partial perspective view ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view ofFIG. 5 which shows how bottoms of support structures are connected to the base frame;

FIG. 8 is a section plan view of a joint connected between one of the support structure and the base frame;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a treadmill according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the treadmill ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the treadmill ofFIG. 9 without a cover unit in front of the treadmill;

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view about the IV-IV axis ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cutaway view about the V-V axis ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cutaway view about the VI-VI axis ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a cutaway view about the VII-VII axis ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15A is an amplified view of the circle portion inFIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a cutaway view about the VIII-VIII axis ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 16A is an amplified view of the circle portion inFIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the treadmill without the cover unit in front of the tread base when the tread base is inclined relative to the base frame;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the treadmill ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the treadmill illustrated the tread base during a process of folding to the storage position;

FIG. 20 is a perspective illustration of the treadmill ofFIG. 9 with the tread base folded in a storage position;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the treadmill ofFIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a partial amplified cutaway view of the treadmill ofFIG. 21;

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

Referring now specifically to the figures, in which identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, a detailed description of the present invention is given. It should be understood that the following detailed description relates to the best presently known embodiment of the invention. However, the present invention can assume numerous other embodiments, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the appended claims.

Now referring toFIGS. 1 andFIG. 2, a treadmill I according to the present invention is shown. Thetreadmill1 comprises abase frame10, atread base30 coupled to the front of thebase frame10, left andright support structures50 which are respectively extended upward from thebase frame10, and aconsole80 mounted on the tops of the left andright support structures50.

The left andright support structures50 and theconsole80 are fixed on thebase frame10. Thetread base30 can move relative to thebase frame10. More particularly, if thetreadmill1 is in use, thetread base30 rested on horizontal position depicted asFIG. 1. If not, thetread base30 can be optionally lifted upward relative to the front of thebase frame10 and positioned at upright position depicted asFIG. 3.

Theconsole80 has an input surface for a user to input some indicates which includes speed rates, incline degrees to control thetreadmill1.

Referring toFIG. 7, thebase frame10 has left andright side members11, afront member12, arear member13, and across member14 mounted approximately on the middle of the left andright side members11 between thefront member12 and therear member13. Thebase frame10 further comprises four foot-pads15 which are respectively mounted on the bottom surface of the left andright side members11 and contacted with the surface for stability.

Please refer toFIG. 1, thetread base30 has aframe31 includes a front portion, a rear portion, a left side, a right side and anendless belt32 surrounded the front portion and the rear portion. Thetread base30 also has side covers33 respectively mounted on the left and right sides of thetread base30, and afront cover34 mounted on thetread base30. Motor and other related electronic components are covered by the front cover34 (not shown in FIGS.). The lateral width of thefront cover34 is same as the width between the side covers33, as depicted inFIG. 2, the width of thetread base30 is W1.

Referring toFIG. 3, the front portion of thetread base30 is coupled to thebase frame10 through alinkage assembly40 which comprises left and right pivotingmembers41, atransverse member42 and a drivingmember43. Each of the left and right pivotingmembers41 has a first end pivoted to thetread base30 and a second end pivoted to thebase frame10. Thetransverse member42 is interconnected to the left and right pivotingmembers41. Besides, the drivingmember43 which is actuated by the motor (not shown) is coupled to the middle portion of thetransverse member42. Therefore, thetread base30 can be rotated via the pivotingmember41 between the first horizontal position depicted inFIG. 1 and the second upright position depicted inFIG. 3 as mentioned above. Moreover, when in the first horizontal position, the front portion of thetread base30 can change the degrees of the inclination through adjusting the drivingmember43. Across brace35 is approximately positioned in middle of the left and right sides of thetread base30. One end of thecross brace35 is mounted to the bottom of the left side of thetread base30 and the other end thereof mounted to the bottom of the right side of thetread base30. Anair spring44 is interconnected between thecross member14 of thebase frame10 and thecross brace35. The air spring can make the user to pull thetread base30 upward easily and slow down the falling speed of thetread base30. The technique introduced before is belong to the prior art. So that the details of the drivingmember43, such as using screw rod and sleeve, should be known by people skilled in the art. In this invention, thelinkage assembly40 can be replaced by some other equivalent structures to achieve the same functions as introduced before.

Referring toFIG. 2, the lateral width of thebase frame10 is approximately same as the lateral width W1 of thetread base30, moreover, each of the fronts of the left and right sides of thetread base30 is respectively positioned over each of the left andright side members11 of thebase frame10.

Referring toFIGS. 7 andFIG. 8, each of the left andright side members11 of thebase frame10 is a rectangular metal tube. The left andright side members11 haveouter surfaces21/22, top surfaces, and inner surfaces. The Outer surfaces21/22 and the inner surfaces of the left andright side members11 are respectively left and right outer sides and left and right inner sides of thebase frame10. Besides, each of the left and rightouter surfaces21/22 has threetransverse holes23 penetrated thereon. Each of the top surfaces also has avertical hole25 penetrated thereon. Correspondingly, there are threefirst screw caps24 transversely mounted on each of the inner surfaces opposite with thetransverse holes23 respectively, and asecond screw cap26 vertically mounted on the top surface opposite with thevertical hole25. Portions of theouter surfaces21/22 with the transverse holes positioned thereon forms outward connectingportions27 of thebase frame10, and portions of the top surfaces with thesecond screw cap26 forms upward connectingportions28 of thebase frame10.

Referring toFIGS. 1 andFIG. 3, the front of thetread base30 is positioned between the left anright support structures50, more particularly, for the sake of the structure of the extending

members

53 and54, each of the inner surfaces of theposts51 of the left andright support structures50 has a distance from the left and right outer sides of thebase frame10, so that no interference exist. Referring toFIG. 2, the lateral width between the bottom of the left andright support structures50 is W2, which is larger than the lateral width W1 of thetread base30 or thebase frame10.

Referring toFIG. 1 andFIG. 5, there are post-covers70 respectively disposed on the outer surface of the left andright support structures50 at joint places which the left andright support structures50 are mounted to thebase frame10. The post-cover70 has a tube-like portion71, anouter covering portion72, afront covering portion73 and arear covering portion74. Each of the outer, front andrear covering portions72/73/74 is extended from the tube-like portion70 and connected adjacently with each other.

When shipped, thetreadmill1 must be taken apart as shown inFIG. 4. Thetread base30 is coupled withbase frame10 through thelinkage assembly40. However, the left andright support structures50 and theconsole80 are not mounted to thebase frame10. In a prefer manner, thetread base30 and thebase frame10 as a whole are deposited on the bottom of a carton, then the left andright support structures50 and theconsole80 are respectively deposited on the top of thetread base30. Thereafter thetreadmill1 only takes the same space as that thetread base30 takes in longitudinal and lateral direction. So that this assembling manner in shipment can reduce the volume of the carton and make one container to accommodate more cartons. When a user purchases this kind of thetreadmill1 and wants to use it, he or she must first fix the left andright support structures50 onto thebase frame10 through the lateral screws61 and thevertical screw62, and then install the post-covers70 in the pre-discussed position, and finally mount theconsole80 to the tops of the left andright support structures50.

Generally, when in shipping, the lateral width of a prior treadmill is about W2. The reason is that the left and right support structures are mounted on the top surface of the base frame. Therefore the lateral width of the base frame must larger than the tread base. So that the tread base can be positioned between the left and right support structures.

FIG. 1 toFIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of present invention. In this first embodiment, because the folding manner of thetreadmill1, the left and right support structures must be mounted on the position which proximately nearby the second ends of the left and right pivotingmembers41. More particularly, if thetreadmill1 is folded, thetreadmill1 will be rotated with the left and right pivotingmember41. When thetreadmill1 is in the upright position, the front of thetreadmill1, especially thefront cover34, will stay at the front of the second ends of the left and right pivotingmembers41. Moreover, for securing thetreadmill1 in this folding position likeFIG. 3 depicted, the left andright support structures50 must be mounted on the outer surface of the left and right sides of thebase frame10. Otherwise, if the left andright support structures50 are mounted on the top surface of the left andright side members11 of thebase frame10, interference must be produced therebetween. In conclusion, the preferred manner of mounting the left andright support structures50 to thebase frame10 is as the first embodiment described above.

FIG. 9 toFIG. 22 shows an alternative embodiment oftreadmill2 of the present invention.

Now referring toFIG. 9 andFIG. 10, an embodiment of atreadmill2 according to the present invention is shown. Thetreadmill2 comprises abase frame210 which has left and right inner surfaces and left and right outer surfaces, atread base220 having a frame which has a front portion mounted on the front of thebase frame210 and a rear portion, aendless belt228 coupled to the frame, left andright support structures242 which are respectively extended upwardly from thebase frame210, aconsole244 mounted on the tops of the left andright support structures242, and handles246.

Referring toFIGS. 11,FIG. 17 andFIG. 20, thebase frame210 includes left andright side members211, and front andrear cross members214 mounted to the left andright side members211. Anassistant cross rod215 between the front andrear cross members214 is also mounted on the left andright side members211. Theassistant cross rod215 can strengthen the whole structural stability of thebase frame210.

The left andright side members211 of thebase frame210 have anouter surface212 separately. The distance between the left and rightouter surface212 is the lateral width of thebase frame210. The inner surfaces of the left andright side members211 consist ofgrooves213.

Referring toFIG. 17, thetread base220 is moveably mounted on thebase frame210 through alinkage assembly250 and anincline assembly270. With thelinkage assembly250 and theincline assembly270, thetread base220 can be rotated between a horizontal position depicted inFIG. 9 andFIG. 10 and an upright position depicted inFIG. 20 andFIG. 21. Moreover, the usage situation includes the angle range from horizontal situation of thetread base220 to15 incline degrees of thetread base220 depicted inFIG. 18. Except special situation, the description for thetread base220 in this embodiment is at the horizontal situation.

Referring toFIG. 9 andFIG. 12, acover unit231 is disposed in the front of thetread base220 including anupper cover232, alower cover233 and left and right side covers234. Thecover unit231 covers the mechanical structure and electronic unit in the front of thetread base220, such as a drivingassembly229 and other electronic components. Each ofside rails222 of thetread base220 is a metal tube whose section is rectangle and has anouter surface223. Referring to theFIG. 12 andFIG. 13, the left and right side covers234 respectively overlap the side rails222. Therefore, there is anopen space235 in front of each of the side rails222 and the upper and lower sides thereof are through-opened. In another embodiment (not shown), the side rail extends to the front end of the tread base, and a concave is shaped in the front of the side rail, thus also forms a through-opened space.

Please refer toFIG. 16 andFIG. 16A, theouter surface223 of theside rail222 of thetread base220 and theouter surface212 of theside member211 of thebase frame210 are approximately on the same vertical section. Moreover, the left and right side covers234 on the front end of thetread base220 are nearly next to theouter surface223 of the side rails222. So the lateral width of thetread base220 and thebase frame210 is almost the same (the outer surface on the front end of thetread base220 includes the left and right outer surface of thecover unit223 which has the outer surface of theupper cover232 and the side cover233).

Referring toFIG. 17, thelinkage assembly250 is coupled between thetread base220 and thebase frame210. Thelinkage assembly250 includes left and right linkingmembers251 and left andright guide members261. In this embodiment, each of the left and right linkingmembers251 has amain plate252 and a guidingplate257 which having a first end welded on the middle of themain plate252 and a guidedportion258 formed in the second end thereof. Themain plate252 has afirst end253 pivoted to thetread base220 and asecond end254 which has an outward extendingaxis255 and aroller256 connected to the extendingaxis255 rotated via the extendingaxis255 and movable engaged with thegroove213.

Still Referring toFIG. 17, a connectingrod259 is welded between the left and right linkingmembers251. In this embodiment, the connectingrod259 is mounted next to the second ends254 of the left and right linkingmembers251. So that the connectingrod259 can be moved close to the ground. By using the connectingrod259, the left and right linkingmembers251 can be moved more stably synchronously.

Each of the left andright guide members261 has afirst end262 connected to theside member211 of thebase frame210 and asecond end263 laterally pivoted with the guidedportion258 of each of the left and right linkingmembers251.

Referring toFIG. 15,FIG. 15A,FIG. 16 andFIG. 16A, the left and right linkingmembers251 and the left andright guide members261 are positioned inside the outer surface of thetread base220 andbase frame210. Furthermore, the left and right linkingmembers251 are more inside than the left andright guide members261. More particularly, each of themain plates252 of the left and right linkingmembers251 is parallel to the inner surface of theside member211. While the guidingplates257 are extended upward from themain plates252 and through theopen space235, the top ends of the guiding plates are higher than the side rails222. Since theguide members261 are crossly mounted between theside members211 of thebase frame210 and the left and right linkingmembers251, when the treadmill is in use, the second ends263 of the left andright guide members261 could pass through theopen space235 not only whentread base220 is in the horizontal position, but also in the inclined position.

Referring toFIG. 17, theincline assembly270 includes amotor271 and aretractable member272. Under thecover unit231, themotor271 mounted on the front of thetread base220 is controlled by theconsole244. Theretractable member272 includes a screw and a sleeve. One end of theretractable member272 is coupled to an output of themotor271, and the other end is laterally pivoted to a pivoted seat which is mounted in the middle of the connecting rod via a hole on thelower cover233. Thus the distance between the front end of thetread base220 and the connectingrod259 will be increased or shortened.

When the user wants to increase the elevation of thetread base220, he can operate theconsol244 to extend theretractable rod272 of theincline assembly270. So that the front end of thetread base220 is depart from the connectingrod259. At this time, combining withFIG. 18, the second ends254 of the left and right linkingmembers251 move backward together with the connectingrod259. Simultaneously, the first ends253 of the left and right linkingmembers251 have to raise together with thetread base220 and the guidedportions258 are diverted by the left andright guide members261. On contrary, when theretractable rod262 of theincline assembly270 is shortened, the frond end of thetread base220 will be pulled down by theretractable rod262. And the front ends of the left and right linkingmembers251 will move forward to change the left and right linkingmembers251 from the slant state ofFIG. 18 to the flat state ofFIG. 10.

When the user folds the treadmill, it is better to adjust thetread base220 to the flat state and then lift the back end of thetread base220 upward and forward. Referring toFIG. 19, as the left and right linkingmembers251 are non-movable relative to thetread base220, thetread base220 will rotate around the guidedportions258 of the left and right linkingmembers251. The higher the first ends253 of the left and right linkingmembers251 are raised together with thetread base220, the more backward the second ends254 of the left and right linkingmembers251 are moved. Until thetread base220 is rotated to the almost vertical state (80 degrees here), the treadmill will be at the foldable state as depicted inFIG. 20 andFIG. 21, and an area occupied by thetreadmill1 is just the proportion of thebase frame210.

Referring toFIG. 11 andFIG. 20, anair spring280 is coupled between atransverse rod225 mounted at the bottom of thetread base220 and thecross rod215. Theair spring280 has an extending trend because of the air elasticity therein. When thetread base220 is in the flat state, theair spring280 is compressed. So that the user can lift thetread base220 easily from flat to folded state with the extending force of theair spring280. Contrary, the elasticity of theair spring280 can buffer the gravity of thetread base220 and makes it falling slowly. The structure and application of theair spring280 is the prior art of the foldable treadmill.

Referring toFIG. 14 andFIG. 22, there is a securingunit290 mounted on the inside surface of theleft side member211. The securingunit290 can pitch thetread base220 on the folded state, avoid collapse. The securingunit290 includes ametal lever291. The middle of themetal lever291 is mounted on the inside surface of theside member211. The front end of themetal lever291 is consisted of a semicircle downwardhatch locking end292, and the back end is consisted of apressing end293 controlled by the user. Besides, a spring (not shown) between the front end of thelever291 and thebase frame210 pulls down the front side of thelever291 and makes it flat asFIG. 14. When thetread base220 is rotated to the vertical state, the extendingaxis255 on the outside surface of theleft linking member251 moves to the frond end of thelever291, then the front end of thelever291 will be extruded open and then locked, and the lockingend292 hooks the extendingaxis255 asFIG. 22. So that the front end of theleft linking member251 can not move forward and thetread base220 will not overturn. When the user pulls thetread base220 from folded to flat state, he has to step on thepressing end293, then the front end will be lifted and release theaxis255. And the frond end of theleft linking member251 can move forward again. The structure and action of the securingunit290 is prior art.

Here, the left and right linkingmembers251 and left andright guide members261 can achieve the same or substantial action with different mechanisms. For example, the second ends254 of the left and right linkingmembers251 may be at the back of the first ends253, and the guidedportion258 may be superimposed thefirst end253 or further from thesecond end254 thanfirst end253. Similarly, the first ends262 of the left andright guide members261 may be in the front of the second ends263.

Besides, the side rails222 of thetread base220 are not necessary to make use of the structure described above (discontinued or carved). During production, the side rails222 can be extended to the front end of thetread base220. But the left and right linkingmembers251 and left andright guide members261 must be moved further inward to the inside surface of the side rails222. The reason for arranging the saidopen space235 is to set the drivingassembly229,incline assembly270 and electronic unit and the left and right linkingmembers251 and left andright guide members261 do not to occupy the space inside of theside rail222.

In the prior foldable treadmill, the lateral width of the base frame will larger than the tread base about 20 centimeters. So that the left and right linking member and the left and right guide member can be mounted therebetween. Referring toFIG. 15,FIG. 15A,FIG. 16 andFIG. 16A, in this invention, as the left and right linkingmembers251 and left andright guide members261 are inside the outer surface of the side rails222 and also inside theside members211. The outer surface of the left and right sides of thetread base220 is above that of thebase frame210, and the lateral width of thebase frame210 and tread base is similar. In another embodiment, thetread base220 is even wider than thebase frame210.

From the above description, comparing to the prior treadmill, for this invention, the lateral width of thebase frame210 is not larger than thetread base220. So the lateral width of the treadmill in this invention will be narrow with the same as tread base. For the users, these kinds of treadmills occupies less space and easily to move and stow. For business, the smaller package of the product can improve the storage and transportation, especially for the shipment with container by truck or by sea. The advantage can increase the quantity in one container and cost down.

Additionally, thelinkage assembly250 of this preferred embodiment is similar to that of Chinese Invention Patent Application 200420002326.X, but it may use the structure of the Chinese Invention Patent Application 200420064728.2. That is to say that the left and right guide members are connected to the base frame with the connect portions. And each of the left and right guide members includes a groove guide portion, and each of the guided portion of the left and right linking members is limited to move along the groove. Of course, the other similar art of linkage assembly will be used, combining with the art in this preferred embodiment to get the same effect and advantage.

The present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment thereof. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiment thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained herein.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a base frame adapted to rest on a surface, which having left and right inner sides and left and right outer sides defining a lateral width;

(b) a tread base having a frame and an endless belt coupled to said frame, the frame including a front portion connected to said base frame and a rear portion, the front portion having left and right outer sides defining a lateral width, wherein the lateral width of the tread base is approximately same as the lateral width of the base frame; and

(c) left and right support structures, each of said left and right support structures having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom ends respectively mounted on said left and right outer sides of the base frame.

2. The treadmill ofclaim 1, wherein the front of said tread base is positioned between the left support structure and the right support structure.

3. The treadmill ofclaim 1, wherein fronts of left and right outer side of the tread base are positioned over the left and right outer sides of the base frame.

4. The treadmill ofclaim 2, each of said left and right support structures having a post and an extending member, wherein each of the extending members extends from the bottom end of post and is mounted on the base frame.

5. The treadmill ofclaim 1, each of said left and right outer sides of the base frame further comprising an outward connecting portion, correspondingly, each of said bottom ends of said left and right support structures further comprising an inward connecting portion which is mounted with said outward connecting portion.

6. The treadmill ofclaim 4, said base frame further comprising upward connecting portions which are mounted nearby the outward connecting portions of said left and right outer sides of the base frame, correspondingly, each of the bottom ends of the left and right support structures further comprising a downward connecting portion which is mounted with said upward connecting portion.

7. The treadmill ofclaim 5, further comprising a plurality of screws which mount said bottom ends of said left and right support structures on said base frame.

8. The treadmill ofclaim 1, wherein a distance between said bottoms of said left and right support structures is longer than said lateral width of said base frame.