US20110177918A1 - Treadmill with lateral shift effect - Google Patents

Abstract

A treadmill with lateral shift effect includes a main frame, two swinging levers, with a pin joint set at the top and a swinging end formed at the bottom. The pin joint is pivoted onto the stands of the main frame. A movable rack is transversely set overhead the pedestal of the main frame and both ends of the movable rack are separately connected with the swinging end of two swinging levers. A treading mechanism is set on the movable rack and has a base frame, an upper swinging set, a lower swinging set and two pedals. The bottom of the base frame is assembled fixedly onto the movable rack, the upper/lower swinging sets are pivoted centrally on top of the base frame, and the bottom of two pedals is provided with an assembly seat for assembly and connection of two ends of upper/lower swinging sets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
• Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not applicable.
NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
• Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC
• Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates generally to a treadmill, and more particularly to an innovative one which can be operated with a lateral shift effect.
• 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
• A treadmill is a commonly-used piece of fitness equipment that can enable physical exercise of users' legs by means of horizontal treading.
• There are currently available a variety of treadmills, which are developed structurally to enable forward-backward or left-right treading or simultaneous treading and twisting rotation. Such treadmills of different structural patterns and performances provide various options for the benefit of users. However, if no innovative products are developed and marketed, these treadmills cannot be enjoyed by the users any longer, making it difficult to further improve their functionality and value.
• Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
• Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate experimentation and evaluation based on years of experience in the production and development of related products.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The enhanced efficacy of the present invention is as follows:
• Based on the unique configuration of the “treadmill” of the present invention wherein a movable rack is set overhead the pedestal of the main frame, and a treading mechanism is set on the movable rack, the movable rack will be driven to generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame when two pedals of the treading mechanism are tilted under the treading action. Thus, the treadmill can generate transverse movement synchronously with the treading action, helping to enhance the flexible movement and improve the fitness effect and added value of the treadmill.
• The improvements brought about by this invention are as follows:
• First, the movable rack can shift horizontally with the support of the roller assembly, which is set between the movable rack and pedestal of the main frame.
• Second, as the main frame is fitted with a damping device that is connected via a driving member with the crank linkage frame, it is possible to provide a resistance to the rotating crank linkage frame.
• Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 shows an isolated schematic view of the present invention wherein a swinging tab is arranged between the movable rack and the swinging end of the swinging lever.
• FIG. 4 shows an isolated schematic view of the present invention wherein an expansion link is arranged between the movable rack and the swinging end of the swinging lever.
• FIG. 5 show isolated schematic views of the upper and lower swinging sets of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the crank linkage frame of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 shows another schematic view of the crank linkage frame of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 shows schematic views of the present invention wherein an extension arm is protruded from the assembly seat.
• FIG. 9 shows schematic views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the treadmill of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 shows a top view of another preferred embodiment of the treadmill of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIGS. 1-4 depict preferred embodiments of a treadmill of the present invention with lateral shift effect, which are provided for only explanatory objective for patent claims. Said treadmill A with lateral shift effect including amain frame10, including apedestal11 and two stands12 arranged at interval on both sides of thepedestal11. Two swinginglevers20 are positioned at a top of thestands12 with apin joint21 set at the top and a swingingend22 formed at the bottom. Thepin joint21 is pivoted onto thestands12 of themain frame10. Amovable rack30 is transversely set overhead thepedestal11 of themain frame10, and both ends of themovable rack30 are separately connected with the swingingend22 of two swinginglevers20.
• Atreading mechanism40 is set on themovable rack30. Thetreading mechanism40 includes abase frame41, an upper swingingset42, a lower swingingset43 and twopedals44. The bottom of thebase frame41 is assembled fixedly onto themovable rack30, the upper/lower swinging sets42,43 are pivoted centrally on top of thebase frame41, and the bottom of twopedals44 is provided with anassembly seat441 for assembly and connection of two ends of upper/lower swinging sets42,43.
• Acrank linkage frame50 includes a fixedend51 and amovable end52. The fixedend51 is pivoted onto a permanent position of themain frame10, and themovable end52 is linked to either end of the upper swingingset42 or lower swingingset43 of thetreading mechanism40.
• When the twopedals44 of thetreading mechanism40 are tilted under the treading action, themovable rack30 will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame50 (shown byFIG. 9).
• Of which, the top of two swinginglevers20 is further extended to form ahandrail23 for the users.
• Aroller assembly60 is set between themovable rack30 and thepedestal11 of themain frame10. Saidroller assembly60 is set onto either the bottom of themovable rack30 or onto the pedestal11 (as shown inFIG. 2, saidroller assembly60 is transversely arranged overhead thepedestal11 of themain frame10 in a transverse displacement state). With this configuration, themovable rack30 can shift horizontally with the support of theroller assembly60 in the event of transverse displacement. Moreover, both ends of themovable rack30 are connected with theswinging end22 of theswinging lever20 via the swinging tab24 (shown inFIG. 3) or via the expansion link25 (shown inFIG. 4), in tune with the changing height of the swingingend22 of theswinging lever20.
• Themain frame10 is fitted with adamping device13, which is connected via adriving member131 with thecrank linkage frame50, so as to provide a resistance to the rotatingcrank linkage frame50.
• Of which, said upper swingingset42 is of a single-lever or double-lever structure, as shown inFIG. 5 (a), wherein the upper swingingset42 is a single-lever one. Moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis (shown inFIG. 5(c)), or a coaxial axis (shown inFIG. 5(b)).
• Of which, said lower swingingset43 is of a single-lever or double-lever structure, as shown inFIG. 5(c), wherein the lower swingingset43 is a single-lever one. Moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis (shown inFIG. 5(a)), or a coaxial axis (shown inFIG. 5(d)).
• Themovable end52 of saidcrank linkage frame50 is designed into either a cylinder or a round bar, enabling the ends of upper swingingset42 or the lower swingingset43 and their joints to be set into round bar or cylinder for sleeving. Referring toFIG. 6, the end of the upper swingingset42 is designed into a round bar, whilst themovable end52 of thecrank linkage frame50 is configured into a cylinder correspondingly.
• Of which, the ends of the upper andlower swinging sets42,43 permit the joint with theassembly seat441 of thepedal44 to be connected with themovable end52 of thecrank linkage frame50, as shown inFIG. 7.
• Referring toFIG. 8, anextension arm45 is protruded from the joint between the ends of upper/lower swinging sets42,43 and theassembly seat441 of the pedal44, and then a pin joint451 is set at the end of theextension arm45 for connection with themovable end52 of thecrank linkage frame50. Referring toFIG. 8(a), theextension arm45 is extended from the end of the upper swinging set42, or referring toFIG. 8(b), theextension arm45 is extended from the end of the lower swinging set43. Thepin joint451 of theextension arm45 is configured into a cylinder, and themovable end52 of thecrank linkage frame50 is configured into a round bar correspondingly.
• Based upon above-specified structural configuration, the present invention is operated as follows:
• The core feature of the treadmill A lies in that, the treadmill can generate transverse movement synchronously with the treading action. Referring toFIG. 9, when two pedals of the treading mechanism are tilted under the treading action, the movable rack will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame for flexible motion of the treadmill.
• Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, another preferred embodiment of treadmill A2 with lateral shift effect is shown. The difference with prior art lies in that, the major components mainly include amain frame10,movable rack30, treadingmechanism40 and cranklinkage frame50, whilst two stands at both sides of thepedestal11 and two swinginglevers20 are omitted. In this preferred embodiment, themovable rack30 can move transversely since theroller assembly60 is transversely arranged overhead thepedestal11 of themain frame10.
• Acrank linkage frame50 includes afixed end51 and amovable end52, of which thefixed end51 is pivoted onto a permanent position of themain frame10, and themovable end52 is linked to either end of the upper swinging set42 or lower swinging set43 of the treadingmechanism40.
• With this configuration, when twopedals44 of the treadingmechanism40 are tilted under the treading action, themovable rack30 will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of thecrank linkage frame50.
• Additionally, the treadmill A2 of this preferred embodiment is operated in the same manner.

Claims (17)

1. A treadmill with lateral shift effect, comprising:

a main frame, including a pedestal and two stands arranged at interval on both sides of the pedestal;

two swinging levers, with a pin joint set at the top and a swinging end formed at the bottom, the pin joint is pivoted onto the stands of the main frame;

a movable rack transversely set overhead the pedestal of the main frame, and both ends of the movable rack are separately connected with the swinging end of two swinging levers;

a treading mechanism, set on the movable rack; the treading mechanism includes a base frame, an upper swinging set, a lower swinging set and two pedals; the bottom of the base frame is assembled fixedly onto the movable rack, the upper/lower swinging sets are pivoted centrally on top of the base frame, and the bottom of two pedals is provided with an assembly seat for assembly and connection of two ends of upper/lower swinging sets;

a crank linkage frame, including a fixed end and a movable end, the fixed end is pivoted onto a permanent position of the main frame, and the movable end is linked to either end of the upper or lower swinging sets of the treading mechanism;

when two pedals of the treading mechanism are tilted under the treading action, the movable rack will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame.

2. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein a handrail is further extended from the top of two swinging levers.

3. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein a roller assembly is set between the movable rack and the pedestal of the main frame, the roller assembly is set onto either the bottom of the movable rack or onto the pedestal, the movable rack can shift horizontally with the support of the roller assembly in the event of transverse displacement, moreover, both ends of the movable rack are connected with the swinging end of the swinging lever via the swinging tab or via the expansion link, in tune with the changing height of the swinging end of the swinging lever.

4. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein said main frame is fitted with a damping device connected via a driving member with the crank linkage frame, so as to provide a resistance to the rotating crank linkage frame.

5. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein said upper swinging set is of a single-lever or double-lever structure; moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis, or a coaxial axis.

6. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein said lower swinging set is of a single-lever or double-lever structure; moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis, or a coaxial axis.

7. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein the movable end of said crank linkage frame is configured into either a cylinder or a round bar, enabling the ends of upper or lower swinging sets and their joints to be set into round bar or cylinder for sleeving.

8. The structure defined inclaim 1, wherein the ends of the upper and lower swinging sets permit the joint with the assembly seat of the pedal to be connected with the movable end of the crank linkage frame.

9. The structure defined inclaim 8, wherein an extension arm is protruded from the joint between the ends of upper/lower swinging sets and the assembly seat of the pedal, and then a pin joint is set at the end of the extension arm for connection with the movable end of the crank linkage frame.

10. A treadmill with lateral shift effect, comprising:

a main frame including a pedestal;

a movable rack transversely set overhead the pedestal of the main frame in a transverse displacement state;

a treading mechanism set on the movable rack, the treading mechanism comprising a base frame, an upper swinging set, a lower swinging set and two pedals; the bottom of the base frame is assembled fixedly onto the movable rack, the upper/lower swinging sets are pivoted centrally on top of the base frame, and the bottom of two pedals is provided with an assembly seat for assembly and connection of two ends of upper/lower swinging sets;

a crank linkage frame comprising a fixed end and a movable end; the fixed end is pivoted onto a permanent position of the main frame, and the movable end is linked to either end of the upper or lower swinging sets of the treading mechanism;

when two pedals of the treading mechanism are tilted under the treading action, the movable rack will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame.

11. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein a roller assembly is set between the movable rack and the pedestal of the main frame, said roller assembly is set onto either the bottom of the movable rack or onto the pedestal, the movable rack can shift horizontally with the support of the roller assembly in the event of transverse displacement.

12. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein the main frame is fitted with a damping device; the damping device is connected via a driving member with the crank linkage frame, so as to provide a resistance to the rotating crank linkage frame.

13. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein said upper swinging set is of a single-lever or double-lever structure; moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis, or a coaxial axis.

14. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein said lower swinging set is of a single-lever or double-lever structure; moreover, if a double-lever swinging set is adopted, the axis of the pin joint can be set into a non-axial axis, or a coaxial axis.

15. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein the movable end of said crank linkage frame is designed into either a cylinder or a round bar, enabling the ends of upper or lower swinging sets and their joints to be set into round bar or cylinder for sleeving.

16. The structure defined inclaim 10, wherein the ends of the upper and lower swinging sets permit the joint with the assembly seat of the pedal to be connected with the movable end of the crank linkage frame.

17. The structure defined inclaim 16, wherein an extension arm is protruded from the joint between the ends of upper/lower swinging sets and the assembly seat of the pedal, and then a pin joint is set at the end of the extension arm for connection with the movable end of the crank linkage frame.

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