US20110177918A1

US20110177918A1 - Treadmill with lateral shift effect

Info

Publication number: US20110177918A1
Application number: US12/691,360
Authority: US
Inventors: Hung-Min Liang
Original assignee: Hexon Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hexon Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-01-21
Filing date: 2010-01-21
Publication date: 2011-07-21

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 a main frame 10, including a pedestal 11 and two stands 12 arranged at interval on both sides of the pedestal 11. Two swinging levers 20 are positioned at a top of the stands 12 with a pin joint 21 set at the top and a swinging end 22 formed at the bottom. The pin joint 21 is pivoted onto the stands 12 of the main frame 10. A movable rack 30 is transversely set overhead the pedestal 11 of the main frame 10, and both ends of the movable rack 30 are separately connected with the swinging end 22 of two swinging levers 20.
A treading mechanism 40 is set on the movable rack 30. The treading mechanism 40 includes a base frame 41, an upper swinging set 42, a lower swinging set 43 and two pedals 44. The bottom of the base frame 41 is assembled fixedly onto the movable rack 30, the upper/ lower swinging sets 42, 43 are pivoted centrally on top of the base frame 41, and the bottom of two pedals 44 is provided with an assembly seat 441 for assembly and connection of two ends of upper/ lower swinging sets 42, 43.
A crank linkage frame 50 includes a fixed end 51 and a movable end 52. The fixed end 51 is pivoted onto a permanent position of the main frame 10, and the movable end 52 is linked to either end of the upper swinging set 42 or lower swinging set 43 of the treading mechanism 40.
When the two pedals 44 of the treading mechanism 40 are tilted under the treading action, the movable rack 30 will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame 50 (shown by FIG. 9).
Of which, the top of two swinging levers 20 is further extended to form a handrail 23 for the users.
A roller assembly 60 is set between the movable rack 30 and the pedestal 11 of the main frame 10. Said roller assembly 60 is set onto either the bottom of the movable rack 30 or onto the pedestal 11 (as shown in FIG. 2, said roller assembly 60 is transversely arranged overhead the pedestal 11 of the main frame 10 in a transverse displacement state). With this configuration, the movable rack 30 can shift horizontally with the support of the roller assembly 60 in the event of transverse displacement. Moreover, both ends of the movable rack 30 are connected with the swinging end 22 of the swinging lever 20 via the swinging tab 24 (shown in FIG. 3) or via the expansion link 25 (shown in FIG. 4), in tune with the changing height of the swinging end 22 of the swinging lever 20.
The main frame 10 is fitted with a damping device 13, which is connected via a driving member 131 with the crank linkage frame 50, so as to provide a resistance to the rotating crank linkage frame 50.
Of which, said upper swinging set 42 is of a single-lever or double-lever structure, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), wherein the upper swinging set 42 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 in FIG. 5( c)), or a coaxial axis (shown in FIG. 5( b)).
Of which, said lower swinging set 43 is of a single-lever or double-lever structure, as shown in FIG. 5( c), wherein the lower swinging set 43 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 in FIG. 5( a)), or a coaxial axis (shown in FIG. 5( d)).
The movable end 52 of said crank linkage frame 50 is designed into either a cylinder or a round bar, enabling the ends of upper swinging set 42 or the lower swinging set 43 and their joints to be set into round bar or cylinder for sleeving. Referring to FIG. 6, the end of the upper swinging set 42 is designed into a round bar, whilst the movable end 52 of the crank linkage frame 50 is configured into a cylinder correspondingly.
Of which, the ends of the upper and lower swinging sets 42, 43 permit the joint with the assembly seat 441 of the pedal 44 to be connected with the movable end 52 of the crank linkage frame 50, as shown in FIG. 7.
Referring to FIG. 8, an extension arm 45 is protruded from the joint between the ends of upper/lower swinging sets 42, 43 and the assembly seat 441 of the pedal 44, and then a pin joint 451 is set at the end of the extension arm 45 for connection with the movable end 52 of the crank linkage frame 50. Referring to FIG. 8( a), the extension arm 45 is extended from the end of the upper swinging set 42, or referring to FIG. 8( b), the extension arm 45 is extended from the end of the lower swinging set 43. The pin joint 451 of the extension arm 45 is configured into a cylinder, and the movable end 52 of the crank linkage frame 50 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 to FIG. 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 to FIGS. 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 a main frame 10, movable rack 30, treading mechanism 40 and crank linkage frame 50, whilst two stands at both sides of the pedestal 11 and two swinging levers 20 are omitted. In this preferred embodiment, the movable rack 30 can move transversely since the roller assembly 60 is transversely arranged overhead the pedestal 11 of the main frame 10.
A crank linkage frame 50 includes a fixed end 51 and a movable end 52, of which the fixed end 51 is pivoted onto a permanent position of the main frame 10, and the movable end 52 is linked to either end of the upper swinging set 42 or lower swinging set 43 of the treading mechanism 40.
With this configuration, when two pedals 44 of the treading mechanism 40 are tilted under the treading action, the movable rack 30 will generate reciprocating transverse movement through the circular motion of the crank linkage frame 50.
Additionally, the treadmill A2 of this preferred embodiment is operated in the same manner.

Claims

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 in claim 1, wherein a handrail is further extended from the top of two swinging levers.

3. The structure defined in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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;

11. The structure defined in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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 in claim 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.