Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Treadmill for foot travel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-26
2001-07-17
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Treadmill for foot travel
C482S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261209
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to exercise treadmills. Specifically, the invention relates to an exercise treadmill having a fold-up capability to reduce the floor space occupied by the exercise treadmill when not in use, the front of the treadmill being selectively adjustable in the vertical direction to vary the inclination of the tread structure with respect to the floor.
2. Background Information
Motorized exercise treadmills have become standard equipment in gymnasiums, spas, and work-out clinics. The popularity of exercise treadmills has reached such a level that consumers are interested in obtaining treadmills for private home use. Typically, exercise treadmills have been constructed as one-piece devices consisting of a long rectangular tread structure or base extending from a support structure or frame. These treadmills in their simplest form include an endless belt that moves over an underlying support composed of rollers. The belt is powered by an electric motor that moves the belt at selectively varying speeds.
Treadmills also commonly include some type of inclination mechanism that positions the treadmill at various angles of inclination with respect to the floor to simulate walking or running up a grade. Various mechanisms are employed to raise and lower the front end of an exercise treadmill relative to the floor or other support surface on which the treadmill is positioned. These mechanisms usually consist of adjustable attachments or appendages connected to the underside of the treadmill.
A significant drawback of these exercise treadmills is their size. They are large, bulky structures that occupy significant areas of floor space. To remedy the space problem and promote more private home use of exercise treadmills, treadmills have been modified from a solid one-piece structure to a collapsible two-piece structure that allows for reorientation of the tread structure for compact storage.
Fold-up treadmills that have been developed for home use typically consist of a tread structure attached to a support structure, with the tread structure being selectively moveable between an exercise configuration in which the user may run, jog, walk, or perform other exercises on the tread structure and storage configuration wherein the tread structure is rearranged into a generally upright position. When the treadmill is in the storage configuration the tread structure is rotated upward and away from the floor, thus significantly reducing the amount of floor space required by the treadmill when in the storage configuration. Such treadmills have not, however, been without limitation.
Many fold-up type treadmills have been limited by an inclination mechanism operatively attached only to the rear of the tread structure. The typical type of front inclination mechanism employed on non-fold-up treadmills has not be used with reorienting treadmills because attachments or appendages that lift the front of the tread structure have not allowed sufficient clearance for the tread structure to be reoriented into a fold-up position. Such front-lifting mechanisms also have occupied significant areas of floor space, thus minimizing any advantage obtained by folding the tread structure to the storage configuration. Rear inclination is less desirable than front inclination inasmuch as it is less effective in creating or simulating an uphill incline. The need thus exists for a treadmill that has a fold-up capability and that has an inclination mechanism mounted to the front of the tread structure that occupies minimal floor space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill having a fold-up capability.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill having an inclination mechanism operatively disposed at the front of the tread structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill having an inclination mechanism that employs an adjustment drive substantially aligned in a horizontal plane to adjust the inclination of the tread structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill having a fold-up capability whereby the tread structure may be selectively locked in a substantially upright storage configuration.
These and other objectives and advantages are obtained by the improved folding exercise treadmill with front inclination of the present invention, the general nature of which may be stated as including a support structure adapted to be disposed against a floor, at least a first pivot hub mounted on the support structure, an inclination mechanism including a lift assembly and an adjustment drive, the lift assembly being pivotally mounted on the at least first pivot hub, the adjustment drive being operationally mounted on the lift assembly, a tread structure having a front and a rear, a pivot member disposed on the tread structure, the pivot member being pivotally mounted on the lift assembly, the at least first pivot hub being disposed toward the rear of the tread structure from the pivot member, the tread structure being selectively moveable between an exercise configuration and a storage configuration, and the inclination mechanism selectively adjusting the vertical position of the front of the tread structure with respect to the floor to vary the inclination of the tread structure with respect to the floor when the tread structure is in the exercise configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5839993 (1999-01-01), Fox
patent: 5860893 (1999-01-01), Watterson et al.
Fitness Quest Inc.
Richman Glenn E.
Sand & Sebolt
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