Inclination mechanism for a treadmill

Details Inclination mechanism for a treadmill Inclination mechanism for a treadmill

2003-02-28

2004-03-02

Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)

Exercise devices

Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof

Treadmill for foot travel

Reexamination Certificate

active

06699160

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inclination mechanism for a treadmill, and more particularly to an inclination mechanism for a treadmill that can conveniently adjust the inclination of the tread relative to the surface on which the treadmill is sitting.
2. Description of Related Art
A treadmill is a piece of exercise equipment with a rotating tread mounted on a tread frame used by a person to physically exercise by running or jogging in place. However, to accommodate the needs of different people or the changing needs of a single person using a treadmill, the inclination of the tread frame is adjustable. With reference to
FIG. 7
, a conventional inclination device for a treadmill having a tread frame (
60
) comprises a front support (
61
), a coupling (
62
), a drive screw (
63
), a drive device (
64
) and a lever (
65
). The tread frame (
60
) has a front (not numbered), and the front support (
61
) is mounted under the tread frame (
60
) near the front.
The front support (
61
) has a front cross bar (
611
). The coupling (
62
) has a longitudinal hole (not numbered) and is attached to the front cross bar (
611
). The drive device (
64
) is rotatably attached to the coupling (
62
) and has a threaded longitudinal hole (not shown) aligned with the longitudinal hole in the coupling (
62
). The drive screw (
63
) has a rear end (not numbered) and a front threaded end (not numbered). A linkage (not numbered) is rotatably connected to the rear end of the drive screw (
63
). The front treaded end of the feed screw (
63
) extends through the longitudinal hole in the coupling (
62
) and screws through the longitudinal threaded hole in the drive device (
64
).
The lever (
65
) is L-shaped, has an upper arm (not numbered) and a lower arm (not numbered). The upper arm and the lower arm are joined at a perpendicular junction. The lever (
65
) is pivotally connected to the front support (
61
) at the perpendicular junction of the upper arm and the lower arm. The upper arm is pivotally connected to the tread frame (
60
) near the front. The lower arm is pivotally connected to the linkage at the rear end of the drive screw (
63
).
To operate the inclination device, the drive device (
64
) is turned to axially move the drive screw (
63
) frontward or rearward. The axial movement of the drive screw (
63
) pivots the lever (
65
) that raises or lowers the front of the tread frame (
60
) to adjust the inclination of the tread frame (
60
).
However, the conventional inclination mechanism for the treadmill has some shortcomings. First, the drive screw (
63
) is operated manually by turning the drive device (
64
). Manual operation of the lever pull (
63
) is inconvenient and can be difficult. Second, the drive screw (
63
) is accessible only from the front of the treadmill at a lower position. A person cannot possibly turn the drive device (
64
) to adjust the inclination of the tread frame (
60
) while running on the treadmill. Instead, the person must stop running and go to the front of the treadmill to turn the drive device (
64
). When the person begins running on the treadmill again, the inclination of the tread frame (
60
) may not be suitable. The person must repeat the process until the inclination of the tread frame (
60
) is suitable. Repeated adjustment of the conventional inclination mechanism for the treadmill tread frame is inconvenient.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an inclination mechanism for a tread frame of a treadmill to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the invention is to provide an inclination mechanism for a treadmill tread frame that is convenient to operate.
Another objective of the invention is to provide an inclination mechanism for a treadmill tread frame that uses an electric motor to adjust the inclination of the tread frame such that adjustment of the tread frame inclination is easy for an operator.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5184988 (1993-02-01), Dunham
patent: 5967945 (1999-10-01), Wang
patent: 6033346 (2000-03-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6475121 (2002-11-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6569062 (2003-05-01), Wang et al.

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