Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Treadmill for foot travel
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-29
2003-10-28
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Treadmill for foot travel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06638200
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an exercise machine, and more particularly to a jogging machine comprising a jogging platform adjustable in elevation angle thereof to facilitate the folding of the jogging platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The jogging platform of the conventional jogging machine is pivoted at the front end thereof between two upright supports of the base of the jogging machine. The jogging platform is provided in the underside of the rear end with two support legs adjustable manually in length. The rear end of the jogging platform is rested on the ground surface by means of the two support legs. The inclination of the jogging platform is adjusted by adjusting the length of the two support legs, so as to enable the user of the jogging machine to attain various exercise effects.
In order to enhance the convenience of using the jogging machine, certain jogging machine makers have developed a jogging machine comprising a jogging platform adjustable in inclination by means of an electrically-powered connection rod mechanism, as shown in FIG.
1
. The jogging machine
2
is characterized by its jogging platform
70
which is pivoted with a linking frame
80
formed of two connection rods
81
, a displacement rod
82
, a reinforcing rod
83
, and two slide wheels
84
. The base
90
of the jogging platform
70
is provided with two slide rails
71
for accommodating the two slide wheels
84
. The base
90
is provided with an electric actuation device A for connecting the displacement rod
82
to drive the linking frame
80
to urge the jogging platform
70
to rise. Two elevation rods B are disposed between the base
90
and the jogging platform
70
. The inclination of the jogging platform
70
is adjusted by the actuation device A, the linking frame
80
in conjunction with the two elevation rods B. In addition, the jogging platform
70
can be folded.
According to the test done by this inventor of the present invention, this prior art jogging machine has the following drawbacks.
The electric actuation device A of the jogging machine
2
is mounted on the base
90
such that the actuation device A is located between the base
90
and the jogging platform
70
, thereby taking up a great deal of space of the base
90
to accommodate the jogging platform
70
. In addition, the bottom space of the jogging platform
70
is also reduced to limit the inclination adjustment of the jogging platform
70
. In other words, the downward space of the jogging platform
70
is limited.
In light of the actuation device A of the jogging machine
2
taking up the bottom space of the jogging platform
70
, the folding of the jogging platform
70
is apt to be interfered by the actuation device A. As a result, before the jogging platform
70
is folded, the actuation device A must be first started to raise the jogging platform
70
so as to facilitate the folding of the jogging platform
70
.
When the jogging platform
70
is being folded, the jogging platform
70
is swiveled upwards on the pivoting center of the two linking rods
81
to arrive at a predetermined position at which the jogging platform
70
is fixed by a fastening member that is mounted on a predetermined location of the base
90
. In the midst of the folding action, the position of the pivoting center of the jogging platform
70
is a factor determining the success of alignment of the jogging platform
70
with the fastening member. If the position of the pivoting center is excessively high, low, forward, or rearward, the jogging platform
70
will not be in alignment with the fastening member in the wake of the upward swiveling motion of the jogging platform
70
. As a result, the jogging platform
70
can not be securely located by the fastening member. As a result, before the jogging platform
70
is folded, the actuation device A must be started to raise the jogging platform
70
to a fixed position, so as to enable the jogging platform
70
to be in alignment with the fastening member upon the completion of folding the jogging platform
70
. It is therefore readily apparent that the folding process of the jogging platform
70
of the prior art jogging machine
2
is rather complicated and burdensome.
The shortcomings of the prior art jogging machine
2
are due to the improper mechanical design and component disposition. For example, the actuation device A must be disposed on the base
90
due to the way by which the linking frame
80
and the two elevation rods B are disposed. In addition, the linking frame
80
is driven by the actuation device A from the underside of the jogging platform
70
. In light of the underside space of the jogging platform
70
being taken up, the inclination adjustment of the jogging platform
70
is thus obstructed. The folding process of the jogging platform
70
is also obstructed. The jogging platform
70
is pivoted with the linking frame
80
and the two elevation rods B in a simple manner, thereby causing the stop position of the jogging machine
2
to be easily affected by the pivoting position of the jogging platform
70
and the two linking rods
81
upon the completion of the folding of the jogging machine
2
. In other words, the jogging platform
70
can not be folded according to a fixed path because of the defective connection design of the jogging platform
70
, the linking frame
80
, and the two elevation rods B.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a jogging machine with a jogging platform which is electrically adjusted in its inclination and is immune from the interference of an actuation device of the jogging machine. The jogging platform is provided with a fixed path in which the jogging platform is folded and located.
The foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a jogging machine comprising a base, a jogging platform, an urging frame, a linear actuator, and at least one pull rod.
The base is rested on the ground surface and is provided with two guide slots symmetrical to each other. The urging frame has a main support rod and an auxiliary support rod parallel to the main support rod, two side support rods connecting the main support rod and the auxiliary support rod, an input member mounted on the main support rod, and two rollers mounted on two side ends of the auxiliary support rod. The urging frame is pivotally mounted on the jogging platform such that the urging frame swivels on the axis of the main support rod, and that the two rollers are slidably located in the two guide slots to slide therein back and forth. The linear actuator is mounted on the jogging platform and is connected with the input member of the urging frame for actuating the input member, so as to enable the urging frame to swivel. The pull rod is pivoted at both ends with the main support rod and the base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6273842 (2001-08-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6273843 (2001-08-01), Lo
patent: 6325745 (2001-12-01), Yu
patent: 6398696 (2002-06-01), Tsou
Browdy and Neimark , P.L.L.C.
Crow Stephen R.
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