Engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill

Abstract

The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill that is adapted to apply an appropriate locking force to a slidable pushing assembly of the folding apparatus such that an unexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of a slope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill, and more particularly, to an engaging mechanism that prevents the folding apparatus from an unexpected false action.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the application Ser. Nos. 11/900,042 and 11/866,999, the inventor of the invention has developed a folding apparatus of a treadmill that permits an easy folding of the platform frame in an upright position and even an easy folding of a handrail assembly. In this way, a complete folding is achieved. It is apparent that the inventor has made every effort to enhance the practicality and convenience of the product in the actual use. However, the inventor still found that it is likely to create a certain extent of sway on the platform frame and the handrail assembly due to the existence of the folding apparatus, thereby causing users to have little psychological anxiety and misgivings when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position and the user wants to employ the lifting motor and the slope adjusting support to adjust the exercise slope.

In fact, any treadmill having a folding apparatus for providing an auxiliary force creates a varying degree of sway when the mechanism for adjusting the exercise slope is operated. The slight sway won't harm the operators. In order to eliminate the misgiving of the operator in use, a further solution is developed again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill that avoids the above-mentioned swaying phenomenon so as to enhance the structural stability in using the treadmill. In this way, the operator does not have additional mental burden and apprehensiveness.

According to the invention, an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill is provided to apply an appropriate locking force to any element of a slidable pushing assembly of the folding apparatus (including the rear support, the slide pusher, the pneumatic cylinder, the coupling rod, or the secondary coupling rod) such that an unexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of a slope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the illustration of the operation; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1 in a folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, a platform frame 10 includes a transmission motor 11 at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt (not shown) into rotation by use of a transmission belt 12, a front roller 13, and a rear roller 14. Meanwhile, a lifting motor 15 is employed to move an adjusting support 16 upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame 10. Moreover, two connection pins 17, 18 are disposed at both sides of the platform frame 10, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly 19 and a rear support 20, respectively.

Moreover, a slide pusher 22, to which a pneumatic cylinder 21 applies a pushing force, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar 101, 102. The other end of the slide pusher 22 is pivotally connected to the rear support 20. Besides, a coupling rod 23 is interposed between the rear support 20 and the handrail assembly 19. As a result, the handrail assembly 19 can be folded up by the coupling rod 23 in cooperation with a crossbar 24. Thus, a folding apparatus of a treadmill is created by the above-mentioned components.

One side of the slide pusher 22 is provided with a secondary coupling rod 25 synchronically movable therewith. An engaging mechanism 30 is positioned adjacent to a cross lug 26 at the read end of the secondary coupling rod 25. As a result, the engaging mechanism 30 applies a certain locking force to the secondary coupling rod 25 when the platform frame is brought in a horizontal operational position.

The engaging mechanism 30 consists of an operating lever 31 pivotally disposed at a certain place of the platform frame 10, a coupling lock piece 32, and an elastic element 33. Meanwhile, a locking groove 34 of the coupling lock piece 32 is formed such that the cross lug 26 of the secondary coupling rod 25 can firmly engage into the locking groove 34. Accordingly, an expected engaging effect can be achieved.

Now, please refer to FIG. 3. When the operator wants to fold up the platform frame 10, he only requires to move the operating lever 31 to detach the cross lug 26 of the secondary coupling rod 25 from the locking groove 34 of the second transmission gear 32. In this way, the folding apparatus can regain its original effect (see FIG. 4) without creating any negative interference.

Likewise, when the platform frame 10 descends from its upright fold-up position to its horizontal operational position, the cross lug 26 of the secondary coupling rod 25 slides over a slanting guide surface 35 of the coupling lock piece 32. Under the influence of the coupling lock piece 32, the cross lug 26 automatically engages into the locking groove 34 in an engaged state. Accordingly, the above-mentioned adverse effect can be completely avoided when the operator employs the lifting motor 15 and the adjusting support 16 for adjusting the exercise slope.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pneumatic cylinder 24 according to the invention can be pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher 23. This may achieve the same effect.

Most of components of the folding apparatus have varying degree of slip phenomenon in operation. The engaging mechanism in accordance with the invention can work with any one element of the slidable pushing assembly, including the rear support 20, the slide pusher 22, the pneumatic cylinder 21, the coupling rod 23, or the secondary coupling rod 25, to create the same effect by the same assembly principle.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A folding apparatus of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively,

wherein a slide pusher, to which a pneumatic cylinder applies a pushing force, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support, whereupon a coupling rod is interposed between the rear support and the handrail assembly; accordingly, the handrail assembly may be folded up by the coupling rod in cooperation with a crossbar; and

wherein one side of the slide pusher is provided with a secondary coupling rod synchronically movable therewith, and wherein an engaging mechanism is positioned adjacent to a cross lug of the secondary coupling rod, the cross lug extending from opposite sides of the secondary coupling rod in a direction perpendicular to the secondary coupling rod, and wherein the engaging mechanism is configured to selectively apply a certain locking force to the secondary coupling rod by selectively engaging both the secondary coupling rod and the cross lug when the platform frame is brought in a horizontal operational position.

3. A folding apparatus of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively,

wherein a slide pusher, to which a pneumatic cylinder applies a pushing force, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support, whereupon a coupling rod is interposed between the rear support and the handrail assembly; accordingly, the handrail assembly may be folded up by the coupling rod in cooperation with a crossbar;

wherein one side of the slide pusher is provided with a secondary coupling rod synchronically movable therewith, and wherein an engaging mechanism is positioned adjacent to a cross lug at the rear end of the secondary coupling rod, the cross lug extending from opposite sides of the secondary coupling rod in a direction perpendicular to the secondary coupling rod, and wherein the engaging mechanism is configured to selectively apply a certain locking force to the secondary coupling rod by selectively engaging both the secondary coupling rod and the cross lug when the platform frame is brought in a horizontal operational position; and

wherein the engaging mechanism consists of an operating lever pivotally disposed at a certain place of the platform frame, a locking piece, and an elastic element, and wherein a locking groove of the coupling lock piece is formed such that the cross lug of the secondary coupling rod is firmly engaged in the locking groove.

4. An engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling lock piece of the engaging mechanism includes a slanting guide surface opposing to the secondary coupling rod such that the cross lug of the secondary coupling rod slides over the slanting guide surface into the locking groove.