Twisting treadmill

Abstract

A twisting treadmill comprised of a treading unit, a reciprocally turning member that also supports the treading unit, a transmission unit connecting the treading unit and the turning member; the user having both feet stepping upon the treading unit to simulate treading motion while twisting in conjunction with a rotary rhythmic device that reciprocally rotates for the user to achieve fitness purpose by treading and twisting exercises at the same time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a fitness equipment, and more particularly, to an improved structure of a treadmill that simulates treading motion for its user to achieve treading and twisting exercise purposes at the same time.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

People today often use excuses such as poor weather, or tight schedule to lead a life with little or even no sports at all, and recognize the importance of keeping a proper amount of sports when they find their immunity is deteriorating and symptoms of chronic diseases. Even so, they are reluctant to spare certain time each day to work out at a specific site or purchase fitness equipment to work out in leisure time.

To cope with the particular needs of the modern people who needs proper amount of workout while leading a busy life, fitness equipment simulating its best the outdoor workout patterns and allowing easy operation have been developed such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1. The prior art relates to a compact treadmill generally available in the market is essentially comprised of two pedals 21 that allow vertical movement axially pivoted to a base 10 and a hydraulic cylinder 22 or a parallel connection rod member is coupled to where between both pedals 21 and the base 10. The user alternatively treads on both pedals 21 for a tread unit 20 to reciprocal move in simulation of walking movement to achieve the purpose of staying fit.

However, the treadmill of the prior art gets too monotonous to encourage continuous use for its user. As a result, the fitness equipment winds up in storage room for good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a twisting treadmill of fitness equipment to allow the user to achieve the purpose of staying fit by twisting and treading at the same time. To achieve the purpose, the present invention is related to rhythmic rotation equipment comprised of a treading unit, a turning member, and a transmission unit. The treading unit reciprocally ups and down; the turning member supports the treading unit and engages in reciprocal rotation; and the transmission connects the motions between the treading unit and the turning member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill of the prior art. FIG. 2 (A) is a schematic view showing an operating status of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (B) is a schematic view showing another operating status of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a treading unit of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a transmission unit of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the transmission unit provided with a damper of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the operation of the treading unit of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the operation of a turning member of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a transmission unit of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a transmission unit of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2(A), 2(B), 3, and 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanical construction with a base 10 as the primary member, a treading unit 20, a turning member 30, and a transmission unit. The treading unit 20 for being subject to the force applied by both feet of the user to proceed vertical motion pattern by simulating the stepping and pacing movement up and down. Meanwhile, a rhythmic rotation device is comprised of the treading unit 20, the turning member 30 and the transmission unit 40. As the rhythmic rotation device is operating and both feet of the user are stepping onto the treading unit 20 to have vertical motions, the turning member 30 and the treading unit 20 are engaging in reciprocal rotation for the user to achieve fitness results of twisting and treading at the same time.

Within the rhythmic rotation device, the treading unit 20 serves as an active mechanism to provide vertical motions; the turning member 30 supports the treading unit 20 to become a passive member; and the transmission unit 40 converts kinetics from the treading unit 20 into that of a connection mechanism to drive the transmission 40 to engage in lateral rotation to secure the connected motions between the treading unit 20 and the turning member 30.

In the preferred embodiment, the turning member 30 is comprised of a turning table axially pivoted to the base 10. A pair of parallel connection rods 23 to relatively engage in vertical oscillation is axially pivoted to the peripheral of the axis of the turning member 30. Two pedals 21 are respectively provided at the distal ends of both parallel connection rods 23. Through the connection of the pair of the connection rods 23, the motion from the treading unit 20 when subject to the force applied by both feet of the user on both pedals 21 produces the motive results of alternatively vertical motion between two pedals 21 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In practice, the transmission unit 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 2(A), 2(B), 3, 4, and 5, is comprised of a segment gear 41 fixed to the axis at the middle of the pair of parallel connection rods 23, and a conical gear 42 fixed to the base 10. Wherein, the center of the conical gear 42 is where a vertical shaft 31 of the turning member 30 is provided. Both of the conical gear 42 and the segment gear 41 are engaged to each other. When both parallel connection rods 23 relatively oscillate up and down, the segment gear 41 laterally swings along with the axis and is forced to reciprocally roll along the surface of the teeth of the conical gear 42 since the conical gear 42 is dead thus to drive the turning member 30 and the treading unit 20 to engage in reciprocal movement.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an upper lid to cover the mobile range at the center of both parallel connection rods 23 is fixed to the base 10 to improve the user safety. A damper 50 is disposed at where between the turning member 30 and the base 10. A press plate 51 to produce packing force against the turning member 30 is provided to the damper 50 on the side of the base 10. The press plate 51 at its end in relation to the base 10 is screwed to the base 10 by means of a bolt 52; and the end of the press plate 51 extends into a guide slot 32 of the turning member 30 by means of a pin 53 to provide positioning function depending on the displacement of the turning member 30. Wherein, a plate 33 extends from the turning member 30 towards the press plate 51. The packing by the press plate 51 and the base 10 against the extension plate 33 is adjusted by the torque of the bolt 52 to achieve the purpose of adjusting the amount of the force applied to the S twisting treadmill. One or a plurality of friction pad is further provided at where between the press plate 51 and the extension plate 33 as well as the extension plate 33 and the base 10 to improve the friction efficacy of the damper 50.

Furthermore, as illustrate din FIG. 8, the transmission unit 40 is comprised of a chain 43 fixed to the turning member 30 and a chain gear 44 fixed to the base 10; or alternatively as illustrated in FIG. 9 the transmission unit 40 is comprised of a steel cable 45 fixed to the turning member 30 and a pulley 46 fixed to the base. Wherein, A stud 451 and a recess 461 that coupled to each other are respectively disposed to the steel care 45 and the surface of the pulley 40 to achieve the same transmission purpose of driving the turning member 30 to exercise reciprocal rotation.

The prevent invention provides an improvement structure of a twisting treadmill, and the application for a utility patent is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rhythmic rotation device includes a base functioning as the primary mechanical part of the entire device; a turning member axially pivoted to the base; a treading unit disposed to the turning member functioning as an active mechanism for vertical motion; a transmission unit disposed at where between the turning member and the base; and both of the turning member and the treading unit engaging in reciprocal rotation as a user having his both feet stepping on the treading unit.

2. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein a pair of parallel connection rods that relatively oscillate up and down is axially pivoted to the peripheral of the axis of the turning member; and two pedals are respectively disposed at the distal ends of the pair of parallel connection rods.

3. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a segment gear fixed to the axis at the center between two parallel connection rods and a conical gear fixed to the base.

4. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a chain fixed to the turning member and a chain gear fixed to the base.

5. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a steel cable fixed to the turning member and a pulley fixed to the base; and a stud and a recess coupled to each other are respectively provided to the steel cable and the surface of the pulley.

6. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein an upper lid is disposed to the base to cover up the operation range at where between the pair of parallel connection rods.

7. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 1, wherein a damper is disposed at where between the turning member and the base.

8. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 8, wherein a press plate is disposed to the damper on the side of the base to produce packing force against the turning member.

9. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 8, wherein a press plate is disposed to the damper on the side of the base to produce packing force against the turning member; the press plate is screwed to the base by means of a bolt at one end of the press plate at where in relation to the base; another end of the press plate penetrating deep into the area of the turning member extends into a guide slot of the turning member through a pin.

10. The rhythmic rotation device of claim 9, wherein a plate extends from the turning member toward the press plate and one or a plurality of friction pad is disposed at where between the press plate and the extension plate as well as between the extension plate and the base.

11. A twisting treadmill includes a base functioning as the primary mechanical part of the entire treadmill; a turning member axially pivoted to the base; a treading unit provided to the turning member, a pair of parallel connection rods that relatively oscillate up and down being axially pivoted to the peripheral of the axis of the turning member, two pedals being respectively disposed at the distal ends of the pair of parallel connection rods; and a transmission unit being disposed at where between the turning member and the base; and both of the turning member and the treading unit engaging in reciprocal rotation as a user has his both feet stepping on the treading unit.

12. The twisting treadmill of claim 12, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a segment gear fixed to the axis at the center between two parallel connection rods and a conical gear fixed to the base

13. The twisting treadmill of claim 12, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a chain fixed to the turning member and a chain gear fixed to the base.

14. The twisting treadmill of claim 12, wherein the transmission unit is comprised of a steel cable fixed to the turning member and a pulley fixed to the base; and a stud and a recess coupled to each other are respectively provided to the steel cable and the surface of the pulley.

15. The twisting treadmill of claim 12, wherein an upper lid is disposed to the base to cover up the operation range at where between the pair of parallel connection rods.

16. The twisting treadmill of claim 12, wherein a damper is disposed at where between the turning member and the base.

17. The twisting treadmill of claim 18, wherein a press plate is disposed to the damper on the side of the base to produce packing force against the turning member.

18. The twisting treadmill of claim 18, wherein a press plate is disposed to the damper on the side of the base to produce packing force against the turning member; the press plate is screwed to the base by means of a bolt at one end of the press plate at where in relation to the base; another end of the press plate penetrating deep into the area of the turning member extends into a guide slot of the turning member through a pin.

19. The twisting treadmill of claim 19, wherein a plate extends from the turning member towards the press plate; and one or a plurality of friction pad is disposed between the press plate and the extension plate as well as between the extension plate and the base.