Apparatus for Pivoting a Platform of a Treadmill

Disclosed is an apparatus for pivoting a platform on a base of a treadmill. The apparatus includes two front tracks secured to the base, two front casters movable in the front tracks, an axle connected to the front casters, a sleeve for receiving the axle, two front rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to an end of the sleeve, a motor supported on the platform, an extensible element including an end operatively connected to the motor and another end connected to sleeve, two rear tracks secured to the base, two rear casters movable in the rear tracks, two rear rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a related one of the rear casters, and two connectors each for connecting a related one of the front rockers to a related one of the rear rockers.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, to an apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base of a treadmill.

2. Related Prior Art

A conventional treadmill includes a base, a platform and a conventional apparatus for pivoting the platform relative to the base. The conventional pivoting apparatus lifts a rear end of the platform for storage and lifts a front end of the platform for imitation of an uphill slope to be encountered by a runner. The operation of the conventional pivoting apparatus is not smooth. In addition, the structure of the conventional pivoting apparatus is weak and vulnerable to deformation, fracture or even breakage, and this is dangerous for the runner.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a reliable apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base of a treadmill.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the apparatus includes two front tracks secured to the base, two front casters each movably located in a related one of the front tracks, an axle connected to the front casters, a sleeve for receiving the axle, two front rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a related end of the sleeve, a motor supported on the platform, an extensible element including an end operatively connected to the motor and another end pivotally connected to sleeve, two rear tracks secured to the base, two rear casters each movably located in a related one of the rear tracks, two rear rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a related one of the rear casters, and two connectors each including an end pivotally connected to a related one of the front rockers and another end pivotally connected to a related one of the rear rockers.

In an aspect, the apparatus may further include a sleeve located between and connected to the rear tracks.

In another aspect, the apparatus may further include a rod and a pneumatic cylinder. The rod is connected to the rear rockers. The pneumatic cylinder includes an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end pivotally connected to the rod.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill equipped with an apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus in another position than shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivoting apparatus in another position than shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pivoting apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a treadmill includes a base 10, a platform 20 and an apparatus 100 for pivoting the platform 20 relative to the base 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The base 10 is in the form of a rectangular frame. Two posts 11 are provided on the base 10.

The platform 20 includes two lateral beams 21, front and rear rollers 22 located between and connected to the lateral beams 21, a primary plate 25 supported on the lateral beams 21, a belt 26 in the form of a loop around the front and rollers 22 and the primary plate 25, two wheels 27 each attached to a related one of the lateral beams 21, a secondary plate 28 supported thereon, and a mount 29 supported thereon. The platform 20 includes a front end 23 and a rear end 24. The lateral beams 21 extend between the front end 23 and the rear end 24 of the platform 20. The primary plate 25 is located between the lateral beams 21 and the front and rear rollers 22. The belt 26 includes an upper section movably supported on the primary plate 25. The secondary plate 28 is supported by two crossbars located between and connected to the lateral beams 21. The mount 29 includes a lower end connected to one of the crossbars.

A motor 30 is supported on the secondary plate 28. A wheel or pulley 32 is connected to the front roller 22. A bet 31 is in the form of a loop around the mandrel of the motor 30 and the pulley 32. Thus, the motor 30 is operable to drive the belt 26 through the belt 31, the pulley 32 and the front roller 22.

The pivoting apparatus 100 includes a motor 33 and a linkage 40. The linkage 40 includes a sleeve 41, an axle 42, two front rockers 43, four lugs 44, two front casters 45, two front tracks 46, two connectors 47, two rear tracks 50, two rear rockers 51, a rod 52, two rear casters 53, a sleeve 54 and a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 56. Each of the front tracks 46 is secured to a related lateral bar of the base 10 while the rear tracks 50 are secured to a crossbar connected to the lateral bars of the base 10.

The lugs 44 are connected to the platform 20 and, more particularly, to a crossbar located between and connected to the lateral beams 21. Each of the front rockers 43 includes an end pivotally connected to a related one of the lugs 44 and another end connected to a related end of the sleeve 41. The axle 42 is rotationally inserted through the sleeve 41, with two ends of the axle 42 located outside the sleeve 41. The front casters 45 may be bearings. Each of the front casters 45 is rotationally connected to a related one of the ends of the axle 42 and movably located in a related one of the front tracks 46. Each of the connectors 47 includes an end pivotally connected to a related one of the front rockers 43 and another end pivotally connected to a related one of the tracks 50.

Each of the rear rockers 51 includes an end pivotally connected to a related one of the lugs 44. The rod 52 is located between the rear rockers 51, with two reduced ends of the rod 52 inserted through an aperture defined in the end of a related one of the rear rockers 51. The rear casters 53 may be bearings. Each of the rear casters 53 is rotationally connected to another end of a related one of the rear rockers 51 and movably located in a related one of the rear tracks 50. The pneumatic cylinder 56 includes an end pivotally connected to the rod 52 and another end pivotally connected to the platform 20 and, more particularly, to a crossbar located between and connected to the lateral beams 21.

The sleeve 54 is secured to the tracks 50. Each of the wheels 55 is connected to a related end of an axle inserted through the sleeve 54.

There is provided an extensible device 34. The extensible device 34 includes a screw connected to the mandrel of the motor 33 and a tube pivotally connected to the sleeve 41. The screw is driven in a screw hole defined in the tube. Thus, the motor 33 is operable to spin the screw relative to the tube so that the extensible 34 can be extended or shrunk.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a rear end of the platform 20 is manually lifted for storage of the treadmill. The pneumatic cylinder 56 is useful in the lifting of the rear end of the platform 20. The wheels 55 are useful for transportation of the treadmill when the rear end of the platform 20 is lifted.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end of the platform 20 is manually lowered for use of the treadmill. The pneumatic cylinder 56 is useful in buffering the lowering of the rear end of the platform 20. The front rockers 43 are pivotally toward the front end 23 of the platform 20 as the front casters 45 are moved toward the front ends of the front tracks 46. The rear rockers 51 are pivotally toward the rear end 24 of the platform 20 as the rear casters 53 are moved toward the rear ends of the rear tracks 50. That is, the front rockers 43 and the rear rockers 51 are pivoted away from each other. The connectors 47 are lowered.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the motor 33 is operated to extend the extensible device 34. The front rockers 43 are pivotally toward the rear end 24 of the platform 20 as the front casters 45 are moved toward the rear ends of the front tracks 46. The rear rockers 51 are pivotally toward the front end 23 of the platform 20 as the rear casters 53 are moved toward the front ends of the rear tracks 50. That is, the front rockers 43 and the rear rockers 51 are pivoted toward each other. The connectors 47 are lifted.

The operation of the linkage 40 is smooth since the front casters 45 are smoothly moved in the front tracks 46 while the rear casters 53 are smoothly moved in the rear tracks 50. Furthermore, the structure of the linkage 40 is strong for the use of the sleeve 41, the connectors 47 and the rod 52.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for pivoting a platform relative to a base of a treadmill, the apparatus including:

two front tracks secured to the base;
two front casters each movably located in a related one of the front tracks;
an axle connected to the front casters;
a sleeve for receiving the axle;
two front rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a related end of the sleeve;
a motor supported on the platform;
an extensible device including an end operatively connected to the motor and another end pivotally connected to sleeve;
two rear tracks secured to the base;
two rear casters each movably located in a related one of the rear tracks;
two rear rockers each including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end connected to a related one of the rear casters; and
two connectors each including an end pivotally connected to a related one of the front rockers and another end pivotally connected to a related one of the rear rockers.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a sleeve located between and connected to the rear tracks.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a rod connected to the rear rockers; and
a pneumatic cylinder including an end pivotally connected to the platform and another end pivotally connected to the rod.
Patent History
Publication number: 20120165162
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 28, 2012
Inventor: TAI-YANG LU
Application Number: 13/186,289
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Treadmill For Foot Travel (482/54)
International Classification: A63B 22/02 (20060101);