Weight-Based Cushion-Adjusting Apparatus
A treadmill includes a base, a lever, an elevator, a cushion, a scale and an adjustor. The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushion is connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, to a treadmill equipped with an apparatus for adjusting a cushion based on the weight of a user.
2. Related Prior Art
As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent 1323669, a conventional treadmill includes a base, a control panel supported on the base, two rollers supported on the base, a platform supported on the base between the rollers, a belt in the form of a loop wound around the rollers and the platform, an acceleration sensor located beneath the platform and electrically connected to the control panel, and an adjustable cushion located beneath the platform and electrically connected to the acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor senses actual acceleration of the platform and sends a signal to the control panel. The control panel compares the actual acceleration with data related to speed, acceleration and weight recorded in a memory located therein. When actual acceleration is determined to be identical to the data, the adjustable cushion is not adjusted. Only when the actual acceleration is determined to be different from the data, the adjustable cushion is adjusted.
However, it is practically impossible for an exerciser to maintain constant acceleration no matter he or she is running or walking. Hence, the adjustable cushion is adjusted all the time. The frequent adjustment is a heavy load on the adjustable cushion. Therefore, the life of the adjustable cushion is short, and this is not desirable.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIt is an objective of the present invention to provide a treadmill with a cushion that is adjustable based on the weight of a user.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the treadmill includes a base, a lever, an elevator, a scale and an adjustor in addition to the cushion. The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushion is connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:
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The treadmill 10 further includes a motor 24 supported on the board 18, a small pulley connected to the mandrel of the motor 24, a large pulley 26 connected to the front roller 16, and a belt 25 in the form of a loop wound around the small pulley and the large pulley 26. The motor 24 is electrically connected to the control panel 12. Thus, the control panel 12 is operable to actuate the motor 24 to drive the large pulley 26 through the belt 25. Then, the large pulley 26 drives the front roller 16, and the front roller 16 drives the belt 17.
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The treadmill 10 further includes two S-shaped levers 50 extending parallel to each other. Each of the levers 50 includes an end pivotally connected to the base 11 and another end pivotally connected to a portion of the elevator 60.
The cushion 40 includes a cylinder 41, a plunger 43 and a spring 45. The cylinder 41 includes a closed end pivotally connected to a middle section of each of the levers 50 and an open end for receiving an end of the plunger 43. Another end of the plunger 43 is pivotally connected to the base 11. A ring 42 is formed on the cylinder 41 near the open end. Another ring 44 is formed on the plunger 43. The spring 45 is located around the plunger 43 and compressed between the rings 42 and 44. As described above, the cushion 40 is connected to the base 11, the levers 50 are connected to the cushion 40, the elevator 60 is connected to the levers 50, and the strut 19 is connected to the base 11 at an end and located on the ground or floor at another end. Thus, the cushion 40 is operable to provide cushion for the treadmill 10.
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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. A treadmill including:
- a base;
- a lever connected to the base;
- an elevator connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end;
- a cushion connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end;
- a scale supported on the base; and
- an adjustor electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.
2. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the scale includes:
- a tread; and
- a sensor provided between the tread and the base.
3. The treadmill according to claim 2, wherein the scale includes a signal calculator electrically connected to the sensor.
4. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the cushion includes:
- a cylinder including a closed end pivotally connected to the lever and an open end; and
- a plunger inserted in the open end of the cylinder at an end and pivotally connected to the base at another end.
5. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein the cushion further includes:
- a ring formed on the cylinder;
- another ring formed on the plunger; and
- a spring located around the plunger and compressed between the rings.
6. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein the adjustor includes:
- a reservoir supported on the base;
- a valve connected to the reservoir; and
- a pipe connected to the valve at an end and connected to the cylinder at another end so that the cylinder, the reservoir, the valve and the pipe form a loop in which a hydraulic medium is circulated under the control of the valve.
7. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes a motor operable for driving the valve.
8. The treadmill according to claim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes a mount for supporting the reservoir on the base.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 24, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 12, 2012
Inventor: TAI-YANG LU (Taichung City)
Application Number: 13/189,516
International Classification: A63B 22/02 (20060101);