TREADMILL WITH SAFETY MONITORING FUNCTION AND SAFETY MONITORING METHOD FOR TREADMILL

Abstract

A treadmill with a safety monitoring function includes a running unit and a detection unit. The running unit includes a driving roller and a running belt for a runner to stand and run thereon. The detection unit includes a sensor for detecting whether the runner exists at a predefined height on the running belt. The detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height. A safety monitoring function for a treadmill includes adjusting a height of the sensor, detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt, and generating a first monitoring output. Through detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height, it determines whether the driving roller can be driven by the driving unit to prevent accidental activation by a child. Since the detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height, it allows the use by runners of different body shapes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention is related to an exercise equipment, and in particular, to a treadmill with a safety monitoring function and a safety monitoring method for a treadmill.

2. Description of Related Art

As people value heath more seriously nowadays, a lot of people install a treadmill at their own homes, such that they are able to use the treadmill to perform exercise at home regardless of the outdoor weather condition.

However, in comparison to gym, the home environment is relatively more complicated to ensure safe operation of the equipment. For example, in the event that a child at home activates the treadmill without adult supervision or the treadmill is accidentally activated, injury may occur under such situation.

Presently, although there are known treadmills equipped with an infrared sensor arranged to perform rearward detection (such as: CN210096787U), in order to detect the running position of a runner via the infrared sensor and generate a warning sound when the runner exceeds the safe running range to reduce accidental falling incident of runners, they are still unable to prevent the aforementioned situation of accidental activation of the treadmill by a child.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill with a safety monitoring function capable of preventing accidental activation by a child and applicable to runners of different body shapes.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a safety monitoring method for a treadmill capable of preventing accidental activation by a child and applicable to runners of different body shapes.

To achieve the objectives, the present invention provides a treadmill with a safety monitoring function, allowing a runner to stand and run thereon. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprises a running unit, a driving unit, a detection unit, and a control unit.

The running unit comprises a base, two side rails arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base, a driving roller and a driven roller pivotally installed between the side rails, a running belt arranged between the side rails and mounted on the driving roller and the driven roller and provided for the runner to stand and run thereon, and a front base arranged between the side rails and located on top of a front end of the running belt. A front-rear direction is defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails.

The driving unit is arranged on the base and is configured to drive the driving roller to rotate in order to drive the running belt to rotate around the driving roller and the driven roller, thereby allowing the runner to run forward along the front-rear direction on the running belt.

The detection unit is arranged at the front base and comprises a sensor. The sensor is functional to detect rearward in order to detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information. The detection unit is configured to move along an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction relative to the front base in order to change the predefined height.

The control unit is electrically connected to the driving unit and the detection unit for transmitting signals. The control unit is configured to control the driving roller to be driven by the driving unit in order to drive the predefined height according to the detection information when the runner exists at the predefined height on top of the running belt.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety monitoring method for a treadmill, applicable to a treadmill and a runner standing on the treadmill. The treadmill includes a running belt, and the safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprises a preparation step, a detection step and an activation analysis step.

The preparation step is to adjust a height of a sensor.

The detection step is to use the sensor to detect whether the runner exits at a predefined height on top of the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information.

The activation analysis step is to generate a first monitoring output when the runner exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt based on the detection information.

The technical effects of the present invention are as follows. By using the sensor to detect whether the runner exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt, the height of the runner may be analyzed in order to for determining whether the driving roller can be driven by the driving unit, in order to prevent the hazard due to accidental activation by a child of insufficient height. In addition, since the detection unit can be moved along the up-down direction, the installation height of the sensor can be adjusted in order to change the predefined height and to facilitate the use by runners of different body shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and technical effects of the present invention will be illustrated clearly in the accompanied drawings and the embodiments as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the treadmill with a safety monitoring function of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the embodiment of the present invention and a runner;

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a preparation step, a detection step and an activation analysis step of a safety monitoring method for a treadmill according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is another flow chart illustrating a falling analysis step of the safety monitoring method for the treadmill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, showing a treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to an embodiment of the present invention, allowing a runner 9 to stand and run thereon. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprises a running unit 1, a driving unit 2, a detection unit 3, an input unit 4 and a control unit 5. The input unit 4 can be operated to input a command. The command is related to an activation information.

The running unit 1 comprises a base 11, two side rails 12 arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base 11, a driving roller 13 and a driven roller 14 pivotally installed between the side rails 12, and a running belt 15 pivotally installed between the side rails 12 and mounted on the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14 and provided for the runner 9 to stand thereon, two handrails 16 extended upward from the side rails 12, and a front base 17 connected between the handrails 16 and arranged between the side rails 12 and located on top of a front end of the running belt 15. A front-rear direction X is defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails 12.

In this embodiment, the driving roller 13 is located at the front side, and the driven roller 14 is located at the rear side; however, the present invention is not limited to such configuration only.

The front base 17 includes a crossbar portion 171 connected between the handrails 16, an extension portion 172 extending along an up-down direction Y perpendicular to the front-rear direction X from the crossbar portion 171, and a plurality of slots 173 formed on the extension portion 172 and arranged spaced apart from each other along the up-down direction Y.

The driving unit 2 is arranged on the base 11 and is configured to drive the driving roller 13 to rotate in order to drive the running belt 15 to rotate around the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14, thereby allowing the runner 9 to run forward along the front-rear direction X on the running belt 15.

The detection unit 3 is arranged on the front base 17 and comprises a sensor 31, a moving seat 32 movably arranged on the extension portion 172 and provided for the sensor 31 to be installed thereon, a through hole 33 penetrating through the moving seat 32 and an insertion pin 34 penetrating through the through hole 33 and selectively inserted into one of the plurality of slots 173. The sensor is functional to detect rearward in order to detect whether the runner 9 exits at a predefined height on top of the running belt 15 and corresponding to a center line location of the side rails 12, and to generate a corresponding detection information. The detection unit 3 is configured to move along the up-down direction Y relative to the front base 17 in order to change the predefined height. In this embodiment, the sensor 31 is a proximity sensor and is able to generate the detection information when the runner 9 is detected at the predefined height on top of the running belt 15. In addition, when the detection unit 3 moves along the up-down direction Y relative to the front base 17, it is able to allow the predefined height to be adjusted, between 100 cm and 140 cm in the present embodiment although neither the height nor the range are limited to this exemplary range.

The control unit 5 is electrically connected to the driving unit 2, the input unit 4 and the detection unit 3 for transmitting signals.

When the runner 9 exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt 15, the control unit 5 is able to control the driving roller 13 to be driven by the driving unit 2 based on the detection information. In addition, when no runner 9 is detected at the predefined height on top of the running belt 15, the control unit 5 is able to control the driving roller 13 to prevent it from being driven by the driving unit 2.

When the driving roller 13 rotates and drives the running belt 15 to rotate, the sensor 31 is able to continuously generate the detection information, and the control unit 5 is able to control the driving unit 2 and also control a rotational speed of the driving roller 13 when the runner 9 is determined to not exist at the predefined height above the running belt 15 based on the detection information.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, during the actual operation, the treadmill with a safety monitoring function can cooperate with a safety monitoring method for a treadmill to perform monitoring. The safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprises a preparation step S1, a detection step S2, an activation analysis step S3 and a falling analysis step S4.

The preparation step S1 is to adjust a height of the sensor 31.

The detection step S2 is to use the sensor 31 to detect whether the runner 9 exits at a predefined height above the running belt 15, and to generate a corresponding detection information.

The activation analysis step S3 is to generate a first monitoring output when the runner 9 exits at the predefined height above the running belt 15 based on the detection information.

The falling analysis step S4 is to continuously generate the detection information and to generate a second monitoring output when the runner 9 does not exist at the predefined height above the running belt 15 based on the detection information.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, during the use of the treadmill with a safety monitoring function by a user, the preparation step S1 can be executed first, in order to adjust the predefined height to a height suitable to the body shape of the runner 9. Next, when the runner 9 inputs the command via the input unit 4 such that the running belt 15 is expected to be activated for rotation, the control unit 5 is able to execute the detection step S2 and the activation analysis step S3.

When the detection information is generated in the detection step S2, it means that the runner 9 is detected at the predefined height above the running belt 15 (in other words, the height of the runner 9 is greater than the predefined height), and the activation analysis step S3 is able to generate the first monitoring output. Accordingly, the control unit 5 is able to control the driving roller 13 to be driven by the driving unit 2 (such as: allowing the driving unit 2 to be electrically conducted), thereby allowing the running belt 15 to rotate.

Furthermore, when no detection information is generated in the detection step S2, it means that no runner 9 is detected at the predefined height above the running belt 15 (in other words, the height of the runner 9 is not greater than the predefined height), and no first monitoring output is generated in the activation analysis step S3. Accordingly, the control unit 5 is able to control the driving roller 13 to prevent it from being driven by the driving unit 2 (such as: preventing electrical conduction of the driving unit 2), such that even though the runner 9 has inputted the command via the input unit 4, the running belt 15 still cannot be driven to rotate. As a result, the control unit 5 is able to prevent accidental activation of the treadmill with a safety monitoring function by a child of insufficient height.

In addition, during the rotation of the running belt 15, the control unit 5 is able to execute the falling analysis step S4.

When the falling analysis step S4 generates the second monitoring output (indicating that no runner 9 is detected at the predefined height), it means that the runner 9 might have fallen down. Accordingly, the control unit 5 is able to control the driving unit 2 to control the rotational speed of the driving roller 13, in order to reduce the rotational speed of the driving roller 13 and to stop it gradually, or allow the driving roller 13 to stop immediately, thereby preventing the runner 9 from being caught in the gap between the running belt 15 and one of the side rails 12 due to continuous movement of the running belt 15.

In view of the above, for the treadmill with a safety monitoring function and the safety monitoring method for a treadmill of the present invention, by using the sensor 31 to detect whether the runner 9 exists at the predefined height on top of the running belt 15, the height of the runner 9 can be analyzed and used as a determination standard for determining whether the driving roller 13 can be driven by the driving unit 2, in order to prevent the hazard due to accidental activation by a child of insufficient height. In addition, since the detection unit 3 can be moved along the up-down direction, the installation height of the sensor 31 can be adjusted in order to change the predefined height and to facilitate the use by runners 9 of different body shapes. As a result, the objectives of the present invention are achieved.

It shall be understood that the above description is provided to illustrate the possible embodiments of the present invention only, and it shall not be treated as limitation to the implementation scope of the present invention. All mere and equivalent changes and modifications made based on the scope of the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention shall be considered to be within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A treadmill with a safety monitoring function, capable of allowing a runner to stand and run thereon, the treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprising:

a running unit comprising a base, two side rails arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base, a driving roller and a driven roller pivotally installed between the side rails, a running belt arranged between the side rails and mounted on the driving roller and the driven roller and provided for the runner to stand thereon, and a front base arranged between the side rails and located on top of a front end of the running belt, a front-rear direction defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails;

a driving unit arranged on the base and configured to drive the driving roller to rotate in order to drive the running belt to rotate around the driving roller and the driven roller, thereby allowing the runner to run forward along the front-rear direction on the running belt;

a detection unit arranged on the front base and comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to detect rearward in order to an detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information, the detection unit configured to move along an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction relative to the front base in order to change the predefined height; and

a control unit electrically connected to the driving unit and the detection unit for transmitting signals, the control unit configured to control the driving roller to be driven by the driving unit in order to drive the predefined height according to the detection information when the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt.

2. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein the running unit further comprises two handrails extending upward from the side rails respectively, and a crossbar portion connected between the handrails, an extension portion extending along the up-down direction from the crossbar portion, and a plurality of slots formed on the extension portion and spaced apart from each other along the up-down direction; the detection unit further comprises a moving seat movably arranged on the extension portion and provided for the sensor to be installed thereon, a through hole penetrating through the moving seat, and an insertion pin penetrating through the through hole and selectively inserted into one of the plurality of slots.

3. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein when the driving roller rotates and drives the running belt to rotate, the sensor continuously generates the detection information, and the control unit controls the driving unit and controls a rotational speed of the driving roller when the runner is determined to not exit at the predefined height above the running belt based on the detection information.

4. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor of the detection unit is a proximity sensor.

5. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor of the detection unit is functional to detect whether the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt and at a corresponding center line location of the side rails.

6. A safety monitoring method for a treadmill, applicable to a treadmill and a runner standing on the treadmill, and the treadmill having a running belt, the safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprising:

a preparation step for adjusting a height of a sensor;

a detection step for using the sensor to detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and generating a corresponding detection information; and

an activation analysis step for generating a first monitoring output when the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt based on the detection information.

7. The safety monitoring function for a treadmill according to claim 6, further comprising a falling analysis step, the falling analysis step configured to continuously generate the detection information, and to generate a second monitoring output based on the detection information when the runner does not exit at the predefined height above the running belt.

8. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to claim 6, wherein in the preparation step, the sensor of the detection unit is a proximity sensor.