Combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine

• US 20050037898A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Dick
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck

Abstract

A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine includes a single roller supported on a shaft between two lugs on two sides of the frame of the combination and two rear ends of two pedals are respectively connected to the roller and supported on the two lugs. Two front ends of the two pedals are respectively connected to two hydraulic cylinders. A switch member is pivotably connected to a front end of the frame and can be set in a horizontal position when the combination is used as stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the combination is used as treadmill. An L-shaped plate is connected to the frame and each pedal has a connection plate which has two elongate holes in which two protrusions on each side of the L-shaped plate are movably engaged, such that the pedals are pivotably supported on the L-shaped plate when used as stair climbing machine.

Claims

1. A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine, comprising:

a frame with two posts extending from two sides of a front end of the frame and a handle connected between the two posts, two lugs connected on the two sides of a rear end of the frame and a roller connected between the two lugs, a wheel connected to the roller and driven by a motor;

two pedals each having a connection plate on a side thereof and the two connection plates connected to the lugs, two hydraulic cylinders respectively connected between the two posts and the two pedals, each pedal including a running belt which reeves through the roller and a front end of each pedal;

a switch member pivotably connected to a U-shaped frame connected to the front end of the frame and the switch member being positioned at a horizontal position when the two pedals are used as a stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the two pedals are used as a treadmill, a first spring connected between an underside of the switch member and the frame, and

a swing mechanism pivotably connected to the frame and the two pedals.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sub-frame is connected to a side of one of two side plates of the U-shaped frame and a handle having a cam head which is pivotably connected to a pin which extends through the sub-frame and a first hole defined through the side plate, a second spring mounted to the pin and biased between the side plate of the U-shaped frame and the sub-frame, the switch member having an extension which has a second hole defined therethrough, the pin being inserted in the second hole when the switch member is set in the inclined position.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pedal includes a tongue on an underside thereof and the support member includes a block on a top thereof, each tongue including an inclined side which is rested on a top of the block when the switch member is set in the inclined position.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an L-shaped plate connected to the frame and each pedal has a connection plate which has two elongate holes, the L-shaped plate having two protrusions on each of two sides thereof, the two protrusions movably engaged with the two elongate holes of each connection plate.

5. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a first belt;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a second belt;

a third roller rotatably supported on said frame; and

wherein said first belt and said second belt are positioned about said third roller.

6. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein said third roller is driven by a motor.

7. The exercise device of claim 5, further comprising:

an interconnection mechanism connected with said frame; and

wherein said interconnection mechanism is operably associated with said first pedal and said second pedal to cause said first and second pedals to pivot in opposite directions relative to each other.

8. The exercise device of claim 5, further comprising:

a first hydraulic cylinder connected with said first pedal and said frame; and

a second hydraulic cylinder connected with said second pedal and said frame.

9. The exercise device of claim 5, further comprising:

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame, said lockout mechanism operable to lock said first and second pedals in a fixed orientation relative to said frame.

10. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein said lockout mechanism comprises:

a switch member pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to selectively engage said first and second pedals.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein said exercise device functions as a treadmill when said switch member is in a tilted position.

12. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein said exercise device functions as a stair climbing machine when said switch member is in a horizontal position.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein said lockout mechanism further comprises:

a spring connected with said switch member biased to hold said switch member in said horizontal position.

14. The exercise device of claim 5, further comprising:

a support structure connected between said frame and said first and second pedals, said support structure adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame.

15. The exercise device of claim 14, said support structure comprising:

a first member connected with said first pedal;

a second member connected with said second pedal;

a third member connected with said frame; and

wherein said first member and said second member are movingly supported by said third member.

16. The exercise device of claim 15, said support structure further comprising:

at least one protrusion extending from said third member;

at least one first slot in said first member adapted to receive said at least one protrusion;

at least one second slot in said second member adapted to receive said at least one said protrusion;

wherein said at least one first slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said first pedal pivots relative to said frame; and

wherein said at least one second slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said second pedal pivots relative to said frame.

17. The exercise device of claim 14, said support structure comprising:

a first plate extending from said first pedal;

a second plate extending from said second pedal; and

a third plate extending from said frame adapted to support said first plate and said second plate.

18. The exercise device of claim 17, said first and second plates each having slots adapted to receive protrusions extending from opposing sides of said third plate.

19. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein said slots are arcuate.

20. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a first belt;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a second belt;

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame and having a selectively operable switch member;

wherein when said switch member is placed in a first orientation, said first and second pedals are locked in a fixed position relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a treadmill; and

wherein when said switch member is placed in a second orientation, said first and second pedals are able to pivot relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a stair climbing machine.

21. The exercise device of claim 20, further comprising:

an interconnection mechanism connected with said frame; and

wherein said interconnection mechanism is operably associated with said first pedal and said second pedal to cause said first and second pedals to pivot in opposite directions relative to each other.

22. The exercise device of claim 20, further comprising:

a first hydraulic cylinder connected with said first pedal and said frame; and

a second hydraulic cylinder connected with said second pedal and said frame.

23. The exercise device of claim 20, wherein said switch member is pivotally connected with said frame and is adapted to engage said first and second pedals.

24. The exercise device of claim 20, said lockout mechanism further comprising a spring connected with said switch member and biased to hold said switch member in said second orientation.

25. The exercise device of claim 20, said lockout mechanism further comprising:

a pin adapted to extend through a first hole in said frame and a second hole in said switch member to hold said switch member in said first orientation.

26. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotatably supported on said frame;

a first pedal including a first belt positioned about said drive roller;

a second pedal including a second belt positioned about said drive roller; and

means for pivotally coupling said first pedal and said second pedal to said frame.

27. The exercise device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for interconnecting said first pedal with said second pedal to cause said first and second pedals to pivot in opposite directions relative to each other.

28. The exercise device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for selectively locking said first and second pedals in a fixed orientation relative to said frame.

29. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt, a front roller, and a rear roller;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt, a front roller, and a rear roller; and

wherein said rear roller of said first pedal and said rear roller of said second pedal is a common roller.

30. The exercise device of claim 29, wherein said common roller is driven by a motor.

31. The exercise device of claim 29, further comprising:

an interconnection mechanism connected with said frame; and

wherein said interconnection mechanism is operably associated with said first pedal and said second pedal to cause said first and second pedals to pivot in opposite directions relative to each other.

32. The exercise device of claim 29, further comprising:

a first hydraulic cylinder connected with said first pedal and said frame; and

a second hydraulic cylinder connected with said second pedal and said frame.

33. The exercise device of claim 29, further comprising:

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame, said lockout mechanism operable to lock said first and second pedals in a fixed orientation relative to said frame.

34. The exercise device of claim 33, wherein said lockout mechanism comprises:

a switch member pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to selectively engage said first and second pedals.

35. The exercise device of claim 34, wherein said exercise device functions as a treadmill when said switch member is in a tilted position.

36. The exercise device of claim 34, wherein said exercise device functions as a stair climbing machine when said switch member is in a horizontal position.

37. The exercise device of claim 36, wherein said lockout mechanism further comprises:

a spring connected with said switch member biased to hold said switch member in said horizontal position.

38. The exercise device of claim 29, further comprising:

a support structure connected between said frame and said first and second pedals, said support structure adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame.

39. The exercise device of claim 38, said support structure comprising:

a first member connected with said first pedal;

a second member connected with said second pedal;

a third member connected with said frame; and

wherein said first member and said second member are movingly supported by said third member.

40. The exercise device of claim 39, said support structure further comprising:

at least one protrusion extending from said third member;

at least one first slot in said first member adapted to receive said at least one protrusion;

at least one second slot in said second member adapted to receive said at least one said protrusion;

wherein said at least one first slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said first pedal pivots relative to said frame; and

wherein said at least one second slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said second pedal pivots relative to said frame.

41. The exercise device of claim 38, said support structure comprising:

a first plate extending from said first pedal;

a second plate extending from said second pedal; and

a third plate extending from said frame adapted to support said first plate and said second plate.

42. The exercise device of claim 41, said first and second plates each having slots adapted to receive protrusions extending from opposing sides of said third plate.

43. The exercise device of claim 42, wherein said slots are arcuate.