Reorienting treadmill

• US 20050148442A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott R. Watterson, William T. Dalebout
• Original Assignee: Scott R. Watterson, William T. Dalebout
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T.
• Application Number:
  US11/071,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148442A1
• 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 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

The treadmill has a tread base that is rotatably attached to and between a left upright and a right upright. The tread base is rotatable between a first position for performing exercises and an upright or storage position. A latching structure is provided to latch the tread base to the support structure. The treadmill also includes inclination structure for inclining the tread relative to the support surface when in the first position. The treadmill also includes rigid handles and one configuration movable handles. The tread base also has a rigid undersurface or pan to fully enclose the underside of the tread base. A lift assist gas cylinder is also interconnected between the tread base and the feet attached to the uprights.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base rotatably attached to the support structure such that the tread base is selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

a gas spring connected between the support structure and the tread base.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to the tread base and wherein the treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to the continuous belt for driving the continuous belt.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the tread base has a front end and a rear end and wherein the tread base is rotatably attached to the support at a point adjacent the front end of the tread base.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to the motor.

5. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base rotatably attached to the support structure such that the tread base is selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

lift assist means, connected between the support structure and the tread base, for assisting a user in rotating the tread base between the operating position and the storage position.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to the tread base and wherein the treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to the continuous belt for driving the continuous belt.

7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein the tread base has a front end and a rear end and wherein the tread base is rotatably attached to the support structure at a point adjacent the front end of the tread base.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to the motor.

9. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the lift assist means comprises a gas spring.

10. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the lift assist means comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

11. A treadmill comprising:

a tread base rotatably attached to a support; and

a gas spring connected between the tread base and the support for providing an upward force to assist a user in rotating the tread base between an operating position and a storage position.

12. The treadmill of claim 11, wherein the tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to the tread base and wherein the treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to the continuous belt for driving the continuous belt.

13. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the tread base has a front end and a rear end and wherein the tread base is rotatably attached to the support at a point adjacent the front end of the tread base.

14. The treadmill of claim 13, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to the motor.

15. The treadmill of claim 11, further comprising a latch for selectively securing the tread base to the support when the tread base is placed in the storage position.

16. The treadmill of claim 11, further comprising inclination means coupled to the tread base for selectively varying the inclination of the tread base.

17. The treadmill of claim 16, wherein the inclination means comprises feet rotatably coupled to a rear end of the tread base for selectively varying the inclination of the tread base.

18. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base rotatably attached to the support structure such that the tread base is selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

a lift assist mechanism, connected between the support structure and the tread base, for assisting a user in rotating the tread base between the operating position and the storage position.

19. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to the tread base and wherein the treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to the continuous belt for driving the continuous belt.

20. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein the tread base has a front end and a rear end and wherein the tread base is rotatably attached to the support structure at a point adjacent the front end of the tread base.

21. The treadmill of claim 20, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to the motor.

22. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the lift assist mechanism comprises a gas spring.

23. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the lift assist mechanism comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

24. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure for positioning on a support surface;

a tread base comprising;

i) a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side; and

ii) an endless belt positioned between said left side and said right side, said frame being connected to said support structure to be movable between a first position in which said endless belt is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon and a second position in which said rear of said frame is positioned toward said support structure; and

a lift assist mechanism interconnected between said support structure and said tread base to urge said tread base from said first position to said second position.

25. The treadmill of claim 24, wherein said support structure further comprises:

a base; and

left and right upright supports connected to said base;

wherein said left side and said right side of said treadbase frame is pivotally connected to said left and right upright supports.

26. The treadmill of claim 25, wherein said left side and said right side of said treadbase frame is pivotally connected to said base.

27. The treadmill of claim 25, wherein said lift assist mechanism comprises a gas spring having a first end and a second end, said first end of said gas spring being connected to one of said rear, said left side and said right side of said treadbase frame;

said second end of said gas spring being connected to one of said base, said left upright support and said right upright support of said support structure.

28. The treadmill of claim 25, wherein said lift assist mechanism comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pneumatic cylinder being connected to one of said rear, said left side and said right side of said treadbase frame;

said second end of said pneumatic cylinder being connected to one of said base, said left upright support and said right upright support of said support structure.

29. The treadmill of claim 24, further comprising an inclination mechanism connected to said frame to vary the inclination of said frame relative to said support surface.

30. The treadmill of claim 29, wherein said inclination mechanism comprises a left foot pivotally secured to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured to said right side proximate said rear of said frame for positioning and supporting said frame on said support surface in said first position.

31. The treadmill of claim 30, wherein said inclination mechanism is operable to move each of said left foot and said right foot relative to said frame, said inclination mechanism including a cross member interconnected between said left foot and said right foot, an extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being connected to said cross member and said proximal end being oriented toward the front of said frame, and force means interconnected between said proximal end of said extension and said frame to apply a force to said extension to urge movement of said left foot and said right foot to vary the inclination of said frame relative to said support structure.

32. The treadmill of claim 31, wherein said force means comprises any one of a spring, a gas spring, and a rack and pinion gear.