Buffer apparatus of a treadmill

• US 20070049465A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Strength Master Health Corporation
• Original Assignee: Strength Master Health Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Shen Yi
• Application Number:
  US11/213,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0214 between the belt supporting deck and the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable

Abstract

A buffer apparatus of a treadmill including a bed rested on the ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus. A rail upward extends from the bed for a user to hold. The buffer apparatus is connected under the tread apparatus. The buffer apparatus includes an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit for inflating the main body. The main body has a buffer section and a fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread apparatus. The buffer section has a large interior space. After the main body is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a bottom end of the buffer section is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section. The main body further has an intake and an exhaust port. After the pressurizing unit is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body through the intake and the exhaust port.

Claims

1. A buffer apparatus of a treadmill comprising a bed rested on the ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus, a rail upward extending from the bed for a user to hold, the buffer apparatus being connected under the tread apparatus, the buffer apparatus including an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit for inflating the main body, the main body having a buffer section and a fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread apparatus, the buffer section having a large interior space, whereby after the main body is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a bottom end of the buffer section is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section, the main body further having an intake and an exhaust port, whereby after the pressurizing unit is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body through the intake and the exhaust port.

2. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tread apparatus includes a tread board supported by a frame body, the tread board being looped with an endless flexible tread belt which can circularly revolve, two buffer apparatuses being respectively arranged under two sides of a substantially middle section of the tread board.

3. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under front section of the frame body between the frame body and the bed.

4. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under middle and rear sections of the tread apparatus between the tread apparatus and the ground.

5. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressurizing unit is disposed inside the main body, the pressurizing unit including a motor fixed in the main body, a pressurizing cylinder also fixed in the main body and an air pressure sensor disposed on outer side of the main body, the air pressure sensor communicating with the exhaust port of the main body for exhausting the air and detecting the air pressure.

6. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the motor is connected with a crank for driving a piston to reciprocally move within the pressurizing cylinder, the piston serving to one-way stop the air from flowing, the pressurizing cylinder having a first conduit communicating with the intake of the main body and positioned on one side of the piston and a second conduit communicating with the interior space of the main body and positioned on the other side of the piston, whereby the air is sucked into the pressurizing cylinder from the intake and goes through the piston to be compressed into the interior space of the main body.

7. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second conduits are respectively equipped with check valves for avoiding backflow of the air.

8. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the air pressure sensor of the pressuring unit can detect internal air pressure of the main body, in the case that the air pressure is too great, the air pressure sensor properly exhausting part of the air, in the case that the air pressure is insufficient, the air pressure sensor being electrically connected with the motor to turn on the motor for sucking air into the main body to achieve necessary air pressure.

9. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein by means of the fixing sections and fixing members, the main bodies are respectively fixed under two sides of the substantially middle section of the tread board, the buffer section being positioned on outer side of the fixing section.

10. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fixing members are screws.