Actuator for controlling inclination of treadmill and inclination control device of treadmill

• US 20070225126A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tobeone Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tobeone Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoo, Seon-Kyung
• Application Number:
  US11/384,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225126A1
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor

Abstract

The present invention provides an inclination control device of a treadmill comprising: a pair of support members pivotally connected with at least one first hinge at the track part for extending from the track part to the ground; a pair of housings having a housing hinge respectively for being pivotally connected with each of the second hinge at the support members, and having female thread; a pair of screw rod engaging respectively with the female thread of each of the housing so as to be extruded from or inserted into by relative rotation therebetween; a pair of driving pulleys combined with each of the screw rod for rotating together with the screw rod; a belt engaging with the driving pulleys; a pinion engaging with the belt for transmitting a driving force via the belt to the driving pulleys; a motor for letting pinion rotate; and a bracket for rotatably fixing the pinion and the driving pulleys, and having a pair of bracket hinges on its both sides to be pivotally combined with each of the third hinges of the track part, whereby the first hinge, the second hinge and the third hinge form a three-linked structure so as to stably support the impact and/or load from a user'"'"'s running in addition to enhance durability and to save the manufacture cost.

Claims

1. An actuator for controlling the inclination of the track part of a treadmill comprising:

a motor;

a pinion rotatably driven by the motor;

a belt formed to transmit the driving force from the pinion;

a pair of driving pulleys engaging with the belt so as to receive the driving force from the pinion;

a pair of screw rod combined with each of the driving pulley for rotating together with each of the driving pulley; and

a pair of housings having female thread for engaging with each of the screw rod;

wherein a pair of screw rods are simultaneously extruded from or simultaneously inserted into each of the housing by the same length.

2. The actuator for controlling the inclination of the track part of a treadmill as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one idler pulley engaging with the belt;

wherein the belt is engaged with the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys for transmitting the driving force from the pinion to the driving pulleys.

3. The actuator for controlling the inclination of the track part of a treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys has at least one groove on their sides so as to engage with the protuberances periodically formed on the belt.

4. The actuator for controlling the inclination of the track part of a treadmill as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

a bracket for rotatably fixing the pinion, the idler pulley and the driving pulleys; and

bracket hinges formed at the both sides of the bracket;

housing hinges formed at each of the housings.

5. An inclination control device for a treadmill having at least one track part comprising:

at least one support member pivotally connected with at least one first hinge at the track part for extending from the track part to the ground; and

at least one extendable rod pivotally connected with at least one second hinge which moves together with the support member, and pivotally connected with at least one third hinge of the track part which is located apart from the first hinge at the track part;

wherein, the inclination of the track part is controlled by the extension or the contraction of the extendable rod.

6. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support members are formed as a pair for pivotally being connected with a pair of the first hinges at the track part, and the extendable rods are formed as a pair for pivotally being connected with a pair of the third hinges at the track part.

7. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pair of the support members include a traverse member which connects the support members each other, and the second hinges are formed as a pair at the support members or at the traverse member for pivotally being connected with a pair of the extendable rods.

8. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 7, wherein a pair of the extendable rods include a pair of housings having a housing hinge respectively for being pivotally connected with each of the second hinge, and having female thread;

and a pair of screw rods engaging respectively with the female thread of each of the housing so as to be extruded from or inserted into each of the housing by relative rotation therebetween;

and, further comprising;

a pair of driving pulleys combined with each of the screw rod for rotating together with the screw rod;

a belt engaging with the driving pulleys;

a pinion engaging with the belt for transmitting a driving force via the belt to the driving pulleys;

a motor for making the pinion rotate; and

a bracket for rotatably fixing the pinion, and the driving pulleys, and having a pair of bracket hinges on its both sides to be pivotally combined with each of the third hinges;

wherein one of the first hinges, one of the second hinges, and one of the third hinges form hinges of three-link structure.

9. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein the screw rods integrally rotate with each of the driving pulley respectively.

10. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

at least one idler pulley rotatably fixed to the bracket for engaging with the belt;

wherein the belt is engaged with the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys for transmitting the driving force from the pinion to the driving pulleys.

11. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys have at least one groove on their sides so as to engage with the protuberances periodically formed on one side of the belt.

12. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a roller formed at the end of each of the support member which is contact with the ground.

13. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second hinges are formed within the range between 0.1 L to 0.5 L from one end contacted with the ground, when the length of the support member is L.

14. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein a pair of the extendable rods include a pair of housings having a housing hinge respectively for pivotally connecting with each of the second hinge, and having female thread;

and a pair of screw rods engaging respectively with the female thread of each of the housing so as to be extruded from or inserted into each of the housing by relative rotation therebetween;

and, further comprising;

a pair of driving gears combined with each of the screw rod for rotating together with the screw rod;

at least one pair of intermediate gears engaging with the driving gears;

a pinion gear engaging with the intermediate gears for transmitting a driving force via the intermediate gears to the driving gears;

a motor for making the pinion gear rotate; and

a bracket for rotatably fixing the pinion gear, the intermediate gears and the driving gears, and having bracket hinges on its both sides for being pivotally connected with each of the third hinges;

wherein one of the first hinges, one of the second hinges, and one of the third hinges form hinges of three-link structure.

15. An inclination control device for a treadmill having at least one track part, comprising:

a pair of support members pivotally connected with a pair of first hinges at the track part for extending from the track part to the ground;

a pair of housings having a housing hinge respectively for being pivotally connected with a pair of second hinges at the support members, and having female thread;

a pair of screw rod engaging respectively with the female thread of each of the housing so as to be extruded from or inserted into by relative rotation therebetween;

a pair of driving pulleys combined with each of the screw rod for rotating together with the screw rod;

a belt engaging with the driving pulleys;

a pinion engaging with the belt for transmitting a driving force via the belt to the driving pulleys;

a motor for letting pinion rotate; and

a bracket for rotatably fixing the pinion and the driving pulleys, and having a pair of bracket hinges on its both sides to be pivotally combined with a pair of the third hinges at the track part;

wherein the third hinges are apart from the first hinges respectively, and wherein one of the first hinges, one of the second hinges and one of the third hinges form a three-linked structure.

16. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 15, wherein the screw rods are integrally rotate with each of the driving pulley respectively.

17. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

at least one idler pulley rotatably fixed to the bracket for engaging with the belt;

wherein the belt is engaged with the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys for transmitting the driving force from the pinion to the driving pulleys.

18. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pinion, the idler pulley, and the driving pulleys have at least one groove on their sides so as to engage with the protuberances periodically formed on one side of the belt.

19. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a roller formed at the end of each of the support member which is contact with the ground.

20. The inclination control device for a treadmill as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second hinges are formed within the range between 0.1 L to 0.5 L from one end contacted with the ground, when the length of the support member is L.