Foldable treadmill

• US 20080188358A1
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hai-Pin Kuo
• Original Assignee: Hai-Pin Kuo
• Inventors: Kuo, Hai-Pin
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,122 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

A foldable treadmill includes a base frame, a front frame pivotally mounted on the base frame, a rear frame pivotally mounted on the front frame, a movable frame pivotally mounted on the front frame and slidably mounted on the base frame, a driver mounted on the front frame and provided with a retractable inner tube, and a connecting bracket secured on the movable frame and pivotally mounted on the inner tube of the driver. Thus, the rear frame is folded when not in use to reduce the whole volume of the treadmill efficiently. In addition, the front end of the rear frame is lifted to change the inclined angle of the rear frame, so that the user can practice running or walking on a slope.

Claims

1. A foldable treadmill, comprising:

a base frame;

a front frame having a front end pivotally mounted on a first end of the base frame;

a rear frame having a front end pivotally mounted on a rear end of the front frame;

a movable frame having a first end pivotally mounted on a mediate portion of the front frame and a second end slidably mounted on a second end of the base frame;

a telescopically retractable driver mounted on the front frame and provided with a retractable inner tube which can extend outwardly from the driver;

a connecting bracket having a first end secured on the movable frame to move and pivot the movable frame and a second end pivotally mounted on the inner tube of the driver.

2. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a motor mounted on the front frame to drive and move the inner tube of the driver.

3. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a telescopically retractable positioning mechanism pivotally mounted between the movable frame and the rear frame and movable by a pivot action of the rear frame, and a locking mechanism mounted on the rear frame and releasably locked onto the positioning mechanism to releasably lock the positioning mechanism.

4. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 3, wherein the positioning mechanism is actuated by a pneumatic or hydraulic action.

5. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the positioning mechanism includes an outer tube pivotally mounted on the movable frame, and an inner tube pivotally mounted on the rear frame and retractably mounted in the outer tube;

the locking mechanism includes a pivot board pivotally mounted on the rear frame and having a first end provided with a movable plate movable on the outer tube of the positioning mechanism during a pivot movement of the rear frame to a locked position where the movable plate is locked on the inner tube of the positioning mechanism and rested on a distal end of the outer tube of the positioning mechanism so as to lock the positioning mechanism.

6. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 5, wherein the movable plate of the pivot board is formed with a locking groove locked on the inner tube and the distal end of the outer tube of the positioning mechanism during the pivot movement of the rear frame.

7. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 6, wherein the locking groove of the movable plate has an opening directed toward the rear frame.

8. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pivot board of the locking mechanism has a second end provided with a drive plate that is movable toward the rear frame to pivot the pivot board to move the movable plate outwardly relative to the rear frame to detach the movable plate from the distal end of the outer tube so as to unlock the positioning mechanism.

9. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 8, wherein the pivot board of the locking mechanism is pivotally mounted on the rear frame by a pivot rod.

10. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 9, wherein the inner tube of the positioning mechanism has a distal end pivotally mounted on the rear frame by the pivot rod.

11. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 9, wherein the pivot board of the locking mechanism has a mediate portion provided with a pivot base located between the movable plate and the drive plate and pivotally mounted on the rear frame by the pivot rod.

12. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism further includes an elastic member biased between the movable plate of the pivot board and the rear frame to pull the movable plate of the pivot board toward the rear frame.

13. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the base frame includes a left support pipe, a right support pipe, a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam;

the front frame includes a front bracket, a left bracket and a right bracket;

the rear frame includes a left rack, a right rack, a front rotation shaft, a rear rotation shaft and a tread belt;

the movable frame has two opposite sides provided with a left side plate and a right side plate respectively.

14. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of the left support pipe and the right support pipe of the base frame has an inner side formed with an elongated guide track, and each of the left side plate and the right side plate of the movable frame has a lower end provided with a roller which is slidable in the respective guide track of each of the left support pipe and the right support pipe of the base frame.

15. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 14, wherein the roller is rotatably mounted on the lower end of each of the left side plate and the right side plate of the movable frame by a pintle.

16. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

each of the left bracket and the right bracket of the front frame has a front end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of the left support pipe and the right support pipe of the base frame by a pivot shaft respectively;

the rear frame has a front end pivotally mounted on the rear ends of the left bracket and the right bracket of the front frame by two pivot axles respectively;

each of the left side plate and the right side plate of the movable frame has an upper end pivotally mounted on a mediate portion of each of the left bracket and the right bracket of the front frame by a pivot spindle respectively.

17. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner tube of the driver pushes the connecting bracket backward to rotate the connecting bracket, and the movable frame is pivoted forward and upward by the connecting bracket to lift the rear end of the front frame and to lift the front end of the rear frame to change an inclined angle of the rear frame.

18. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 12, wherein when a rear end of the rear frame is lifted to drive and pivot the rear frame, the inner tube of the positioning mechanism is driven by the rear frame to extend outwardly relative to the outer tube of the positioning mechanism, and the pivot board of the locking mechanism is driven by the rear frame to move outwardly relative to the outer tube of the positioning mechanism, so that the movable plate of the pivot board is movable upward on the outer tube of the positioning mechanism during the pivot movement of the rear frame to the locked position where the locking groove of the movable plate is locked on the inner tube and the distal end of the outer tube of the positioning mechanism by an elastic force of the elastic member so as to lock the positioning mechanism.

19. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 16, wherein the

the front bracket of the front frame is provided with a support board to support the motor and the driver;

the front end of each of the left support pipe and the right support pipe of the base frame is provided with a pivot seat to pivot the respective pivot shaft;

the rear end of each of the left bracket and the right bracket of the front frame is provided with a pivot ear to pivot the respective pivot axle.

20. The foldable treadmill in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first end of the connecting bracket is secured on a mediate portion of the movable frame.