Cabinet treadmill with door

• US 5,743,833 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T., Miller, Frank Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Lynne A.
• Application Number:
  US08/593,800
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 482/54
• 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

A cabinet has a tread base rotatably connected to be oriented in an exercise position extending outwardly and in a stored position extending inwardly secured within the enclosure of the cabinet. The underside of the tread base may be configured to provide a suitable aesthetic exterior surface. A latching arrangement is provided to secure the tread base within the enclosure in the second or stored position. Elevation structure and motor structure are provided to elevate the tread base when in the first position and to power the endless belt of the tread base when in the first position. The elevation structure may be operated to vary the inclination of the tread base when in the first position. The underside of the tread base has a decorative panel and functions as a door for the cabinet. The elevation structure may include an electrically driven rack and pinion as well as a gas cylinder system.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and a top;

a tread base formed to be a unitary and non-foldable structure to rigidly extend between a front and a rear, said tread base having a left side, a right side and a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side, said deck having an underside and being secured to said left side and said right side, and said tread base having an endless belt with an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned below said underside, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing; and

a panel secured to and between said left side and said right side exterior of said lower stretch, said panel being positioned to be a portion of the exterior of said enclosure structure with said tread base in said second position.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said left side, said right side and said top of said enclosure structure define a perimeter, and wherein said tread base is positioned snugly and moveably proximate said perimeter when said tread base is in said second position, said panel functioning effectively as a closed door.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said left side of said tread base includes a left rail, said right side of said tread base includes a right rail spaced from said left rail and said panel extends between and is attached to said left rail and said right rail.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein said left rail has a left leg attached thereto for supporting said tread base on a support surface with said tread base in said first position.

5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein said right rail has a right leg attached thereto for supporting said tread base on a support surface with said tread base in said first position.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein said left leg and said right leg are each configured for grasping by the hand of a user.

7. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said enclosure structure has a bottom and wherein said underside is spaced upwardly from said bottom.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein said enclosure structure has a toe kick attached to said bottom spaced inwardly from said underside.

9. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said tread base is configured to rotate between said first position and said second position.

10. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and top;

a tread base having an underside, a left side, a right side, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base having a center of gravity and said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said underside oriented upward and outward and with said center of gravity positioned to retain said tread base in said second position.

11. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein said tread base is rotatably connected to said freestanding housing and wherein said tread base is rotatable to be positioned in said second position between said left side and said right side of said enclosure structure.

12. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and top;

a tread base having a front, an underside, a left side, a right side, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base having a mass with a center of gravity and said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said underside oriented upward and outward and with said center of gravity positioned relative to said front in said second position to resist movement of said tread base from said second position.

13. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and top;

a tread base having a front, a middle, an underside, a left side, a right side, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base having a center of gravity, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said underside oriented upward and outward with said center of gravity positioned between said front and said middle.

14. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and top to define a perimeter;

a tread base having an underside, a left side, a right side, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base being rotatably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned proximate said perimeter and substantially between said left side and said right side of said enclosure structure with said underside oriented upward and outward, said underside including a left rail, a right rail spaced from said left rail and a panel extending between and attached to said left rail and said right rail, said left rail having a left leg attached thereto for supporting said tread base on a support surface with said tread base in said first position, and a right leg attached to said right rail for supporting said tread base in said first position on a support surface, said left rail and said right rail each having an inwardly facing groove sized to slidably and snugly receive said panel therein.

15. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein said tread base has a rear end and wherein said underside has a handle extending between said left rail and said right rail proximate said rear end.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein a cross member extends between said left rail and said right rail proximate said rear end and wherein said handle is secured to said cross member.

17. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side, a bottom and a top assembled to define a perimeter;

a tread base having an underside, a left side, a right side, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base being movably attached to said freestanding housing to be orientable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said freestanding housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned toward said freestanding housing with said underside oriented upward and outward, said underside being positioned proximate said perimeter; and

wherein said enclosure structure is formed to have a toe kick proximate said bottom spaced inwardly from said underside when said tread base is in said second position.

18. A treadmill comprising:

a freestanding housing having

surface engaging means for engaging a support surface, and

enclosure structure extending upwardly from said surface engaging means, said enclosure structure having a left side, a right side and top which define a perimeter;

a tread base having a left side which includes a left rail with an inwardly facing groove, a right side which includes a left rail with an inwardly facing groove, a deck secured to and between said left side and said right side, and a panel extending between and slideably and snugly positioned in said groove of said left rail and in said groove of said right rail, and an endless belt having an upper stretch positioned above said deck to support a user thereon and a lower stretch positioned between said deck and said underside, said tread base being rotatably attached to said freestanding housing to be rotatable between a first position in which said tread base extends away from said housing with said upper stretch of said endless belt positioned to support a user performing exercises thereon and a second position in which said tread base is positioned proximate said perimeter to function effectively as a closed door and substantially within and between said left side and said right side of said enclosure structure with said underside oriented upward and outward.