Lifting mechanism for an exercise apparatus

• US 6,964,632 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen-Hui Ko
• Original Assignee: Chen-Hui Ko
• Inventors: Ko, Chen-Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/883,660
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 54, 482/140, 482/142, 482/148, 482/908, 601/23, 601/24, 601 34- 36
• 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 2210/56 electrically folded and erected

Abstract

A lifting mechanism for an exercise apparatus having a reduction gearset and a driving gear meshing with the reduction gearset within a housing wherein the driving gear includes an axial threaded hole and an axial bearing. A spindle passes through the housing and the axial bearing and engages the axial threaded hole of the driving gear. Meanwhile, a socket corresponding to the spindle is installed on the external side of the housing. The housing is made of lightweight material. Moreover, a first and a second piece for supporting the spindle are made of high strength material and fastened on both external sides of the housing by metal screws, thereby forming a supporting frame with high strength and light weight.

Claims

1. A mechanism for adjusting the inclination of an exercise apparatus comprising:

an exercise apparatus;

a) a housing made of lightweight material and fabricated by an injection molding process, the housing having a raised portion with an axial hole at a front side thereof;

b) a reduction gearset installed within the housing, the reduction gearset being driven by a motor at a rear side of the housing;

c) a driving gear installed within the housing, the driving gear meshing with the reduction gearset, the driving gear having an axial threaded hole corresponding to the axial hole of the raised portion of the housing;

d) a first supporting piece made of material with high strength for covering the raised portion of the housing, the first supporting piece having a raised middle portion and several downwardly extending claws, the middle portion having a through hole corresponding to the axial hole of the raised portion;

e) a second supporting piece made of material with high strength and installed at the rear side of the housing, the second supporting piece having an annular portion extending toward the inside of the housing for fixing the driving gear in place;

f) a spindle passing through the first supporting piece, the housing, the driving gear and the second supporting piece, the spindle meshing with the axial threaded hole of the driving gear, the spindle having a head at a front end thereof; and

g) a socket mounted at a rear side of the second supporting piece to allow the telescopic action of the spindle within the socket, the socket having a mounting hole at the rear end thereof wherein the inclination mechanism is attached to the exercise apparatus via the head of the spindle at one end of the mechanism and the mounting hole of the socket at the other end of the mechanism.

2. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein an axial bearing is mounted on the driving gear.

3. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein the spindle includes a stop piece at a rear end thereof.