Combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine

• US 7,097,593 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 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 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• 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 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck

Abstract

A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine includes a single roller supported on a shaft between two lugs on two sides of the frame of the combination and two rear ends of two pedals are respectively connected to the roller and supported on the two lugs. Two front ends of the two pedals are respectively connected to two hydraulic cylinders. A switch member is pivotably connected to a front end of the frame and can be set in a horizontal position when the combination is used as stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the combination is used as treadmill. An L-shaped plate is connected to the frame and each pedal has a connection plate which has two elongate holes in which two protrusions on each side of the L-shaped plate are movably engaged, such that the pedals are pivotably supported on the L-shaped plate when used as stair climbing machine.

Claims

1. A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine, comprising:

a frame with two posts extending from two sides of a front end of the frame and a handle connected between the two posts, two lugs connected on the two sides of a rear end of the frame and a roller connected between the two lugs, a wheel connected to the roller and driven by a motor;

two pedals each having a connection plate on a side thereof and the two connection plates connected to the lugs, two hydraulic cylinders respectively connected between the two posts and the two pedals, each pedal including a running belt which reeves through the roller and a front end of each pedal;

a switch member pivotably connected to a U-shaped frame connected to the front end of the frame and the switch member being positioned at a horizontal position when the two pedals are used as a stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the two pedals are used as a treadmill, a first spring connected between an underside of the switch member and the frame;

a swing mechanism pivotably connected to the frame and the two pedals; and

wherein a sub-frame is connected to a side of one of two side plates of the U-shaped frame and a handle having a cam head which is pivotably connected to a pin which extends through the sub-frame and a first hole defined through the side plate, a second spring mounted to the pin and biased between the side plate of the U-shaped frame and the sub-frame, the switch member having an extension which has a second hole defined therethrough, the pin being inserted in the second hole when the switch member is set in the inclined position.

2. A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine, comprising:

a frame with two posts extending from two sides of a front end of the frame and a handle connected between the two posts, two lugs connected on the two sides of a rear end of the frame and a roller connected between the two lugs, a wheel connected to the roller and driven by a motor;

two pedals each having a connection plate on a side thereof and the two connection plates connected to the lugs, two hydraulic cylinders respectively connected between the two posts and the two pedals, each pedal including a running belt which reeves through the roller and a front end of each pedal;

a switch member pivotably connected to a U-shaped frame connected to the front end of the frame and the switch member being positioned at a horizontal position when the two pedals are used as a stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the two pedals are used as a treadmill, a first spring connected between an underside of the switch member and the frame;

a swing mechanism pivotably connected to the frame and the two pedals; and

wherein each pedal includes a tongue on an underside thereof and the support member includes a block on a top thereof, each tongue including an inclined side which is rested on a top of the block when the switch member is set in the inclined position.

3. A combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine, comprising:

a frame with two posts extending from two sides of a front end of the frame and a handle connected between the two posts, two lugs connected on the two sides of a rear end of the frame and a roller connected between the two lugs, a wheel connected to the roller and driven by a motor;

two pedals each having a connection plate on a side thereof and the two connection plates connected to the lugs, two hydraulic cylinders respectively connected between the two posts and the two pedals, each pedal including a running belt which reeves through the roller and a front end of each pedal;

a switch member pivotably connected to a U-shaped frame connected to the front end of the frame and the switch member being positioned at a horizontal position when the two pedals are used as a stair climbing machine, and an inclined position when the two pedals are used as a treadmill, a first spring connected between an underside of the switch member and the frame;

a swing mechanism pivotably connected to the frame and the two pedals; and

an L-shaped plate connected to the frame and each pedal has a connection plate which has two elongate holes, the L-shaped plate having two protrusions on each of two sides thereof, the two protrusions movably engaged with the two elongate holes of each connection plate.