Combination of treadmill and stair climbing machine

• US 7,819,779 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Steve R
• Application Number:
  US11/425,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 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;

a roller rotatably supported by the frame;

a first pedal and a second pedal, each pedal pivotally connected with the frame and including a belt positioned about the roller;

an interconnection mechanism operably connecting the first pedal and the second pedal such that pivotal movement of the first pedal in a first direction is coordinated with pivotal movement of the second pedal in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a switch member pivotally connected with the frame, the switch member configured to be pivoted to a first position wherein the first and second pedals are locked in a fixed orientation relative to the frame;

a sub-frame connected to a side plate connected with frame;

a handle having a cam head pivotably connected to a pin which extends through the sub-frame and a first hole defined through the plate,

a spring mounted on the pin and biased between the side plate 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 first position.

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

a frame;

a roller rotatably supported by the frame;

a first pedal and a second pedal, each pedal pivotally connected with the frame and including a belt positioned about the roller;

an interconnection mechanism operably connecting the first pedal and the second pedal such that pivotal movement of the first pedal in a first direction is coordinated with pivotal movement of the second pedal in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a switch member pivotally connected with the frame, the switch member configured to be pivoted to a first position wherein the first and second pedals are locked in a fixed orientation relative to the frame; and

wherein each pedal includes a tongue on an underside thereof and the switch 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 first position.

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

a frame;

a roller rotatably supported by the frame;

a first pedal and a second pedal, each pedal pivotally connected with the frame and including a belt positioned about the roller;

an interconnection mechanism operably connecting the first pedal and the second pedal such that pivotal movement of the first pedal in a first direction is coordinated with pivotal movement of the second pedal in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a switch member pivotally connected with the frame, the switch member configured to be pivoted to a first position wherein the first and second pedals are locked in a fixed orientation relative to the frame; and

an L-shaped plate connected to the frame and each pedal having 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.

4. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a first belt;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a second belt;

a roller rotatably supported on said frame, said first belt and said second belt are positioned about said roller;

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame, said lockout mechanism operable to lock said first and second pedals in a fixed orientation relative to said frame, said lockout mechanism including a switch member pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to selectively engage said first and second pedals and a spring connected with said switch member biased to hold said switch member in said horizontal position.

5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein said exercise device functions as a treadmill when said switch member is in a tilted position.

6. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein said exercise device functions as a stair climbing machine when said switch member is in a horizontal position.

7. The exercise device of claim 4, further comprising:

a support structure connected between said frame and said first and second pedals near the roller, said support structure adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame.

8. The exercise device of claim 7, said support structure comprising:

a first member connected with said first pedal;

a second member connected with said second pedal;

a third member connected with said frame; and

wherein said first member and said second member are movingly supported by said third member, said first member is stationary relative to said first pedal, said second member is stationary relative to said second pedal, said third member is stationary relative to said frame.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, said support structure further comprising:

at least one protrusion extending from said third member;

at least one first slot in said first member adapted to receive said at least one protrusion;

at least one second slot in said second member adapted to receive said at least one said protrusion;

wherein said at least one first slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said first pedal pivots relative to said frame; and

wherein said at least one second slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said second pedal pivots relative to said frame.

10. The exercise device of claim 7, said support structure comprising:

a first plate extending from said first pedal;

a second plate extending from said second pedal; and

a third plate extending from said frame adapted to support said first plate and said second plate.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, said first and second plates each having slots adapted to receive protrusions extending from opposing sides of said third plate.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein said slots are arcuate.

13. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a first belt;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a second belt;

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame and having a selectively operable switch member;

wherein when said switch member is placed in a first orientation, said first and second pedals are locked in a fixed position relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a treadmill; and

wherein when said switch member is placed in a second orientation, said first and second pedals are able to pivot relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a stair climbing machine, said lockout mechanism further comprising a spring connected with said switch member and biased to hold said switch member in said second orientation.

14. The exercise device of claim 13, further comprising:

an interconnection mechanism connected with said frame; and

wherein said interconnection mechanism is operably associated with said first pedal and said second pedal to cause said first and second pedals to pivot in opposite directions relative to each other.

15. The exercise device of claim 13, further comprising:

a first hydraulic cylinder connected with said first pedal and said frame; and

a second hydraulic cylinder connected with said second pedal and said frame.

16. The exercise device of claim 13, wherein said switch member is pivotally connected with said frame and is adapted to engage said first and second pedals.

17. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a first belt;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and having a second belt;

a lockout mechanism connected with said frame and having a selectively operable switch member;

wherein when said switch member is placed in a first orientation, said first and second pedals are locked in a fixed position relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a treadmill; and

wherein when said switch member is placed in a second orientation, said first and second pedals are able to pivot relative to said frame such that said exercise device can function as a stair climbing machine, said lockout mechanism further comprising;

a pin adapted to extend through a first hole in said frame and a second hole in said switch member to hold said switch member in said first orientation.

18. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a single rear roller;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt and a front roller, with the belt disposed about and in contact with the front roller and the single rear roller;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt and a front roller, with the belt disposed about and in contact with the front and the single rear roller; and

a support structure configured to support said first pedal and said second pedal while allowing said first pedal and said second pedal to pivot during use of the exercise device;

wherein said support structure is connected between said frame and said first and second pedals, said support structure is adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame, and said support structure comprises;

a first member connected with said first pedal;

a second member connected with said second pedal;

a third member connected with said frame, wherein said first member and said second member are movingly supported by said third member;

at least one protrusion extending from said third member;

at least one first slot in said first member adapted to receive said at least one protrusion; and

at least one second slot in said second member adapted to receive said at least one said protrusion;

wherein said at least one first slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said first pedal pivots relative to said frame; and

wherein said at least one second slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said second pedal pivots relative to said frame.

19. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a single rear roller;

a first pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt and a front roller, with the belt disposed about and in contact with the front roller and the single rear roller;

a second pedal pivotally supported on said frame and including a belt and a front roller, with the belt disposed about and in contact with the front and the single rear roller; and

a support structure configured to support said first pedal and said second pedal while allowing said first pedal and said second pedal to pivot during use of the exercise device;

wherein said support structure is connected between said frame and said first and second pedals, and said support structure is adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame, said support structure comprising;

a first plate extending from said first pedal;

a second plate extending from said second pedal; and

a third plate extending from said frame adapted to support said first plate and said second plate, said first and second plates each having slots adapted to receive protrusions extending from opposing sides of said third plate.

20. The exercise device of claim 19, wherein said slots are arcuate.

21. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotatably supported on said frame;

a first pedal including a first belt positioned about and in frictional contact with said drive roller;

a second pedal including a second belt positioned about and in frictional contact with said drive roller; and

a support structure connected between said frame and said first second pedals near the drive roller, said support structure adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame such that the first pedal and the second pedal pivot while being supported by the support structure during use of the exercise device, wherein said support structure comprises;

a first member connected with said first pedal;

a second member connected with said second pedal;

a third member connected with said frame;

at least one protrusion extending from said third member;

at least one first slot in said first member adapted to receive said at least one protrusion; and

at least one second slot in said second member adapted to receive said at least one said protrusion;

wherein said first member and said second member are movingly supported by said third member;

wherein said at least one first slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said first pedal pivots relative to said frame; and

wherein said at least one second slot reciprocally moves relative to said at least one protrusion when said second pedal pivots relative to said frame.

22. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotatably supported on said frame;

a first pedal including a first belt positioned about and in frictional contact with said drive roller;

a second pedal including a second belt positioned about and in frictional contact with said drive roller; and

a support structure connected between said frame and said first second pedals near the drive roller, said support structure adapted to pivotally support said first pedal and said second pedal on said frame such that the first pedal and the second pedal pivot while being supported by the support structure during use of the exercise device, said support structure comprising;

a first plate extending from said first pedal;

a second plate extending from said second pedal; and

a third plate extending from said frame adapted to support said first plate and said second plate, said first and second plates each including slots adapted to receive protrusions extending from opposing sides of said third plate.

23. The exercise device of claim 22, wherein said slots are arcuate.