Treadmill

• US 7,854,690 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Trevino, Richard W., Smith, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/481,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 119/700
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/56 electrically folded and erected

Abstract

An articulating treadmill is disclosed that includes a support frame, a motor frame, and a base frame. The motor frame is pivotally attached to the support frame along a first pivot line, and the base frame is pivotally attached to motor frame along a second pivot line spaced from the first pivot line. The base frame pivots about the second pivot line from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration, and vice versa. The treadmill includes an elevation motor having an extension arm. The elevation motor is attached between the motor frame and a base of the support frame. As the extension arm of the elevation motor extends or retracts, the incline of the treadmill support bed increases or decreases, respectively. The treadmill also includes an adjustable roller system.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

a support frame including a base;

a base frame supported by the support frame and configured to pivot relative to the support frame about a first pivot line at a front end of the base frame;

a front roller and a rear roller rotatably supported by the base frame;

an endless belt disposed about the front and rear rollers, the front roller including an axle that defines an axis about which the front roller is rotatable;

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame without changing the first pivot line;

the base frame pivots relative to the support frame about the first pivot line to move the base frame between a use position and a storage position; and

the base frame pivots relative to the support frame about the first pivot line to change an operational incline of the base frame.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein an end of the axle of the front roller includes a threaded recess, the treadmill further comprising a threaded fastener configured to engage the threaded recess and to adjust the position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame.

3. The treadmill of claim 1, further comprising a first bushing coupled to the base frame along the first pivot line, the first bushing configured to provide a pivot structure for the base frame.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the first bushing is fixedly coupled to the base frame to pivot therewith.

5. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:

a threaded recess in an end of the axle of the front roller; and

a threaded fastener configured to engage the threaded recess and the first bushing, and to adjust the position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the first bushing is fixedly coupled to the base frame to pivot therewith.

7. A treadmill comprising:

a support frame including a base;

a base frame supported by the support frame and configured to pivot relative to the support frame about a first pivot line at a front end of the base frame;

a front roller and a rear roller rotatably supported by the base frame;

an endless belt disposed about the front and rear rollers, the front roller including an axle that defines an axis about which the front roller is rotatable;

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame without changing the first pivot line;

a first bushing coupled to the base frame along the first pivot line, the first bushing configured to provide a pivot structure for the base frame;

the first bushing includes an opening at one end configured to receive a first end of the axle of the front roller;

the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded recess in the axle of the front roller and a threaded fastener configured to engage the threaded recess; and

rotation of the threaded fastener adjusts the position of the axle of the front roller within the opening of the first bushing.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the opening of the first bushing is a U-shaped opening that opens in a first direction toward the rear roller and the threaded fastener retains the first end of the axle of the front roller at least partially within the U-shaped opening.

9. The treadmill of claim 8, further comprising a second bushing, the second bushing including an opening at one end configured to receive a second end of the axle of the front roller, the opening of the second bushing being a U-shaped opening that opens in a second direction away from the rear roller and tension of the endless belt urges the second end of the axle of the front roller into the U-shaped opening.

10. A treadmill comprising:

a support frame including a base;

a base frame supported by the support frame and configured to pivot relative to the support frame about a first pivot line at a front end of the base frame;

a front roller and a rear roller rotatably supported by the base frame;

an endless belt disposed about the front and rear rollers, the front roller including an axle that defines an axis about which the front roller is rotatable; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame without changing the first pivot line;

a first bushing coupled to the base frame along the first pivot line, the first bushing configured to provide a pivot structure for the base frame;

a first structure of the base frame includes a first aperture;

a second structure of the support frame includes a second aperture; and

opposite ends of the first bushing extend into the first and second apertures.

11. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein the first bushing includes a flange between the opposite ends, the flange separating the first and second structures.

12. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein the first bushing is fixedly coupled to one of the first and second structures and is rotatably coupled with the other one of the first and second structures.

13. The treadmill of claim 10, further comprising a coil spring configured to assist pivoting of the base frame relative to the support frame and into a storage position, a first end of the coil spring coupled to the first structure and a second end of the coil spring coupled to the second structure.

14. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein:

the first structure comprises a first bracket coupled to the base frame; and

the second structure comprises a second bracket coupled to the support frame.

15. A method of configuring a treadmill including a support frame having a base, a base frame supported by the support frame and configured to pivot relative to the support frame about a first pivot line at a front end of the base frame, a front roller and a rear roller rotatably supported by the base frame, and an endless belt disposed about the front and rear rollers, the front roller including an axle that defines an axis about which the front roller is rotatable, the method comprising:

adjusting a position of the axle of the front roller relative to the base frame without changing the first pivot line about which the base frame pivots;

pivoting the base frame about the first pivot line relative to the support frame to change an operational incline of the base frame; and

pivoting the base frame about the first pivot line relative to the support frame to move the base frame between a storage position and a use position.