Foldable treadmill

• US 7,942,788 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strength Master Fitness Tech. Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Strength Master Fitness Tech. Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Shen-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/458,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 482/54, 482/51
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

A foldable treadmill includes a base and two posts are pivotably connected to the base. A handle is pivotably connected between the two posts and includes at least one pivotal end which is connected the two posts. A positioning unit is located between the two posts and includes a transverse link and at least one passive link which has a first end pivotably and is connected to the transverse link. A lever is connected to the transverse link so as to pivot the transverse link. At least one insertion is connected to a second end of the at least one passive link, the pivotal end of the handle having a restriction port with which the insertion is disengageably inserted to restrict the handle from pivoted about the insertion.

Claims

1. A foldable treadmill comprising:

a base with an endless belt mounted thereon;

two posts pivotably connected to the base;

a handle having at least one pivotal end, the handle pivotably connected to the two posts; and

a positioning unit disposed between the two posts comprising;

at least one passive link having a first end pivotably connected to a transverse link;

a lever pivotally connected to the transverse link;

at least one insertion connected to a second end of the passive link;

a restriction port being defined at the pivotal end of the handle for disengageably mating with the insertion to restrict the handle from pivoting thereabout;

whereby displacing the lever about the connection to the transverse link drives the positioning unit into or out of the restriction port in order to pivot the handle.

2. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes rollers connected to an underside thereof and each roller is connected with a stand frame having a flat end.

3. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one support stand is connected to an end of the base.

4. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support stand is a pivotable stand intersecting the base when folded and orientated upright.

5. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support stand includes an outer tube having an axial slot, an inner portion retractably inserted into the outer tube and a positioning switch located between the outer tube and the inner portion, the inner portion extending out from the outer tube and adapted to contact a floor when the base is folded and orientated upright.

6. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support stand includes a support piece pivoted outward and adapted to contact a floor.

7. A foldable treadmill comprising:

a base with an endless belt mounted thereon;

two posts pivotably connected to the base;

a handle pivotably connected to the two posts and including at least one pivotal end which is connected the two posts; and

a positioning unit disposed between the two posts comprising;

at least one passive link having a first end pivotably connected to a transverse link;

a lever pivotally connected to the transverse link;

at least one insertion connected to a second end of the passive link;

a restriction port being defined at the pivotal end of the handle for disengageably mating with the insertion to restrict the handle from pivoting thereabout; and

a first securing unit located between the base and the two posts and the first securing unit including a first stop portion located on one side of the base, a tubular member extending from the first stop portion and including a positioning hole, one of the two posts having a second stop portion frictionally matched with the first stop portion, a quick release device including a lever having a cam-shaped end and a threaded rod pivotably connected to the cam-shaped end, the threaded rod extending through a frame, the second stop portion and threadedly connected with the inner threads defined in the tubular member.

8. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second securing unit is connected to a side tube on at least one of the two posts and includes a first link having a first end connected with a connection member and a second end of the first link is pivotably connected to a first end of a second link, a second end of the second link is pivotably connected a stop link, the stop link extends through the side tube and is engageably inserted into the positioning hole of the tubular member, the connection member extends through the post and connected between the first link and the at least one passive link.

9. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base includes rollers connected to an underside thereof and each roller is connected with a stand frame having a flat end.

10. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one support stand is connected to an end of the base.

11. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support stand is a pivotable stand intersecting the base when folded and orientated upright.

12. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support stand includes an outer tube having an axial slot, an inner portion retractably inserted into the outer tube and a positioning switch located between the outer tube and the inner portion, the inner portion extending out from the outer tube and adapted to contact a floor when the base is folded and orientated upright.

13. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support stand includes a support piece pivoted outward and adapted to contact a floor.

14. A foldable treadmill comprising:

a base with an endless belt mounted thereon;

two posts pivotably connected to the base;

a handle pivotably connected to the two posts and including at least one pivotal end which is connected the two posts, and

a positioning unit disposed between the two posts comprising;

at least one passive link having a first end pivotably connected to a transverse link;

a lever pivotally connected to the transverse link;

at least one insertion connected to a second end of the passive link;

a restriction port being defined at the pivotal end of the handle for disengageably mating with the insertion to restrict the handle from pivoting thereabout;

a guiding unit connected to the one of two pivotal ends, a connection rod pivotably connected to the guiding unit and a pivotal link unit, the pivotal link unit composed of two elongate plates pivotably connected each to the other, one of the two elongate plates of the pivotal link unit pivotably connected to the connection rod and the post, the other elongate plate pivotably connected to the base, the two elongate plates of the pivotal link unit being extended to be substantially straight to support the posts relative to the base when using the treadmill;

whereby when folding the treadmill, the handle is pivoted upward, the guiding unit pivots to lower the connection rod which pivots the link unit about a pivot point at the base and the posts being pivoted toward the base.

15. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 14, wherein the base includes rollers connected to an underside thereof and each roller being connected with a stand frame having a flat end.

16. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one support stand is connected to an end of the base.

17. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support stand is a pivotable stand intersecting the base when the base is folded and orientated upright.

18. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support stand includes an outer tube having an axial slot, an inner portion retractably inserted into the outer tube and a positioning switch located between the outer tube and the inner portion, the inner portion extends out from the outer tube and adapted to contact a floor when the base is folded and orientated upright.

19. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support stand includes a support piece pivoted outward and adapted to contact a floor.

20. The foldable treadmill as claimed in claim 14, wherein a first securing unit is located between the base and the two posts.