Portable reorienting treadmill

• US 5,676,624 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T., Hammer, Rodney L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Lynne A.
• Application Number:
  US08/594,271
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 482/54
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

The treadmill has a tread base that is rotatably attached to and between a left upright and a right upright. The tread base is rotatable between a first position for performing exercises and an upright or storage position. A latching structure is provided to latch the tread base to the support structure. The treadmill also includes inclination structure for inclining the tread relative to the support surface when in the first position. The treadmill also includes rigid handles and in one configuration movable handles. The tread base also has a rigid undersurface or pan to fully enclose the underside of the tread base. A lift assist gas cylinder is also interconnected between the tread base and the feet attached to the uprights.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

support structure having feet means for stably positioning on a support surface to be free standing and having upright structure extending upwardly from said feet means;

a tread base having a frame that includes a front, a rear, a left side, a right side and an endless belt positioned between said left side and said right side, said frame being connected to said support structure to be moveable about an axis of rotation spaced from said front toward said rear between a first position in which said endless belt is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon and a second position in which said rear of said frame is positioned toward said support structure;

handle means associated with said support structure positioned for grasping by a user for moving said support structure with said tread base in said second position between a use position in which said support structure has said feet means positioned on said support surface for stably positioning said support structure on a support surface and a moving position in which said support structure is rotatably displaced from said use position;

roller means adapted to said feet means for engagement with said support surface when said support structure is reoriented to said moving position for movement of said support structure by the user on said support surface; and

means for stably retaining said tread base in said second position relative to said upright structure with said tread base in said second position.

2. The treadmill of claim 1 wherein said feet means includes a left foot positioned proximate said left side and a right foot positioned proximate said right side, wherein said left foot and said right foot each have a forward end spaced outwardly from said upright member, and wherein said roller means includes a wheel rotatably attached to said forward end of said left foot and a wheel rotatably attached to said forward end of said right foot.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said upright structure includes a left upright member and a right upright member, said right upright member being spaced from and in general alignment with said left upright member.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein said handle means includes a left handle mechanically associated with said left upright member and a right handle mechanically associated with said right upright member.

5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein said treadmill has a center of gravity and wherein said left handle and said right handle are each positioned at a height spaced upwardly above the center of gravity of said treadmill.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein said height is selected to provide leverage for the user reorienting said treadmill for moving it about a support surface with said support structure in said moving position.

7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein said support structure includes a cross member extending to and between said left foot and said right foot proximate the respective forward ends thereof.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein said tread base has a front portion extending from about a position midway between said front and said rear to said front, and wherein said front portion of said tread base is rotatably attached to said support structure.

9. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein said tread base is releasably attached to said support structure proximate said front portion.

10. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said left side of said tread base is rotatably attached to said left upright member and said right side of said tread base is rotatably attached to said right upright member.

11. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said feet means is formed to have a footprint configured to stably support said treadmill with said tread base in said second position.

12. The treadmill of claim 1 wherein said means for stably retaining said tread base in said second position includes providing said tread base with a mass configured to position the associated center of gravity of said tread base to stably retain said tread base in said second position when said tread base is moved to said second position.

13. A treadmill comprising:

support structure having feet means for stably positioning on a support surface to be free standing and having upright structure extending upwardly from said feet means;

a tread base having a frame that includes a front, a rear, a left side, a right side and an endless belt positioned between said left side and said right side, said frame being connected to said support structure to be movable between a first position in which said endless belt is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon and a second position in which said rear of said frame is positioned toward said support structure;

handle means associated with said support structure positioned for grasping by a user for moving said support structure with said tread base in said second position between a use position in which said support structure has said feet means positioned on said support surface for stably positioning said support structure on a support surface and a moving position in which said support structure is rotatably displaced from said use position;

roller means adapted to said feet means for engagement with said support surface when said support structure is reoriented to said moving position for movement of said support structure by the user on said support surface;

means for stably retaining said tread base in said second position relative to said upright structure with said tread base in said second position; and

wherein said treadmill is configured to have a center of gravity positioned relative to said roller means and said handle means to facilitate rotation of said treadmill about said wheel means upon application of a rotational force by the user to said handle means.