Fold-out treadmill

• US 7,192,388 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Hammer, Rodney, Hendrickson, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman; Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/083,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 119/700
• US Class Current: 482/54
• 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

A fold-out treadmill includes a deck having a rear portion mounted on a base so as to be selectively rotatable between an operational position in which the deck is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon and a storage position in which the deck is positioned proximate to the handrail. The fold-out treadmill includes a fold-out assembly configured to allow the handrail to rotate into a storage configuration when the deck is rotated from the operational position into the storage position which comprises a leg and an elongated support. The fold-out treadmill includes a mechanism that is configured to vary the inclination of the deck relative to a support surface while the deck is in the operational position and to automatically move the deck between the operational position to the storage position.

Claims

1. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a deck having a rear portion, an opposing front portion, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said deck being movably mounted on said base;

(c) a handrail movably attached to said deck;

(d) said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position in which said deck is positioned proximate ate to said handrail; and

(e) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck relative to a support surface, and to move said deck between said operational position and said storage position, wherein said mechanism comprises;

(i) a motor movably attached to said base;

(ii) a foot rotatably mounted below said deck; and

(iii) an elongated member having a first end attached to said motor and a second end movably connected to said foot.

2. A fold-out treadmill as recited in claim 1, wherein said handrail does not extend beyond said rear end of said base.

3. A fold-out treadmill as recited in claim 1, wherein said mechanism is moveably attached to said deck.

4. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a dock having a rear portion, an opposing front position and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear portion of said deck being movably mounted on said base;

(c) a handrail movably attached to said deck;

(d) said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position in which said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail; and

(e) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck relative to a support surface, and to move said deck between said operational position and said storage position, wherein said mechanism comprises;

(i) a motor movably attached to said base;

(ii) a foot rotatably mounted below said deck; and

(iii) an elongated member having a first end attached to said motor and a second end movably connected to said foot.

5. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a deck having a rear portion, an opposing front portion, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said deck being movably mounted on said base;

said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position; and

(c) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck from a first operational position to a second operational position in relation to a support surface, and to move said deck between said second operational position and said storage position, wherein said mechanism comprises;

(i) a motor movably attached to said base;

(ii) a foot rotatably attached to said deck; and

(iii) an elongated member having a first end operably connected to said motor and a second end movably connected to said foot.

6. A fold-out treadmill as recited in claim 5, wherein said mechanism comprises a motor operably coupled to an extension, wherein said motor and said extension are cooperatively configured to incline said deck, decline said deck, move said deck to an operational position, and to move said deck to a storage position.

7. A fold-out treadmill as recited in claim 5, wherein said mechanism is configured to vary the inclination of said deck relative to a support surface by exciting a force toward said front portion of said deck, and to move said deck between said operational position and said storage position by exerting a continued force toward said front portion of said deck.

8. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a deck having a rear portion, an opposing front portion, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear portion of said deck being movably mounted on said base;

said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user position thereon, and a storage position; and

(c) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck from a first operational position to a second operational position in relation to a support surface, and to move said deck between said second operational position and said storage position, wherein said mechanism comprises;

(i) a motor movably attached to said base;

(ii) a foot rotatably attached to said deck; and

(iii) an elongated member having a first end operably connected to said motor and a second end movably connected to said foot.

9. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion said deck being rotatably attached to said base said and configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position;

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck; and

to move that said deck from said operational position to said storage position; and

(c) a fold-out assembly including a handrail having a first end and a second end, wherein said handrail rotates as said deck is selectively rotated from said storage position into said operational position.

10. A fold-out treadmill as recited in claim 9, wherein said base is capable of stably supporting the treadmill when said deck:

is in either said operational position or said storage position and when said deck is being repositioned therebetween.

11. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, said deck configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position;

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operational position to said storage position; and

(c) a fold-out assembly including a handrail having a first end and a second end, wherein said handrail rotates as said deck is selectively rotated from said storage position into said operational position.

12. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, said deck configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position;

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, whe moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operational position to said storage position; and

(c) a fold-out assembly including;

(i) a handrail having a first end and a second end, wherein said handrail rotates as said deck is selectively rotated from said storage position into said operational position;

(ii) a leg having a proximal end attached to said second end of said handrail and a distal end rotatably attached to said base; and

(iii) an elongated support moveably attached to said deck, said leg and said elongated support being configured to allow said handrail to automatically rotate into a compact storage configuration when said deck is rotated from said operational position into said storage position.

13. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless bolt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, said deck configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position; and

(b) motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operational position to said storage position, wherein said extension is rotatably coupled to one or more feet.

14. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, said deck configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position; and

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operational position to said storage position, wherein said extension is rotatably coupled to one or more feet, wherein said motor declines said deck by moving said extension toward said rear portion of said deck.

15. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) support structure comprising;

(i) base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, said deck configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position;

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operational position to said storage position; and

(c) a fold-out assembly movably connecting a second end of a handrail to said support structure, wherein a first end of said handrail projects above said front end of said deck when said deck is in said operational position and said fold-out assembly automatically collapses into a compact storage configuration when said deck is rotated into said storage position.

16. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) base;

(b) a deck having a rear portion, an opposing front portion, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon said rear portion of said deck being movably mounted on said base;

(c) a handrail movably attached to said deck;

(d) said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position in which said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail, wherein said handrail is configured to fold into a storage configuration when said deck is moved from said operational position to said storage position, and to unfold when said deck is moved from said storage position to said operational position, such that said handrail extends above said front portion of said deck when said deck is in said operational position; and

(e) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck relative to a support surface, and to move said deck between said operational position and said storage position.

17. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) abase;

(b) a deck having a rear portion, an opposing front portion, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear portion of said deck being movably mounted on said base;

said deck configured to be selectively rotated between art operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position;

(c) a mechanism configured to vary the inclination of said deck from a first operational position to a second operational position in relation to a support surface, and to move said deck between said second operational position and said storage position; and

(d) a handrail configured to fold into a storage configuration when said deck is moved from said operational position to said storage position and to unfold when said deck is moved from said storage position to said operational position, such that said handrail extends above said front end of said deck when said deck is in said operational position.

18. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

a base;

a deck having a front portion, a rear portion rotatably attached to said base, and a rotating belt;

a handrail rotatably coupled to said base and to said deck; and

a motor configured to automatically incline or decline said deck in an operational position and to automatically move said deck from said operational position to a storage position by moving an extension relative to said motor.

19. A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising;

(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;

(ii) a deck having a front portion, an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, and a rear portion, said deck being rotatably attached to said base and configured to selectively rotate between an operational position and a storage position;

(b) a motor operably coupled to an extension and to said deck, wherein said motor moves said extension with respect to said motor to change the incline of said deck and to move said deck from said operation position to said storage position, wherein said extension is rotatably coupled to one or more feet.