Treadmill

• US 7,357,758 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darrin Swagel, Kenneth V. Schomburg, Kevin Stevens, Louis F. Polk III, Paul M. Theisen, Randy Williams
• Original Assignee: Darrin Swagel, Kenneth V. Schomburg, Kevin Stevens, Louis F. Polk III, Paul M. Theisen, Randy Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Randy, Theisen, Paul M., Stevens, Kevin, Swagel, Darrin, Polk, Louis F. III, Schomburg, Kenneth V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/215,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 601/5, 601/23, 601/24, 601/26
• 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 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

A treadmill is provided that has a treadmill drive motor carriage that can pivot relative to a frame of the treadmill such that the incline of the treadmill can be controlled while the carriage can be moved to a position that permits upright storage of the treadmill on the carriage. This arrangement advantageously permits a walk through treadmill design to be used that can be stored uprightly. The treadmill can be equipped with a console and stanchion that can be folded against the deck of the treadmill. One incline arrangement pivots the carriage using an incline drive carried by the carriage that engages a gear grounded to the treadmill frame. Another preferred incline arrangement uses a four bar linkage movable carried by the frame that is driven by a linear actuator to pivot the carriage.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a movable treadmill belt carried by a deck that is supported by the frame;

(c) a swing cage pivotally attached to the frame that extends outwardly from the frame and that is extendable forwardly of the frame, spacing the frame and treadmill belt above a floor during treadmill operation, wherein the swing cage is configured to be pivotally movable relative to the deck and a user support surface of the treadmill belt to change a tilt of the deck relative to the floor between one position where the swing cage forms an obtuse angle with the frame and another position where the swing cage forms an acute angle with the frame enabling the frame to be stood uprightly on the swing cage;

(d) a treadmill belt drive carried by the swing cage enabling movement of the treadmill belt with the treadmill belt drive spaced from the treadmill belt providing a walk-through treadmill arrangement wherein a top surface of the treadmill belt is unobstructed along a longitudinal direction from a front of the treadmill belt to a rear of the treadmill belt; and

(e) a swing cage drive in operable cooperation with the swing cage enabling pivotable movement of the swing cage.

2. The treadmill of claim 1 wherein the swing cage includes a plurality of spaced apart arms that space one end of the deck off the floor with the swing cage being pivotable toward one of the frame and the deck in increasing or decreasing the tilt of the deck and wherein the swing cage drive is mounted to one of the frame and the swing cage.

3. The treadmill of claim 1 wherein the treadmill belt is of flexible endless construction, the swing cage includes a plurality of spaced apart arms that space one end of the deck off the floor with one end of each one of the arms pivotally attached to the frame and the other end of each one of the arms comprising a foot or wheel that rests on the floor, the swing cage includes a cross brace extending between the arms, the treadmill belt is movably supported at its front by a front roller carried by the frame and at its rear by a rear roller carried by the frame, and the treadmill belt drive comprises an electric motor mounted to the swing cage that is coupled by a belt to the front roller.

4. The treadmill of claim 3 wherein the swing cage drive comprises a second electric motor that is configured to drive a worm gear.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said treadmill belt drive comprises a belt drive motor carried by the swing cage and wherein the swing cage is pivotable between an angle of no greater than about 180°

to about 90°

relative to the frame and the deck.

6. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a frame comprised of a pair of elongate, spaced apart, generally parallel, and lengthwise extending frame rails each having a front end and a rear end;

(b) a pair of rear end caps that each have an integral frame rail receiving recess, an integral footrest, and an integral roller hub, wherein one of the rear end caps is fixed to one of the frame rails at or adjacent the rear end of the one of the frame rails and wherein the other one of the rear end caps is fixed to the other one of the frame rails at or adjacent the rear end of the other one of the frame rails;

(c) a pair of front end caps that each have an integral roller hub and an integral stanchion mounting recess wherein one of the front end caps is fixed to one of the frame rails at or adjacent the front end of the one of the frame rails and wherein the other one of the front end caps is fixed to the other one of the frame rails at or adjacent the front end of the other one of the frame rails;

(d) a pair of generally parallel treadmill-belt supporting rollers disposed between the frame rails with (1) one of the treadmill-belt supporting rollers disposed at or adjacent the rear end of the frame rails having one roller end rotatively supported by a bearing carried by the roller hub of one of the rear end caps and having the other roller end rotatively supported by a bearing carried by the roller hub of the other one of the rear end caps and (2) the other one of the treadmill-belt supporting rollers disposed at or adjacent the front end of the frame rails having one roller end rotatively supported by a bearing carried by the roller hub of one of the front end caps and having the other roller end rotatively supported by a bearing carried by the roller hub of the other one of the front end caps;

(e) a movable belt supported by a deck disposed between the frame rails and carried by the treadmill-belt supporting rollers;

(f) a swing cage pivotally attached to the frame and having a front end disposed forwardly of the deck with said swing cage pivotally movable relative to both the deck and the frame enabling changing of an angle of inclination between a user support surface of the treadmill belt and a floor upon which the treadmill rests, wherein the swing cage comprises a plurality of spaced apart arms each of which has one end pivotally coupled to one of the frame rails and the other end comprising a foot resting on the floor;

(g) a treadmill belt drive operably coupled to the treadmill belt moving the treadmill belt when energized with the treadmill belt drive carried by the swing cage;

(h) a pair of uprightly disposable stanchions with one of the stanchions having an end connected to one of the front end caps and the other one of the stanchions having an end connected to the other one of the front end caps; and

(i) wherein the treadmill is of walk-through construction with the user support surface of the treadmill belt being unobstructed along the lengthwise direction of the treadmill from a front of the treadmill belt to a rear of the treadmill belt.

7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein the treadmill belt drive comprises an electric motor carried by the swing cage and disposed between the swing cage arms that drives the belt and wherein the swing cage arms are each pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the front end caps such that the user support surface of the treadmill belt is selectively inclinable by pivoting the swing cage to change the angle of the user support surface of the treadmill relative to the floor.

8. A method of operating a treadmill comprising:

(a) providing a treadmill including;

(1) a frame,

(2) a deck carried by the frame and which supports an endless flexible treadmill belt,

(3) a swing cage pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the swing cage is configured to pivotally move to change a tilt of the belt relative to a floor with said swing cage movable relative to both the deck and the floor and carrying a treadmill belt drive spaced from the treadmill belt in a manner that provides a walk-through treadmill arrangement such that the treadmill belt is unobstructed in a longitudinal direction from a front of the treadmill belt adjacent a front of the treadmill to a rear of the treadmill belt adjacent a rear of the treadmill,

(4) a tilt drive that cooperates with the swing cage to pivot the swing cage when operated, and

(5) wherein the treadmill belt drive comprises an electric motor that has a rotary output shaft that drives the treadmill belt relative to the frame during electric motor operation;

(b) operating the tilt drive to pivot the swing cage to change the tilt of the treadmill belt relative to the floor; and

(c) operating the treadmill belt drive motor to move the treadmill belt relative to the frame; and

wherein during step (b) the tilt drive is operated to pivot the swing cage the swing cage is disposed at an angle relative to the frame and the deck such that the treadmill can be stood uprigthly on the swing cage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tilt drive comprises a tilt motor and wherein the swing cage further comprises:

(A) a drive shaft connected to the tilt motor,

(B) a worm gear that is connected to the drive shaft of the tilt motor, and

(C) a helical gear that engages the worm gear and that is connected to a main drive shaft; and

wherein operating the tilt motor comprises at least one of;

rotating the worm gear in a first direction such that engagement between the helical gear and the worm gear causes the swing cage to pivot toward the frame and the deck changing the tilt of the frame and deck relative to the floor; and

rotating the worm gear in a second direction such that engagement between the helical gear and the worm gear causes the swing cage to pivot away the frame and the deck changing the tilt of the frame and deck relative to the floor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein during step (b) the tilt drive is operated to pivot the swing cage until the swing cage is disposed at an angle of about 90°

relative to the frame and the deck such that the treadmill can be stood uprightly on the swing cage with the treadmill frame extending upwardly away from the floor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tilt drive comprises an electric motor in operable cooperation with the swing cage and the frame with operation of the electric tilt drive motor in step (b) causing the tilt of the treadmill belt relative to the floor to be selectively changed by changing an angle of the swing cage relative to the treadmill frame.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein operating the tilt motor in step (b) includes the steps of:

rotating a worm gear such that engagement between a helical gear and the worm gear causes the swing cage to pivot relative to the frame and the deck until the swing cage is disposed at an angle of less than about 90°

relative to the deck and within about 10°

thereof locating the swing cage in a treadmill storage position enabling the deck and frame to be supported generally uprightly thereon; and

with the swing cage disposed in a treadmill storage position, manually grasping and lifting the end of the frame opposite the swing cage and moving the treadmill from a first location on the floor to a second location on the floor with the swing cage in contact with the floor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the frame of the treadmill is lifted until the treadmill uprightly self-supports itself on the swing cage.

14. A method of operating a treadmill comprising:

(a) providing a treadmill including

(1) a frame,

(2) a deck carried by the frame that supports a treadmill belt that is movable relative to the deck,

(3) a swing cage pivotally attached to the frame and the deck and extending forwardly of the deck such that the swing cage forms an obtuse angle with the deck when the swing cage is in a treadmill operating position with the swing cage pivotally movable relative to both the deck and a floor and carrying a treadmill belt drive spaced from the belt producing a walk-through treadmill arrangement, wherein the swing cage is configured to pivotally move to change a tilt of the frame and the deck relative to the floor,

(4) wherein the treadmill belt drive comprises an electric motor carried by the swing cage that has a rotary output drive shaft that is rotated during treadmill operation to drive the treadmill belt to move the treadmill belt relative to the deck, and

(5) a tilt motor that is configured to pivot the swing cage relative to the deck; and

(b) adjusting an angle of inclination of the deck relative to the floor upon which the treadmill rests by operating the tilt motor until the swing cage pivots from a treadmill operating position to a treadmill storage position where the swing cage forms an acute angle with the deck; and

thereafter

(c) standing the treadmill uprightly on the swing cage such that the frame of the treadmill extends generally vertically.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tilt motor is carried by the frame and is configured to cooperate with the swing cage to controllably pivot the swing cage relative to the deck to vary the inclination of the deck and the frame relative to the floor while the deck is in an operational position and wherein the tilt motor is operated in step (b) to pivot the swing cage so it forms an acute angle with the deck that is within about ten degrees of perpendicular relative thereto.

16. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a frame comprising a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel and elongate fore-aft extending frame rails;

(b) a pair of spaced apart rollers disposed transversely between the frame rails;

(c) a movable treadmill belt carried by the rollers;

(d) a swing cage pivotally coupled to the frame rails with the swing cage extending forwardly and outwardly from the frame rails spacing the frame rails and belt adjacent the front of the frame above a floor upon which the treadmill rests wherein pivotable movement of the swing cage relative to the frame rails changes an angle of inclination of a top surface of the treadmill belt relative the floor;

(e) a treadmill belt drive carried by the swing cage that is in operable communication with the treadmill belt for moving the belt during operation;

(f) a plurality of frame rail end caps that each are mounted to one end of one of the frame rails with each frame rail end cap comprising a recess for receiving one end of the one of the frame rails therein, an integral footrest, and an integral roller hub; and

wherein each one the frame rail end caps is mounted to a rear end of one of the frame rails, and further comprising a deck that supports the treadmill belt and a brace that underlies the deck adjacent the rear of the treadmill, which extends from one of the frame rail end caps that is mounted to the rear end of the frame rails to the other one of the frame rail end caps that is mounted to the rear end of the other one of the frame rails, and which functions as a handle that can be grasped to either lift the rear of the treadmill or to move the treadmill.

17. The treadmill of claim 16, wherein the integral roller hub of each frame rail end cap is constructed and arranged to receive and rotatively support one end of one of the rollers.

18. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a frame comprising a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel and elongate, fore-aft extending frame rails;

(b) a pair of spaced apart rollers disposed transversely between the frame rails;

(c) a movable endless flexible treadmill belt carried by the rollers;

(d) a generally planar deck disposed between the frame rails and between the rollers that supports the treadmill belt;

(e) a swing cage pivotally carried by the frame rails with the swing cage extending forwardly and outwardly from the frame rails spacing the frame rails and belt adjacent the front of the frame above a floor upon which the treadmill rests wherein pivotable movement of the swing cage relative to the frame rails changes an angle of inclination of a top surface of the treadmill belt relative the floor;

(f) an electric treadmill belt drive motor carried by the swing cage that is in operable communication with the treadmill belt for moving the belt during operation;

(g) a pair of spaced apart and upstanding stanchions; and

(h) a plurality of frame rail end caps that each are mounted to a front end of each one of the frame rails with each frame rail end cap comprising a roller hub that rotatively supports one end of a corresponding one of the rollers and a pocket for receiving one end of a corresponding one of the stanchions therein.

19. The treadmill of claim 18, further comprising a bearing that is mounted to the roller hub of each one of the frame rail end caps wherein one end of one of the rollers is rotatively supported by the bearing mounted to the roller hub of one of the frame rail end caps and the other end of the one of the rollers is rotatively supported by the bearing mounted to the roller hub of the other one of the frame rail end caps.

20. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein each one of the stanchions is pivotally mounted to one of the frame rail end caps.

21. A treadmill comprising:

(a) a frame comprising a plurality of spaced apart and longitudinally extending frame rails;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart rollers disposed transversely between the frame rails;

(c) an endless flexible belt;

carried by the rollers, having a front region and a back region;

(d) a swing cage that carries an electric treadmill belt drive motor and that comprises a cage housing the electric treadmill belt drive motor that includes a plurality of spaced apart and longitudinally extending arms that are each pivotally operatively connected at one end or adjacent to a different one of the frame rails and which each extends forwardly beyond the front region of the treadmill belt and which operatively communicate at the other end with a floor on which the treadmill rests, at least one transversely extending cross brace that extends between the plurality of arms adjacent the other end of the arms, and a housing mounted to the swing cage having at least a portion that overlies the electric treadmill belt drive motor and that is configured not to obstruct any portion of the treadmill belt at or adjacent the front of the treadmill belt providing a walk-through arrangement;

(e) a pair of spaced apart and upstanding stanchions; and

(f) a plurality of the frame rail end caps that each are mounted to a front end of one of the frame rails with each frame rails end cap comprising (1) a roller hub that carrier a bearing in which one end of one of the rollers is rotatively received, (2) a pocket for receiving one end of one of the stanchions therein, and (3) a mounting surface to which one end of one of the arms of the swing cage is pivotally mounted; and

wherein the electric treadmill belt drive motor has a transversely oriented rotary output shaft with the electric treadmill belt drive motor transversely disposed between the swing cage arms and wherein rotation of the electric treadmill drive rotary output shaft moves the treadmill belt over the rollers during treadmill operation.

22. The treadmill of claim 21, wherein the electric treadmill belt drive motor rotary output shaft is coupled by a belt to one of the rollers such that rotation of the electric treadmill belt drive motor rotary output shaft rotates the one of the rollers moving the treadmill belt.

23. The treadmill of claim 21, further comprising a wheel attached to a free end of each arm of the swing cage.

24. The treadmill of claim 21, wherein the swing cage also serves as a base for the frame to rest upon when the treadmill is folded for storage with its deck in an upright position.

25. The treadmill of claim 21, further comprising a pair of rollers disposed between the frame rails on which the belt is supported, and wherein the drive comprises an electric motor having an output shaft that is coupled by an endless flexible member to one of the rollers.

26. The treadmill of claim 21, further comprising means for controlling the angle of the swing cage relative to the frame of the treadmill to thereby control an angle of inclination of the deck of the treadmill.

27. The treadmill of claim 26, wherein the swing cage angle controlling means comprises a linear actuator mounted to the frame that is pivotally coupled by a linkage arrangement to the swing cage.

28. The treadmill of claim 26, wherein the swing cage angle controlling means comprises an electric motor carried by the swing cage that has an output shaft to which a first gear is mounted that engages a second gear that is connected to the frame.

29. A treadmill comprising:

a pair of generally parallel and elongate frame rails;

a plurality of spaced apart rollers transversely disposed interjacent the frame rails with one of the rollers disposed adjacent a front of the treadmill and another one of the rollers disposed adjacent a rear of the treadmill;

an endless flexible belt movably carried by the rollers;

a pair of frame rail rear end caps with one of the rear end caps receivable over a rear end of one of the frame rails to which the rear end cap is mounted and the other one of the rear end caps receivable over a rear end of the other one of the frame rails to which the rear end cap is mounted, wherein one end of the rear roller is rotatively supported by one of the rear end caps and the other end of the rear roller is rotatively supported by the other one of the rear end caps, and wherein each rear end cap comprises an integral foot extending outwardly upon which the rear of the treadmill is supported;

a pair of frame rail front end caps with one of the front end caps receivable over a front end of one of the frame rails to which the front end cap is mounted and the other one of the front end caps receivable over a front end of the other one of the frame rails to which the front end cap is mounted, wherein one end of the front roller is rotatively supported by one of the front end caps and the other end of the front roller is rotatively supported by the other one of the front end caps, and wherein each front end cap comprises a mount;

a forwardly extending pivotable subframe comprised of a pair of generally parallel arms, one arm of which is pivotally attached at one end or adjacent to the mount of one front end cap and that carries a wheel at its other end or adjacent to its other end, and the other arm of which is pivotally attached at or adjacent one end to the mount of the other front end cap and that carries a wheel at or adjacent its other end;

a treadmill belt drive that displaces the endless flexible belt when the belt drive is actuated; and

a subframe drive that pivots the subframe relative to the frame rails when the subframe drive is actuated enabling an angle of inclination of the belt to be changed.