Reorienting treadmill

• US 7,540,828 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/071,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 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 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 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:

a support structure;

a tread base comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side, said tread base rotatably attached to said support structure, said tread base being selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

inclination means coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, said inclination means comprising a left foot pivotally secured to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured to said right side proximate said rear of said frame, wherein said left foot and said right foot rotate to vary the inclination of said tread base relative to a support surface, wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a proximal end pivotally secured to respective left and right sides of said frame and a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, said inclination means further comprising force means pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to said tread base and wherein said treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to said continuous belt for driving said continuous belt.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said tread base further comprises a front end and a rear end and wherein said tread base is rotatably attached to said support structure at a point adjacent said front end of said tread base.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to said motor.

5. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side, said tread base rotatably attached to said support structure, said tread base being selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

an inclination mechanism coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein said inclination mechanism comprises a left foot pivotally secured to said left side proximate said rear of said frame, a right foot pivotally secured to said right side proximate said rear of said frame, and force means linked to said right foot and said left foot, wherein said force means is adapted to rotate said right foot and said left foot to vary the inclination of said tread base, and wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a proximal end pivotally secured to respective left and right sides of said frame and a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, and wherein said force means is pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said and right feet.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein said tread base includes a continuous belt rotationally coupled to said tread base and wherein said treadmill further comprises a motor mechanically coupled to said continuous belt for driving said continuous belt.

7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein said tread base further comprises a front end and a rear end and wherein said tread base is rotatably attached to the support structure at a point adjacent said front end of said tread base.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, further comprising a flywheel mechanically coupled to said motor.

9. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure for positioning on a support surface;

a tread base comprising;

i) a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side; and

ii) 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; and

an inclination mechanism coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein the inclination mechanism comprises a left foot and a right foot rotatably coupled to a rear end of said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein said left foot and said right foot rotate to vary the inclination of said tread base relative to the support surface, and wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a proximal end pivotally secured to respective left and right sides of said frame and a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, said inclination mechanism further comprising force means pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

10. The treadmill of claim 9, wherein said support structure further comprises:

a base; and

left and right upright supports connected to said base;

wherein said left side and said right side of said tread base frame is pivotally connected to said left and right upright supports.

11. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein said left side and said right side of said tread base frame is pivotally connected to said base.

12. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure for positioning on a support surface;

a tread base comprising;

i) a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side; and

ii) 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; and

an inclination mechanism coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein said inclination mechanism comprises a left foot pivotally secured to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured to said right side proximate said rear of said frame, wherein said left foot and said right foot rotate to vary the inclination of said tread base relative to said support surface, and wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a proximal end pivotally secured to respective left and right sides of said frame and a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, said inclination mechanism further comprising force means pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

13. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side, said tread base rotatably attached to said support structure, said tread base being selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

inclination means coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, said inclination means comprising a left foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said right side proximate said rear of said frame for positioning and supporting said frame on a support surface in said operating position, wherein said inclination means is operable to move each of said left foot and said right foot relative to said frame, said inclination means including a cross member interconnected between said left foot and said right foot, an extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being connected to said cross member and said proximal end being oriented toward said front of said frame, and force means interconnected between said proximal end of said extension and said frame to apply a force to said extension to urge movement of said left foot and said right foot to vary the inclination of said frame relative to said support structure, wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, and wherein said force means is pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

14. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein said force means comprises any one of a spring, a gas spring, and a rack and pinion gear.

15. The treadmill of claim 14, further comprising lift assist means, connected between said support structure and said tread base, for assisting a user in rotating said tread base between said operating position and said storage position.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein said lift assist means comprises one of a gas spring and a pneumatic cylinder.

17. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure;

a tread base comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side, said tread base rotatably attached to said support structure, said tread base being selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position; and

an inclination mechanism coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein said inclination mechanism comprises a left foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said right side proximate said rear of said frame for positioning and supporting said frame on a support surface in said operating position, wherein said inclination mechanism is operable to move each of said left foot and said right foot relative to said frame, said inclination mechanism including a cross member interconnected between said left foot and said right foot, an extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being connected to said cross member and said proximal end being oriented toward said front of said frame, and force means interconnected between said proximal end of said extension and said frame to apply a force to said extension to urge movement of said left foot and said right foot to vary the inclination of said frame relative to said support structure, wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, and wherein said force means is pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

18. The treadmill of claim 17, wherein said force means comprises any one of a spring, a gas spring, and a rack and pinion gear.

19. The treadmill of claim 18, further comprising a lift assist mechanism, connected between said support structure and said tread base, for assisting a user in rotating said tread base between said operating position and said storage position.

20. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein said lift assist mechanism comprises one of a gas spring and a pneumatic cylinder.

21. A treadmill comprising:

a support structure for positioning on a support surface;

a tread base comprising;

i) a frame having a front, a rear, a left side, and a right side; and

ii) 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; and

an inclination mechanism coupled to said tread base for selectively varying the inclination of said tread base, wherein said inclination mechanism comprises a left foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said left side proximate said rear of said frame and a right foot pivotally secured at a proximal end to said right side proximate said rear of said frame for positioning and supporting said frame on a support surface in said operating position, wherein said inclination mechanism is operable to move each of said left foot and said right foot relative to said frame, said inclination mechanism including a cross member interconnected between said left foot and said right foot, an extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being connected to said cross member and said proximal end being oriented toward the front of said frame, and a force mechanism interconnected between said proximal end of said extension and said frame to apply a force to said extension to urge movement of said left foot and said right foot to vary the inclination of said frame relative to said support structure, wherein said left foot and said right foot each comprise a distal end adapted to be positioned on the support surface to provide support to said rear of said frame, and wherein said cross member is pivotally linked to said left and right feet at a position closer to respective proximal ends of said left and right feet than respective distal ends of said left and right feet.

22. The treadmill of claim 21, wherein said force mechanism comprises any one of a spring, a gas spring, and a rack and pinion gear.

23. The treadmill of claim 22, further comprising a lift assist mechanism connected between said support structure and said tread base, for assisting a user in rotating said tread base between said first position and said second position.

24. The treadmill of claim 23, wherein said lift assist mechanism comprises one of a gas spring and a pneumatic cylinder.