Treadmill deck locking mechanism

• US 7,736,280 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Crawford, Douglas A., Weier, Keith M., Huang, Kuo-Ti
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/205,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 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 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for use with exercise treadmills capable of being selectively configured in an operating configuration or a storage configuration. The locking mechanism may utilize various configurations of engagement devices and/or locking members to allow a user to selectively lock a treadmill frame in a fixed position relative to a base frame.

Claims

1. A treadmill configurable between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, the treadmill comprising:

a base frame including at least one upright member extending upwardly from a base frame member;

a subframe connected to the base frame with at least a portion of the subframe rearward of the at least one upright member at the base frame member;

a treadmill frame pivotally connected with the portion of the subframe rearward of the at least one upright member at the base frame member, the treadmill frame supporting a deck, a front roller, and a rear roller, and having a tread belt positioned about the first and second rollers and passing over the deck;

a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock the treadmill frame in a fixed position relative to the subframe, the locking mechanism comprising a locking member connected with the treadmill frame and adapted to selectively engage at least one aperture on the subframe, a handle, and a cable connected with the locking member and the handle, the handle located remote from the locking member, and

the handle is rotatable about an axis, rotation of the handle about the axis causes movement of the cable, and movement of the cable causes movement of the locking member to engage and/or disengage the at least one aperture on the subframe.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is operable to selectively lock the treadmill frame in a storage position and an operating position.

3. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the movement of the locking member is along an axis different from the axis about which the handle is rotatable.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the axis along which the locking member moves is one of parallel to or perpendicular to the axis about which the handle is rotatable.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the handle is carried by the treadmill frame.

6. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the handle is positioned distal from the pivotal connection of the treadmill frame with the subframe.

7. A treadmill configurable between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, the treadmill comprising:

a base frame including a first bracket defining a first aperture corresponding with the operating configuration and a second aperture corresponding with the storage configuration;

a treadmill frame pivotally connected with the base frame, the treadmill frame supporting a deck, at least one roller, and further supporting a tread belt passing over the deck, the treadmill frame including at least one frame rail including a second bracket supporting a pin movable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position; and

an actuator mechanism carried by the treadmill frame, the actuator mechanism configured to move the pin between the first engaged position and the second disengaged position;

wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a rotatable handle and a cable, the cable operably coupled with the rotatable handle and the pin such that rotation of the rotatable handle about a first axis causes movement of the cable, and movement of the cable causes movement of the pin along a second axis different from the first axis.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein at least part of the actuator mechanism is located remote from the pin.

9. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein the at least part of the actuator mechanism is positioned distal from the pivotal connection of the treadmill frame with the base frame.

10. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the second axis along which the pin moves is one of parallel to or perpendicular to the first axis about which the handle is rotatable.

11. A treadmill comprising:

a base frame;

a treadmill frame pivotally coupled to the base frame;

a locking mechanism comprising;

a first bracket connected with the treadmill frame, the first bracket having an engagement member;

a second bracket connected with the base frame, the second bracket configured to be engageable with a portion of the engagement member; and

a pivot member operably coupled with the first bracket and the second bracket, whereby the first bracket and the second bracket are rotatable relative to each other; and

an actuator mechanism comprising;

an actuable member; and

a cable operably coupled with the actuable member and the engagement member, whereby the engagement member is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

12. The treadmill of claim 11, wherein the actuable member is carried by the treadmill frame.

13. The treadmill of claim 11, wherein the actuable member is located remote from the engagement member.

14. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein the actuable member is positioned distal from the pivotal connection of the treadmill frame with the base frame.

15. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein the actuable member is rotatable about an axis, rotation of the actuable member about the axis causes movement of the cable, and movement of the cable causes movement of the engagement member to engage and/or disengage the second bracket.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the movement of the engagement member is along an axis different from the axis about which the actuable member is rotatable.

17. The treadmill of claim 16, wherein the axis along which the engagement member moves is one of parallel to or perpendicular to the axis about which the handle is rotatable.

18. A treadmill comprising:

a base frame;

a treadmill frame; and

a locking mechanism comprising;

an engagement member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

an actuation mechanism including a handle pivotable about a first axis, wherein pivoting the handle about the first axis causes the engagement member to move between the engaged and disengaged positions; and

the engagement member is moveable along a second axis between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and the second axis is different than the first axis, wherein pivoting the handle about the first axis causes the engagement member to move along the second axis between the engaged and disengaged positions.

19. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the handle includes an arcuate member.

20. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the actuation mechanism further includes a cable operably coupled with the handle and the engagement member, and the handle includes a cam surface configured to engage the cable and to pull the cable upon pivoting the handle about the first axis in a first direction, the pulling of the cable causing the engagement member to move along the second axis from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

21. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the pivotal movement of the handle causes linear displacement of the engagement member.

22. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the handle is carried by the treadmill frame.

23. The treadmill of claim 22, wherein the handle is positioned distal from a pivotal connection of the treadmill frame with the base frame.

24. The treadmill of claim 18, wherein the second axis along which the engagement member moves is one of parallel to or perpendicular to the first axis about which the handle is pivotable.

25. The treadmill of claim 20, wherein the cam surface is defined by an arcuate member.