US20020132707A1

US20020132707A1 - Low-loaded exercise treadmill

Info

Publication number: US20020132707A1
Application number: US09/804,795
Authority: US
Inventors: Leao Wang; Peter Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-14
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2002-09-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low-loaded exercise treadmill comprises a base and a frame. The frame includes a platform and a continuous belt which extends around the platform and is rotatably supported by front and rear rollers by mean of being driven by a motor. The rear end of the frame is fitted with a coupling piece which is pivotably connected to the base while the front end thereof includes a movable supporting bar which is attached to a resilient member at the bottom end thereof. Moreover, the resilient member is located at a proper position of the base. Based on the assembly of the aforementioned members, when the front end of the frame is pressed, the frame is downwardly inclined by means of the simultaneous displacement of the supporting bar. After the loading is reduced gradually, the frame restores itself by means of the extending force of the resilient member so that the frame can make ups and downs movement repetitively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to a low-loaded exercise treadmill in which the inclined angle of the frame can be changed in pressing down, thereby creating special movement travel for tremendously reducing the exercise loading of the walker.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The frame of the conventional treadmills is constantly kept at a fixed angle during the workout session. Consequently, when the user walks on the treadmill, it can reach the effect that he walks on the flat ground or on the slope. This exercise won't be overloaded for the common people. However, this kind of loading will be too much for people with worse physical conditions (like obesity, chronically cardiopulmonary disease, etc.), especially with long exercise session. Thus, an appropriate exercise amount can't be reached, thereby losing the expected exercise effect.

Meanwhile, an exercise treadmill, as shown in FIG. 3, is disclosed in the U.S. pat. No. 5,626,539. This kind of

treadmill apparatus

10 includes

treadmills

12, 14 each of which is fitted with a continuous tread 16 which extends around a platform and is rotatably supported by rollers. Besides, a sliding movement effect is created during the walking session. However, the conventional treadmill apparatus 10 hat a recess between two dual spring-loaded treads. It's very dangerous if the feet of the user fall into this recess. Moreover, it is necessary to raise the legs first and to press on the

treadmill

12 or 14 at the higher position in walking on this exercise apparatus. Thereafter, the whole body weight (the raised gravity) is placed on the

treadmill

12 or 14 so that the

other treadmill

14 or 12 shifts upwardly. During the repeated exercise session, the foot of the user are placed on the

treadmill

14 or 12 when either of them shifts upwardly. Accordingly, the weight of the foot has to be loaded on the user. In other words, the treadmill apparatus 10 can create a certain exercise effect, but doesn't share the loading when the user raised his foot. So, the user can't exercise for a certain duration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to remove the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a low-loaded exercise treadmill through that the loading can be reduced in raising his body weight so that the user with special physical condition can easily and healthily perform the walking movement for a long session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which: [0007]
FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 2 is another side view of the present invention showing the action thereof; and [0009]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the low-loaded exercise treadmill in accordance with the present invention primarily is composed of a [0011] base 20 and a frame 30. The frame 30 includes a platform 31 and a continuous belt 32. The continuous belt 32 extends around the platform 31 and is rotatably supported by front and rear rollers 33, 34 by mean of being driven by a motor (not shown).
The rear end of the [0012] frame 30 is fitted with a coupling piece which is pivotably connected to the base 20 while the front end thereof includes a movable supporting bar 40 which is attached to a resilient member 50 at the bottom end thereof. The resilient member 50 is located at a proper position of the base 20. Based the assembly of the aforementioned members, when the front end of the frame 30 is pressed, the frame 30 is downwardly inclined by means of the simultaneous displacement of the supporting bar 40. After the loading is reduced gradually (the rotation of the continuous belt 32 will bring back the force-exerting foot of the user), the frame 30 restores itself by means of the extending force of the resilient member 50. Accordingly, the frame 30 can make an ups and downs movement repetitively.
In other words, when the user places his both feet on the rear end of the [0013] continuous belt 32 and is ready for walking exercise, the frame 30 is kept at the original inclined position. After one foot of the user treads on the front end of the continuous belt 32, the frame 30 downwardly swivels on the pivoting point A at rear end thereof by means of the weight of the user. Thus, the frame 30 can support the weight of the user, thereby avoiding the loading when the user raises his own body weight while the expected exercise effect can also be reached.
A phantom horizontal axis A-A based on the pivoting point (A) extends parallel to the ground while a phantom horizontal axis B-B based on the center shaft (B) of the [0014] rear roller 34 of the frame 30 extends parallel to the ground. The frame 30 makes regularly ups and downs movement on either horizontal axis. Accordingly, the loading of the body weight of the user can be eliminated.
Maybe the examiner thinks that the [0015] resilient member 50 of the present invention is similar to a dampener disclosed in the U.S. pat. No. 4,974,831. However, the shock absorber can only reduce the reacting force so that the dampening travel of the frame is very slightly. In the contrary, the frame of the present invention hat a greater displacement travel, thereby fully eliminating the raising gravity produced during the walking session.
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim. [0016]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A low-loaded exercise treadmill comprising:

a base; and

a frame having a platform and a continuous belt, said continuous belt extending around the platform and being rotatably supported by front and rear rollers by mean of being driven by a motor;

wherein the rear end of said frame is fitted with a coupling piece which is pivotably connected to said base while the front end thereof includes a movable supporting bar which is attached to a resilient member at the bottom end thereof, and said resilient member is located at a proper position of said base; and wherein, based on the assembly of the aforementioned members, when the front end of said frame is pressed, said frame is downwardly inclined by means of the simultaneous displacement of said supporting bar, and after the loading is reduced gradually, said frame restores itself by means of the extending force of said resilient member so that said frame can make an ups and downs movement repetitively.