Abstract:
An embodiment of this invention discloses a flattened treadmill comprising a conveyer belt and two decorating bars respectively arranged at a side of the conveyer belt. The conveyer belt and the decorating bars have the same elevation resulting in the flattened treadmill. In another embodiment, the flattened treadmill further comprising a motor housing, in which the elevation of the motor housing has also the same elevation as the conveyor belt.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application. No. 102220737, filed on Nov. 6, 2013, from which this application claims priority, are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly relates to a treadmill with a flat configuration. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nowadays, people tend to lack adequate exercise due to busy lifestyles. To the extent running has become popular as a simple and effective means for squeezing physical activity into a tight schedule, it is not always practicable. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-section view showing a conventional treadmill  1 . The conventional treadmill  1  has a running belt  12  allowing a user to walk or run in place. Two securing bars  11  typically made of aluminum are arranged at a left side and a right side of the running belt  12 , respectively. The operator can step the securing bars when the running belt  12  is at a rest condition. A plate  15  is arranged below the running belt  12  to support the running belt  12 . The securing bars  11  are arranged at a frame  13 , which has several buffering pad  14  to absorb the force of the running belt  12  and the plate  15 . A screw  17  is used to fix the plate  15  and the buffering pad  14 . In addition, some lateral bars  16  are spaced at interval between the two securing bars  11  and the screw  17  fixes the plate  15  with the lateral bar  16  and the buffering pad  14 . 
     The securing bars  11  are arranged on the plate  12  and at two sides of the running belt  12 . For long-term reliability, the securing bars  11  are higher than the running belt  12 , i.e., the securing bars  11  having an elevation higher than the elevation of the running belt  12 . When the running belt  12  is operated, the operator usually kicks the elevated securing bars  11  and thus stumbles on the running belt  12 . 
     In addition, an end of running belt  12  of the conventional treadmill  1  typically has a motor and a wheel assembly (not shown) for driving a front roller and a rear roller under the running belt  12 , so as to drive the running belt  12  to rotate. Due to space limitation, a motor housing  18  to cover those elements has an elevation higher than the elevation of the running belt  12 . Furthermore, the elevation of the securing bars  11  could be higher so as to match the protruded motor housing  18 , and the further protruded securing bars  11  is dangerous for the operator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one general aspect, the present invention relates to treadmills, and more particularly relates to a treadmill with a flat configuration. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a flattened treadmill is provided with a conveyor belt, two decorating bars, a supporting plate, a frame, a plurality of supporting rods, a plurality of buffering pads, a plurality of first fastening members, and a plurality of second fastening members. The endless conveyor belt allows a user for walking or running in the same place. The two decorating bars are arranged at a right and a left side of the conveyor belt respectively and have an elevation same as an elevation of the conveyor belt. The supporting plate is arranged below the conveyor belt to support the conveyor belt. The two decorating bars are arranged on the frame. The supporting rods are horizontally spaced at intervals below the supporting plate and inside of the frame. The buffering pads are arranged below the supporting rods. The first fastening members fix the supporting rods and the buffering pads. The second fastening members fix the supporting plate and the supporting rods. 
     In an embodiment, the supporting plate is made of wood or composite wood. 
     In an embodiment, the frame comprises at least a vertical portion and at least a horizontal portion. 
     In an embodiment, the first fastening members fix the supporting rods with the buffering pads and the horizontal portion. 
     In an embodiment, the supporting rods are not fixed with the frame. 
     In an embodiment, the two decorating bars are made of aluminum. 
     In an embodiment, the first fastening members and the second fastening members comprise screw and nut. 
     In an embodiment, the flattened treadmill further comprises a flat housing arranged at an end of the flattened treadmill and having an elevation same as the elevation of the conveyor belt. 
     In an embodiment, the flat housing covers at least some components of a driving system. 
     In an embodiment, the driving system drives the conveyor belt to rotate and comprises a front roller, a motor, a first wheel, a second wheel, and a medium wheel mechanism. The front roller is arranged under the conveyor belt and is surrounded by the conveyor belt. The motor has an elevation equal to or under than an elevation of the conveyor belt. The first wheel couples with the motor and has an elevation equal to or under than the elevation of the conveyor belt. The second wheel is arranged at a first end of the front roller and has a diameter equal to or smaller than a diameter of a second end of the front roller. The medium wheel mechanism couples with the first wheel and the second wheel. Whereby the motor drives the first wheel to rotate, the first wheel drives the medium wheel mechanism rotating, and the medium wheel mechanism drives the second wheel and the front roller rotating and thus causing the rotation of the conveyor belt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a conventional treadmill. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a flattened treadmill according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view showing a flattened treadmill according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially enlarged view showing a flattened treadmill according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments of the invention are now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, instances of which are to be interpreted to be to scale in some implementations while in other implementations, for each instance, not. In certain aspects, use of like or the same reference designators in the drawings and description refers to the same, similar or analogous components and/or elements, while according to other implementations the same use should not. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are mechanism forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations and components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. While drawings are illustrated in detail, it is appreciated that the quantity of the disclosed components may be greater or less than that disclosed, except where expressly restricting the amount of the components. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged cross-section view showing a flattened treadmill  2  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flattened treadmill  2  comprises a conveyor belt  22  allowing a user to walk or run in the same place. Two decorating bars  21  are arranged at a right and a left side of the conveyor belt  22 , respectively. The two decorating bars  21  are made of, but are not limited to, aluminum. A supporting plate  25  is arranged below the conveyor belt  22  to support the conveyor belt  22 . The supporting plate  25  provides a buffer effect to absorb the force transmitted from the conveyor belt  22 . Preferably, the supporting plate  25  is made of wood, composite wood, or wood-like material. The supporting plate  25  features in a narrower width than conventional plate  15 , and a portion of each longitudinal side of the supporting plate  25  is covered by the two decorating bars  21 , respectively. In particular, the covered portion of the supporting plate may be thinned, so that the conjunction between the decorating bars  21  and the supporting plate  25  is nearly flattened. In an embodiment, the covered portion of the supporting plate  25  is complementary to the decorating bars  21 . For example, the covered portion of the supporting plate  25  has a trapezoid or triangular configuration matching a trapezoid or triangular configuration of the decorating bars  21 . In addition, the treadmill  2  includes a frame  23  with two vertical portions  23   a  and two horizontal portions  23   b  arranged at the two sides of the conveyor belt  22 , respectively. The horizontal portion  23   b  may be orthogonal to a lower end of the vertical portion  23   a . In some embodiments, the horizontal portions may  23   b  be considered as independent components such as blocks  23   b  separated from the vertical portions  23   a . A plurality of buffering pads  24  and a plurality of supporting rods  26  are arranged inside of the frame  23  and spaced at intervals. The horizontally arranged supporting rods  26  are below the supporting plate  25 , and two buffering pads  24  are arranged below two ends of each supporting rod  26  respectively and two first fastening members  27  are used for fixing each end of each supporting rod  26  and each buffering pad  24 . In this preferred embodiment, each of the buffering pads  24  is arranged between one end of the supporting rod  26  and the horizontal portion  23   b  (or the blocks  23   b ) of the frame  23 , and the first fastening member  27  fixes the supporting rod  26 , the buffering pad  24 , and the horizontal portion  23   b  (or the blocks) of the frame  23 . 
     In addition, the two ends of each supporting rods  26  are not fixed with the vertical portion  23   a  of the frame  23 . Because the width of the supporting plate  25  is decreased, two second fastening members  29  are used to fix the supporting plate  25  with the two ends of each supporting rod  26 , respectively. Preferably, the first fastening members  27  and the second fastening members  29  are screw/nut combination or the like components. According to the embodiment of this invention, the decorating bars  21  are arranged on the frame  23  and have much thinner thickness than the conventional configuration due to narrower supporting plate  25 . Accordingly, the decorating bars  21  and the conveyor belt  22  have a same elevation. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view showing a flattened treadmill  3  according to another embodiment of this invention. The flattened treadmill  3  has same essential features as the flattened treadmill  2  disclosed in  FIG. 2 , i.e., the decorating bars  21  and the conveyor belt  22  having a same elevation. Furthermore, the flattened treadmill  3  includes a flat housing  28  with an elevation same as the elevation of the conveyor belt either. 
     In this embodiment, the flat housing  28  is used to cover a motor and components of a driving system (not shown). The driving system drives the conveyor belt  22  to rotate. The detail of the driving system may refer to Taiwan patent application no. 102220537, entitled “flattened treadmill,” the entire contents of this patent application are expressly incorporated herein by reference 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 4 , the driving system may comprise a front roller  240 , a rear roller  241 , a first wheel  242 , a second wheel  243 , a medium wheel mechanism  244  (including a large wheel  2440  and a small wheel  2442 ), and a motor  245 . The front roller  240  and the rear roller  241  are arranged under the conveyor belt  22  and are surrounded by the conveyor belt  22 . The motor  245  is arranged near to the front end of treadmill  3 , and the elevation of which is below the elevation of the conveyor belt  22 . The first wheel  242  couples with the motor  245  and has an elevation below the elevation of the conveyor belt  22 . The second wheel  243  is arranged at a first end of the front roller, and the diameter of the second wheel  243  is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the second end  240   b  of the front roller, so that the elevation of the second wheel  243  is equal to or below the elevation of the conveyor belt  22 . The medium wheel mechanism  244  couples with the first wheel  242  and the second wheel  243 . Whereby the motor  245  drives the first wheel  242  to rotate, the first wheel  242  drives the medium wheel mechanism  244  to rotate, and the medium wheel mechanism  244  drives the second wheel  243  and the front roller  240  to rotate and thus causing the rotation of the conveyor belt  22 . The other features of the flattened treadmill  3  are same as the flattened treadmill  2  as shown in  FIG. 2  and therefore are omitted. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of this invention provide flattened treadmills with narrower supporting plate  25  and thinner decorating bars  21  so as to save the material cost. 
     More importantly, embodiments of this invention provide flattened treadmills featuring in that the conveyor belt  22 , the decorating bars  21 , and even the flat housing all have a same elevation, i.e., a totally flattened configuration. Therefore, the safety of the user and the reliability of the treadmill are both significantly increased. 
     The intent accompanying this disclosure is to have each/all embodiments construed in conjunction with the knowledge of one skilled in the art to cover all modifications, variations, combinations, permutations, omissions, substitutions, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments, to the extent not mutually exclusive, as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods disclosed or referenced herein, and/or in any and all co-pending, abandoned or patented application(s) by any of the named inventor(s) or assignee(s) of this application and invention, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, wherein such incorporation includes corresponding or related structure (and modifications thereof) which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any part(s) of the present invention according to this disclosure, that of the application and references cited therein, and the knowledge and judgment of one skilled in the art. 
     Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that embodiments include, and in other interpretations do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or interpretations thereof, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
     All of the contents of the preceding documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been presented by way of example rather than limitation. For example, any of the particulars or features mechanism out or referenced herein, or other features, including method steps and techniques, may be used with any other structure(s) and process described or referenced herein, in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation as a non-equivalent, separate, non-interchangeable aspect of this invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods specifically contemplated and disclosed herein as part of this invention, to the extent not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art, including, modifications thereto, which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any parts of the present invention according to this disclosure, include: (I) any one or more parts of the above disclosed or referenced structure and methods and/or (II) subject matter of any one or more of the inventive concepts mechanism forth herein and parts thereof, in any permutation and/or combination, include the subject matter of any one or more of the mentioned features and aspects, in any permutation and/or combination. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.