TREADMILL WITH SAFETY MONITORING FUNCTION AND SAFETY MONITORING METHOD FOR TREADMILL

A treadmill with a safety monitoring function includes a running unit and a detection unit. The running unit includes a driving roller and a running belt for a runner to stand and run thereon. The detection unit includes a sensor for detecting whether the runner exists at a predefined height on the running belt. The detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height. A safety monitoring function for a treadmill includes adjusting a height of the sensor, detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt, and generating a first monitoring output. Through detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height, it determines whether the driving roller can be driven by the driving unit to prevent accidental activation by a child. Since the detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height, it allows the use by runners of different body shapes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention is related to an exercise equipment, and in particular, to a treadmill with a safety monitoring function and a safety monitoring method for a treadmill.

2. Description of Related Art

As people value heath more seriously nowadays, a lot of people install a treadmill at their own homes, such that they are able to use the treadmill to perform exercise at home regardless of the outdoor weather condition.

However, in comparison to gym, the home environment is relatively more complicated to ensure safe operation of the equipment. For example, in the event that a child at home activates the treadmill without adult supervision or the treadmill is accidentally activated, injury may occur under such situation.

Presently, although there are known treadmills equipped with an infrared sensor arranged to perform rearward detection (such as: CN210096787U), in order to detect the running position of a runner via the infrared sensor and generate a warning sound when the runner exceeds the safe running range to reduce accidental falling incident of runners, they are still unable to prevent the aforementioned situation of accidental activation of the treadmill by a child.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a treadmill with a safety monitoring function capable of preventing accidental activation by a child and applicable to runners of different body shapes.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a safety monitoring method for a treadmill capable of preventing accidental activation by a child and applicable to runners of different body shapes.

To achieve the objectives, the present invention provides a treadmill with a safety monitoring function, allowing a runner to stand and run thereon. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprises a running unit, a driving unit, a detection unit, and a control unit.

The running unit comprises a base, two side rails arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base, a driving roller and a driven roller pivotally installed between the side rails, a running belt arranged between the side rails and mounted on the driving roller and the driven roller and provided for the runner to stand and run thereon, and a front base arranged between the side rails and located on top of a front end of the running belt. A front-rear direction is defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails.

The driving unit is arranged on the base and is configured to drive the driving roller to rotate in order to drive the running belt to rotate around the driving roller and the driven roller, thereby allowing the runner to run forward along the front-rear direction on the running belt.

The detection unit is arranged at the front base and comprises a sensor. The sensor is functional to detect rearward in order to detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information. The detection unit is configured to move along an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction relative to the front base in order to change the predefined height.

The control unit is electrically connected to the driving unit and the detection unit for transmitting signals. The control unit is configured to control the driving roller to be driven by the driving unit in order to drive the predefined height according to the detection information when the runner exists at the predefined height on top of the running belt.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety monitoring method for a treadmill, applicable to a treadmill and a runner standing on the treadmill. The treadmill includes a running belt, and the safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprises a preparation step, a detection step and an activation analysis step.

The preparation step is to adjust a height of a sensor.

The detection step is to use the sensor to detect whether the runner exits at a predefined height on top of the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information.

The activation analysis step is to generate a first monitoring output when the runner exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt based on the detection information.

The technical effects of the present invention are as follows. By using the sensor to detect whether the runner exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt, the height of the runner may be analyzed in order to for determining whether the driving roller can be driven by the driving unit, in order to prevent the hazard due to accidental activation by a child of insufficient height. In addition, since the detection unit can be moved along the up-down direction, the installation height of the sensor can be adjusted in order to change the predefined height and to facilitate the use by runners of different body shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer toFIG.1toFIG.4, showing a treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to an embodiment of the present invention, allowing a runner9to stand and run thereon. The treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprises a running unit1, a driving unit2, a detection unit3, an input unit4and a control unit5. The input unit4can be operated to input a command. The command is related to an activation information.

The running unit1comprises a base11, two side rails12arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base11, a driving roller13and a driven roller14pivotally installed between the side rails12, and a running belt15pivotally installed between the side rails12and mounted on the driving roller13and the driven roller14and provided for the runner9to stand thereon, two handrails16extended upward from the side rails12, and a front base17connected between the handrails16and arranged between the side rails12and located on top of a front end of the running belt15. A front-rear direction X is defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails12.

In this embodiment, the driving roller13is located at the front side, and the driven roller14is located at the rear side; however, the present invention is not limited to such configuration only.

The front base17includes a crossbar portion171connected between the handrails16, an extension portion172extending along an up-down direction Y perpendicular to the front-rear direction X from the crossbar portion171, and a plurality of slots173formed on the extension portion172and arranged spaced apart from each other along the up-down direction Y.

The driving unit2is arranged on the base11and is configured to drive the driving roller13to rotate in order to drive the running belt15to rotate around the driving roller13and the driven roller14, thereby allowing the runner9to run forward along the front-rear direction X on the running belt15.

The detection unit3is arranged on the front base17and comprises a sensor31, a moving seat32movably arranged on the extension portion172and provided for the sensor31to be installed thereon, a through hole33penetrating through the moving seat32and an insertion pin34penetrating through the through hole33and selectively inserted into one of the plurality of slots173. The sensor is functional to detect rearward in order to detect whether the runner9exits at a predefined height on top of the running belt15and corresponding to a center line location of the side rails12, and to generate a corresponding detection information. The detection unit3is configured to move along the up-down direction Y relative to the front base17in order to change the predefined height. In this embodiment, the sensor31is a proximity sensor and is able to generate the detection information when the runner9is detected at the predefined height on top of the running belt15. In addition, when the detection unit3moves along the up-down direction Y relative to the front base17, it is able to allow the predefined height to be adjusted, between 100 cm and 140 cm in the present embodiment although neither the height nor the range are limited to this exemplary range.

The control unit5is electrically connected to the driving unit2, the input unit4and the detection unit3for transmitting signals.

When the runner9exits at the predefined height on top of the running belt15, the control unit5is able to control the driving roller13to be driven by the driving unit2based on the detection information. In addition, when no runner9is detected at the predefined height on top of the running belt15, the control unit5is able to control the driving roller13to prevent it from being driven by the driving unit2.

When the driving roller13rotates and drives the running belt15to rotate, the sensor31is able to continuously generate the detection information, and the control unit5is able to control the driving unit2and also control a rotational speed of the driving roller13when the runner9is determined to not exist at the predefined height above the running belt15based on the detection information.

Please refer toFIG.1,FIG.5andFIG.6, during the actual operation, the treadmill with a safety monitoring function can cooperate with a safety monitoring method for a treadmill to perform monitoring. The safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprises a preparation step S1, a detection step S2, an activation analysis step S3and a falling analysis step S4.

The preparation step S1is to adjust a height of the sensor31.

The detection step S2is to use the sensor31to detect whether the runner9exits at a predefined height above the running belt15, and to generate a corresponding detection information.

The activation analysis step S3is to generate a first monitoring output when the runner9exits at the predefined height above the running belt15based on the detection information.

The falling analysis step S4is to continuously generate the detection information and to generate a second monitoring output when the runner9does not exist at the predefined height above the running belt15based on the detection information.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, during the use of the treadmill with a safety monitoring function by a user, the preparation step S1can be executed first, in order to adjust the predefined height to a height suitable to the body shape of the runner9. Next, when the runner9inputs the command via the input unit4such that the running belt15is expected to be activated for rotation, the control unit5is able to execute the detection step S2and the activation analysis step S3.

When the detection information is generated in the detection step S2, it means that the runner9is detected at the predefined height above the running belt15(in other words, the height of the runner9is greater than the predefined height), and the activation analysis step S3is able to generate the first monitoring output. Accordingly, the control unit5is able to control the driving roller13to be driven by the driving unit2(such as: allowing the driving unit2to be electrically conducted), thereby allowing the running belt15to rotate.

Furthermore, when no detection information is generated in the detection step S2, it means that no runner9is detected at the predefined height above the running belt15(in other words, the height of the runner9is not greater than the predefined height), and no first monitoring output is generated in the activation analysis step S3. Accordingly, the control unit5is able to control the driving roller13to prevent it from being driven by the driving unit2(such as: preventing electrical conduction of the driving unit2), such that even though the runner9has inputted the command via the input unit4, the running belt15still cannot be driven to rotate. As a result, the control unit5is able to prevent accidental activation of the treadmill with a safety monitoring function by a child of insufficient height.

In addition, during the rotation of the running belt15, the control unit5is able to execute the falling analysis step S4.

When the falling analysis step S4generates the second monitoring output (indicating that no runner9is detected at the predefined height), it means that the runner9might have fallen down. Accordingly, the control unit5is able to control the driving unit2to control the rotational speed of the driving roller13, in order to reduce the rotational speed of the driving roller13and to stop it gradually, or allow the driving roller13to stop immediately, thereby preventing the runner9from being caught in the gap between the running belt15and one of the side rails12due to continuous movement of the running belt15.

In view of the above, for the treadmill with a safety monitoring function and the safety monitoring method for a treadmill of the present invention, by using the sensor31to detect whether the runner9exists at the predefined height on top of the running belt15, the height of the runner9can be analyzed and used as a determination standard for determining whether the driving roller13can be driven by the driving unit2, in order to prevent the hazard due to accidental activation by a child of insufficient height. In addition, since the detection unit3can be moved along the up-down direction, the installation height of the sensor31can be adjusted in order to change the predefined height and to facilitate the use by runners9of different body shapes. As a result, the objectives of the present invention are achieved.

It shall be understood that the above description is provided to illustrate the possible embodiments of the present invention only, and it shall not be treated as limitation to the implementation scope of the present invention. All mere and equivalent changes and modifications made based on the scope of the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention shall be considered to be within the scope of the claims of the present invention.