Shock absorption device of a running apparatus

A shock absorption device of a running apparatus is provided with a shock absorbing elastic member at the rear side thereof. The shock absorption device includes a foot pedal, a lifted base, a support frame and an elastic member. The lifted base is disposed under the foot pedal and the support frame is attached to the bottom of the lifted base. The elastic member is connected to the support frame with a pivotal shaft. When the user runs on the foot pedal, the foot pedal can be lifted an inclining angle with the lifted base rotating with respect to the pivotal shaft to mitigate an impact force caused by the elastic member so as to protect the knees and ankles from injury.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a shock absorption device of a running apparatus and particularly to a shock absorption device, which is provided with a shock absorbing elastic member at the rear side of a running apparatus to protect the knees of the user from injury.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

The running apparatus has become one of basic fittings for indoor sports nowadays but there is deficiency in the currently used running apparatus. Due to the moving human body being incompatible for high speed operation of the running apparatus, it often occurs the ankles and the knees being hurt. It is known that the body moves and the ground is stationary during a person running for taking exercise on the ground and the body can move forward after the feet touching the ground and keeping the body being in a steady state. However, the foot pedal of the running apparatus keeps moving while the runner keeps moving on the foot pedal during running and the runner has to adjust movements of the ankles and the knees to comply with moving speed of the foot pedal in a way of the upper part of the body keeping unmoving. Hence, it is very easy for the ankles and the knees to get hurt during the feet trying to keep the body in a state of balance and to support the body weight. In addition, the foot pedal is made of hard metal and once the feet contact the foot pedal, injury at the ankles and knees becomes more serious due to acceleration of gravity exerted by the body.

Referring toFIG. 1, one of the conventional running apparatus is illustrated to add with a cushion design for decreasing burden of foot joints and knee joints against the acceleration of gravity in order to overcome the preceding deficiency of the ankles and the knees being easily getting hurt. The running apparatus10provides a foot pedal11is fixedly attached to the a lifted base14and an elevation device12is disposed at the front side of the lifted base14with a fulcrum roller13at the rear side of the lifted base14. When the elevation device12moves upward and downward, the fulcrum roller13acts as a fixed rotational shaft during the foot pedal11forming an inclining position or a horizontal position.

The running apparatus disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application Nos. 92204569 and 91221543 are provided with a suspension component and a cushion member in the elevation device12of the preceding conventional running apparatus to offset the acceleration of gravity generated by the body weight by way of elasticity during the user running on the foot pedal so as to protect the ankles and the knees. However, the revised elevation device12has affected the whole structure of the running apparatus and has to change relative motion between the elevation device12and rest parts in the running apparatus. Hence, it adds difficulty to make a change and high fabrication cost of the running apparatus.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a recently improved running apparatus provides a soft pad15, which is disposed under the lifted base14, to be supported with a circular member16therein for strengthen the soft pad15. The circular member16has a screw17at the center thereof for fastening the bottom of the running apparatus. A joining surface18between the circular member16and the lifted base14should not be covered with the soft pad15, otherwise, it is hard to obtain a required tightness between the circular member16and the lifted base14. Thus, the preceding arrangement has the following shortcomings:

1. It is not possible for the exposed soft pad to be fixedly attached to the bottom of running apparatus with a tool such that it results in unfavorable steadiness of the running apparatus.

2. The soft pad is damaged easily under being subjected a force such that it has to face a risk of loosening. If a tool is used for fixing the soft pad, it is easy to break the soft pad.

3. The soft pad provides a thickness only enough for decreasing noise resulting from impact and reducing the sound decibel.

4. The soft pad easily detaches from the circular member under a force in case of the joining surface being covered with the soft pad in addition to improper engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorption device of a running apparatus with which a simple elastic member is mounted at the bottom of the running apparatus to perform more effective shock absorption easily for various brands of running apparatuses in different sizes and to lower the fabrication cost thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 4, the first preferred embodiment of a shock absorption device of a running apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated. It can be seen inFIG. 4that a support frame23is provided at the bottom of the lifted base14with a reinforced member21being joined to the pivotal shaft24of the support frame23and an elastic member20is disposed under the reinforced member21. The function of shock absorption can be enhanced by way of the thickness of the elastic member20being increased. Further, the pivotal shaft24can retain the lifted base14at a fixed position and the circular surface of the elastic member20is capable of providing an auxiliary function for the lifted base14to turn an angle.

When the user runs on the running apparatus, the elastic member20is in a state of alternately being compressed and stretching to perform the function of shock absorption because of the elastic member20having a greater thickness. Thus, the lifted base14at a side of the elastic member20can move downward and upward to relieve the ankles and the knees from occurred impact during running so as to protect the ankles and the knees from getting hurt and overcome the shortcoming of the prior art, which can reduce noise only.

Referring toFIG. 5, another preferred embodiment of the shock absorption device according to the present invention is illustrated. A support frame23is provided at the bottom of the lifted base14and a pivotal shaft24is disposed at the middle position of the support frame23to be joined to a cushion seat25. A foot base26is disposed under the cushion seat25and slide rods31are disposed in between to join the cushion seat25and the foot base26together. An elastic member27is arranged to surround each of the slide rods31.

The lifted base14rotates with respect to the pivotal shaft24during ascending and descending to keep the horizontal stability of the shock absorption device. In case of the lifted base14ascending and forming an inclining position, it is not possible for the lifted base14to touch the shock absorption device so that a smooth movement of the lifted base14can be obtained. In case of the lifted base14descending under force and the cushion seat25moving downward and compressing the elastic member27, the slide rods31can partly insert into the cushion seat25. The cushion seat25and the lifted base14are pushed backward due to rebounding power of the elastic member27while no force is executed so that the pressing down force can be absorbed to perform the function of cushion and the foot base26can keep steady to support the lifted base14.

Referring toFIG. 6, a further preferred embodiment of the shock absorption device according to the present invention is illustrated. The support frame23has a pivotal shaft24at the middle position thereof to join with a cushion seat25and a support base28is disposed below the cushion seat25with an elastic member27being arranged between the support base28and the cushion seat24. Another elastic member29is arranged under the support base28with a receiving space30therein and lower part of the slide rods31can enter the receiving space31and move forward and backward in the receiving space30while the cushion seat25moves downward so as to perform the function of cushion during the lifted base14moving upward and downward. In the mean time, sensitivity of cushion can be enhanced by way of both the elastic members27,29to achieve an effect of prevention of sport injury.

Referring toFIG. 7, a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A soft pad member22is arranged on the cushion seat25. When the lifted base14rotates with respect to the pivotal shaft24, the soft pad22can eliminate impact sound caused by the support frame23hitting the cushion seat25and protect the shock absorption device from damage due to impact. In addition, the lifted base14can contact the cushion seat25via the soft pad22to lighten load of the pivotal shaft24. Especially, when the lifted base14moves upward to form an inclining angle, which results in change of executing force, and the body weight and gravity increase the load acting the pivotal shaft during running, the lifted base14contacts with the cushion seat25to lessen action of the load and the circular surface of the elastic member29becomes the rotational surface instead of the pivotal shaft24. Hence, no impedance is produced during the lifted base14ascending.

Referring toFIG. 8, a further embodiment of the shock absorption device according to the present invention is illustrated. The slide rods31are provided on the support frame23′ such that the circular surface of the elastic member29becomes the rotational surface during the lifted base14rotating and forming an inclining angle. It is noted that the present embodiment has the same function as the preceding embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 9, a further embodiment is illustrated. The upper end of an elastic member32has a support base33with a slide rod34and another elastic member35is arranged to surround the slide rod34. The slide rod31extends into the lifted base14and can provide more sensitive shock absorption. The lifted base14rotates with respect to the circular surface of the elastic member32during ascending.

Referring toFIG. 10, a further embodiment is illustrated. A support frame23with a pivotal shaft24is provided under the lifted base14and a slide limit piece36is provided at center of the pivotal shaft24for a slide rod34sliding therein. The lifted base14rotates with respect to the pivotal shaft24during ascending.

While the invention has been described with referencing to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.