Patent Publication Number: US-8118711-B2

Title: Security apparatus for treadmill

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, to a security apparatus for a treadmill. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     Treadmills are often used in gymnasiums or at home. To avoid injury of a child due to careless or accidental actuation of a treadmill or injury of an adult due to falling on a treadmill, a treadmill is often equipped with a security apparatus. The security apparatus includes a first unit provided on a dashboard of the treadmill and a second unit tied to a person who intends to use the treadmill. When the second unit is in contact with the first unit, the treadmill can be actuated. Once the second unit is removed from the first unit, the treadmill is stopped. 
     In a plug-and-socket security apparatus, the first unit is a socket while the second unit is a plug. The socket includes a switch disposed therein. Once inserted in the socket, the plug pushes the switch so that the treadmill can be actuated. Once removed from the socket, the plug releases the switch. However, the switch would fail due to fatigue after some time of use so that the treadmill could be actuated although the plug is removed from the switch. 
     In a magnetic security apparatus, the first unit includes a conductive element disposed in a dashboard, two rods movably inserted through the dashboard, two elastic elements for keeping the rods extended from the dashboard and a magnetic element disposed in the dashboard. The second unit is a ferromagnetic card. Once attracted to the magnetic element, the ferromagnetic card pushes the rods into the dashboard so that the rods are in contact with the conductive element. Thus, the treadmill can be actuated. Once removed from the magnetic element, the ferromagnetic card releases the rods so that the treadmill cannot be actuated. However, due to fatigue after some time of use, the elastic elements would fail to remove the rods from the conductive element although the ferromagnetic card is removed from the magnetic element. 
     Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a treadmill with a durable and reliable security apparatus. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the security apparatus includes a plug and a socket. The plug includes a casing and a conductive card. The conductive card includes a first portion disposed in the casing and a second portion extended from the casing. The socket includes a casing and two conductive elements. The casing includes a slot defined therein. The conductive elements are disposed in the casing so that the conductive elements are isolated from each other normally but connected to each other through the conductive card when the conductive card is inserted into the casing through the slot. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a security apparatus for a treadmill according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the security apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial view of the security apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the security apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a treadmill-used dashboard equipped with the security apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a person running on a treadmill equipped with the dashboard shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a security apparatus for a treadmill according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial view of the security apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the security apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a treadmill  92  is equipped with a security apparatus  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The treadmill  92  includes a dashboard  921 . The security apparatus  100  is disposed on the dashboard  921 . 
     The security apparatus  100  includes a socket  10  and a plug  20 . The socket  10  includes a casing  11  and two conductive clips  12  disposed in the casing  11 . The casing  11  is made of an isolating material. The casing  11  includes a slot  111  defined in a ceiling and two lugs  113  formed on two opposite walls. Each of the lugs  113  includes a slot  114  defined therein. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the slot  111  is defined between two opposite walls. A shoulder  112  is formed on each of the walls between which the slot  111  is defined. A screw can be driven into the dashboard  921  through the slots  114  so that the casing  11  is attached to the dashboard  921 . 
     The conductive clips  12  are made of copper for example. Each of the conductive clips  12  includes two elastic prongs  121  each formed with a lower end  122 . Access to the conductive clips  12  is allowed through the slot  111 . Each of the conductive clips  12  is connected to a wire  91 . The wires  91  are connected to a circuit that is used to drive a motor of the treadmill  92 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the conductive clips  12  is disposed in the slot  111 . The lower end  122  of each of the elastic prongs  121  is supported on a related one of the shoulders  112 . 
     The plug  20  includes a casing  21  and a conductive card  22  extended through the casing  21 . The casing  21  is made of an isolating material. The casing  21  includes an upper shell  211  and a lower shell  212  attached to each other. The lower shell  212  includes a slot  213  defined therein. 
     The conductive card  22  includes a first portion in the casing  21  and a second portion outside the casing  21 . The second portion of the conductive card  22  is extended through the slot  213 . 
     Normally, the conductive clips  12  are isolated from each other so that the treadmill  92  cannot be actuated. To use the treadmill  92 , the conductive card  22  is inserted into the slot  111  and brought into contact with the conductive clips  12  so that the treadmill  92  can be turned on. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the casing  21  is tied to a person running on the treadmill  92  through a rope. If the person falls, the conductive card  22  will be removed from the conductive clips  12 , thus rendering the circuit open so that the treadmill  92  is stopped. Therefore, the person will not be cut with the treadmill  92 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , a security apparatus  200  includes a socket  30  and a plug  20  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The socket  30  includes a casing, two conductive strips  12 , two elastic elements  34  and a partition  35 . The casing is made of an isolating material. The casing includes two identical halves  31 . Each of the halves  31  includes a space  311  defined therein, a slit  313  defined in a ceiling, a slit  314  defined in a wall, a plate  315  extended from an internal side and a lug  316  extended from an external side. The space  311  includes an opening  312 . Both of the slits  313  and  314  are in communication with the space  31 . The lug  316  includes a slit  317  defined therein. 
     The conductive strips  33  are made copper for example. Each of the conductive strips  33  includes a connective portion  311 , a contact portion  312  extended from the connective portion  311  and a guiding portion  313  extended from the contact portion  312 . The connective portion  311  of the each of the conductive strips  33  is located against the plate  315  of a related one of the halves  31 , extended through the slit  314  of the related half  31  and connected to a wire  91 . The contact portion  312  and the guiding portion  313  of each of the conductive strips  33  are disposed in the space  311  of a related one of the halves  31 , near the slit  313 . Access to the conductive strips  33  is allowed through the slits  313 . 
     Each of the elastic elements  34  is disposed in the space  311  of a related one of the halves  31 . Each of the elastic strips  34  includes an end in contact with the internal side of the related half  31  and another end in contact with the contact portion  332  of a related one of the conductive strips  33 . That is, each of the elastic strips  34  is compressed between the internal side of the related half  31  and the contact portion  332  of the related conductive strip  33 . 
     The partition  35  is located between the halves  31  so that the conductive strips  33  are isolated from each other. 
     The halves  31  are attached to each other after the conductive strips  33 , the elastic elements  34  and the partition  35  are disposed in the halves  31 . When the halves  31  are joined together, the slits  313  together become a slot through which the card  22  can be extended. 
     A screw can be driven into the dashboard  921  through the slits  317  so that the casing, which consists of the halves  31 , is attached to the dashboard  921 . The dashboard  921  includes slits  922  for receiving tabs extended from a lower face of the casing  21 . The dashboard  921  includes a slot  923  in communication with the slot, which consists of the slits  313 . 
     Normally, the conductive strips  33  are isolated from each other so that the treadmill  92  cannot be actuated. To use the treadmill  92 , the conductive card  22  is inserted into the slot, which consists of the slits  313 , and brought into contact with the conductive strips  33  so that the treadmill  92  can be turned on. The insertion of the conductive card  22  is facilitated with the guiding portions  333  of the conductive strips  33 . The conductive card  22  is in form contact with the contact portions  332  of the conductive strips  33  because of inherent elasticity of the conductive strips  33 . 
     The security apparatus of the present invention is durable and reliable because the conductive card is in contact with the conductive clips or strips that retain the elasticity and, therefore, the workability longer than the switch or rods discussed in the RELATED PRIOR ART. 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.