Patent Publication Number: US-2019168097-A1

Title: Belly-supporting treadmill

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, to a belly-supporting treadmill. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     There are various types of exercise machines to facilitate users to exercise various muscles. For example, weight-training exercise machines are used for training aims, squat exercise machines are used for training hips and legs, and treadmills are used to facilitate to walk and/or run fast thereon. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,337, a treadmill includes a movable surface  1 , a housing  2  and support bars  3 . Movable surface  1  is a planar face. The movable surface  1  includes step slats  4 . Step slats  4  are interconnected so that they together become a loop. The loop is driven by a motor  33  inserted in the housing  2 . A user can walk and/or run on the movable surface  1 . The user can hold the support bars  3  to help him or her keep balance while accelerating or decelerating. However, the user might not have enough strength or time to hold the support bars  3  to avoid falling. 
     A similar treadmill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,343,016. However, upper belt portion  26 B of closed loop treadmill belt  26  extends in a concave manner. No support bars, rails or handles are disclosed to help the user keep balance in exercise. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,647,  FIGS. 33-35  in particular, a treadmill includes a frame  12 , a continuous belt  36  supported on frame  12 , a blocking dummy  18  supported on frame  12 , and a tether  250  for tying a user to blocking dummy  18  for example. Although provided around the user&#39;s waist, tether  250  is inadequate to prevent the user from falling. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,865, a treadmill is made with a fore frame strut  115 , an aft frame strut  130 , a beam  160 , an aft waist harness  136 , a fore waist harness  138  and an overhead harness  151 . Fore and aft frame struts  115  and  130  are supported on a base. Beam  160  is supported on fore and aft frame struts  115  and  130 . Aft waist harness  136  is used to tie a user to aft frame strut  130 . Fore waist harness  138  is used to tie the user to fore frame strut  115 . Overhead harness  151  is used to tie a user to beam  160 . However, it is troublesome to tie the harnesses  136 ,  138  and  151 . Moreover, harnesses  136 ,  138  and  151  might be inadequate to prevent the user from falling since they are elastic tethers. What is worse, harnesses  136 ,  138  and  151  might strangle the user should the user fall. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,675,838, a treadmill includes a restricting unit  50  that includes two straps  51  and  52 . Strap  51  includes a retaining portion  56  formed between a left restricting portion  57  and a right restricting portion  58 . A user places his or her waist against the retaining portion  56  while walking or running on the treadmill. However, restraining unit  50  might be inadequate to prevent the user from falling since the straps  51  and  52  are elastic tethers. 
     The present invention is therefore 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 belly-supporting treadmill. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the belly-supporting treadmill includes a base, a loop supported on the base, a strut supported on the base and a contact unit connected to the strut above the loop. The contact unit is adapted to contact a user&#39;s belly to prevent the user from falling while exercising on the loop. 
     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 five embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a treadmill according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a protective unit of the treadmill shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the protective unit of the treadmill shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the protective unit shown in  FIG. 2  and a user; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the protective unit shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a protective unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a protective unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a protective unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a protective unit according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the protective unit shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a treadmill  10  includes a base  11 , a frame (not numbered) and a protective unit  50  supported on base  11 . Base  11  includes two lateral bars  12 , a shell  13 , a loop  14 , a front support  15  and a rear support  16 . Lateral bars  12  are located on two lateral sides of base  11 . A lower face of base  11  is connected to front and rear supports  15  and  16 . Front and rear supports  15  and  16  are laid on a floor and operable to change the tilt of the base  11 . 
     Shell  13  is preferably supported on a front portion of base  11 . Shell  13  is used to cover and protect electrical and mechanical parts such as a circuit board, a motor and a transmission that includes gears, chains, pulleys and/or belts. 
     A loop  14  is provided around a platform (not shown) and at least two rollers (not shown). The platform and the rollers are located between and supported on the lateral bars  12 . Loop  14  is preferably a continuous belt. In another embodiment, loop  14  can be made of step slats connected to one another. 
     The frame includes a left banister  20 , a right banister  30  and a front sub-frame  40 . A user can hold any portion of the frame to keep balance. Structurally, left banister  20  is similar to right banister  30 . Left banister  20  includes a front post  22 , a rear post  24  and a bar  26 . Front and rear posts  22  and  24  are supported on one of lateral bars  12 . Bar  26  is supported on front and rear posts  22  and  24 . Right banister  30  includes a front post  32 , a rear post  34  and a bar  36 . Front and rear posts  32  and  34  are supported on the other lateral bar  12 . Bar  36  is supported on front and rear post  32  and  34 . 
     Front sub-frame  40  includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion. The upper portion includes a bent crossbar  41  made with two ends connected to front posts  22  and  32 . Crossbar  41  is located behind front posts  22  and  32 . 
     The middle portion includes another bent crossbar  42  and two longitudinal bars  43  and  44 . Crossbar  42  includes two ends connected to crossbar  41 . Each of longitudinal bars  43  and  44  includes an upper end connected to crossbar  42 . 
     The lower portion includes another crossbar  45 . Crossbar  45  is a rectilinear element including two ends connected to front post  22  and  32 . Crossbar  45  will be further described. 
     While using treadmill  10 , the user walks or runs on the surface of loop  14 . Hence, loop  14  is moved on base  11 . The user can hold left and right banisters  20  and  30  or the upper, middle or lower portion of front sub-frame  40 . Thus, the user can change his or her poses, keep balance and exercise various portion of his or her body such as arms, waist or legs. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a mount  46  is connected to the lower portion of front sub-frame  40 , i.e., crossbar  45 . A control unit  471  is connected to mount  46  so that the former is pivotable relative to the latter and that the former is detachable from the latter. Control unit  471  is located between longitudinal bar  43  and  44 . By operating control unit  471 , the user executes functions of treadmill  10 . Control unit  471  can be a control panel or a portable communication device such as a smart phone and iPad. Control unit  471  includes a display for showing data and software programs run therein. Control unit  471  is electrically connected to the circuit board, the motor and/or the transmission. By observing control unit  471 , the user understands the state of treadmill  10  and accordingly adjusts treadmill  10 , such as on or off, acceleration or deceleration, tilt and resistance against the movement of loop  14 . The resistance is frictional or magnetic. Two types of resistance are preferred. In this case, a controller  28  is provided on left banister  20  and operable to adjust the frictional resistance. Another controller  38  is provided on right banister  30  and operable to adjust the magnetic resistance. 
     Protective unit  50  is connected to two lugs  47  and  48  that are connected to crossbar  45  by welding. Protective unit  50  includes a strut  51  and a contact unit  52 . Strut  51  is connected to lugs  47  and  48 . Contact unit  52  is connected to strut  51  and located above loop  14 . In use, contact unit  52  is operable to contact the user&#39;s belly U 4  to help the user keep the user&#39;s body U 1  in balance ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Preferably, contact unit  52  includes two buffers  521  and  522 . Each of buffers  521  and  522  is a soft tubular element preferably made of a foam material. 
     Strut  51  can be a rod, a tube or a telescopic element. Strut  51  is preferably connected to lugs  47  and  48  via a connective unit  60 . In another embodiment, strut  51  can however be connected to lugs  47  and  48  by welding or threaded bolts. 
     Preferably, strut  51  is a telescopic element that includes an external tube  53  and an internal tube  54 . External tube  53  includes two apertures  532  and two slots  533 . Apertures  532  are made in two opposite sides of external tube  53 , near an open end of external tube  53 . Slots  533  are made in the opposite sides of external tube  53 . Each slot  533  is located near a corresponding aperture  532 . Internal tube  54  includes a yoke  541  formed at an end. Yoke  541  is a V-shaped portion so that internal tube  54 , which includes yoke  541 , is a Y-shaped element. Yoke  541  includes two branches each of which is fitted in and adhered to a corresponding one of buffers  521  and  522 . Hence, contact unit  52  is V-shaped. Another end of internal tube  54  is inserted in an open end  531  of external tube  53  and kept there by a threaded bolt  534 . Threaded bolt  534  is operable to allow movement of internal tube  54  in external tube  53  and keep them in a desired position relative to each other. Hence, the total length L of contact unit  52  is adjustable. 
     Connective unit  60  includes two connecting elements  61  and  62 , two lateral strips  63 , a pivot  70 , two washers  72  and  73 , two pins  74  and  75  and a pad unit  80 . Connecting element  61  is preferably in the form of a tube while connecting element  62  is preferably in the form of a plate. Connecting elements  61  and  62  are located between and connected to lateral strips  63  so that lateral strips  63  are separated from each other by a gap. Lateral strips  63  are identical to each other. Each lateral strips  63  includes a primary aperture  64 , positioning apertures  65  and a recess  66 . 
     Connective unit  60  and external tube  53  are located between lugs  47  and  48 . Thus, one lateral strip  63  is located between lug  47  and external tube  53 , and the other lateral strip  63  is located between lug  48  and external tube  53 . Pivot  70  is inserted in apertures (not numbered) made in lugs  47  and  48 , primary apertures  64  of lateral strips  63  and apertures  532  of external tube  53 . Pin  74  is inserted in an aperture  71  transversely made in pivot  70 , thereby locking pivot  70 . Thus, connective unit  60  is pivotable relative to crossbar  45  about pivot  70 . 
     Now, pin  75  is inserted in a selected one of positioning apertures  65  of each lateral strip  63  and slots  533  of external tube  53 , thereby preventing pivoting of external tube  53  of strut  51  relative to connective unit  60 . However, external tube  53  of strut  51  is pivotable with connective unit  60 . Now, recesses  66  are located below and at a distance from crossbar  45 . Connecting elements  61  and  62  are located on two opposite sides of crossbar  45 , thereby confining the pivoting of connective unit  60  relative to crossbar  45  in a range. 
     That is, pin  75  is insertable in various positioning apertures  65  to keep strut  51  at various angles relative to loop  14 . The distance between the center of weight of strut  51  and pivot  70  is larger than the distance between pivot  70  and connecting element  61 . Hence, protective unit  50  tends to pivot clockwise ( FIG. 3 ), thereby keeping contact unit  52  and surface  14 A of loop  14  at a height H. Height H is in proportion to total length L. Larger height H, larger total length L. Smaller height H, smaller total length L. 
     In the first embodiment, washer  72  is located between lug  48  and one lateral strip  63 , and washer  73  is located between lug  47  and the other lateral strip  63 . Pivot  70  is inserted in washers  72  and  73  to reduce the area of contact of lugs  47  and  48  with lateral strips  63 . In another embodiment, washers  72  and  73  are replaced with bosses formed on lugs  47  and  48  to simplify the connection of connective unit  60  to frame  40 . 
     In this embodiment, pad unit  80  includes a single solid pad  81  secured to a face of connecting element  61  near mount  46 . Solid pad  81  can be abutted against mount  46  as connective unit  60  is pivoted. Thus, impact of connective unit  60  on mount  46  is reduced, and noise is also reduced. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , contact unit  52  is supported by strut  51  and in contact with body U 1 , from a left flank U 5  to right flank U 6  via belly U 4 , of the user who is walking or running on loop  14 . Belly U 4  is a central portion of body U 1 . Hence, contact unit  52  provides better support to the user by supporting belly U 4  than supporting upper body U 2  or lower body, thereby reducing the possibility of falling. It is helpful to use protective unit  50  on treadmill  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is a treadmill according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except for two things. Firstly, pad unit  80  includes an additional pad  85 . Pad  85  is preferably a tubular pad provided on and around connecting element  62 . Pad  85  is adapted to contact crossbar  45  to reduce impact of connective unit  60  on crossbar  45  and reduce noise. 
     Secondly, pad unit  80  includes a spring-biased pad instead of pad  81 . The spring-biased pad includes a threaded bolt  82 , a compression spring  83  and a nut  84 . Threaded bolt  82  includes a body and an enlarged head. The head of threaded bolt  82  is adapted to contact mount  46 . The body of threaded bolt  82  is inserted in compression spring  83  and connecting element  61  before it is engaged with nut  84 . The head of compression spring  83  and nut  84  are located on two opposite sides of connecting element  61 , thereby allowing threaded bolt  82  to move freely and keeping threaded bolt  82  on connecting element  61  against compression spring  83 . Compression spring  83  is compressed between the head of threaded bolt  82  and connecting element  61 , thereby biasing the head of threaded bolt  82  toward mount  46 . Compression spring  83  can be replaced with at least one elastic disc in another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is a treadmill according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except that pad unit  80  includes an additional pad  86  secured to a portion of external tube  53  of strut  51  near crossbar  45 . Pad  86  is a solid pad adapted for reducing impact of connective unit  60  and protective unit  50  on crossbar  45  and reduces noise. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is a treadmill according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is like the first embodiment except for two things. Firstly, each lateral strip  63  of connective unit  60  additionally includes a secondary aperture  641  near primary aperture  64 . Secondly, connective unit  60  includes another pin  751  inserted in secondary apertures  641  of lateral strips  63  and apertures  532  of external tube  53  to pivotally connect protective unit  50  to connective unit  60 . Pin  75  is inserted in positioning apertures  65  of lateral strips  63  and slots  533  of external tube  53  as mentioned above. Thus, external tube  53  of strut  51  is kept perpendicular to surface  14 A of loop  14 . Now, protective unit  50  is in a state suitable for storage. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , there is a treadmill according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is like the first embodiment except for several things. Firstly, strut  51  includes two supporting plates  55  instead of yoke  541 . Supporting plates  55  are attached to two opposite sides of external tube  53  by welding. Each supporting plate  55  is made with an aperture  551  and a slot  552 . Pivot  70  is inserted in apertures  551  of supporting plates  55 . Pin  75  is inserted in slots  552  of supporting plates  55 . Thus, supporting plates  55 , which are secured to external tube  53 , are connected to connective unit  60 . Accordingly, external tube  53  does include any aperture or slot. 
     Secondly, internal tube  54  includes an arched plate  524  instead of yoke  541 . Arched plate  524  is secured to an end of internal tube  54 . 
     Thirdly, contact unit  52  includes a buffer  523  instead of buffers  521  and  522 . Buffer  523  is attached to a face of arched plate  524  near the user. Arched plate  524  includes a connective portion  525  and a restricting portion  526  on an opposite face. Connective portion  525  is pivotally connected to internal tube  54 . Restricting portion  526  is operable to confine the pivoting of contact unit  52  relative to internal tube  54  in a range. 
     Fourthly, pad unit  80  further includes a solid pad  862  secured to crossbar  45 . Solid pad  862  is adapted to contact connecting element  62  and reduce impact of connective unit  60  on crossbar  45 . 
     The present invention has been described via the 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.