Patent Publication Number: US-6210306-B1

Title: Collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to exercise walking devices and more particularly pertains to a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks for providing an exercise device which may be hidden in the sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of exercise walking devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, exercise walking devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,947; U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,787; U.S. Pat. No. 1,919,627; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,608; U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,745; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 369,843. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks. The inventive device includes a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a pair of opposite ends. The treadmill assembly is adapted for a person walking in place thereon. The treadmill assembly has a handle member rotatably coupled thereto such that the handle member may be selectively moved to a collapsed position. A rail assembly slidably moves the treadmill assembly. The rail assembly comprises a pair of elongate brackets. Each of the brackets is spaced and oriented generally parallel to each other. Each of the brackets is removably coupled to a floor of the sleeping cabin. Each of the brackets has a rail member thereon. The rail members generally face each other. A plurality of wheels is each coupled to one of the ends of the treadmill assembly. The wheels are adapted to roll along the rail members such that the treadmill assembly may be moved between opposite ends of the elongate brackets. 
     In these respects, the collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an exercise device which may be hidden in the sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of exercise walking devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing an exercise device which may be hidden in the sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the exercise walking devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art exercise walking devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this the present invention generally comprises a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a pair of opposite ends. The treadmill assembly is adapted for a person walking in place thereon. The treadmill assembly has a handle member rotatably coupled thereto such that the handle member may be selectively moved to a collapsed position. A rail assembly slidably moves the treadmill assembly. The rail assembly comprises a pair of elongate brackets. Each of the brackets is spaced and oriented generally parallel to each other. Each of the brackets is removably coupled to a floor of the sleeping cabin. Each of the brackets has a rail member thereon. The rail members generally face each other. A plurality of wheels is each coupled to one of the ends of the treadmill assembly. The wheels are adapted to roll along the rail members such that the treadmill assembly may be moved between opposite ends of the elongate brackets. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the exercise walking devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art exercise walking devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks for providing an exercise device which may be hidden in the sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks which includes a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a pair of opposite ends. The treadmill assembly is adapted for a person walking in place thereon. The treadmill assembly has a handle member rotatably coupled thereto such that the handle member may be selectively moved to a collapsed position. A rail assembly slidably moves the treadmill assembly. The rail assembly comprises a pair of elongate brackets. Each of the brackets is spaced and oriented generally parallel to each other. Each of the brackets is removably coupled to a floor of the sleeping cabin. Each of the brackets has a rail member thereon. The rail members generally face each other. A plurality of wheels is each coupled to one of the ends of the treadmill assembly. The wheels are adapted to roll along the rail members such that the treadmill assembly may be moved between opposite ends of the elongate brackets. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks that may be stores in any small compartment as under the beds in a motor home, a boat or a sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks  10  generally comprises a treadmill assembly which may be rolled along rails under a bed in a confined space such as the sleeping compartment of a semi-trailer. 
     The treadmill assembly comprises conventional treadmill type walking assembly having a housing  12 . The housing  12  has a bottom wall  14 , a first side wall  15 , a second side wall  16 , a first end wall  17  and a second end wall  18 . A top portion of the housing  12  is substantially open. 
     A pair of rollers  19 ,  20  each has a first  21  and second  22  end. Each of rollers  19 ,  20  has a first end  21  rotatably coupled to an interior surface of the first side wall  15  and a second end  22  rotatably coupled to an interior surface of the second side wall  16 . Each of the rollers  19 ,  20  is substantially adjacent to one of the end walls  17 ,  18 . A walking belt  24  is comprises a continues loop, which is wrapped about rollers. 
     A motor  23  is mounted in the housing  12 . The motor  23  is operatively coupled to a first of the rollers  19  such that the motor  23  may rotate the first roller  19 . The motor  23  is adapted to operate at varying speeds. 
     A power supply  25  supplies power to the motor. The power supply is a cord having a first end  26  operatively coupled to the motor and a second end  27  has an adapter thereon adapted to couple to a cigarette lighter port of a vehicle. 
     A handle member  28  has a middle portion  29  and two leg portions  30 . Each of the leg portions  30  has a first end coupled to an opposite end of the middle portion  29  and each leg portion  30  extends away from the middle portion  29  in a generally parallel direction. Each of the leg portions  30  has a second end  31  rotatably coupled to one of the outside surfaces of the first  15  and second  16  side walls. Each of the second ends of the leg portions is generally positioned adjacent to the second roller  20 . 
     An actuating means  32  turns the motor  23  on and off. The actuating means  32  is operationally coupled to the motor  23 . The actuating means  32  is mounted to the handle member. The actuating means  32  is adapted to control the varying speeds of the motor  23 , and may be equipped with a screen to display, among other items, speed, distance, difficulty level and calories expended. 
     A rail assembly allows the treadmill assembly to slidably roll under a bed. The rail assembly comprises a pair of elongate brackets and a pair of rail members. 
     The pair of elongate brackets  40  each has a front side  41 , a back side  42 , a top edge  43  and a bottom edge  44 . Each of the bottom edges  44  has a lip  45  thereon. Each of the lips  45  extends away from the front side  41  and is orientated generally perpendicular to the front side  41 . Each of the lips  45  has a plurality of holes  46  therein. A plurality of fastening means fasten the brackets to a floor of the sleeping cabin. The fastening means are preferably screws or bolts extending through the holes  46  such that the back sides  42  of the brackets are directed toward each other and the brackets are orientated generally parallel to each other. Ideally, the top edge  43  has a lip  47  thereon on as well such that the elongate brackets  40  are generally U-shaped to prevent injury by someone stepping on the top edge. 
     Each of the pair of rail members  50  is coupled to one of the back sides  42  of the brackets  40 . Each of the rail members  50  comprises an elongate rail having a slot  51  therein. An aperture  52  extends through one of the brackets  40  and a respective rail member  50 . The aperture  52  is located generally between opposite ends of the bracket  40 . Each of the slots  51  is adapted for receiving a wheel. The rail members  50  are also preferably U-shaped and have walls  53  at each end. The rail members  50  face the opposite direction of the U-shaped brackets  40 . 
     A plurality of wheels  60  are coupled to each one of the outside surfaces of the first  18  and second  18  ends walls. Each of the wheels  60  has an axis of rotation orientated generally perpendicular to the first  18  and second  20  end walls. The brackets  40  are positioned such that the wheels  60  on one of the end walls are located within the slot  51  of one of the rail members  50  and such that the wheels  60  on the other of the end walls are located within the slot  51  of the other of the rail members  50 . The treadmill assembly  12  may slidably move between a pair of opposite ends of the slots  51 . 
     A locking means selectively locks the treadmill assembly in a position generally adjacent to a first or second end of the slots. The locking means comprises a rod  62 . The rod  62  has a first end  63  and second end  64 . The rod  62  slidably extends through the aperture  51  such that the first end  63  of the rod  62  extends into the slot  52  whereby the wheels  60  may not travel by the rod  62 . A biasing means biases the first end  63  of the rod  62  into the slot  51 . Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, two rods are used which have second ends  64  coupled together by a handle  65 . Each rod  62  has its own aperture  52  to extend through. The rods  62  travel through a housing  66 . Each of the rods has a middle portion having a disc  67  thereon for urging against by the biasing means which is preferably a spring  68  mounted in the housing  66 . 
     In use, the treadmill  12  is stored under a bed in the sleeping cabin of a semi-trailer. The rod  62  is pulled out of the slot  51  so that the treadmill  12  may roll to an opposite end of the bracket  40  away from the bed. The treadmill  12  is then used as any conventional treadmill. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.