Patent Publication Number: US-6663540-B1

Title: Treadmill with massaging effect

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a treadmill with massaging effect, and more particularly, to a treadmill on whose tread base a massaging body is formed to achieve cushioning and massaging effects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the change of the society type, modern people have more stress and less time to take exercise. As a result, the indoor fitness exercise has been widely accepted. The commercially available fitness equipment, no matter for use in fitness centers or at home, can reach the exercise effect in restricted room. A conventional treadmill disclosed in TW 420012 is provided with sole massager which is installed under the walking belt of the treadmill and fixed on both sides of the treadmill&#39;s frame. The treadmill&#39;s frame includes two cross bars between which a plurality of corresponding U-shaped grooves are extended for accommodating the massager. The massager includes a plurality of rollers passing through the U-shaped grooves. Besides, roller shafts lean against several torsion springs mounted on both cross bars. The torsion springs can support the downward force created by the sole during exercise session so as to reach the massaging effect. 
     However, the above-mentioned treadmill with massaging effect also has following problems when used: 
     1. Uncomfortable: Though the bottom side of the roller shaft of the treadmill&#39;s massager is provided with torsion springs, the rollers are made of hard metal. The direct impact upon the sole makes the operators uncomfortable or even painful after walking for a longer time. 
     2. Bad massaging effect: The above-mentioned massager is provided with several rollers whose circular surfaces are used to massage the sole of the operator in walking. However, the circular surfaces of rollers are so great that the sole can&#39;t be effectively massaged. 
     3. The legs are easily injured when the operator operates it for a longer time. The torsion springs are fitted to the bottom of the shaft at both ends of the rollers. Therefore, all rollers tilt when one end of all rollers is compressed. Accordingly, the thenars of the operators are inclined therewith. The ankles are more easily sprained when the operator walks in a manner of inclined soles of the feet, thereby leading to pains of exercise injuries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a treadmill whose tread base is provided with rubber or wooden massaging nodules. Therefore, the massaging nodules can massage the soles of both feet, thereby achieving the massaging effect on the operator. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a treadmill which has elastic and cushioning effects to prevent the pains of the sole of the feet after walking on the treadmill for a long time. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view of another embodiment of massaging body of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view of a further embodiment of massaging body of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the present invention showing the cushioning massaging state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an improvement of the treadmill of the present invention is shown. The treadmill in accordance with the present invention mainly includes a tread frame  10  having elongated bars  11  extended parallel to each other at both sides thereof. A base plate  14  is interposed between both elongated bars  11 . A roller  12  is positioned between the respective ends of both elongated bars  11 . A walking belt  13  is extended around both rollers  12  in such a way that the walking belt  13  is rotatably movable on the top of the base plate  14 . 
     A massaging body  20 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is mounted on the walking belt  13  and interposed between the top of the base plate  14  and the walking belt  13 . A first embodiment of the massaging body  20  consists of massaging protrusion strips  21  stuck or screwed to the top of the base plate  14 . Moreover, a film  24  made of wear-resistant material is positioned between the top of the massaging protrusion strips  21  and the walking belt  13 . Meanwhile, both sides of the film  24  are fixed on the top of both elongated bars  11  of the tread frame  10 . 
     Based on the assembly of the above-mentioned components, the base plate  14  of the present invention is provided with massaging body  20  formed by a plurality of massaging protrusion strips  21  on the top thereof. The wear-resistant film  24  is interposed between the massaging protrusion strips  21  and the walking belt  13  such that the soles of the operator&#39;s feet are in direct contact with the massaging protrusion strips  21  when treading on the walking belt  13  (see FIG.  5 ). The massaging protrusion strips  21  properly stimulate the soles, thereby achieving a comfortable massaging effect. Moreover, the massaging protrusion strips  21  can be made of rubber and wood material. When the operator treads on the walking belt  13 , the massaging protrusion strips  21  made of rubber exert elastic and cushioning effect so that the soles won&#39;t receive direct impact. As a result, the injuries caused by walking or jogging for a longer time can be avoided. When the massaging protrusion strips  21  are made of wood material, the massaging effect thereof will be greater than that of rubber strips. Unlike the conventional metal rollers, it won&#39;t cause pain of the soles. 
     In addition, the wear-resistant film  24  is interposed between the massaging protrusion strips  21  and the walking belt  13 . As a result, the walking belt  13  won&#39;t be in direct contact with the massaging protrusion strips  21  when the operator walks or jogs on the walking belt  13  and the walking belt  13  is continuously movable backwards. Accordingly, the massaging protrusion strips  21  won&#39;t be damaged because of wearing, thereby prolonging the life thereof. 
     Furthermore, the massaging body  20  of the present invention can be constructed in such a way that a plurality of massaging protrusion strips  21 , as shown in FIG. 3, are laterally extended on a mounting plate  22 , or a plurality of massaging nodules  23 , as shown in FIG. 4, are well-distributed thereon. The mounting plate  22  enhances the fixing effect of the massaging body  20  on the base plate  14 , thereby achieving the convenience in assembly. The massaging nodules  23  arranged on the semicircular cavity  22  create different massaging effects on the soles of the feet of the operators. 
     Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.