Abstract:
A buffering structure is coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device. The buffering structure comprises a rockshaft and a buffering cushion. The rockshaft is mounted on the bottom of the support device and pivotally connected to the treadmill. The buffering cushion is connected to the outer surface of the rockshaft. The rockshaft and the buffering cushion are able to buffer the action route of the support device. As a result, the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a buffering structure, and more particularly to a buffering structure of a treadmill to buffer the action route of a support device by means of a rockshaft and a buffering cushion, wherein the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In order to protect the user&#39;s legs from being hurt by excessive large counterforce created transiently by the runway platform, the common commercial treadmill generally has a buffering mechanism. However, the general buffering mechanism has poor performance and only provides single buffer action. Therefore, it is unable to provide different degrees of adjustment for different users. Accordingly, the exerciser&#39;s legs, especially knees and ankles, may get injured easily. 
         [0003]    Although the existing exercise treadmill may equip with another buffering mechanism to stagedly adjust the degree of shock absorption. In addition, it has complicated configuration and is easy to get damaged. In addition, it has high cost, resulting in degraded competitiveness. In addition, every user must adjust the buffering structure individually, resulting in the inconvenience in use and affecting the user&#39;s desire to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In view of the conventional drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a buffering structure, which has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged. 
         [0005]    In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, a buffering structure is coupled to a treadmill to buffer an action route of a support device. The buffering structure comprises a rockshaft and a buffering cushion. The rockshaft is mounted on the bottom of the support device and pivotally connected to the treadmill. The buffering cushion is connected to the outer surface of the rockshaft. 
         [0006]    As a result, the buffering structure of the present invention has simple configuration and low cost, and it is able to adjust the buffer route and not easy to get damaged. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view showing the treadmill in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is coupled to; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the buffering cushion departs from the ascending/descending route of the support device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view showing the ascending/descending mechanism in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the buffering cushion enters the ascending/descending route of the support device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a buffering structure of the present invention is coupled to a treadmill  1 , wherein the treadmill  1  comprises a base  11 . Two lateral plates  111  are mounted respectively on both sides of the base  1 . A runway platform  112  is mounted between these two lateral plates  111 . A runway belt  113  is sleeved onto the surface of the runway platform  112 . In addition, an ascending/descending mechanism  12  is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the front end of the base  11 . The ascending/descending mechanism  12  has a buffering structure  2  (3) on the inside. In addition, the ascending/descending mechanism  12  comprises a connection plate  121  having respective lateral frames  122  on both sides. The inner lateral surface of each lateral frame  122  is pivotally, connected to a respective support device  123 . The support device  123  is designed to support the weights of the runway platform  112  and the runway belt  113 . In addition, an elastic device  125  is held between the front end of the support device  123  and the connection plate  121 . The elastic device  125  is designed to absorb the downward pressing force from the support device  123 . In addition, an ascending/descending rod set  124  is slidably positioned in the support device  123 . The ascending/descending rod set  124  is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the front end of the base  11 . In addition, two support frames  13  are vertically, laterally mounted on both sides of the connection plate  121 . The top ends of the support frames  13  are connected to a controller  14 . Two handles  15  are extended from the rear end of the controller  14  to allow the user to hold them. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the buffering structure  2  of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The buffering structure  2  is designed to buffer the action route of the support device  123 . The buffering structure  2  comprises a rockshaft  21 , a positioning device  22 , a control rod  23 , a grip  24  and a buffering cushion  25 . The rockshaft  21  is parallel-mounted on the bottom of the support device  123 . One end of the rockshaft  21  is pivotally connected to the bottom of the lateral frame  122  of the treadmill  1 . The other end of the rockshaft  21  is pivotally connected to one end of the positioning device  22 . The other end of the positioning device  22  is pivotally connected to the bottom of the lateral frame  122  of the treadmill  1 . The positioning device  22  is designed to confine the shift angle of the rockshaft  21 . In addition, the outer surface of the rockshaft  21  is connected to the buffering cushion  25 . The buffering cushion  25  is of an elastic material. The buffering cushion  25  is such as a rubber cushion or an equivalent cushion. The outer surface of the rockshaft  21  is connected to the control rod  23 . The top end of the control rod  23  is fixedly connected to the grip  24 . As a result, the user can shift the rockshaft  21  by means of the grip  24  and the control rod  23  so as to further control the positions of the rockshaft  21  and the buffering cushion  25 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the utilization status of the above-mentioned components is shown. When in use, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention may have two adjustment stages. 
         [0018]    When the user requires a larger buffer route, the rockshaft  21  can be shifted toward one side by means of the grip  24  and the control rod  23  so as to enable the buffering cushion  25  to depart from the ascending/descending route of the support device  123 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Consequently, when the user operates the treadmill  1 , the support device  123  supports the weights of the runway platform  112 , the runway belt  113  and the user, and the support device  123  achieves the buffer effect by means of the elastic device  125  held between the front end of the support device  123  and the connection plate  121 , wherein the elastic device  125  has a complete, large action route since it is completely not interfered with by the buffering cushion  25 . 
         [0019]    When the user requires a smaller buffer route, the rockshaft  21  can be shifted toward the other side by means of the grip  24  and the control rod  23  so as to enable the buffering cushion  25  to enter the ascending/descending route of the support device  123 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Consequently, when the user operates the treadmill  1 , the support device  123  supports the weights of the runway platform  112 , the runway belt  113  and the user, and the support device  123  achieves the buffer effect by means of the elastic device  125  held between the front end of the support device  123  and the connection plate  121 , wherein the elastic device  125  has a smaller action route since it is interfered with by the buffering cushion  25 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Before describing the second preferred embodiment, it is specially noted that the support device  123  is pivotally connected to one end of the lateral frame  122  and raised gradually toward the other end. The buffering structure  3  of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is coupled with the treadmill  1 . The buffering structure  3  is designed to buffer the action route of the support device  123 . The buffering structure  3  comprises a connection rod set  31 , at least two control devices  32 ,  33 , at least two positioning devices  34 ,  35 , and at least two buffering cushions  36 ,  37 . 
         [0021]    The connection rod set  31  has a first rockshaft  311  and a second rockshaft  312 , which are pivotally connected to the bottom of the lateral frame  122  of the treadmill  1 . The first rockshaft  311  and a second rockshaft  312  are parallel to and located against each other, and they affect each other. The both ends of the first rockshaft  311  are respectively, pivotally connected to the control devices  32 ,  33 . The control devices  32 ,  33  are extended toward the outside of the lateral frame  122 . In addition, the control devices  32 ,  33  can shift in opposite directions by means of the first rockshaft  311 , and they are protrudent to the outside of the lateral frame  122  oppositely. In addition, two positioning parts  321 ,  331  are extended respectively from the outer surfaces of the control devices  32 ,  33 . The positioning parts  321 ,  331  have a triangular form. The positioning devices  34 ,  35  are respectively mounted on the laterals of the positioning parts  321 ,  331 . The positioning devices  34 ,  35  have respective elastic rods  341 ,  351  and respective rolling wheels  342 ,  352 . The elastic rods  341 ,  351  are bended and have a compression route. The elastic rods  341 ,  351  are connected to the inner sides of the lateral frame  122  of the treadmill  1  via respective one ends thereof. In addition, the respective other ends of the elastic rods  341 ,  351  are movably connected to the rolling wheels  342 ,  352 . The rolling wheels  342 ,  352  are located to lean against the laterals of the positioning parts  321 ,  331 . The buffering cushions  36 ,  37  are respectively, pivotally connected to both ends of the second rockshaft  312 . The buffering cushions  36 ,  37  can shift in opposite directions by means of the second rockshaft  312 . When the buffering cushions  36 ,  37  shift in opposite directions, the outer sides of the buffering cushions  36 ,  37  can lean against a retaining part  122 A (shown in  FIG. 6 ) extending from the bottom of the lateral frame  122  so as to position the buffering cushions  36 ,  37  in the buffer action route of the support device  123 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the utilization status of the above-mentioned components is shown. When in use, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention may have two adjustment stages. 
         [0023]    When the user requires a smaller buffer route, the first rockshaft  311  can be shifted toward one side by means of the control device  33 , wherein the first rockshaft  311  can also shift the second rockshaft  312  to enable the buffering cushion  37  to enter the ascending/descending route of the support device  123 . The support device  123  is located slantingly and the buffering cushion  36  is located more near one end of the support device  123  that pivotally connects to the lateral frame  122  so the buffer route is small. 
         [0024]    On the contrary, when the user requires a larger buffer route, the first rockshaft  311  can be shifted toward one side by means of the control device  32 , wherein the first rockshaft  311  can also shift the second rockshaft  312  to enable the buffering cushion  36  to enter the ascending/descending route of the support device  123 . The support device  123  is located slantingly and the buffering cushion  36  is located far from one end of the support device  123  that, pivotally connects to the lateral frame  122  so the buffer route is large. 
         [0025]    In addition, it is worth to mention that in the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, the buffering structures  2 ,  3  are mounted inside the ascending/descending mechanism  12  of the treadmill  1 . However, the buffering structures  2 ,  3  are generally designed to cooperate with the support device  123  that supports the weights of the runway platform  112 , the runway belt  113  and the user. Thus, it can be shown that the buffering structure  2  only needs to be mounted between a hold of the runway platform  112  and the runway belt  113  and the action route of the hold. The buffering structure  2  is not limited to be disposed inside the ascending/descending mechanism  12 . The foregoing purposes and effects can be achieved as long as the buffering structure  2  is disposed properly.