Patent Description:
For those who like to exercise and practice fitness, treadmills are generally popular because they are not affected by the outdoor environment and climate. The traditional treadmill is mainly equipped with a set of driving wheels and a set of driven wheels at both ends of the base, and then a running belt is passed around the driving wheels and the driven wheels to form a loop, and the upper side of the loop-shaped running belt is located above the platform of the base. The body weight acting on the upper side of the running belt is supported by the platform; the driving wheel is driven by a motor, so as to operate with the driven wheel to drive the running belt to rotate cyclically.

Since the running belt of the traditional treadmill is relatively rigid, in order to improve the comfort of running on the treadmill, <CIT> provides a treadmill with a cushioning effect, which includes a base, a cushioning set and a treadmill, and the base has a fixed part and a force-receiving part arranged at intervals. The cushioning set includes an elastic cushioning block, a fixed seat, a rotating seat and a support plate. The elastic cushioning block is arranged on the force-receiving part, the fixed seat is fixed on the fixed part, and the rotating seat is fixed on one end of the treadmill. The two ends of the support plate are respectively pivoted on the fixed seat and the rotating seat. The treadmill rotates relative to the support plate with the rotating seat, and keeps the support plate in contact with the elastic cushioning block, so that the treadmill can switch between a folded position and a use position relative to the base, thereby, providing a cushioning effect when the user runs on the treadmill.

<CIT> provides a curved treadmill has a frame assembly, a handrail assembly, and a belt assembly. The frame assembly has a support frame, two arced guide tracks, two cushions, multiple guide wheels, and multiple positioning wheels. Each arced guide track is concaved downward. The cushions are mounted on the arced guide tracks. The guide wheels are mounted on the support frame. The positioning wheels are mounted between two ends of the support frame. The belt assembly includes two connection belts and multiple pedals. The connection belts are wrapped around the guide wheels, and one side of each connection belt abuts the positioning wheels. The pedals are mounted on the connection belts and optionally abut the cushions. Therefore, with the cushions, impacts may be absorbed and noises may be reduced. Besides, by abutting the positioning wheels, the connection belt may not be distorted sideward, and the noises are reduced further.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bounce treadmill that allows a user to step on the running belt of the treadmill and run while having a bouncing function.

The present invention provides a bounce treadmill, as claimed in claim <NUM>, comprising: a base with a drive mechanism disposed between opposite two side walls, the drive mechanism being driven by a motor to drive a pair of transmission elements to rotate cyclically in the longitudinal direction of the base; and a plurality of running belt units, connected between the pair of transmission elements, and the plurality of running belt units being disposed along surrounding direction of the transmission elements and separated from each other, wherein each of the running belt units at least including: a fixed seat, with two opposite ends being respectively fixed to the pair of transmission elements; at least one elastic element, with two ends being respectively fixed to the two opposite ends of the fixed seat; and a running belt piece, with two ends being respectively fixed to the two opposite ends of the fixed seat and a lower surface of the running belt piece being connected with the elastic element. With the bounce treadmill, when a user steps on the running belt piece to deform the running belt piece, the elastic element provides an upward elastic force to form a buffering effect, so that the running belt has a bouncing function at the same time.

Preferably, the elastic element is an elastic cable or a flat elastic strip, and so on; the running belt piece is supported in the longitudinal direction by the elastic cable or the flat elastic strip, so as to support the running belt piece to bend and deform downward in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, at least one limiting structure is formed on the lower surface of the running belt piece, and the elastic cable or the flat elastic strip is limited by the limiting structure. Thereby, the cable supporting under the running belt piece will not be displaced form the running belt piece.

In an embodiment, the limiting structure is a groove formed on the lower surface of the running belt piece, and the elastic cable or the flat elastic strip is accommodated in the groove; thereby the groove limits the lateral displacement of the elastic cable or the flat elastic strap.

In an embodiment, the limiting structure is formed as a through hole penetrating opposite sides of the running belt piece, and the elastic cable or the flat elastic strip passes through the through hole; thereby the through hole limits the displacement of the elastic cable or the flat elastic strap in all directions.

The fixed seat has a beam frame, and two ends of the beam frame are respectively provided with a convex seat, upper surfaces of the convex seats are higher than upper surface of the beam frame, and the two ends of the elastic element are respectively fixed to the convex seats to keep a space between the lower surface of the elastic element and the upper surface of the beam frame. With this space, when the running belt piece is subjected to a stepping force, the deformation amount of the elastic element being bent and deformed downward can be accommodated.

Preferably, along the surrounding direction of the transmission element, corresponding sides of two adjacent running belt pieces are respectively formed with surfaces of complementary shapes. With the surfaces of the corresponding sides of the two adjacent running belt pieces having complementary shapes, the two running belt pieces can support each other to avoid a gap when the two running belt pieces are simultaneously subjected to a downward force, thereby preventing the user's foot from sinking into between the two running belt pieces.

In an embodiment, the surfaces of the complementary shapes of the corresponding sides of the two adjacent running belt pieces are inclined surfaces.

In another embodiment, the surfaces of the complementary shapes of the corresponding sides of the two adjacent running belt pieces are step surfaces.

Preferably, the driving mechanism further comprises a pair of driving wheels and a pair of driven wheels, the pair of driving wheels being disposed between two opposite side walls at one end of the base, and the pair of driven wheels being disposed on the opposite sides of the base between two opposite side walls at the other end, the transmission element surrounding the pair of driving wheels and the pair of driven wheels, and the driving wheels being connected to the driving motor.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:.

As shown in <FIG>, the bounce treadmill provided by the present invention comprises: a base <NUM>, a drive mechanism <NUM>, and a running belt <NUM> composed of a plurality of running belt units 3A; wherein, the base <NUM> has a first side wall 11A and a second side wall 11B disposed on opposite sides. A plurality of beams <NUM> are disposed between the first and second side walls 11A and 11B to connect the two side walls. The connection method preferably uses mechanical elements such as screws or bolts for locking to form a stable base <NUM>. Wherein, the bottom of the first side wall 11A and the second side wall 11B are also provided with feet <NUM> for supporting the base <NUM>, so that the bottom of the base <NUM> and the ground maintain a proper space.

The drive mechanism <NUM> is disposed between the first and second side walls 11A, 11B of the base <NUM>, and includes at least a control unit <NUM>, a pair of driving wheels <NUM>, a pair of driven wheels <NUM>, and a first motor <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pair of driving wheels <NUM> are coaxially connected by a driving shaft <NUM> and are arranged between the first and second side walls 11A and 11B at one end of the base <NUM>; the pair of driven wheels <NUM> are coaxially connected by a driven shaft <NUM> disposed between the first and second side walls 11A and 11B at the opposite end of the base <NUM>. A preferred embodiment of the driving wheels <NUM> and the driven wheels <NUM> in the present invention are timing wheels, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The drive mechanism <NUM> further comprises a first motor <NUM>, and the first motor <NUM> is electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>; a main shaft of the first motor <NUM> is provided with a driving pulley <NUM>, and one of the pair of driving wheels <NUM> is coaxially disposed with a driven pulley <NUM>. The driving pulley <NUM> and the driven pulley <NUM> are connected by a belt <NUM>. Therefore, the user can control the operation of the first motor <NUM> by operating the control unit <NUM>, so as to control the driving wheels <NUM> to rotate through the driving pulley <NUM>, the belt <NUM>, and the driven pulley <NUM>.

Moreover, the drive mechanism <NUM> further comprises a second motor <NUM>, which is mechanically connected to a reducer <NUM>, which is mechanically connected to a connecting rod <NUM>. One end of the connecting rod <NUM> is pivotally connected to a shaft rod <NUM>, and the opposite two ends of the shaft rod <NUM> are respectively disposed with one end of a swing arm <NUM> fixedly attached. A roller <NUM> is movably disposed at the opposite end of the swing arm <NUM>. Between the two ends of each swing arm <NUM>, a rotating shaft <NUM> is rotatably connected to the first side wall 11A and the second side wall 11B. As such, when the second motor <NUM> is controlled to run in the forward direction by the control unit <NUM>, the connecting rod <NUM> can be controlled to extend, so as to drive the swing arm <NUM> to swing upward through the shaft rod <NUM>, or when the second motor <NUM> is controlled to run in the reverse direction, the connecting rod <NUM> can be controlled to be shortened, so as to drive the swing arm <NUM> to swing downward through the shaft rod <NUM>. When the end of the connecting shaft 27with the swing arm <NUM> swings upward, the end with the roller <NUM> swings downward. Since the feet <NUM> are supported by the ground, the entire base is supported by the ground when the roller <NUM> swings downward to lift up to adjust and expand the inclination angle of the base <NUM>. Conversely, when the end of the connecting shaft <NUM> with the swing arm <NUM> swings downward, the end with the roller <NUM> swings upward to adjust and reduce the inclination angle of the entire base <NUM>. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned pair of driven wheels <NUM> are disposed and fixed between the vertical plates <NUM> of the two swing arms <NUM>, therefore, when the swing arms <NUM> swing up or down, they can drive the pair of driven wheels <NUM> to move up or down.

The running belt <NUM> is an element that provides the contact to the sole of the feet of the user to run. In the present invention, the running belt <NUM> is composed of a plurality of running belt units 3A and a pair of closed annular transmission elements <NUM>. The plurality of running belt units 3A are arranged along the surrounding direction of the transmission element <NUM> and are separated from each other. Specifically, the transmission element <NUM> are used to match the timing belt connecting the driving wheel <NUM> and the driven wheel <NUM>.

The running belt unit 3A includes a fixed seat <NUM>, at least one elastic element <NUM> and a running belt piece <NUM>; wherein, the fixed seat <NUM> is formed to have a beam frame <NUM>, and two opposite ends of the beam frame <NUM> are respectively disposed with a convex seat <NUM>, and the upper surface of the convex seat <NUM> is higher than the upper surface of the beam frame <NUM>, in other words, a concave space is formed above the beam frame <NUM> between the two convex seats <NUM>. The upper surfaces of the two convex seats <NUM> are respectively fixed to the two transmission elements <NUM>. Both ends of the elastic element <NUM> are respectively fixed to the convex seats <NUM> at opposite ends of the fixed base <NUM>. The two opposite ends of the running belt piece <NUM> are also respectively fixed to the convex seats <NUM> at the opposite ends of the fixed base <NUM>, and the lower surface of the running belt piece <NUM> is connected to the elastic element <NUM>. Specifically, the elastic element <NUM> can be an elastic cable or a flat elastic strip. When both ends of the elastic cable or flat elastic strip are fixed to the convex seats <NUM> at both ends, the elastic cable is suspended between the two convex seats <NUM> above the beam frame <NUM>; and, in order to prevent relative displacement when the elastic element <NUM> in the form of a cable or a strip contacts the lower surface of the running belt piece <NUM>, the present invention preferably forms at least a groove <NUM> on the lower surface of the running belt piece <NUM>, and the elastic cable is accommodated in the groove <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, a transverse through hole can be formed in the running belt piece <NUM>, and the elastic element <NUM> in the form of a cable or a strip can pass through the through hole Then, both ends of the elastic element <NUM> are fixed to the convex seats <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the elastic element <NUM> can bend a cable into a U shape and then fix the open end and the closed end of the U-shaped cable to the convex seat <NUM> respectively.

The running belt <NUM> formed by the aforementioned running belt unit 3A and the transmission element <NUM> can surround the driving wheel <NUM> and the driven wheel <NUM> when mounted on the base <NUM> and matched with the driving mechanism <NUM> to be driven for circular rotation. When the user steps on the running belt piece <NUM>, the weight of the human body will cause the running belt piece <NUM> to bend downward and deform, as shown in <FIG>. The downward force of the running belt piece <NUM> is absorbed by the elastic element 32and a downward elasticity is provided by the elastic element <NUM>, so that the running belt piece <NUM> has a bouncing effect.

On the other hand, in order to prevent a gap from occurring between the two adjacent running belt pieces <NUM> when the user from stepping on the running belt piece <NUM> and causing the foot to sink into the gap, the present invention preferably will from surfaces of complementary shapes on the corresponding sides of each other of two adjacent running belt pieces <NUM> along the surrounding circumferential direction of the transmission element <NUM>. For example, the surface of the complementary shape can be an inclined surface <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the user steps on the running belt piece <NUM> to cause the two adjacent running belt pieces <NUM> to bend and sag downward, the corresponding sides of the two adjacent running belt pieces <NUM> can be mutually supported by the inclined surface <NUM> to avoid a gap, as shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, the surface of the complementary shape may be a step surface <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the user steps on the running belt piece <NUM> to cause the adjacent two running belt pieces <NUM> to bend and sag downward, the corresponding sides of the two running belt pieces <NUM> can be mutually supported by the step surface <NUM> to avoid gaps, as shown in <FIG>.

The present invention, by the bounce treadmill of the aforementioned structure, not only has the function of a treadmill, but also provides a bouncing function while running, so that the exercise modes and effects are more diverse.

Claim 1:
A bounce treadmill, comprising:
a base (<NUM>), with a drive mechanism (<NUM>) disposed between opposite two side walls, the drive mechanism being driven by a motor to drive a pair of transmission elements (<NUM>) to rotate cyclically in the longitudinal direction of the base (<NUM>);
a plurality of running belt units (3A), connected between the pair of transmission elements (<NUM>), and the plurality of running belt units (3A) being disposed along surrounding direction of the transmission elements (<NUM>) and separated from each other, wherein each of the running belt units (3A) at least including:
a fixed seat (<NUM>), with two opposite ends being respectively fixed to the pair of transmission elements (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
at least one elastic element (<NUM>), with two ends being respectively fixed to the two opposite ends of the fixed seat (<NUM>); and
a running belt piece (<NUM>), with two ends being respectively fixed to the two opposite ends of the fixed seat (<NUM>) and a lower surface of the running belt piece (<NUM>) being connected with the elastic element (<NUM>);
wherein the fixed seat has a beam frame (<NUM>), and two ends of the beam frame (<NUM>) are respectively provided with a convex seat (<NUM>), upper surfaces of the convex seats (<NUM>) are higher than upper surface of the beam frame (<NUM>), and the two ends of the elastic element (<NUM>) are respectively fixed to the convex seats (<NUM>) to keep a space between the lower surface of the elastic element (<NUM>) and the upper surface of the beam frame (<NUM>).