Patent Description:
A treadmill, called a running machine, is an exercise device having an effect of walking or running in a narrow space using a belt rotating in an endless orbit. The treadmill can be used, regardless of the weather, for walking or running exercise indoors at an appropriate temperature, and thus, a demand for treadmill is increasing day by day.

The treadmill may be divided into a powered treadmill in which a track part is rotated by a separate driving device, and a non-powered treadmill in which the track part is rotated by a user's operation without the separate driving device.

The non-powered treadmill is inexpensive compared to the powered treadmill because the separate driving device is unnecessary, and thus, the size and weight of the treadmill are also reduced much. Recently, a demand for the non-powered treadmills is gradually increasing.

However, in the non-powered treadmill, since the track part is rotated by the user, the track part may sway due to the impact by a user. Due to the sway of the track part, a collision may occur between the track part and a component supporting the track part, which may appear as noise causing inconvenience to the user.

Document <CIT> discloses a treadmill according to the preamble of claim <NUM> and a pulley of a treadmill according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Provided are a treadmill in which a collision between a track belt and a pulley may be reduced by improving the shape of an outer circumferential surface of a pulley, and a pulley used in the treadmill.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a treadmill includes a frame structure, a track part capable of rotating with respect to the frame structure, and a rotation unit disposed in the frame structure and rotatably supporting the track part, wherein the track part includes a plurality of slats arranged in a rotation direction, and a track belt disposed at both end portions of the plurality of slats and connecting the plurality of slats, the rotation unit includes first rotation members disposed in front and rear of the frame structure, and a plurality of second rotation members disposed between the first rotation members, having a diameter less than a diameter of each of the first rotation members, and arranged according to an upper shape of the frame structure, and at least one of the first rotation members includes a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members in a circumferential direction, to have a surface shape different from an inner circumferential surface of the track belt.

The outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members may include a plurality of non-contact areas in which the plurality of grooves are formed and a plurality of contact areas disposed between the plurality of grooves and contacting the track belt.

The width of each of the plurality of non-contact areas in a circumferential direction may be less than the width of each of the plurality of contact areas in a circumferential direction.

The plurality of grooves may be arranged in a circumferential direction at regular intervals.

An inner circumferential surface of the track belt may have a shape different from the outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members.

The inner circumferential surface of the track belt may have an unpatterned shape.

The track part may be configured to be rotated, without power, by a user.

An upper shape of the frame structure may have a concave shape in a middle portion thereof.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a pulley of a treadmill, the pulley rotatably supporting a track belt of a track part in the treadmill, the pulley includes a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members in a circumferential direction, to have a surface shape different from an inner circumferential surface of the track belt.

The outer circumferential surface may include a plurality of non-contact areas in which the plurality of grooves are formed and a plurality of contact areas disposed between the plurality of grooves and contacting the track belt.

The outer circumferential surface may have a shape different from a shape of the inner circumferential surface of the track belt.

Other aspects, features, and advantages than those described above will become apparent from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the disclosure.

These general and specific embodiments may be implemented by using a system, a method, a computer program, or a combination thereof.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numeral denote like constituent element, and the size or thickness of each constituent element may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a treadmill <NUM> according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view mainly showing an internal structure of the treadmill <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the treadmill <NUM>. In <FIG>, for convenience of explanation, a track belt <NUM> of a track part <NUM> and a rotation unit <NUM> are mainly illustrated, while the illustration of a side frame <NUM> and a plurality of slats <NUM> is omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, the treadmill <NUM> according to an embodiment includes a frame structure <NUM>, the track part <NUM> capable of rotating with respect to the frame structure <NUM>, and the rotation unit <NUM> rotatably supporting the track part <NUM>. The treadmill <NUM> may further include a handle part <NUM> to be held by a user U and an output unit <NUM> for showing an exercise result. The treadmill <NUM> may be a non-powered treadmill in which the track part <NUM> is rotated, without power, by a foot operation (such as walking or running) of the user U.

The frame structure <NUM> maintains the shape of the treadmill <NUM>, and includes a center frame <NUM> and the side frame <NUM> disposed at each of both side portions of the center frame <NUM>. The side frame <NUM> may be covered by a side cover <NUM>.

The track part <NUM> may include the slats <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> connecting the slats <NUM>.

The slats <NUM> are arranged in a first direction (Y direction) that is a rotation direction of the track part <NUM>. Each of the slats <NUM> extends in a second direction (X direction) that is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the track part <NUM>.

The track belt <NUM> extends in the first direction (Y direction), and is disposed at both end portions of the slats <NUM>. The track belt <NUM> is provided in a pair at both end portions of each of the slats <NUM> and connects the slats <NUM>.

The track belt <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material and wound around first rotation members <NUM>. The track belt <NUM> may include an elastic material, for example, rubber.

The track part <NUM> may have a certain weight. For example, the weight of the track part <NUM> including the slats <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> may be <NUM> to <NUM>.

The rotation unit <NUM> for rotatably supporting the track part <NUM> is disposed in the frame structure <NUM>. The rotation unit <NUM> may include the first rotation member <NUM> disposed in the front and the rear of the frame structure <NUM>, and a plurality of second rotation members <NUM> disposed between the first rotation member <NUM> disposed in the front side and the first rotation member <NUM> disposed in the rear side. The rotation unit <NUM> may further include guide rollers <NUM> for preventing shaking of the track part <NUM>.

The first rotation member <NUM> may be disposed in each of the front and the rear of the frame structure <NUM>. For example, while one pair of first rotation members <NUM> may be provided in the front of the center frame <NUM>, another pair of first rotation members <NUM> may be provided in the rear of the center frame <NUM>. The first rotation member <NUM> may be a pulley.

The second rotation members <NUM> may be disposed between the first rotation members <NUM> disposed in the front and rear sides. For example, the second rotation members <NUM> may be provided on the center frame <NUM> between the first rotation members <NUM> disposed in the front and rear sides. The second rotation members <NUM> may be arranged according to an upper shape of the frame structure <NUM>.

The upper shape of the center frame <NUM> may be concave in a middle portion thereof. In this case, the second rotation members <NUM> may be arranged in a curved form according to the upper shape of the center frame <NUM>. The middle portion of the curved form may have a concave shape. The second rotation members <NUM> may be bearing members. The angle of a surface of the track part <NUM> that the user U contacts may vary according to the arrangement shape of the second rotation members <NUM>.

The guide roller <NUM> may include a pair of protrusions for restricting a movement of the track belt <NUM> in the second direction, even when a force is applied to the track belt <NUM> in the second direction (X direction). Accordingly, the guide roller <NUM> may prevent the track belt <NUM> from being uncontacted and released from the second rotation members <NUM>.

The track belt <NUM> may be disposed at both end portions of each of the slats <NUM>, and rotated while being wound around the first rotation member <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM>. The slats <NUM> connected by the track belt <NUM> are rotated by the rotation of the track belt <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing the rotation of the track part <NUM> of the treadmill <NUM>. <FIG> is a view for explaining the first rotation member <NUM> when the track part <NUM> rotates.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for explaining a phenomenon occurring between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> during the rotation of the track part <NUM> of the treadmill <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the user U performs the foot operation on the track part <NUM>, a force of moving backward acts on the track part <NUM>. The track part <NUM>, which is rotatably supported by the first rotation members <NUM> disposed in the front and rear sides and the second rotation members <NUM> disposed between the first rotation members <NUM>, is rotated by the foot operation of the user U, as described above.

In the treadmill <NUM>, when the user U runs fast, the track part <NUM> is rotated fast, and when the user U runs slowly, the track part <NUM> is rotated slowly. When the user U stops, the track part <NUM> is stopped.

As described above, as the user U exercises on the track part <NUM> that is rotated according to the running speed of the user U, the speed may be smoothly adjusted without a separate additional manipulation, and thus, the user U may more actively exercise.

Referring to <FIG>, in a process in which the track belt <NUM> rotates, a lower area <NUM> disposed in a lower portion of the track belt <NUM> moves toward the front side, and an upper area <NUM> disposed in an upper portion of the track belt <NUM> moves to the rear side. The first rotation member <NUM> changes the movement direction of the track belt <NUM> in a process in which the lower area <NUM> is turned to the upper area <NUM>.

In an ideal environment, in a process in which the movement direction of the track belt <NUM> is changed by the first rotation member <NUM>, a contact between the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> begins from a certain position, for example, a point SP, the track belt <NUM> maintains the contact with the first rotation member <NUM> in a certain region <NUM>, and the contact between the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> is removed at a certain position, for example, a point EP. Thus, without generating irregular noise between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM>, the track part <NUM> may be smoothly rotated.

However, under the actual environment of the treadmill <NUM>, irregular slip may be generated between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> due to various factors such as user's foot operation and the like.

Referring to <FIG>, a phenomenon that the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> are separated from each other without contacting each other may occur in a partial area <NUM> of the track belt <NUM> in which the track belt <NUM> necessarily keeps in contact with the first rotation member <NUM>.

It is estimated that the phenomenon occurs due to various factors such as a state of the track belt <NUM>, a speed difference of the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM>, and the like.

As an example, a material having a certain strength to connect and support the slats <NUM> may be used for the track belt <NUM> used in the treadmill <NUM>. The track belt <NUM> including such a material may exhibit a slightly stiff characteristic. Furthermore, in a process of manufacturing or forming the track belt <NUM> the track belt <NUM> may have partially different bending characteristics. As such, in a process in which the track belt <NUM> having an entirely or partially stiff characteristic is rotated while wound around the first rotation member <NUM>, slip may occur between the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM>, a phenomenon may occur in which the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> are momentarily separated from each other at a position where the contact between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> is necessarily maintained.

In another example, the track belt <NUM> is a structure that rotates by surrounding the first rotation member <NUM>, and thus, a rotation radius of the track belt <NUM> is greater than a rotation radius of the first rotation member <NUM>. As such, as rotation radii of the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> are different from each other, even when rotational angular speeds of the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> are the same, linear speeds of the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> differ from each other. Accordingly, slip may occur between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM>.

As such, a phenomenon that the partial area <NUM> of the track belt <NUM> is temporarily separated from the first rotation member <NUM> occurs for various reasons, and thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, the partial area <NUM> of the track belt <NUM> that is temporarily separated may collide against the first rotation member <NUM>. Such a collision may occur irregularly and may generate noise that gives the user U discomfort.

Considering the above matter, the treadmill <NUM> according to an embodiment may provide the first rotation member <NUM> having an improved surface structure.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the first rotation member <NUM> in the treadmill <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a region A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a view for explaining the operation of the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM> of the treadmill <NUM> according to an embodiment. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a region B of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a plurality of grooves gr may be arranged apart from each other in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM> such that the first rotation member <NUM> according to an embodiment has a surface shape different from an inner circumferential surface of the track belt <NUM>.

The grooves gr may be arranged in the circumferential direction at regular intervals. However, the interval of the grooves gr is not limited thereto, and there may be various intervals. For example, the interval of the grooves gr may be random.

The inner circumferential surface of the track belt <NUM> may have a shape different from the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM>. For example, when the grooves gr are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM>, grooves or protrusions may not be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the track belt <NUM>. For example, the inner circumferential surface of the track belt <NUM> may have an unpatterned shape.

As such, when the grooves gr are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM>, even when slip occurs between the first rotation member <NUM> and the track belt <NUM>, slip occurs regularly and shortly by the grooves gr so that a noise problem according that irregular slip occurs long may be improved.

The outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM> may be divided into a non-contact area <NUM> in which the grooves gr are formed and a contact area <NUM> in which the grooves gr are not formed. As the contact area <NUM> has a structure that protrudes compared with the non-contact area <NUM>, while the contact area <NUM> contacts the track belt <NUM>, the non-contact area <NUM> does not contact the track belt <NUM>.

A width W1 of the non-contact area <NUM> in the circumferential direction may be less than a width W2 of the contact area <NUM> in the circumferential direction. When the width W1 of the non-contact area <NUM> is greater than or equal to the width W2 of the contact area <NUM>, an effect of a reduced contact area between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> occurs greatly, and thus, a side effect according to an effect of a reduced frictional force between the track belt <NUM> and the first rotation member <NUM> may occur. In contrast, by reducing the width W1 of the non-contact area <NUM> less than the width W2 of the contact area <NUM>, the side effect of a reduced contact area may be reduced and the noise problem according to the irregular slip may be improved.

A ratio of an area occupied by the non-contact area <NUM> to the overall area of the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM> may be <NUM>% or more. A ratio of an area occupied by the non-contact area <NUM> to the overall area of the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM> may be less than <NUM>%.

The contact area <NUM> may extend in a lengthwise direction perpendicular to the width direction of the first rotation member <NUM>. The shape of the contact area <NUM> may be a bar shape having a length greater than a width. However, the shape of the contact area <NUM> is not limited thereto, and various shapes such as a rhombic shape, and the like.

Although a structure in which the grooves gr are formed in the first rotation member <NUM> disposed in the front side is mainly described in the above-described embodiment, this is merely exemplary, and the structure may also be applied to the first rotation member <NUM> disposed in the rear side. Furthermore, the grooves gr may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of each of four first rotation members <NUM> disposed in the front and rear sides, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the grooves gr may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of some of the first rotation members <NUM>.

Although, in the above-described embodiment, the treadmill <NUM> in which a middle portion of the upper area <NUM> of the track part <NUM> has a concave shape is mainly described, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first rotation member <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment may be applied to a treadmill 1A in which the middle portion of an upper area of a track part 130a is not concave, but has a flat shape.

Hereinafter, the disclosure is further described in detail with an embodiment and a comparison example. However, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below.

<FIG> is an image showing a process of measuring noise of the treadmill <NUM> before exercise. <FIG> is an image showing a process of measuring noise of the treadmill <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> during exercise, and <FIG> is an image obtained by partially enlarging a part of <FIG>. <FIG> is an image showing a process of measuring noise of a treadmill according to Comparative Example <NUM> during exercise, and <FIG> is an image obtained by partially enlarging a part of <FIG>.

In the treadmill <NUM> according to an embodiment, grooves are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM>. The treadmill <NUM> has a track part including the slats <NUM>, and is rotated by a user's foot operation.

In a treadmill according to a comparative example, grooves are not formed in the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member <NUM>, and the other structures and conditions are the same as those of Embodiment <NUM>. As an example therefor, the treadmill according to the comparative example is in a state in which the first rotation member <NUM> of the treadmill according to Embodiment <NUM> is replaced with a first rotation member in which no groove is formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof.

In the present experiment, a measuring equipment <NUM> having basic specifications of <NUM> dB - <NUM> dB and <NUM> - <NUM> was used. The measuring equipment <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, performed measurements under the installation conditions in which the shortest distance from a first rotation member of a treadmill is <NUM>, a distance from the bottom surface is <NUM>, and ambient noise before rotating the treadmill is <NUM> dB.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in both treadmills according to Embodiment <NUM> and Comparative Example <NUM>, Table <NUM> shows a result of measuring noise when an experimenter runs at the same speed of <NUM>/h.

As a result of measuring noise generated during exercise in the treadmills according to Comparative Example <NUM> and Embodiment <NUM>, the treadmill according to Comparative Example <NUM> generates noise of <NUM> dB, while the treadmill according to Embodiment <NUM> generates noise of <NUM> dB. Considering that the ambient noise measured before exercise is <NUM> dB, the amount of noise generated during exercise from the treadmill according to Comparative Example <NUM> is <NUM> dB, while the amount of noise generated during exercise from the treadmill according to Embodiment <NUM> is merely <NUM> dB. The noise increment (<NUM> dB) of the treadmill according to Embodiment <NUM> is reduced to <NUM>% or less of the noise increment (<NUM> dB) of Comparative Example <NUM>. Accordingly, by forming grooves in the outer circumferential surface of the first rotation member, noise generation may be remarkably reduced.

Other aspects, features, and advantages than those described above will become apparent from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the disclosure. These general and specific embodiments may be implemented by using a system, a method, a computer program, or a combination thereof.

According to the treadmill and the pulley used in the treadmill according to an embodiment of the disclosure, by improving the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the pulley, collision between the track belt and the pulley may be reduced, and thus, the generation of noise in the treadmill may be reduced.

Claim 1:
A treadmill (<NUM>) comprising:
a frame structure (<NUM>); a track part (<NUM>) capable of rotating with respect to the frame structure (<NUM>); and a rotation unit (<NUM>) disposed in the frame structure (<NUM>) and rotatably supporting the track part (<NUM>),
wherein the track part (<NUM>) comprises:
a plurality of slats (<NUM>) arranged in a rotation direction; and
a track belt (<NUM>) disposed at both end portions of the plurality of slats (<NUM>) and connecting the plurality of slats (<NUM>),
the rotation unit (<NUM>) comprises:
first rotation members (<NUM>) disposed in front and rear of the frame structure (<NUM>); and
a plurality of second rotation members (<NUM>) disposed between the first rotation members (<NUM>), having a diameter less than a diameter of each of the first rotation members (<NUM>), and arranged according to an upper shape of the frame structure (<NUM>), and
at least one of the first rotation members (<NUM>) includes a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members (<NUM>) in a circumferential direction;
the at least one of the first rotation members (<NUM>) has a surface shape different from an inner circumferential surface of the track belt (<NUM>),
characterized in that the outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of non-contact areas (<NUM>) in which the plurality of grooves are formed and a plurality of contact areas (<NUM>) disposed between the plurality of grooves and contacting the track belt (<NUM>).