Patent ID: 6890286

Claim:
A control device having a dual-purpose electronic element for a treadmill, said device comprising: a panel and a control circuit formed on a printed circuit board in the panel, wherein the control circuit includes a controller having multiple input terminals and output terminals, wherein the output terminals are connected to a driving unit for controlling speed of a motor, and the controller controlling the speed of the motor through the driving unit; and a speed control and switch unit connected to the controller whereby manipulating the speed control and switch unit easily controls the speed of the motor, wherein the speed control and switch unit having at least five terminals formed on the printed circuit board, the speed control and switch unit further including; a rheostat having a rotating shaft extending out of the panel, at least one contact mounted on the panel, a hub connected to the rotating shaft and having a top and a first skirt integrally extending downward from the top with a positioning device, a pushbutton cap having a top and at least one second skirt corresponding to the positioning device on the first skirt on the hub to slide up and down the first skirt of the hub, wherein the at least one second skirt has a bottom edge on which a conductive arc corresponding to the at least one contact is mounted, and a biasing member mounted in the pushbutton cap to provide a restitution force to the cap, wherein the pushbutton cap returns to an original position relative to the hub when pressure on the pushbutton cap is released and breaks contact between the at least one contact on the panel and the conductive arc.