TREADMILL

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 113109449, filed on Mar. 14, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an exercise machine, and more particularly to a treadmill.

BACKGROUND

An existing treadmill, as disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M563897, includes a circulation mechanism, a frame body, a drive shaft, and an electromagnetic brake device. The circulation mechanism such as a running belt mechanism has two drive belts and a plurality of plates apposed and connected to the drive belts. The frame body includes a main shaft and an auxiliary shaft. The main shaft is combined with a pair of drive wheels. One of the drive wheels is connected to and is rotatable in a same direction as a belt wheel. The auxiliary shaft is connected to two driven wheels. The drive wheels and the driven wheels cooperatively support the drive belts in a manner that the drive wheels are engaged or meshed with the drive belts. The drive shaft is rotatably connected to the frame body. An end of the drive shaft is connected in a transmission manner to the belt wheel. Another end of the drive shaft is connected to the electromagnetic brake device.

The existing treadmill may achieve an expected purpose. However, a structure of the auxiliary shaft connected to the two driven wheels may be costly and heavy. In addition, the circulation mechanism is formed in a closed loop, and a distance is fixed and non-adjustable between the main shaft combined with the drive wheels and the auxiliary shaft connected to two driven wheels. As a result, it may be troublesome and time-consuming to assemble the circulation mechanism to the drive wheels and the driven wheels.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a treadmill that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, a treadmill includes a base frame unit, a front wheel unit, a rear guide unit, a drive unit, and a running belt unit.

The front wheel unit is rotatably connected to the base frame unit.

The rear guide unit is mounted to the base frame unit, is spaced apart from the front wheel unit in a first direction, and includes two positioning plates and two guide wheel assemblies. The positioning plates are spaced apart from each other along an axis that is perpendicular to the first direction. The guide wheel assemblies are respectively connected to the positioning plates. Each of the guide wheel assemblies includes a plurality of roller subunits that are disposed around the axis and that are spaced apart from each other.

The drive unit is mounted to the base frame unit and is operable to drive rotation of the front wheel unit.

The running belt unit is looped around the front wheel unit and the guide wheel assemblies, such that the rotation of the front wheel unit drives circular motion of the running belt unit relative to the base frame unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a treadmill according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the embodiment illustrating a running belt unit detached from a base frame unit of the treadmill.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the embodiment illustrating a rear guide unit, a support unit, and the base frame unit of the treadmill.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the embodiment illustrating a handrail unit, the rear guide unit, and the base frame unit of the treadmill.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged schematic side view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view taken from line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the embodiment illustrating a positioning plate, a longitudinal bar, and the running belt unit of the treadmill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “over,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a treadmill according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The treadmill of the disclosure includes a base frame unit 10, a handrail unit 20, a front wheel unit 30, a rear guide unit 40, a drive unit 50, a support unit 60, and a running belt unit 70.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the base frame unit 10 has a front end portion 11, a rear end portion 12, a pair of longitudinal bars 13, and a plurality of transverse bars 14. The rear end portion 12 is opposite to the front end portion 11 in a first direction (X). The longitudinal bars 13 are elongated from the front end portion 11 to the rear end portion 12 in the first direction (X), and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X). Each of the transverse bar 14 is elongated in the second direction (Y) and interconnects the longitudinal bars 13. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the longitudinal bars 13 has a main body 131, front and rear end caps 132, a protrusion block 133, and an adjustment bolt 134. The front and rear end caps 132 are respectively and removably mounted to front and rear ends of the main bar body 131. The protrusion block 133 is fixed to the main bar body 131 and is disposed adjacent to the rear end portion 12 of the base frame unit 10. The adjustment bolt 134 extends threadedly through the protrusion block 133 and is adjustably rotatable to move relative to the protrusion block 133.

The handrail unit 20 is mounted to the longitudinal bars 13 of the base frame unit 10 and is disposed adjacent to the front end portion 11 of the base frame unit 10.

The front wheel unit 30 is rotatably connected to the base frame unit 10 and is disposed adjacent to the front end portion 11 of the base frame unit 10. In this embodiment, the front wheel unit 30 is rotatably connected between the longitudinal bars 13.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 6 to 8, the rear guide unit 40 is disposed adjacent to the rear end portion 12 of the base frame unit 10, is mounted to the base frame unit 10, and is spaced apart from the front wheel unit 30 in a first direction (X). The rear guide unit 40 includes two positioning plates 41 and two guide wheel assemblies 42.

The positioning plates 41 are spaced apart from each other along an axis (L) that is perpendicular to the first direction (X). Each of the positioning plates 41 is connected to and movable along the main bar body 131 of a respective one of the longitudinal bars 13. In this embodiment, each of the positioning plates 41 includes a main portion 411, a first bent portion 412 that extends transversely from the main portion 411, and a second bent portion 413 that extends transversely from the first bent portion 412 away from the man portion 411. The main portion 411 has a plurality of adjustment slots 414, a plurality of fasteners 415, and an abutment protrusion 416. The adjustment slots 414 are elongated in the first direction (X). The fasteners 415 extend respectively through the adjustment slots 414 and are fastened to the respective one of the longitudinal bars 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the second bent portion 413 of each of the positioning plates 41 has an outer periphery 417 and a plurality of mounting holes 418. The outer periphery 417 is semi-circular and extends around the axis (L). The mounting holes 418 are disposed adjacent to the outer periphery 417, are arranged around the axis (L), and are spaced apart from each other. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a distance between the main portions 411 of the positioning plates 41 along the axis (L) is greater than a distance between the second bent portions 413 of the positioning plates 41 along the axis (L). As shown in FIG. 9, the adjustment bolt 134 of each of the longitudinal bars 13 extends threadedly through the protrusion block 133 and abuts against the abutment portion 416 of a respective one of the positioning plates 41, such that the adjustment bolt 134 is rotatable to move relative to protrusion block 133 and push the respective one of the positioning plates 41, via the abutment portion 416 of the respective one of the positioning plates 41, to move in the first direction (X).

The guide wheel assemblies 42 are respectively connected to the positioning plates 41. Each of the guide wheel assemblies 42 includes a plurality of roller subunits 421 that are disposed around the axis (L) and that are spaced apart from each other. The roller subunits 421 of each of the guide wheel assemblies 42 are rotatably mounted to the second bent portion 413 of the respective one of the positioning plates 41, and rotatably and respectively engage with the mounting holes 418 of the respective one of the positioning plates 41. For each of the guide wheel assemblies 42, each of the roller subunits 421 includes a bearing 422 and a threaded member 423 that extends through the bearing 422 and that is threadedly secured to a respective one of the positioning plates 41. Furthermore, for each of the guide wheel assemblies 42, the roller subunits 421 are divided into a first group and a second group. Each of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group further includes a roller sleeve 424 that is fixedly sleeved on the bearing 422. Each adjacent pair of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group are spaced apart by at least two of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the second group. In this embodiment, the roller sleeve 424 of each of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group has an outer surrounding surface 425 and a block portion 426. The outer surrounding surface 425 is substantially parallel to the axis (L). The block portion 426 protrudes from the outer surrounding surface 425 and abuts against the running belt unit 70 (details of which will be described hereinafter) such that the running belt unit 70 is positioned relative to the base frame unit 10 along the axis (L). Specifically, the block portion 426 of the roller sleeve 424 has an inclined surface segment 427 that is in contact with the running belt unit 70.

The drive unit 50 is mounted to the base frame unit 10 and is operable to drive rotation of the front wheel unit 30. In this embodiment, the drive unit 50 is a motor.

The support unit 60 is disposed between the front end portion 11 and the rear end portion 12 of the base frame unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the support unit 60 includes two brackets 61 and a plurality of roller members 62. The brackets 61 are elongated in the first direction (X) and are respectively mounted to the longitudinal bars 13. The roller members 62 are rotatably mounted in a spaced apart manner in the first direction (X) to the brackets 61. One of the roller subunits 421 of each of the guide wheel assemblies 42 is adjacent to and aligned with a respective one of the brackets 61 in the first direction (X).

The running belt unit 70 is looped around the front wheel unit 30 and the guide wheel assemblies 42, such that the rotation of the front wheel unit 30 drives circular motion of the running belt unit 70 relative to the base frame unit 10. The running belt unit 70 includes two round belts 71 and a plurality of slat members 72. The round belts 71 are arranged along the axis (L) and are disposed respectively outer portions of the second bent portions 413 of the positioning plates 41. The slat members 72 interconnect the round belts 71. As shown in FIG. 7, the round belts 71 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y). The slat members 72 surround the round belts 71, and are spaced apart from each other. Each of the slat members 72 is elongated in the second direction (Y).

The round belts 71 are looped around the front wheel unit 30 and the guide wheel assemblies 42. For each of the guide wheel assemblies 42, a corresponding one of the round belts 71 is in contact with the outer surrounding surfaces 425 of the roller sleeves 424 of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group and is in contact with the bearings 422 of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the second group. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in combination with FIG. 4, for each of the guide wheel assemblies 42, the inclined surface segment 427 of the block portion 426 of the roller sleeve 424 of each of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group limits movements of the corresponding one of the round belts 71 along the axis (L), and guides the corresponding one of the round belts 71 to the outer surrounding surface 425.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, to assemble the treadmill of the disclosure, before assembling the handrail unit 20 to the base frame unit 10, an operator may first assemble the front wheel unit 30, the rear guide unit 40, and the support unit 60 to the base frame unit 10. For each of the longitudinal bars 13, until the operator mounts the rear end cap 132 to the rear end of the main bar body 131, the operator may first move a respective one of the positioning plates 41 close to the rear end of the main bar body 131.

As the operator moves the positioning plates 41 respectively close to the rear ends of the main bar bodies 131 of the longitudinal bars 13, the operator may loop the running belt unit 70 around the front wheel unit 30, the support unit 60, and the guide wheel assemblies 42 such that the round belts 71 are respectively disposed around the roller subunits 421 of the guide wheel assemblies 42 of the rear guide unit 40. Subsequently, the positioning plates 41 are respectively adjusted to move away from the rear ends of the main bar bodies 131 of the longitudinal bars 13 until the roller subunits 421 of the guide wheel assemblies 42 abut against the round belts 71 such that the running belt unit 70 provides a sufficient tension force.

Afterwards, for each of the longitudinal bars 13, the front and rear end caps 132 are respectively and removably mounted to the front and rear ends of the main bar body 131. The handrail unit 20 is assembled to the base frame unit 10.

As shown in to FIGS. 1, 5 to 9, when assembling of the treadmill of the disclosure is completed, the drive unit 50 is activated to drive rotation of the front wheel unit 30 such that the circular motion of the running belt unit 70 is driven. During the circular motion of the running belt unit 70, by virtue of the roller subunits 421 of the rear guide unit 40 and the roller members 62 of the support unit 60, smooth operation of the treadmill of the disclosure is achieved.

The treadmill of the disclosure has the following advantages.

• • 1. The rear guide unit 40 is relatively simple in overall structure, has a low manufacturing cost, and is relatively light in weight. Furthermore, assembling the rear guide unit 40 is relatively easy and time-saving. In addition, a size of each of the roller subunits 421 is relative small. As a result, each of the roller subunits 421 is unlikely to interfere with the running belt unit 70 so excessive friction is reduced therebetween.
  • 2. For each of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first and second groups, the bearing 422 is easy to obtain and assemble. Furthermore, for each of the roller subunits 421 belonging to the first group, the roller sleeve 424 and the bearing 422 are easy to be assembled to each other.
  • 3. The adjustment bolt 134 is rotatable in abutment against the abutment portion 416 of the respective one of the positioning plates 41 to push the respective one of the positioning plates 41 to move relative to the rear end of the respective one of the longitudinal bars 13 in the first direction (X), thereby easily adjusting the tension force of the running belt unit 70.
  • 4. Because the overall structure of each of the positioning plates 41 is relatively simple, and because each of the roller subunits 421 of each of the guide wheel assemblies 42 is easy to obtain and be assembled to the respective positioning plate 41, the rear guide unit 40 is relatively simple in structure and easy to be assembled with the base frame unit 10.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.