Engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill, and more particularly, to an engaging mechanism that prevents the folding apparatus from an unexpected false action.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the application Ser. Nos. 11/900,042 and 11/866,999, the inventor of the invention has developed a folding apparatus of a treadmill that permits an easy folding of the platform frame in an upright position and even an easy folding of a handrail assembly. In this way, a complete folding is achieved. It is apparent that the inventor has made every effort to enhance the practicality and convenience of the product in the actual use. However, the inventor still found that it is likely to create a certain extent of sway on the platform frame and the handrail assembly due to the existence of the folding apparatus, thereby causing users to have little psychological anxiety and misgivings when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position and the user wants to employ the lifting motor and the slope adjusting support to adjust the exercise slope.

In fact, any treadmill having a folding apparatus for providing an auxiliary force creates a varying degree of sway when the mechanism for adjusting the exercise slope is operated. The slight sway won\'t harm the operators. In order to eliminate the misgiving of the operator in use, a further solution is developed again.

It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill that avoids the above-mentioned swaying phenomenon so as to enhance the structural stability in using the treadmill. In this way, the operator does not have additional mental burden and apprehensiveness.

According to the invention, an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill is provided to apply an appropriate locking force to any element of a slidable pushing assembly of the folding apparatus (including the rear support, the slide pusher, the pneumatic cylinder, the coupling rod, or the secondary coupling rod) such that an unexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of a slope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position.

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.