Treadmill having a compact shape

This application claims priority of Chinese Invention Patent Application No. 200720195335.9, filed on Nov. 9, 2007, and Chinese Invention Patent Application No. 200810111151.9, filed on Jun. 10, 2008.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to treadmills, more particularly to the treadmills with a compact size for save the space in transport and increase the capacity of the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Treadmills are popular exercise apparatuses which permit a user to perform physical activities, such as walking, jogging or running movements, so as to exercise the cardiovascular system and the other parts of the body. Since treadmills are bulky and occupy a considerable space, it becomes a trend to design a treadmill with foldable tread base in order to decrease the volume of the treadmill when the treadmill is stored.

CN 200420064728.2 shows a foldable treadmill which includes a tread base supported by a foot structure, a pair of guide plates formed with elongated slots on two sides of the tread base. The tread base is connected pivotally on the base support through pivot members which are mounted movably within the respective slots so that the tread base is turnable between rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position. However, since the guide plates are mounted on the sides of the tread base and the top side of the foot structure, the width of the foot structure must be larger than the width of the tread base. In other words, the size of the treadmill is a little larger.

CN 200420002326.X discloses another foldable treadmill which has a linkage unit. Said linkage unit comprises left and right guide members and left and right linked members. Said each of the left and right guide members has a first end pivoted to the base frame and a second end pivoted to the guided portion of the linked member. Each of the left and right linked members has one end pivoted to the tread base and the other end which has a roller pivotally mounted thereon. Said left and right guide members are approximately mounted nearby the second end of the left and right linked members and extended perpendicular therefrom. Each of the left and right guide members and each of the left and right linked members are respectively mounted on the left and right side of the base frame.

While various forms of foldable treadmills have been suggested in the art, however, there is a common limitation in the most of the treadmills. That is the width of the base frame is bigger than the width of the tread base, so that the tread base can be accommodated in the base frame Therefore, there is a need for an improved treadmill having compact size.

The present invention relates to a treadmill which has a compact size. More particularly, the lateral width thereof is narrower. Therefore, the treadmill is easily to transport or store.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the treadmill comprises a base frame adapted to rest on a surface, which having a left and right inner surfaces, a left and right outer surfaces. The treadmill comprises a tread base having a frame that includes a front portion connected to the base frame and a rear portion. The treadmill also comprises left and right support structures. Each of the left and right support structures has a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end thereof respectively mounted on the outer surface of the left side and right side of the base frame, and the width of the base frame is approximately same as the width of the tread base.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the treadmill comprises a base frame adapted to rest on a surface, which having left and right outer surfaces. The treadmill also comprises a tread base coupled to the base frame. The tread base also has left and right outer surfaces. The left and right outer surfaces of the tread base are substantially positioned over the left and right outer surfaces of the base frame. The treadmill further comprises left and right guide members connected to the base frame and left and right linking members respectively interconnected to the left and right guide members and the tread base. Both the left and right guide members and left and right linking members are arranged inside the left and right outer surface of the tread base. The treadmill further comprises a linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the front of the tread base and a second end coupled to the base frame. The width between the left and right inner surfaces of the base frame is substantially smaller than the width between the left and right outer surfaces of the tread base. The linkage assembly is approximately positioned in a space which is formed by the left and right inner surfaces of the base frame and the bottom of the tread base.

Several objects and advantages of the present invention are: (a) to provide a treadmill comprising a base frame which has a proper lateral width smaller than the tread base, so that the treadmill has a compact size; (b) to provide a treadmill concluding a base frame which has a suitable lateral width approximately same as the tread base, so that the treadmill has a compact size.

The reader is advised that this summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are described and illustrated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill of the present invention with the tread base in horizontal position for a user to perform exercise;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the treadmill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the treadmill of FIG. 1 with the tread base folded to upright position;

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Previous Patent Application:
Engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill
Next Patent Application:
Recumbent stepper apparatus
Industry Class:
Exercise devices

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