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Multi-functional running machine and its controlling methodRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, Treadmill For Foot TravelMulti-functional running machine and its controlling method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070167290, Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a multi-functional running machine and a method for controlling the machine and more particularly to a multi-functional running machine adapted to perform various exercises such as running, walking, wrenching, stretching, stooping and so on in accordance with the condition of user's health or an exercise taste of user by allowing a running belt to be reciprocately moved at a prescribed distance and permitting user to input directly the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt or use selectively them programmed with various combinations. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the running belt to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined distance. BACKGROUND ART [0002] A running machine is an exercise tool adapted for user to gradually walk or run on a running belt which is coupled rotationally and in an endless track to a pair of rotation shafts, and the user can perform the exercise irrespective of a place. [0003] However, in conventional running machines, a motor driving the running belt has only a function uniformly rotating clock-wisely and counter clock-wisely and thus the running belt is moved only in a forward direction or a reverse direction. Accordingly, conventional running machines have only a function allowing an exercise for forwardly walking or running or an exercise for backwardly walking or running, and resultantly problems incapable of performing various exercises. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem [0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional running machine capable of performing conventional exercises such as walking or running by controlling the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt at a predetermined scope so as to allow a reciprocating movement to be performed as well as capable of completely performing, by the running machine, various exercises such as stretching of respective parts of a body, a muscular exercise and the like. Other object of the present invention is to provide a method for variously controlling the running belt to allow it to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined scope. Technical Solution [0005] A multi-functional running machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the machine is adapted to control the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of a running belt and thus allows user to selectively perform various exercises such as basic running and walking as well as wrenching, stretching, stooping and so on in accordance with the condition of user's health or an exercise taste of user. [0006] In the construction of conventional running machines, a running belt 5 is wound to have an endless-track movement on two rotational shafts 6 installed to be spaced at a predetermined gap from each other, any one of the rotational shafts 6 is coupled via a belt 18 to a motor 18, and the running belt 5, the rotation shafts and the motor 13 and so on are installed inside of the lower frame 1 that serves as an external casing. Further, a support frame 2 is installed into the one side of the lower frame 1. The support frame 2 is attached with a handle 3, and on the upper portion of the running machine, installed is a scale plate 4 indicating a running speed, a running time, a calorie consumption amount and so on. [0007] The multi-functional running machine 100 according to the present invention adapted for a running belt 5 to perform conventional functions as in the above conventional structure is characterized in that the running belt is reciprocately moved in a given scope by a separate program mode or user's input mode. [0008] As described above, a construction for controlling the reciprocating movement of the running belt 5 comprises a sensor 9 for variously sensing actuating information including a reciprocating times, a reciprocating distance, a reciprocating speed, forwarding and reversing rotations and the like so on, and a motor driver 24 for controlling the motor 13 to allow the running belt 5 to be reciprocately moved. [0009] According to the above construction, in estimating the moving distance of the running belt 5 due to the rotation of the motor 13, information regarding the forwarding and reversing rotations sensed by the sensor 9 and the speed and moving distance of the running belt 5 is transferred to a control unit and then the control unit directs a command to the motor driver 24 for allowing the running belt 5 to perform an exact reciprocating movement by analyzing the information in accordance with the actuating program of the running belt 5 inputted in advance. The command of the motor driver 24 allows the motor 13 to be increased or reduced in its speed, to be forwardly or reversely rotated and to be stopped, and therefore it is possible to control the running belt 5 in the running machine. [0010] As such, the information of the running belt 5 can be obtained by measuring the rotation speed, rotation direction and rotation times of the rotation shaft on which the running belt 5 is wound. Namely, this is because it is possible to detect the most reliable rotation speed and the like of the running belt 5 in the adjacent belt pulley 8 in the running belt 5. [0011] The above construction and method according to the present invention were adapted because in case that the rotation speed, rotation direction and rotation times are measured and calculated, the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and the reciprocating speed of the running belt 5 cannot exactly be controlled due to a slip of a belt 18 and so on. However, in a structure designed to prevent the slip of the belt 18 and so on, it is possible to adapt a sensor recognition scheme in the belt pulley 8 in the motor 13. [0012] Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the above sensor 9 may be consisted of a reflective plate 10 attached to the rotation shaft 6 coupled to the motor 13 and a detector 11 for making a light incident to the reflective plate 10, detecting the reflected light and determining the actuating information. Alternatively, the sensor may be variously constructed using an optical sensor as well as a sensor employing a magnetic field which is not affected with dust. Also, the sensor may be implemented by having the belt pulley 8' attached with the reflective plate 10 or a magnet. [0013] The reflective plate 10 is printed with a A image 25 and a B image 26 step-wisely to each other, and the detector 11 is a complex sensor for sensing two images and determines a forwarding and reversing rotations in accordance with the detected order of the A mirror 25 and B image 26. [0014] While the control unit's command indicating the output of the motor 13 directs a forwarding rotation and thus the running belt 5 is forwardly rotating, if the control unit directs a reverse rotation command, a very small amount of reciprocating movement may occur in a moment in the motor 13 irrespective of the control unit's command due to an over-action of physical power of exercising person and inertia. Therefore, in order to calculate a correct error of the reciprocating distance, it is desirable to increase the number of marks on the reflective plate 10, that is, the A image 25 and B image 26 to thereby reduce the scope of the error. [0015] Therefore, the motor 13 is controllably rotated in accordance with the exercise program selected by user via a scale selecting switch and thus the movement of the running belt 5 being moving by the rotation of the rotating shaft coupled via the running belt 5 to the motor 13 can appropriately control the reciprocating distance, reciprocating speed and reciprocation times based on the exercise program which was selected by the user. [0016] The present invention may be applied by various constructions and methods for safe in which a recognition table 23 is plural-formed on the lower frame 1 and the running belt 5, respectively and in an equal interval so that user can easily identify with the naked eye the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed. Accordingly, because the recognition table formed on the lower frame 1 is fixed and the recognition table 23 indicated on the running belt 5 is moved, the user can estimate the speed, direction and distance by recognizing the relative distance while exercising. As such, the lower flame 1 having the recognition table 23 indicated thereon and the running belt 5 are shown in FIG. 1. [0017] As other safe device, a safe switch for stopping the running belt 5 is attached on the side surface of the lower frame 1 or the surface toward the running belt 5 of the support frame 2. Accordingly, it is possible to stop the running belt 5 at any time while exercising by operating the safe switch 17. The safe switch 17 can freely be positioned at any place other than the above mentioned position. [0018] As another safe device, a lamp or speaker alarms any conversion of forwarding or reversing rotation, thereby allowing user to recognize it visually or acoustically. As such, the conversion is alarmed visually or acoustically by a kind of alarming sound or alarming light informing user that he/she is performing an exercise other than walking or running in the running machine 100 and thus the alarming function serves to improve a safe by bringing user to an awareness to physically respond at the time when the conversion of the direction of the running belt 5 was made. [0019] In a reciprocating movement based on such safe in exercise, installed is a subsidiary handle 22 as a means for causing more various exercising attitudes. That is, the subsidiary handle 22 is detachably coupled to the support frame 2 or installed to the subsidiary frame 21 of the support frame 2 so as to be used during various exercises. Continue reading about Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method... Full patent description for Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Endless belt for treadmill Next Patent Application: Magnetic control wheel with a magnetic ring Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multi-functional running machine and its controlling method patent info. 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