Treadmill deck locking mechanism
AssigneeNautilus, Inc.
InventorsKeith Weier, Douglas Crawford, Kuo-Ti Huang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for use with exercise treadmills capable of being selectively configured in an operating configuration or a storage configuration. The locking mechanism may utilize various configurations of engagement devices and/or locking members to allow a user to selectively lock a treadmill frame in a fixed position relative to a base frame.
Claims36
A treadmill configurable between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, the treadmill comprising:
- a base frame;
- a treadmill frame pivotally connected with the base frame, the treadmill frame supporting a deck, a front roller, and a rear roller, and having a tread belt positioned about the first and second rollers and passing over the deck;
- and
- a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock the treadmill frame in a fixed position relative to the base frame.
A treadmill configurable between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, the treadmill comprising:
- a base frame including a first bracket defining a first aperture corresponding with the operating configuration and a second aperture corresponding with the storage configuration;
- and
- a treadmill frame pivotally connected with the base frame, the treadmill frame supporting a deck, at least one roller, and further supporting a tread belt passing over the deck, the treadmill frame including at least one frame rail including a second bracket supporting a pin movable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position.
A treadmill comprising:
- a base frame;
- a treadmill frame pivotally coupled to the base frame;
- a locking mechanism comprising:
- a first bracket connected with the treadmill frame, the first bracket having an engagement member;
- a second bracket connected with the base frame, the second bracket configured to be engageable with a portion of the engagement member;
- and
- a pivot member operably coupled with the first bracket and the second bracket, whereby the first bracket and the second bracket are rotatable relative to each other;
- and
- an actuator mechanism comprising:
- an actuable member;
- and
- a cable operably coupled with the actuable member and the engagement member, whereby the engagement member is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
A treadmill comprising:
- a base frame;
- a treadmill frame;
- and
- a locking mechanism comprising:
- an engagement member moveable between an engaged position and a disengage position;
- and
- an actuation mechanism including a handle pivotable about an axis, wherein pivoting the handle about the axis causes the engagement member to move between the engaged and disengaged positions.
A method for selectively positioning a treadmill frame relative to a base frame of a treadmill, the method comprising:
- pivoting a handle member about a pivot axis to cause an engagement member to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
A treadmill configurable between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, the treadmill comprising:
- a base frame;
- a treadmill frame pivotally connected with the base frame, the treadmill frame supporting a deck and at least one roller, and having a tread belt positioned about the at least one roller and passing over the deck, and wherein the treadmill frame is adapted to pivot between a downward operating position and upward storage position;
- and
- a lift assistance mechanism operably coupled with the base frame and the treadmill frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.