US 6,033,347 A · Fold-out treadmill

Abstract

A foldable treadmill includes a deck having a rear end that is hingedly attached to a stationary base. The deck can be selectively rotated between an operational position, wherein the deck is substantially level, and a storage position, wherein the front end of the deck is lifted so that the deck is substantially upright. The treadmill also includes a handrail that is movably attached to the deck. The handrail has a first end attached to the base and an opposing second end projecting above the front end of the deck when the deck is in the operational position. The handrail is configured to automatically collapse into substantial alignment with the deck when the deck is rotated into the storage position. The deck and the handrail are configured such that the treadmill can be selectively stored against a wall and the deck selectively rotated from the storage position to the operational position causing the handrail to also move without either the deck or handrail contacting the wall. The deck selectively rotates into an operational position in which the handrail extends toward the front of the deck thereby allowing the user to face away from the wall.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A treadmill for storage against a wall comprising:

(a) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end, said base configured to rest upon a support surface with its rear end abutting or in close proximity to said wall;
(b) a deck having a rear end, an opposing front end and a continuous belt rotatably mounted thereon, the rear end of said deck being movably attached to said base so as to enable said deck to selectively rotate between an operational position, in which said deck is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position, in which said deck is substantially upright, said deck having a continuous belt rotatably mounted thereon;
and
(c) a handrail movably attached between said base and said deck, said handrail being configured to fold into a compact storage configuration when said deck is moved from said operational position to said storage position and to unfold when said deck is moved from said storage position to said operational position such that said handrail extends above said front end of said deck when said deck is in said operational position thereby enabling a user to face away from the wall while exercising thereon, and wherein said deck can be moved between said operational position and said storage position without moving said base relative to said wall.

1 more element

A treadmill for storage against a wall comprising:

(a) a base;
(b) a deck having a first end and an opposing second end, said second end being hingedly mounted to said base so as to enable said deck to selectively rotate between an operational position, in which said deck folds away from said wall and into a substantially level position, and a storage position, in which said deck folds up toward the wall and into a substantially upright position;
(c) a continuous belt rotatably mounted on said deck, said belt having a top surface rotatable from said first end of said deck toward said second end of said deck;
and
(d) a handrail having a first end and an opposing second end, the second end of said handrail being movably attached between said base and said deck, said handrail being configured to fold into a compact storage configuration when said deck is moved from said operational position to said storage position and to unfold when said deck is moved from said storage position to said operational position such that said the first end of said handrail extends above the first end of said deck when said deck is in said operational position thereby enabling a user to face away from the wall while exercising thereon, and wherein said deck can be moved between said operational position and said storage position without moving said base relative to said wall.

2 more elements

A treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising
(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end, said base configured to rest upon a support surface with its rear end abutting or in close proximity to said wall;
(ii) a deck having a front end, a rear end, a left side and a right side, said deck having an endless belt positioned between said left side and said right side, the rear end of said deck being hingedly mounted to said base so as to enable said deck to selectively rotate between an operational position, in which said deck is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position, in which said deck is substantially upright;
b) a control panel for providing a user interface relating to operation of said treadmill;
and
(c) means for coupling said control panel to said support structure, wherein said control panel and said coupling means fold into a compact storage configuration when said deck is moved from said operational position to said storage position and unfold when said deck is moved from said storage position to said operational position such that said control panel extends above said front end of said deck and is visible to a user positioned on said deck and facing away from said wall when said deck is in said operational position, thereby enabling the user to face away from the wall while exercising thereon, and wherein said deck can be moved between said operational position and said storage position without moving said base relative to said wall.

3 more elements

A treadmill comprising:

(a) a support structure comprising
(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end, said base configured to rest upon a support surface with its rear end abutting or in close proximity to said wall;
(ii) a deck having a front end, a rear end, a left side and a right side, said deck having an endless belt positioned between said left side and said right side, the rear end of said deck being hingedly mounted to said base so as to enable said deck to selectively rotate between an operational position, in which said deck is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon, and a storage position, in which said deck is substantially upright;
(b) a handrail having a rear end and a front end;
(c) fold-out means for attaching the rear end of said handrail to said support structure so as to enable the front end of said handrail to project above the front end of said deck when said deck is in said operational position and to automatically collapse into a compact storage configuration when said deck is rotated into said storage position;
and
(d) a control panel connected to the second end of said handrail providing a user interface for operation of said treadmill,
wherein said deck can be moved between said operational position and said storage position without moving said base relative to said wall.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fold-out treadmill

Life of this patent

Fold-out treadmill

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24