US 6,350,218 B1 · Fold-out treadmill

Abstract

A fold-out treadmill includes a deck having a rear end that is attached to a stationary base. The deck has a front end, a rear end, and a continuous belt rotatably mounted thereon. The rear end of the deck is moveably attached to the base so as to enable the deck to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which the deck is positioned for operation by a user positioned thereon and a storage position in which the deck is positioned proximate to the handrail. The treadmill also includes a collapsible handrail that has a rear end attached to the deck and an opposing front end projecting above the front end of the deck when the deck is in the operational position. The handrail is configured such that when the deck is moved between the operational position and the storage position the handrail does not extend beyond the rear end of the base. The treadmill also includes a fold-out assembly movably connecting the rear end of the handrail to the deck so as to enable the front end of the handrail to project above the front end of the deck when the deck is in the operational position and to automatically collapse into a compact storage configuration when the deck is rotated into the storage position. The fold-out assembly is configured such that the handrail is repositioned by a combination of pivotal movement and linear translation relative to the deck as the deck is selectively rotated from the storage position into the operational position. The fold-out assembly comprises a leg and a slider assembly. The slider assembly is connected to the rear end of the handrail and is configured to allow linear translation of the handrail relative to the deck when the deck is selectively rotated between the storage position and the operational position.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;
(b) a deck having a rear end, an opposing front end and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear end of said deck being movably attached to said base;
(c) a handrail movably attached to said deck;
(d) said deck configured to be selectively rotated between an operational position in which said deck is positioned for use by a user positioned thereon, and a substantially vertical storage position in which said front end of said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail;
and
(e) said handrail further 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, said handrail further being configured such that while said deck is being moved between said operational position and said storage position said handrail does not extend beyond said rear end of said base.

3 more elements

A fold-out fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a handrail having a rear end and a front end;
(b) a support structure comprising:
(i) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end;
and
(ii) a deck having a front end, a rear end, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear end of said deck being moveably 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 substantially vertical storage position in which said front end of said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail;
(c) fold-out means for connecting said rear end of said handrail to said support structure so as to enable said front end of said handrail to project above said 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 in said storage position;
and
(d) said handrail further being configured such that when said deck is moved between said operational position and said storage position said handrail does not extend beyond said rear end of said base.

5 more elements

A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a handrail having a rear end and front end;
(b) a support structure comprising:
(i) a base having a rear and an opposing front end;
and
(ii) a deck having a front end, a rear end, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear end of said deck being moveably 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 substantially vertical storage position in which said front end of said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail;
(c) a fold-out assembly for connecting said rear end of said handrail to said support structure so as to enable said front end of said handrail to project above said 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 in said storage position;
and
(d) said handrail further being configured such that when said deck is moved between said operational position and said storage position said handrail does not extend beyond said rear end of said base.

5 more elements

A fold-out treadmill comprising:

(a) a base having a rear end and an opposing front end, said base configured to rest upon a support surface;
(b) a handrail having a rear end and a front end;
(c) a deck having a front end, a rear end, and an endless belt rotatably mounted thereon, said rear end of said deck being rotatably 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 substantially vertical storage position in which said deck is rotated such that said front end of said deck is positioned proximate to said handrail;
(d) a fold-out assembly moveably connecting said rear end of said handrail to said deck 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, said fold-out assembly further being configured such that said handrail is repositioned by a combination of pivotal movement and linear translation relative to said deck as said deck is selectively repositioned by pivotal movement from said storage position into said operational position;
and
(e) said handrail further being configured such that when said deck is moved between said operational position and said storage position said handrail does not extend beyond said rear end of said base.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fold-out treadmill

Life of this patent

Fold-out treadmill

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23