Exercise device with rack and pinion incline adjusting mechanism
View Patent ↗Incline mechanisms are provided for adjusting an incline of an inclinable portion of an exercise device. The incline mechanism may include one or more racks disposed on a frame, such as a generally upright support structure of a treadmill. One or more pinions may be movably connected to the inclinable portion of the exercise device, such as a treadbase of a treadmill, and may engage the one or more racks. An incline motor may rotate the pinions, which causes the pinions to ride up or down the racks. As the pinions rides up or down the racks or linear gear bars, the incline of the inclinable portion of the exercise device is increased or decreased. The pinions may rotate between various positions on the racks which correspond to various inclines and declines, including fully inclined, fully declined, and neutral positions.
1. A selectively inclining treadmill which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining treadmill comprising:
a frame;
a treadbase pivotally connected to the frame, the treadbase having a first end and a second end, the treadbase being selectively movable between a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position relative to a support surface; and
an incline mechanism that selectively moves the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions, the incline mechanism comprising:
a rack connected to the frame; and
a pinion rotatably connected to the first end of the treadbase, wherein the pinion selectively rotates up and down the rack to move the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions;
a bracket assembly, a guide that directs movement of the bracket assembly, and a gas spring;
wherein the gas spring applies a continuous force to rotate the bracket assembly to maintain full engagement between the pinion and the rack.
2. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the incline mechanism further comprises a motor that selectively rotates the pinion up and down the rack.
3. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the incline mechanism enables the treadbase to decline to about a −5% grade and incline to about a 30% grade relative to the support surface.
4. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the rack and the pinion each comprises a plurality of teeth that engage one another.
5. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the treadbase is rotatably mounted on a rod to enable the treadbase to be selectively reoriented between an operating position and a storage position.
6. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 5 , wherein the treadbase is generally vertically oriented when the treadbase is in the storage position.
7. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 5 , wherein the pinion is mounted on the rod.
8. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 5 , wherein the rod moves generally vertically with substantially no horizontal movement as the treadbase moves between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions.
9. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a handle bar assembly pivotally connected to the frame, wherein the handle bar assembly may be selectively reoriented between an operating position and a storage position.
10. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 9 , wherein the handle bar assembly is reoriented from the operating position to the storage position when the treadbase is reoriented from an operating position to a storage position.
11. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 10 , wherein the treadmill has a storage profile width of between about 4 inches and about 12 inches when the treadbase and handle bar assembly are in the storage positions.
12. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises an opening formed therein, and wherein at least a portion of the bracket assembly moves back and forth within the opening as the incline mechanism moves the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions.
13. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism comprising:
a latch plate connected to the frame, the latch plate having a channel formed therein; and
a latch pin connected to the first end of the treadbase, wherein the latch pin may be selectively lowered into the channel when the treadbase is in a storage position, wherein the latch pin and the channel cooperate to maintain the treadbase in the storage position when the latch pin is positioned within the channel.
14. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 13 , wherein the latch pin is lowered into the channel by activating the incline mechanism.
15. The selectively inclining treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a foot connected to the second end of the treadbase, wherein the foot elevates the second end of the treadbase far enough above a support surface so that the first end of the treadbase may be lowered so that treadbase is declined to a grade of about −4%.
16. A selectively reorienting treadmill, comprising:
a frame that rests upon a support surface;
a treadbase pivotally connected to the frame, the treadbase having a first end and a second end, the treadbase being selectively movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
a latching mechanism that selectively maintains the treadbase in the storage position, the latching mechanism comprising:
a latch plate connected to the frame, the latch plate having a generally upwardly opening channel formed therein;
a latch pin connected to the first end of the treadbase, wherein the latch pin may be selectively lowered into the channel when the treadbase is in the storage position, wherein the latch pin and the channel cooperate to maintain the treadbase in the storage position when the latch pin is positioned within the channel;
an incline mechanism that selectively moves the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions, the incline mechanism comprising:
a rack connected to the frame; and
a pinion rotatably connected to the first end of the treadbase, wherein the pinion selectively rotates up and down the rack to move the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions;
a bracket assembly, a guide that directs movement of the bracket assembly, and a gas spring;
wherein the gas spring applies a continuous force to rotate the bracket assembly to maintain full engagement between the pinion and the rack.
17. The selectively reorienting treadmill of claim 16 , wherein the latch pin is lowered into the channel by lowering the treadbase closer to the latch plate.
18. The selectively reorienting treadmill of claim 17 , wherein the incline mechanism selectively adjusts the height of the first end of the treadbase when the treadbase is in the operating position and lowers the treadbase to position the latch pin in the channel when the treadbase is in the storage position.
19. The selectively reorienting treadmill of claim 16 , wherein the latch pin is oriented for vertical engagement with the latch plate when the treadbase is in the storage position.
20. A treadmill, comprising:
a frame;
a treadbase pivotally connected to the frame, wherein the treadbase may be selectively reoriented between an operating position and a storage position, and wherein the treadbase is selectively movable between a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position when the treadbase is in the operating position;
a latching mechanism having a latch pin connected to the treadbase and a latch plate with a channel formed therein connected to the frame, wherein the channel selectively receives the latch pin when the treadbase is in the storage position to selectively maintain the treadbase in the storage position;
an incline mechanism that selectively moves the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions when the treadbase is in the operating position and that selectively lowers the treadbase to position the latch pin within the channel when the treadbase is in the storage position;
the incline mechanism comprising:
a rack connected to the frame; and
a pinion rotatably connected to a first end of the treadbase, wherein the pinion selectively rotates up and down the rack to move the treadbase between the declined, neutral, and inclined positions;
a bracket assembly, a guide that directs movement of the bracket assembly, and a gas spring;
wherein the gas spring applies a continuous force to rotate the bracket assembly to maintain full engagement between the pinion and the rack.