Granted Patent B2

US 9,039,578 · App. 13/693,279 · Granted May 26, 2015

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a first frame;

a second frame including a treadbase, the second frame being pivotally connected to the first frame, the second frame being movable relative to the first frame between a storage position and an operating position; and

a latching mechanism that selectively holds the second frame in the storage position, the latching mechanism comprising:

a seat associated with the first frame, the seat having a seat engagement surface;

a seat engagement member associated with the second frame and which may be selectively positioned on the seat engagement surface to hold the second frame in the storage position; and

a lever that selectively rotates the seat engagement member off of the seat to allow the second frame to move from the storage position to the operating position;

wherein the seat engagement member is movable between a first angular position and a second angular position, wherein the seat engagement member is positioned on the seat engagement surface in the first angular position and is off of the seat engagement surface in the second angular position;

wherein the seat has a seat guide surface that maintains the seat engagement member in the second angular position when the second frame is moved toward the operating position.

2. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the seat engagement surface faces in a generally upward direction.

3. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the seat engagement member has a first end mounted on a rod and a second end that extends generally radially away from the rod.

4. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the second end of the seat engagement member has a wheel mounted thereon.

5. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the rod has a longitudinal axis and is rotatably connected to the second frame such that the rod is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

6. The treadmill of claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second frame.

7. The treadmill of claim 5 , wherein the second frame moves between the storage position and the operating position about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

8. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the lever is connected to the rod.

9. The treadmill of claim 8 , wherein the lever and the seat engagement member are disposed adjacent opposing ends of the rod.

10. The treadmill of claim 3 , wherein the rod extends along a substantial length of the second frame.

11. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the seat engagement member is biased toward the first angular position.

12. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a gas spring connected between the first frame and the second frame to urge the second frame toward the storage position.

13. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the treadbase of the second frame comprises a surface upon which a user may ambulate when the treadbase is in the operating position.

14. A treadmill comprising:

a frame having a base frame that rests on a support surface and a generally upright structure that extends generally upwardly from the base frame;

a treadbase having a first end and a second end, the treadbase being pivotally connected to the frame and movable between an operating position in which the first end of the treadbase is positioned proximally the support surface and a storage position in which the first end of the treadbase is positioned proximally the upright structure of the frame; and

a latching mechanism that selectively holds the treadbase in the storage position, the latching mechanism comprising:

a seat secured to the frame, the seat having a seat engagement surface;

a rod having a longitudinal axis, the rod being rotatably connected to the treadbase such that the rod can rotate about its longitudinal axis;

a seat engagement member connected to the rod, wherein the seat engagement member moves between a first position and a second position as the rod is rotated about its longitudinal axis, wherein the seat engagement member engages the seat engagement surface on the seat when the seat engagement member is in the first position, thereby selectively maintaining the treadbase in the storage position, and wherein the engagement member does not engage the seat engagement surface on the seat when the seat engagement member is in the second position, thereby allowing the treadbase to move to the operating position; and

a lever connected to the rod, wherein the lever is movable in first and second opposing directions, wherein movement of the lever in the second direction causes the seat engagement member to move to the second position and out of engagement with the seat engagement surface;

wherein the seat engagement member has a first end mounted on the rod and a second end that extends generally radially away from the rod, wherein the second end of the seat engagement member has a wheel mounted thereon.

15. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the treadbase has a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

16. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the lever is connected to the rod adjacent the first end of the treadbase and the seat engagement member is connected to the rod adjacent the second end of the treadbase.

17. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein the seat comprises a seat guide surface that guides the movement of the seat engagement member as the treadbase is moved from the storage position to the operating position and which maintains the seat engagement member in the second position when the treadbase is not in the storage position.

Assignments (21)