Treadmill having an adjustable cushioning device

Abstract

A treadmill includes an endless belt disposed in a base and driven by such as a motor. A cushioning device is engaged in the endless belt and rotatably secured in the base with a shaft. One or more pads are disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the cushioning device and selectively rotatable toward the endless belt to cushion the endless belt by rotating the shaft relative to the base. The pads may be made of different cushioning materials, or different numbers of pads may be disposed on the shaft. The shaft may be rotated manually with a ferrule, or rotated with a motor.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A treadmill comprising: 
 a base,    an endless belt provided in said base,    means for driving said endless belt, and a cushioning device engaged in said endless belt, and rotatably secured in said base with a shaft, and including an outer peripheral surface having at least one pad extended therefrom, said at least one pad being selectively rotatable toward said endless belt to cushion said endless belt by rotating said shaft relative to said base.    
     
     
         2 . The treadmill according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning device includes an outer peripheral portion having a first and at least one second longitudinal areas provided therein, said at least one pad is supported on said first longitudinal area of said cushioning device.  
     
     
         3 . The treadmill according to  claim 2 , wherein said cushioning device includes at least one second pad supported on said at least one second longitudinal area of said cushioning device.  
     
     
         4 . The treadmill according to  claim 1  further comprising means for rotating said shaft relative to said base to selectively rotate said at least one pad toward and to cushion said endless belt.  
     
     
         5 . The treadmill according to  claim 4 , wherein said rotating means includes a ferrule, and means for coupling said ferrule to said shaft and to rotate said shaft relative to said base.  
     
     
         6 . The treadmill according to  claim 5 , wherein said coupling means includes a rod secured to said ferrule and having a first end having a notch and a leg formed therein, said shaft includes a first end having an extension and a notch formed thereon for engaging with said notch and said leg of said rod respectively, and for allowing said rod to be slided and movable relative to said shaft and to be rotated by said rod.  
     
     
         7 . The treadmill according to  claim 6 , wherein said base includes a duct secured therein and having a bore formed therein for slidably and rotatably receiving said rod.  
     
     
         8 . The treadmill according to  claim 5  further comprising means for positioning said ferrule to said base at different selected angular positions.  
     
     
         9 . The treadmill according to  claim 8 , wherein said positioning means includes a pin provided on said base, and at least one cavity formed in said ferrule for selectively receiving said pin to position said ferrule to said base.  
     
     
         10 . The treadmill according to  claim 9  further comprising means for biasing said ferrule toward said base and to engage said pin into said at least one cavity of said ferrule.  
     
     
         11 . The treadmill according to  claim 4 , wherein said rotating means includes a gear secured on said shaft and rotated in concert with said shaft, and means for driving said gear to rotate said rod.  
     
     
         12 . The treadmill according to  claim 11 , wherein said driving means includes a motor coupled to said gear for driving said gear to rotate said rod.