Treadmill with an automatically foldable treadbase

Abstract

A treadmill includes a base frame, a treadbase, a support bar unit, and a drive unit. The base frame has front and rear frame ends. The treadbase has front and rear base ends, and includes a treading member disposed above the base frame. The support bar unit has a first bar portion pivoted to the treading member, and a second bar portion pivoted to the base frame. The drive unit includes a drive motor mounted on the base frame, and a telescopic arm having a front arm end coupled to the treadbase, and a rear arm end connected to the drive motor.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A treadmill, comprising: 
 a base frame having front and rear frame ends;    a treadbase having front and rear base ends, and including a treading member disposed above said base frame;    a support bar unit having a first bar portion pivoted to said treading member, and a second bar portion pivoted to said base frame; and    a drive unit including a drive motor mounted on said base frame, and a telescopic arm having a front arm end coupled to said treadbase, and a rear arm end connected to said drive motor;    wherein said drive motor is operable so as to extend forward or retract rearward said front arm end of said telescopic arm, whereby rearward retraction of said front arm end results in movement of said front base end toward said rear frame end and in upward folding movement of said treadbase.    
     
     
         2 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein said base frame includes left and right frame portions and a connecting frame portion interconnecting said left and right frame portions at said rear frame end.  
     
     
         3 . The treadmill of  claim 2 , wherein said support bar unit includes left and right bars, each of which connects said treading member to said connecting frame portion adjacent to a respective one of said left and right frame portions.  
     
     
         4 . The treadmill of  claim 2 , wherein said drive motor is mounted pivotally on said connecting frame portion.  
     
     
         5 . The treadmill of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said left and right frame portions is formed with a slide rail that extends from said front frame end toward said rear frame end, said front base end of said treadbase being coupled slidably to said slide rail.  
     
     
         6 . The treadmill of  claim 5 , wherein said treading member is provided with a roller at said front base end for coupling slidably with said slide rail.  
     
     
         7 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein said telescopic arm includes an internally threaded sleeve tube connected pivotally to said treadbase, and a screw rod inserted threadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to and driven rotatably by said drive motor.  
     
     
         8 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein said telescopic arm includes an internally threaded sleeve tube connected pivotally to said treading member at said front base end, and a screw rod inserted threadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to and driven rotatably by said drive motor.  
     
     
         9 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein said treadbase further includes a lifting frame member having a first frame portion pivoted to said treading member and a second frame portion coupled slidably to said base frame and movable between said front and rear frame ends, said front arm end of said telescopic arm being connected to said lifting frame member, said treadmill further comprising a releasable fastening unit for fastening immovably said lifting frame member to said treading member; 
 wherein, when said fastening unit releases said lifting frame member from said treading member, extension and retraction of said telescopic arm due to operation of said drive motor varies inclination of said treading member;    wherein, when said fastening unit fixes said lifting frame member to said treading member, extension and retraction of said telescopic arm due to operation of said drive motor results in movement of said treadbase between folded and unfolded states.    
     
     
         10 . The treadmill of  claim 9 , wherein said base frame includes left and right frame portions and a connecting frame portion interconnecting said left and right frame portions at said rear frame end.  
     
     
         11 . The treadmill of  claim 10 , wherein said support bar unit includes left and right bars, each of which connects said treading member to said connecting frame portion adjacent to a respective one of said left and right frame portions.  
     
     
         12 . The treadmill of  claim 10 , wherein said drive motor is mounted pivotally on said connecting frame portion.  
     
     
         13 . The treadmill of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said left and right frame portions is formed with a slide rail that extends from said front frame end toward said rear frame end, said second frame portion of said lifting frame member being coupled slidably to said slide rail.  
     
     
         14 . The treadmill of  claim 13 , wherein said lifting frame member includes a pair of lifting bars pivoted to said treading member, and a first crossbar interconnecting said lifting bars.  
     
     
         15 . The treadmill of  claim 14 , wherein said first crossbar is provided with a roller for coupling slidably with said slide rail.  
     
     
         16 . The treadmill of  claim 15 , wherein said telescopic arm includes an internally threaded sleeve tube connected pivotally to said first crossbar, and a screw rod inserted threadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to and driven rotatably by said drive motor.  
     
     
         17 . The treadmill of  claim 15 , wherein said lifting frame member further includes a second crossbar interconnecting said lifting bars and parallel to said first crossbar, said telescopic arm including an internally threaded sleeve tube connected pivotally to said second crossbar, and a screw rod inserted threadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to and driven rotatably by said drive motor.