Adjustable and foldable lightweight treadmill exercise apparatus

Abstract

A treadmill frame rotationally supporting spaced apart rollers in turn rotatingly engaging a treadmill belt for revolving around the rollers and a motor frame pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame, the frame supporting a drive motor providing rotation of the treadmill belt. An upright frame in a simple rectangular shape with side struts pivotally engaged with the motor frame and a lower lateral struts positioned below the motor frame in a position for resting on a supporting surface. The treadmill frame, motor frame, upright frame and a support strut rotatable about pivots so as to set a treadmill inclination.

1 . A folding treadmill apparatus resting on a supporting surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a treadmill frame rotationally supporting spaced apart rollers in turn rotatingly engaging a treadmill belt for revolving around the rollers, the treadmill frame defining a treadmill frame plane;   a motor frame pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame, the motor frame defining a motor frame plane;   a drive motor fixed within the motor frame, the drive motor engaging one of said rollers thereby enabling motorized rotation of the treadmill belt;   an upright frame pivotally engaged with the motor frame, the upright frame providing means for resting on the supporting surface, the upright frame defining an upright frame plane;   a support strut pivotally engaged with the vertically disposed strut;   a sleeve pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame and slidingly engaged with the support strut;   an extender positioned and pivotally engaged within the apparatus so as to raise the treadmill frame over a range of angles with respect to the supporting surface thereby selectively setting an inclination of the treadmill belt;   the treadmill frame, motor frame, upright frame and the support strut rotatable about pivots enabling the planes of the treadmill frame, motor frame and upright frame to be positioned in essentially parallel juxtaposition.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a control panel engaged with the apparatus in a position above the treadmill frame. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a handle engaged with the apparatus in a position adjacent to the control panel. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is enabled for extending in linear motion. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rotational engagement of the drive motor with the one of the rollers is one of a flexible belt, a drive chain, and a drive shaft. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is mounted between the upright frame and the motor frame. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is mounted between the treadmill frame and the motor frame. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor frame, is so pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame and the upright frame as to enable folding into side-by-side juxtaposition therewith. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the extender is positioned and enabled so as to move the motor, treadmill and upright frames into the side-by-side juxtaposition. 
   
   
       10 . A folding treadmill apparatus resting on a supporting surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a treadmill frame rotationally supporting spaced apart rollers in turn rotatingly engaging a treadmill belt for revolving around the rollers, the treadmill frame defining a treadmill frame plane;   a motor frame pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame, the motor frame defining a motor frame plane;   a drive motor fixed within the motor frame, the drive motor engaging one of said rollers thereby enabling motorized rotation of the treadmill belt;   an upright frame pivotally engaged with the motor frame, the upright frame, when unfolded and positioned for exercising, providing at least one essentially vertical frame strut joined with at least one essentially horizontal frame strut, the frame struts providing a means for resting on the supporting surface, the resting means resting on the supporting surface;   a support strut pivotally engaging at least one of said frame struts;   a sleeve pivotally engaging one of: the treadmill frame and the motor frame and slidingly engaging the support strut;   an extender positioned and pivotally engaged within the apparatus so as to position the treadmill frame at a selected angle with respect to the supporting surface thereby selectively setting an inclination of the treadmill belt.   the treadmill frame, motor frame, upright frame and the support strut rotatable about pivots enabling for folding the apparatus for compact storage.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a control panel engaged with the apparatus in a position above the treadmill frame. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a handle engaged with the apparatus in a position adjacent to the control panel. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is enabled for extending in linear motion. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rotational engagement of the drive motor with the one of the rollers is one of a flexible belt, a drive chain, and a drive shaft. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is mounted between the upright frame and the motor frame. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the extender is mounted between the treadmill frame and the motor frame. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor frame, is so pivotally engaged with the treadmill frame and the upright frame as to enable folding into side-by-side juxtaposition therewith. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the extender is positioned and enabled so as to move the motor frame, treadmill frame and upright frame into the side-by-side juxtaposition.