Treadmill and an idler-wheel unit thereof

Abstract

A treadmill includes abase unit, a running belt unit and an idler-wheel unit. The base unit includes a base seat and two rotating shafts that are rotatably connected to the base seat. The running belt unit is trained around the rotating shafts such that rotation of the rotating shafts drives the running belt unit to move relative to the base seat. The running belt unit has an inner surface. The idler-wheel unit includes a supporting member and an idler-wheel. The supporting member is mounted to the base seat of the base unit. The idler-wheel is connected to the supporting member and abuts rotatably against the inner surface of the running belt unit for maintaining a predetermined tension of the running belt unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treadmill comprising:
 a base unit including a base seat and two rotating shafts that are spaced apart from each other, and that are rotatably connected to said base seat;   a running belt unit trained around said rotating shafts such that rotation of said rotating shafts drives said running belt unit to move relative to said base seat, said running belt unit having an inner surface; and   an idler-wheel unit including
 a supporting member that is mounted to said base seat of said base unit, and 
 an idler-wheel that is connected to said supporting member and that abuts rotatably against said inner surface of said running belt unit for maintaining a predetermined tension of said running belt unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said idler-wheel unit further includes an arm member that is pivotally connected to said supporting member, and said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member. 
     
     
         3 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said idler-wheel unit further includes a resilient member that is connected between said supporting member and said arm member for biasing said idler-wheel to abut against said inner surface of said running belt unit via the pivot connection between said arm member and said support member. 
     
     
         4 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said supporting member of said idler-wheel unit has a main portion connected to said base seat, and a connecting portion extending from said main portion and connected to said resilient member;   said arm member of said idler-wheel unit has a fulcrum portion rotatably connected to said main portion of said supporting member, a receiving portion extending from said fulcrum portion and pivotally connected to said resilient member, and an exerting portion extending from said fulcrum portion;   said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member; and   said receiving portion of said arm member is biased by said resilient member toward said connecting portion of said supporting member such that said exerting portion of said arm member is biased to abut said idler-wheel against said inner surface of said running belt unit.   
     
     
         5 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said receiving and exerting portions of said arm member are respectively disposed at opposite sides of said fulcrum portion of said arm member, and cooperate with said fulcrum portion to form an inverted V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         6 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said idler-wheel unit further includes an adjusting member;   said supporting member of said idler-wheel unit has a main portion connected to said base seat, and a connecting portion extending from said main portion and connected to said adjusting member; and   said arm member of said idler-wheel unit has a fulcrum portion rotatably connected to said main portion of said supporting member, a receiving portion extending from said fulcrum portion and connected to said adjusting member, and an exerting portion extending from said fulcrum portion;   said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member; and   said adjusting member is operable for adjusting a distance between said connecting portion of said supporting member and said receiving portion of said arm member via the pivot connection between said arm member and said support member such that said arm member is urged to abut said idler-wheel against said inner surface of said running belt unit.   
     
     
         7 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said supporting member of said idler-wheel unit is formed with an elongated through hole;   said idler-wheel of said idler-wheel unit extends through and slidable along said elongated through hole; and   said idler-wheel unit further includes a regulating member connected to said supporting member and said idler-wheel, and being operable for controlling slide movement of said idler-wheel along said elongated through hole of said supporting member, thereby maintaining said idler-wheel abutting against said inner surface of said running belt unit.   
     
     
         8 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said base seat of said base unit includes two spaced-apart side frames, said rotating shafts of said base unit being rotatably connected between said side frames; and   said treadmill comprises two of said idler-wheel units, said supporting member of each of said idler-wheel units being connected to a respective one of said side frames.   
     
     
         9 . The treadmill as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said running belt unit includes:
 a track set including a track that is trained around and driven movably by said rotating shafts, and a guiding belt that is connected co-movably to said track and that has said inner surface; and   a running belt surrounding and connected to an outer surface of said track and an outer surface of said guiding belt.   
     
     
         10 . An idler-wheel unit adapted to be mounted to a treadmill, the treadmill including a base unit and a running belt unit trained around the base unit and having an inner surface, said idler-wheel unit comprising:
 a supporting member that is mounted to the base unit; and   an idler-wheel that is connected to said supporting member and that abuts rotatably against the inner surface of the running belt unit for maintaining a predetermined tension of the running belt unit.   
     
     
         11 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said idler-wheel unit further comprises an arm member that is pivotally connected to said supporting member, and said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member. 
     
     
         12 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said idler-wheel unit further comprises a resilient member that is connected between said supporting member and said arm member for biasing said idler-wheel to abut against the inner surface of the running belt unit via the pivot connection between said arm member and said support member. 
     
     
         13 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said supporting member has a main portion connected to the base unit, and a connecting portion extending from said main portion and connected to said resilient member;   said arm member has a fulcrum portion rotatably connected to said main portion of said supporting member, a receiving portion extending from said fulcrum portion and pivotally connected to said resilient member, and an exerting portion extending from said fulcrum portion;   said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member; and   said receiving portion of said arm member is biased by said resilient member toward said connecting portion of said supporting member, such that said exerting portion of said arm member is biased to abut said idler-wheel against the inner surface of the running belt unit.   
     
     
         14 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said receiving and exerting portions of said arm member are respectively disposed at opposite sides of said fulcrum portion of said arm member, and cooperate with said fulcrum portion to form an inverted V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         15 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in claim wherein:
 said idler-wheel unit further comprises an adjusting member;   said supporting member has a main portion connected to the base unit, and a connecting portion extending from said main portion and connected to said adjusting member; and   said arm member has a fulcrum portion rotatably connected to said main portion of said supporting member, a receiving portion extending from said fulcrum portion and connected to said adjusting member, and an exerting portion extending from said fulcrum portion;   said idler-wheel is rotatably and co-movably connected to said arm member; and   said adjusting member is operable for adjusting a distance between said connecting portion of said supporting member and said receiving portion of said arm member via the pivot connection between said arm member and said support member such that said arm member is urged to abut said idler-wheel against the inner surface of the running belt unit.   
     
     
         16 . The idler-wheel unit as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said supporting member is formed with an elongated through hole;   said idler-wheel extends through and slidable along said elongated through hole; and   said idler-wheel unit further comprises a regulating member connected to said supporting member and said idler-wheel, and being operable for controlling slide movement of said idler-wheel along said elongated through hole of said supporting member, thereby maintaining said idler-wheel abutting against the inner surface of the running belt unit.