Portable, foldable and manually-powered exercise apparatus

Abstract

A portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus including a frame having first rails and second rails. First and second rails receive a first walking surface and second walking surface, respectively. The exercise apparatus includes hinge plates connecting first and second rails and include first legs. The exercise apparatus includes second legs connecting the first rails and support and place first rails at an inclination angle. The exercise apparatus includes first rollers connecting the first rails, and second roller connecting the second rails. The first rollers and second roller receive a tread belt over the first walking surface and second walking surface. User walks/runs on the tread belt causing first rollers and second roller to rotate. The second legs fold, and the hinge plates allow folding of second rails along with the second walking surface underneath the first rails and first walking surface without the first rollers coming into contact with the second roller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame comprising a pair of first rails and a pair of second rails;   a first walking surface and a second walking surface connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, respectively; and   hinge plates connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, and said hinge plates comprising first legs;   second legs connecting said pair of first rails, said second legs configured for supporting said pair of first rails and placing said frame at an inclination angle, in conjunction with said first legs, with respect to a surface;   first rollers and a second roller, said first rollers connecting said pair of first rails, and said second roller connecting said pair of second rails, wherein said first rollers and said second roller receive a tread belt over said first walking surface and said second walking surface,   wherein a user walks or runs on the tread belt causing said first rollers and said second roller to rotate thereby manually powering said exercise apparatus,   wherein said second legs fold, and wherein said hinge plates allow folding of said second rails along with said second walking surface underneath said first rails and said first walking surface without said first rollers coming into contact with said second roller.   
     
     
         2 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first rollers connect to said first rails via a first connecting rod. 
     
     
         3 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second roller connects to said second rails via a second connecting rod. 
     
     
         4 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said portable, foldable and manually-powered exercise apparatus comprises a flywheel underneath the first walking surface, and wherein said flywheel connects said first rollers via a timing belt. 
     
     
         5 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the timing belt translates vertical rotation of said first rollers into horizontal rotation of the flywheel, and wherein the translation of rotation of first rollers to the flywheel ensures continuous operation of the tread belt. 
     
     
         6 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first rollers comprises a coupling member having teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said portable and foldable exercise apparatus comprises a flywheel underneath the first walking surface, and wherein said flywheel connects the coupling member via a timing belt. 
     
     
         8 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the timing belt translates the vertical rotation of said coupling member into horizontal rotation of the flywheel, and wherein the translation of rotation of first rollers to the flywheel ensures continuous operation of the tread belt. 
     
     
         9 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said portable and foldable exercise apparatus comprises a flywheel underneath the first walking surface, said flywheel comprising a pulley, and wherein said pulley connects the coupling member via a timing belt. 
     
     
         10 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the timing belt translates vertical rotation of said coupling member into horizontal rotation of the pulley, and wherein the pulley rotates the flywheel ensuring continuous operation of the tread belt. 
     
     
         11 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first walking surface comprising a rotating axle underneath, said rotating axle ensures motion of the timing belt is constrained between said flywheel and said first walking surface. 
     
     
         12 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second legs comprise a sliding support member, said sliding support member connects said first rails, slides along said first rails and allows for folding of said second legs. 
     
     
         13 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said hinge plates provides a triangular configuration, and wherein two sides of said hinge plate connect said first rail and said second rail and other side connects said first leg. 
     
     
         14 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said frame further comprises a support section and said support section rests on the surface and allows said second roller to the position off the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tread belt comprises a layer of material having a low coefficient of friction, and wherein said layer reduces resistance causing friction and provides smooth motion of the tread belt over said first walking surface and said second walking surface. 
     
     
         16 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inclination angle of the frame with respect to the surface is approximately 8 to 15 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame comprising a pair of first rails and a pair of second rails;   a first walking surface and a second walking surface connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, respectively;   hinge plates connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, and said hinge plates comprising first legs;   second legs connecting said pair of first rails said second legs configured for supporting pair of first rails and placing said frame at an inclination angle of approximately 8 to 15 degrees, in conjunction with said first legs, with respect to a surface;   first rollers and a second roller, said first rollers connecting said pair of first rails, and said second roller connecting said pair of second rails, wherein said first rollers and said second roller receive a tread belt over said first walking surface and said second walking surface; and   a flywheel connecting underneath said first walking surface, said flywheel connecting said first rollers via a timing belt,   wherein a user walks or runs on the tread belt causing the first rollers and second roller to rotate, wherein the timing belt translates vertical rotation of said first rollers into horizontal rotation of the flywheel, and wherein the translation of rotation of first rollers to the flywheel ensures continuous operation of the tread belt thereby manually powering said exercise apparatus,   wherein said second legs fold, and wherein said hinge plates allow folding of said second rails along with said second walking surface underneath said first rails and said first walking surface without said first rollers coming into contact with said second roller.   
     
     
         18 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each of said hinge plates provides a triangular configuration, and wherein two sides of said hinge plate connect said first rail and said second rail and other side connects said first leg. 
     
     
         19 . The portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said first walking surface comprises a rotating axle, said rotating axle ensures motion of the timing belt is constrained between said flywheel and said first walking surface. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing a portable, foldable, and manually-powered exercise apparatus, said method comprising steps of:
 providing a frame having a pair of first rails and a pair of second rails;   providing a first walking surface and a second walking surface connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, respectively;   providing hinge plates connecting said pair of first rails and said pair of second rails, and said hinge plates comprising first legs;   providing second legs connecting said pair of first rails, said second legs configured for supporting pair of first rails and placing said frame at an inclination angle in conjunction with said first legs with respect to a surface;   providing first rollers connecting said pair of first rails, and a second roller connecting said pair of second rails, said first rollers and said second roller configured for receiving a tread belt over said first walking surface and said second walking surface;   rotating said first rollers and said second roller via the exercise when a user walks or runs on the tread belt;   folding said second legs; and   folding said second rails along with said second walking surface underneath said first rails and said first walking surface via said hinge plates without said first rollers coming into contact with said second roller.