Treadmill with safety monitoring function and safety monitoring method for treadmill

Abstract

A treadmill with a safety monitoring function includes a running unit and a detection unit. The running unit includes a driving roller and a running belt for a runner to stand and run thereon. The detection unit includes a sensor for detecting whether the runner exists at a predefined height on the running belt. The detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height. A safety monitoring function for a treadmill includes adjusting a height of the sensor, detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt, and generating a first monitoring output. Through detecting whether the runner exists at the predefined height, it determines whether the driving roller can be driven by the driving unit to prevent accidental activation by a child. Since the detection unit can be moved to change the predefined height, it allows the use by runners of different body shapes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treadmill with a safety monitoring function, capable of allowing a runner to stand and run thereon, the treadmill with a safety monitoring function comprising:
 a running unit comprising a base, two side rails arranged spaced apart from each other and extending rearward from the base, a driving roller and a driven roller pivotally installed between the side rails, a running belt arranged between the side rails and mounted on the driving roller and the driven roller and provided for the runner to stand thereon, and a front base arranged between the side rails and located on top of a front end of the running belt, a front-rear direction defined along an extension direction of each one of the side rails;   a driving unit arranged on the base and configured to drive the driving roller to rotate in order to drive the running belt to rotate around the driving roller and the driven roller, thereby allowing the runner to run forward along the front-rear direction on the running belt;   a detection unit arranged on the front base and comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to detect rearward in order to an detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and to generate a corresponding detection information, the detection unit configured to move along an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction relative to the front base in order to change the predefined height; and   a control unit electrically connected to the driving unit and the detection unit for transmitting signals, the control unit configured to control the driving roller to be driven by the driving unit in order to drive the predefined height according to the detection information when the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt.   
     
     
         2 . The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to  claim 1 , wherein the running unit further comprises two handrails extending upward from the side rails respectively, and a crossbar portion connected between the handrails, an extension portion extending along the up-down direction from the crossbar portion, and a plurality of slots formed on the extension portion and spaced apart from each other along the up-down direction; the detection unit further comprises a moving seat movably arranged on the extension portion and provided for the sensor to be installed thereon, a through hole penetrating through the moving seat, and an insertion pin penetrating through the through hole and selectively inserted into one of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         3 . The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to  claim 1 , wherein when the driving roller rotates and drives the running belt to rotate, the sensor continuously generates the detection information, and the control unit controls the driving unit and controls a rotational speed of the driving roller when the runner is determined to not exit at the predefined height above the running belt based on the detection information. 
     
     
         4 . The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the detection unit is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the detection unit is functional to detect whether the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt and at a corresponding center line location of the side rails. 
     
     
         6 . A safety monitoring method for a treadmill, applicable to a treadmill and a runner standing on the treadmill, and the treadmill having a running belt, the safety monitoring method for a treadmill comprising:
 a preparation step for adjusting a height of a sensor;   a detection step for using the sensor to detect whether the runner exists at a predefined height above the running belt, and generating a corresponding detection information; and   an activation analysis step for generating a first monitoring output when the runner exists at the predefined height above the running belt based on the detection information.   
     
     
         7 . The safety monitoring function for a treadmill according to  claim 6 , further comprising a falling analysis step, the falling analysis step configured to continuously generate the detection information, and to generate a second monitoring output based on the detection information when the runner does not exit at the predefined height above the running belt. 
     
     
         8 . The treadmill with a safety monitoring function according to  claim 6 , wherein in the preparation step, the sensor of the detection unit is a proximity sensor.