Folding treadmill

Abstract

An electrically driven, continuous track treadmill having a frame comprising a first section with a second section pivotably connected to a rear end thereof. The treadmill is adjustable between an operational position where the first and second sections are substantially horizontally aligned, and a folded position where the second section is pivoted onto said first section, such that an upper surface of the second section abuts an upper surface of the first section. A handle is pivotally connected to the first section of the frame and extends upwardly away therefrom when the treadmill is in the operational position. The handle pivots into abutting contact with a lower surface of the second section when the treadmill is in the folded position. The treadmill preferably is also provided with an inclination adjustment assembly that is selectively activatable to move the frame between a neutral position, a positively inclined position and a negatively inclined position relative to the floor surface. The treadmill is further provided with a shell configured to resemble a coffee table which is positioned over or around the treadmill when in the folded position. The treadmill therefore can be stored in plain sight.

1 . A foldable treadmill comprising:
 a frame having:
 a first section having a rear end; 
 a second section pivotably connected to the rear end of said first section, 
   a continuous track mounted for movement on said frame;   a motor assembly mounted on the frame and being operationally connected to the track to drive the same;   a handle extending upwardly from the first section; and wherein said treadmill is adjustable between an operational position where the first and second sections are substantially horizontally aligned, and a folded position where the second section is pivoted onto said first section such that an upper surface of the second section abuts an upper surface of the first section.   
   
   
       2 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first section remains stationary and only the second section moves when the treadmill is adjusted between the operational and folded positions. 
   
   
       3 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the treadmill is movable between the operational and folded positions without requiring pre-loosening of the track. 
   
   
       4 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the frame comprises:
 a substantially vertical first leg; and   a substantially horizontal second leg that is fixedly connected to said first leg; wherein said handle extends outwardly away from said first leg, and wherein the second section of the frame is pivotably connected to the second leg.   
   
   
       5 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the handle has a first position where the handle extends upwardly away from the first leg when the treadmill is in the operational position; and a second position where the handle is in one of abutting contact with and in proximity to a lower surface of the second section when the treadmill is in the folded position; and wherein the handle is movable between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       6 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a joint between the rear end of the first section and a front end of the second section; and   a support foot fixedly secured to a lower surface of the first section proximate the joint.   
   
   
       7 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the support foot extends for a distance rearwardly from the rear end of the first section and abuts a portion of a lower surface of the second section when the treadmill is in the operational position. 
   
   
       8 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the support foot has a floor-engaging wall; and wherein said floor-engaging wall is arcuate in shape. 
   
   
       9 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pivot at a top end of said joint for pivotably connecting said first and second sections.   
   
   
       10 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell that is selectively positionable around the frame when the treadmill is in the folded position so as to hide the same from view. 
   
   
       11 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the outer shell has the appearance of a piece of furniture. 
   
   
       12 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the outer shell comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls that extend outwardly away from the top wall; and wherein the top wall is fixedly secured to the side walls to form a box that defines an interior cavity into which the treadmill in the folded position is received. 
   
   
       13 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the shell further includes a bottom wall and two or more side walls are pivotally secured thereto and are movable to engage the top wall of the shell. 
   
   
       14 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an inclination assembly for adjusting the inclination of the frame relative to a floor surface upon which the frame rests; wherein the inclination assembly is selectively activatable to adjust the inclination of the frame between a neutral position and a positively inclined position. 
   
   
       15 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the inclination assembly is further selectively activatable to adjust the frame to a negatively inclined position. 
   
   
       16 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a joint between the first and second sections;   a support foot disposed beneath the joint; and wherein the joint is maintained at a constant height relative to the floor surface during adjustment of the inclination of the frame.   
   
   
       17 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the inclination assembly further comprises:
 a front adjuster extending downwardly from the first section and being adapted to engage the floor surface;   a rear adjuster extending downwardly from the second and being adapted to engage the floor surface; and wherein the support foot is disposed intermediate the front and rear adjusters; and   a linkage operationally connecting the front and rear adjusters together.   
   
   
       18 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 17 , wherein movement of the linkage in a first direction causes the front adjuster to move the front end of the frame upwardly away from the floor surface and causes the rear adjuster to move the rear end of the frame downwardly toward the floor surface; and movement of the linkage in a second direction causes the front adjuster to move the front end of the frame downwardly toward the floor surface and causes the rear adjuster to move the rear end of the frame upwardly away from the floor surface. 
   
   
       19 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the movement of the linkage in either one of the first and second directions causes the front and rear adjusters to move simultaneously. 
   
   
       20 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the linkage further comprises:
 a first linkage rod pivotally connected to the front adjuster at one end; and   a second linkage rod pivotally connected to the rear adjuster at one end; and, when the treadmill is in the operational position, a second end of said first linkage rod is in abutting contact with a second end of the second linkage rod.   
   
   
       21 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the frame is positioned substantially horizontal and parallel to the floor surface when the inclination assembly is in the neutral position; is positioned at an angle of between 0° and 4° to the horizontal when the inclination assembly is in the positively inclined position; and is positioned at an angle of between 0° and −3° to the horizontal when the inclination assembly is in the negatively inclined position. 
   
   
       22 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the front adjuster comprises:
 a pair of front adjuster arms; each of said front adjuster arms being substantially an open-L-shape having a first flange and a second flange extending outwardly away from an apex;   a wheel mounted on each of said second flanges;   a front rod connected at each end to an inner surface of one of the front adjuster arms and in a position intermediate the first and second flanges thereof; and   
     wherein the linkage is connected to the first flanges of the front adjuster arms. 
   
   
       23 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the rear adjuster comprises:
 a pair of rear adjuster arms; each of said rear adjuster arms being substantially an open-L-shape having a first flange and a second flange extending outwardly away from an apex;   a wheel mounted on each of said second flanges of said rear adjuster arms;   a back rod connected at each end to an inner surface of one of the rear adjuster arms and in a position intermediate the first and second flanges thereof; and   
     wherein the linkage is connected to the first flanges of the rear adjuster arms. 
   
   
       24 . The folding treadmill as defined in  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of brackets; each bracket being fixedly secured to one of first and second frame members and being pivotally connecting to one of the front and rear adjuster arms.