Treadmill having dual treads for stepping exercises

Abstract

A treadmill device includes two treadmills disposed above a base and each having a tread supported around a platform and each has one end rotatably supported on the base with a shaft which may be driven by a motor. An arm has a middle portion pivotally supported on the base and has two ends located below and coupled to the treadmills, for elevating one of the treadmills when the other treadmill is lowered, such that the two treadmills may be operated as a stepping exerciser. A latch may be used to lock the treadmills together.

1. A treadmill apparatus comprising:
 a base including a first end, and including a second end having a shaft provided thereon, 
 a pair of treadmills disposed above said base, and each including a platform having a roller provided on a first end thereof and attached to said shaft, and each including a tread supported around said platform, 
 means for driving said shaft to actuate said treads, 
 an arm including a middle portion pivotally supported on said base with a pivot axle, and including two ends located below said treadmills respectively, and 
 means for coupling said ends of said arm to said treadmills to elevate a first of said treadmills when a second of said treadmills is lowered, and to elevate said second treadmill when said first treadmill is lowered. 
 
     
     
       2. The treadmill apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said treadmills each includes means for coupling includes, for each of said treadmills, a bar attached to said platform thereof and extended downward from said platform for coupling to said ends of said arm respectively. 
     
     
       3. The treadmill apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said ends of said arm each includes a rod provided therein and perpendicular to said arm, a column pivotally secured on said rod respectively, said treadmills each includes a bar attached to said platform thereof and coupled to said column respectively. 
     
     
       4. The treadmill apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising means for locking said treadmills together. 
     
     
       5. The treadmill apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising means for retaining said treads on said platforms respectively. 
     
     
       6. An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a first treadmill assembly operatively coupled with the base and supported in pivotal relation with the base;   a second treadmill assembly operatively coupled with the base and supported in pivotal relation with the base;   a reciprocating coupling assembly interconnected between the first treadmill assembly and the second treadmill assembly, the reciprocating coupling assembly constraining the first treadmill assembly and the second treadmill assembly to move in opposite directions when reciprocating;   a shaft operatively supported by the base;   the first treadmill assembly pivotally supported at the shaft; and   the second treadmill assembly pivotally supported at the shaft.   
     
     
       7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
 the first treadmill assembly further comprises a first roller supported on the shaft; and   the second treadmill assembly further comprises a second roller supported on the shaft.   
     
     
       8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
 a motor supported on the base, the motor adapted to drive the first roller and the second roller.   
     
     
       9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 wherein the motor is coupled with the shaft. 
     
     
       10. An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a first treadmill assembly in pivotal relation with the base;   a second treadmill assembly in pivotal relation with the base;   a coupling device pivotally coupled with the base, the coupling device further coupled with the first treadmill assembly and the second treadmill assembly;   a shaft operatively supported by the base;   the first treadmill assembly pivotally supported at the shaft; and   the second treadmill assembly pivotally supported at the shaft, whereby the coupling device is adapted to elevate the first treadmill assembly when the second treadmill assembly is depressed, and to elevate the second treadmill assembly when the first treadmill assembly is depressed.   
     
     
       11. The exercise apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
 the first treadmill assembly further comprises a first roller supported on the shaft; and   the second treadmill assembly further comprises a second roller supported on the shaft.   
     
     
       12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
 a motor supported on the base, the motor adapted to drive the first roller and the second roller.   
     
     
       13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein the motor is coupled with the shaft. 
     
     
       14. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a horizontal frame member extending parallel to the shaft, the middle portion of the arm pivotally supported on the horizontal frame member of the base with the pivot axle. 
     
     
       15. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pivot axle is mounted to a side of the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the base includes a horizontal frame member extending parallel to the shaft, the reciprocating coupling assembly pivotally supported on the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       17. The exercise apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the reciprocating coupling assembly is pivotally supported with a pivot axle mounted to a side of the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the base includes a horizontal frame member extending parallel to the shaft, the coupling device pivotally coupled to the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       19. The exercise apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the coupling device is pivotally coupled with a pivot axle mounted to a side of the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       20. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for coupling includes, for each of the treadmills, a universal joint disposed between and coupling the respective bar to the arm. 
     
     
       21. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the means for coupling includes, for each of the treadmills:
 a member coupled to and extending perpendicularly from the respective bar; and   a pivot rod pivotally coupled to the arm,   wherein the universal joints couple the members to the respective pivot rods.   
     
     
       22. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for coupling includes, for each of the treadmills, a rod spanning opposite sides of a respective one of the two ends of the arm, the respective pivot rod pivotally coupled to the rod. 
     
     
       23. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the opposite sides of the arm are parallel and the rods are perpendicular to the sides. 
     
     
       24. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 22, wherein one of the sides of the arm includes the middle portion pivotally supported on the base. 
     
     
       25. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the respective bar of each treadmill is coupled to the respective column by a universal joint. 
     
     
       26. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the arm each includes opposite sides with the respective rod coupled therebetween. 
     
     
       27. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the platforms of the treadmills includes an engagement member, and the means for locking includes a locking member pivotally coupled to the base to move into and out of engagement with the engagement members. 
     
     
       28. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the engagement members extend downwardly from the respective platforms below the respective treads. 
     
     
       29. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the engagement members are disposed on inner sides of the respective platforms. 
     
     
       30. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the base includes a horizontal frame member extending parallel to the shaft, the locking member pivotally supported on the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       31. The exercise apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to a top of the horizontal frame member of the base. 
     
     
       32. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for retaining includes, for each of the treadmills, at least one stop connected to the respective platform and extending downwardly so as to be configured to engage a portion of the respective tread beneath the respective platform. 
     
     
       33. The exercise apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the stops are connected to outer sides of the respective platforms. 
     
     
       34. The exercise apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the at least one stop connected to the respective platform comprises a plurality of stops disposed longitudinally along the respective platform.