US20030186787A1

US20030186787A1 - Static electricity remover of a treadmill

Info

Publication number: US20030186787A1
Application number: US10/107,715
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Wu; Leao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-28
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2003-10-02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a static electricity remover of a treadmill includes a handrail, a base frame and foot supports. A console is disposed on the handrail while a walking frame is provided within the base frame. A walking belt is extended around the walking frame and a front and a rear frame so that the walking belt can be brought into rotation by means of a motor and a transmission belt. At least one set of conductive elements is interposed between the walking frame and the base frame so as to carry the static electricity accumulated in the main body of the treadmill through the base frame and the foot supports to the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a static electricity remover of a treadmill, and more particularly, to a device which the static electricity accumulated in the treadmill can be completely removed in order to maintain the normal operation of the console.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As shown in FIG. 1, the

treadmill

10 is used for operators to make an in-place walking or jogging exercise. The user can operate a console 11 to control the speed of the walking belt 12 in accordance with the personal physical state to meet the exercise needs.

However, the static electricity will be produced and stored in the treadmill during the rubbing rotation between the

walking belt

12 and the roller 13. When the static electricity is accumulated to a certain extent, it will strongly interfere the operation of the console 11 even which could lose its full function. In addition to damaging all electronic and electric components, a body injury of the user can even happen during the exercise session, for example, when the motor 14 and the walking belt 12 suddenly stop rotating.

Conventionally, the

treadmill

10 utilizes conductive metal wires (not shown) embedded in the walking belt 12 to carry the static electricity through the front and rear rollers 13, the base frame 15 and the foot supports 16 to the ground. This kind of design to carry off the static electricity is useful in the initial stage. However, the effect will be decreasing day by day, and the console 11 is finally out of order. The reason lies in that the conductive metal wires embedded in the walking belt 12 are gradually broken off due to the long-term continuous tension and rapid rotation of the walking belt 12.

Besides, the conventional treadmill 1 0 is provided with cushioning rubber pad 18 between the walking frame 17 and the base frame 15 in order to prevent the walking frame 17 from shaking. However, the cushioning rubber pad 18 is made of insulating material so that the static electricity will be accumulated in the walking frame 17 and not smoothly carried off. In other words, the conventional design utilizes the conductive metal wires embedded in the walking belt 12 as the only means to carry off the static electricity. However, it's neglected that the static electricity accumulated within the walking frame 17 can't be effectively removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a static electricity remover of a treadmill through which the not only the local static electricity but also that accumulated within the walking frame can be completely removed. Meanwhile, the conductive elements are fitted to the walking frame to prevent them from being broken off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which: [0009]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional treadmill; [0010]
FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0011]
FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First of all, referring to FIG. 2, the [0013] treadmill 20 of the present invention includes a handrail 21, a base frame 22 and foot supports 23. A console 24 is disposed on the handrail 21 while a walking frame 25 is provided within the base frame 22. A walking belt 27 is extended around the walking frame 25 and a front and a rear frame 26 so that the walking belt 27 can be brought into rotation by means of a motor 38 and a transmission belt 29. At least one set of conductive elements 30 is interposed between the walking frame 25 and the base frame 22 so as to carry the static electricity accumulated in the main body 10 of the treadmill 20 to the ground.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the [0014] conductive elements 30 can be conductive metal piece 301 or conductive metal wire 302, or the like.
Certainly, it's difficult to imagine that the carrying-off effect of the design of the present invention can reach the expected effect since many think that the walking frame [0015] 25 is made of wood which is also insulting material with high resistance value. It's necessary to emphasize that the existence of the static electricity and the accumulating way thereof are exactly different from the well-known current. For example, it's easy for textile, especially sweater or plastic fiber clothes, to accumulate the static electricity so that a “beep-bia” sound is created due to the interaction of the electrostatic current when we get undressed. However, the textile is also the insulting material. Accordingly, it's no wonder that the walking frame 25 made of wood can accumulate the static electricity.
In brief, most of the static electricity produced by any component of the [0016] treadmill 20 will be accumulated in the walking frame 25 because of the contact therebetween. The present invention can just eliminate drawbacks of the conventional treadmill and reaches the expected effect.
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. [0017]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A static electricity remover of a treadmill comprising a handrail, a base frame and foot supports, a console being disposed on said handrail while a walking frame is provided within said base frame, a walking belt being extended around said walking frame and a front and a rear frame so that said walking belt can be brought into rotation by means of a motor and a transmission belt;

wherein at least one set of conductive elements is interposed between said walking frame and said base frame so as to carry the static electricity accumulated in said main body of said treadmill to the ground.

2. The static electricity remover of a treadmill as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive elements can be conductive metal piece or conductive metal wire, or the like.