Treadmill Belt Guard Anchoring Weighted Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Treadmills are prone to unbalancing and tipping due to foreign objects getting clinched to the conveyor belt, posing safety risks to users as these objects can be sucked underneath, potentially damaging the equipment and compromising user safety.
Innovation Solution
A treadmill belt guard is attached to the rear end of the treadmill, featuring a weighted cylindrical body with connector arms and adaptors that cover the gap between the conveyor belt and the floor, preventing foreign objects from being sucked underneath and ensuring stability through a weighted design and secure mounting system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor belt operates without a guard, then the treadmill maintains a simple structure and easy operation, but foreign objects can be sucked underneath causing unbalancing and tipping
Solution Approach 1:
A guard assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the conveyor belt and foreign objects. The guard assembly includes a barrier member that physically blocks foreign objects from entering the space underneath the conveyor belt, and a weighted base that anchors the guard to the floor, preventing it from being displaced by suction forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful space underneath the conveyor belt is isolated by removing the guard assembly from the system. The guard assembly captures and contains foreign objects before they can be drawn into the conveyor belt system, effectively extracting the potential harm from the operational environment.
2Reliability
If a guard assembly is added to prevent foreign object suction, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a barrier member for blocking foreign objects, a weighted base for anchoring to the floor, and connector arms for mounting to the treadmill. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard assembly applies localized protection at the critical area where foreign objects most likely to be sucked underneath the conveyor belt. The barrier member is positioned specifically at the rear end of the conveyor belt, providing targeted protection without requiring a complete enclosure of the entire treadmill system.
3Ease of operation
If the guard assembly is made lightweight, then ease of installation is improved, but the guard can be easily moved away from the floor reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The guard assembly incorporates a weighted base that provides counterbalancing force to resist upward suction forces. The weight of the base anchors the guard to the floor, preventing it from being displaced or lifted during operation, while still allowing for relatively easy installation through the connector arms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The treadmill belt guard effectively prevents the suction of foreign objects, eliminating the risk of treadmill unbalancing and tip-overs, thereby enhancing user safety and protecting the equipment from damage.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention is also a weighted body so that the present invention cannot be easily move away from the floor
Implementation Method 2
The moving platform is generally a wide conveyor belt that is driven by an electric motor
Data Source
AI summary
A treadmill belt guard includes a weighted cylindrical body, a first arm, a second arm, a first adaptor, a second adaptor, a first interlocking fastener, and a second interlocking fastener. The first arm is externally connected onto a lateral surface of the weighted cylindrical body. The second arm is externally connected onto the lateral surface of the weighted cylindrical body. The first arm and the second arm are positioned parallel to each other. The first adaptor is terminally mounted to the first arm through the first interlocking fastener. The first arm is positioned in between the first adaptor and the weighted cylindrical body. The second adaptor is terminally mounted to the second arm through the second interlocking fastener. The second arm is positioned in between the second adaptor and the weighted cylindrical body.