Treadmill Anti-Entrapment Guard Bar and Sensing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Treadmill users face difficulties in quickly locating and pressing control panel buttons, especially during emergencies, leading to potential entrapment of clothes or limbs by the rotating belt, which can result in accidents.
Innovation Solution
A treadmill with an anti-entrapment function that includes a sensing unit with a guard bar and microswitches to detect external forces, sending a warning signal to control the rotation speed of the driving roller, preventing further entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the control panel buttons are made small to save space, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the user is nervous or in an urgent situation
Solution Approach 1:
The treadmill system monitors its own operational state through sensing members that detect abnormal conditions (such as foreign objects or improper usage) and automatically triggers warning signals and emergency stops without requiring user intervention to locate and press control buttons
2Ease of operation
If the control panel is placed at a relatively great height to be accessible, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when the user falls and cannot reach the control panel
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing members continuously monitor the running environment and provide feedback to the control unit. When abnormal conditions are detected (such as objects caught between the belt and lateral base), the system automatically issues warning signals and initiates emergency stops, eliminating the need for manual control input during critical moments
3Productivity
If the running belt rotates at high speed to meet training requirements, then the productivity is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to entrapment risk
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing members are positioned to detect potential entrapment conditions before they become dangerous. When foreign objects or abnormal conditions are detected in advance, the system issues warning signals and can automatically stop the belt, preventing harmful entrapment events before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control (buttons and switches) with an automated sensing and control system that uses sensors to detect conditions and automatically triggers appropriate responses, eliminating the need for rapid manual intervention during emergencies
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 system effectively stops or reduces the rotation speed of the treadmill belt when entrapment is detected, minimizing the risk of injury or damage by automatically responding to external interference.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sensing member is provided at the running unit. The guard bar is configured to rotate about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the front-rear axial direction. When the guard bar is subjected to an external force and is thus rotated downward about the rotation axis, the at least one sensing member is driven by the guard bar to send a warning signal to the control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A treadmill with an anti-entrapment function allows a user to stand on the treadmill and includes a running unit, a control unit, and a sensing unit. The running unit includes two lateral bases, a driving roller, a driven roller, and a running belt. Each lateral base has a bottom end portion. The sensing unit includes a guard bar pivotally provided at the bottom end portions and at least one sensing member. When the user is accidentally pulled into the gap between the running belt and one of the lateral bases, the guard bar will be subjected to an external force and thus rotated downward about a rotation axis, thereby driving the at least one sensing member to send a warning signal to the control unit, in order for the control unit to control the rotation speed of the driving roller accordingly, lest the user be pulled deeper into the gap.