Treadmill Head Frame Rotation for Safer Incline Running

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treadmills with lifting structures for climbing exercise modes pose safety hazards due to the user easily kicking the outer housing body at the front end, disrupting the running rhythm and potentially causing stumbles, and the turnable support legs do not adequately address these issues.

Innovation Solution

A treadmill design featuring a rotatably connected treadmill head frame that lifts or lowers the main body frame, with a housing side opposite to the running belt positioned lower than the belt end, incorporating a first driving unit and support wheels to facilitate smooth operation and prevent user interference with the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the outer housing body is positioned higher at the front end of the treadmill, then the climbing exercise mode can be achieved with a lifting structure, but the user may easily kick the outer housing body causing safety hazards and disrupting running rhythm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclimbing exercise modeVSAvoiduser safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The treadmill head frame is designed to be rotatably connected to the main body frame, allowing dynamic adjustment between planar exercise mode (horizontal) and climbing exercise mode (inclined). This dynamic structure enables the treadmill to adapt to different exercise requirements while maintaining safety by positioning the housing lower during climbing mode to prevent user interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a rotational degree of freedom in the head frame connection, transitioning from a fixed planar configuration to a three-dimensional adjustable structure. This allows the treadmill to achieve both planar and climbing exercise modes by rotating the head frame to different angles, thereby solving the contradiction between exercise versatility and user safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the treadmill head frame is rotated to lift the main body frame for climbing mode, then the slope angle can be adjusted, but the housing may still interfere with the user's running path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable slopeVSAvoidrunning smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different positioning strategies to different parts of the housing based on the operational mode. During climbing mode, the housing is positioned lower and away from the user's running path to avoid interference, while maintaining the inclined slope configuration. This localized quality adjustment ensures that the housing does not disrupt the user's running smoothness while still providing the necessary slope for climbing exercise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4585276A1treadmill
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 YONGKANG TIANTIAN AIPAO INTELLIGENT TECH CO LTD
  • EP4585276A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585276A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4585276A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a treadmill, including a treadmill main body frame, a running belt being arranged on the treadmill main body frame; and a treadmill head frame, the treadmill head frame being rotatably connected to a front end of the treadmill main body frame to lift or lower the treadmill main body frame. The treadmill head frame is equipped with a treadmill head housing, and the treadmill head frame has at least one position to cause a side of the treadmill head housing opposite to the running belt to be lower than an end of the running belt close to the treadmill head housing. After a front part of the treadmill is downturned integrally, a "panoramic treadmill platform" effect is formed visually, making the integral structure more beautiful.