Under the Desk Treadmill

Abstract

The Under the Desk Treadmill allows an office worker to engage in slow walking sessions while working without compromising the quality and quantity of job performance. It consists of a foldable, automated, walking treadmill, which is easily installed and stored under almost any existing office desk, requires no additional space, and does not diminish the under the desk space required for the desk worker's legs. The conversion from treadmill into the storage position and back to the walking position is automated. The office worker can perform the full range of office duties while walking due to the “Stop” element claimed by the basis, Office Treadmill patent. Additionally, the Under the Desk Treadmill can be used as a standalone unit, providing a low-speed walking unit for old, sick, recovering, or disabled persons.

Claims

1. A convertible treadmill comprising a foldable walking platform having multiple segments; a motor coupled to the walking platform in order to actuate the platform; a second motor to actuate the mechanism of folding the segments of the walking platform into the Folding Position. The convertible treadmill of claim 1 wherein the walking platform can be folded into any other office equipment or furniture.

2. The convertible treadmill of claim 1 designed as a standalone unit.

3. The convertible treadmill of claim 1 having single motor performing both, actuation and folding the segments of the walking platform into the Folding Position.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 shows

[0010] 1—Desk and

[0011] 2—Under the Desk Treadmill in unfolded, pulled from under the desk, in Ready to Exercise position (The walking belt and electrical wirings are omitted in all drawings for simplicity.).

[0012] FIG. 2

[0013] Main parts of the Under the Desk Treadmill are shown on FIG. 2:

[0014] 3—Outer Walking Platform, as attached to the

[0015] 4—Inner Walking Platform;

[0016] 5—Two Gear Racks;

[0017] 6—Cover, which covers the motors and electrical parts of the treadmill;

[0018] 7—Two Connectors on both sides of the treadmill. Connectors connect the Outer Walking Platform (3) with the Inner Walking Platform (4); and

[0019] 8—Slide Link, which provides possible extensions to both Side Shafts (11, see FIG. 4.).

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the Under the Desk Treadmill in the unfolded position without the Cover (6.) Proposed design allows two motors.

[0021] 9—Moving Motor is moving walking belt of the treadmill (actuate the treadmill), the same way as any other treadmill motor. Further detailing for this obvious functionality is omitted.

[0022] 10—Geared Lifting Motor provides the rotational torque to the gear (5.1) (See FIG. 4 for more details.)

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the general kinematics which provides the folding feature of the Under the Desk Treadmill. The Geared Lifting Motor (10) is connected to the frame of the Inner Walking Platform (4.) (omitted on FIG. 4 for simplicity). The Geared Lifting Motor (10) provides rotation to the

[0024] 5.1—Gear at the Gear Rack (5) through the

[0025] 11—Side Shafts; Each Side Shaft can be extended by

[0026] 8—Slide Link(s);

[0027] 12—Stopping Frame.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the simplest design of the Slide Link (8.) The Slide Link provides extension to Side Shafts (11.) Both, the Side Shafts (11) and the Slide Link (8) have the same axis of rotation. The Side Shafts (11) can slide inside the Slide Link (8.)

[0029] 8.1—Fixing Bolt.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows the Connection (7) between the Outer Walking Platforms (3, See FIG. 2), and the Inner Walking Platform (4, See FIG. 2), consisting of

[0031] 7.1—Connecting Part of the Outer Walking Platform (3);

[0032] 7.3—Connecting Part of the Inner Walking Platform (4);

[0033] 7.2—Connecting Pivot between (7.1) and (7.3).

[0034] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 show the transitional stages between the Storage (Folding) Position and Walking (Working) Position of the Under the Desk Treadmill.

[0035] Positions on drawings:

[0036] FIG. 7—Walking or Working Position (same as on FIG. 1);

[0037] FIG. 8—Treadmill is pulled inside the desk (1);

[0038] FIG. 9—Treadmill begins folding under the desk;

[0039] FIG. 10—Treadmill is in the Folding Position under the desk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

[0040] Due to the various widths of leg room openings required by different desk designs, both of the Side Shafts (11) may require extension as provided by the Slide Link (8) (See FIG. 5 for details.). The proposed design provides two Sliding Links (8) on both sides of the Under the Desk Treadmill.

[0041] Under the Desk Treadmill has two main positions. Storage or Folding Position is shown on FIG. 10, and Treadmill or Working Position is shown on FIG. 1 and on FIG. 7.

[0042] The Moving Motor (9, see FIG. 3) is a typical treadmill motor which moves the walking belt and, therefore, is not detailed. The main mechanical difference between a regular treadmill and the Under the Desk Treadmill is that the Under the Desk Treadmill must be pulled inside (the desk) and then both, Outside and Inside Walking Platforms (3 & 4 at FIG. 2) must be lifted into the Folding Position FIG. 10. The folding process is shown on the FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. The unfolding process is reverse to folding, shown on FIGS. 10, 9, 8, and 7. The folding and unfolding process requires additional mechanism. The presented model uses the Geared Lifting Motor (10, see FIGS. 3 and 4) for this folding task, but theoretically, the same work could also be executed by the Moving Motor (9) alone. The presented embodiment assumes inclusion of a second geared motor firmly attached to the frame of the Inner Walking Panel (4, omitted on FIG. 4 for simplicity). Rotational movement is transmitted from the Geared Lifting Motor (10) to the Shafts (11, see FIG. 4) on both sides of the treadmill and to the Gears (5.1.). Both Side Shafts (11) can be extended by Sliding Links (8) in order to fit the actual width of the Desk (1) leg opening space. The transition from Folding to Working position and back is executed by the Lifting Geared Motor (10), which turns the Side Shafts (11) and transmits the rotation to the Gear (5.1.). The Gear (5.1) then begins moving along the Gear Rack (5.). At the end of the Gear Rack (5), the Gear (5.1) has no more tooth and stopped at/by the Stopping Frame (12), but the Side Shaft (11) continues moving, spinning the Inner Walking Panel (4) around the axis of the Side Shaft (11), lifting both Walking Panels (3 & 4) to the Storing Position (FIG. 10). During the transition from the Treadmill to the Storage position, Connecting Parts (7.1) and (7.3) also rotate around the Connecting Pivot (7.2) until Connecting Parts (7.1) and (7.2) meet each other to form the angle of approximately 90 degrees. Walking Panel (4) continues to rotate, lifting both Walking Panels (3 & 4) to their final destination in the Storage Position (FIG. 10). The reverse process is also shown in FIG. 10 and back to FIG. 7.

CONCLUSION

[0043] The biggest advantages presented by the Under the Desk model are as follows:

[0044] The office worker can keep his or her existing office desk and chair. Any kind of desk could work with the Under the Desk Treadmill model; a stationary or an adjustable-height design desk will work.

[0045] No additional storage space is required, since the Under the Desk Treadmill model utilizes the existing, unused under the desk space for self storage.

[0046] The main idea of this patent is to add automation and “under the desk storage capability” to the “walk-while-working” ideology presented by the basic model. The easiest and simplest design is presented while the actual design of each part of the Under the Desk Treadmill may bear great disparities from illustrations presented.

OPERATION

[0047] The proposed design requires two main positions of the Under the Desk Treadmill:

[0048] The Storage or Folded position, and The

[0049] Working, or Walking position.

[0050] Both positions are self-evident in the above text. The Under the Desk Treadmill connection to existing furniture and its electric equipment are not specified for the presented embodiments since they can be designed in many ways and/or independently from the Under the Desk Treadmill. For example, electric control could have a form of a button mounted under the desk, or can be a part of a remote control, together or separate from the on/off function, speed, and positional treadmill controls.