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An exercise apparatus that is stowable in a containment space formed by an article of furniture. The exercise apparatus may be deployed from a storage position within the containment space to a ready-to-use position. An electronic console for the exercise apparatus may be deployed to a ready-to-use

An exercise apparatus that is stowable in a containment space formed by an article of furniture. The exercise apparatus may be deployed from a storage position within the containment space to a ready-to-use position. An electronic console for the exercise apparatus may be deployed to a ready-to-use position for use in conjunction with the exercise apparatus. The electronic console may be placed into a storage position when the exercise apparatus is stowed in the containment space so as not to interfere with the normal use of the article of furniture. The article of furniture may further comprise a component that is moveable to reveal a grasping member for use in conjunction with the exercise device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An article of furniture comprising: an exercise device; a support structure; a work surface, said work surface being operable between a first position and a second position; and a grasping member extending from said support structure; and the exercise device having a deck mem

What is claimed is: 1. An article of furniture comprising: an exercise device; a support structure; a work surface, said work surface being operable between a first position and a second position; and a grasping member extending from said support structure; and the exercise device having a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position, a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place, a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft, and a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member; wherein said grasping member is accessible for use in conjunction with the exercise device when said work surface is in said first position and is less accessible for use in conjunction with the exercise device when said work surface is in said second position; wherein, when the exercise device is in an operating position, the grasping member resides directly and vertically beneath at least a portion of the work surface when said work surface is in the second position such that said work surface substantially covers said grasping member and is in vertical alignment with and above said grasping member; wherein, when the exercise device is in an operating position, the grasping member is substantially exposed and accessible and uncovered when said work surface is in the first position; wherein said work surface is operable to move from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position, to respectively and alternately cover and expose the grasping member, such that said grasping member is substantially covered when the work surface is moved into the second position and substantially exposed and accessible when the work surface is moved into the first position. 2. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said work surface is laterally moveable between said first position and said second position, such that said work surface moves solely in a lateral plane from said first position to said second position. 3. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said work surface is substantially horizontally oriented in said first position and in said second position. 4. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said grasping member is formed from a tubular material. 5. The article of furniture of claim 1, further comprising a pulse rate sensor on said grasping member. 6. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said grasping member comprises two gripping locations, one for each hand of a user. 7. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said work surface is disposed over a storage location for said exercise device. 8. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said exercise device comprises a treadmill. 9. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said exercise device is configurable between a ready-to-use position and a storage position. 10. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said movement of said work surface from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position is confined to movement in a single plane that is substantially horizontal and above the grasping member and the support structure when the exercise device is in an operating position. 11. A treadmill exercise apparatus comprising: a deck member comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the deck member is operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft; a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member; an electric motor for moving said deck member between the storage position and the ready-to use position; an assembly comprising a rod that is attachable to said deck member, a gear attachable to said rod, and a gear wheel that is mounted to an output shaft of said electric motor; wherein said gear wheel rotatably engages said gear when said electric motor is operable, such that said gear wheel moves with respect to said gear thereby raising said front portion from a horizontal position to a substantially upright position when said electric motor is operable in one direction. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the front portion and said rear portion of said deck member are joined by a hinge. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said front portion and said rear portion are at approximately 180 degrees from each other when the deck member is in the ready-to-use position. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said front portion and said rear portion form an acute angle with each other when the deck member is in the storage position. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an electric motor for driving said belt. 16. An article of furniture comprising: a desk having an upper support structure and a lower support structure, said upper support structure operable between a lowered position and a raised position with respect to said lower support structure; a work surface mounted on said upper support structure; at least one electric motor for operating said upper support structure between said lowered position and said raised position; a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft; and a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member; wherein a height of said work surface is variable with respect to said lower support structure; wherein said at least one electric motor operates to move said upper support structure telescopically with respect to said lower support structure to thereby vary the height of said work surface; and wherein said work surface moves laterally with respect to said upper support structure. 17. The article of furniture of claim 16, further comprising an electronic console for controlling said at least one electric motor. 18. The article of furniture of claim 17, wherein said electronic console is pivotally mounted in a recess in the work surface such that said electronic console is operable between a first position and a second position. 19. The article of furniture of claim 18, wherein a surface of said electronic console is substantially flush with said work surface when said electronic console is in said first position. 20. The article of furniture of claim 16, wherein said upper support structure further comprises a grasping member. 21. The article of furniture of claim 20, wherein said work surface is operable between a first position and a second position, wherein said grasping member is accessible for use when said work surface is in said first position and is less accessible for use when said work surface is in said second position. 22. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein said work surface is laterally moveable between said first position and said second position. 23. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein said work surface is substantially horizontally oriented in said first position and in said second position. 24. The article of furniture of claim 20, wherein said grasping member is formed from a tubular material. 25. The article of furniture of claim 20, further comprising a pulse rate sensor on said grasping member. 26. The article of furniture of claim 16, wherein said upper support structure comprises at least one power outlet. 27. The article of furniture of claim 16, wherein said at least one electric motor comprises two electric motors. 28. The article of furniture of claim 27, wherein said lower support structure comprises a left sidewall and a right sidewall, each of the left and right sidewalls having one of the two electric motors coupled thereto. 29. The article of furniture of claim 16, wherein said upper support structure is connected to said lower support structure with at least one telescoping member. 30. The article of furniture of claim 16, further comprising an exercise apparatus. 31. The article of furniture of claim 30, wherein said exercise apparatus is a treadmill. 32. The article of furniture of claim 30, wherein said exercise apparatus is operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position. 33. A treadmill exercise apparatus comprising: a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; said deck member comprising foot rails; a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; and a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said deck member comprises a front portion and a rear portion joined by a hinge. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said front portion and said rear portion are at approximately 180 degrees from each other when the deck member is in the ready-to-use position. 36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said front portion and said rear portion form an acute angle with each other when the deck member is in the storage position. 37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an electric motor for moving said deck member between the storage position and the ready-to use position. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising an electronic console for controlling the operation of said electric motor. 39. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an article of furniture, said article of furniture having a containment area for the deck member when said deck member is in the storage position. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said article of furniture comprises a grasping member for use by said user in conjunction with the deck member in the ready-to-use position. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said article of furniture comprises a work surface operable between a first position and a second position, wherein said grasping member is accessible for use in conjunction when said work surface is in the first position and is less accessible for use in conjunction with the deck member when said work surface is in said second position. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising an electronic console pivotally mounted in a recess in said work surface. 43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said release mechanism comprises a wedge shape. 44. An article of furniture comprising: a desk portion having an upper support structure and a lower support structure, said upper support structure operable between a lowered position and a raised position with respect to said lower support structure, said upper support structure being connected to said lower support structure with at least one telescoping member; at least one electric motor for moving said upper support structure between the lowered position and the raised position; a grasping member coupled to said upper support structure, said grasping member being formed from a tubular material and having a pulse rate sensor thereon; a work surface mounted on said upper support structure, said work surface operable between a first position and a second position, wherein said grasping member is accessible for use when said work surface is in said first position and is less accessible for use when said work surface is in said second position; said work surface being substantially horizontally oriented in said first position and in said second position; a recess formed in said work surface; an electronic console pivotally mounted in said recess, said electronic console operable between a first position and a second position; said electronic console having a surface that is substantially flush with said work surface when said electronic console is in said first position; said electronic console further having a display module for displaying information to a user, a processor module operable between different modes of operation, and at least one manual actuator for selecting between the different modes of operation, wherein at least one of the modes of operation causes said display module to display a countdown of a quantifiable exercise characteristic, said quantifiable exercise characteristic being selected from the group consisting of distance, time, calories burned, and steps taken; said upper support structure having at least one power outlet for distributing power; a treadmill portion having a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position, said deck member comprising a front portion and a rear portion joined by a hinge, said front portion and said rear portion being approximately 180 degrees from each other when the deck member is in the ready-to-use position, and said front portion and said rear portion forming an acute angle with each other when the deck member is in the storage position; an electric motor for moving said deck member between the storage position and the ready-to use position; a gear assembly attached to an output shaft of the electric motor; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a release mechanism for releasing tension in the belt such that said deck member may be operated from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; and a shaft having a roller for the belt mounted thereon, said shaft operable between a first position and a second position, wherein said release mechanism is operable to operate said shaft between said first position and said second position to thereby release tension in said belt. 45. The article of furniture of claim 44, further comprising a rear roller on which the belt rotates; wherein the release mechanism further comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on a shaft on which the rear roller for the belt rotates, said lever portion including a cam portion for selectively engaging a stop, said stop being fixedly secured to the deck member; wherein the release mechanism is configured and arranged such that when it resides in a locked position, the cam is disposed in engagement with the stop to thereby maintain tension in the belt; wherein the release mechanism is further configured and arranged such that when it resides in a release position, the cam is disposed in disengagement with the stop to thereby permit the shaft and the rear roller to slide in a forward direction; wherein the release mechanism further comprises a resilient member having one end coupled to the shaft and another end coupled to the deck member, to thereby maintain the release mechanism respectively in the locked and release positions by biasing the cam portion against the stop. 46. A treadmill exercise apparatus comprising: a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; and a rear roller on which the belt rotates; wherein the release mechanism further comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on a shaft on which the rear roller for the belt rotates, said lever portion including a cam portion for selectively engaging a stop, said stop being fixedly secured to the deck member; wherein the release mechanism is configured and arranged such that when it resides in a locked position, the cam is disposed in engagement with the stop to thereby maintain tension in the belt; wherein the release mechanism is further configured and arranged such that when it resides in a release position, the cam is disposed in disengagement with the stop to thereby permit the shaft and the rear roller to slide in a forward direction; wherein the release mechanism further comprises a resilient member having one end coupled to the shaft and another end coupled to the deck member, to thereby maintain the release mechanism respectively in the locked and release positions by biasing the cam portion against the stop. 47. A treadmill exercise apparatus comprising: a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a rear roller mechanism; and a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion attachable to said rear roller mechanism, wherein the release mechanism further comprises a stop fixedly secured to said deck member; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion is in the locked position when said lever portion engages said stop, thereby maintaining a position of said rear roller mechanism when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is in the unlocked position when said lever portion disengages the stop, thereby releasing said rear roller mechanism and the tension in said belt. 48. A treadmill exercise apparatus comprising: a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft; and a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member. 49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the rear roller mechanism further comprises a rear roller, wherein said shaft is confined to movement with said rear roller when said lever portion of said release mechanism is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position. 50. An article of furniture comprising: an exercise device; a support structure; a work surface, said work surface being operable between a first position and a second position; a grasping member extending from said support structure; a deck member operable between a storage position and a ready-to-use position; a belt mounted on said deck member, said belt providing a moving exercise surface for a user to exercise in place; a rear roller mechanism comprising a shaft; and a release mechanism for releasing the tension in the belt such that said deck member may be moved from the ready-to-use position to the storage position; wherein the release mechanism comprises a lever portion pivotally mounted on the shaft of the rear roller mechanism; wherein said lever portion is selectively moved between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein said lever portion abuts a stop in the locked position, thereby locking said shaft in place when the treadmill is in use; and wherein said lever portion is actuated out of contact with the stop in the unlocked position, thereby releasing tension in said belt, such that said shaft and said rear roller mechanism are moveable with respect to the deck member; wherein said grasping member is accessible for use in conjunction with the exercise device when said work surface is in said first position and is less accessible for use in conjunction with the exercise device when said work surface is in said second position; wherein the work surface is operable to move from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position and wherein said movement of said work surface from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position is confined to movement in a single plane that is substantially horizontal and above the grasping member and the support structure when the exercise device is in an operating position.