This invention relates to exercise equipment and, in particular, a treadmill having functionalities in addition to an adjustable running surface.
Walking and running are two popular forms of exercise. They use substantially all muscles of the body and require very little mental concentration. Individuals who enjoy walking and running as forms of exercise also find that they are a therapeutic form of exercise as well. Therefore, treadmills have become popular because they may provide a programmable running surface with adjustable inclines and speeds in a very compact space indoors so that individuals may walk and/or run inside in a controlled environment during inclement weather. In addition, many runners prefer running on treadmills to running on pavement, which can be hard on their knees and other joints.
However, as the world becomes more hectic, it has become increasingly difficult for individuals to maintain an exercise schedule, indoors or outdoors. Demands in the workplace include not only high stress, but also prolonged office hours. Office workers spend more time sitting at their desks, often with poor posture, and developing long-term back issues and undesired weight-gain, while, at the same time finding less and less time to exercise. With all the other demands of life such as family, friends, chores and hobbies, exercise often falls lower on the priority list of office workers. When this occurs, office workers may skip exercise as a part of their daily routine and, as a result, their health is compromised.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,947 to Densmore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,839 to Corkum, U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,516 to Disch, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,896 to Grunfeld et al. are some other attempts that have been made to incorporate exercise equipment with computers, work stations, or other activity stations. However, with such distractions as computers, work stations or other activity stations, safety is compromised and a user of such inventions may be prone to falling down and sustaining injuries.
Therefore, it would be desirable if the user could find a way to safely incorporate exercise into the workday, without sacrificing time that is already dedicated to the other demands of their lives.