Patent ID: 7780578
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: A47B,A63B

Abstract:
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.