Cardio core pusher

Abstract

An aerobic exerciser, such as a treadmill, elliptical machine or strider/hiker, is combined with a secondary exercise mechanism. The secondary exercise mechanism includes a movable user-contacting portion that is configured to move forward from a rest position and to provide adjustable resistance to pressure in a forward direction exerted by at least a portion of a user's body while the user is performing the aerobic exercise. The user-contacting portion is biased to return to the rest position when the forward pressure is released. The user-contacting portion may comprise a handgrip or may be configured to contact the user's waist. The exercise apparatus may include a sensor that is responsive to movement of the secondary exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position. The user may be provided with visual or aural encouragement to maintain sufficient pressure on the contacting portion so that the secondary exercise mechanism is maintained beyond the predetermined position.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a first exercise mechanism mounted on the frame for enabling a user to perform an aerobic exercise by moving the user's feet and legs;   a control console supported on the frame forward of a user's exercise position;   a second exercise mechanism having a moveable user-contacting portion configured to move forward from a rest position and to provide resistance to pressure in the forward direction exerted by at least a portion of the user's body while the user is performing the aerobic exercise;   the user-contacting portion biased to return to the rest position when forward pressure is released.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first exercise mechanism comprises a treadmill. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first exercise mechanism comprises an elliptical exerciser. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first exercise mechanism comprises a strider/hiker exerciser. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first exercise mechanism may be used without operating the second exercise mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second exercise mechanism is suspended below the console. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second exercise mechanism is supported above the console. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second exercise mechanism comprises a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the resistance of the second exercise mechanism is adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second exercise mechanism comprises a spring for providing resistance. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the user-contacting portion of the second exercise mechanism comprises a handgrip. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the user-contacting portion of the second exercise mechanism is configured to contact a waist of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the second exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a user feedback device to encourage the user to maintain sufficient pressure on the contacting portion to maintain the second exercise mechanism beyond the predetermined position. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a speed reducer to reduce a speed of the first exercise mechanism if the sensor detects that the second exercise mechanism has not been beyond the predetermined position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a lock to prevent movement of the second exercise mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a lock release on the user-contacting portion. 
     
     
         18 . An accessory for an exercise apparatus having a frame, a first exercise mechanism mounted on the frame for enabling a user to perform an aerobic exercise by moving the user's feet and legs and a control console supported on the frame forward of a user's exercise position, the accessory comprising:
 a second exercise mechanism configured to attach to the exercise apparatus, the second exercise mechanism having a moveable user-contacting portion configured to move forward from a rest position and to provide resistance to pressure in the forward direction exerted by at least a portion of the user's body while the user is performing the aerobic exercise, the user-contacting portion biased to return to the rest position when forward pressure is released.   
     
     
         19 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the second exercise mechanism is attached below the console. 
     
     
         20 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the second exercise mechanism is attached above the console. 
     
     
         21 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the second exercise mechanism comprises a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         22 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the resistance of the second exercise mechanism is adjustable. 
     
     
         23 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the second exercise mechanism comprises a spring for providing resistance. 
     
     
         24 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the user-contacting portion of the second exercise mechanism comprises a handgrip. 
     
     
         25 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the user-contacting portion of the second exercise mechanism is configured to contact a waist of the user. 
     
     
         26 . The accessory of  claim 18  further comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the second exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position. 
     
     
         27 . The accessory of  claim 26  further comprising a user feedback device to encourage the user to maintain sufficient pressure on the contacting portion to maintain the second exercise mechanism beyond the predetermined position. 
     
     
         28 . The accessory of  claim 26  further comprising a speed reducer to reduce a speed of the first exercise mechanism if the sensor detects that the second exercise mechanism has not been beyond the predetermined position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         29 . The accessory of  claim 18  further comprising a lock to prevent movement of the second exercise mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The accessory of  claim 29  further comprising a lock release on the user-contacting portion. 
     
     
         31 . The accessory of  claim 18  wherein the first exercise mechanism may be used without operating the second exercise mechanism. 
     
     
         32 . An exercise treadmill comprising:
 a frame;   a control console supported on the frame forward of a user's exercise position at least one handgrip attached to the upright;   a platform with a moving belt;   a secondary exercise mechanism having a moveable user-contacting portion configured to move forward from a rest position and provide resistance to forward movement of the user's body while the user is walking or running on the treadmill;   wherein said resistance of the secondary exercise mechanism biases the secondary exercise mechanism toward the rest position; and   wherein the treadmill may be used for running or walking without operating the secondary exercise mechanism.   
     
     
         33 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  further comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the secondary exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position. 
     
     
         34 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 33  further comprising a user feedback device to encourage the user to maintain sufficient pressure on the contacting portion to maintain the secondary exercise mechanism beyond the predetermined position. 
     
     
         35 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 33  further comprising a speed reducer to reduce a speed of the moving belt if the sensor detects that the secondary exercise mechanism has not been beyond the predetermined position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         36 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the secondary exercise mechanism includes forearm rests. 
     
     
         37 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the secondary exercise mechanism is suspended below the console. 
     
     
         38 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the secondary exercise mechanism is supported above the console. 
     
     
         39 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the secondary exercise mechanism comprises a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         40 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the resistance of the secondary exercise mechanism is adjustable. 
     
     
         41 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the secondary exercise mechanism comprises a spring for providing resistance. 
     
     
         42 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the user-contacting portion of the secondary exercise mechanism comprises a handgrip. 
     
     
         43 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  wherein the user-contacting portion of the secondary exercise mechanism is configured to contact a waist of the user. 
     
     
         44 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  further comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the secondary exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position and a user feedback device to encourage the user to maintain sufficient pressure on the contacting portion to maintain the secondary exercise mechanism beyond the predetermined position. 
     
     
         45 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 32  further comprising a lock to prevent movement of the secondary exercise mechanism. 
     
     
         46 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 45  further comprising a lock release on the user-contacting portion. 
     
     
         47 . A method of exercising comprising:
 performing an aerobic exercise using a first exercise mechanism of an exercise apparatus;   gripping a handgrip and pressing at least a portion of an exerciser's body against a moveable portion of a second exercise mechanism having adjustable resistance;   maintaining pressure against the moveable portion to maintain the second exercise mechanism away from a rest position while the exerciser is performing the aerobic exercise.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the aerobic exercise comprises walking or running on a treadmill. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the exerciser leans on arm rests to assist in pressing against the moveable portion. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47  further comprising providing encouragement to the exerciser in response to sensing movement of the second exercise mechanism beyond a predetermined position. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the encouragement is provided visually. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the encouragement is provided aurally. 
     
     
         53 . An exercise treadmill comprising:
 at least one pivotal upright member;   an electronic control console supported by the upright member and positioned forward of a user's exercise position;   at least one handgrip attached to the upright;   a platform with a moving belt;   a resistance mechanism attached to the pivotal upright;   the pivotal upright configured to move forward from a rest position by pressure from a user;   wherein said resistance mechanism returns the upright to said rest position when user pressure is released; and   a lock disposed on the upright to secure the upright in the rest position so the user may use the treadmill for running or walking without moving the upright.   
     
     
         54 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 53  including a waist contact attached to the pivotal upright. 
     
     
         55 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 53  further comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the pivotal upright beyond a predetermined position. 
     
     
         56 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 55  further comprising a user feedback device to encourage the user to maintain sufficient pressure against the pivotal upright to maintain the pivotal upright beyond the predetermined position. 
     
     
         57 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 55  further comprising a speed reducer to reduce a speed of the moving belt if the sensor detects that the pivotal upright has not been beyond the predetermined position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         58 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 53  further comprising forearm rests attached to the pivotal upright. 
     
     
         59 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 53  further comprising a lock release operable by the user while in the exercise position. 
     
     
         60 . The exercise treadmill of  claim 53  wherein the treadmill may be used without operating the resistance mechanism.