Strength training treadmill

Abstract

An apparatus includes a treadmill and any one of a coaching appliance, one or two hand grip mechanisms attached to a rear of the treadmill, and a vertical member with plural hooks attached to the vertical member. Each hook is located on the first vertical member so as to be capable of hooking a resistance band that is to be stretched by an operator between the corresponding hook and a part of the operator undergoing resistance training. The coaching appliance includes either an audio-video appliance or an audio appliance. The audio-video appliance includes a video display screen, an audio speaker and an audio-video player capable of displaying a prerecorded coaching session on the video display screen and the audio speaker. The audio appliance includes an audio speaker and an audio player capable of playing a prerecorded coaching session on the audio speaker.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a treadmill; and    plural hand grip mechanisms attached to a rear of the treadmill.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each hand grip mechanism includes: 
 a hand grip; and    a vertical mechanism capable of telescoping in a direction to adjust a distance between the hand grip and a floor under the treadmill, wherein the vertical mechanism includes a vertical locking mechanism capable of locking the distance between the hand grip and the floor at any one of a plurality of predetermined distances.    
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the hand grip mechanism is capable of rotating to adjust a rotary orientation of the hand grip; and    each hand grip mechanism further includes a rotary locking mechanism capable of locking the orientation of the hand grip at any of a plurality of predetermined orientations.    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each hand grip mechanism includes: 
 a hand grip capable of being rotated to adjust a rotary orientation of the hand grip; and    a rotary locking mechanism capable of locking the orientation of the hand grip at any of a plurality of predetermined orientations.    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a treadmill having at least one vertical member; and    a first plurality of hooks attached to a first vertical member of the at least one vertical member,    wherein each hook is located on the first vertical member so as to be capable of hooking a resistance band that is to be stretched by an operator between the corresponding hook and a part of the operator undergoing resistance training.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a first hook of the first plurality of hooks is located on the first vertical member so as to be capable of hooking the resistance band that is to be stretched by the operator between the first hook and an ankle of the operator undergoing resistance training, the first hook being located so that the resistance band is stretched in a direction that provides tension at an angle preferred for exercising leg muscles; and    a second hook of the first plurality of hooks is located on the first vertical member so as to be capable of hooking the resistance band that is to be stretched by the operator between the second hook and a wrist of the operator undergoing resistance training, the second hook being located so that the resistance band is stretched in a direction that provides tension at an angle preferred for exercising arm muscles.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  further comprising a second plurality of hooks attached to a second vertical member of the at least one vertical member, wherein each hook of the second plurality of hooks is located on the second vertical member so as to be capable of hooking a resistance band that is to be stretched by an operator between the corresponding hook and a part of the operator undergoing resistance training.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 each of the first plurality of hooks includes a hinge mechanism attaching the corresponding hook to the first vertical member; and    each hinge mechanism being capable of permitting a hook range of movement so that the hook may be positioned in at least a stowed position and an operable position.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein each hinge mechanism further includes a locking mechanism to lock the hook in one of the stowed position and the operable position.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising a treadmill and a coaching appliance, wherein the coaching appliance includes one of: 
 an audio-video appliance that includes a video display screen, an audio speaker and an audio-video player capable of displaying a prerecorded coaching session on the video display screen and the audio speaker; and    an audio appliance that includes an audio speaker and an audio player capable of playing a prerecorded coaching session on the audio speaker.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the coaching appliance is the audio-video appliance;    the audio-video player is a DVD player; and    the video display screen is one of a cathode ray tube display and a flat panel display.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of hand weights, wherein the hand weights vary in size.  
   
   
       13 . A method of providing strength and aerobic training to an operator comprising: 
 moving a tread of a treadmill; and    exhibiting instructions for at least one of 
 a simultaneous strength and aerobic training period, and  
 alternating a strength training period and an aerobic training period.  
   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the exhibiting of instructions includes one of playing audio instructions and displaying audio-visual instructions.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the method includes exhibiting instructions for the simultaneous strength and aerobic training period; and    the method further includes performing one of stretching resistance bands while moving the tread and positioning free weights in hands of the operator while moving the tread.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the performing includes the stretching of the resistance bands; and    the act of stretching the resistance bands stretches the resistance bands while moving the tread to provide strength training to the operator while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for both strength training and aerobic training.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 ceasing the stretching of the resistance bands; and    erecting and locking hand grip mechanisms in a position to support the operator doing pushups from a dismounted position while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for strength training.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 ceasing the stretching of the resistance bands; and    positioning free weights in hands of the operator while moving the tread to provide strength training to the operator while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for strength training.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the performing includes the positioning free weights in hands of the operator; and    the act of positioning the free weights provides strength training to the operator while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for both strength and aerobic training.    
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 ceasing the positioning of free weights; and    erecting and locking hand grip mechanisms in a position to support the operator doing pushups from a dismounted position while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for strength training.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 ceasing the positioning of free weights;    the performing further includes the stretching of the resistance bands; and    the act of stretching the resistance bands stretches the resistance bands while moving the tread to provide strength training to the operator while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for both strength training and aerobic training.    
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the method includes exhibiting instructions for alternating a strength training period and an aerobic training period; and    erecting and locking hand grip mechanisms in a position to support the operator doing pushups from a dismounted position while the exhibiting of instructions exhibits instructions for strength training.