U.S. patent application number 13/585243 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-21 for console for exercise apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cybex International, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Benjamin Lloyd, William M. Pacheco, Glenn Walters. Invention is credited to Benjamin Lloyd, William M. Pacheco, Glenn Walters.
Application Number | 20130310220 13/585243 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49581787 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130310220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pacheco; William M. ; et
al. |
November 21, 2013 |
CONSOLE FOR EXERCISE APPARATUS
Abstract
An exercise machine comprising: a frame and a support mechanism
having a user interactive surface, the user interactive surface
comprising a middle section, an upper section), and a lower section
disposed vertically below the middle section; the upper and lower
sections each including one or both of a visually observable
display and a manually actuatable member, the middle section
including a surface that is blank; the support mechanism including
a mount mechanism adapted to mount a readily portable object in an
orientation such that the object overlies entirely within the blank
surface of the middle section.
Inventors: |
Pacheco; William M.;
(Bridgewater, MA) ; Walters; Glenn; (Port
Washington, WI) ; Lloyd; Benjamin; (West Allis,
WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pacheco; William M.
Walters; Glenn
Lloyd; Benjamin |
Bridgewater
Port Washington
West Allis |
MA
WI
WI |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Cybex International, Inc.
Medway
MA
|
Family ID: |
49581787 |
Appl. No.: |
13/585243 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2012/045385 |
Jul 3, 2012 |
|
|
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13585243 |
|
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|
61648467 |
May 17, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/20 20130101;
A63B 2071/0683 20130101; A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2022/0682
20130101; A63B 2071/0658 20130101; A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B
71/0622 20130101; H04M 1/04 20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/4 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. An exercise machine comprising: a frame disposed on a ground
surface supporting an operational assembly on which a user sits,
stands or lies in a selected disposition for performing an
exercise; a support mechanism having a user interactive surface,
the support mechanism being mounted to the frame in an arrangement
relative to the assembly such that the user can readily visually
observe and readily manually engage the user interactive surface
when the user is in the selected disposition for performing the
exercise; the user interactive surface comprising a middle section
having upper and lower vertical edges, an upper section disposed
vertically above the middle section and a lower section disposed
vertically below the middle section; the upper and lower sections
each including one or both of a visually observable display and a
manually actuatable member, the middle section including a surface
that is blank; the support mechanism including a mount mechanism
adapted to mount a readily portable object in an orientation such
that the object overlies at least a portion of the blank surface,
the object being adapted to process and communicate electronic data
or information either visually to a user via a display included in
the object or to a processor included in the machine, the object
having a preselected size and configuration and the mount mechanism
being adapted such that the object when mounted is disposed and
overlies entirely within the middle section.
2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the object comprises one or more
of an electronic tablet, a cell phone and an electronic book
display device.
3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the object and the machine are
interconnectable to enable communication of electronic signals
between the object and an electronic signal receiving mechanism
that is included in the machine via either or both of a wired or
wireless interconnection, the machine containing a processor that
receives data or signals from the object and processes the data to
control operation of the machine.
4. The machine of claim 1 further including a controller, the
manually actuatable member being interconnected to the controller
such that the user can input data to the controller via manual
engagement with the manually actuatable member, the controller
including a processor that processes the data according to a
predetermined algorithm for operating the machine.
5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the visually observable display
comprises a monitor or lighted display that displays one or more of
the data input by the user or the results of data processed by the
processor.
6. A method of performing an exercise on an exercise machine where
the machine comprises a frame disposed on a ground surface
supporting an operational assembly on which a user sits, stands or
lies in a selected disposition for performing the exercise, the
method comprising: mounting a support mechanism having a user
interactive surface to the frame in an arrangement relative to the
assembly such that the user can readily visually observe and
readily manually engage the user interactive surface when the user
is in the selected disposition for performing the exercise; forming
the user interactive surface in an arrangement that comprises a
middle section having upper and lower vertical edges, an upper
section disposed vertically above the middle section and a lower
section disposed vertically below the middle section; forming each
of the upper and lower sections to include one or both of a
visually observable display and a manually actuatable member;
forming the middle section to include a surface that is blank;
selecting a readily portable object that contains a processor or
other electronic data generator for displaying, processing or
communicating electronic data or information to the user or to the
machine; selecting the object to have a preselected size and
configuration that overlie in its entirety within the blank surface
of the middle section, mounting the selected object over the blank
surface in an orientation such that the object is disposed entirely
within the blank surface of the middle section.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: interconnecting the
manually actuatable member to a data processor that is mounted on
the machine, programming the processor to include an algorithm for
directing operation of the operational assembly of the machine,
inputting data to the processor via the manually actuatable member
while being disposed in the selected disposition for performing the
exercise.
8. An exercise machine comprising: a frame disposed on a ground
surface supporting an operational assembly on which a user sits,
stands or lies in a selected disposition for performing an
exercise; a console mounted to the frame in an arrangement relative
to the operational assembly such that the user can readily visually
observe and readily manually engage any surface of the console
facing the user when the user is in the selected disposition for
performing the exercise; the any surface of the console comprising
a middle section having upper and lower vertical edges, an upper
section disposed vertically above the middle section and a lower
section disposed vertically below the middle section; the upper and
lower sections each including one or both of a visually observable
display and a manually actuatable member, the middle section
including a surface that is blank; the console being adapted to
mount a readily portable object in a rest position wherein the
object overlies at least a portion of the blank surface, the object
being adapted to process and communicate electronic data or
information to the machine and having a preselected size and
configuration such that the object when mounted in the rest
position can be disposed to overlie in its entirety the blank
surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus and
method having or using a user observable or interactive console for
reading or inputting data to a data processor included within the
apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Physical exercise machines have been designed having
mounting platforms and consoles to which various mechanisms can be
attached for holding or mounting objects that a user either
visually observes or manually engages while performing an exercise.
Such mechanisms typically comprise shelves, straps, linkages and
the like that strap or attach on or around the control console of
the machine such that the object that the user is supposed to
engage either interferes with the user's ability to see the output
of the display or to engage the controls mounted on the
console.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with the invention there is provided a
exercise machine comprising: [0004] a frame disposed on a ground
surface supporting an operational assembly on which a user sits,
stands or lies in a selected disposition for performing an
exercise; [0005] a support mechanism having a user interactive
surface, the support mechanism being mounted to the frame in an
arrangement relative to the assembly such that the user can readily
visually observe and readily manually engage the user interactive
surface when the user is in the selected disposition for performing
the exercise; [0006] the user interactive surface comprising a
middle section having upper and lower vertical edges, an upper
section disposed vertically above the middle section and a lower
section disposed vertically below the middle section; [0007] the
upper and lower sections each including one or both of a visually
observable display and a manually actuatable member, the middle
section including a surface that is blank; [0008] the support
mechanism including a mount mechanism adapted to mount a readily
portable object in an orientation such that the object overlies at
least a portion of the blank surface, the object being adapted to
process and communicate electronic data or information either
visually to a user via a display included in the object or to a
processor included in the machine, the object having a preselected
size and configuration such that the object when mounted is
disposed entirely within the middle section.
[0009] The object typically comprises one or more of an electronic
tablet such as an iPad, a cell phone such as an iPhone, an
electronic book display device such as a Nook and the like. The
object and the machine may or may not be interconnectable to enable
communication of electronic signals between the object and a
processor or other electronic signal receiving mechanism included
in the machine via either or both of a wired or wireless
interconnection, the machine containing a processor that receives
data or signals from the object and processes the data to control
operation of the machine.
[0010] The machine can include a controller such as a
microprocessor or other computer, the manually actuatable member
being interconnected to the controller such that the user can input
data to the controller via manual engagement with the manually
actuatable member, the controller including a processor that
processes the data according to a predetermined algorithm for
operating the machine.
[0011] The visually observable display typically comprises a
monitor or lighted display that displays one or more of the data
input by the user or the results of data processed by the
processor.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention there is provided, a
method of performing an exercise on an exercise machine where the
machine comprises a frame disposed on a ground surface supporting
an operational assembly on which a user sits, stands or lies in a
selected disposition for performing the exercise, the method
comprising: [0013] mounting a support mechanism having a user
interactive surface to the frame in an arrangement relative to the
assembly such that the user can readily visually observe and
readily manually engage the user interactive surface when the user
is in the selected disposition for performing the exercise; [0014]
forming the user interactive surface in an arrangement that
comprises a middle section having upper and lower vertical edges,
an upper section disposed vertically above the middle section and a
lower section disposed vertically below the middle section; [0015]
forming each of the upper and lower sections to include one or both
of a visually observable display and a manually actuatable member;
[0016] forming the middle section to include a surface that is
blank; [0017] selecting a readily portable object that contains a
processor or other electronic data generator for displaying,
processing or communicating electronic data or information to the
user or to the machine; [0018] selecting the object to have a
preselected size and configuration that can be contained within the
blank surface of the middle section, [0019] mounting the selected
object over the blank surface in an orientation such that the
object is disposed entirely within the blank surface of the middle
section.
[0020] Such a method typically further comprises: [0021]
interconnecting the manually actuatable member to a data processor
that is mounted on the machine, [0022] programming the processor to
include an algorithm for directing operation of the operational
assembly of the machine, [0023] inputting data to the processor via
the manually actuatable member while being disposed in the selected
disposition for performing the exercise.
[0024] In another aspect of the invention there is provided an
exercise machine comprising: [0025] a frame disposed on a ground
surface supporting an operational assembly on which a user sits,
stands or lies in a selected disposition for performing an
exercise; [0026] a console mounted to the frame in an arrangement
relative to the operational assembly such that the user can readily
visually observe and readily manually engage a surface of the
console facing the user when the user is in the selected
disposition for performing the exercise; [0027] the surface of the
console comprising a middle section having upper and lower vertical
edges, an upper section disposed vertically above the middle
section and a lower section disposed vertically below the middle
section; [0028] the upper and lower sections each including one or
both of a visually observable display and a manually actuatable
member, the middle section including a surface that is blank;
[0029] the console being adapted to mount a readily portable object
in a rest position wherein the object overlies at least a portion
of the blank surface, the object being adapted to process and
communicate electronic data or information to the machine and
having a preselected size and configuration such that the object
when mounted in the rest position can be disposed in its entirety
over the blank surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one example of an
exercise machine having a console or support according to the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a
console for use with an exercise machine according to the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a front view of the console of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the console of FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a front view of an IPad or IPad sized tablet as
can be mounted on the console of FIG. 2 showing data and images
displayed on the front touch sensitive surface of the tablet
pertaining to one or more exercises that can be performed using the
machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an exercise
machine on which a user can stand upright to perform a physical
exercise, the user being oriented when properly positioned on the
machine in an exercise performance disposition or orientation
relative to a support or console 20 that enables the user to
readily visually observe, read and manually engage a surface 20a of
the support or console 20 while simultaneously performing the
intended physical exercise. As shown in the FIG. 1 example, the
machine comprises a frame 10 having a front region 12, a rear
region 14, legs 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, and upper supports 18a, 18b,
18c, and 18d. Upper supports 18c and 18d comprise the upper links
of a pair of four bar linkages. The machine includes a front user
interactive surface 2a, hand grips 22a and 22b that are secured to
the upper supports 18a and 18b. Foot supports 24a and 24b are sized
to receive the foot of a user. Foot supports 24a and 24b are
movably connected to, and supported by, forward linkages or legs
26a and 26b, and rear linkages 26c and 26d. Linkages 26a-26d are
movably connected to the rear region 14 of frame 10 by upper
supports or links 18d and 18c.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the foot supports 24a and 24b
approximate a shoe or a human foot in size and shape. They can
include a non-skid surface and be bounded by one or more low lips
to help a shoe remain in place on the foot supports during use.
Alternately, straps may maintain each foot within the foot support
to further retain the user's foot in place during use. The forward
linkages or legs 26a and 26b are movably connected to drive
linkages 28a and 28b; and the drive linkages are in turn connected
to other elements concealed by a housing 30. In other embodiments,
the drive linkages 28a and 28b are connected directly to the foot
supports 24a and 24b. The foot supports can be on or integral to
either the forward linkages or to the one or more linkages joined
to the frame. As illustrated in FIG. 1, representative movable
connectors 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d include pivot assemblies, as
known in the art, that provide relative rotation or reciprocal
motion by elements joined by the pivot assemblies. Movable
connectors 31b and 31d rotatably couple forward linkages or legs
26b and 26a, respectively, to upper supports or links 18c and 18d.
Movable connectors 31c and 31a rotatably couple rear linkages 26c
and 26d, respectively, to upper supports or links 18c and 18d.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows one specific embodiment of a console or display
or support 20 by way of example where the front facing surface 20s
of the console 20 has a vertically lowermost disposed section 25c
having a front facing surface 25cs that has a topmost disposed edge
25cte adjoining a bottommost disposed edge 25bbe of the surface
25bs of a vertically middle disposed section 25b. The middle
section 25 has a vertically topmost edge 25bte that adjoins the
vertically bottommost disposed edge 25abe of the surface 25as of a
vertically topmost disposed section 25a of the console 20.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the console has a generally linear
axis CA with which the mounting surfaces 25as, 25bs, 25cs are
generally aligned. The console 20 is mounted on the frame of the
machine 10 in an orientation such that the general axis CA and the
generally aligned front facing surfaces 25as, 25bs and 25cs are
generally disposed at an acute angle AN relative to vertical VA as
defined relative to a generally flat horizontal surface S of the
ground on which the machine 10 is mounted.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the console 20 is shown as
divided generally into a vertically topmost disposed section 20a, a
vertically middle disposed section 25b and a vertically lowermost
disposed section 25c. And, the front facing surfaces 25as, 25bs and
25cs extend over the lengths V1, V2, V3 that extend sequentially
along the vertically oriented component of vertical axis VA from a
vertical topmost position T to a vertical bottommost position
B.
[0040] The front facing surface 20as of the vertically topmost
section 20a and the front facing surface 20cs of the vertically
lowermost section 20c of the console 20 can be provided with
visually observable display elements, 25ade and 25cde and manually
actuatable buttons or members, at any desired position on surfaces
20as, 20cs. Typical visually observable display elements can
include, without limitation, display elements or devices such as
LEDs, LCDs, incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs, LCD/LED/plasma
light emitting monitors or screens and printed lettering, text or
graphics. Such visually observable display elements are typically
used for displaying the output of a data processor that is
preferably included as a component of the machine 10. Such data
processors are typically included for purposes of controlling an
operational or drive component of the machine to work according to
a predetermined algorithm or program that utilizes selected
variables that are input to the program by the user, the program
containing instructions, circuitry, software or the like that
execute the algorithm. Such data processors also preferably control
the display of the variables or parameters that are input by the
user and provide a visually observable interface for the user to
read the result of data or variables that are input to and output
from the processor. Such data processors can also display a real
time visual representation of the work output or status of
operation of the machine 10 and other visually readable/observable
information such as news or entertainment video, weather or
environmental data and the like. As can be readily imagined, the
console or support 20 is mounted at such a position on the machine
10 and at such an angle A that a user who is disposed in a standing
position on the foot pedals 24a, 24b of the machine 10 can readily
visually observe the surfaces 20as and 20cs before, during and
after performing an exercise in such disposition or position.
[0041] The front facing surface 20as of the vertically topmost
section 20a and the front facing surface 20cs of the vertically
lowermost section 20c of the console 20 can also be provided with
visually observable and readily manually engageable and actuatable
members (25ace, 25cce) such as keyboards, buttons, switches, touch
sensitive screen or monitor elements/devices and the like that are
interconnected to either or both of the processor or visual display
elements such that a user can manually input data or information by
engaging such members (25ace, 25cce) wherein the data is
communicated and input into the processor or display elements
before, during and after performing an exercise on the machine 10.
As with the visually observable display elements (25ade, 25cde),
the console or support 20 is mounted at such a position on the
machine 10 and at such an angle A that a user who is disposed in a
standing position on the foot pedals 24a, 24b of the machine 10 can
readily access such buttons, switches, touch sensitive elements and
the like by hand and provide the data processor or other control
mechanism included in the machine 10 with user selected variables
for input to the program, algorithm or circuitry that controls the
operational or drive components of the machine 10.
[0042] The front facing surface 20bs of the middle section 20b,
FIGS. 2-4, is preferably blank, that is, does not contain visually
observable or manually engageable elements so that an object can be
mounted or disposed over the surface 20bs and the user is not
prevented from observing or having manual access to information,
data or operational elements such as are disposed on the surfaces
20as, 20cs.
[0043] The console 20 is preferably provided with a mechanism such
as a generally horizontally disposed shelf, surface or slot 50
arranged along or near a peripheral edge of the middle section 20b,
the shelf, surface or slot 50 being capable of receiving and
mounting a readily manually portable electronically communicative
object of the user's choice (such as a cell phone, a monitor, a
flat panel display, a tablet, an electronic book display or the
like) in an arrangement where the selected object overlies or lies
against at least a portion of the blank surface 20bs and the front
face such as face 70s or 80s of the object 70, 80 can be visually
observed or manually accessed by the user of the machine 10 while
disposed in an exercise performance position on the machine 10. In
the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-4, a pair of pivotable stops 60
are mounted at or near the bottom edge 25bbe of the blank middle
section 25b along the front edge of the mounting surface 50 such
that a portion of the object 70, 80 can be inserted within the
space 55s disposed between the stops 60 and the surface 25bs and
held within the space 55s such that the portable object 70, 80 is
securely mounted by gravity and by the angled orientation A of the
axis CA of the console 20.
[0044] The size or configuration of the object 70, 80 is preferably
selected such that it has a longest longitudinal dimension H that
does not exceed the corresponding longitudinal dimension or length
of the surface 20bs and has a longest latitudinal dimension W that
does not exceed the corresponding latitudinal dimension or length
of the surface 20bs such that the object 70, 80 does not extend
beyond the boundaries or edges of the surface 20bs when mounted in
a stable position on the mount 50 or does not otherwise overlie
surfaces 20as or 20cs. Typically the longest longitudinal or height
dimension H of the object 70, 80 does not exceed about 18 inches,
preferably does not exceed about 12 inches, and the longest
latitudinal or width dimension W does not exceed about 24 inches,
preferably does not exceed about 15 inches. Similarly the longest
corresponding longitudinal or height dimension H of the surface
20bs does not exceed about 18 inches and the longest latitudinal or
width dimension W of the surface 24bs does not exceed about 24
inches.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows an example where a cell phone 70 is mounted on
the mounting surface 50, the cell phone 70 overlying a portion of
surface 20bs with its informational containing or displaying
surface 70s facing the user. Similarly, FIGS. 4, 5 show an example
where a flat panel shaped tablet 80 (such as an IPad) is mounted on
the mounting surface 50, the tablet 80 overlying a portion of
surface 20bs with its informational containing or displaying
surface 80s facing the user.
[0046] The object 70, 80 can thus be mounted on the console 20
without any electronic or electrical connection or communication
with the machine 10, the object being mounted in stable position
and orientation on the console 20 such that the object 70, 80
overlies the blank surface 20bs of the console 20 and, when so
mounted, the objects exhibits a display of data, text, video,
manually actuatable buttons, touch sensitive surface areas or other
visually observable information on the display surface 70s, 80s of
the object that the user can readily observe such displayed
information and/or readily manually engage the surface 70s, 80s
while disposed in an exercise performance position on the pedals
24a, 24b. The mount mechanism 50, 60 is arranged such that the
object 70, 80 is readily mountable thereon.
[0047] The console 20 or machine 10 can be provided with a
mechanism that electronically communicates with or interconnects
the data or other signal output of the selected object 70, 80 to a
data processor that may be included in the machine 10. The data
output of the object 70, 80 can be routed to and displayed via
visual display elements 25ade or 25cde that may be disposed on the
observable surfaces 20as, 20cs of the upper 20a and lower 20c
sections of the console 20. Such a data or electronic signal
interconnection may be effected via wires, metallic connectors or
by wireless signal transmitters/receivers contained within the
object and the machine.
[0048] Data or signal transmission from the object 70, 80 to the
machine 10 is typically routed to the processor included in the
machine 10. The portable object 70, 80 can include manually
actuatable buttons, surfaces, screens, switches and the like which
the user can manually engage to input data for programming an
exercise. Thus a user can mount their own selected readily manually
portable smartphone 70, tablet 80, portable computer, circuit board
or the like over the blank surface 20bs and input selected control
data to the processor of the machine 10 via input of data to the
selected portable object, the selected portable object then
transmitting the data input to the processor included in the
machine 10 that controls operation of the drive of the machine 10
according a selected algorithm that uses the data input as
variables in executing the control algorithm.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, the processor of the machine 10 can
alternatively communicate its output of information or data to the
portable object 70, 80 which in turn can visually display the data
or information transmitted on the display surface 70s, 80s, the
user being able to readily visually observe the data or information
while disposed in the exercise performance position on the pedals
24a, 24b of the machine 10. Alternatively, the portable object 70,
80 itself can include a processor and algorithm that executes a
program that drives the operational components of the machine 10.
The output of the processor included within such a portable object
70, 80 can be communicated to the drive components of the machine
via hard wires, connectors or wirelessly.
* * * * *