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:

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 such that the object when mounted is disposed entirely within the middle section.

[0004] The object typically comprises one or more of an electronic tablet such as aniPad, 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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:

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 can be contained 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.

Such a method typically further comprises:

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.

[0008] In another aspect of the invention there is provided 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 a surface of the console facing the user when the user is in the selected disposition for performing the exercise;

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;

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 in its entirety over the blank surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of one example of an exercise machine having a console or support according to the present invention; [0010] Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a console for use with an exercise machine according to the invention;

[0011] Fig. 3 is a front view of the console of Fig. 2;

[0012] Fig. 4 is a right side view of the console of Fig. 2;

[0013] 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

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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 VI, 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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. [0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.