User interface on console for exercise machine

• US 9,782,625 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Blum, Matthew P., Rickert, Warren A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/040,013
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482 54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0048 with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0264 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/687 for others, e.g. keys, wallets, books
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0057 Means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B23/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A console for an exercise machine has a console housing providing a user interface for controlling the exercise machine and a media rack removably attached to the console housing and having a shelf sized to support a media item. At least one touch input element is on the media rack and is operable to control an auxiliary device on the exercise machine.

Claims

1. A console for an exercise machine, the console comprising:

a console housing providing a user interface for controlling the exercise machine, the console housing a first connector;

a media rack removably attached to the console housing, the media rack having a second connector connectable to the first connector to removably attach the media rack to the console housing;

the media rack having a shelf extending generally horizontally and sized to accommodate and support any of various media items and a retaining ledge at the end of the shelf to maintain the any of various media items on the shelf; and

at least one touch input element on the media rack operable by a user to control a function of an auxiliary device to the exercise machine.

2. The console of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical terminal on the media rack coupled to an electrical terminal on the console to power the at least one touch input element.

3. The console of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical terminal on the media rack coupled to an electrical terminal on the console to transfer data from the touch input element to a controller for the exercise machine.

4. The console of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical terminal on the media rack coupled to an electrical terminal on the console to transfer data from the touch input element to a controller for the auxiliary device.

5. The console of claim 1 wherein the media rack can be attached to and removed from the console housing while the console housing is installed on the exercise machine.

6. The console of claim 5 wherein the media rack is removably attached to a front face of the console housing.

7. The console of claim 6 wherein the media rack is removably attached to a lower portion of the front face, and wherein the first connector and the second connector are connectable together by at least one screw.

8. The console of claim 5 wherein one of the first connector and the second connector includes at least one tab, and the other of the first connector and the second connector includes at least one pocket that receives the tab.

9. The console of claim 1 wherein the media rack is removably attached to one of a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side of the console housing.

10. The console of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device to the exercise machine is a television mounted on the exercise machine, and the at least on touch input is operable to control power, volume, or channel of the television.

11. The console of claim 10 wherein the at least one touch input element is a membrane switch on a front bezel on the retaining ledge.

12. The console of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device is an assistive technology for persons with disabilities, and the at least one touch input element is operable to control the assistive technology for persons with disabilities.

13. The console of claim 1 wherein the at least one touch input element is on a front bezel on the retaining ledge of the media rack.

14. The console of claim 13 wherein the at least one touch input element is a membrane switch.

15. The console of claim 1 further including at least one of a USB port and an audio jack on the media rack.

16. An exercise machine comprising:

a console providing a user interface for controlling the exercise machine, the console having a console housing the console housing having an indentation and a first connector;

a media rack attached to the console housing and having a shelf sized to support a media item, the media rack having a second connector connectable to the first connector to attach the media rack to the console housing;

wherein the indentation in the console housing is shaped to receive the media rack and the media rack is positioned in the indentation when attached to the console housing; and

at least one touch input element on the media rack operable by a user to control a function of an auxiliary device to the exercise machine.

17. The exercise machine of claim 16, wherein the indentation is on a front face of the console housing and the media rack is removably attached within the indentation, and wherein the media rack further comprises an electrical terminal that removably connects to an electrical terminal associated with the console in order to power the at least one touch input element.

18. The exercise machine of claim 17, wherein the touch input element is operable to control a media device on the exercise machine, and the connection between the electrical terminal on the media rack and the electrical terminal associated with the console transfers a control command from the touch input element to a controller for the media device.

19. The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein the touch input element is one of a membrane switch or a touch screen and the media device is a television.

20. The exercise machine of claim 17, wherein the touch input element is a membrane switch and is on a front bezel of the media rack.