Shock damping entertainment mount for exercise equipment

Abstract

A shock damping mount for connecting an entertainment system, such as a television, to an exercise device, such as a treadmill, to decrease the motion of the treadmill that would otherwise be incident on the entertainment system. The device specifically utilizes a damping bracket having both a rotational connection and a spring connection that damps impact-generated motion generated by the user prior to it reaching the entertainment system.

1 . A shock damping mount for attaching an entertainment device to an exercise machine, the mount comprising: 
 a frame, said frame capable of supporting said entertainment device in a position whereby said entertainment device can be viewed by a user using said exercise machine;    a mounting structure, said mounting structure serving to attach said entertainment device to said frame;    a first connection plate, said first connection plate being rotationally connected to said exercise device about a generally horizontal axis of rotation, said first plate being capable of rotating about said generally horizontal axis of rotation;    a second plate, said second plate being connected to said exercise device via at least one spring and said second plate being rigidly connected to said first connection plate;    wherein, when said first connection plate rotates about said horizontal axis of rotation, said second connection plate rotates in a generally vertical arc; and    wherein said spring is positioned so that at least a portion of the restoring force of said spring acts on said second connection plate when said second connection plate moves in said generally vertical arc.    
   
   
       2 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said second plate is generally perpendicular to said first plate.  
   
   
       3 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said entertainment device comprises a television.  
   
   
       4 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said entertainment device comprises a DVD player.  
   
   
       5 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said frame is generally Y-shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The mount of  claim 5  wherein said frame attaches to said exercise machine via two parallel supports on said exercise machine.  
   
   
       7 . The mount of  claim 6  wherein said two parallel supports support a console for operation of said exercise machine.  
   
   
       8 . The mount of  claim 6  wherein said first plate attaches to the inside surfaces of said two supports.  
   
   
       9 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said second plate connects to said exercise machine via a compression structure, the compression structure comprising two rubber disks with the second plate arranged between said discs.  
   
   
       10 . The mount of  claim 9  wherein said compression structure is one of two compression structures connecting said second plate to said exercise machine.  
   
   
       11 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said spring comprises a reliantly deformable material expressing spring behavior.  
   
   
       12 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spring comprises two springs, said springs arranged so that one of said springs is compressed while the other is extended when said second plate moves in said generally vertical arc.  
   
   
       13 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spring comprises four springs, said springs being arranged so that two of said springs are compressed while the other two are extended when said second plate moves in said generally vertical arc.  
   
   
       14 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spring comprises four springs, said springs being arranged so that all four of said springs are compressed when said second plate moves in said generally vertical arc.  
   
   
       15 . The mount of  claim 1  wherein said exercise machine is a treadmill.  
   
   
       16 . A shock damping mount for attaching an entertainment device to an exercise machine, the mount comprising: 
 support means for supporting said entertainment device in a position whereby said entertainment device can be viewed by a user using said exercise machine;    mounting means for attach said entertainment device to said support means;    a first connection means for rotationally connecting said support means to said exercise device;    a second connection means for connecting said support means to said exercise device via at least one spring in a manner such that when said support means rotates via said first connection means, at least a portion of the restoring force of said spring resists said rotation.    
   
   
       17 . The mount of  claim 16  wherein said exercise machine is a treadmill.  
   
   
       18 . A combination of a treadmill and an attached television system, the combination comprising: 
 a treadmill, said treadmill having a deck, a belt, two generally vertical supports, and a console;    a damping mount, said damping mount being attached to said treadmill at said supports by damping brackets;    each of said brackets including: 
 a rotational connection to a support; and  
 a spring connection to a support; and  
 a television attached to said damping mount.  
   
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 18  further comprising a DVD player electronically attached to said television and attached to said damping mount.