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.

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.