Exercise machines and methods of assembling exercise machines having an adjustable console assembly

Abstract

An exercise machine has a frame for supporting a user of the exercise machine, and a console assembly comprising a handlebar for engagement by the user and a display for displaying and/or controlling an operational characteristic of the exercise machine to the user. The console assembly is coupled to the frame and longitudinally adjustable relative to the frame. Methods for assembling the exercise machine are provided.

1 . An exercise machine that extends between a front and a rear in a longitudinal direction, between a first side and an opposite, second side in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, the exercise machine comprising:
 a frame for supporting a user of the exercise machine, and   a console assembly comprising a handlebar for engagement by the user and a display for displaying and/or controlling an operational characteristic of the exercise machine, wherein the console assembly is coupled to and longitudinally movable relative to the frame to facilitate adjustment of the handlebar and the display relative to the user.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking device configured to lock the console assembly in position relative to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking device is configured to clamp the console assembly in position relative to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking device comprises pivot lever and a cam that causes the locking device to clamp the console assembly to the frame upon pivoting the pivot lever. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a screen that extends upwardly at an angle relative to the handlebar, wherein said angle remains constant as the console assembly is longitudinally moved relative to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the console assembly is longitudinally adjustable into and between a forwardmost position relative to the frame and a rearwardmost position relative to the frame, and further comprising a locking device configured to lock the console assembly in place relative to the forwardmost position and the rearwardmost position. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base member and wherein the console assembly comprises a carriage that is longitudinally slidable back and forth relative to the base member. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the handlebar is rigidly coupled to the carriage along two planes that are transverse to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , and wherein the display is rigidly coupled to the carriage along two planes that are transverse to each other. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the carriage is coupled to the base member by opposing slide rails and opposing slide bearings that support sliding of the opposing slide rails. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a stop device that prevents sliding of the carriage past a forwardmost position relative to the base member and that prevents sliding of the carriage past a rearwardmost position relative to the base member. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the carriage is coupled to the base member by opposing slide rails and opposing slide bearings supporting sliding of the opposing slide rails, and wherein the stop device comprises a bumper that operatively engages at least one slide bearing of the opposing slide bearings to prevent sliding of the carriage past the forwardmost position and that operatively engages at least one slide bearing of the opposing slide bearings to prevent sliding of the carriage past the rearwardmost position. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a locking device configured to lock the carriage in position relative to the base member. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the locking device is configured to clamp the console assembly in position relative to the frame, and wherein the locking device is manually operable by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the locking device comprises a pivot lever and a cam that causes the locking device to clamp the console assembly to the frame upon pivoting of the pivot lever. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the locking device further comprises a cam block, a cam shaft coupled to the cam and extending through the cam block, the carriage, and the base member, and a clamp head on the cam shaft, wherein pivoting the pivot lever applies a camming force on the clamp head that clamps the carriage between the base member and the clamp head. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a cable assembly for providing power and/or electrical communication to the console assembly, wherein the cable assembly is disposed in the frame and is coupled to and moves with the carriage relative to the base member. 
     
     
         23 . A console assembly for an exercise machine, the console assembly comprising:
 a carriage,   a handlebar for engagement by a user,   a display for displaying and/or controlling an operational characteristic of the exercise machine,   wherein the handlebar and the display are coupled to the carriage and further wherein the carriage is configured to be coupled to a frame of the exercise machine such that the carriage is movable relative to the frame and thus facilitates integrated adjustment of the handlebar and the display relative to a user of the exercise machine.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of assembling an exercise machine, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a frame for supporting a user of the exercise machine, and a base member disposed on or integrated with the frame,   (b) providing a carriage that is slidable relative to the base member along an adjustment axis,   (c) providing a first slide bearing apparatus for supporting sliding of a first lateral side of the carriage along a first slide bearing axis,   (d) providing a second slide bearing apparatus for supporting sliding of an opposite, second lateral side of the carriage along a second slide bearing axis,   (e) laterally clamping the carriage between the first slide bearing apparatus and the second slide bearing apparatus such that the first slide bearing axis and the second slide bearing axis are substantially parallel to each other,   (f) rigidly coupling the first slide bearing apparatus to the base member such that the first slide bearing axis is substantially parallel to the adjustment axis, and   (g) thereafter fastening the second slide bearing apparatus to the base member.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein steps (e) through (g) are configured to ensure that the first slide bearing axis is substantially parallel to the second slide bearing axis and substantially parallel to the adjustment axis such that in use the carriage is freely slidable along the adjustment axis relative to the first slide bearing apparatus and the second slide bearing apparatus. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the first slide bearing apparatus comprises a first plurality of slide bearings and wherein the second slide bearing apparatus comprises a second plurality of slide bearings. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the first plurality of slide bearings comprises a front slide bearing and a rear slide bearing that is spaced apart from and substantially aligned with the front slide bearing, and wherein the second plurality of slide bearings comprises a front slide bearing and a rear slide bearing that is spaced apart from and substantially aligned with the front slide bearing. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the frame comprises a pedestal, and further comprising coupling the base member to the pedestal. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein (f) comprises fixing the first slide bearing apparatus to the base member by engaging a first plurality of fasteners in a first plurality of apertures that is aligned substantially parallel to the adjustment axis. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein each aperture in the first plurality of apertures is a round hole, and wherein each fastener in the first plurality of fasteners comprises a conical head that operatively engages and is centered respect to the round hole during fastening. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein (g) comprises fixing the second slide bearing apparatus to the base member by engaging a second plurality of fasteners in a second plurality of fastener apertures. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 (h) coupling a handlebar to the carriage and coupling a display to the carriage, wherein the handlebar and the display are longitudinally adjustable relative to the frame.