Patent Application
20120206865
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the use of exercise equipment, specifically providing a video display system to stimulate the use of the exercise equipment.
2. Description of Prior Art
Exercise is an essential part of good health and weight control. Exercise equipment such as treadmills, elliptical's, ski simulators, stationary bicycles etc. have been sold and used for many years. Unless the exercise equipment's location provides mental stimulus (visual and audio) we quickly grow disgruntled and bored of the exercise routine and stop using the equipment. A display (TV or monitor with programming) is an ideal solution. This display has unique requirements that must be satisfied to be effective.
In most homes exercise equipment is located in a spare room or corner of the garage. Space is at a premium and the equipment is large so it usually gets pushed to a wall or near a corner. The display requires a small screen at eye level. Because of the close proximity to the display a large screen can cause loss of balance from head movement while watching the action on the screen. Looking straight ahead is best for both balance and reduced strain on the neck and shoulders.
All electronic equipment supporting the display should be located in one easy to reach location. Unobstructed access to the remote controls and electronic modules providing the video programming is necessary for efficient startup and operation while on the exercise equipment. Some exercise equipment generates a lot of noise. Head sets often are the best solution for this. Easy storage and access to them must be provided as well.
All electronic modules and display need to be mounted on the wall. The exercise equipment generates a lot of vibration and transfers this to the floor while in operation. Mounting the display and electronic modules to the wall provides the best isolation from vibration.
Power distribution is a problem. Multiple electronic modules plus the display and the exercise equipment all require separate power cords. The quantity of cords usually exceeds the local wall outlet capacity and creates a wire jungle.
Finally, the solution must be simple to install, low cost and esthetically pleasing. Unless these problems are properly addressed, the equipment will continue to fail to provide the stimulus needed. Several types of partial remedies do exist, gyms in hotels provide one or more TV's for stimulus. Some of the most expensive exercise equipment have TV's built in or provisions for radios such as MP3 players to be plugged in. But no one provides a solution for the masses that is easy to install (retrofit) takes up no extra room and is a complete audio and video solution to users of their exercise equipment.
The Fireplace Shelf and Mantel Support, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,115, Jan. 27, 1998 incorporates shelves for books, knickknacks etc. The shelving is specific to a fireplace surround and does not provide for hiding the electrical power connection when required. Since a fireplace is required, this is not a reasonable solution with exercise equipment.
Physical Exercise Video System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,172, Mar. 30, 1999. Incorporates audio and video to an exercise system to control and provide feedback on the user's performance while using the equipment. No effort was made to entertain the user with this design and no attempt to optimize the layout of the design was made.
Storage Mantel, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,375, May 2, 2000. This provides storage within the mantel for items such as CD's, cassettes etc. over an existing fireplace (claim 1) but not electronics or wiring for electronics. Not suitable for use with exercise equipment.
The System and Method of Mounting of Audio and Video Components, patent Ser. No. 10/786,576, Aug. 25, 2005. This provides a good solution for mounting one or more modules containing components to a bar that is mounted below a video display. Each module is the container for a subset of components to the total display solution (claim 26). Each module adds to the cost of the complete system. The video display requires an independent mount to the wall further adding to the cost of the installation. The design does not provide a good solution for hiding and aggregating the power cords or routing the cables from the bar (claim 21). Nor does it provide the esthetics of a mantel architectural design.
Surround Entertainment System for a Fireplace, Patent number 108082662, Sep. 22, 2005, adds electronics to fireplace surrounds. This does incorporate electronics in a cabinet mounted to a wall as a fireplace mantel with hidden TV display for secondary use. This requires a fireplace and is not suitable for an exercise equipment solution.
Flat panel display TV stand, patent Ser. No. 11/376,933, Sep. 28, 2006. A wall mounted vertical metal column with adjustable shelves on brackets that hold the electronic modules. The TV display mounts to brackets on the back of the TV that attach to the vertical columns. Wiring between the modules is routed behind the panel to the shelves, TV and floor. The movable shelves provide a flexible solution when electronic modules are replaced that require different shelf height. It also keeps the wall esthetically clean of wiring. One weakness in the design is that newer electronic modules such as video streamers and HDMI switch/splitters use external power supplies, often referred to as a “wall warts”. Their odd size and plug angles make them difficult/impossible to place behind the shallow panels. The only practical solution, which is very unattractive, is placing them on a shelf plugged into a power strip or extension cord. Additionally, this solution is very complex with many components (read expensive). The modern/industrial styling appeals to a limited audience only.
Integrated Entertainment System with Audio Modules, U.S. Pat. No. 325,485, Jul. 5, 2007. Fully integrated console with TV stand. This console is designed for family room listening and/or viewing. It takes up substantial floor space and is not wall mounted. The display for an exercise room needs to be mounted quite high for proper viewing. This console takes up space and is to low for this application.
Exercise Apparatus with Audio-Visual Device, U.S. Pat. No. 297,210, Jul. 17, 2003. This design addresses the problem by attaching an audio video rack with TV to the sporting goods (exercise equipment). Exercise equipment generates tremendous vibration to the floor. These vibrations are transferred to any TV stand on the floor or attached to the exercise equipment. The strain of watching a vibrating TV quickly negates the experience and explains why this has not become popular. This design also takes up additional floor space since it is a rack bolted in front of the exercise equipment.
Comprehensive Multi-purpose Exercise Equipment, patent Ser. No. 11/809,074, Dec. 13, 2007. This design is an improvement to the prior patent by mounting the TV in the front panel reducing the extra floor space required. However, it does not address the vibration problem. Also, mounting the TV in the front console is not the best location. The console is lower than eye level. This jeopardizes ones balance and strains the neck while exercising.
Exercise Machine, patent Ser. No. 11/942,424, May 22, 2008. This is similar to the prior patent. The embodiment is in a control panel for the exercise equipment. This suffers from vibration and visual deficiencies just as the prior patent does.
Raceway System with Separated Wireways for Power and Data Communication, U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,421, Nov. 27, 2001. and Multi-channel Raceway, U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,367, Dec. 6, 2005. This family of patents only addresses the wire jungle problem by enclosing and routing multiple wires.
These and all prior patents listed with these, include a wall mounted raceway and movable cover that encloses the wiring within it. These are good designs for enclosing and hiding multiple signal and power wires on a wall. A simpler solution is sufficient for this application. Enclosing the wires are not required, simply hiding them behind a removable cover is sufficient.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
a and 2b show front and back views of the video mantel.
The second shelf 4 made of suitable material such as plywood, is the same overall size as the top shelf 4. The shelves 2 and 4 are separated by vertical side panels 6 and 8 made of suitable material such as wood. The side panels are set back from the side edges of the shelves 2 and 4 by approximately the thickness of the shelves to provide enhanced visual appeal. The height of these side panels 6 and 8 is selected to provide vertical clearance and sufficient cooling space for the electronic modules 35. A lower hidden chamber is formed by side walls 10 and 14, front wall 12, a ceiling from the lower side of shelf 4 and a bottom shelf 20. All fabricated from a suitable material such as wood. The back of the hidden chamber is completed by the wall the video mantel in
The video mantel
The video mantel
The video display's 21 signal wiring and power lead is routed to their destination thru the hole 3 in the top shelf. The lower shelf 4 holds the electronic modules 35 for the desired video programming such as Video streamers, DVD players, cable or Satellite decoders, HDMI splitters etc. The electronic modules 35 are set back on shelf 4 obscuring views of all but the front panels of the electronic modules 35. The cut out 7 in the lower shelf provides easy access to route signal wires and power cords to the hidden chamber. The power leads for the various electronic modules 35 and video display 21 connect to the power strip 36 secured to the front wall 12 in the hidden chamber. All excess wiring to or between the various electronic modules 35 and display device 21 are bundled up and tied off in the hidden chamber.
All signal wires coming from remote locations (Ethernet, cable TV etc.) or going to remote locations (HDMI signals etc.) and the power cord 34 from the power strip 36 exit the bottom of the video mantel from the hidden chamber
This design meets all the requirements for a stimulating video display while exercising:
