Adjustable rack

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an adjustable rack for use on exercise equipment for books, magazines, portable radio, walkman, portable cassette players, portable CD players, water bottles, etc.

[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art

[0004] In recent years there has been an tremendous increase in the use of cardiovascular exercise machines. Machines of this type include, but are not limited to, treadmills, steppers, ski machines, and stationary cycling machines. A typical workout on a cardiovascular exercise machine lasts a half hour or more. Many people who use the aforementioned machines prefer to read books, magazines, to listen to music, and even to write while exercising. While devices do exist for the purpose of holding these types of articles, their use is limited to certain machines and, if used on other machines, may result in undesirable operation of the machine itself.

[0005] Attempting to operate the aforementioned machines while holding a book, magazine or a radio creates a hazardous condition. Many exercise machines are equipped with handles or handrails and it is not prudent to operate the machines without utilizing handles or handrails. Furthermore, in connection with some machines, such as a ski machine, reading a book or magazine would prove nearly impossible since both hands are required to operate the machine at all times.

[0006] Most of the types of exercise machines listed above have a display panel which contains buttons, charts, LED and digital displays. The display panel is used to set machine difficultly levels and speeds, monitor the elapsed time of the workout, heart rate, etc. This display panel is typically tilted to an angle that allows the information on the display panel to be easily read. The display panel tilt angle causes articles placed upon it to slide off.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,460 to Dale discloses a stand for a calculator. The stand is removably mountable on a table top, desk-top or like planar support and is disposed skid-resistant on the planer support. The planar support surface is furnished with felt strips abutting the surface.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,082 to Pagano discloses a foldable book holder. The book holder can be engaged adjacent to the edge of a table or desk and furnishes a display and storage of large illustrated books.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,427 to Bruce Finn discloses a portable multi-purpose rack for use on exercise equipment. The rack has a transparent substantially planar surface with flanges extending at opposite angles from each end. The bottom flange forms a lip which holds a book or other object thereon and a user may place an object or book directly on the rack without obstructing the view on the display screen.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,256 to Siebenaler et al. discloses a rack for reading material. The rack is made of two spaced-apart, upwardly extending frame members, each having an upper hook portion for engaging the top edge of the exercise console and an up-turned lower hook portion for engaging and supporting the lower edge of a book or other reading material.

[0011] Another structure of possible interest in this connection is the so-called Landice rack, however, no corresponding patent is known to the applicant. The Landice rack is a rather specially adapted structure and is not suitable for general application. The Landice rack only works for a single display panel thickness. In addition, many display panels have an angle too shallow for use in connection with a Landice rack. Furthermore, the Landice rack is not physically attached to a machine and can be easily knocked off the machine.

[0012] 1. Purposes of the Invention

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide for an adjustable rack, which adjustable rack, when affixed to the display panel of an exercise machine, provides a place for the exerciser to place articles.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a method which enables a person exercising to temporarily move the rack, and whatever is resting on the rack, out of the way to visually check the digital or LED displays or to physically adjust the controls on the display panel.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to furnish a book rack which can be easily repositioned to make adjustments to controls on a display.

[0016] It is yet a further object of the invention to furnish a book rack which prevents unintentional interference with controls on a control panel.

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the description which follows.

[0018] 2. Brief Descriptions of the Invention

[0019] The present invention provides for a support rack for an exercise machine. A back plate has an upper face, a lower face, a lower edge, and an upper edge and is formed for allowing to place an item to be supported. A lip is attached to or formed at the lower edge of the back plate and projects toward a side of the front face of the back plate. A hinge has a first hinge arm attached to the upper edge of the back plate and has a second hinge arm. A support plate has a front face, and a rear face and has a lower edge attached to the second hinge arm. Attachment means are furnished on the rear face of the support plate for attaching the support plate to a part of an exercise machine for allowing an exercising person to view the item to be supported.

[0020] Supports can be attached to a rear face of the back plate to space the back plate from a control panel of the exercise machine.

[0021] The hinge can be a film hinge. The first hinge arm can be adhesively attached to the front face of the back plate, and the second hinge arm can be adhesively attached to the front face of the support plate.

[0022] The film hinge can show a bead in a cross-section in an area between the back plate and the support plate giving axial stability to the film hinge. A first thinner section can be provided between the bead and the first hinge arm, and a second thinner section can be provided between the bead and the second hinge arm. The first hinge arm can be wedge-shaped, and the second hinge arm can be wedge shaped.

[0023] A plane of the lip can be extending at an angle of from about 80 to 100 degrees relative to a plane spanned by the back plate.

[0024] The attachment means can be a strip with hooks for a hook and loop attachment or a strip with loops for a hook and loop attachment.

[0025] Free corners at an end of edges of the lip, disposed remote relative to the back plate, can be of rounded shape, and free corners at an end of edges of the support plate, disposed remote relative to the back plate, can be of rounded shape.

[0026] The upper edge of the back plate and the lower edge of the back plate can be disposed in parallel. The lip can have an edge attached to the back plate. The lip can have a second edge disposed remote from the back plate and free toward the outside. The second edge of the lip can be disposed in parallel to the lower edge of the back plate. The support plate can have the lower edge disposed parallel to the upper edge of the back plate. The support plate can have a second edge disposed remote from the back plate and free toward the outside. The second edge of the support plate can be disposed in parallel to the upper edge of the back plate.

[0027] The support plate, the back plate, and the lip can be made of a transparent plastic having a thickness of from about 2 to 4 millimeters.

[0028] The lip can be attached or formed by bending an integral plate.

[0029] One of the advantages of the present invention is that the adjustable rack can be easily repositioned to make adjustments to controls on the display of an exercise machine, which is very convenient since the adjustable rack does not have to be detached from the exercise machine and placed, for example, on the floor. In addition, the adjustable rack of the present invention can be physically attached to an exercise machine and is not easily knocked off. The invention adjustable rack can also be an integral part of the display of an exercise machine, it can be used on display panels with a curved top edge and on display panels with a curved front face.

[0030] The supports, provided on the underside of the back plate, elevate the adjustable rack off the surface of a display panel, preventing thereby a resting of the adjustable rack on various controls, a scratching of the display panel, and an unintentional interference with the controls. In addition, the spacing between the display panel surface and the back plate, furnished by the supports, allows for heat dissipation.

[0031] The adjustable rack of the present invention can be made of a clear plastic, but is not limited to clear plastic.

[0032] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention:

[0034] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an adjustable rack;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a top view of an adjustable rack, showing the front side at the upper portion of the figure;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a side view of an adjustable rack disposed upside down.

[0037] In accordance with the present invention, the adjustable rack consists of a back plate 1 having a front face and a rear face and having a lip 2 at the lower edge at an approximate upward right angle relative to the back plate as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, wherein the lip 2 protrudes at the edge of the front face of the back plate 1. The back plate 1 can have a size of from about 20 to 50 centimeters times from about 10 to 30 centimeters and preferably has a size of from about 25 to 40 centimeters times from about 15 to 25 centimeters. The lip 2 can have a size from about 20 to 50 centimeters times from about 1 to 10 centimeters and preferably from about 25 to 40 centimeters times from about 4 to 6 centimeters.

[0038] The front face at the lower edge of the upper support plate 3 and the front face of the upper edge of the back plate 1 can be attached to a rear face of an elastic flat film hinge 4 along the longitudinal edges of the film hinge 4.

[0039] Alternatively, the lower edge of the upper support plate 3 and the upper edge of the back plate 1 can be attached to opposite sides of the film hinge 4.

[0040] Along the upper edge of the back plate 1, the support plate 3 will be attached using a hinge 4 disposed between the back plate 1 and the support plate 3. The support plate can have a size from about 20 to 50 centimeters times from about 1 to 10 centimeters and preferably from about 25 to 40 centimeters times from about 4 to 6 centimeters. Preferably, the longest edge dimensions of the back plate 1, of the support plate 3, and of the lip 2 are substantially of identical size and are disposed parallel to each other. The support plate 3 can alternatively be subdivided in sections separately turnable along the direction of an axis of the hinge 4. Similarly, the hinge 4 can be represented by a plurality of hinge sections connected either to the support plate 3 or, alternatively, to the several sections of the support plate 3.

[0041] The back plate 1, the support plate 3, and the lip 2 can have a thickness of from about 1 to 10 millimeters and preferably from about 2 to 4 millimeters.

[0042] The hinge 4 connects the back plate 1 and the support plate 3 and enables rotation between the back plate 1 and the support plate 3. Once the support plate 3 is attached to a frame element of the exercise machine, it is possible to have the back plate 1 in a supporting position for, for example, a book, or the back plate 1 can be flipped out of the way and then the control panel of the exercise machine, otherwise disposed below the back plate 1, can be operated. The hinge 4 can be attached in any manner to the back plate 1 and to the support plate 3. If a preferred plastic material is used to furnish the hinge, then the hinge could be screwed, riveted, glued or plastically welded to the front face at the upper edge of the back plate 1 and to a front face of the support plate 3 along an elongated edge of the support plate 3. The hinge 4 itself can be of any variety, for example, a typical pin-type hinge used on a door, or even a composite living hinge. In general, the hinge 4 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be any device which enables a one-dimensional rotation of the back plate 1 with respect to the support plate(s) 3. Preferably, the hinge 4 is made of a substantially flat strip having a thickness from about 0.5 to 2 millimeters and having a width of from about 1 to 4 centimeters and preferably from about 2 to 3 centimeters. The film hinge preferably shows a suitable cross-section as seen perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the film hinge. The center portion of the perpendicular cross-section resembles a bead on a string, where the bead area provides strength and stability to an axial direction of the hinge 4, and wherein the section between the beads provides elasticity for turning around the stabilized axial direction. Preferably, two bead sections 13, giving axial stability, are provided and three adjacent thinner sections, giving elasticity for turning, are provided adjoining the two bead sections 13 and two hinge arms 14. The bead sections 13 can have a diameter of from about 0.5 to 2 millimeters. The hinge arms 14 are formed with a wedge-like cross-section and the wedges are narrowing to the outer end by from about 25 percent to 75 percent. This avoids substantially that the film hinge 4 would be engaged at its longitudinal edges by protruding elements, which might lead to a separation of the film hinge from the back plate 1 or from the support plate 3. The hinge is preferably constructed such that the support plate can swivel by at least about 180 degrees around the hinge axis and preferably by at least 90 degrees in two directions assuming a starting position of the support plate 3 disposed in parallel to the back plate 1.

[0043] When the longest dimensions of the back plate 1 and of the support plate 3 are of equal size, then the film hinge is preferably from about 0.5 to 25 millimeter shorter than said longest dimension and is preferably from about 1 to 13 millimeters shorter. The distance of corner 12 of the back plate 1 from the corner 11 of the support plate 3 can be from about 3 to 10 millimeters and can be from about 1.5 to 3 times the average thickness of back plate 1 and support plate 3 and is preferably from about 1.8 to 2.3 times the average thickness of back plate 1 and support plate 3.

[0044] The back plate 1 is shown in the FIGS. 1 through 3 as a flat and planar structure having a rectangular shape when viewed from the front side. However, the back plate 1 can also assume other shapes. In particular, shapes involving an upper edge disposed in parallel to the lower edge are preferred embodiments. There can be various reasons for providing alternate shapes of the back plate. In particular, the faces of some digital displays, for example, are non-flat when viewed from the side. For this type of display, the back plate 1, as viewed from the side, should match the shape of the display and follow the contour of the display. In addition, for certain exercise machines, the back plate 1, as viewed from the front side, should be a shape other than rectangular to avoid possible interferences with moving parts of the exercise equipment itself. If the adaptable rack were to be used on the Nordictrac Pro ski machine, for example, the adaptable rack would require a back plate 1, wherein the horizontal width of the back plate 1 near the upper edge is narrower as compared to the horizontal width of the back plate 1 near the lower edge of the back plate 1 to avoid interference with the cords for exercising the arms of the person operating the machine.

[0045] The purpose of the lip 2 along the lower edge of the back plate 1 is to support the articles that may be placed there by the user of the exercise equipment. The lip 2 may be formed by bending the lower portion of the back plate 1 through an angle 8 that results in an angled edge 5, which provides for a smooth transition from the back plate 1 to the lip 2. While near perpendicularity between the back plate 1 and lip 2 is preferred, other angles may be necessary for the lip 2 to adequately perform its function on certain digital displays. The angle between the lip 2 and a plane spanned by the back plate 1 can be from about 80 to 100 degrees. In general, obtuse angles should be avoided to prevent the articles from inadvertently sliding off the lip 2. In addition, the radius of curvature at the junction between the back plate 1 and the lip 2 should be less than 5 millimeters and is preferably less than one millimeter.

[0046] The free corner 6, formed by the intersection of the horizontal free outer edge of the lip 2 and the side edges of the lip 2 should be rounded or chamfered. Rounding or chamfering this free corner 6 not only removes the sharp edge that could be harmful but also improves the structural integrity. All other corners such as the free corners 9 of the support plate 3 are less likely to come in contact with the user. Nevertheless, the free corners 9 of the support plate 3 should also have a small rounding or chamfers for safety reasons. The minimum radius of curvature along the edge formed of the free corners 6 or 9 can be less than 2 centimeters and is preferably less than one centimeter and more than 2 millimeters.

[0047] The adaptable rack is capable of being attached, either permanently or temporarily, to the digital display or control panel on which it is being used. Failing to properly attach the adaptable rack could result in the rack sliding off the display panel. Thus, an attachment means or attachment strip 7 is furnished at the support plate 3. The attachment strip 7 would be located on the back face of the support plate 3. For temporary attachment and for removable attachment, a strip of hook and loop attachment, as commercially available under the Velcro trademark, could be placed on the lower side of the support plate 3. By placing a mating strip of loop or hook attachment, sold under the Velcro trademark, on a top edge of the display panel, the adjustable rack could be temporarily affixed to the display panel. The length of the attachment strip 7 can be from about 0.5 to 0.9 times the longest dimension of the support plate 3 and is preferably from about 0.6 to 0.7 times the longest dimension of the support plate 3. The width of the attachment strip 7 can be from about 0.3 to 0.5 times the width of the support plate 3. The strength of the attachment strip 7 should be such that the back plate 1 and the lip 2 is capable of securely supporting items with a 2-kilogram weight and preferably items of a 5-kilogram weight.

[0048] For those display panels whose geometry prohibits the attachment along the upper edge, such as a curved upper edge, for example, the support plate 3 could be attached to the front face of the display panel. For a more permanent attachment, the support plate 3 could be screwed, riveted, glued or taped to either the top edge or the front face of the display panel.

[0049] The back plate 1 will be disposed elevated off the surface of the display panel by a series of supports 10. The supports 10 are multifunctional, keeping the back plate 1 stable as well as protecting the front face of the display panel from scratches or other damage that would result if the back plate 1 were allowed to rest directly upon it. The supports 10 can be of substantially semispherical shape and have a diameter of from about 0.5 to 1 centimeter. Keeping the back plate 1 elevated off the front face of the display panel also prevents any heat generated by the display panel instrumentation from being trapped behind the back plate 1, which could cause damage to the instrumentation.

[0050] In addition, the front faces of most display panels include a variety of controls to regulate the operation of the exercise machine. These controls include buttons, switches, dials, slides, and the like, most of which lie above the plane of the front face. These controls are used to turn the machine on and off, to set machine difficulty levels and speeds, to monitor the elapsed time of the workout, to display the exercising person's heart rate, etc. Contact between the back plate 1 and any of these controls is not only undesirable, but could also be dangerous. Serious bodily harm could result if the exercising person experiences an unexpected change in speed or difficulty level presented by the machine, or if the machine is unexpectedly turned on or off. The supports 10, if properly sized and located on the underside of the back plate 1, will keep the rack elevated sufficiently above the controls to avoid contact. The supports 10 can be made of most any shape or material. The preferred material is one which is soft and resilient, such as rubber, and which will not cause damage to the display panel upon which it rests.

[0051] The adaptable rack can be manufactured in several ways. For a small production, the preferred method is to cut the back plate 1 long enough to bend the lower portion to form the lip 2. The bending is accomplished by applying heat to the plastic along the area to be bent. By adjusting the width of the heat source, the radius of the angled edge 5 can be varied. The same method could be used to contour the back plate 1 to match the shape of a given display panel, if necessary.

[0052] While not preferred, the back plate 1 and the lip 2 could be two separate pieces which are then glued or welded together. This method is not preferred because the glued or welded joint is considerably weaker and less likely to survive if exposed to large forces or pressures as compared with a single-piece structure.

[0053] For a large scale production, the back plate 1 and lip 2 could be extruded in long lengths and then cut to the desired width, or the piece can be injection molded.

[0054] The preferred material for the rack is a substantially clear transparent material, such as Lexan or plexiglass. Plastic materials such as these are preferred due to their being lightweight, impact-resistant and able to resist moderate levels of stress. Since the film hinge 4, employed on the object of the present invention enables the rack to be rotated up and out of the way of the display panel, the rack could be constructed out of many other materials, such as opaque plastics, thin metal, wood, etc. Glass, while it can be used, should be avoided due to its brittleness and the threat of injury that would result should the glass shatter. In the preceding description, the preferred plastic material for the object of the invention is plexiglass. However, it is understood that many other materials can be used in a similar manner without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0055] As set forth above, the adjustable rack of the present invention can be easily repositioned on a control panel to allow making adjustments to the controls on a display. The hinge or film hinge 4 make it convenient to move the back plate 1 with the lip 2 out of way if the back plate is not to be used, which is much neater than, for example, placing a rack on a floor.

[0056] While a preferred embodiment is made with clear plastic, this is not a limitation and essentially any two-dimensional material, for example a flat or curved material, transparent or not, can be employed. The attachment means allows to removably and physically attach the rack to an exercise machine, where the rack is sufficiently attached such as not to be easily knocked off. If desired, the rack of the present invention can be constructed as an integral part of a display of an exercise machine. In addition, the rack can be used on display panels having a curved top edge or a curved front face.

[0057] The supports 10 are attached to the rear face of the back plate 1 such that the back plate 1 rests on these supports 10 and is disposed elevated relative to a surface of a display panel. The adjustable rack according to the present invention does not rest unevenly on various controls, will not scratch a surface of a control panel of an exercise machine, will prevent unintentional operation and/or interfere with control elements, and also enables heat dissipation.

[0058] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of racks differing from the types described above.

[0059] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the context of an adjustable rack for use on exercise machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0060] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.