BR122015015918B1 - arm cable support hoist and reformer exercise machine - Google Patents

Abstract

REFORMING EXERCISES. The present invention relates to a reformer exercise apparatus, which has a generally rectangular frame. Each of the frame rail portions has a vertical outer wall, an integral downward sloping inner wall and an open outward groove hidden therein between the outer and inner walls. A foot bar support assembly movably contained by each of the notches opened outwardly supports the foot bar. Each foot bar support assembly has an elongated sliding plate movably supported within the groove, a hook plate attached to the sliding plate, and a foot bar supporting arm rotatable and slidable to the foot plate. hook. A pair of tubular lifts, each of which has an upper roll on it at the head end of the frame, directs the cable ends of the arm to a cable retraction assembly mounted on the carriage. The retract assembly releases the cables by pivoting any of the shoulder straps to the end of the frame foot.

Description

[001] Split order of BR112014000505-2, deposited on 07/13/2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE DESCRIPTION Description Field

[002] The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus. In particular, it refers to a reforming exercise machine with a new and contemporary design that has a series of exclusive innovations.

State of the art

[003] The exercise machines used to perform the physical exercises created by Joseph Pilates are typically performed on a stationary device called a reformer. A traditional reformer has a rectangular wooden or metal frame that supports two parallel tracks or tracks. A cart with wheels is mounted on these tracks and is propelled resiliently to one end of the foot of the frame by one or more elastic elements, typically reel springs. A user sits or lays in the car and pushes against a foot support bar on the end of the foot to move the car away and towards the end of the foot. Alternatively, the user can grab the ends of a pair of ropes or straps that pass through pulleys at the head end of the frame and are joined to the cart to similarly pull the cart away and toward the end of the frame foot.

[004] An emphasis on Pilates training is in stabilizing the central musculature. The exercises that are done on the reformer are ideally conducted with care by the user, who focuses on body symmetry and symmetrical body movement and proper trunk alignment during exercise. It is usually somewhat difficult for a user to detect when he is correctly centered on the reformer and exerting equal forces with both arms or both legs during the required movements. In addition, the user needs to leave the reformer or an assistant needs to change the positions of the foot support bar, as may be required for different exercises. This is, at the very least, inconvenient for the user. In addition, the user then needs to reposition his body in the car to resume proper alignment.

[005] The cable ends of the arm are typically filled through holes in the platform of the car so that they get out of the user's path or are arranged on the sides of the car. In this way, they can be dragged on the ground below the car. The user also has difficulty adjusting the length of the arm cable while reclining in the reformer's car. The user usually has to sit upright, adjust the length of the arm cable on the locking clips and then reposition themselves on the surface of the car.

[006] The tracks on which the car slides are typically horizontal surfaces that collect dust and dirt over time, and therefore the rollers and tracks must be cleaned frequently. In addition, the user must be careful not to let his clothes tangle on the tracks to prevent such clothes from interfering with the operation of the car rollers.

[007] There is, therefore, a need for a reforming appliance that is simple and easy to use, easy to adjust for the user without having to leave the reformer's car, and that overcomes the inconveniences mentioned above.

DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

[008] A reformer exercise apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel spaced side rail portions, an end portion of the head and an end portion of the foot. A mobile carriage is provided, which is supported by the side rail portions for the movement of the car between the head and foot end portions. An impeller element, such as one or more spool springs, is connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame, to urge the carriage towards the foot end of the frame. A foot support element such as a foot bar is supported by the side rail portions of the frame.

[009] Each of the side rail portions of the frame has an external vertical wall and an integral horizontal upper wall that merge into an internal wall inclined inwards and downwards. Each side rail portion has an intermediate wall that extends downwardly between the outer wall and the inner wall to support the foot support element. The intermediate wall has an upper projection that extends longitudinally and a lower projection that extends longitudinally, forming a groove that opens out between them, facing the external wall. Each side rail portion includes a horizontal wall between the inner wall and the intermediate wall.

[0010] The intermediate wall has a lower end portion that forms a horizontal track to support the car. In addition, this lower portion of the intermediate wall also provides lateral support for the guide rollers on the carriage to guide their movement between the head and foot ends of the frame.

[0011] One end of each foot support element is movably supported in the groove that opens outwards between the upper and lower projections of the intermediate wall. In addition, the intermediate wall includes a plurality of features, preferably notches for the distinct positioning of the foot support element along a length of the side rail members of the frame.

[0012] The foot support assembly preferably includes a foot bar. The foot bar is supported at each end by a foot bar support assembly movably contained by each of the notches opened outwardly in the side rail portions of the frame. Each foot bar support assembly includes an elongated sliding plate movably supported within the groove, a hook plate attached to the sliding plate and a foot bar support arm that has an end attached to one end of the bar for the foot and a portion rotatable and slidable to the hook plate.

[0013] The sliding plate is an elongated element that has opposite ends, with each end containing a roller for sliding on a lower surface of the groove that opens outwards on the intermediate wall of the side rail portion of the reformer frame. The sliding plate preferably also has at least one roller for sliding against a vertical surface of the intermediate wall within the groove.

[0014] The foot bar support arm has a lower end portion attached to one end of the foot bar. The upper end of the foot bar support arm has a coupling element to selectively couple with a distinctive feature of the hook plate when the foot bar is slid upward for rotation on the hook plate. The hook plate has an upper edge, the upper edge having a plurality of distinct characteristics in spaced positions to selectively couple with a portion of the foot bar support arm to position the foot bar at predetermined angles from plane of the upper surface of the reformer frame.

[0015] Each distinctive feature is preferably a slot that has a distinctive shape. Each groove corresponds to a particular angular position for the foot bar with respect to the frame. Each hook plate preferably also has an L-shaped groove for receiving the coupling element in the foot bar support arm. This L-shaped groove positions the foot bar below the surface of the upper frame and provides the user with a handle bar for loading at the end of the foot of the frame. Preferably, the foot bar support arm contains a generally cylindrical pin for removably coupling with one of the distinct characteristics, i.e., one of the notches in the hook plate.

[0016] In another aspect, the present invention describes a foot bar assembly for use in a reformer exercise apparatus that has a generally rectangular frame with parallel sides, an end of the head and an end of the foot, where each side it has an outward groove that extends along at least part of the side. The foot bar assembly includes a generally U-shaped foot bar that has a first end and a second end, an elongated sliding plate movably supported from each of the notches, a hook plate attached to each plate sliding, and a foot bar support arm rotatable and slidable to each hook plate and attached to one of the first and second ends of the foot bar.

[0017] In another aspect of the description, a reformer exercise apparatus is described that has a generally rectangular frame that supports a carriage for movement between one end of the head and one end of the foot of the frame in the parallel spaced side rail portions of the frame and a foot bar supported by the frame, wherein the end of the frame head has a pair of spaced vertical holes formed therein and a lift of the arm cable support arranged in each hole. Each cable support hoist includes a hollow cylindrical tube that contains a first roll on it near a lower end of the tube, a second roll rotatably supported within an upper end of the tube and a guide adjacent to the second roll to direct a arm cable around the second roll.

[0018] Preferably, in one embodiment, the lower end of the tube is opened to receive the arm cable through it and the upper end includes a top that has a dome shape with an opening between them for the passage of the cable the arm out of the tube. The top of the tube also preferably has a pair of spaced guides adjacent to the opening and the second roll and can also have a horizontal guide between the spaced guides. In some embodiments, these guides are rollers. The hoist tube can additionally include an internal cable guide plate above the first roll to guide the arm cable over the first roll. The top of the hoist can be detachable from and rotatably attached to the hoist tube. In addition, the top may include a pair of spaced guides adjacent the opening for smooth passage of the arm cable. In another embodiment, the arm cable can be routed through one side of the tube just below an upper roll or pulley wheel. A pair of guide rollers is arranged adjacent to the opening through which the arm cable exits the tube. The top of the hoist can be separable from the hoist tube again as a cartridge assembly.

[0019] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a reforming exercise apparatus that includes an arm retraction assembly mounted on a surface on the underside of the car. The retraction assembly has a pair of cable retraction devices, each device having a stationary frame that contains a rotatable spring-loaded spool connected to a free end of one arm cable, where each spool has a toothed outer edge.

[0020] The retraction set also includes a pair of toothed locking elements rotatably mounted on the underside of the carriage and mechanically connected in such a way that the rotation of one of the locking elements outside the toothed coupling with one of the outer edges toothed causes the other locking elements to rotate out of the toothed coupling with the toothed outer edge of the other spring-driven spool.

[0021] The retraction set additionally has an actuator connected to one of the lockable elements operable to rotate the locking elements and outside the coupling with the toothed edges of the retraction spools. This actuator is preferably propelled in a resilient manner outside the coupling with the locking elements.

[0022] In a modality of a reformer exercise apparatus according to the present invention, the actuator is incorporated in a pair of spaced shoulder restraints that extend from an upper surface of the car. Each shoulder retainer is rotatably mounted on the cart, preferably for rotation around a horizontal axis. The actuator can be an elongated pin element that extends below the shoulder retainer, through an opening in the car, and protrudes from it to couple with one of the locking elements. The pivot movement, that is, the rotation, by the user, of one or the other retains the shoulder around its axis towards the end of the foot of the frame, couples the actuator with one of the locking elements which, in turn, causes both locking elements to disengage from the toothed outer edges. A spring is preferably connected to each locking element that impels each locking element to a coupling with one of the retraction spools.

[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, an arm cable retraction kit is provided for retrofitting a conventional reformer exercise apparatus. The components in the kit are designed to be attached to the reformer's car. The kit includes a pair of cable retraction devices, where each device has a stationary frame for mounting on a surface on the underside of a reformer car, where each frame contains a reel propelled by the rotatable spring in the same connectable to a free end of an arm cable, with each spool having a toothed outer edge, a pair of toothed locking elements for pivot mounting on the underside of the car, where the locking elements are mechanically mounted on assembly in such a way that the rotation of one of the locking elements outside the toothed coupling with one of the toothed outer edges causes the other locking elements to rotate out of the toothed coupling with the toothed outer edge of the other spring-driven spool, and a actuator to couple one of the locking elements when the shoulder restraints are mounted on the reformer's car.

[0024] In another aspect of the reforming exercise apparatus of the present invention, the car includes an integral adjustable headrest. The carriage includes a generally rectangular frame, a body portion of the generally rectangular plate attached to the frame and a portion of the headrest plate generally of trapezoidal shape articulated to the body portion. A molded top cushion is attached to an upper surface of the body portions and headrest.

[0025] In a further aspect of the reforming exercise apparatus of the present invention, the frame preferably includes replaceable legs positioned at the corners of the generally rectangular frame. Each leg has an external surface shape complementary to the corner shape. Each leg has an upper end shape configured to fit within a complementary recess on the underside of the frame. Each leg is an extrusion attached to the frame with a single screw that passes vertically through the leg towards a corresponding protrusion in the frame. The lower end of each leg includes a foot cushion that facilitates the stacking of one appliance on top of the other by coupling the outer corners of the end of the reformer's head and the outer corners of the vertical platform to the end of the reformer's foot in one foot pad indentation on each foot pad.

[0026] Still in a further aspect of the present invention, an elastic resistance element can be fixed between the foot bar assembly and the head end of the reformer frame. When the foot bar assembly is free to move along the side rails of the frame, it is propelled resiliently towards the head end of the reformer frame. In this configuration, the foot bar assembly can be grabbed by a user's hands when sitting or reclining in the car and the foot bar assembly is pulled along the rails against the resistance towards the car in order to perform several upper body exercises separately or in conjunction with leg extensions against the end of the foot of the reformer frame. The elastic resistance element can alternatively be fixed between the foot bar assembly and the foot end of the frame to facilitate similar exercises from the foot end of the frame when pulling the foot bar assembly towards the car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The description will be better understood and its objectives, with the exception of those indicated above, will be evident in consideration of the detailed description below. This description refers to the attached drawings, in which:

[0028] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reformer exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a separate perspective view of the reformer frame shown in Fig. 1 according to the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a side rail member of the frame taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the end of the foot of a reformer according to the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 5 is a separate perspective view of a foot bar used in the reformer exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

[0033] Fig. 6 is an external perspective view of a bar support assembly for the right foot of the side rail member according to the present invention.

[0034] Fig. 7 is an internal perspective view of the bar support assembly for the right foot of the side rail member shown in Fig. 6.

[0035] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a left rail member taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of the bar support set for the foot loaded in it.

[0036] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the reformer exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 9-9 in Fig. 1.

[0037] Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of the head end of the reforming appliance shown in Fig. 1.

[0038] Fig. 11 is a separate perspective view of the lower pulley wheel assembly for the hoist at the head end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

[0039] Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view separated from the car in the reformer exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1 according to the present invention.

[0040] Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the end portion of the car head shown in Fig. 1 according to the present invention, showing the locking elements of the cable retraction mechanism coupled with the reels of cable retraction.

[0041] Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the end portion of the car head, as in Fig. 13, with the locking elements decoupled with the cable retraction spools.

[0042] Fig. 15 is a sectional view through the car taken along line 15-15 in Fig. 14.

[0043] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the underside of a car that has a cable retraction system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Fig. 17 is a view from the bottom, as in Fig. 17, showing the cable retraction system in a released position.

[0045] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the underside of the head end of an alternative car according to the present invention.

[0046] Fig. 19 is a side view of the end of the car head shown in Fig. 18.

[0047] Fig. 20 is a side view of the end of the car head shown in Fig. 18 with the headrest in a first raised position.

[0048] Fig. 21 is a side view of the car head end shown in Fig. 18 with the headrest in a second raised position.

[0049] Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the head end of an alternative reformer according to the present invention.

[0050] Fig. 23 is an exploded view separated from the interior of the alternative reformer head end assembly shown in Fig. 22.

[0051] Fig. 24 is an exploded perspective view separated from the alternate reformer foot end assembly shown in Fig. 22.

[0052] Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view of one of the two side rails of the frame in the alternative reformer shown in Fig. 22.

[0053] Fig. 26 is a perspective view mounted separately from a hoist used in the reformer shown in Fig. 22.

[0054] Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the hoist shown in Fig. 26.

[0055] Fig. 28 is a partial section view of the hoist shown in Fig. 26 installed in the end socket of the reformer head shown in Fig. 22.

[0056] Fig. 29 is an internal perspective view separated from the foot bar support set used in the reformer shown in Fig. 22.

[0057] Fig. 30 is an external perspective view of the foot bar support assembly shown in Fig. 29.

[0058] Fig. 31 is a perspective view separated from the underside of the car trolley assembly shown in Fig. 22.

[0059] Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the underside of the support pad removed from the cart shown in Fig. 22.

[0060] Fig. 33 is a separate perspective view of a shoulder support used on the reformer shown in Fig. 22.

[0061] Fig. 34 is an exploded partial top view of the reformer car shown in Fig. 22.

[0062] Fig. 35 is an inverted view of the car removed from the reformer shown in Fig. 22, which shows the cable retraction system according to this alternative modality.

[0063] Fig. 36 is a plan view of the underside of the end of the car head shown in Fig. 35, with the cable retraction system in a locked position of the cable.

[0064] Fig. 37 is a view as in Fig. 36, with the cable retraction system in an unlocked position of the cable.

[0065] Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the end of the car's head with the headrest in a lowered position.

[0066] Fig. 39 is a perspective view of a pair of reformers shown in Fig. 22 in a stacked configuration for storage.

[0067] Fig. 40 is a perspective view from the underside of the car head end showing the shoulder lifts and restraints ready for installation in the storage position, as shown in Fig. 39.

[0068] Fig. 41 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in Fig. 22, including an optional vertical tower and trapezoidal mat conversion according to the present invention.

[0069] Fig. 42 is a perspective view of a trapezoid tower socket aligned against the end of a side rail of the reformer shown in Fig. 41, for connection to the head end extrusion.

[0070] Fig. 43 is a sectional view through the tower trapezoid tower socket shown in Fig. 41.

[0071] Fig. 44 is a partial detached view through one of the projections of the hoist at the end of the head of the reformer shown in Fig. 41, which shows an alternative lower pulley fitting installed in it.

[0072] Fig. 45 is a perspective view of a reformer as in Fig. 22, with an alternative vertical tower and trapezoidal mat conversion according to the present invention.

[0073] Fig. 46 is a perspective view of the end portion of the hand strap of an arm cable for use with a reformer in accordance with the present invention.

[0074] Fig. 47 is a perspective view as in Fig. 46, with a handle attached to the arm cable according to the present invention.

[0075] Fig. 48 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in Fig. 22, with a jump plate installed at the foot end of the reformer frame.

[0076] Fig. 49 is a partial vertical section view enlarged through one of two pins that support the jump plate installed on the end of the foot of the reformer frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] In the description that follows, numerous specific details are presented in order to provide a more complete description. However, it will be evident to the skilled person that the technique described can be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, well-known features may not have been described in detail, so as not to hinder the described technique.

[0078] A perspective view of a modality of a reformer exercise apparatus 100 is shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus 100 has a generally rectangular frame 102 with an end of the head 104 and an end of the foot 106. The ends 104 and 106 are spaced apart by a pair of track members 105. A carriage 110 is movably supported on track members 105 for forward and backward movement between ends 104 and 106 of frame 102.

[0079] A foot bar 111 is positioned near the end of the foot 106 of the frame 102. That foot bar 111 is carried by the rail members 105, as will be described in detail below. The head end 104 of the frame 102 preferably supports a removable pair of spaced vertical lifts from the arm support of the arm 112. These lifts 112 direct the arm cables 114 of the carriage 110 to the cable end loops 116 or hand straps of a user for use in various exercises. When not in use, the end loops 116 can be conveniently positioned on the shoulder retainers 118, as shown in Fig. 1. The carriage 110 is propelled resiliently towards the end 116 of the foot of the frame 102 by one or more elastic elements, such as springs 120.

[0080] A separate perspective view of the frame 102 is shown in Fig. 2. The end of the head 104, the end of the foot 106 and the side rail members 108 have a similar, smoothly merged outer surface shape. This format includes an external vertical wall 122 that merges with a horizontal upper wall 124 that merges with the inward and outward sloping inner wall 126. The inner wall 126 merges into a vertical skirt portion 128. Thus, the entire the frame 102 includes a vertical outer wall 122, an internal inward and outward sloping wall 126 and a vertical skirt portion 128.

[0081] The ends of the head and foot 104 and 106 have curved outer ends 107 that curve to and smoothly merge with the side rail members 105. The end of the head 104 additionally includes projections for receiving the lifts 112. The end of the foot 106 has an anchoring support plate 121 that extends between the curved ends 107 to support the ends of the pusher elements or springs 120 to propel the carriage 110, as mentioned above.

[0082] A complementary shaped vertical support leg extends downwards from each curved end 107. These support legs 129 can be removed to place the ends 104 and 106 of the frame 102 on a flat surface, such as a floor. Support legs 129 can be interchanged with longer or shorter support legs to change the height of the apparatus 100 above such a floor support surface.

[0083] A sectional view of a side rail member 105 is shown in Fig. 3. Each rail member 105 is preferably an aluminum extrusion that has an identical cross-sectional shape. The rail member 105, as mentioned above, has an external vertical wall 122 which merges into a horizontal upper wall 124 and then into an internal downward sloping wall 126 and then into a vertical skirt portion 128. The end elements 104 and 106 have the same external shape, but differ internally from the side rail members 108.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 3, each side rail member 108 has a vertical intermediate wall 130 between the inclined inner wall 126 and the vertical outer wall 122. The intermediate wall 130 has an upper protrusion that extends longitudinally facing outside 132 and a lower longitudinally extending outward projection, parallel to the upper projection 132. Taken together, the intermediate wall 130, the upper projection 132 and the lower projection 134 form a groove that opens outwards 136 between them. This groove 136 receives and contains one of the foot bar support assemblies therein, as will be described in detail below. Between the intermediate wall 130 and the inclined inner wall 126 is an upper horizontal support wall 138. The support wall 138 extends over the length of the rail member 108 and provides torsional rigidity to the structure of the rail member 108 A horizontal lower portion 140 of the intermediate wall 130 acts as a support for a set of wheels supporting the carriage 110. The upper wall 138 also serves as an upper guide for the carriage support wheels on the rail members 108. In addition , the intermediate wall 130 between the upper and lower walls 138 and 140 and the skirt portion 128 serves as a side guide for the carriage 110.

[0085] The upper projection 132 preferably has a vertical portion 142 that extends downwards, parallel to the intermediate wall 130. That vertical portion 142 is used to provide lateral support to the foot support assembly described more fully below. In addition, the lower projection 134 may include an indexing track that extends downwards 144. Alternatively, the indexing rail 144 can be installed along the length of the rail member 108 by a separate and replaceable metal indexing rail contained inside the ledge 134.

[0086] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an end of the foot 106 of the frame 102. The end of the foot 106 contains the anchoring plate 121 for receiving the free ends of one or more of the springs 120. A plurality of pins spaced hourglass coil-shaped 148 is positioned to receive a loop on a spring 120 in order to secure the spring 120 to the end of the foot 106 of the frame 102. Each of these pins 148 preferably tapers upward and into its base for a skirt at a first angle to the central axis of the pin and then outward to a second angle greater than the first angle, so that the free end of a spring placed on pin 148, when tensioned, is firmly attached on the skirt of pin 148.

[0087] Each corner of the frame 102, formed by the ends 104 and 106, includes the curved outer vertical wall 122, the upper wall 124 and the inner wall angled inward 126. Preferably, the inner wall 126 ends in a skirt portion vertical bottom 128. The end of the foot 106 also includes two separate tubular foot support projections 146 formed therein. These foot support projections 146 are used to support a generally rectangular and flat foot platform (not shown) often called a "heel plate". This heel plate is a rectangular plate that has two spaced parallel support pins that are removably adapted to the support projections of the foot 146.

[0088] The foot bar 111 shown in Fig. 1 will now be described specifically with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The foot bar 111 is part of a foot support assembly that cannot be seen in Fig. 1. This foot bar 111 is shown separately in Fig. 5. The foot bar 111 has a central horizontal foot support portion 150 between two parallel leg portions 152. Each leg portion 152 ends at a connection portion 154 that is attached to one of two sets of bar support for the foot 170.

[0089] Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, the connecting portion 154 is either screwed or attached to a lower end 156 of a bar support arm for the elongated foot 158. The arm 158, best shown in Fig. 6 , is an elongated flat plate element that has a coupling pin 161 protruding from the upper end 160 of the arm 158. The arm 158 additionally has a closed pivot groove 162 that extends radially parallel to the leg portion 152 of the foot bar 111 and spaced from where the connecting portion 154 of the foot bar 111 is joined to arm 158.

[0090] The foot support set for reformer 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes a bar support set for the left foot 170, the foot bar 111 and a bar support set for the right foot 170. The Figures 6 and 7 are an inverse perspective view of an assembly on the right of the foot bar support assemblies 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each leg 152 of the foot bar 111 is supported by one of the foot bar support assemblies 170. As is best shown in Fig. 6, the assembly 170 includes the foot support arm 158 for which the foot bar 111 is joined together, a sliding portion 172 which is mounted in the groove 136 on the side rail member 108 and a hook plate 174 which is rigidly attached to the sliding portion 172. This hook plate 174 has a series of features, preferably notches or notches 176, 178, 180, 182 and 184 spaced along the upper edge of the hook plate 174. Pin 161 protruding from the upper end 160 of the foot support arm 158 fits within one of these notches 176-184 to position the foot bar 111 in a particular desired angular position with respect to frame 102 of reformer 100.

[0091] The bar support arm for the foot 158 is slidably and pivoted to the hook plate 174 by a screw 186 and by the square bushing 188. The bushing 188 is mounted between and along the parallel sides of a recess 190 in arm 158 around pivot groove 162. Since the foot bar 111 is attached to the arm 158, when a user raises the bar to the foot 111, the support arm 158 slides up or down along the groove 162. In turn, the pin 161 protruding from the upper end 160 of the support arm 158 is lifted out of one of the notches along the upper edge of the hook plate 174. When lifted in this way, a user can then rotate the bar for foot 111 around pivot screw 186 to a different groove between notches 176, 178, 180, 182 or 184 to reposition the bar for foot 111. When the bar for foot 111 is lowered, pin 161 slides down into one of the notches to secure the bar to r foot 111 in position.

[0092] End notches or grooves 176 and 184 have a special significance in this mode 100. When the foot bar 111 has both its pins 161 positioned in the grooves 176, the foot bar 111 is positioned rotationally below the surface top of the frame 102 and beyond the foot end of the frame 102. In this position, the foot bar 111 can be used as a handle to lift the foot end of the reformer 100. To ensure that the foot bar 111 is not decoupled from groove 176, the end end of groove 176 is hooked upwards, as can be seen in Fig. 6, to firmly engage with pin 161 on the closed end of groove 176. To uncouple the bar for foot 111 from it groove 176, foot bar 111 must be lowered and pulled back (away from the end of the foot) to align pin 161 with the enlarged groove inlet. The foot bar 111 can then be rotated upwards and lifted out of slot 176 and repositioned in a different slot among 178, 180, 182 and 184.

[0093] The further groove 184 in the hook plate 174 is used to position the foot support assembly comprising each of the assemblies 170 and the foot bar 111 together for translation along the rail members 108. While the foot bar 111 is raised and rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. 6, arm 158 is rotated around screw 186 clockwise until pin 161 engages with a projected surface 192 at the front end (towards the head end 104) of the hook plate 174. In that position, a shoulder 194 on the support arm 158 engages with a lock pin 196 that protrudes through a groove 198 on the hook plate 174. The lock 196 protrudes through the hook plate 174 of a lock arm 200, best seen in Fig. 7. When the foot bar 111 is then lowered, the shoulder 194 of arm 158 lowers the lock pin 196.

[0094] Locking arm 200 is an elongated bar that has an end rotatably attached to the inner face of hook plate 174. Locking arm 200 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inner surface of hook plate 174. A the other end of the locking arm 200 has a locking portion 202 that engages with a complementary molded indexing feature on the rail member 108 in order to lock the assembly 170 in a selected position along the rail member 108. The locking arm latch 200 is spring-loaded through spring element 201 to keep latch portion 202 of latch arm 200 coupled with the indexing feature of indexing rail 144 on rail member 108.

[0095] When the foot bar 111 is positioned with pins 161 in the notches 184 and the foot bar 111 is pushed down to fully seat the pins 161 at the bottom of the notches 184, the lock pins 196 are also pushed into down by rotating the locking arm 200 and moving the locking portion 202 out of the coupling with the indexing feature of the indexing rail 144 on the rail member 108. With the locking portions 202 decoupled with the rail members 108, the foot bar 111 can be moved towards or away from the end of the foot 106 of the frame 102 through rollers 206. In fact, the foot bar 111 can be moved completely towards the opposite end of the rail members 108, if desired.

[0096] The sliding assembly 172 is best seen in the view of Fig. 7, which is an internal perspective view of the bar support assembly for the foot 170 shown in Fig. 6, which is contained in the right side rail member 108. The slide assembly 172 includes an elongated slide plate 204 which is preferably screwed or attached to the hook plate 174. The slide plate 204 is mounted in the groove 136 on the rail member 108 with the hook plate 174, and the arm bar support bracket for adjacent foot 158 is disposed within the free / open space between the outer wall 122 and the intermediate wall 130 of the rail member 108. It should be understood that another mirror image foot support assembly 170 is arranged in the another rail member (left) 108.

[0097] A sectional view of a left rail member 108 as in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 8, with the left foot bar support assembly 170 mounted in groove 136. All component parts of the assembly 170 are arranged between the outer wall 122 and the intermediate wall 130 of the rail 108. In this way, the bar support assembly for the complete foot 170 is hidden from view by a user sitting in the carriage 110. It should be understood that the bar support assembly for the right foot 170 on the right rail member 108 is similarly constructed. In this way, the component parts of the sets 170 are interchangeable or are mirror images. For example, the foot support arms 158 and hook plates 174 are mirrored. The rest of the component parts of the assembly 170 can be interchangeable.

[0098] Now back to Fig. 7, the sliding plate 204 is supported in the groove 136 by the front and rear support rollers 206 that slide along the bottom surface of the groove 136. A guide roller 208 that rotates about an axis vertical through the sliding plate 204 is preferably mounted adjacent to each support roll 206. Guide rollers 208 slide along the inner side surfaces of the groove 136 on the rail member 108 to guide the support assembly 170 and thereby the bar to the foot 111, while it is being moved (i.e., slid) back and forth along the rail members 108.

[0099] The support rollers 206 are preferably polymer wheels supported by bearings, rotatably supported on the horizontal axes. The polymer wheels are sized to fit and slide smoothly into the groove 136. The guide rollers 208 can be nylon rollers or other polymer rollers supported by a vertical axis on the sliding plate 204.

[00100] An additional sectional view through the left rail member 108 of the apparatus 100 as in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 9, taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 1. This view shows the set of the foot support 170 contained within the rail member 108, as well as the rotated support arrangement for the carriage 110. Specifically, the generally rectangular carriage 110 has four support wheels 210, one adjacent at each corner and at least two guide wheels of trolley 212 preferably positioned along one side of trolley 110, which are also mounted in the space between the intermediate wall 130, the internal inclined wall 126, the skirt portion 128 and the lower portion 140 of the intermediate wall 130 of the rail member 108. The support wheels 210 slide over the lower portion 140.

[00101] The guide wheels 212 slide between the intermediate wall 130 and the skirt portion 128 of the inner wall 126 to keep the tracing of the carriage 110 as it moves between the end of the foot 106 and the end of the head 104 of the frame 102. Due to the configuration of the guide of the rail member 108, only two guide wheels 212, both along only one side, are necessary to guide the movement of the carriage 110. The guide wheels 212 are arranged in only one of the members rail 108. However, three or four guide wheels 212 can be provided in alternative configurations of carriage 110.

[00102] Thus, in the reformer 100 shown in Fig. 1, the support for the car 110 and the support for the foot bar 111 are provided by structures below and contained within the side rail members 108 and are thus hidden from the outside view. This arrangement gives the reformer 100 a clean and uncluttered appearance and minimizes surface areas that can collect dust over time. In addition, in order to provide feedback on the position of the bar to the right foot to the user of the exercise machine 100, a "J" shaped indicator element 214 is attached to one or both sliding plates 172. A distal end 216 of indicator 214 extends around a bottom edge and upwards, out of wall 122 of side rail member 108, to provide a user of reformer 100 with an indication of the position of the foot support assembly. Corresponding markings (not shown) can be provided along the outer wall 122, for a user to use to position the foot bar 111 in the pre-selected positions along the frame 102.

[00103] Notch 178 on hook plate 174 is used to locate the bar for foot 111 in a lower position above frame 102. Notch 180 places the bar for foot 111 in a position of medium height above frame 102 The notch 182 corresponds to the foot bar 111 which is substantially vertical and thus its highest position above the frame 102. Additional notches can alternatively be provided to facilitate additional positions of the foot bar. However, a low, moderate and high position is believed to be sufficient for most users of the device 100.

[00104] A low friction layer 218 of a polymer sheet material (shown in Fig. 6) is affixed to the outer surface of the hook plate 174, between the hook plate 174 and the support arm 158. This layer reduces any friction between the arm and the plate during the rotation of the bar for the foot 111 between the notches 176, 178, 180, 182 and 184. Alternatively, the low friction layer 218 can be applied to the inner surface of the arm 158. In addition , a low friction layer 218 can optionally be applied to both surfaces facing each other.

[00105] The structure of the foot support assembly may be different from that which has been specifically illustrated and described. For example, rollers 206 and 208 can be replaced with sheets of low-friction material to allow sliding plate 204 to slide easily along groove 136. The configuration of support arm 158, hook plate 174 and sliding plate 172 may be different from that of the exemplary modality shown. Additional mechanisms can be used to couple and uncouple the assembly 170 with characteristics on the rail members 108 of the frame 102.

[00106] Again with reference to Fig. 1, at the head end 104 of the reforming apparatus 100, there are two spaced lifts 112 to direct the arm cables 114 of the carriage 110 to the head end 104 and then to the loops at the end of the arm 116. Referring now to the detailed perspective view of one of the lifts 112 at the end of the head 104 shown in Fig. 10, each of these lifts 112 includes a lower pulley wheel assembly 220 secured to a protrusion of the tubular lift 222 formed adjacent to each curved end 107 of the head end 104. Each lifter 112 also includes a hollow tubular body 224 which has its lower end adapted within the projection of the tubular lifter 222. The upper end 228 of the lifter tubular body 224 contains a head cylindrical roller head 230. This roller head 230 includes a tubular body 232 that fits into or is integrally formed with body 224. Tubular body 232 has an elongated opening 234 at through your side. A pair of vertically aligned guide rollers 236 is mounted on the head 230 on both sides of the opening 234. A horizontal cable pulley wheel or roller 238 is mounted in and across the tubular body 232 behind the opening 234.

[00107] The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 is shown separately in the perspective view in Fig. 11. The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 has a flanged cylindrical body 240 that is attached to the bottom of the projection 222. A horizontally articulated wheel 242 and a guide disk of the angled pulley cable 244 are contained within the body 240. The guide disk 244 is positioned in the body 240 above the wheel 242 at an angle of about 45 degrees. An opening 246 is provided in the disc 244 along its lower edge. This opening 246 is oriented directly above the periphery of the pulley wheel 242 in such a way that a free end of a cable from the arm 114 which is lowered into the lift 112 through the opening 234 in the head assembly 230 is directed over the roller 238 and towards down through the tubular body 224 and through the opening 246 and through the pulley wheel 242. A user can then grasp the free end of the cable 114 and secure the cable to the carriage 110, as described in detail below.

[00108] The head assembly 230 can be fixed to the tubular body 224 or, optionally, can be supported by the bearing on it, in such a way that it can rotate freely around a vertical axis through the lift 112. Each of the guide rollers adjacent to opening 234 can be mounted on stationary vertical pins or else supported by rolling, in such a way that the cable 114 can be pulled through opening 234 with minimal resistance or friction. The lower or lower pulley wheel 242 is oriented with its normal axis to the rail members 108, since the movement of the carriage 110 is always towards or away from the head end 104 of the frame 102.

[00109] An exploded perspective view of the carriage 110 is shown separately in Fig. 12. The carriage 110 includes a generally rectangular frame 250, a rectangular support platform 252, a padded upper platform 254 and a pair of shoulder restraints 118. The frame 250 has vertical side support plates 258, a vertical head end plate 260 and a vertical spring support plate 262, which are attached to side support plates 258. All of these plates 258, 260 and 262 are also attached to the underside of the support platform 252 to provide a rigid carriage structure. The spring support plate 262 contains one end of each of the driven springs 120. The other end of each spring 120 can be removably attached to the anchor pins 148 in order to vary the resilient drive, that is, the tension spring between carriage 110 and foot end 106 of frame 102. Side support plates 258 support platforms 252 and 254 and provide mounting flanges to support wheels 210 and guide wheels 212. The head end plate 260 has a pair of openings spaced 264 through it, which act as guides for the arm cables (not shown in Fig. 12).

[00110] The support platform 252 has a pair of shoulder rest supports 266 attached to its upper surface. Each of these supports 266 has a vertical hole 268 through it and each supports a cross pin 270 on it (shown in Fig. 15), which secures the rod 272 of the shoulder retainer 118 to the carriage 110. The hole 268 extends through support 266 and through support platform 252.

[00111] Fig. 15 is a partial vertical section view through the carriage 110 with the padded upper platform 254 not shown. As can be seen in this view, the cross pin 270 acts as a pivot for the shoulder retainer rod 272. An impeller device 274, such as a flexible rubber tube positioned against the stem 272, provides a spring force against the stem 272, to keep the stem 272 vertically oriented and flush with the left side of the hole 268. However, when a user pulls the top of a shoulder retainer 118 towards the foot end of the frame 102, (as shown ), the lock rotates around the transverse pin 270, compressing the impeller device 274 and pushing a lower end 276 of the stem 272 towards the head end of the frame 102 (on the right in Fig. 15).

[00112] A bottom plan view of a car head end portion 110 is shown in Figures 13 and 14. These two views illustrate the configuration of the cable retraction mechanism 280 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Arm wires 114 are not shown in this view for clarity. The cable retraction mechanism 280 includes, for each cable 114, a spring-loaded spool housing 282 attached to the support plate 252, a spring-driven cable spool 284 rotatably contained within the housing 282 and a locking arm toothed plate 286, rotatably attached to the underside of support plate 252 adjacent to housing 282 of the spool.

[00113] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the two sheaths 282 of the cable retraction mechanism 280 are mounted side by side against the surface on the underside of platform 252. The two lock arms 286 are preferably elements plates attached for rotation around the pivot pins 288 adjacent to the reel casings 282, so that they can rotate in the plane of the underside of the support platform 252. Each locking arm 286 is preferably a body in elongated plate shape having a toothed end 290 and an opposite connecting end 292. The locking arms 286 are preferably mirror images of each other, such that the opposite connecting ends 292 of each locking arm plate 286 are movably coupled to join the locking arms 286 under the support platform 252.

[00114] The toothed end 290 of each locking arm 286 engages in the notches of corresponding characteristics on an edge of the adjacent cable spool 284 in the adjacent spool housing 282. The toothed end 290 of each locking arm 286 also has a hook 294 which engages with the lower end 276 of the stem 272 of the shoulder retainer 118. Fig. 13 shows the shoulder retainers 118 in a normal position and the lower ends 276 of the stems 272 are not coupled in this way with the hooks 294 of one or another locking arm 286. One or more springs (not shown) are used to urge both locking arms 286 to a coupling with the reels 284. With arms 286 in that position, the arm cables 114 cannot be retracted or extended from reels 284. They are locked.

[00115] Fig. 14 shows the configuration when the lower left end 276 of the rod 272 of the right shoulder retainer 118 is coupled with the hook 294 on the left lock arm 286. This causes the lock arm 286 to rotate in the direction clockwise around pin 288, pulling the toothed end 290 out of the coupling with the left spool 284 in Fig. 14. At the same time, the clockwise rotation of the left locking arm 286 causes the arm to rotate counterclockwise right-hand lock 286, through the connected connecting ends 292. Similarly, this rotation causes the toothed end 290 of the right-hand lock arm 286 to rotate out of the coupling with its adjacent spool 284. In this way, a user pulling a retainer of shoulder 118 towards the end of the foot 106 of the frame 102 will cause both lock arms 286 to be detached from the spools 284, allowing a user to adjust one or both arm cable lengths as desired. Upon release of the shoulder retainer 118, the locking arms 286 re-couple with the reels 284 to lock the reels and thereby the arm cables 114 to the carriage 110.

[00116] A retraction arm cable retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also provided according to the present invention. Such a kit includes the appropriate installation instructions, two reel wrappers 282 with included arm cable spools 284, a pair of locking arms 286, replacement shoulder retainers 118, two shoulder retainer holders 266 and one pair of pivot pins 288 to secure the locking arms 286 to the carriage.

[00117] Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative cable retraction mechanism 300 mounted below the carriage 110 according to the present invention. Again, arm cables 114 are not shown in this view for clarity. The cable retraction mechanism 300 includes, for each cable 114, a spring-loaded cable spool 302 which is mounted below the support plate 252 for rotation, in this embodiment, around a horizontal axis 304, supported from the support plate 252 between a support 306 and the support plate on the frame side of the carriage 258. The cable reel 302 has a track brake portion 308 and a cable support portion 310. One end of cable 114 (not shown) is secured to and wrapped around the cable support portion 310 of the reel 302. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the two spools 302 of the cable retraction mechanism 300 are rotatably mounted side by side below the surface on the underside of platform 252.

[00118] Around the strip brake portion 308 of each reel 302 a cable 312 is wound that has one end attached to the support plate 252 and the other end attached to an end 318 of a pair of crossed lever arms 314. The other end 320 of each lever arm 314 is positioned to mate with the lower end 276 of the stem 272 of one of the shoulder retainers 118, as in the previously described embodiment.

[00119] Similar to the previously described modality of the retraction mechanism 280, the two lever arms 314 are preferably separate elements, each of which is secured for rotation around a separate pivot pin 322, and are crossed and rotatably attached like scissors to a common pin 324, so that they can rotate around pins 322 and 324 in a plane parallel to the surface on the underside of the support platform 252.

[00120] During normal operation of the reformer, the end 318 of each lever arm 314 is under tension, such as by a spring 326. This spring 326 pulls the lever arm 314 towards the end of the carriage head 110 and pulls thus, cable 312, to tighten cable 312 around the band brake portion 308 of its spool 302, to prevent rotation of spool 302. When a user of reformer 100 pulls (pushes) one of the shoulder restraints 118 towards the end of the foot 106 of the reformer frame 102, both lever arms 314 rotate in opposite directions around the pivot pins 322 and 324 to release tension on the brake cables 312, as shown in Fig. 17 When the brakes are released in this way, a user can pull more cable 114 or allow an internal spring on the reel 302 to rotate the reel 302 and eliminate the slack in the cable 114. When the user releases the shoulder retainer 118, the springs 326 pull the 312 cables again to stop the rotation of the reels 302 and thereby fix the cables 114 to the carriage 110.

[00121] Again, a retraction arm cable retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also provided according to the present invention for this alternative retraction system 300. Such a kit includes two retraction spools 302, axles 304 and supports 306, track brake cables 312, a pair of crossed lever arms 314, springs 326, shoulder restraints for replacement 118, two retaining brackets shoulder 266 and a pair of pivot pins 322 to secure the lever arms 314 to the carriage 110, and appropriate installation instructions.

[00122] In an optional reformer 110 carriage configuration according to the present invention, an adjustable headrest can be integrated into the structure. A partial bottom view of the head end of this alternative carriage 110 is shown in Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21. In this embodiment, on top of the carriage frame 250, support plate 252 has a trapezoidal extension portion 350 extending towards the end of the frame head 102. The padded top plate 254 has the same general shape as in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 12, but is separated into a rectangular portion 352 and a headrest portion 354 by a transverse hinge 356 below the padding near the shoulder restraints 118.

[00123] An adjustable headrest support plate 358 is attached to support plate 252 under the headrest portion 354. The extension portion 350 has an elongated vertical groove 357 centered through it, preferably between the sides the extension portion 350. The support plate 358 has a transverse channel 360 in it containing an L-shaped adjustment rod 362 compressed between the channel 360 and the extension portion 350. A cam block 364 is attached to the rod 362, which extends through the groove 357. Rotating the handle portion of the rod 362 forces the cam block 364 to rotate against the hinge head support portion 354. While the cam block 364 is rotated by rotating the rod 362, the headrest portion 354 is moved between the positions shown in Figures 19 to 21. In particular, Fig. 19 shows the headrest portion 354 in a lower position. Fig. 20 shows the headrest portion 354 in a first raised position, with the stem 362 rotated about 90 degrees counterclockwise. Fig. 21 shows the headrest portion in a second raised position with the stem 362 rotated an additional 90 degrees counterclockwise. In this embodiment, the cam block 364 provides three stable positions. It should also be noted that, in Figures 16 and 17, the headrest adjustment rod (not numbered) is shown with the two handle ends instead of just one, as in Figures 18 to 21. Other configurations are also available within the scope of the present invention. For example, cam block 364 can be smoothly curved without flat portions for specific elevations of the headrest, and the stem 362 can be configured to provide friction retention, such that the headrest portion 354 can be at any desired elevation. Alternatively, the cam block can be configured with four or more flat regions, each corresponding to a different raised height.

[00124] A perspective view of another embodiment of a reformer exercise apparatus 400 according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 22. Apparatus 400 has a generally rectangular frame 402 with an end of the head 404 and an end of the foot 406. Ends 404 and 406 are spaced apart by a pair of track members 408. A trolley 410 is movably supported on track members 408 for forward and backward movement between ends 404 and 406 of frame 402.

[00125] A foot bar 411 is positioned near the end of the foot 406 of the frame 402. This foot bar 411 is carried by the rail members 408, as will be described in detail below. The head end 404 of the frame 402 preferably supports a removable pair of spaced upright arm support cable lifts 412. These lifts 412 direct the arm cables 414 of the carriage 110 to the loops or handles of the end of the hands 416 of a user for use in various exercises. When not in use, end loops 416 can be conveniently positioned on shoulder retainers 418, as shown in Fig. 22. Carriage 410 is propelled resiliently toward the end of foot 416 of frame 402 by one or more elastic elements, such as the springs 420 (see Fig. 35).

[00126] The outer part of the frame 402 has the same shape as the frame 102 shown in Fig. 2. Each between the end of the head 404, the end of the foot 406 and the side rail members 408 has an external surface shape. similar that melts smoothly.

[00127] An internal perspective view separated from the end head assembly 404 is shown in Fig. 23. The head end assembly includes an end extrusion 500 having leg portions 502 and a horizontal stepped support plate 421 The external shape of the extrusion 500, as in the first embodiment, includes an external vertical wall 422 that merges with an upper horizontal wall 424 that merges with the inner wall angled in and out 426. The inner wall 426 merges in a vertical skirt portion 428. The vertical skirt portion 428 joins the stepped horizontal support plate 421.

[00128] The head and foot ends 404 and 406 have external end plates 407 that couple with and are joined to the side rail members 408 through alignment pins 409 and threaded connections (not shown). The head end extrusion 500 404 additionally includes vertical tubular projections 506 adjacent to the curved corners to receive the lifts 412. A pair of threaded hand screws 413 inserted from below fixes the lifts 412 to the projections 506. A vertical platform 415 is secured on and on the stepped support plate 421.

[00129] A complementary molded vertical support leg 429 extends downwards from each curved end of the extrusion 500. These support legs 429 are used to place the ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402 on a flat surface, such as the floor . Support legs 429 can be interchanged with longer or shorter support legs to change the height of the apparatus 400 above a support surface from the ground. A strap strip 417 is attached to the lower outer edge of the outer wall 407 of the extrusion 500 to provide a rounded hand strap edge to facilitate transport of the head end of the reformer 400.

[00130] Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a foot end assembly 406 of frame 402. Foot end assembly 406 is another extrusion 500 that has leg portions 502, projections 506 and a plate horizontal stepped support 421. Two rows of reel-shaped anchor pins 448 are attached to plate 421. These pins 448 can receive and secure a loop at one end of a spring 420 in order to secure the spring 420 to the end of the foot 406 of the frame 402 while the other end of the spring 420 is attached to the cart 410. Each of these pins 448 preferably tapers upwards and inwards from its base to a skirt at a first angle from the central axis of the pin and then outward at a second angle greater than the first angle, so that the free end of a spring placed on pin 448, when tensioned, is firmly attached to the central part of pin 448. This second angle is preferably at minus twice the first angle.

[00131] The support legs of the foot 506 are vertical tubes formed in the extrusion 500. Each boss 506 receives a fork 508 that fits on top of the boss 506. A rectangular vertical platform plate 423 is fixed on the forks 508. Finally, a receiver tubular 510 fits through holes in plate 423 and fits into projections 506 to secure plate 423 to extrusion 500. A set of screws 512 secures each receiver 510, plate 423 and fork 508 to projection 506. Receivers 510 receive legs from one removable jump plate plank platform (not shown).

[00132] A sectional view of a side rail member 408 is shown in Fig. 25. Each rail member 408 is preferably an aluminum extrusion assembly that has an identical cross-sectional shape. In this particular embodiment of reformer 400, the rail member 408 is a composite extrusion formed by two separate extrusion portions: an inner portion 417 and an outer portion 419, which are joined by rivets 514. This construction of the side rail member 408 it is particularly advantageous for at least two reasons. First, such a configuration is easier to extrude as two separate extrusions that are then joined. Second, the outer portion 419 can be finished in a different way than the inner portion 417. Thus, a version of the outer portion 419 can be a powder coated for durability and / or painted in selectable colors when the inner portion 417 is coated powder or finished for durability, since it is not visible. In addition, since the inner portion 417 also contains the bearing surfaces and the indexing rail feature for the foot bar 411, it can be separated and replaced if necessary due to wear. The rail member 408, as mentioned above, has an external vertical wall 422 that merges into a horizontal upper wall 424 and then into an internal downward sloping wall 426 and then into a vertical skirt portion 428. The end elements 404 and 406 have the same external shape, but differ internally from the side rail members 408.

[00133] As shown in Fig. 25, each side rail member 408 has a vertical intermediate wall 430 between the inclined inner wall 426 and the vertical external wall 422. The intermediate wall 430 has a longitudinally extending overhang facing outside 432 and a longitudinally extending outwardly facing projection 434, parallel to the upper projection 432. Taken together, the intermediate wall 430, the upper projection 432 and the lower projection 434 form a groove that opens outwards 436 between them. This groove 436 receives and contains one of the foot bar support assemblies therein, as will be described in detail below. Between the intermediate wall 430 and the inclined inner wall 426 there is an upper horizontal support wall 438. The support wall 438 extends in the length of the rail member 408 and provides torsional rigidity to the structure of the rail member 408. In addition In addition, this support wall 438 facilitates adhesion between the internal and external extrusion portions 417 and 419. A horizontal lower portion 440 of the intermediate wall 430 acts as a support for a set of wheels supporting the car 410. The upper wall 438 it also serves as an upper guide for the carriage support wheels on the rail members 408. In addition, the intermediate wall 430 between the upper and lower walls 438 and 440 and the skirt portion 428 serves as a side guide for the car 410 .

[00134] The upper projection 432 preferably has a vertical portion 442 that extends downwards, parallel to the intermediate wall 430. This vertical portion 442 is used to provide the lateral support for the foot support assembly described more fully broad to follow. In addition, the lower projection 434 can include an indexing track that extends downwards 444. Alternatively, the indexing track 444 can be installed along the length of the rail member 408 by a separate and replaceable metal indexing rail, contained in the protrusion 434.

[00135] Finally, the inside of the outer portion 419 of the rail 408 includes three locating projections 516, 518 and 520. These three locating projections align with and receive the locating pins 409 that protrude from the head end assemblies and of the feet 406 and 408, shown in Figures 23 and 24. These projections help to ensure the precise alignment between the rails 408 and the ends 406 and 408, in such a way that a smooth outer frame surface is presented to a user of the apparatus 400 .

[00136] The foot bar 411 shown in Fig. 22 is the same as that shown in Fig. 5. The bar support set for foot 470 is similar, but differs slightly from the one shown and described above specifically with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. The foot bar 411 is part of a foot support set 470, which is not seen in Fig. 22. Referring now to the internal and external views of the foot support set 470 shown in Figures 29 and 30, the connecting portion 154 of the bar for the foot 411 is either screwed or attached to a lower end 456 of a bar support arm for the elongated foot 458. The arm 458, best shown in Fig. 29, is an elongated flat plate element that has a coupling pin 461 protruding from the upper end 460 of the arm 458. The arm 458 additionally has a closed pivot groove 462 that extends radially, parallel to the portion from leg 152 of the bar to foot 411 and spaced from where the connecting portion 1 54 of the foot bar 411 is attached to the arm 458.

[00137] The reformer foot support set 400 shown in Fig. 22 includes a left foot bar support set 470, the foot foot bar 411 and a right foot bar support set 470. The Figures 29 and 30 are an inverse perspective view of a set on the right of the bar support sets for the foot 470, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each leg 152 of the foot bar 411 is supported by one of the foot bar support assemblies 470. As best shown in Fig. 29, the set 470 includes the foot support arm 458 to which the foot bar 411 (not shown in Figures 29 and 30) is joined, a sliding portion 472 that is mounted in the groove 436 on the side rail member 408 and a hook plate 474 that is rigidly attached to the sliding portion 472. This hook plate 474 has a number of characteristics, preferably notches or notches 476, 478, 480, 482 and 484 spaced along the top edge of hook plate 474. Pin 461 protruding from the upper end 460 of the arm foot bar support 458 fits within one of these notches 476-484 to position the foot bar 411 in a particular desired angular position with respect to frame 402 of reformer 400.

[00138] The bar support arm for the foot 458 is slidably and pivoted to the hook plate 474 by a screw 486 and square bushing 488. A flat washer 489 on the screw 486 secures the support arm 458 on the bushing 488. Bushing 488 is mounted in pivot groove 462. Since the foot bar 411 is attached to the arm 458 when a user raises the foot bar 411, the support arm 458 is mounted up or down along the groove 462. In turn, the pin 461 protruding from the upper end 460 of the support arm 458 is lifted out of one of the notches along the upper edge of the hook plate 474. When lifted out of its groove in this way, a user can then rotate the bar for foot 411 over pivot screw 486 to a different groove between notches 476, 478, 480, 482 or 484, to reposition the bar for foot 411. When the bar for foot 411 is lowered into a groove, pin 461 slides down into one of the notches to hold the foot bar 411 in position.

[00139] The end fittings or notches 476 and 484 have a special significance in this modality 400, as in the first modality 100. When the foot bar 411 has both its pins 461 positioned in the notches 476, the foot bar 411 is rotationally positioned slightly above the upper surface of the frame 402 and beyond the foot end of the frame 402, as shown in Fig. 39. In this position, the foot bar 411 can be used as a handle to lift the end of the foot from reformer 400. To ensure that the foot bar 411 is not detached from the groove 476, the end end of the groove 476 is hooked upwards, as seen in Fig. 29, to firmly engage with pin 461 in the closed end of groove 476. To detach the foot bar 411 from this groove 476, the foot bar 411 must be lowered and pulled back (away from the end of the foot) to align pin 461 with the enlarged groove inlet . The foot bar 411 can then be rotated upwards and lifted out of the groove 476 and be repositioned in a different groove between the notches 478, 480, 482 and 484.

[00140] The groove 484 on the hook plate 474 is used to position the foot support assembly comprising each of the 470 assemblies and the foot bar 411 together for translation along the rail members 408. While the foot bar 411 is raised and rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. 29, the arm 458 is rotated around the screw 486 clockwise, until the pin 461 is attached to a projected surface 492 at the end ahead (towards the end of the head 404) of the hook plate 474. In this position, a shoulder 494 on the support arm 458 couples with a locking pin 496 that protrudes through a groove 498 on the hook plate 474. The pin locking device 496 protrudes through the hook plate 474 of a locking arm 530, best seen in Fig. 30. When the foot bar 411 is lowered, the shoulder 494 of the arm 458 lowers the locking pin 496.

[00141] Locking arm 530 is an elongated bar that has an end rotatably attached to the inner face of hook plate 474. Locking arm 530 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inner surface of hook plate 474. A another end of the locking arm 530 has an upwardly latched locking portion 532 that engages with a complementary molded indexing feature on the rail member 408 in order to lock the assembly 470 in a selected position along the rail member 408. The locking arm 530 is spring-loaded through the flat spring element 534 to keep the locking portion 532 of the locking arm 530 coupled with the indexing feature of the indexing track 444 on the rail member 408.

[00142] When the foot bar 411 is positioned with pins 461 in the notches 484 and the foot bar 411 is pushed down to fully seat the pins 461 at the bottom of the notches 484, the lock pins 496 are also pushed into down, rotating the locking arm 530 and moving the locking portion 532 out of the coupling with the indexing feature of the indexing rail 444 on the rail member 408. With the locking portions 532 decoupled with the rail members 408, the bar for foot 411 can be moved towards or away from the end of foot 406 of frame 402 through rollers 536. In fact, foot bar 411 can be fully moved towards the opposite end of rail members 408, if wanted.

[00143] Sliding assembly 472 is best seen in the view of Fig. 30, which is an opposite perspective view of the bar support assembly for foot 470 shown in Fig. 29, which is loaded on the right side rail element 408. Sliding assembly 472 includes an elongated sliding plate 538 that is preferably screwed or attached to hook plate 474. That sliding plate 538 passes through groove 436 on rail member 408 with hook plate 474 and the support arm bar for the adjacent foot 458, arranged within the free / open space between the outer wall 422 and the intermediate wall 430 of the rail member 408. It should be understood that another set of foot support of the mirror image 470 is arranged on the other rail member (left) 408.

[00144] Again with reference to Fig. 30, the sliding plate 538 is supported in the groove 436 by the front and rear support rollers 536 that slide along the bottom surface of the groove 436. A guide roller 540 that rotates about an axis vertical through the sliding plate 538 is preferably mounted adjacent to each support roll 536. The guide roll 540 slides along the inner side surfaces of the groove 436 on the rail member 408 to guide the support assembly 470 and thereby the bar to the foot 411, while it is moved (i.e., slid) back and forth along the rail members 408.

[00145] The support rollers 536 are preferably polymer wheels supported by rolling, supported in a rotating manner on the horizontal axes. The polymer wheels are sized to fit and slide smoothly into the groove 436. The guide rollers 540 can be nylon rollers or other polymer rollers supported by a vertical axis on the slide plate 538. In this 400 mode, the guide rollers 540 can be roller bearings mounted on the recesses along the top edge of the slide plate 538.

[00146] Sliding plate 538 also has a spring loaded locating sphere 542 mounted on a recess behind the J-shaped indexing element 544 used as described above with reference to the first embodiment. The spring loaded location sphere 542 provides the user with tactile feedback by moving the bar to the foot 411 back and forth along the rails 408 between various predetermined positions, by projecting into the corresponding depressions that can be optionally provided by along the 408 rail.

[00147] A low friction layer 546 of a polymer sheet material (shown in Fig. 29) is affixed to the outer surface of hook plate 474 between hook plate 474 and support arm 458. This layer, like as in the first modality 100, it reduces any friction between the arm 458 and the plate during the rotation of the bar for the foot 411 between the notches 476, 478, 480482 and 484. Alternatively, the low friction layer 546 can be applied to the front surface arm 458. To further reduce friction, a low friction layer 546 can optionally be applied to both of these front surfaces.

[00148] A removable pulling pin 548 can optionally be inserted through the holes aligned in the arm 458 and in the plate 474 when the foot bar 411 is in the raised position, that is, in the groove 480. The insertion of the pulling pin 548 will lock the foot bar 411 in place and prevent it from being repositioned. Here the foot bar 411 is intended to act as a support belt when the reformer 400 is positioned vertically on its end of the foot 406. This facilitates the vertical storage of a series of reforms 400 in a relatively restricted space.

[00149] When the foot bar 411 is positioned firmly with the pins 461 seated in the notches 484, the entire foot bar set 411 can slide / roll back and forth along the side rails 408. The plate 474 is also preferably provided with a hole 549. This hole 549 can be used to store the pulling pin 548 when it is not being used. In addition, this hole 549 can be used to join an elastic or spring resistance element (not shown) between the trolley 410 and the support plate 474 of the foot bar 411 or between the end of the foot 404 and the foot plate support 474. Such a resistance element can provide a resistance to the translation movement of the foot bar support assembly 470 411 by a user when the foot support arm 458 is coupled in the slot 484. In this configuration, the bar stops the foot 411 can be used to provide additional resistance experienced by a user during the execution of various movements, when supported on the car 410. Such a spring or other resistance element, such as an elastic cable, can be joined for this purpose between the trolley 410 and an appropriate feature in a different position on the assembly 470 or on the foot bar 411. For example, such a resistance element can be joined to the connection portion 154 of the leg portion of the bar for for foot 152.

[00150] Again with reference to Fig. 22, at the head end 404 of the reforming device 400, there are two arm cable lifts spaced 412 to route the cables 414 of the car 410 to the head end 404 and then to the head end loops. arm of the arm 416. A separate perspective view of a hoist 412 is shown in Fig. 26 and an exploded view of the assembly is shown in Fig. 27. In this embodiment 400, the hoist 412 has no lower pulley configuration, such as used on the hoist 112. Instead, a pulley and roller assembly 550 is preferably inserted at the upper end of the hoist tube 552. This pulley and roller assembly includes a support housing 554 that laterally supports the separate vertical rollers 556 which rotate around parallel vertical axes attached to housing 554 and a pulley 558 mounted between and below rollers 556 on a horizontal axis 560. Each of the rollers and pulley 558 is supported on its respective axis between pairs ball bearings mounted on the 554 support housing.

[00151] Each of these tubes of the hoist 552 preferably includes two vertically aligned elongated openings 562 and 564 adjacent to its upper end through which the arm cable 414 is passed. The pulley and roller assembly 550 slides on the upper end of the hoist tube 552 and is secured in place with two screws 566. When positioned correctly on the tube 552, the vertical rollers 556 are next to the upper opening 562. The pulley wheel 558 is centered between the two openings. The arm cable 414 is threaded through the upper opening and down around the pulley wheel 558 and out through the lower opening 564 to the cart 410, as shown in Fig. 26.

[00152] An annular ring 568 is secured around the lower end portion of tube 552 by means of screws 570. This ring 568 is dimensioned to fit loosely within the open upper end of the protrusion 506 of the head end extrusion 500, such as shown in the view highlighted in Fig. 28. A threaded expansion plug 572 is compressed at the lower end of the lift tube 552. This threaded expansion plug 572 engages with the threaded hand pin 413 (Figures 23, 28). When hand pin 413 is tightened, the hoist 412 is pulled down on the protrusion 506 to secure the hoist 412 in place. The hoist tube 552 can alternately be made of different lengths, so that hoists 412 with different lengths can be selected for different users. Finally, the lower opening 564 in the hoist tube 552, in addition to passing cable 414 through it, is used to removably receive part of a support 700 (the example of which is shown in Fig. 31) to secure the hoist 412 below of the head end of the cart 410 during storage, as shown in Fig. 39.

[00153] Carriage 410 is shown separately in Figures 31 and 32. A separate perspective view of the underside of part of the car 410 is shown separately in Fig. 31. A view of the underside of the upholstered upper platform 574 is shown separately in Fig. 32. The trolley 410 includes a generally rectangular frame 576, a rectangular support platform 578, the upper upholstered platform 574 and a pair of shoulder retainers 418. The frame 576 has vertical side support plates 580, a plate end cap 582 and a vertical spring support plate 584, both of which are attached to side support plates 580. All of these plates 580, 582 and 584 are also attached to the underside of support platform 578, for provide a rigid structure of the car. The upper side of platform 578 includes shoulder rest brackets 594 (see Fig. 34), as in the first embodiment of cart 110 shown in Fig. 12.

[00154] The spring support plate 584 contains one end of each of the spring springs 420. The other end of each spring 420 can be removably attached to the anchor pins 448 in order to vary the resilient thrust, this that is, the spring tension between the trolley 410 and the end of the foot 406 of the frame 402. The side support plates 580 support the platforms 574 and 578 and provide mounting flanges to the support wheels 586 and the guide wheels 588. The plate head end 582 has a pair of spaced openings 590 through it which act as guides for the arm cables 414 (not shown in Fig. 31). A pair of elongated notches 592 is also formed on the head end plate 582. These notches 592 are formed to receive the shoulder retainer rods 418 when the shoulder retainer 418 is removed and attached to the cart 410 for storage, such as shown in Fig. 39.

[00155] The support platform 578 has a pair of shoulder rest supports 594 attached to its upper surface (as shown in Fig. 34). Each of these supports 594 has a pair of vertical holes 596 and 598 through them. Vertical bore 596 has an oval cross section that supports a cross pin 600 on the shoulder retainer rod 602 418. The operation of the shoulder retainer 418 is identical to that of the shoulder retainer 118 of the first embodiment 100, as shown in Fig. 15.

[00156] Fig. 33 is a perspective view of shoulder retainer 418. Note that stem 600 is displaced from the axial axis through shoulder retainer 418. Referring now to Fig. 34, a partial top view of the upper platform of car 410. Each shoulder retainer supports designs and is flush with the top of upper platform 574. Inner holes 598 are circular in cross section. Thus, when the shoulders 600 of the shoulder retainers 418 are placed in these holes 598, the shoulder retainers 418 cannot rotate, as was the case in the first embodiment 100 described above and shown with reference to Fig. 15. However, when one or both of the shoulder restraints 418 meet in the outer holes 596, they can be pushed towards the end of the foot 406, exactly as described with reference to Fig. 15 in the first embodiment 100.

[00157] In this modifier of reformer 400, a user has not only the option to rotate shoulder retainers 418 by inserting them into holes 596 to accommodate different shoulder widths, but also one or both shoulder retainers 418 can be inserted in the internal holes 598 to provide additional width adjustment. If both shoulder retainers 418 are located in the inner holes 598, then no adjustment of the arm cables 414 can be made. This is called the holding position. However, if one or both of the shoulder retainers 418 are placed in the outer holes 596, then the adjustment of the arm handles 414 can be done with that shoulder retainer in an outer hole 596.

[00158] A partial perspective view of the lower part of the cart 410 removed from the reformer 400 is shown in Fig. 35. In this view, the springs 420 are shown attached to the spring support plate 584. A cable from the example arm 414 is shown threaded through the guide hole 590 and the cable retraction mechanism 610.

[00159] A bottom plan view of an end portion of the car head 410 is shown in Figures 36 and 37. These two views illustrate the configuration and operation of the cable retraction mechanism 610 according to this embodiment of the present invention. Neck cables 414 are not shown in this view for clarity. The cable retraction mechanism 610 includes, for each cable 414, a spring-loaded cable spool 612 which is mounted below the support plate 578 for horizontal axis rotation and supported from the support plate on the side of the frame of the carriage 580. The cable spool 612 has a coil spring portion 614 and a cable support portion 616. One end of the cable 414 (not shown) is attached and wrapped around the cable support portion 616 of the spool 612. As shown in Figures 35, 36 and 37, the two spools 612 of the cable retraction mechanism 610 are rotatably mounted side by side below the surface on the underside of platform 578.

[00160] The coil spring portion 614 is bolted to or integral with the cable support portion 616 and preferably contains a coil spring (not shown) that provides an extraction preload tension on cable 414 when its end is secured to the cable support portion 616 of the spool 612. The retract assembly 610 also includes a spring loaded cable clamp assembly 618 attached to the support platform 578 that is operatively coupled to a connection of the driver 620 , which in turn is activated by any of the shoulder retainers 418, when installed in the appropriate hole 596.

[00161] The connection of the actuator 620 is loaded on an elongated flat plate 622 which is attached to the support plate 578 through the fasteners 624 and passes through the two lateral support plates 580 directly below the shoulder restraints 418 and over the holes 596 and 598. Each end of the flat plate 622 has an elongated opening 626 aligned with a hole 596, and a circular opening 628 aligned with hole 598. A pair of T-shaped connections 630 are contained rotating side by side in the plate. connection 622. Each T-shaped connection 630 rotates in the plane of the support plate 578 over the center of the head 632 of the connection 630 on a pin 634 that secures the connection 630 to the plate 622. One end 636 of the head 632 of each of the connections 630 are positioned to mate with a shoulder retainer rod 600 inserted into hole 596. The other end 638 of the head 632 of the T-shaped connection 630 mates with a corresponding end 638 of the other connection 630. The ends 638 of the twoconnections 630 are also preferably coupled by a coil spring 640. Each T-shaped connection 630 includes an elongated leg 642. The end of that elongated leg 642 is adjacent to one of the clamp assemblies 618.

[00162] The clamp assembly 618 comprises a pair of clamp elements 650, the outermost of which is attached to the support plate 578 by two fasteners 652 and 654. The internal clamp element 650 is rotatably attached to the plate support 578 by a fastener 652 in a laterally spaced relation to the fixed element 650. Each clamp element has a handle portion 656 of the cable and an opposite elongated arm portion 658. The arm portion 658 of the inner clamp element 650 is positioned adjacent leg 642 of connection 630. A coil spring 660 secures the loop portion 656 of the inner clamp element 650 to the fixed outer clamp element 650, such that the loop portion of the inner clamp element 650 is propelled towards the handle portion of the fixed external clamp element. A flat plate 662 is optionally attached to the clamp elements 650 in each assembly 618 between the clamp 652 and the clamp element 650. Finally, a pair of cable guides 664 is preferably attached to the support plate 578 and positioned between the connection assembly 620 and spool 612, such that cable 414 must pass through hole 590 in the head end plate 582, through a cable guide 664, between the clamp elements 650, through another guide of cable 664, to the retraction spool of cable 612, as shown in Fig. 35.

[00163] Retraction set 610 is shown in a locked condition of the cable in Fig. 36. In Fig. 37, set 610 is shown in an unlocked condition, where one of the shoulder retainers 418, (the one on the left in Fig. 37) was pushed towards the end of the foot of the reformer frame 402. In this view of Fig. 37, the stem 600 of the left shoulder retainer 418 lifts the end 636 of the connection 630. This movement causes the opposite end 638 of connection 630 rotate downwards, clockwise. At the same time, leg 642 must also rotate clockwise, rotating arm portion 658 of inner clamp element 650 counterclockwise. This action frees the arm cable 414 from the clamp elements 650 and allows tension on the left cable spool to be felt in cable 414.

[00164] At the same time, the other connection 630 is made to rotate counterclockwise around its pin 632, which in turn causes its leg 642 to advance against the arm portion 658 of the element inner clamp 650 of the other clamp assembly 618, thereby rotating the inner clamp element 650 clockwise. This clockwise rotation of the internal clamp element 650 decouples the clamp element 650 from the other cable of the arm 414, in such a way that the tension in the right cable spool 612 pulls the other cable 414. Therefore, that pushing any of the shoulder retainers 418 into an outer hole 596 will cause the same result: a release of both clamp sets 618 on both arm cables 414, allowing a user to independently adjust the length of each cable.

[00165] Again, a retraction arm cable retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also provided according to the present invention for this alternative 610 retraction system. Such a kit includes two retraction spools 612 and mounting hardware, two clamp sets 618, connection set 630, replacement shoulder retainers 418, two shoulder retainer brackets 594 and the appropriate installation instructions.

[00166] In the reformer 410 car according to the present invention, an adjustable headrest can be integrated into the structure. A bottom view of the upholstered upper support platform 574 is shown in Fig. 32. The rigid base of the upper support plate has two separate sections 672 and 674 spaced and joined by a hinge 676. Each section 672 and 674 can be made of plastic , made of composite material or wood. Section 672 also has openings 678 for receiving shoulder restraints 594 through them, as described above. Sections 672 and 674 are spaced by approximately% of an inch in order to provide space for folding the head end portion of the upholstered platform 574, as shown with reference to the first embodiment in Figures 19-21. However, in this reformer 400, there is no cam block 364. Instead, as shown in Fig. 32, an elongated adjustment lever 680 is attached to the underside of the head end section 674. This lever 680 rotates around a fastener 682 attached to the underside of head end section 674. Lever 680 has an end 684 folded 90 degrees from the plane of platform 574. This folded end 684 projects through a groove 686 in the support plate 578, as shown in Fig. 38. The curved end 684 has a series of notches 688 to adjust the height of the head end section 674. The opposite end of lever 680 may have a button 690 attached to it for rotate lever 680 out of and in coupling of notches 688 with a corresponding flange of the head end support plate 582.

[00167] Reformer 400 of the present invention can be configured to be easily stacked for stacked storage. Each of the feet 429 includes recess portions designed to fit the outer corner edge of an underlying reformer 400. The bottom of each foot 429 that facilitates stacking one appliance on top of the other has a recess portion. Stacking is facilitated by coupling the outer corners of the end of the reformer's head and the outer corners of the vertical platform at the end of the reformer's foot to the recessed portions on each foot, as shown in Fig. 39. When two or more reformers 400 are stacked in this way, they are securely held laterally in place by these 429 feet.

[00168] In addition, the hoists 412 are removed from the end of the head 404 and attached to one of the supports 700 (see Fig. 31 and Fig. 40 below). Each of the shoulder retainers 418 is removed and the rods 600 are passed through the openings of the shoulder lock groove 592, are rotated 90 degrees, so that the pins 602 engage the head end support plate 582.

[00169] A perspective view of the underside of the head end of the car 410 is shown in Fig. 40, which shows the lifts 412 and shoulder restraints 418 spaced from these retention characteristics. These retaining characteristics are the notches 592 on the head end plate 582 and the spring supports 700. These spring supports 700 are resiliently attached within the lower openings 564 to secure and hold the hoist 412 in place, without damaging or then damage the outer casing of the 412 hoist.

[00170] When the lifts 412 and shoulder restraints 418 are mounted below the trolley 410, as shown in Figures 39 and 40, the trolley 410 can be positioned entirely at the head end of the frame 402, and a conversion cushion of optional mat 702 can be placed between the cart 410 and the vertical platform 423, to provide an entirely flat mat surface. This conveyor conversion places the car 410 in a stationary position at the end of the head 404 and presents the user with a completely flat surface.

[00171] Reformer 400 can also optionally be configured with a trapezoid tower set 800, as shown in Fig. 41. The tower set 800 basically comprises a 802 U-shaped tower, a trapezoid balance 804 and a pair of tower 806 sockets. Tower 806 sockets are clamped between the rail members 408 and the head end extrusion 500 of the head end 404 and become an integral part of the frame 402. The lower ends of the tower 802 fit inside sockets 806 and penetrate sockets 806, as shown in more detail in Fig. 43.

[00172] The tower 802 is preferably a tubular metal body, such as aluminum or steel, and can be bent in shape, as shown in Fig. 41, or it can be formed from straight sections joined by conventional elbows to 90 degrees. The tower 802 has a plurality of tension screws spaced 808 to join the springs, straps or pulleys 810, as may be necessary for particular exercises. Alternatively, the vertical legs of the tower 802 may have a vertical groove and adjustable clamp fittings provided therein to anchor the springs, pulleys 810 or tensioning screws 808 to them.

[00173] In addition, the 412 hoists can be used or replaced by a set of U-shaped connectors 818, so that a pulley 810 can be attached to it. This set of U-shaped connectors 818 fits inside the protrusion 506 in the head end extrusion 500 and is screwed in place, as shown in Fig. 44 or, alternatively, can be configured to be secured with the same hand pin 413, which is used to hold the hoist 412 in place, as shown in Fig. 28. When the connector set 818 is used in place of the hoist 412, a second pulley 810 (not shown) can then be attached to the set 818 and be used as a cable guide of the lower arm that directs the cable of the car arm 410 to the lower pulley and through the upper pulley 810 to the hand loop, as in the modalities 100 and 400 shown in Figs 1 and 22.

[00174] A tower socket 806 is shown mounted on the head end of one of the side rail members 408 in Fig. 42. The socket tower 806 is a metal extrusion, preferably aluminum, which has a portion of pipe 820 and an axially extending radial flange portion 822. The flange portion 822 has a thick edge 824 and a plate portion 826 that is shaped identically to fit against end plate 407 of the head end extrusion 500 and against the end of the side rail member 408. The locating pins 409 guide the flange portion 822 with respect to the rail member 408 and end plate 407, and nuts (not shown) are used on the screws 828 to secure securely head end 404 and socket 806 to side rail member 408.

[00175] Fig. 43 is an elevated view of an assembled tower 802 attached to a socket 806. Similar to that described above with reference to the hoists 412 which are attached to the projections 506, the lower end of the tower 802 is attached to a threaded expansion plug 830. A hand pin 832 extending to the bottom of the tube portion 820 is threaded into plug 830. When tightened, expansion plug 830 drags the bottom end of turret 802 down firmly into socket 806 , to complete the assembly of the tower 800 to the frame 402.

[00176] Alternatively, the lower ends 850 of a tower 820 can be narrowed and shaped to fit snugly within the projections 506 in the head end extrusion 500, as shown in the perspective view of this alternative in Fig. 45. This construction should avoid the need for tower 806 sockets. In such an alternative, shown in Fig. 45, a hand pin 832 would again be used to firmly drag the lower ends 850 of tower 820 to the projections 506, in the same way as the lifts 412 would be attached to projections 506, as described above. Naturally, in such an alternative configuration, the 412 lifts are not used. Instead, each arm cable 414 would be attached to pulley 810.

[00177] Again with reference to Fig. 46, a handle end portion 880 exemplifying an arm wire 114 414 is shown attached to a hand strap 900. The end portion 880 is rotated back on itself to form a flexible eye 882. The free end 884 of the end portion 880 is sewn or permanently attached to the end portion 880 to form the eye 882. This eye 882 replaces the need for a conventional metal or plastic pressure clamp for connection to a conventional hand strap.

[00178] The hand strap 900 has a loop strap portion 902 sewn to the ends of a short length of the arm cable material to form a flexible cable ring 904 attached to the strap portion 902. The flexible cable ring 904 is attached to the eye 882 by passing the ring 904 over the eye 882 and then screwing the strap portion 902 through the ring 904. The result is the retention of the hand strap 900 to the cable arm 114, 414 essentially in a non-square configuration, as shown in Fig. 46. Armrests 114, 414 with hand strap 900 joined in this way can be used with any conventional reformer or other exercise apparatus using arm / foot cables, as well as with reformer 100 , 400 of the present invention.

[00179] A hand strap 910 is shown in Fig. 47, which has a tubular handle 912. This handle 910 can be used in place of hand strap 900. Again, hand strap 910 has preferably a flexible cable ring 904, as described above, for securing hand strap 910 to end portion 880. Alternatively, a standard hand strap can be used, which includes a D-shaped metal ring attached to the strap 910 in place of cable ring 904.

[00180] Reformer 100 or 400 can be configured with a jump plate 950, as shown in Fig. 48. This jump plate 950 is a generally rectangular plate structure with two parallel pins 952 that fit into the inserts 510 on the projections 506 at the end of the foot 106, 406. Each of these pins 952 has a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape, as shown in the partial section view of Fig. 49.

[00181] Each pin 952 includes a pair of spaced leaf springs 954 that propel pin 952 counterclockwise to insert 510, so that there is a preload on the jump plate 950 effectively away from the carriage 110, 410 This preload prevents the jump plate from shaking and rotating in response to the force applied by the user to the jump plate during an exercise. This configuration gives the jump plate user a firm and solid feel while being installed and used.

[00182] In Fig. 48, it can be seen that the foot bar 411 is shown positioned adjacent to the end of the head 404 of the frame 402. In addition, the support sets 470 of the foot bar 411 are shown in the rotational position free, in which pins 461 are coupled to notches 484, as described with reference to Figures 29 and 30. When the foot bar 411 is positioned in this way to be moved between the head and foot ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402, an elastic resistance element 956 can be attached to the connecting portions 154 of the leg portions 156 of the bar to the foot 411 and be stretched around the head end 404 of the frame 402, as shown in Fig. 48. With the foot bar 411 configured in this way, a user can sit or lie down in the car 410, grab the leg portions 156 of the foot bar 411 and pull the foot bar 411 towards the car 410 against the resistance provided by resistance element 956.

[00183] Alternatively, the user can rotate the foot bar 411 to the vertical position, lower the foot bar 411 to couple the pins 461 to the slots 482, which locks each support set 470 in place on the rail members 408 Then, the user can pull the car 410 towards the end of the head 404 with its arms. It should be understood that the resistance element 956 can consist of two separate elements, each connected separately to the end of the head 404, or it can be a single resistance element, as illustrated in Fig. 48. In addition, the above description it applies equally well to the first modality of the reforming apparatus 100 described above with reference to Figures 121.

[00184] These are just exemplary modalities and variations. A reformer exercise apparatus according to the present invention can incorporate one or more or any of the features described herein. Other changes will be readily apparent to the element skilled in the art. As a simple example, any of the coil springs shown in the figures can be replaced by stretchy elastic elements and vice versa. As another example, the retention characteristics to accommodate the 412 lifts and shoulder restraints in the storage positions below the upper surface of the reformer car 410 may differ from the clamps 700 and the notches 592. The lifts 412 can fit into the corresponding openings (not shown) on plate 582 or on the pins protruding from plate 582. Reformers 100, 400 can be configured with short legs, as shown in Fig. 48, or with longer legs, as shown at least in Figures 1 and 22. Consequently, all such alternatives, variations and modifications are likely to fall within the scope, and as defined by the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. Arm cable support lifter (112) for use in a reformer exercise apparatus, comprising a generally rectangular structure supporting a carriage for movement between a head end and a foot end of the structure in side rail portions spaced and parallel to the frame, and a foot bar supported by the frame near the foot end, the arm cable support hoist (112) comprising: a hollow elongated cylindrical tube (224) having a central axis and adapted to be mounted vertically at the head end of the structure, the tube carrying a first pulley wheel (238) disposed therein near an upper end of the tube adjacent to an outlet opening from the tube, the first pulley wheel (238) rotating around a horizontal axis loaded in the tube; and characterized by the fact that a guide (236) in the tube on each side of the outlet opening adjacent to the first pulley wheel (238) to route an arm cable out of the tube, each guide (236) rotating around axis within the tube parallel to the central axis. 2. Arm cable support hoist (112) according to claim 1, characterized in that each guide (236) is a rotating roller about a vertical axis. 3. Arm cable support hoist (112) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet opening is elongated to accommodate the arm cable that passes around the first pulley wheel (238) and out of the tube. 4. Arm cable support hoist (112) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that it also comprises a second pulley wheel (238) disposed in the tube close to a lower end of the tube, for the routing of an arm cable into the tube, through the tube, around the first pulley wheel (238) and out through the opening. 5. Arm cable support hoist (112) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises yet another elongated opening aligned under the outlet opening for the entry of an arm cable. 6. Reforming exercise apparatus (100) comprising: a generally rectangular structure (122) that supports a carriage for movement between a head end and a foot end of the structure in spaced and parallel rail portions of the structure; a pusher member (120) between the carriage and the end of the foot to propel the carriage towards the foot end of the frame; wherein the head end of the structure has a pair of spaced vertical holes each supporting a cable support lifter (122) comprising: a hollow cylindrical tube having a central axis and carrying a first pulley wheel (238) arranged in the even near an upper end of the tube, the first pulley wheel (238) rotating about a horizontal axis loaded in the tube; and characterized by the fact that the hoist still comprises: a guide (236) on the tube on each side of an outlet opening adjacent to the first pulley wheel (238) to route an arm cable out of the tube, with each guide (236) rotates about an axis within the tube parallel to the central axis; and the cable support hoist (112) being the cable support hoist (112) as defined in claim 1. Apparatus (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that each guide (236) is a roller that can be rotated about a vertical axis. Apparatus (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the outlet opening is elongated to accommodate the arm cable that passes around the first pulley wheel (238) and out of the tube. Apparatus (100) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a second pulley wheel (238) arranged on the tube near a lower end of the tube, for directing an arm cable into the tube , through the tube, around the first pulley wheel (238) and out through the opening. Apparatus (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises yet another elongated opening aligned below the outlet opening for the entry of an arm cable into it.

Images