CN212662545U - Exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface movably mounted on parallel track members of a side frame having a head end and a foot end, the carriage having a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a plurality of resilient members connected between the foot end and the carriage to resiliently bias the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. The machine has a movable spring anchor bar carriage stop assembly that includes an anchor bar having at least one elongated stop member disposed perpendicular to and secured to the anchor bar, the stop member having a carriage stop surface located toward an end of the stop member distal from the anchor bar, and the stop member further includes at least one movable engagement means that engages a side frame of the exercise machine. The anchor rod and stop assembly can be easily moved and readjusted with one hand by a safe and smooth operation.

Description

Exercise apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment commonly referred to as reformer trainers, in which a movable carriage is utilized to at least partially support a user's body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carriage stop assembly for such a reformer trainer.

Background

Pilates, and utilizes a wheeled platform bracket connected to a resistance device (such as a set of weights) in combination with a fixed frame to provide variable resistance against which a user may push with his/her feet or pull with the arms in a sitting or lying position to exercise the major muscle groups of the user's torso, legs, and/or arms. The general form of exercise performed with these recombinant trainers is now known as Pilates. Since this initial concept has been around for nearly 100 years, many changes and improvements in the design of such exercise apparatus have been proposed.

Current conventional reorganization trainers include a wheeled platform carriage that rides on or in a parallel rail system that is located on or forms part of a rectangular wooden or metal frame. The brackets are connected to a series of parallel springs or resilient members which in turn are connected in some form or other to the foot ends of the rectangular frame. The carriages typically ride on parallel rails or within rails mounted to the inside of the sides of the rectangular frame. The sides of the frame are typically much longer than the ends of the frame. In most arrangements, the cradle includes a pair of spaced-apart padded upright shoulder stops and a headrest at one end to support the user's shoulders and head as he/she reclines on the cradle. In most modern arrangements, there is an adjustable foot bar, foot support or footrest on which the user places his/her feet or hands; it is mounted or mounted to the foot end of the rectangular frame. During operation, the user can push on the pedals, causing the carriage to move along the track away from the pedals, and this action is resisted by the spring tension. Such resistance may provide beneficial exercise for the leg and foot muscle groups according to a prescribed exercise routine.

Most conventional reorganizing trainers utilize a generally U-shaped foot bar at or on the foot end of the frame having a straight foot support between a pair of parallel legs that pivot in some manner relative to the sides of the frame. The foot bar is typically adjustable for a desired height and distance from the carriage. The positioning of the foot bars may be adapted to accommodate different heights of users of the apparatus. Another common feature is a spring anchor rod that is positioned across the foot end of the frame and is typically secured or fixed to the foot end by use of an anchor rod support bracket located on the end or either side of the frame. In a typical arrangement, the end of the anchor rod or portions of the anchor rod will be located within one of a plurality of grooves or slots in the anchor rod support frame. These grooves are designed to provide many different positions and distances of the anchor rod relative to the bracket. In addition, anchor rods typically have means to secure each spring to the anchor rod independently, so there are a number of different arrangements for different exercise resistances to meet the user needs by the spring tension of the springs secured to the anchor rod and the carriage being adjusted by the distance of the anchor rod from the carriage and the number and nature of the springs. Thus, the size and/or capacity and/or strength of the reformer trainer user may be adapted in a variety of ways by foot bar, anchor bar and spring related adjustments. In an alternative arrangement, the anchor rods may be permanently secured to the frame. During use, the carriage is typically prevented from moving closer to the footrest and anchor bar by a stop pin fastened to at least one of the side frames or associated rails of the reformer trainer. When the bracket is stationary, the bracket abuts against the stop pins. In EP1774993, the conventional stop pin arrangement is replaced by a bracket stop surface at the free end of an anchor lever arm which in turn is fixed to the anchor lever at its opposite end in a perpendicular manner. In this arrangement, the anchor lever arm extends perpendicularly from the front of the anchor lever and presents a carriage stop surface to the carriage. An advantage of this arrangement is that the distance between the stop surface and the anchor rod is maintained or fixed at each position of the anchor rod within the anchor rod support. This arrangement facilitates one-handed adjustment of the anchor rod position without the need to reposition the retaining pin and/or remove the spring. It has the serious disadvantage that it is difficult for some users to make such adjustments and may be unsafe for all users, especially when the spring load on the anchor rods is high; when the spring lever is lifted too high, the stop surface may come into separate contact with the bracket.

Accordingly, there is a need for a reformer-type exercise apparatus having an adjustable carriage and spring arrangement that is easy and safe for one-handed operation by a user.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model provides an above-mentioned restriction in the conventional reorganization training ware design. The present invention is an exercise apparatus that includes a preferably wheeled carriage having a generally flat top surface. The carriage is movably mounted on parallel rail members of a generally rectangular frame having a head end, a foot end and two side members. The bracket has a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a headrest located between the shoulder stops and extending outwardly from the bracket toward the head end of the frame. A plurality of resilient members connected between the foot end and the bracket resiliently bias the bracket toward the foot end of the frame. A movable spring anchor bar with an integral carriage stop assembly is provided at the foot end of the rectangular frame preferably with an anchor bar support bracket and these cooperate to anchor the resilient member and properly position the carriage relative to the anchor bar. Furthermore, a foot support mechanism is preferably provided at the foot end of the frame.

The movable spring anchor bar carriage stop assembly basically includes an anchor bar having at least one and preferably two elongated stop members arranged perpendicular to and fixed to the anchor bar, each stop member having a carriage stop surface located toward an end of the stop remote from the anchor bar, and each stop further including at least one movable engagement means engaged with a side member of the frame of the exercise machine and located adjacent the carriage stop surface. In this arrangement, an elongate stop member extends perpendicularly from the front of the anchor rod and a carriage stop surface is presented to the carriage. At the same time, the movable engagement means of the elongated stop member that engages the side members of the frame adjacent the carriage stop surface and the stop member ensures that the elongated member, and thus the anchor bar carriage stop assembly, can be supported when the spring anchor bar is separated from the anchor bar support frame to move to another position on the anchor bar support frame. This new arrangement associated with the assembly and elongated stop member provides improved stability and smoothness of operation to the exercise apparatus during anchor rod repositioning, and is safer than previous arrangements. This new arrangement allows the anchor rod, including any number of springs attached, to be removed and safely repositioned on the exercise apparatus.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus comprising a movable carriage having a generally planar top surface, the movable carriage is movably mounted on parallel rail members of a side member of the frame also having a head end and a foot end, the bracket having a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a plurality of resilient members connected between the foot end and the bracket for resiliently biasing the bracket toward the foot end of the frame, wherein the instrument includes a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly, the assembly including an anchor rod, the anchor rod has at least one elongated stop member arranged perpendicular to the anchor rod and fixed to the anchor rod, the stop member has a carriage stop surface located towards the end of the stop remote from the anchor rod, and the stop member further includes at least one movable engagement device engaged with a side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and positioned toward the end of the stop surface of the stop member.

Preferably, the exercise apparatus has an anchor bar carriage stop assembly that includes two elongated stop members.

In one embodiment, the elongated stop member has a bracket stop surface at an end thereof.

In one embodiment, the elongated stop member comprises a separate stop surface member fixed at the end of its carrier.

In one embodiment, the stop surface member comprises an elastomeric or polymeric material or is a metal.

In one embodiment, the stop surface member is located between an end of the elongated stop member and the moveable engagement means.

In one embodiment, the moveable engagement means is a vertically oriented wheel that rides within a C-section or square-section chute located along or within the side members of the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the frame has a metal C-section or square-section frame.

In yet another arrangement, the elongated stop member and/or stop surface member may be arranged to be located within a hollow (e.g. C-section) exercise frame.

The moveable engagement means may comprise a shaped portion of low friction material that moves within a hollow section frame (e.g. C-shaped or U-shaped or rectangular or square section). In these arrangements, the moveable engagement means secures the elongate stop member by, for example, a pin or shaft which may pass through a slot in the side of the side frame. The pin or shaft may be secured to the low friction material by a bush bearing or similar arrangement.

The movable engagement means is designed to provide rigidity between the elongate stop member and the side members of the frame and is therefore preferably designed and arranged to allow rotation of the elongate stop member about an axis between the engagement means and the side members of the frame but to prevent any other movement between the side members of the frame and the elongate stop member in addition to moving parallel to each other. In this way, the elongated stop member can be moved parallel to the frame side member or rotated about the movable engagement means on an axis perpendicular to the frame side member; other movements are prevented or severely restricted. Thus, during use, the anchor rod is detached from the anchor rod support frame and the attached elongate member rotates about the vertical axis at the moveable engagement point as the elongate member moves during the detachment. Then, when the anchor rod is moved to a new position, both the anchor rod and the movable engagement means are moved relative to the frame side member, and when the anchor rod is placed in the new position, the elongated stop member can be rotated about the axis to the same orientation relative to the frame side member as before the movement of the anchor rod at the new position for the movable engagement point.

Preferably, the moveable engagement means is located at a point on the elongate stop member which allows sufficient rotation about the axis of the moveable engagement means to allow the attached anchor rod to be detached from the anchor rod support bracket. If positioned too close to the anchor rods, the rotational ability will not be sufficient to separate the anchor rods.

In a preferred embodiment, where the frame side members are square section channels, the moveable engagement means preferably comprises vertical wheels and combination horizontal wheels riding in square section runners along the sides of the frame side members or within the frame.

In another embodiment, the end of the elongated stop member is located between the stop surface member and the moveable engagement means.

In a preferred embodiment, the moveable engagement means is a pin and slot arrangement, such as where the slot is constructed of a low friction material, such as a low friction polymer slot on the frame side member into which a shaft or pin (i.e., a metal pin) projecting from the side of the elongated stop member engages. In a preferred embodiment, the pin or shaft is an integral part of the stop surface member. In a preferred embodiment, a pin or shaft portion of the stop surface member passes through the elongated stop member to engage a slot in the frame side member. The slot is preferably in a metal plate or portion attached to or within a side frame of the exercise apparatus. Preferably, the slot is made of a low friction polymeric material and preferably a hard low friction polymeric material. Preferred materials include Polyoxymethylene (POM) based polymers, nylon materials, and acetal homopolymers (such as the acetal homopolymer family produced by dupont).

In a typical arrangement, the spring anchor rods are captured by a pair of spring anchor rod support brackets, each having a plurality of rod receiving grooves therein. Each support bracket is fixed to a frame side member or frame end. The assembly may also include a latch mechanism that may be operated with one hand to removably secure the assembly to the spring anchor pole support bracket. The one end of each stop member with its stop surface member acts as a carriage stop which correctly maintains a minimum distance between the carriage and the anchor rod regardless of which groove in the support frame carries the anchor rod. During operation, once the anchor rods are removed from the anchor rod support frame, the movable engagement means holds the assembly and the instrument frame in a relatively disposed and rigid but movable spatial arrangement, which ensures easy and stable repositioning of the assembly.

In an alternative arrangement, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus comprising a movable carriage having a generally planar top surface, the carriage is movably mounted on parallel rail members of a frame side member having a head end and a foot end, the bracket having a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a plurality of resilient members connected between the foot and the bracket to resiliently bias the bracket toward the foot of the frame side member, characterised in that the exercise apparatus comprises a movable spring anchor bar carriage stop assembly comprising an anchor bar and at least one elongate stop member arranged perpendicular to the anchor bar and pivotably secured to the carriage, the stop member has a stop surface located towards an end of the stop member remote from the bracket, and the stop member further comprises a moveable engagement means engaged with the frame side member of the exercise apparatus and located towards the end of the stop surface of the stop member.

In this arrangement, the stop member is pivotally mounted to the front of the bracket and is not part of or attached to the anchor rod. Under tension, the stop surface of the stop member is removably in contact with the anchor rod to provide a carriage stop function during use. Preferably, the stop surface comprises a U-shaped or C-shaped profile which can engage with and partially surround the anchor rod at the contact point. This ensures that when the anchor rod is moved, the stop member engaged with the anchor rod by this feature moves in unison with the anchor rod.

All embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a secondary locking mechanism to secure the anchoring rod and/or the elongated stop member after the anchoring rod and/or the elongated stop member have been repositioned in the instrument.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed as illustrative examples.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foot end of an exercise apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of area A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exercise apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a differently sized movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly for use in the instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly in another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a foot end of an exercise apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention incorporating the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus according to the present invention using a shaft and slot as moveable engagement means;

FIG. 6A is an exploded view of region B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a foot end of the exercise apparatus according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan and perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly for the instrument of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a foot end of an exercise apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly for the instrument of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged portion of a top view of the movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly as shown in FIG. 8.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, 1A and 2, an exercise apparatus 1 is shown having a foot end 2, a side frame 3 and a carriage 4. Also shown are foot bar assemblies 5, 5 'and 6, 6' which can be adjusted for different heights and distances from the carriage 4. A movable spring anchor rod 8 is shown, the anchor rod 8 having a square cross-section and having a plurality of anchor points 14 for the movable spring 7. Two elongated stop members 9 are fixed to both end portions of the movable spring anchor rod 8, the elongated stop members 9 extending from the movable spring anchor rod 8 toward the bracket 4 and being arranged substantially parallel to the side frames 3. The movable spring anchor bar 8 comprises a pin 15 at either end, the pin 15 engaging with a slot 13 in an anchor bar support 16 fixed to the side frame 3 and being fixed within a slot (13) in the anchor bar support 16. At the end of the elongated stop member 9 a stop surface member 10 is provided, which stop surface member 10 is located between the end of the elongated stop member 9 and a movable engagement means 11, which movable engagement means 11 is firmly engaged within the C-shaped cross-sectional profile 12 of the side frame 3. In this embodiment, the moveable engagement means 11 takes the form of a wheel arrangement having ends perpendicular to the axis of the elongate stop member 9 and the frame 3 and passing through the stop surface member 10 and the elongate stop member 9. During use, movable spring anchor rod 8 and its pin 15 are removed from engagement in slot 13 of anchor rod support 16, causing the entire assembly to pivot about an axis by wheel 11, wheel 11 being securely positioned within C-section 12. As the anchor bar 8 moves towards the slot 13 in the anchor bar support 16 as the next anchor point and towards the carriage 4, the wheeled moveable engagement means 11 travels within the C-section along the C-section and keeps the end of the elongate stop member 9 and the stop surface member 10 rigidly aligned with the frame 3 about the pivot axis. The anchor rod 8 is raised upwards forcing the elongated stop member 9 to rotate upwards about the pivot axis of the wheel. Once the anchor bar 8 is aligned with the position of the next slot 13 in the anchor bar support 16 and placed at the position of that slot 13, the attached elongated stop member 9 will now rotate the wheel down the pivot axis and the entire assembly will be rigidly locked in place for use. During this movement, thanks to the rigidity of the anchoring rod 8 and to the constrained but movable positioning of the movable engagement means 11 with respect to the anchoring rod 8, the whole assembly maintains its strength and rigidity through this movement, thus ensuring a smooth and safe operation.

Referring to fig. 3, two similar anchor bar assemblies 20 are shown having anchor bars 8 with pins 15 and anchor points 14. The assembly has elongated stop members 9 and 9 ', which stop members 9 and 9' have at their ends stop surface members 10 and wheel means 11 for movable engagement. The stop members 9 and 9' have different lengths.

Referring to fig. 4, as an alternative to the C-shaped cross-sectional profile 12 of fig. 1, an anchor rod assembly 40 is designed for use with an exercise apparatus having a side frame with a square cross-sectional profile. The assembly 40 has an anchor rod 45, the anchor rod 45 having an anchor rod pin 48, a spring anchor point 46, an elongated stop member 43, a stop surface member 42 and two wheel means 41 and 47 for moveable engagement. The larger wheels 41 and the smaller wheels 47 mounted perpendicular to the larger wheels 41 cooperate to ensure proper alignment and travel of the assembly within a square cross-section frame instrument.

Referring to fig. 5, the apparatus of fig. 4 is shown in situ in an exercise apparatus 50, the exercise apparatus 50 having a frame end 56 and a side frame 49, the side frame 49 having an internal channel (not shown) of square cross-section. Also shown is an anchor rod support member 51, the anchor rod support member 51 being fixed to the side frame 49 and having a plurality of slots 55 for engaging the pins 48 of the anchor rod 45. Foot bar assemblies 52, 53 and 54 are also shown.

Referring to fig. 6, an exercise apparatus 60 is shown, the exercise apparatus 60 incorporating a pin 94 (not shown) and low friction slot or guide 69 arrangement as a moveable engagement means. In particular, the bracket 61, shoulder stop 62, side frame 63, foot bar assemblies 64 and 65, anchor bar 66, elongated stop member 67, stop surface member 68 and low friction polymer lined slot 69 in the side frame 63 and anchor bar support 72 secured to the side frame 63 are shown. This is shown in more detail in fig. 6A and 7, which show an instrument 70 having a footrest assembly 64, 74, 75 and 76, an anchor bar 66 of square cross-section with an end pin 73, an elongated stop member 67 and a stop surface member 68, and a spring 77. A pin attached to the elongated stop member 67 or passing through the elongated stop member 67 is movably engaged within the slot 69. The anchor bar assembly 90 for this instrument is further illustrated in fig. 8 and 11, in which there is shown an anchor bar 91 having an end pin 93 for engagement with the anchor bar support 72 (not shown), the anchor bar 91 having two elongate stop members 92 and two stop surface members 95 at the ends of the elongate stop members 92 remote from the anchor bar 91. Also shown is a pin or shaft 94 adjacent to stop surface member 95; the pins engage within the slot 69 of the instrument and rotate and slide within the slot 69. During use, the elongated stop member 92 and the stop surface member 95 are able to pivot about the axis of the pins 94, but any other movement is constrained except for moving with the pins 94 as the pins 94 rotate and/or slide in the low friction slots 69. As shown in fig. 11, the end pin 93 has two sections 120, 121, a first section 120 proximate the elongated stop member 92 being larger in size than the second section 121, which is of the correct size to fit comfortably within the slot 71 of the anchor bar support 72. The larger size of the segments 120 ensures that lateral movement of the anchor bar 91 is minimized when the end pin 93 is located within the slot 71, while ensuring that the sides of the elongated stop members 67, 92 do not come into contact with the instrument frame 63 and the anchor bar support 72 during use. The moveable engagement means in the form of a pin 94 comprises two sections 122, 123. The first section 122 proximate the outer surface of the elongated stop members 67, 92 is comfortably seated within the low friction slot 69 of the instrument 60, while the outer section 123 in the form of a flange is seated within the interior of the side frame 63 and prevents the pin 94 from moving laterally into engagement within the low friction slot 69. This arrangement ensures that the elongated stop members 67, 92 remain rigidly in position relative to the side frame 63 and remain engaged with the side frame 63 when the anchor bar 91 is separated from the anchor bar supports 71, 72, but are free to pivot about the pin 94, and the entire anchor bar assembly can thus be moved to a new slot 71 location in the anchor bar support 72 when the pin 94 is free to slide within the confines of the low friction slot or guide 69. The stop surface 124 of the stop surface member 95 is also shown.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, there is shown an instrument 100 and anchor rod assembly 200 utilizing a top surface track 109 upon which a portion of a moveable engagement device 107 in the form of a wheel is engaged on the surface track 109. An elongated stop member 102, foot pedal assemblies 103, 111, 112, 114, and 115 at the foot end of the instrument 100, a square cross-section anchor bar 104, a spring anchor 105, a carriage 106, carriage springs 116, side frames 114, stop surface members 108, and aligned wheels 117 are shown.

The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above. Many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents to the various structures shown and described will now occur to those skilled in the art.

Thus, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated herein with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described, but rather is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and broad scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. All patents, patent applications, and printed publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

It is to be understood that any embodiment described herein may be used in combination with one or more of each of the other embodiments, and all such combinations of embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

All of the features disclosed in this specification for each embodiment (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Claims (22)

1. An exercise apparatus comprising a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface movably mounted on parallel track members of a frame having a head end, a foot end, and side members, the movable carriage having: a pair of shoulder stops mounted to the movable bracket; and a plurality of resilient members connected between the foot end and the movable bracket to resiliently bias the movable bracket toward the foot end of the frame,

characterised in that the exercise apparatus comprises a movable spring anchor bar carriage stop assembly comprising an anchor bar having at least one elongate stop member arranged perpendicular to the anchor bar and fixed thereto, the at least one elongate stop member having a carriage stop surface located towards an end of the at least one elongate stop member remote from the anchor bar, and the at least one elongate stop member further comprising at least one movable engagement means engaging with a side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable engagement device engaged with the side members of the frame of the exercise apparatus is positioned toward an end of the at least one elongated stop member toward which the carriage stop surface is directed.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable engagement device provides a pivot point about an axis perpendicular to side members of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated stop member pivots about a point associated with the at least one movable engagement device.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable spring anchor bar carriage stop assembly includes two elongated stop members.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carriage stop surface of the at least one elongated stop member is located at an end of the at least one elongated stop member.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated stop member includes a stop surface member fixed at an end thereof.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stop surface member comprises an elastomeric material or a polymeric material.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stop surface member is located between the end of the at least one elongated stop member and the moveable engagement device.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable engagement means is a vertical wheel that rides in a chute along the side of or within a C-section in the side member of the frame.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side members of the frame are C-section frames.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable engagement means is a vertical wheel in combination with a horizontal wheel, the vertical and horizontal wheels each riding in a square cross-section runner along or within a side member of the frame.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side members of the frame are square cross-section frames.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the end of the at least one elongated stop member is located between the stop surface member and the moveable engagement device.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable engagement means comprises a slot in a side member of the exercise apparatus frame and a shaft projecting from a side of the at least one elongated stop member and engaging the slot.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shaft is an integral part of a stop surface member fixed at an end of the at least one elongated stop member.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein the integral portion of the stop surface member as the shaft passes through the at least one elongated stop member to engage the slot.

18. The exercise apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the slots are in metal plates or portions of metal attached to or within side members of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

19. The exercise apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the slot comprises a low friction material.

20. The exercise apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the stop surface members comprise a metallic material or a low friction material.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one moveable engagement device includes a low friction material slidably engaged within side members of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

22. The exercise apparatus of claim 19, wherein the low friction material is a low friction polymeric material.

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