ES2707984T3 - Reformer exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A set of foot bars for use in a reformer exercise apparatus (100; 400) having a generally rectangular frame (102; 402) with parallel side parts (108; 408), a head end (104; 404) and one end of feet (106; 406), each side part (108; 408) has an open outward groove (136; 436) that extends along at least part of the side part (108; 408), the set of foot bars comprises: a generally U-shaped foot bar (111; 411) sized to encompass the parallel side parts (108; 408) of a reforming exercise apparatus, the foot bar (111; 411) it has a first end and a second end (154); and a pair of foot bar support assemblies (170; 470), wherein each foot bar support assembly (170; 470) comprises: an elongated slide plate (172, 204; 538) configured to be supported movably through an open-out slot (136; 436) of one of the side parts (108; 408) of the reformer exercise apparatus; a hook plate (174; 474) parallel to the slide plate (172, 204; 538) attached to the slide plate (172, 204; 538); and a foot bar support arm (158; 458) rotatably and slidably attached to the hook plate (174; 474) and having one end (156; 456) attached to one of the first and second ends ( 154) of the foot bar (111; 411); characterized in that the foot bar assembly further comprises: a locking member (200; 530) functionally coupled to the hook plate (174; 474) to allow movement of the sliding plate (172, 204; 538) at Slot length open outward (136; 436) only when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a predetermined position relative to the hook plate (174; 474) and prevent plate movement sliding (172, 204; 538) along the groove open outward (136; 436) when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a position other than the default.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Reformer exercise apparatus

Background of the description

Field of description

The present description is related to an exercise apparatus. In particular, it is related to a reforming exercise apparatus of new and contemporary design that has several exclusive innovations.

State of the art

Exercise machines used to perform physical exercises originated by Joseph Pilates are typically performed on a stationary apparatus called a reformer. A traditional reformer has a rectangular wooden or metal frame that supports two parallel tracks or tracks. A wheeled cart is mounted on these tracks and is resiliently biased towards one end of the frame feet by one or more elastic members, typically coil springs. A user sits or lays on the car and pushes against a foot support bar at the foot end to move the car away and toward the end of the feet. Alternatively, the user can grasp ends of a pair of cords or belts that pass through pulleys at the head end of the frame and connect to the carriage to similarly pull the carriage away from and approaching the foot end of the frame.

A focus on Pilates training is the stabilization of the central musculature. The exercises performed on the reformer are performed by the user, ideally with care, concentrating on the body's symmetry and the symmetrical movement of the body and proper alignment of the torso during exercise. It is often somewhat difficult for the user to feel when properly centered on the reformer, and to exert equal forces with both arms or both legs during the required movements. Also, the user must leave the reformer or an assistant must change the positions of the foot support bar that may be required for different exercises. This is at least a discomfort for the user. In addition, the user must reposition his body on the car to recover an appropriate alignment.

The ends of the arm cords are typically placed through holes in the carriage platform so that they are out of the user's way or cover over the sides of the carriage. Thus they can drag on the ground below the car. The user also has difficulty adjusting the arm string length while reclining on the reformer car. The user usually has to sit upright, adjust the arm string length on the stop plugs, and then reposition on the surface of the car.

The rails on which the trolley is mounted are typically horizontal surfaces that collect dust and dirt over time and so the rollers and tracks must be cleaned often. In addition, the user must be careful that his clothes do not cover the rails to prevent such clothing from interfering with the operation of the carriage rollers.

Therefore, there is a need for a reformer apparatus that is simple and clear to use, easy for the user to adjust without leaving the reformer car, and to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

US 7,803,095 discloses an exercise machine, which includes a stationary frame assembly, a horizontal slide carriage assembly and a foot bar. The arms of the foot bar are pivotably mounted on a pair of gripping shoes for angular adjustment. To adjust the longitudinal position of the footbar, the user removes the handles of a pair of pins and slides the footbar to the desired position. Compendium of the invention

According to one aspect of the invention, a foot bar assembly according to claim 1 is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a reforming exercise apparatus according to claim 11. Compendium of the description

A reforming exercise apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel spaced side rail portions, a head end portion and a foot end portion. A movable carriage is provided which is supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage between the head and foot end portions. A predisposition member, such as one or more coil springs, is connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame to predispose the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. A foot support member, such as a foot bar, is supported by the side rails portions of the frame.

Each of the side rails parts of the frame has an upright exterior wall and an integral horizontal top wall which is combined inside an interior wall inclined inwards and downwards. Each part of The side rail has a middle wall that extends down between the outer wall and the inner wall to support the foot support member. The middle wall has a longitudinally extending upper elevation and a longitudinally extending lower elevation forming an outwardly open slot therebetween which faces the outer wall. Each side rail part includes a horizontal wall between the inner wall and the middle wall.

The middle wall has a lower end portion that forms a horizontal track to support the carriage. In addition, this lower part of the middle wall also provides lateral support for roller wheels on the carriage to guide its movement between the head and foot ends of the frame.

One end of each foot support member is movably supported in the open slot outwardly between the upper and lower elevations of the middle wall. In addition, the middle wall includes a plurality of features, preferably slits, for discreet positioning of the foot support member along a length of the side rails members of the frame.

The foot support assembly includes a foot bar. The foot bar is supported at each end by a foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the slots open outwardly in the side rails portions of the frame. Each foot bar support assembly includes an elongated slide plate movably supported within the slot, a hook plate fastened to the slide plate, and a foot bar support arm having an end attached to a foot. foot bar end and a part rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate.

The sliding plate is an elongated member having opposite ends, each end bears a roller for mounting on a lower surface of the slot open outwardly in the middle wall of the side rail portion of the reformer frame. The slide plate also preferably has at least one roller for mounting against an upright surface of the middle wall within the slot.

The foot bar support arm has a lower end portion attached to a foot bar end. The upper end of the foot bar support arm has a coupling member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the hook plate when the foot bar slides upwardly for rotation around the hook plate. The hook plate has an upper edge, the upper edge has a plurality of discrete features at spaced locations to selectively engage a portion of the foot bar support arm to position the foot bar at predetermined angles from the top surface plane of the reformer's frame.

Each discrete feature is preferably a slit having a distinctive shape. Each slot corresponds to a particular angular position for the foot bar with respect to the frame. Each hook plate also preferably has an L-shaped groove for receiving the coupling member on the foot bar support arm. This L-shaped slit positions the foot bar at a level below the upper frame surface and provides a user with a convenient carry handle bar at the foot end of the frame. Preferably the foot bar support arm carries a generally cylindrical pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features, i.e., one of the slits in the hook plate.

In another aspect the present description describes a foot bar assembly for use in a reformer exercise apparatus having a generally rectangular frame with parallel sides, a head end and a foot end, each side having an outwardly open slot that it extends along at least part of the side. The foot bar assembly includes a generally U-shaped foot bar having a first end and a second end, an elongated sliding plate movably supported within each of the slots, a hook plate attached to each sliding plate, and a foot bar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to each hook plate and fastened to one of the first and second ends of the foot bar.

In another aspect of the description, a reforming exercise apparatus is described having a generally rectangular frame supporting a carriage for movement between a head end and a foot end of the frame in parallel spaced side rails portions of the frame, and a foot bar supported by the frame wherein the head end of the frame has a pair of spaced vertical holes formed therein, and a riser tube arm supporting tube disposed in each hole. Each string support riser tube includes a hollow cylindrical tube that carries a first roller therein near a lower end of the tube, a second roller rotatably supported within an upper end of the tube, and a rod adjacent the second roller for directing an arm cord around the second roller.

Preferably in one embodiment the lower end of the tube is open to receive the arm cord through it and the upper end includes an upper part having a vault shape with an opening therethrough for the passage of the arm cord outside the tube. The upper part of the tube also preferably has a pair of spaced apart rods adjacent to the opening and the second roller, and may also have a horizontal row between the spaced apart rods. In some embodiments these grnes are rollers. The tube Furthermore, the riser may include a rope inner grom plate above the first roller to guide the arm rope on the first roller. The upper part of riser tube can be detachable from the riser tube and rotatably attached thereto. In addition, the upper part may include a pair of spaced apart strands adjacent to the opening for a smooth passage of the arm string. In another embodiment, the arm string can be directed through one side of the tube just below a roller or upper pulley wheel. Preferably a pair of roller wheels is arranged adjacent to the opening through which the arm string exits the tube. The rising tube top part can again be detachable from the riser tube as a cartridge assembly.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a reformer exercise apparatus that includes an arm cord retraction assembly mounted on a surface of the underside of the carriage. The retraction assembly has a pair of rope retraction devices, each device has a stationary frame that carries a spring-loaded rotating reel in it connected to a free end of one of the arm strings, each reel has an outer edge jagged.

The retraction assembly also includes a pair of serrated engaging members rotatably mounted on the underside of the carriage and mechanically connected together so that rotation of one of the engaging members outside the toothed coupling with one of the serrated outer edges causes the other of the coupling members rotates out of the toothed coupling with the toothed outer edge of the other spring-loaded coil.

The retraction assembly further has an actuator connected to one of the engaging members that can function to rotate the engaging members in and out of engagement with the serrated edges of the retraction coils. This actuator is preferably disposed resiliently outside the coupling with the engaging members.

In one embodiment of a reforming exercise apparatus according to the present disclosure the actuator is incorporated in a pair of spaced shoulder stops extending from an upper surface of the carriage. Each of the shoulder stops is rotatably mounted on the carriage preferably for rotation about a horizontal axis. The actuator may be an elongated pin member extending down from the shoulder stop, through an opening in the carriage and projecting therefrom to engage one of the engaging members. The pivoting movement, that is, rotation, by the user, of a shoulder stop about its axis toward the foot end of the frame engages the actuator with one of the engaging members which in turn causes both engaging members they uncouple from the jagged outer edges. Preferably each spring engages a spring which predisposes each engaging member to engagement with one of the retraction coils.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an arm string retraction kit is provided for later installation in a conventional reformer exercise apparatus. The components in the kit are designed to connect to the reformer car. The kit includes a pair of rope retraction devices, each device has a stationary frame for mounting on a lower side surface of a reformer car, each frame bears a spring-loaded rotary reel therein connectable to a free end of the frame. an arm string, each coil having a serrated outer edge, a pair of serrated engaging members for pivotal mounting on the underside surface of the carriage, wherein the engaging members are mechanically connected together so that the rotation of one of the engaging members outside the toothed coupling with one of the outer toothed edges causes the other of the engaging members to rotate out of the toothed coupling with the toothed outer edge of the other spring-biased coil, and an actuator to engage one of the coupling members when the shoulder stops are mounted on the reformer car.

In another aspect of the reformer exercise apparatus of the present disclosure, the carriage includes an integral adjustable headrest. The carriage includes a generally rectangular frame, a generally rectangular body plate part attached to the frame, and a headrest plate part in a generally trapezoidal shape hinged to the body part. A shaped upper pad is attached to an upper surface of the body and parts of the headrest.

In a still further aspect of the reforming exercise apparatus of the present disclosure, the frame preferably includes replaceable legs positioned at the corners of the generally rectangular frame. Each leg has an outer surface shape complementary to the shape of the corner. Each leg has a top end shape configured to fit within a complementary recess in the bottom side surface of the frame. Each leg is an extrusion secured to the frame with a single bolt that passes vertically through the leg into a corresponding elevation in the frame. The lower end of each leg includes a foot pad that facilitates the stacking of one apparatus on top of another by coupling the outer corners of the head end of the reformer and outer corners of the platform raised at the foot end. of the reformer in a foot pad recess in each foot pad.

In a still further aspect of the present disclosure, an elastic resistance member may be held between the foot bar assembly and the head end of the reformer frame. When the bar assembly of feet is free to move along the side rails of the frame is resiliently disposed towards the head end of the reformer frame. In this configuration, the foot bar assembly can be grasped with the hands of a user while sitting or reclining on the car, and the foot bar assembly is pulled along the rails against the resistance toward the car with In order to perform various exercises of the upper body separately or together with leg extensions against the foot end of the reformer frame. The resilient resilient member can alternatively be held between the foot bar assembly and the foot end of the frame to facilitate similar exercises from the foot end of the frame by pulling the foot bar assembly toward the carriage.

Brief description of the drawings

The disclosure will be better understood and objects, apart from those presented above, will become evident when the following detailed description is considered. Said description refers to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reforming exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a separate perspective view of the reformer frame shown in Figure 1 according to the present description.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a side rail member of the frame taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the foot end of a reformer according to the present description. Figure 5 is a separate perspective view of a foot bar used in the reforming exercise apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is an external perspective view of a foot bar support assembly of right side rail member according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is an interior perspective view of the foot rail support assembly of right side rail member shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a left rail member taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2 showing the arrangement of the foot bar support assembly carried therein.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the reforming exercise apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the head end of the reforming apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 11 is a separate perspective view of the lower pulley wheel assembly for the riser tube at the head end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view separated from the carriage in the reforming exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1 according to the present disclosure.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the head end portion of the carriage shown in Figure 1 according to the present disclosure showing the rope retraction mechanism engaging members coupled with the rope retraction coils.

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the head end portion of the car as in Figure 13 with the uncoupled hitch members of the rope retraction coils.

Figure 15 is a sectional view through the carriage taken along the line 15-15 in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the underside of a carriage having a rope retraction system according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 17 is a bottom side view as in Figure 17 showing the rope retraction system in a release position.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the underside of the head end of an alternative car according to the present description.

Figure 19 is a side view of the head end of the cart shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Figure 18 with the headrest in a first up position.

Figure 21 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Figure 18 with the headrest in a second raised position.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the head end of an alternative reformer according to the present description.

Figure 23 is an exploded view of the interior of the alternate reformer shown in Figure 22.

Fig. 24 is an exploded perspective view separate from the interior of the foot end assembly of the alternative reformer shown in Fig. 22.

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

Figure 26 is a separate assembled perspective view of an ascending pipe used in the reformer shown in Figure 22.

Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view of the riser tube shown in Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a partial sectional view of the riser tube shown in Figure 26 installed in the head end cap of the reformer shown in Figure 22.

Figure 29 is a separate inside perspective view of the foot bar support assembly used in the reformer shown in Figure 22.

Figure 30 is an external perspective view of the foot bar support assembly shown in Figure 29. Figure 31 is a separate perspective view of the underside of the carriage frame assembly of the carriage shown in Figure 22.

Figure 32 is a bottom side perspective view of the support pad removed from the carriage shown in Figure 22.

Figure 33 is a separate perspective view of a shroud used in the reformer shown in Figure 22.

Figure 34 is an exploded partial top view of the reformer carriage shown in Figure 22. Figure 35 is an inverted view of the cart removed from the reformer shown in Figure 22 showing the rope retraction system according to this alternative embodiment. .

Figure 36 is a bottom side plan view of the head end of the carriage shown in Figure 35 with the rope retraction system in a rope locking position.

Figure 37 is a view as in Figure 36 with the rope retraction system in a unlocked rope position.

Figure 38 is a perspective view of the head end of the carriage with the headrest in a lowered position.

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

Figure 40 is a perspective view of the underside of the head end of the carriage showing the risers and shoulder stops for installation in the storage position as shown in Figure 39.

Figure 41 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in Figure 22 including an optional vertical trapezium tower and carpet conversion according to the present disclosure.

Figure 42 is a perspective view of a trapezium tower bushing aligned against the end of a side rail of the reformer shown in Figure 41 for connection to the head end extrusion.

Figure 43 is a sectional view through the trapezium tower bushing of the tower shown in Figure 41.

Figure 44 is a partial sectional view through one of the riser tube elevations at the head end of the reformer shown in Figure 41 showing an alternate lower pulley support installed therein.

Figure 45 is a perspective view of a reformer as in Figure 22 with an alternative vertical trapezium tower and carpet conversion according to the present description.

Figure 46 is a perspective view of the hand grip end portion of an arm cord for use with a reformer according to the present disclosure.

Figure 47 is a perspective view as in Figure 46 with a handle connected to the arm cord according to the present description.

Figure 48 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in Figure 22 with a jump board installed at the foot end of the reformer frame.

Figure 49 is an enlarged vertical partial section view through one of two posts supporting the jump board installed at the foot end of the reformer frame.

Detailed description

In the following description, numerous specific details are presented in order to provide a more in-depth description. However, for the person skilled in the art it will be evident that the described technique can be put into practice without these specific details. In some cases, well-known features may not be described in detail so as not to obscure the described technique.

In figure 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a reforming exercise apparatus 100 is shown. The apparatus 100 has a generally rectangular frame 102 with a head end 104 and a foot end 106. The ends 104 and 106 are spaced apart by a pair of lane members 108. A carriage 110 is movably supported on the rail members 108 for forward and backward movement between the ends 104 and 106 of the frame 102.

A foot bar 111 is positioned near the foot end 106 of the frame 102. This foot bar 111 is carried by the rail members 108 as will be described in detail below. The head end 104 of the frame 102 preferably supports a removable pair of spaced upright rope riser tubes 112. These risers 112 direct the arm cords 114 from the carriage 110 to the rope end loops 116 or grips for the ends. hands of a user to use in various exercises. When not in use, the end loops 116 may be conveniently positioned at the shoulder stops 118 as shown in Figure 1. The carriage 110 is resiliently biased towards the foot end 116 of the frame 102 by one or more members elastics such as springs 120.

In Figure 2 a separate perspective view of the frame 102 is shown. Each of the head end 104, the foot end 106 and the side rail members 108 have a similar outer surface shape that combine together smoothly. This shape includes an outer upright wall 122 which is combined with a horizontal upper wall 124 which is combined with an inner wall inclined downward and inward 126. The inner wall 126 is combined into a vertical skirt part 128. Thus the entire frame 102 includes an upright exterior wall 122, an interior wall inclined downward and inward 126 and a vertical skirt part 128.

The head and foot ends 104 and 106 have curved outer ends 107 that curve to the side rail members 108 and smoothly combine therewith. The head end 104 further includes elevations for receiving the riser tubes 112. The foot end 106 has an anchor support plate 121 which extends between the curved ends 107 to support ends of the predisposition members or springs 120 to predispose the carriage 110 as mentioned above.

Extending downward from each curved end 107 is an upstanding support leg with complementary shape 129. 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. The support legs 129 can be exchanged for longer or shorter support legs to change the height of the apparatus 100 above in such a floor support surface.

In Figure 3 a sectional view of a side rail member 108 is shown. Each rail member 108 is preferably an aluminum extrusion having an identical cross-sectional shape. The rail member 108, as mentioned above, has an exterior upstanding wall 122 which is combined into a horizontal upper wall 124 and then into a downward sloping interior wall 126 and then into a vertical skirt part 128. The end members 104 and 106 have the same exterior shape, but differ internally from the members of side rails 108.

As shown in Figure 3, each side rail member 108 has a vertical middle wall 130 between the wall inclined interior 126 and the upright exterior wall 122. The middle wall 130 has a longitudinally extending outwardly facing upper elevation 132 and a longitudinally extending outwardly facing lower elevation 134 parallel to the upper elevation 132. The middle wall 130, the upper elevation 132 and the lower elevation 134 all together form an outwardly open slot 136 therebetween. This groove 136 receives and carries one of the footbar support assemblies therein as will be described in detail below. Between the middle wall 130 and the inclined inner wall 126 there is an upper horizontal support wall 138. The support wall 138 extends the length of the rail member 108 and provides torsional stiffness to the structure of the rail member 108. A lower part The horizontal wall 140 of the middle wall 130 acts as a support for a group of wheels supporting the carriage 110. The upper wall 138 also serves as the upper element for the carriage support wheels on the rail members 108. In addition, the middle wall 130 between the upper and lower walls 138 and 140 and the skirt part 128 serves as the side rail for the carriage 110.

The upper elevation 132 preferably has a vertical portion 142 that extends down parallel to the middle wall 130. This vertical portion 142 is used to provide lateral support for the foot support assembly described more fully below. In addition, the lower elevation 134 may include a downward indexing track 144. Alternatively, the index track 144 may be installed along the length of the rail member 108 by a separate indexable metal indexing rail. born in the lift 134.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a foot end 106 of the frame 102. The foot end 106 carries the anchor plate 121 to receive free ends of one or more of the springs 120. Each of a plurality of spaced pins in the form of hourglass reel 148 is positioned to receive a loop in a spring 120 in order to hold the spring 120 to the foot end 106 of the frame 102. Each of these pins 148 is preferably in upward and downward direction. in from its base to a waist with a first angle from the central axis of the pin and then outwardly with a second angle greater than the first angle so that the free end of a spring placed on the pin 148, when under tension, it is held securely in the waist of the pin 148.

Each corner of the frame 102, formed by the ends 104 and 106, includes curved outer erect wall 122, upper wall 124, and inwardly inclined inner wall 126. Preferably the inner wall 126 terminates in an erect bottom skirt portion 128. feet 106 also includes two spaced tubular foot support elevations 146 formed therein. These foot support lifts 146 are used to support a flat, generally rectangular foot platform (not shown) often referred to as a "jump board". This skip board is a rectangular plate having two spaced parallel support posts that engage removably in the foot support lifts 146.

The foot bar 111 shown in Fig. 1 will now be specifically described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The foot bar 111 is part of a foot support assembly that can not be seen in the Figure 1. This foot bar 111 is shown separately in Figure 5. The foot bar 111 has a central horizontal foot support part 150 between two parallel leg parts 152. Each leg part 152 terminates in a part of connection 154 which is attached to one of two foot bar support assemblies 170.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, the connecting part 154 is bolted or otherwise secured to a lower end 156 of an elongate foot support arm 158. The arm 158, best shown in Figure 6, is an elongated flat plate member having a coupling pin 161 projecting outwardly from the upper end 160 of the arm 158. The arm 158 further has a closed pivot slot 162. which extends radially parallel to the leg portion 152 of the foot bar 111 and spaced from where the connecting part 154 of the foot bar 111 is connected to the arm 158.

The foot support assembly of the reformer 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a left support assembly 170 of the foot bar, the foot bar 111, and a right support assembly 170 of the foot bar. Figures 6 and 7 are reverse perspective views of the right side of the foot bar support assemblies 170 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each leg 152 of the foot bar 111 is supported by one of the foot bar support assemblies 170. As best shown in Figure 6, the assembly 170 includes the foot bar support arm 158 to which the foot bar 111 is connected, a sliding part 172 which is mounted in the groove 136 in the side rail member 108, and a hook plate 174 which is fixedly attached to the sliding part 172. This hook plate 174 has a series of features, preferably grooves or slots 176, 178, 180, 182 and 184 spaced along the upper edge of the hook plate 174. The pin 161 projecting outwardly from the upper end 160 of the foot bar support arm 158 fits within one of these slots 176-184 to position the foot bar 111 in a desired angular position. particular with respect to the frame 102 of the reformer 100.

The foot bar support arm 158 is slidably and pivotally connected to the hook plate 174 by a bolt 186 and square bushing 188. The bushing 188 is mounted between the parallel sides, and along these, of a recess 190 in the arm 158 around the pivot slot 162. As the foot bar 111 is attached to the arm 158, when a user lifts the foot bar 111, the support arm 158 is mounted up and down along of the slot 162. In turn, the pin 161 projecting outwardly from the upper end 160 of the support arm 158 is raised out of one of the slots along the upper edge of the hook plate 174. When raised in this manner, a user can then rotate the foot bar 111 around the pivot pin 186 to a different one of the slots 176, 178, 180, 182 or 184 to reposition the foot bar 111. When the foot bar 111 is lowered, the pin 161 slides down into one of the slots to secure the foot bar 111. in position.

The end slots or slots 176 and 184 have special significance in this embodiment 100. When the foot bar 111 has both of its pins 161 positioned in slots 176, the foot bar 111 is rotationally positioned below the top surface 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 raise the foot end of the reformer 100. To ensure that the foot bar 111 is not disengaged from the slot 176, the terminal end of the slot 176 is hooked upwards, as can be seen in Figure 6, to engage firmly with the pin 161 at the closed end of the slot 176. To uncouple the foot bar 111 from this slot 176, the Footbar 111 should be pushed down and pulled back (away from the foot end) to align pin 161 with the enlarged slot entry. The foot bar 111 can then be rotated upwards and raised out of the slot 176 and repositioned in a different slot 178, 180, 182 and 184.

The forward plus slot 184 on 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. As the foot bar 111 is raised and rotated clockwise, as seen in Figure 6, the arm 158 is rotated around the pin 186 clockwise until the pin 161 engages a projecting surface 192 at the end forward (end towards the head 104) of the hook plate 174. In this position, a shoulder 194 on the support arm 158 is engaged with a latch pin 196 projecting through a slot 198 in the plate hook 174. The hitch pin 196 is projected through the hook plate 174 of a hitch arm 200 which is best seen in figure 7. When the foot bar 111 is then lowered, the shoulder 194 of the arm 158 pushes latching pin 196 downwards.

The hook arm 200 is an elongated bar having an end rotatably secured to the inner face of the hook plate 174. The hook arm 200 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inner surface of the hook plate 174. The other The end of the hook arm 200 has a hook part 202 which engages the indexing feature with complementary shape on the rail member 108 in order to engage the assembly 170 at a selected position along the rail member 108. The latch arm 200 is spring-biased upwardly by means of the spring member 201 to maintain the latching portion 202 of the latch arm 200 coupled with the indexing feature of the index rail 144 on the rail member 108.

When the foot bar 111 is positioned with pins 161 in the slots 184, and the foot bar 111 is pushed down to fully seat the pins 161 at the bottom of the slots 184, the latch pins 196 are also pushed down by rotating the hook arm 200 and moving the hook part 202 out of engagement with the indexing feature of the index rail 144 on the rail member 108. With the hook portions 202 uncoupled from the rail members 108, the bar of feet 111 can be moved toward or away from the end of feet 106 of frame 102 by means of rollers 206. In fact, foot bar 111 can be fully moved to the opposite end of rail members 108 if desired.

The sliding assembly 172 is best seen in the view of Figure 7 which is an interior perspective view of the foot bar support assembly 170 shown in Figure 6 which is carried on the right side rail member 108. The assembly Sliding member 172 includes an elongated slide plate 204 which is preferably bolted or otherwise secured to the hook plate 174. This slide plate 204 is mounted in the slot 136 in the rail member 108 with the hook plate 174. and adjacent to the foot bar support arm 158 disposed within the free / open space between the outer wall 122 and the middle wall 130 of the rail member 108. It is to be understood that another set of the reflex image foot support 170 is provided in the other lane member (left) 108.

In Figure 8 there is shown a sectional view of a left rail member 108 as in Figure 3 with the left leg support bracket assembly 170 mounted in the slot 136. All component parts of the assembly 170 are disposed between the outer wall 122 and middle wall 130 of rail 108. Thus the complete foot support bracket assembly 170 is hidden from the view of a user sitting on carriage 110. It is to be understood that the right support assembly 170 of the foot bar in the right rail member 108 is constructed in a similar manner. Thus the component parts of the assembly 170 are interchangeable or mirror images. For example, the foot bar support arms 158 and the hook plate 174 are mirror images. The rest of the component parts of the assembly 170 can be interchangeable.

Returning to FIG. 7, the slide plate 204 is supported in the slot 136 by front and rear support rollers 206 that roll along the bottom surface of the slot 136. A roller 208 that rotates about an axis vertical through the slide plate 204 is preferably mounted adjacent to each support roller 206. The roller rollers 208 roll along inner side surfaces of the slot 136 in the rail member 108 for guiding the support assembly 170, and so the foot bar 111, as it moves (ie, wheel) from aqm to there along the rail members 108.

The support rollers 206 are preferably polymer wheels supported on bearings supported rotatably on horizontal axes. The polymer wheels have a size to fit and roll smoothly within the slot 136. The gma rollers 208 can be nylon or other polymer rollers supported by a vertical axis on the slide plate 204.

An additional sectional view through the left lane member 108 of the apparatus 100 as in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 9 taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 1. This view shows the support assembly of FIG. feet 170 carried within the rail member 108 as well as the wheeled support arrangement for the carriage 110. Specifically, the generally rectangular carriage 110 has four support wheels 210, one adjacent to each corner, and at least two wheels of 212 of carriages preferably positioned along one side of the carriage 110 which are also mounted in the space between the middle wall 130, the inner inclined wall 126, the skirt part 128 and the lower part 140 of the middle wall 130 of the limb member. lane 108. Support wheels 210 roll on lower part 140.

The wheels of frame 212 roll between the middle wall 130 and the skirt part 128 of the inner wall 126 to maintain the track of the carriage 110 as it moves between the end of feet 106 and head end 104 of the frame 102. Due to the gma configuration of the rail member 108, only two gma wheels 212 are needed, both along only one side, to guide the movement of the carriage 110. The gma wheels 212 are arranged in only one of the rail members 108. However, three or four wheels of gma 212 may be provided in alternative configurations of the carriage 110.

Thus, in the reformer 100 shown in Figure 1, both the carriage support 110 and the foot bar support 111 are provided by structures below and carried within the side rails members 108 and thus hide from the view. external This arrangement presents a clean and uncluttered appearance of the reformer apparatus 100 and minimizes surface areas that can pick up dust over time. Furthermore, in order to provide a direct feedback of the footbar position for the user of the exercise apparatus 100, a "J" indicator member 214 is attached to one or both of the slide plates 172. A distal tip 216 of the Indicator 214 extends around a lower edge and upwardly away from 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) may be provided along the outer wall 122 for use by a user to position the foot bar 111 in pre-selected positions along the frame 102.

The slit 178 in the hook plate 174 is used to locate the foot bar 111 in the lowest position below the frame 102. The slit 180 places the foot bar 111 in the mid-height position above the frame 102. The slit 182 corresponds to the foot bar 111 which is substantially vertical, and thus its highest position above the frame 102. As an alternative, additional slots can be provided to facilitate additional positions of the foot bar. However, it is believed that a low, a moderate and a high position is sufficient for the majority of users of the apparatus 100.

A low-friction layer 218 of polymer sheet material (shown in Figure 6) is attached to the outer surface of the hook plate 174 between the hook plate 174 and the support arm 158. This layer reduces the friction between the arm and the plate during the rotation of the foot bar 111 between the slits 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, it is optionally You can apply a low friction layer 218 to both of these surfaces that are looked at.

The structure of the foot support assembly may be different than that which has been specifically illustrated and described. For example, the rollers 206 and 208 can be replaced by sheets of low friction material to allow the sliding plate 204 to slide easily along the slot 136. The configuration of the support arm 158, the hook plate 174 and the sliding plate 172 may be different from that of the exemplary embodiment shown. In addition, other mechanisms for coupling and uncoupling the assembly 170 with features on the rail members 108 of the frame 102 can be used.

Referring again to Figure 1, at the head end 104 of the reformer apparatus 100 there are two spaced risers 112 for directing arm cords 114 from the carriage 110 to the head end 104 and then to the rope end loops 116 of arm. Referring now to the close perspective view of one of the riser tubes 112 at the head end 104 shown in Fig. 10, each of these riser tubes 112 includes a lower pulley wheel assembly 220 held in a tubular lift 222. of riser tube formed adjacent each curved end 107 of head end 104. Each riser tube 112 also includes a hollow tubular body 224 having its lower end nested within tubular riser 222 of riser tube. The upper end 228 of the tubular body 224 of riser tube carries a cylinder head 230. This roller head 230 includes a tubular body 232 which engages the body 224 or integrally forms therewith. The tubular body 232 has an elongated opening 234 through its side. A couple of vertically aligned row rollers 236 are mounted on the head 230 on both sides of the opening 234. Mounted in and transversely through the tubular body 232 behind the opening 234 is a horizontal pulley roll or wheel 238 of rope.

The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 is shown separately in perspective view in FIG. 11. The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 has a cylindrical body with flange 240 which is secured to the bottom of the lift 222. Carried inside the body 240 is a pulley wheel 242 held horizontally in ferrules and an angled disc 244 of rope. The grna disk 244 is positioned in the body 240 above the wheel 242 at an angle of approximately 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 so that a free end of an arm chord 114 that is lowered to the riser 112 through the opening 234 in the head assembly 230 is directed on the roller 238 and down through the tubular body 224 and through the opening 246 and past the pulley wheel 242. A user can then grasp the free end of the rope 114 and fasten the rope to the carriage 110 as described in FIG. detail later.

The head assembly 230 can be fixed to the tubular body 224 or optionally can be supported on bearings thereon so that it can freely rotate about a vertical axis through the riser tube 112. Each of the roller rollers adjacent to the opening 234 can be mounted on stationary vertical pins or otherwise supported on bearings so that rope 114 can be pulled through opening 234 with minimum resistance or friction. The lower pulley wheel 242 is oriented with its normal axis to the rail members 108 since the movement of the carriage 110 is always approaching or moving away from the head end 104 of the frame 102.

In Figure 12 there is shown separately an exploded perspective view of the carriage 110. The carriage 110 includes a generally rectangular frame 250, a rectangular support platform 252, a padded upper platform 254, and a pair of shoulder stops 118 The frame 250 has erect side support plates 258, a vertical head end plate 260 and a vertical spring support plate 262, both attached to the side support plates 258. All of these plates 258, 260 and 262 are also fasten to the underside of the support platform 252 to provide a rigid carriage structure. The spring support plate 262 carries one end of each of the predisposition springs 120. The other end of each spring 120 can be removably attached to the anchor pins 148 in order to vary the resilient predisposition, i.e. , spring tension between the carriage 110 and the foot end 106 of the frame 102. Each of the side support plates 258 supports the platforms 252 and 254 and provides mounting flanges for the support wheels 210 and the guide wheels 212 The head end plate 260 has a pair of spaced openings 264 therethrough which act as rods for the arm cords (not shown in Figure 12).

The support platform 252 has a pair of shoulder stop supports 266 attached to its upper surface. Each of these supports 266 has a vertical hole 268 therethrough and each supports a transverse pin 270 (shown in Figure 15) therein that holds the pin 272 of the shoulder stop 118 on the carriage 110. hole 268 extends through support 266 and through support platform 252.

Figure 15 is a partial vertical sectional view through the carriage 110 with the padded upper platform 254 not shown. As can be seen in this view, the transverse pin 270 acts as a pivot for the shoulder stop pin 272. A predisposition device 274, such as a flexible rubber tube positioned against the pin 272, provides a spring force against the pin 272 to keep the pin 272 oriented vertical and flush with the left side of the hole 268. However, when a user pulls the top of a shoulder stop 118 towards the foot end of the frame 102, (as shown) the stop rotates about the transverse pin 270, compressing the predisposition device 274 and pushing a lower end 276 of the spike 272 towards the head end of the frame 102 (on the right in Figure 15).

Figures 13 and 14 show a bottom plan view of a head end portion of the carriage 110. These two views illustrate the configuration of the rope retraction mechanism 280 according to an example of the present disclosure. Arm ropes 114 are not shown in this view for clarity. The rope retraction mechanism 280 includes, for each rope 114, a spring-loaded coil housing 282 secured to the support plate 252, a spring-loaded coil 284 rotatably carried in the housing 282, and a latching arm. 286 of toothed plate rotatably fastened on the underside surface of the support plate 252 adjacent the coil housing 282.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the two housings 282 of the rope retraction mechanism 280 are mounted side by side against the bottom side surface of the platform 252. The two latch arms 286 are preferably plate members attached to each other. the rotation about pivot pins 288 adjacent the coil housings 282 so that they can rotate in the plane of the underside surface of the support platform 252. Each hook arm 286 is preferably a body in the form of an elongated plate having a serrated end 290 and an opposite link end 292. The latching arms 286 are preferably mirror images each other so that the opposite link ends 292 of each latch arm plate 286 movably engage the other for connecting the hook arms 286 together under the support platform 252.

The serrated end 290 of each engaging arm 286 engages corresponding grooves of the features at an edge of the adjacent coil 284 of rope in the adjacent coil housing 282. The serrated end 290 of each latching arm 286 also has a hook 294 that engages with the lower end 276 of the shank 272 of the shoulder stop 118. FIG. 13 shows the shoulder stops 118 in a normal position, and so on. the lower ends 276 of the pins 272 do not engage with the hooks 294 of each latching arm 286. One or more springs (not shown) are used to predispose both latching arms 286 to engagement with the coils 284. With the arms 286 in this position, the arm cords 114 can not be retracted nor extended from the coils 284. They are locked.

Fig. 14 shows the configuration when the lower left end 276 of the tang 272 of the right shoulder stop 118 engages the hook 294 in the left latch arm 286. This causes the latch arm 286 to rotate clockwise about of the pin 288, pulling the jagged end 290 out of engagement with the left coil 284 in FIG. 14. At the same time, the clockwise rotation of the left latch arm 286 causes counterclockwise rotation of the right latch arm 286 to through linked link ends 292. This rotation similarly causes the serrated end 290 of the right latch arm 286 to rotate out of engagement with its adjacent spool 284. Thus a user pulling the shoulder stop 118 towards the foot end 106 of the frame 102 will cause both hook arms 286 are decoupled from coils 284, allowing the user to adjust one or both arm string lengths as desired. Upon releasing the shoulder stop 118, the latch arms 286 are reattached to the coils 284 to lock them and thus the arm cords 114 to the carriage 110.

According to the present description there is also conceived a later installation kit of arm rope retraction mechanism for a conventional reformer. A kit of this type includes appropriate installation instructions, two coil housings 282 with bobbins of arm rope 284, a pair of hook arms 286, replacement shoulder stops 118, two shoulder stop supports 266, and a pair of pivot pins 288 for securing the hook arms 286 to the carriage.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative rope retraction mechanism 300 mounted below the carriage 110 according to the present disclosure. Arm ropes 114 again are not shown in this view for clarity. The rope retraction mechanism 300 includes, for each rope 114, a spring-biased coil 302 that is mounted below the support plate 252 for rotation, in this embodiment, about a horizontal axis 304 supported from the plate. support 252 between a bracket 306 and the side support plate 258 of the carriage frame. The rope coil 302 has a band brake part 308 and a rope support part 310. One end of the rope 114 (not shown) is clamped and wrapped around the rope support part 310 of the coil 302. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the two coils 302 of the rope retraction mechanism 300 they are rotatably mounted side by side below the bottom side surface of the platform 252. Around the band brake part 308 of each coil 302 a cable 312 is wound having one end secured 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 engage the lower end 276 of the tang 272 of one of the shoulder stops 118 as in the embodiment described above.

In a manner similar to the above-described embodiment of the retraction mechanism 280, the two lever arms 314 are preferably separate members each subject for rotation about a separate pivot pin 322 and are crossed and held together in a rotary fashion as a scissor in FIG. a common pin 324 so that they can rotate about the pins 322 and 324 in a plane parallel to the underside surface of the support platform 252.

During normal operation of the reformer the end 318 of each lever arm 314 is under tension by the spring 326. This spring 326 pulls the lever arm 314 toward the head end of the carriage 110 and thus pulls the cable 312 to tension the cable 312 around the band brake portion 308 of its reel 302 to prevent rotation of the reel 302. When a user on the reformer 100 pulls (tilts) one of the shoulder stops 118 towards the foot end 106 of the frame of reformer 102, both lever arms 314 rotate in opposite directions about the pivot pins 322 and 324 to release tension on the brake cables 312 as shown in Figure 17. When the brakes are released thus, a user may attract more rope 114 or allow an inner spring in coil 302 to rotate coil 302 and pick up loose rope 114. When the user releases shoulder stop 118, springs 326 pull back on wires 312 to stop r the rotation of the coils 302 and thus securing the ropes 114 to the carriage 110.

Again, according to the present description there is also conceived a later installation kit of arm rope retraction mechanism for a conventional reformer, for this alternative retraction system 300. A kit of this type includes two retraction coils 302, axes 304 and brackets 306, brake cables 312 band, a pair of crossed lever arms 314, springs 326, replacement shoulder stops 118, two shoulder stopping supports 266 and a pair of pivot pins 322 for holding the arms of lever 314 to trolley 110, and appropriate installation instructions.

In an optional configuration of the reformer carriage 110 according to the present description, the structure can be integrate an adjustable headrest. A partial bottom view of the head end of this alternative embodiment of the carriage 110 is shown in Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21. In this embodiment, in the upper part of the carriage frame 250, the support plate 252 has a part of trapezoidal shape extension 350 extending towards the head end of the frame 102. The padded upper plate 254 has the same general shape as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 12, but it is separated into a rectangular part 352 and a part of headrest 354 by a cross hinge 356 under the padding near the shoulder stops 118. An adjustable headrest support plate 358 is secured to the support plate 252 under the headrest part 354. The extension part 350 has a slot elongate vertical 357 therethrough preferably centered between the sides of the extension portion 350. The support plate 358 has a transverse channel 360 therein that carries a rod d. and L-shaped fit 362 of a walled rest between the channel 360 and the extension part 350. Connected to the rod 362 is a cam block 364 extending through the slot 357. The rotation of the handle portion of the rod 362 forces the cam block 364 to rotate against the hinged part of the headrest 354. As the cam block 364 is rotated by the rotation of the rod 362, the headrest part 354 moves between the positions shown in the figures 19-21. In particular, Figure 19 shows the headrest part 354 in a down position. Figure 20 shows the headrest part 354 in a first raised position, with the rod 362 rotated approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise. Figure 21 shows the headrest part in a second raised position with the rod 362 rotated an additional 90 degrees counterclockwise. In this embodiment, the cam block 364 provides three stable positions. Also, it should be noted that in figures 16 and 17, the headrest adjustment rod (not numbered) is shown with two handle ends instead of just one as in figures 18-21. Other configurations are also within the scope of this description. For example, the cam block 364 can be gently curved without flat portions for specific headrest elevations and the rod 362 can be configured to provide a frictional hold so that the headrest portion 354 can be held at any desired elevation. As an alternative, the cam block can be configured with four or more flat regions, each corresponding to a different raised height.

A perspective view of another embodiment of a reforming exercise apparatus 400 according to the present disclosure is shown in Figure 22. The apparatus 400 has a generally rectangular frame 402 with a head end 404 and a foot end 406. The ends 404 and 406 are spaced apart by a pair of rail members 408. A carriage 410 is movably supported on the rail members 408 for forward and backward movement between the ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402.

A foot bar 411 is positioned near the foot end 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 rope riser tubes 412. These riser tubes 412 direct the arm strings 414 from the carriage 110 to the rope end loops 416 or grips for the ends. hands of a user to use in various exercises. When not in use, the end loops 416 can be conveniently positioned at the shoulder stops 418 as shown in Figure 22. The carriage 410 is resiliently biased toward the foot end 416 of the frame 402 by one or more members elastics such as springs 420 (see Figure 35).

The exterior of the frame 402 has the same shape as the frame 102 shown in Figure 2. Each of the head end 404, the foot end 406 and the side rail members 408 have a similar exterior surface shape that are combined together gently.

A separate interior perspective view of the head end assembly 404 is shown in Figure 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 outer upstanding wall 422 which is combined with a horizontal upper wall 424 which is combined with an inner wall inclined downward and inwardly 426. The inner wall 426 is combined in a part of vertical skirt 428. Vertical skirt part 428 is linked to horizontal stepped support plate 421.

Both head and foot ends 404 and 406 have outer end plates 407 that are matched and connected to side rail members 408 by means of alignment pins 409 and threaded connections (not shown). The head end extrusion 500 404 further includes vertical tubular lifts 506 adjacent the curved corners to receive the riser tubes 412. A pair of threaded hand pins 413 inserted from below secure the riser tubes 412 at the lifts 506. A raised platform 415 is fastened on and on top of the stepped support plate 421.

Extending downwardly from each curved end of the extrusion 500 is an upstanding support leg with complementary shape 429. These support legs 429 are used to place the ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402 on a flat surface such as a floor. Support legs 429 can be exchanged for longer or shorter support legs to change the height of appliance 400 above on a floor support surface. A grip strip 417 is attached to the outer bottom edge of the outer wall 407 of the extrusion 500 to provide a rounded hand grip edge to facilitate transport of the head end of the reformer 400.

Figure 24 is a perspective view of a foot end assembly 406 of the frame 402. The foot end assembly 406 is another extrusion 500 having leg portions 502, elevations 506 and a horizontal stepped support plate 421. Two rows of reel-shaped anchor pins 448 are fastened to plate 421. Each of these pins 448 can receive and hold a loop at one end of a spring 420 in order to hold the spring 420 at the foot end 406 of the frame 402 while the other end of the spring 420 is fastened to the carriage 410. Each of these pins 448 is preferably in upward and inward decrease from its base to a waist with a first angle from the central axis of the pin and then towards out with a second angle greater than the first angle so that the free end of a spring placed on the pin 448, when under tension, is held securely in the waist of the pin 448. This second angle it is preferably at least twice the first angle.

The foot support lifts 506 are vertical tubes formed in the extrusion 500. Each elevation 506 receives a yoke 508 that fits into the upper portion of the elevation 506. A rectangular upright platform plate 423 is held by pins on the yokes 508. Finally a tubular receiver 510 fits through holes in the plate 423 and fits into the elevations 506 to secure the plate 423 in the extrusion 500. A group of bolts 512 hold each receiver 510, plate 423 and yoke 508 in the elevation 506. Receivers 510 receive legs of a removable flat diving board platform (not shown).

A sectional view of a side rail member 408 is shown in FIG. 25. Each rail member 408 is preferably an aluminum extrusion assembly having an identical cross-sectional shape. In this particular embodiment of reformer 400, rail member 408 is a composite extrusion formed by two separate extrusion parts: inner portion 417 and outer portion 419 that are joined together by rivets 514. This construction of side rail member 408 is particularly advantageous for at least two reasons. First, a configuration of this type is easier to extrude as two separate extrusions that join later. Second, the outer part 419 can be finished differently from the inner part 417. Thus a version of the outer part 419 can be powder coated for durability and / or painted in selectable colors, while the inner part 417 is coated with powder or it is just another way for durability, since it is not in sight. In addition, the inner part 417, since it also contains the running surfaces and the indexing rail feature for the foot bar 411, can be separated and replaced if needed due to wear. The rail member 408, as mentioned above, has an exterior upstanding wall 422 which is combined in a horizontal upper wall 424 and then in an interior wall sloping down 426 and then in a vertical skirt part 428. The end members 404 and 406 have the same exterior shape, but differ internally from the members of side rails 408.

As shown in Figure 25, each side rail member 408 has a vertical middle wall 430 between the inclined inner wall 426 and the upright outer wall 422. The middle wall 430 has a longitudinally extending outwardly facing upper elevation 432 and a longitudinally extending outwardly facing lower elevation 434 parallel to the upper elevation 432. The middle wall 430, the upper elevation 432 and the lower elevation 434 together form an outwardly open slot 436 therebetween. This slot 436 receives and carries one of the footbar support assemblies thereon as will be described in detail below. Between the middle wall 430 and the inclined interior wall 426 there is an upper horizontal support wall 438. The support wall 438 extends the length of the rail member 408 and provides torsional stiffness to the structure of the rail member 408. Furthermore, it is Support wall 438 facilitates bonding between the inner and outer extrusion portions 417 and 419. A horizontal bottom portion 440 of the middle wall 430 acts as a support for a group of wheels supporting the carriage 410. The top wall 438 also serves as The upper wall for the carriage support wheels on the rail members 408. In addition, the middle wall 430 between the upper and lower walls 438 and 440 and the skirt portion 428 serve as the side rail for the carriage 410.

The upper elevation 432 preferably has a vertical portion 442 that extends down parallel to the middle wall 430. This vertical portion 442 is used to provide lateral support for the foot support assembly described more fully below. In addition, the lower elevation 434 may include a downward indexing lane 444. Alternatively, the indexing lane 444 may be installed along the length of the rail member 408 by a separate indexable metal indexing rail. born in elevation 434.

Finally, the interior of the outer portion 419 of the rail 408 includes three locating elevations 516, 518 and 520. These three locating elevations align with the locating pins 409, and receive them, projecting from the trailing end assemblies. head and feet 406 and 408, shown in Figures 23 and 24. These elevations help to ensure exact alignment between the rails 408 and ends 406 and 406 so that a smooth outer surface of frame is presented to a user of the apparatus 400 .

The foot bar 411 shown in Figure 22 is the same as that shown in Figure 5. The foot bar support assembly 470 is similar but differs slightly from that shown and described above specifically with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. The foot bar 411 is part of a foot support assembly 470 that can not be seen in Figure 22. Referring now to the interior and exterior views of the foot support assembly 470 shown in Figures 29 and 30, the connecting part 154 of the foot bar 411 is bolted or otherwise secured to a lower end 456 of an elongate foot support arm 458. Arm 458, shown FIG. 29 is an elongated flat plate member having a coupling pin 461 protruding outwardly from the upper end 460 of the arm 458. The arm 458 further has a closed pivot slot 462 extending radially parallel to the leg portion 152 of the foot bar 411 and spaced from where the connecting part 154 of the foot bar 411 is connected to the arm 458.

The foot support assembly of the reformer 400 shown in Fig. 22 includes a left foot support bracket 470, the foot bar 411, and a right foot support bracket 470. Figures 29 and 30 are reverse perspective views of the right side of the foot bar support assemblies 470 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 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 assembly 470 includes the foot bar support arm 458 to which the foot bar 411 (not shown in Figs. 29 and 30) is connected, a sliding part 472 that is mounted in the slot 436 in the side rail member 408, and a hook plate 474 that is rigidly attached to the sliding part 472. This hook plate 474 has a series of features, preferably grooves or slits 476, 478, 480, 482 and 484 spaced along the upper edge of the hook plate 474. The pin 461 projecting outwardly from the upper end 460 of the foot bar support arm 458 fits into one of these slots 476-484 to position the foot bar 411 in a particular desired angular position with respect to the frame 402 of the reformer 400.

The foot bar support arm 458 is slidably and pivotally connected to the hook plate 474 by a bolt 486 and square bushing 488. A flat washer 489 on the bolt 486 holds the support arm 458 on the bushing 488. The bushing 488 is mounted in the pivot slot 462. Since the foot bar 411 is attached to the arm 458, when a user lifts the foot bar 411, the support arm 458 is mounted up and down along the the slot 462. In turn, the pin 461 projecting outwardly from the upper end 460 of the support arm 458 is raised out of one of the slots along the upper edge of the hook plate 474. When it is raised from This way out of its slot, a user can then rotate the foot bar 411 around the pivot pin 486 to a different one of the slots 476, 478, 480, 482 or 484 to reposition the foot bar 411. When the foot bar is lowered foot bar 411 inside a slot, pin 461 d It slides down into one of the slots to fix the 411 feet bar in position.

The end slots or slots 476 and 484 have special significance in this embodiment 400 as in the first embodiment 100. When the foot bar 411 has both of its pins 461 positioned in slots 476, the foot bar 411 is rotationally positioned slightly above, the top surface of the frame 402 and beyond the foot end of the frame 402 as shown in Figure 39. In this position, the foot bar 411 can be used as a handle to raise the foot end of the reformer 400. To ensure that the foot bar 411 is not disengaged from the slot 476, the terminal end of this slot 476 is hooked upwards, as can be seen in figure 29, to engage firmly with the pin 461 at the closed end of the slot 476 To uncouple the foot bar 411 from this slot 476, the foot bar 411 must be pushed down and pulled back (away from the foot end) to align the pin 461 with the inlet widened slot. The foot bar 411 can then be rotated upwards and raised out of the slot 476 and relocated to a different slot 478, 480, 482 and 484.

The forward plus slot 484 on the hook plate 474 is used to position the foot support assembly comprising each of the assembly 470 and the foot bar 411 together for translation along the rail members 408. Consistent the foot bar 411 is raised and rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. 29, the arm 458 is rotated about the bolt 486 clockwise until the pin 461 engages a projecting surface 492 at the end toward front (end towards the head 404) of the hook plate 474. In this position, a shoulder 494 on the support arm 458 is engaged with a latch pin 496 projecting through a slot 498 in the hook plate 474. The latch pin 496 is projected through the hook plate 474 of a latch arm 530 which is best seen in Fig. 30. When the foot bar 411 is then lowered, the shoulder 494 of the arm 458 pushes the latch pin 496 down.

The hook arm 530 is an elongated bar having one end rotatably secured to the inner face of the hook plate 474. The hook arm 530 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inner surface of the hook plate 474. The other end of latch arm 530 has an uplink part 532 that engages the indexing feature with complementary shape on rail member 408 so as to latch onto assembly 470 at a selected position along the rail member 408. The latch arm 530 is biased upwardly by means of the flat spring member 534 to maintain the latch portion 532 of the latch arm 530 coupled with the indexing feature of the index rail 444 on the rail member 408. .

When the foot bar 411 is positioned with pins 461 in the slots 484, and the foot bar 411 is pushed down to fully seat the pins 461 at the bottom of the slots 484, the hook pins 496 are also pushed down by rotating the hook arm 530 and moving the hook part 532 out of engagement with the indexing feature of the index rail 444 on the rail member 408. With the hook portions 532 decoupled from the rail members 408, the bar of feet 411 can be moved toward or away from the end of feet 406 of frame 402 by means of rollers 536. In fact, foot bar 411 can be fully moved to the opposite end of rail members 408 if it is you want

The slide assembly 472 is best seen in the view of Figure 30 which is an opposite perspective view of the foot bar support assembly 470 shown in Figure 29 which is carried on the right side rail member 408. The assembly Sliding member 472 includes an elongated slide plate 538 that is preferably bolted or otherwise secured to the hook plate 474. This slide plate 538 is mounted in the slot 436 in the rail member 408 with the hook plate 474 and adjacent to the foot bar support arm 458 disposed within the free / open space between the outer wall 422 and the middle wall 430 of the rail member 408. It is to be understood that another foot support image reflex assembly 470 is provided in the other lane member (left) 408.

Returning to FIG. 30, the slide plate 538 is supported in the slot 436 by front and rear support rollers 536 that roll along the bottom surface of the slot 436. A roller of the 540 that rotates about an axis vertical through the slide plate 538 is preferably mounted adjacent to each support roll 536. The roller rolls 540 roll along inner side surfaces of the slot 436 in the rail member 408 to guide the support assembly 470 , and thus the foot bar 411, as it moves (ie, rolls) from here to there along the rail members 408.

The support rollers 536 are preferably polymer wheels supported on bearings supported rotatably on horizontal axes. The polymer wheels have a size to fit and roll smoothly into the slot 436. The grind rollers 540 may be nylon rollers or another polymer supported by a vertical axis on the slide plate 538. In this embodiment 400, the rollers No. 540 can be roller bearings mounted in recesses along the upper edge of the slide plate 538.

The slide plate 538 also has a locating ball 542 spring-loaded mounted in a recess behind the J-shaped indexing member 544 used as described above with reference to the first embodiment. The locating ball 542 spring loaded provides a user with tactile feedback when the foot bar 411 is moved forward and back along the rails 408 between various predetermined positions, by projecting into corresponding depressions which can optionally be provided as desired. length of lane 408.

A low friction layer 546 of polymer sheet material (shown in FIG. 29) is attached to the outer surface of the hook plate 474 between the hook plate 474 and the support arm 458. This layer, as in FIG. first embodiment 100, reduces friction between the arm 458 and the plate during the rotation of the foot bar 411 between the slits 476, 478, 480 482 and 484. Alternatively, the low friction layer 546 can be applied to the surface oriented arm 458. To further reduce friction, a low friction layer 546 can optionally be applied to both of these facing surfaces.

A removable extractable pin 548 can optionally be inserted through aligned holes in the arm 458 and the plate 474 when the foot bar 411 is in the high position, i.e., slot 480. The insertion of the extractable pin 548 engages the bar 411 feet on the site and prevent it from being repositioned. The purpose of this is that the foot bar 411 can act as a support clamp when the reformer 400 is positioned vertically on its foot end 406. This facilitates the vertical storage of several reformers 400 in a relatively limited space.

When the foot bar 411 is securely positioned with pins 461 seated in slots 484, the complete foot bar assembly 411 can slide / roll forward and back along the side rails 408. The plate 474 is preferably also provided with a hole 549. This hole 549 can be used to store the extractable pin 548 when it is not being used. Additionally, this hole 549 can be used to connect a spring or elastic resistance member (not shown) between the carriage 410 and the foot bar support plate 411 or between the foot end 404 and the support plate 474. A resistance member of this type can provide a resistance to the translational movement of the foot bar support assembly 470 by a user when the foot support arm 458 engages in the slot 484. In this configuration the bar feet 411 can be used to provide additional resistances experienced by a user during the performance of various movements while supported on the carriage 410. A spring resistance member of this type or another, such as an elastic cord, can be connected for this purpose between the carriage 410 and a suitable feature in a different location on the assembly 470 or to the foot rod itself 411. For example, a resistance member of this type can be connected to the connecting part 154 of the leg part 152 of the foot bar.

Referring again to FIG. 22, at the head end 404 of the reformer 400 there are two spaced-up risers 412 of strings of arms for directing arm strings 414 from the carriage 410 to the head end 404 and then to the loops of end 416 of arm rope. A separate perspective view of an ascending tube 412 is shown in Figure 26 and an exploded assembly view is shown in Figure 27. In this embodiment 400, the riser tube 412 has no lower pulley configuration as used in FIG. the riser tube 112. Instead, preferably at the upper end of the riser tube 552 a pulley and roller assembly 550 is inserted. This pulley and roller assembly includes a support housing 554 that supports laterally spaced vertical rollers 556 rotating about parallel vertical axes held in the housing 554, and a pulley 558 mounted between the rollers 556, and below them, on a horizontal axis 560. Each of the rollers and the pulley 558 is supported in its respective axis between pairs of bearings mounted in the support housing 554.

Each of these riser tubes 552 preferably includes two vertically aligned elongated openings 562 and 564 adjacent its upper end through which the arm string 414 is passed. The pulley and roller assembly 550 slides into the upper end of the tube. ascending 552 and fastened on the site with two screws 566. When appropriately positioned in the tube 552, the vertical rollers 556 are along the upper opening 562. The pulley wheel 558 is centered between the two openings. The arm rope 414 is threaded through the upper opening and lowered around the pulley wheel 558, and exits through the lower opening 564 to the carriage 410 as shown in Figure 26.

An annular collar 568 is clamped around the lower end portion of the tube 552 by means of screws 570. This collar 568 has a size to fit snugly within the open upper end of the elevation 506 of the head end extrusion 500 as shown in the sectional view in FIG. 28. A threaded expansion plug 572 is snapped into the lower end of the riser 552. This threaded expansion plug 572 engages the threaded hand pin 413 (FIGS. 23, 28) . When the hand bolt 413 is tightened, the riser 412 is lowered into the lift 506 to secure the riser 412 in place. The riser 552 can alternatively be made in different lengths so that ascending tubes 412 of different length can be selected for different users. Finally, the lower opening 564 in the riser 552, in addition to passing the rope 414 therethrough, is used to receive part of a bracket 700 (an example of which is shown in Figure 31) to sustain in a manner the riser tube 412 removable under the head end of the carriage 410 during storage as shown in Figure 39.

The carriage 410 is shown separately in Figures 31 and 32. A separate perspective view of the underside of part of the carriage 410 is shown separately in Figure 31. A lower side view of the upholstered upper platform 574 is shown by shown in Figure 32. The carriage 410 includes a generally rectangular frame 576, a rectangular support platform 578, an upholstered upper platform 574, and a pair of shoulder stops 418. The frame 576 has erect side support plates 580, one vertical head end plate 582 and a vertical spring support plate 584, both attached to the side support plates 580. All of these plates 580, 582 and 584 are also fastened to the underside of the support platform 578 to provide a structure ngida of car. The upper side of the platform 578 includes shoulder stop brackets 594 (see Figure 34) as in the first embodiment of the carriage 110 shown in Figure 12.

The spring support plate 584 carries one end of each of the predisposition springs 420. The other end of each spring 420 can be removably fastened to the anchor pins 448 in order to vary the resilient predisposition, i.e. , spring tension between the carriage 410 and the foot end 406 of the frame 402. Each of the side support plates 580 supports the platforms 574 and 578 and provide mounting flanges for the support wheels 586 and the 588 wheels. The head end plate 582 has a pair of apertures 590 spaced therethrough which act as ribs for the arm strings 414 (not shown in Figure 31). A pair of elongated slots 592 are also formed in the head end plate 582. These slots 592 are shaped to receive the spikes of the shoulder stops 418 when the shoulder stops 418 are removed and connected to the car 410 for storage as shown in Figure 39. The support platform 578 has a pair of shoulder stop supports 594 attached to its upper surface (as shown in Figure 34). Each of these supports 594 has a pair of vertical holes 596 and 598 therethrough. The vertical hole 596 has an oval cross section supports a transverse pin 600 on the rod 602 of the shoulder stop 418. The operation of the shoulder stop 418 is identical to that of the shoulder stop 118 of the first embodiment 100, as shown in FIG. shows in figure 15.

Figure 33 is a perspective view of the shoulder stop 418. It should be noted that the spike 600 is deflected from the axial center line through the shoulder stop 418. Referring now to Figure 34, a top view is shown part of the upper platform of the carriage 410. Each of the shoulder stop brackets projects through and is flush with the upper part of the upper platform 574. The inner holes 598 are of circular cross-section. Thus, when the pins 600 of the shoulder stops 418 are placed in these holes 598 the shoulder stops 418 can not rotate as was the case in the first embodiment 100 described above and shown with reference to Figure 15. However, when one or both shoulder stops 418 are located in the outer holes 596, can be folded toward the end of feet 406 just as described with reference to Figure 15 in the first embodiment 100.

In this embodiment of reformer 400, not only a user has the option of rotating shoulder stops 418 when inserting them into holes 596 to accommodate different shoulder widths, one or both shoulder stops 418 can be inserted into interior holes 598 to provide more width adjustment. If both shoulder stops 418 are located in the inner holes 598, then adjustment of the arm cords 414 can not be made. This is called the locking position. However, if one or both shoulder stops 418 are placed in the outer holes 596, then adjustment of the arm strings 414 can be made with that stop of shoulder in an outer hole 596.

In Figure 35 a partial perspective view of the bottom of the carriage 410 is shown, removed from the reformer 400. In this view the springs 420 are shown connected to the spring support plate 584. An exemplary arm string 414 is shown threaded through the gim hole 590 and into the rope retraction mechanism 610.

A bottom plan view of a head end portion of the carriage 410 is shown in FIGS. 36 and 37. These two views illustrate the configuration and operation of the rope retraction mechanism 610 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Arm ropes 414 are not shown in this view for clarity. The rope retraction mechanism 610 includes, for each rope 414, a spring-biased winding coil 612 that is mounted below the support plate 578 for rotation, about a horizontal axis supported from the side frame support plate 580 of a car The rope coil 612 has a helical spring portion 614 and a rope support portion 616. One end of the rope 414 (not shown) is clamped and wrapped around the rope support portion 616 of the coil 612. As shown in FIGS. 35, 36 and 37, the two coils 612 of the retraction mechanism of FIG. 610 rope are rotatably mounted side by side below the underside surface of platform 578.

The helical spring portion 614 is bolted or integral with the rope support portion 616 and preferably carries within it a coil spring (not shown) that provides a pickup preload tension on the rope 414 when its end is clamped to the rope support portion 616 of the coil 612. The retraction assembly 610 also includes a single spring-loaded rope clamp assembly 618 fastened to the support platform 578 which functionally couples to an actuator link 620, which , in turn, is operated by one of the shoulder stops 418 when installed in the appropriate hole 596.

The actuator link 620 is carried in an elongated flat plate 622 which is secured to the support plate 578 by means of fasteners 624 and extends between the two lateral support plates 580 directly below the shoulder stops 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 the hole 598. Pivotally carried sideways on the link plate 622 there is a pair of links T-shaped 630. Each T-shaped link 630 pivots in the plane of the support plate 578 about the center of the head 632 of the link 630 on a pin 634 that holds the link 630 to the plate 622. One end 636 of the head 632 of each of the links 630 is positioned to engage a rod 600 of the shoulder stop 418 inserted in the hole 596. The other end 638 of the head 632 of the T-shaped link 630 is coupled with a 638 end corresponding to the of the other link 630. The ends 638 of the two links 630 are also preferably coupled together by a coil spring 640. Each T-shaped link 630 includes an elongate leg 642. The end of this elongated leg 642 resides adjacent to one of the clamp assemblies 618.

The clip assembly 618 comprises a pair of clip members 650, the exterior of which is fixed to the support plate 578 by two clips 652 and 654. The inner clip member 650 is rotatably fixed to the support plate 578 by a fastener 652 in a laterally spaced relation with fixed member 650. Each clamp member has a rope grasping portion 656 and an opposing elongated arm portion 658. The arm portion 658 of the inner clip member 650 is positioned adjacent the leg 642 of the link 630. A coil spring 660 holds the grip part 656 of the inner clip member 650 to the fixed outer clip member 650 so that the part The gripping member of the inner clamp member 650 is biased toward the gripping portion of the fixed outer clamp member. A flat plate 662 is optionally clamped on the clamp members 650 in each assembly 618 between the clamp 652 and the clamp member 650. Finally, a pair of string gibs 664 is preferably secured to the support plate 578 and positioned between the link assembly 620 and the coil 612 so that the rope 414 must pass through the hole 590 in the head end plate 582, through a rope gm 664, between the clamp members 650, through another gma of rope 664, to the rope retraction coil 612 as shown in figure 35.

The retraction assembly 610 is shown in a locked rope situation in Figure 36. In Figure 37, the assembly 610 is shown in an unlocked condition where one of the shoulder stops 418, (the left in Figure 37) it has been lowered toward the foot end of the reformer frame 402. In this view of Figure 37, the rod 600 of the left shoulder stop 418 pushes up on the end 636 of the link 630. This movement causes the opposite end 638 of the link 630 to rotate downward in a clockwise direction. At the same time, the leg 642 must also rotate clockwise, rotating the arm portion 658 of the inner clip member 650 counterclockwise. This action releases the arm chord 414 from the clamp members 650 and allows the tension in the left chord coil to be felt in the chord 414.

At the same time, the other link 630 is caused to rotate counterclockwise around its pin 632, which, in turn, causes its leg 642 to push against the arm portion 658 of the inner clip member 650 of the other clip assembly 618, thereby rotating the inner clip member 650 clockwise. This clockwise rotation of the inner clamp member 650 decouples the clamp member 650 from the other arm string 414 so that the tension in the right string coil 612 pulls the other string 414. It can be easily seen, so so much that to knock down one of the shoulder stops 418 that is in an exterior hole 596 will cause the same result, a release of both clamp assemblies 618 on both arm strings 414, allowing the user to independently adjust the length of each string.

Again, according to the present description there is also conceived a later installation kit of arm rope retraction mechanism for a conventional reformer, for this alternative retraction system 610. A kit of this type includes two retraction coils 612 and physical equipment assembly, two sets of grippers 618, link assembly 630, replacement shoulder stops 418, two shoulder stop brackets 594, and appropriate installation instructions.

In the reformer carriage 410 according to the present description, an adjustable headrest can be integrated into the structure. A bottom view of the upholstered upper support platform 574 is shown separately in Figure 32. The niguous base of the upper support plate has two separate sections 672 and 674 spaced apart and joined by a hinge 676. Each section 672 and 674 is You can make plastic, composite or wood. The section 672 also has holes 678 for receiving the shoulder stop brackets 594 therethrough as described above. Sections 672 and 674 are spaced approximately 6,35 mm (% inch) to provide clearance for bending 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 adjusting lever 680 is attached to the underside of the head end section 674. This lever 680 rotates about a fastener 682 secured to the underside of the head end section 674. The lever 680 has an end 684 bent at 90 degrees from the plane of the platform 574. This bent end 684 projects through a slot 686 in the support plate 578 as shown in Fig. 38. The bent end 684 has a series of slits 688 for adjusting the height of the head end section 674. The opposite end of the lever 680 may have a knob 690 attached to it. the same for rotating the lever 680 outside and up to the engagement of the slits 688 with a corresponding flange of the head end support plate 582.

The reformer 400 of this present description can be configured to be easily stacked for stacked storage. Each of the feet 429 includes recessed portions designed to fit over the outer corner edge of an underlying reformer 400. The bottom of each foot 429 which facilitates stacking one apparatus on top of another has a recessed portion. Stacking is facilitated by coupling the outer corners of the head end of the reformer and outer corners of the platform raised at the foot end of the reformer in the recessed portions on each foot as shown in Figure 39. When two or more 400 reformers are stacked asf, they are safely held laterally on the site by these 429 feet.

In addition, the riser tubes 412 are removed from the head end 404 and fastened to one of the brackets 700 (see Figure 31 and Figure 40 below). Each of the shoulder stops 418 is removed and the pins 600 are passed through the shoulder stop groove openings 592, rotated 90 degrees so that the pins 602 engage the head end support plate 582

A bottom side perspective view of the head end of the carriage 410 is shown in FIG. 40 which shows the riser tubes 412 and the shoulder stops 418 spaced apart from these holding features. These holding features are grooves 592 in head end plate 582 and spring brackets 700. The spring brackets 700 resiliently spring elastically within the lower openings 564 to hold and hold the riser 412 in place without deteriorating or otherwise damaging the exterior finish of the riser 412.

When the risers 412 and the shoulder stops 418 are mounted below the carriage 410 as shown in Figures 39 and 40, the carriage 410 can be fully positioned at the head end of the frame 402, and a mat conversion pad optional 702 can be placed between the carriage 410 and the raised platform 423 to provide a totally flat mat surface. This mat conversion places the carriage 410 in a stationary position at the head end 404, and presents the user with a complete flat surface.

The reformer 400 can optionally also be configured with a trapezium tower assembly 800 as shown in Figure 41. The tower assembly 800 basically comprises a U-shaped tower 802, a trapezium balancm 804 and a pair of ferrules 806 of tower. The tower bushes 806 are clamped between the rail members 408 and the head end extrusion 500 of the head end 404 and becomes an integral part of the chassis 402. The lower ends of the tower 802 fit into the bushes 806 and they are dragged into the bushes 806 as shown more in detail in Fig. 43.

The tower 802 is preferably a tubular metal body such as aluminum or steel and can be bent to the shape shown in Figure 41, or it can be formed of straight sections joined by conventional 90 degree bends. The tower 802 has a plurality of spaced flares 808 for connecting springs, belts or pulleys 810 as may be necessary for particular exercises. As an alternative the vertical legs of the tower 802 may have a vertical slot and adjustable clamp couplings provided thereon for anchoring the springs, pulleys 810, or flares 808 thereto.

Additionally, risers 412 can be used or replaced by a set of shaped connectors of U 818 so that a pulley 810 can be attached thereto. This set of U-shaped connectors 818 fits within the elevation 506 in the head end extrusion 500, and is bolted on the site as shown in Figure 44, or alternatively it can be configured to be clamped with the same bolt 413 which is used to secure the riser 412 on the site as shown in Figure 28. When the connector assembly 818 is used in place of the riser 412, then a second sheave 810 (not shown) was fasten to the assembly 818 and be used as a lower arm rope crane which directs the arm rope from the carriage 410 to the lower pulley and through the upper pulley 810 to the hand loop as in embodiments 100 and 400 shown in FIGS. and 22.

A tower cap 806 is shown mounted on the head end of one of the side rail members 408 in FIG. 42. The tower bushing 806 is an extrusion of metal, preferably aluminum, having a tube portion 820 and a axially extending radial flange portion 822. The flange portion 822 has a thickened edge 824 and a plate portion 826 that is identically formed to fit against the end plate 407 of the head end extrusion 500 and against the end of the side rail member 408. Location pins 409 orient the flange portion 822 with respect to the rail member 408 and the end plate 407, and nuts (not shown) are used on bolts 828 to hold the head end 404 and bushing 806 securely to side rail member 408.

Figure 43 is a sectional view of an assembled tower 802 held in a bushing 806. In a manner similar to those described above with reference to the riser tubes 412 that are clamped within the elevations 506, the lower end of the tower 802 it is fitted with a threaded expansion plug 830. A hand bolt 832 extending into the bottom of the tube part 820 is screwed into the plug 830. When tightened, the expansion plug 830 draws the lower end of the tower 802 down tightly inside the bushing 806 to complete the assembly of the tower 800 in the frame 402.

Alternatively, the lower ends 850 of a tower 820 can be tapered and shaped to telescopically fit within the elevations 506 in the head end extrusion 500 as shown in the perspective view of this alternative in Figure 45. This construction it excludes the need for tower 806 bushes. In an alternative of this type, shown in Figure 45, a hand bolt 832 is again used to attract the lower ends 850 of the tower 820 tightly within the elevations 506 just as the risers 412 are clamped in the 506 elevations described above. In an alternative configuration of this type, of course, the riser tubes 412 are not used. Instead, each of the arm ropes 414 is connected to a pulley 810.

Turning now to Figure 46, an exemplary end portion 880 of an arm chord 114, 414 is shown connected to a hand strap 900. Each part 880 turns on itself to form a flexible eye 882. The free end 884 of the end portion 880 is otherwise permanently stitched or secured to the end portion 880 to form the eye 882. This eye 882 replaces the need for a conventional plastic or metal elastic jump fastener for connection to a hand grip conventional.

The hand strap 900 has a loop strap part 902 sewn to ends of a short length of the arm cord material to form a flexible cord ring 904 connected to the strap part 902. The flexible cord ring 904 is connected to the eye 882 passing the ring 904 over the eye 882 and then threading the strap part 902 through the ring 904. The result is the hand strap 900 attached to the arm string 114, 414 essentially in a non-square configuration as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 46. Arm cords 114, 414 with hand strap 900 connected in this manner can be used with any conventional reformer or other exercise apparatus using arm / foot cords as with reformer 100, 400 of the present description.

In FIG. 47 there is shown a hand grip 910 having a tubular handle 912. This grip 910 can be used in place of the hand strap 900. Again, the hand grip 910 preferably has a flexible cord ring 904 as described above for holding the hand grip 910 to the end portion 880. Alternatively, a standard hand grip may be used that includes a metal D-ring attached to the hand grip 910 instead of the rope ring 904.

The reformer 100 or 400 can be configured with a jump board 950 as shown in figure 48. This jump board 950 is a generally rectangular plate structure with two parallel posts 952 that fit down into two inserts 510 in the elevations 506 at the end of feet 106, 406. Each of these posts 952 has a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape as shown in the partial sectional view of Figure 49.

Each post 952 includes a pair of spaced flat springs 954 which bias the post 952 counterclockwise in the insert 510 so that there is a preload on the jump board 950 effectively away from the carriage 110, 410. This preload prevents movement with rattling or rotational of the jump board in response to a force applied by the user on the jump board during an exercise. This configuration presents a firm and solid feeling for the user of the jump board as it is installed and used.

In Figure 48, it should be noted that the foot bar 411 is shown positioned adjacent the head end 404 of the frame 402. In addition there are shown the foot bar support assemblies 470 in the free rotational position in which the pins 461 they engage in slots 484 as described with reference to Figs. 29 and 30. When the foot bar 411 is positioned so as to be movable between the head and foot ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402, an elastic resilient member 956 is can hold the connecting parts 154 of the leg parts 156 of the foot bar 411 and stretch around the head end 404 of the frame 402 as shown in figure 48. With the foot bar 411 configured in this way, a user can sit or lie on the car 410, grasp the leg portions 156 of the foot bar 411 and pull the foot bar 411 towards the car 410 against the resistance provided by the resistance member 956.

Alternatively, the user can rotate the foot bar 411 to the vertical position, lower the foot bar 411 to engage the pins 461 in the slots 482, which locks each support assembly 470 in place over the rail members 408 Then the user can pull the carriage 410 towards the head end 404 with his arms. It is to be understood that the resistance member 956 may be two separate members, each connected separately to the head end 404, or may be a single resistance member as illustrated in Figure 48. In addition, the foregoing description applies equally well to the reforming apparatus 100, of the first embodiment, described above with reference to Figures 1-21.

These are only exemplary realizations and variations. A reforming exercise apparatus according to the present disclosure may incorporate one or more or any of the features described herein. Other modifications will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. For a simple example, any of the coil springs shown in the drawing figures can be replaced by stretchable elastic members and vice versa. For another, the holding characteristics for accommodating the riser tubes 412 and the shoulder stops in storage positions below the upper surface of the reformer carriage 410 may differ from the fasteners 700 and the grooves 592. The riser tubes 412 may fit within of corresponding openings (not shown) on plate 582 or on pins projecting from plate 582. Reformers 100, 400 can be configured with short legs as shown in Figure 48, or longer legs as shown in FIG. at least FIGS. 1 and 22. Accordingly, it is intended that all of these alternatives, variations and modifications be encompassed within the scope of the following claims and defined by them.

Claims (14)

A set of foot bars for use in a reformer exercise apparatus (100; 400) having a generally rectangular frame (102; 402) with parallel side portions (108; 408), a head end (104; 404; ) and one end of feet (106; 406), each side portion (108; 408) has an outwardly open slot (136; 436) extending along at least part of the side portion (108; 408) , the set of foot bars comprises: a generally U-shaped foot bar (111; 411) sized to encompass the parallel side portions (108; 408), of a reforming exercise apparatus, the foot bar (111; 411) has a first end and a second end (154); Y a pair of foot bar support assemblies (170; 470), wherein each foot bar support assembly (170; 470) comprises: an elongated sliding plate (172, 204; 538) configured to be movably supported by an outwardly open slot (136; 436) of one of the side portions (108; 408) of the reforming exercise apparatus; a hook plate (174; 474) parallel to the slide plate (172, 204; 538) attached to the slide plate (172, 204; 538); Y a foot bar support arm (158; 458) rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate (174; 474) and having one end (156; 456) attached to one of the first and second ends (154; ) of the foot bar (111; 411); characterized in that the foot bar assembly further comprises: a locking member (200; 530) operatively coupled to the hook plate (174; 474) to allow movement of the sliding plate (172, 204; 538) along the outwardly open slot (136; 436) only when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a predetermined position with respect to the hook plate (174; 474) and prevent movement of the slide plate (172, 204; 538) throughout of the slot open outwards (136; 436) when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a position other than the predetermined one. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the slide plate (172, 204; 538) has at least one roller (208; 540) for mounting against an upright surface of the side portion (108; 408) inside the slot open outwards (136; 436). 3. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the end (156; 456) of the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is a lower end portion (156; 456) of the bar support arm. of feet (158; 458). The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the foot bar support arm (158; 458) has an upper end (160; 460) that includes a coupling member (161; 461) for selectively engaging to a discrete feature of the hook plate (174; 474). The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hook plate (174; 474) has an upper edge, the upper edge has a plurality of discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484) at spaced locations to selectively engage a portion (160; 460) of the foot bar support arm (158; 458). The set of foot bars according to claim 4 wherein the discrete feature (176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484) is a slot. The foot bar assembly according to claim 6 wherein the hook plate (174; 474) includes an L-shaped groove (176; 476) for receiving the coupling member (161; 461). The foot bar assembly according to claim 5 wherein the part (160; 460) of the foot bar support arm (158; 458) includes a pin (161; 461) for releasably engaging one of the discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484). The foot bar assembly according to claim 5 wherein the foot bar support arm (158; 458) has an upper end (160; 460) that includes a coupling member (161; 461) for selectively engaging to each of the discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484), the foot bar support arm (158; 458) cooperates with one of the discrete features ( 176, 178, 180, 182, 184; 476, 478, 480, 482, 484) to allow movement of the sliding plate (172, 204; 538) in the outwardly open slot (136; 436). 10. A reforming exercise apparatus (100; 400) having a generally rectangular frame (102; 402) supporting a carriage (110; 410) for movement between a head end (104; 404) and one foot end (102; 106; 406) of the frame (102; 402) in portions of parallel spaced side rails (108; 408) of the frame (102; 402), and a foot bar (111; 411) supported by the frame (102; 402), wherein the parts of side rails (108; 408) of the frame (102; 402) each have an outwardly open slot (136; 436) therein, a foot bar support assembly (170; Movably for each of the outwardly open slots (136; 436) to support one end of the foot bar (154), each foot bar support assembly (170; 470) comprises: an elongated flat sliding plate (172, 204; 538) movably supported within the outwardly open slot (136; 436) for movement along the outwardly open slot (136; 436); Y a hook plate (174; 474) out of the open outward groove (136; 436) held parallel to the sliding plate (172, 204; 538), characterized in that the hook plate (174; 474) has an upper edge defining a plurality of discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184; 476, 478, 480, 482, 484) therein; Y each foot bar support assembly (170; 470) further comprises: a foot bar support arm (158; 458) having an end (156; 456) attached to a foot bar end (154); and a part rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate (174; 474) and an upper end (160; 460) that selectively engages one of the discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184; 476) , 478, 480, 482, 484) to position the foot bar (111; 411) at predetermined angles with respect to the frame (102; 402); Y a locking member (200; 530) connected to the hook plate (174; 474) can operate to allow movement of the sliding plate (172, 204; 538) within the open outward slot (136; 436) only when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a predetermined position with respect to the hook plate (174; 474) and prevent movement of the slide plate (172, 204; 538) within the groove open outwards (136; 436) when the foot bar support arm (158; 458) is in a position other than the predetermined one. A reforming exercise apparatus (100; 400) according to claim 10 wherein the sliding plate (172, 204; 538) is an elongate member having opposite ends, each end bears a roller (206; 536) for mounting on a lower surface of the open slot facing outwards (136; 436). 12. A reforming exercise apparatus (100; 400) according to claim 10 wherein the foot bar support arm (158; 458) has a part cooperating with the locking member (200; 530) to hold the plate. of sliding (172, 204; 538) in predetermined positions along the outwardly open slot (136; 436). 13. A reforming exercise apparatus (100; 400) according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of discrete features (176, 178, 180, 182, 184; 476, 478, 480, 482, 484) are in spaced locations for coupling selectively to a portion (160; 460) of the foot bar support arm (158; 458). A reforming exercise apparatus (100; 400) according to claim 12 wherein a part of the foot bar support arm (158; 458) engages the locking member (200; 530) when the support arm of foot bar (158; 458) engages a predetermined one of the discrete features (178, 180, 182, 184; 478, 480, 482, 484) to allow the foot bar support assembly (170; 470) be moved along the outwardly open slot (136; 436).