1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus. In particular, it relates to a reformer exercise apparatus of a new and contemporary design that has a number of unique innovations.
2. State of the Art
Exercise machines utilized in the performance of physical exercises originated by Joseph Pilates typically are performed on a stationary apparatus called a reformer. A traditional reformer has a rectangular wood or metal frame supporting two parallel rails or tracks. A wheeled carriage rides on these tracks and is resiliently biased toward a foot end of the frame by one or more elastic members, typically coil springs. A user sits or lies on the carriage and pushes against a foot support bar at the foot end to move the carriage away from and toward the foot end. Alternatively, the user may grasp ends of a pair of ropes or straps that pass through pulleys at the head end of the frame and are attached to the carriage to similarly pull the carriage away from and toward the foot end of the frame.
One emphasis in Pilates training is on core musculature stabilization. The exercises being performed on the reformer ideally are conducted carefully by the user concentrating on body symmetry and symmetrical body movement and proper torso alignment during exercise. It is often somewhat difficult for a user to sense when he or she is properly centered on the reformer, and exerting equal forces with both arms or both legs during movements required. Also, either the user must get off of the reformer or an assistant must change positions of the foot support bar as may be required for different exercises. This, is at least an inconvenience to the user. Furthermore, the user must then reposition his or her body on the carriage to regain proper alignment.
The ends of the arm cords are typically stuffed through holes in the carriage platform to get them out of the way of the user or draped over the sides of the carriage. Thus they can drag on the floor beneath the carriage. The user also has difficulty in adjusting arm cord length while reclining on the reformer carriage. The user generally has to sit upright, adjust the arm cord length in the stop cleats, and then reposition herself on the carriage surface.
The rails upon which the carriage rides typically are horizontal surfaces which collect dust and dirt over time and thus the rollers and tracks must often be cleaned. Furthermore, the user must be careful not to let his or her clothing drape onto the rails to prevent such clothing interfering with operation of the carriage rollers.
There is therefore a need for a reformer apparatus that is simple and straightforward to use, easy for the user to adjust without getting off of the reformer carriage, and overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.
A reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with 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 that is supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage between the head and foot end portions. A bias member, such as one or more coil springs, is connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame for biasing the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. A foot support member such as a foot bar is supported by the side rail portions of the frame.
Each of the side rail portions of the frame has an upright outer wall and an integral horizontal top wall merging into an inwardly and downwardly slanted inner wall. Each side rail portion has a downwardly extending mid wall between the outer wall and the inner wall for supporting the foot support member. The mid wall has a longitudinally extending upper boss and a longitudinally extending lower boss forming an outwardly open slot therebetween facing the outer wall. Each side rail portion includes a horizontal wall between the inner wall and the mid wall.
The mid wall has a lower end portion forming a horizontal track for supporting the carriage. Furthermore, this lower portion of the mid wall also provides lateral support for guide rollers 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 outwardly open slot between the upper and lower bosses of the mid wall. Furthermore, the mid wall includes a plurality of features, preferably notches for discrete positioning of the foot support member along a length of the side rail members of the frame.
The foot support assembly preferably includes a foot bar. The foot bar is supported at each end by a foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the outwardly open slots in the side rail 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 one end fastened to one foot bar end and a portion rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate.
The slide plate is an elongated member having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface of the outwardly open slot in the mid wall of the side rail portion of the reformer frame. The slide plate also preferably has at least one roller for riding against an upright surface of the mid wall within the slot.
The foot bar support arm has a bottom end portion fastened to one foot bar end. The upper end of the foot bar support arm has an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the hook plate when the foot bar is slid upward for rotation about the hook plate. The hook plate has an upper edge, the upper edge having a plurality of discrete features at spaced locations for selectively engaging a portion of the foot bar support arm to position the foot bar at predetermined angles from the upper surface plane of the reformer frame.
Each discrete feature is preferably a notch that has a distinctive shape. Each notch corresponds to a particular angular position for the foot bar with respect to the frame. Each hook plate preferably also has an L shaped slot for receiving the engaging member on the foot bar support arm. This L shaped notch 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 notches in the hook plate.
In another aspect the present disclosure describes a foot bar assembly for use on 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 extending 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 slide plate movably supported within with each of the slots, a hook plate fastened to each slide 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 disclosure, a reformer exercise apparatus having a generally rectangular frame supporting a carriage for movement between a head end and a foot end of the frame on parallel spaced side rail portions of the frame, and a foot bar supported by the frame is disclosed wherein the head end of the frame has a pair of spaced vertical bores formed therein, and an arm cord support riser disposed in each bore. Each cord support riser includes a hollow cylindrical tube carrying a first roller therein near a bottom end of the tube, a second roller rotatably supported within an upper end of the tube, and a guide adjacent the second roller for directing an arm cord around the second roller.
Preferably in one embodiment the bottom end of the tube is open to receive the arm cord therethrough and the upper end includes a top that has a dome shape with an opening therethrough for passage of the arm cord out of the tube. The top of the tube preferably also has a pair of spaced guides adjacent the opening and the second roller, and may also have a horizontal guide between the spaced guides. In some embodiments these guides are rollers. The riser tube further may include an internal cord guide plate above the first roller for guiding the arm cord over the first roller. The riser top may be separable from and rotatably fastened to the riser tube. Furthermore, the top may include a pair of spaced guides adjacent the opening for smooth passage of the arm cord. In another embodiment, the arm cord may be routed through a side of the tube just below an upper roller or pulley wheel. A pair of guide rollers is preferably arranged adjacent the opening through which the arm cord exits the tube. The riser top again may be separable 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 to an underside surface of the carriage. The retraction assembly has a pair of cord retraction devices, each device having a stationary frame carrying a rotatable spring biased reel therein connected to a free end of one of the arm cords, with each reel having a toothed outer rim.
The retraction assembly also includes a pair of toothed latch members rotatably mounted to the underside of the carriage and connected mechanically together such that rotation of one of the latch members out of toothed engagement with one of the toothed outer rims causes the other of the latch members to rotate out of toothed engagement with the toothed outer rim of the other spring biased reel.
The retraction assembly further has an actuator connected to one of the latch members operable for rotating the latch members into and out of engagement with the toothed rims of the retraction reels. This actuator is preferably resiliently biased out of engagement with the latch members.
In one embodiment of a reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure the actuator is incorporated into a pair of spaced shoulder stops extending from an upper surface of the carriage. Each of the shoulder stops is rotatably mounted to the carriage preferably for rotation about a horizontal axis. The actuator may be an elongated pin member that extends downward from the shoulder stop, through an aperture in the carriage and projects therefrom so as to engage one of the latch members. Pivotal movement, i.e., rotation, by the user, of either shoulder stop about its axis toward the foot end of the frame engages the actuator with one of the latch members which in turn causes both of the latch members to disengage the toothed outer rims. Preferably a spring is connected to each latch member that biases each latch member into engagement with one of the retraction reels.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an arm cord retraction kit for retrofitting a conventional reformer exercise apparatus. The components in the kit are designed to be attached to the reformer carriage. The kit includes a pair of cord retraction devices, each device having a stationary frame for mounting to an underside surface of a reformer carriage, each frame carrying a rotatable spring biased reel therein connectable to a free end of an arm cord, each reel having a toothed outer rim, a pair of toothed latch members for pivotal mounting to the underside surface of the carriage, wherein the latch members are connected mechanically together such that rotation of one of the latch members out of toothed engagement with one of the toothed outer rims causes the other of the latch members to rotate out of toothed engagement with the toothed outer rim of the other spring biased reel, and an actuator for engaging one of the latch members when the shoulder stops are mounted to the reformer carriage.
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 plate body portion fastened to the frame, and a generally trapezoidal shaped head rest plate portion hinged to the body portion. A shaped upper pad is fastened to an upper surface of the body and headrest portions.
In a still further aspect of the reformer 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 an upper end shape configured to fit within a complementary recess in the underside surface of the frame. Each leg is an extrusion secured to the frame with a single bolt passing vertically through the leg into a corresponding boss in the frame. The bottom end of each leg includes a foot pad that facilitates stacking of one apparatus on top of another through engagement of the outer corners of the head end of the reformer and outer corners of the standing platform at the foot end of the reformer into a foot pad recess in each foot pad.
In a still further aspect of the present disclosure, an elastic resistance member may be fastened between the foot bar assembly and the head end of the reformer frame. When the foot bar assembly is free to move along the side rails of the frame it is resiliently biased toward the head end of the reformer frame. In this configuration, the foot bar assembly may be grasped by a user's hands while sitting or reclining on the carriage, and the foot bar assembly pulled along the rails against the resistance toward the carriage in order to perform various upper body exercises separately or in conjunction with leg extensions against the foot end of the reformer frame. The elastic resistance member may alternatively be fastened 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.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects, other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description. Such description makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the art disclosed may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the art disclosed.
A perspective view of one embodiment of a reformer exercise apparatus 100 is shown in
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 arm cord support risers 112. These risers 112 direct arm cords 114 from the carriage 110 to cord end loops 116 or grips for a user's hands for use in various exercises. When not in use, the end loops 116 may be conveniently positioned on the shoulder stops 118 as shown in
A separate perspective view of the frame 102 is shown in
The head and foot ends 104 and 106 have curved outer ends 107 that curve into and merge smoothly with the side rail members 108. The head end 104 further includes bosses for receiving the risers 112. The foot end 106 has an anchor support plate 121 spanning between the curved ends 107 for supporting ends of the bias members or springs 120 to bias the carriage 110 as mentioned above.
Extending downward from each curved end 107 is a complementary shaped upright support leg 129. These support legs 129 may be removed to place the ends 104 and 106 of the frame 102 on a planar surface such as a floor. The support legs 129 may be interchanged with longer or shorter support legs to change the height of the apparatus 100 above such a floor support surface.
A sectional view of a side rail member 108 is shown in
As is shown in
The upper boss 132 preferably has a vertical portion 142 that extends downward parallel to the mid wall 130. This vertical portion 142 is used to provide lateral support for the foot support assembly described more fully below. Furthermore, the lower boss 134 may include a downwardly extending index rail 144. Alternatively, the indexing rail 144 may be installed along the length of the rail member 108 by a separate, replaceable metal indexing rail carried in the boss 134.
Each corner of the frame 102, formed by the ends 104 and 106, includes curved outer upright wall 122, top wall 124 and inwardly slanted inner wall 126. Preferably inner wall 126 terminates in an upright lower skirt portion 128. The foot end 106 also includes two spaced apart tubular foot support bosses 146 formed therein. These foot support bosses 146 are used to support a flat, generally rectangular foot platform (not shown) often called a “jump board”. This jump board is a rectangular plate that has two spaced parallel support posts that removably fit into the foot support bosses 146.
The foot bar 111 shown in
Referring now to
The foot support assembly of reformer 100 shown in
The foot bar support arm 158 is slidably and pivotally attached to the hook plate 174 by a bolt 186 and square bushing 188. The bushing 188 rides between and along the parallel sides of a recess 190 in the arm 158 around the pivot slot 162. Since the foot bar 111 is fastened to the arm 158, when a user lifts the foot bar 111, the support arm 158 rides up or down along the slot 162. In turn, the pin 161 projecting outward 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 lifted in this manner, a user can then rotate the foot bar 111 about the pivot bolt 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 within one of the slots to fix the foot bar 111 in position.
The end slots or notches 176 and 184 have special significance in this embodiment 100. When the foot bar 111 has both its pins 161 positioned in slots 176, the foot bar 111 is rotationally positioned below the upper surface of the frame 102 and beyond the foot end of the frame 102. In this position, the foot bar 111 may be used as a handle to lift the foot end of the reformer 100. To ensure that the foot bar 111 does not disengage from the slot 176, the terminal end of the slot 176 is hooked upward, as can be seen in
The forward most slot 184 in the hook plate 174 is used to position the foot support assembly comprising each of the assemblies 170 and the foot bar 111 together for translation along the rail members 108. As the foot bar 111 is raised and is rotated clockwise, as seen in
Latch arm 200 is an elongated bar that has one end rotatably fastened to the inside face of the hook plate 174. The latch arm 200 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inside surface of the hook plate 174. The other end of the latch arm 200 has a latch portion 202 that engages a complementary shaped indexing feature in the rail member 108 in order to latch the assembly 170 at a selected position along the rail member 108. The latch arm 200 is spring biased upward via spring member 201 to maintain the latch portion 202 of the latch arm 200 engaged with the indexing feature of the index rail 144 in 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 downward to fully seat the pins 161 at the bottom of slots 184, the latch pins 196 are also pushed downward, rotating the latch arm 200 and moving latch portion 202 out of engagement with the indexing feature of the index rail 144 in the rail member 108. With the latch portions 202 disengaged with the rail members 108, the foot bar 111 may be moved toward or away from the foot end 106 of the frame 102 via the rollers 206. In fact, the foot bar 111 may be moved fully to the opposite end of the rail members 108 if desired.
The slide assembly 172 is best seen in the view of
A sectional view of a left rail member 108 as in
Turning back now to
The support rollers 206 are preferably bearing supported polymer wheels rotatably supported on horizontal axles. The polymer wheels are sized to fit and smoothly roll within the slot 136. The guide rollers 208 may be nylon or other polymer rollers supported by a vertical axle in the slide plate 204.
A further sectional view through the left rail member 108 of the apparatus 100 as in
The guide wheels 212 roll between the mid wall 130 and the skirt portion 128 of the inner wall 126 to maintain tracking of the carriage 110 as it moves between the foot end 106 and head end 104 of the frame 102. Because of the guide configuration of the rail member 108, only two guide wheels 212, both along only one side, are necessary to guide movement of the carriage 110. The guide wheels 212 are arranged in only one of the rail members 108. However, three or four guide wheels 212 may be provided in alternative configurations of the carriage 110.
Thus in the reformer 100 shown in
The notch 178 in the hook plate 174 is used to locate the foot bar 111 at a lowest position above the frame 102. The notch 180 places the foot bar 111 at a middle height position above the frame 102. The notch 182 corresponds to the foot bar 111 being substantially vertical, and thus its highest position above the frame 102. Additional notches may alternatively be provided to facilitate additional foot bar positions. However, a low, moderate, and high position are believed to be sufficient for most users of the apparatus 100.
A low friction layer 218 of polymer sheet material (shown in
The structure of the foot support assembly may be other than has been specifically illustrated and described. For example, the rollers 206 and 208 could be replaced by sheets of low friction material to permit the slide plate 204 to easily slide along the slot 136. The configuration of the support arm 158, the hook plate 174 and slide plate 172 may be different than that of the exemplary embodiment shown. Further other mechanisms may be used to engage and disengage the assembly 170 with features in the rail members 108 of the frame 102.
Referring back to
The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 is separately shown in perspective view in
The head assembly 230 may be fixed to the tubular body 224 or optionally may be bearing supported thereon such that it can rotate freely about a vertical axis through the riser 112. Each of the guide rollers adjacent the aperture 234 may be mounted on stationary vertical pins or otherwise bearing supported such that the cord 114 can be pulled through the aperture 234 with minimal resistance or friction. The bottom or lower pulley wheel 242 is oriented with its axis normal to the rail members 108 since movement of the carriage 110 is always either toward or away from the head end 104 of the frame 102.
An exploded perspective view of the carriage 110 is separately shown in
The support platform 252 has a pair of shoulder stop supports 266 fastened to its upper surface. Each of these supports 266 has a vertical bore 268 therethrough and each supports a cross pin 270 (shown in
A bottom plan view of a head end portion of the carriage 110 is shown in
As is shown in
The toothed end 290 of each latch arm 286 engages corresponding notches of features in a rim of the adjacent cord reel 284 in the adjacent reel housing 282. The toothed end 290 of each latch arm 286 also has a hook 294 that engages with the bottom end 276 of the stem 272 of the shoulder stop 118.
A retrofit arm cord retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also envisioned in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a kit would include appropriate installation instructions, two reel housings 282 with enclosed arm cord reels 284, a pair of latch arms 286, replacement shoulder stops 118, two shoulder stop supports 266, and a pair of pivot pins 288 for fastening the latch arms 286 to the carriage.
Around the band brake portion 308 of each reel 302 is wrapped a cable 312 that has one end fastened to the support plate 252 and the other end fastened to one end 318 of a pair of crossed lever arms 314. The other end 320 of each lever arm 314 is positioned to engage the bottom end 276 of the stem 272 of one of the shoulder stops 118 as in the previously described embodiment.
Similar to the previously described embodiment of the retraction mechanism 280, the two lever arms 314 are preferably separate members each fastened for rotation about a separate pivot pin 322 and are crossed and rotatably fastened together in scissor fashion at a common pin 324 so that they can rotate about the pins 322 and 324 in a plane parallel to the underside surface of support platform 252.
During normal reformer operation the end 318 of each lever arm 314 is under tension by as spring 326. This spring 326 pulls the lever arm 314 toward the head end of the carriage 110 and thus pulls the cable 312 so as to tighten 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 toward the foot end 106 of the reformer frame 102, both of the lever arms 314 rotate in opposite directions about the pivot pins 322 and 324 so as to release tension on the brake cables 312 as is shown in
Again, a retrofit arm cord retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also envisioned in accordance with the present disclosure for this alternative retraction system 300. Such a kit would include two retraction reels 302, axles 304 and brackets 306, band brake cables 312, a pair of crossed lever arms 314, springs 326, replacement shoulder stops 118, two shoulder stop supports 266, and a pair of pivot pins 322 for fastening the lever arms 314 to the carriage 110, and appropriate installation instructions.
In an optional configuration of the reformer carriage 110 in accordance with the present disclosure, an adjustable headrest may be integrated into the structure. A partial bottom view of the head end of this alternative embodiment of the carriage 110 is shown in
An adjustable headrest support plate 358 is fastened to the support plate 252 under the head rest portion 354. The extension portion 350 has an elongated vertical slot 357 therethrough preferably centered between the sides of the extension portion 350. The support plate 358 has a transverse channel 360 therein that carries an L shaped headrest adjustment rod 362 sandwiched between the channel 360 and the extension portion 350. Attached to the rod 362 is a cam block 364 that extends through the slot 357. Rotation of handle portion of the rod 362 forces the cam block 364 to rotate against the hinged head rest portion 354. As the cam block 364 is rotated by rotation of the rod 362, the head rest portion 354 is moved between the positions shown in
A perspective view of another embodiment of a reformer exercise apparatus 400 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
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 arm cord support risers 412. These risers 412 direct arm cords 414 from the carriage 110 to cord end loops 416 or grips for a user's hands for use in various exercises. When not in use, the end loops 416 may be conveniently positioned on the shoulder stops 418 as shown in
The exterior of the frame 402 has the same shape as frame 102 shown in
A separate inside perspective view of the head end assembly 404 is shown in
Both the head and foot ends 404 and 406 have outer end plates 407 that mate with and are attached to the side rail members 408 via alignment pins 409 and threaded connections (not shown). The head end 404 extrusion 500 further includes vertical tubular bosses 506 adjacent the curved corners for receiving the risers 412. A pair of threaded hand bolts 413 inserted from beneath secure the risers 412 into the bosses 506. A standing platform 415 is fastened over and onto the stepped support plate 421.
Extending downward from each curved end of the extrusion 500 is a complementary shaped upright support leg 429. These support legs 429 are used to place the ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402 on a planar surface such as a floor. The support legs 429 may be interchanged with longer or shorter support legs to change the height of the apparatus 400 above a floor support surface. A grip strip 417 is fastened to the outer lower edge of the outer wall 407 of the extrusion 500 to provide a rounded hand gripping edge for ease of carrying the head end of the reformer 400.
The foot support bosses 506 are vertical tubes formed in the extrusion 500. Each boss 506 receives a yoke 508 that fits on the top of the boss 506. A rectangular standing platform plate 423 is pinned onto the yokes 508. Finally a tubular receiver 510 fits through holes in the plate 423 and fits into the bosses 506 to secure the plate 423 to the extrusion 500. A set of bolts 512 fasten each receiver 510, plate 423, and yoke 508 to the boss 506. The receivers 510 receive legs of a removable flat jump board platform (not shown).
A sectional view of a side rail member 408 is shown in
As is shown in
The upper boss 432 preferably has a vertical portion 442 that extends downward parallel to the mid wall 430. This vertical portion 442 is used to provide lateral support for the foot support assembly described more fully below. Furthermore, the lower boss 434 may include a downwardly extending index rail 444. Alternatively, the indexing rail 444 may be installed along the length of the rail member 408 by a separate, replaceable metal indexing rail carried in the boss 434.
Finally, the inside of the outer portion 419 of the rail 408 includes three locating bosses 516, 518 and 520. These three locating bosses align with and receive the locating pins 409 projecting from the head and foot end assemblies 406 and 408, shown in
The foot bar 411 shown in
The foot support assembly of reformer 400 shown in
The foot bar support arm 458 is slidably and pivotally attached 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 rides in the pivot slot 462. Since the foot bar 411 is fastened to the arm 458, when a user lifts the foot bar 411, the support arm 458 rides up or down along the slot 462. In turn, the pin 461 projecting outward 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 lifted out of its slot in this manner, a user can then rotate the foot bar 411 about the pivot bolt 486 to a different one of the slots 476, 478, 480, 482 or 484 to reposition the foot bar 411. When the foot bar 411 is lowered into a slot, the pin 461 slides down within one of the slots to fix the foot bar 411 in position.
The end slots or notches 476 and 484 have special significance in this embodiment 400 as in the first embodiment 100. When the foot bar 411 has both its pins 461 positioned in slots 476, the foot bar 411 is rotationally positioned slightly above, the upper surface of the frame 402 and beyond the foot end of the frame 402 as is shown in
The forward most slot 484 in the hook plate 474 is used to position the foot support assembly comprising each of the assemblies 470 and the foot bar 411 together for translation along the rail members 408. As the foot bar 411 is raised and is rotated clockwise, as seen in
Latch arm 530 is an elongated bar that has one end rotatably fastened to the inside face of the hook plate 474. The latch arm 530 can rotate in a plane parallel to the inside surface of the hook plate 474. The other end of the latch arm 530 has an upwardly hooked latch portion 532 that engages a complementary shaped indexing feature in the rail member 408 in order to latch the assembly 470 at a selected position along the rail member 408. The latch arm 530 is spring biased upward via flat spring member 534 to maintain the latch portion 532 of the latch arm 530 engaged with the indexing feature of the index rail 444 in 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 downward to fully seat the pins 461 at the bottom of slots 484, the latch pins 496 are also pushed downward, rotating the latch arm 530 and moving latch portion 532 out of engagement with the indexing feature of the index rail 444 in the rail member 408. With the latch portions 532 disengaged with the rail members 408, the foot bar 411 may be moved toward or away from the foot end 406 of the frame 402 via the rollers 536. In fact, the foot bar 411 may be moved fully to the opposite end of the rail members 408 if desired.
The slide assembly 472 is best seen in the view of
Turning back now to
The support rollers 536 are preferably bearing supported polymer wheels rotatably supported on horizontal axles. The polymer wheels are sized to fit and smoothly roll within the slot 436. The guide rollers 540 may be nylon or other polymer rollers supported by a vertical axle in the slide plate 538. In this embodiment 400, the guide rollers 540 may be roller bearings mounted in recesses along the upper edge of the slide plate 538.
The slide plate 538 also has a spring loaded locating ball 542 mounted in a recess behind the j shaped indexing member 544 utilized as described above with reference to the first embodiment. The spring loaded locating ball 542 provides a user with tactile feedback when moving the foot bar 411 back and forth along the rails 408 between various predetermined positions, by projecting into corresponding depressions that optionally may be provided along the rail 408.
A low friction layer 546 of polymer sheet material (shown in
A removable pull pin 548 may optionally be inserted through aligned bores in the arm 458 and the plate 474 when the foot bar 411 is in the high position, i.e., slot 480. Insertion of pull pin 548 will lock the foot bar 411 in place and prevent it from being repositioned. The purpose of this is so that the foot bar 411 can act as a support brace when the reformer 400 is vertically positioned on its foot end 406. This facilitates vertical storage of a number of reformers 400 in a relatively confined space.
When the foot bar 411 is securely positioned with pins 461 seated in slots 484, the whole foot bar assembly 411 can slide/roll back and forth 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 pull pin 548 when not being used. In addition, this hole 549 may be used to attach an elastic or spring resistance member (not shown) between the carriage 410 and the foot bar 411 support plate 474 or between the foot end 404 and the support plate 474. Such a resistance member can provide a resistance to translational movement of the foot bar 411 support assembly 470 by a user when the foot support arm 458 is engaged in slot 484. In this configuration the foot bar 411 may be used to provide additional resistances experienced by a user during performance of various movements while being supported on the carriage 410. Such a spring or other resistance member, such as an elastic cord, may be attached for this purpose between the carriage 410 and a suitable feature at a different location on the assembly 470 or to the foot bar 411 itself. For example, such a resistance member may be attached to the connection portion 154 of the foot bar leg portion 152.
Referring back to
Each of these riser tubes 552, preferably includes two vertically aligned elongated openings 562 and 564 adjacent its upper end through which the arm cord 414 is passed. The pulley and roller assembly 550 slides into upper end of the riser tube 552 and is fastened in place with two screws 566. When properly positioned in the tube 552, the vertical rollers 556 are alongside the upper opening 562. The pulley wheel 558 is centered between the two openings. The arm cord 414 is threaded through the upper opening and down around the pulley wheel 558, and out through the lower opening 564 to the carriage 410 as is shown in
An annular collar 568 is fastened around the lower end portion of the tube 552 via screws 570. This collar 568 is sized to snugly fit within the open upper end of the boss 506 of the head end extrusion 500 as is shown in the cutaway view in
The carriage 410 is separately shown in
The spring support plate 584 carries one end of each of the biasing springs 420. The other end of each spring 420 may be removably fastened to the anchor pins 448 in order to vary the resilient bias, i.e. spring tension between the carriage 410 and the foot end 406 of the frame 402. The side support plates 580 support the platforms 574 and 578 and provide mounting flanges for support wheels 586 and guide wheels 588. The head end plate 582 has a pair of spaced openings 590 therethrough which act as guides for the arm cords 414 (not shown in
The support platform 578 has a pair of shoulder stop supports 594 fastened to its upper surface (as is shown in
In this embodiment of the reformer 400, not only does a user have an option of rotating the shoulder stops 418 when inserting them into the bores 596 to accommodate different shoulder widths, one or both shoulder stops 418 may be inserted in the inner bores 598 to provide further width adjustment. If both shoulder stops 418 are located in the inner bores 598, then no adjustment of the arm cords 414 can be made. This is called the lockout position. However, if either one or both shoulder stops 418 are placed in the outer bores 596, then adjustment of the arm cords 414 may be made with that shoulder stop in an outer bore 596.
A partial perspective view of the bottom of the carriage 410, removed from the reformer 400, is shown in
A bottom plan view of a head end portion of the carriage 410 is shown in
The coil spring portion 614 is bolted to or integral with the cord support portion 616 and preferably carries within it a coil spring (not shown) that provides a takeup preload tension on the cord 414 when its end is fastened to the cord support portion 616 of the reel 612. The retraction assembly 610 also includes a unique spring loaded cord clamp assembly 618 fastened to the support platform 578 that is operably coupled to an actuator linkage 620, which is, in turn, actuated by either one of the shoulder stops 418 when installed in the appropriate bore 596.
The actuator linkage 620 is carried on an elongated flat plate 622 that is fastened to the support plate 578 via fasteners 624 and spans between the two side support plates 580 directly beneath the shoulder stops 418 and over the bores 596 and 598. Each end of the flat plate 622 has an elongated opening 626 aligned with a bore 596 and a circular opening 628 aligned with the bore 598. Pivotally carried side by side on the linkage plate 622 are a pair of T shaped links 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 fastening 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 stem 600 of the shoulder stop 418 inserted into bore 596. The other end 638 of the head 632 of the T shaped link 630 couples with a corresponding end 638 of the other link 630. The ends 638 of the two links 630 are preferably also coupled together by a coil spring 640. Each T shaped link 630 includes an elongated leg 642. The end of this elongated leg 642 resides adjacent one of the clamp assemblies 618.
The clamp assembly 618 comprises a pair of clamp members 650, the outer one of which is fixed to the support plate 578 by two fasteners 652 and 654. The inner clamp member 650 is rotatably fixed to the support plate 578 by a fastener 652 in a laterally spaced relation to the fixed member 650. Each clamp member has a cord grip portion 656 and an opposite elongated arm portion 658. The arm portion 658 of the inner clamp member 650 is positioned adjacent the leg 642 of the link 630. A coil spring 660 fastens the grip portion 656 of the inner clamp member 650 to the fixed outer clamp member 650 such that the grip portion of the inner clamp member 650 is biased toward the grip portion of the fixed outer clamp member. A flat plate 662 is optionally fastened over the clamp members 650 in each assembly 618 between the fastener 652 and the clamp member 650. Finally, a pair of cord guides 664 is preferably fastened to the support plate 578 and positioned between the link assembly 620 and the reel 612 such that the cord 414 must pass through the hole 590 in the head end plate 582, through a cord guide 664, between the clamp members 650, through another cord guide 664, to the cord retraction reel 612 as is shown in
The retraction assembly 610 is shown in a cord locked condition in
At the same time, the other link 630 is caused to rotate counterclockwise about its pin 632, which, in turn, causes its leg 642 to push against the arm portion 658 of the inner clamp member 650 of the other clamp assembly 618, thus rotating the inner clamp member 650 clockwise. This clockwise rotation of the inner clamp member 650 disengages the clamp member 650 from the other arm cord 414 such that the tension in the right cord reel 612 pulls on the other cord 414. It can readily be seen, therefore, that tilting either one of the shoulder stops 418 that is in an outside bore 596 will cause the same result, a release of both clamp assemblies 618 on both of the arm cords 414, allowing a user to independently adjust the length of each cord.
Again, a retrofit arm cord retraction mechanism kit for a conventional reformer is also envisioned in accordance with the present disclosure for this alternative retraction system 610. Such a kit would include two retraction reels 612 and mounting hardware, two clamp assemblies 618, link assembly 630, replacement shoulder stops 418, two shoulder stop supports 594, and appropriate installation instructions.
In the reformer carriage 410 in accordance with the present disclosure, an adjustable headrest may be integrated into the structure. A bottom view of the upholstered upper support platform 574 is shown in
The reformer 400 of this present disclosure may be configured so as to be easily stacked for stacked storage. Each of the feet 429 include recessed portions designed to fit onto the outer corner rim of an underlying reformer 400. The bottom of each foot 429 that facilitates stacking of one apparatus on top of another has a recessed portion. Stacking is facilitated through engagement of the outer corners of the head end of the reformer and outer corners of the standing platform at the foot end of the reformer into the recessed portions in each foot as is shown in
Furthermore, the risers 412 are removed from the head end 404 and fastened to one of the brackets 700 (see
An underside perspective view of the head end of the carriage 410 is shown in
When the risers 412 and shoulder stops 418 are mounted beneath the carriage 410 as shown in
The reformer 400 may optionally also be configured with a trapeze tower assembly 800 as is shown in
The tower 802 is preferably a tubular metal body such as aluminum or steel and may either be bent to the shape as shown in
In addition, the risers 412 may be utilized or replaced with a U shaped connector assembly 818 so that a pulley 810 may be fastened thereto. This U shaped connector assembly 818 fits within the boss 506 in the head end extrusion 500, and is bolted in place as shown in
A tower socket 806 is shown mounted on the head end of one of the side rail members 408 in
Alternatively, the bottom ends 850 of a tower 820 may be narrowed and shaped so as to telescopically fit within the bosses 506 in the head end extrusion 500 as is shown in the perspective view of this alternative in
Turning now to
The hand strap 900 has a looped strap portion 902 sewn to ends of a short length of arm cord material to form a flexible cord ring 904 attached to the strap portion 902. The flexible cord ring 904 is attached to the eye 882 by passing the ring 904 over the eye 882 and then threading the strap portion 902 through the ring 904. The result is the hand strap 900 fastened to the arm cord 114, 414 essentially in a square not configuration as is shown in
A hand grip 910 is shown in
The reformer 100 or 400 may be configured with a jump board 950 as is shown in
Each post 952 includes a pair of spaced leaf springs 954 that 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 rattle and rotational movement of the jump board in response to a user's applied force on the jump board during an exercise. This configuration presents a firm, solid feel to the user of the jump board as it is installed and used.
In
Alternatively, the user can rotate the foot bar 411 to the vertical position, lower the foot bar 411 to engage pins 461 in notches 482, which locks each support assembly 470 in place on the rail members 408. Then the user can pull the carriage 410 toward the head end 404 with his or her arms. It is to be understood that the resistance member 956 may be two separate members each separately connected to the head end 404, or may be a single resistance member as is illustrated in
These are only exemplary embodiments and variations. A reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with 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 may be replaced by stretchable elastic members and vice versa. For another, the holding features for accommodating the risers 412 and shoulder stops in storage positions beneath the upper surface of the reformer carriage 410 may differ from clips 700 and slots 592. The risers 412 may fit within corresponding openings (not shown) in plate 582 or on pins projecting from plate 582. The reformers 100, 400 may be configured with short legs as shown in
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/181,707 filed Jul. 13, 2011, entitled Reformer Exercise Apparatus, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140194264 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13181707 | Jul 2011 | US |
Child | 14209321 | US |