Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REFORMER EXERCISE APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
[0001]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.
State of the Art
[0002] 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.
[0003]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.
[0004]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
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user generally has to sit upright, adjust the arm cord length in the stop
cleats, and
then reposition herself on the carriage surface.
[0005]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.
[0006]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.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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
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discrete positioning of the foot support member along a length of the side
rail
members of the frame.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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
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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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018]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.
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[0019]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.
[0020]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.
[0021] 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.
[0022]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
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spring biased reel, and an actuator for engaging one of the latch members when
the
shoulder stops are mounted to the reformer carriage.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026]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:
E0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reformer exercise apparatus in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
E0028] Fig. 2 is a separate perspective view of the frame of the reformer
shown in
Fig. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0029] Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of one side rail member of the frame
taken
along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.
[0030]Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the foot end of a reformer in
accordance
with the present disclosure.
[0031]Fig. 5 is a separate perspective view of a foot bar utilized in the
reformer
exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
[0032] Fig. 6 is an outer perspective view of a right side rail member foot
bar support
assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0033]Fig. 7 is an inner perspective view of the right side rail member foot
bar
support assembly shown in Fig. 6.
(0034] Fig. 8 is cross sectional view of a left rail member taken along the
line 3-3 in
Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of the foot bar support assembly carried
therein.
L0035] Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the reformer exercise apparatus
shown in
Fig. 1 taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 1.
[0036]Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of the head end of the reformer
apparatus
shown in Fig. 1.
[0037]Fig. 11 is a separate perspective view of the lower pulley wheel
assembly for
the riser in the head end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.
[0038] Fig. 12 is a separate exploded perspective view of the carriage in the
reformer
exercise apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.
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[0039]Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the head end portion of the carriage
shown in
Fig. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure showing the cord retraction
mechanism latch members engaged with the cord retraction reels.
[0040]Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the head end portion of the carriage as
in Fig.
13 with the latch members disengaged with the cord retraction reels.
[0041]Fig. 15 is a section al view through the carriage taken along the line
15-15 in
Fig. 14.
[0042] Fig. 16 is an underside perspective view of a carriage having a cord
retraction
system in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] Fig. 17 is an underside view as in Fig. 17 showing the cord retraction
system
in a released position.
[0044]Fig. 18 is an underside perspective view of the head end of an
alternative
carriage in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0045] Fig. 19 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Fig.
18.
[0046] Fig. 20 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Fig. 18
with the
headrest in a first raised position.
[0047] Fig. 21 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Fig. 18
with the
headrest in a second raised position.
[0048] Fig. 22 is head end perspective view of an alternative reformer in
accordance
with the present disclosure.
[0049]Fig. 23 is an inside separate exploded view of the head end assembly of
the
alternative reformer shown in Fig. 22.
[0050]Fig. 24 is an inside separate exploded perspective view of the foot end
assembly of the alternative reformer shown in Fig. 22.
[0051]Fig. 25 is a cross sectional view of one of the two frame side rails in
the
alternative reformer shown in Fig. 22.
[0052]Fig. 26 is a separate assembled perspective view of a riser utilized in
the
reformer shown in Fig. 22.
[0053]Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the riser shown in Fig. 26.
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[0054]Fig. 28 is a partial sectional view of the riser shown in Fig. 26
installed in the
head end socket of the reformer shown in Fig. 22.
(0055] Fig. 29 is a separate inside perspective view of the foot bar support
assembly
utilized in the reformer shown in Fig. 22.
(0056] Fig. 30 is an outside perspective view of the foot bar support assembly
shown
in Fig. 29.
[0057]Fig. 31 is a separate underside perspective view of the carriage frame
assembly of the carriage shown in Fig. 22.
[0058] Fig. 32 is an underside perspective view of the support pad removed
from the
carriage shown in Fig. 22.
(0059] Fig. 33 is a separate perspective view of a shoulder rest utilized in
the
reformer shown in Fig. 22.
[0060]Fig. 34 is an upper partial exploded view of the carriage of the
reformer shown
in Fig. 22.
[0061]Fig. 36 is an inverted view of the carriage removed from the reformer
shown
in Fig. 22 showing the cord retraction system in accordance with this
alternative
embodiment.
(0062] Fig. 36 is an underside plan view of the head end of the carriage shown
in
Fig. 35 with the cord retraction system in a cord locked position.
[0063]Fig. 37 is a view as in Fig. 36 with the cord retraction system in a
cord
unlocked position.
[0064]Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the head end of the carriage with the
headrest in a lowered position.
[0065]Fig. 39 is a perspective view a pair of reformers shown in Fig. 22 in a
stacked
configuration for storage.
[0066]Fig. 40 is a perspective view of the underside of the head end of the
carriage
showing the risers and shoulder stops ready for installation in the storage
position as
shown in Fig. 39.
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[0067] Fig. 41 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in Fig. 22
including an
optional vertical trapeze tower and mat conversion in accordance with the
present
disclosure.
[0068] Fig. 42 is a perspective view of a trapeze tower socket aligned against
the
end of one side rail of the reformer shown in Fig. 41 for connection to the
head end
extrusion.
[0069]Fig. 43 is a sectional view through the trapeze tower socket of the
tower
shown in Fig. 41.
[0070] Fig. 44 is a partial cutaway view through one of the riser bosses at
the head
end of the reformer shown in Fig. 41 showing an alternative lower pulley mount
installed therein.
[0071]Fig. 45 is a perspective view of a reformer as in Fig. 22 with an
alternative
vertical trapeze tower and matt conversion in accordance with the present
disclosure.
[0072] FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the hand grip end portion of an arm
cord for
use with a reformer in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0073] FIG. 47 is a perspective view as in FIG. 46 with a handle attached to
the arm
cord in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0074] FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the reformer shown in FIG. 22 with a
jump
board installed at the foot end of the reformer frame.
[0075] FIG. 49 is an enlarged vertical partial sectional view through one of
two posts
supporting the jump board installed at the foot end of the reformer frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0076] 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.
[0077] A perspective view of one embodiment of a reformer exercise apparatus
100
is shown in Fig. 1. 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
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of rail members 108. A carriage 110 is movably supported on the rail members
108
for movement back and forth between the ends 104 and 106 of the frame 102.
[0078]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 Fig. 1. The carriage 110 is resiliently
biased
toward the foot end 116 of the frame 102 by one or more elastic members such
as
springs 120.
[0079]A separate perspective view of the frame 102 is shown in Fig. 2. Each of
the
head end 104, the foot end 106 and the side rail members 108 has a similar
outer
surface shape that smoothly merge together. This shape includes an outer
upright
wall 122 merging with a horizontal top wall 124 which merges with a downwardly
and
inwardly slanted inner wall 126. The inner wall 126 merges into a vertical
skirt
portion 128. Thus the entire frame 102 includes an upright outer wall 122, a
downwardly and inwardly slanted inner wall 126 and a vertical skirt portion
128.
[0080]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.
[0081] 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.
[0082]A sectional view of a side rail member 108 is shown in Fig. 3. Each rail
member 108 is preferably an aluminum extrusion having an identical cross
sectional
shape. The rail member 108, as mentioned above, has an outer upright wall 122
that merges into a horizontal top wall 124 and then into a downwardly slanted
inner
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wall 126 and then into a vertical skirt portion 128. The end members 104 and
106
have the same exterior shape, but differ internally from the side rail members
108.
[0083]As is shown in Fig. 3, each side rail member 108 has a vertical mid wall
130
between the slanted inner wall 126 and the upright outer wall 122. The mid
wall 130
has an outwardly facing upper longitudinally extending boss 132 and a lower
outwardly facing longitudinally extending boss 134 parallel to the upper boss
132.
Together the mid wall 130, the upper boss 132 and lower boss 134 form an
outwardly open slot 136 therebetween. This slot 136 receives and carries one
of the
foot bar support assemblies therein as will be described in detail below.
Between
the mid wall 130 and the slanted inner wall 126 is an upper horizontal support
wall
138. The support wall 138 extends the length of the rail member 108 and
provides
tortional rigidity to the structure of the rail member 108. A horizontal
bottom portion
140 of the mid wall 130 acts as a support for one set of wheels supporting the
carriage 110. The upper wall 138 serves also as an upper guide for the
carriage
support wheels on the rail members 108. Furthermore, the mid wall 130 between
upper and lower walls 138 and 140 and the skirt portion 128 serves as a
lateral
guide for the carriage 110.
[0084]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.
[0085] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a foot end 106 of the frame 102. The
foot end
106 carries the anchor plate 121 for receiving free ends of one or more of the
springs
120. A plurality of spaced hourglass spool shaped pins 148 are each positioned
to
receive a loop on a spring 120 in order to fasten the spring 120 to the foot
end 106 of
the frame 102. Each of these pins 148 preferably tapers upward and inward from
its
base to a waist at a first angle from the pin's central axis and then outward
at a
second angle greater than the first angle so that the free end of a spring
placed on
the pin 148, when under tension, is securely held at the waist of the pin 148.
[0086] 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.
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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.
[0087]The foot bar 111 shown in Fig. 1 will now be described specifically with
reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The foot bar 111 is part of a foot
support
assembly that cannot be seen in Fig. 1. This foot bar 111 is separately shown
in Fig.
5. The foot bar 111 has a central horizontal foot support portion 150 between
two
parallel leg portions 152. Each leg portion 152 terminates in a connection
portion
154 that is fastened to one of two foot bar support assemblies 170.
[0088] Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the connection portion 154 is bolted or
otherwise fastened to a bottom end 156 of an elongated foot bar support arm
158.
The arm 158, best shown in Fig. 6, is an elongated flat plate member that has
an
engaging pin 161 projecting outward from the upper end 160 of the arm 158. The
arm 158 further has a closed pivot slot 162 radially extending parallel to the
leg
portion 152 of the foot bar 111 and spaced from where the connection portion
154 of
the foot bar 111 is attached to the arm 158.
[0089]The foot support assembly of reformer 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes a
left foot
bar support assembly 170, the foot bar 111, and a right foot bar support
assembly
170. Figs 6 and 7 are reverse perspective views of a right one of the foot bar
support assemblies 170 in accordance with one 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 is best shown in Fig. 6, the assembly 170 includes
the
foot bar support arm 158 to which the foot bar 111 is attached, a slide
portion 172
that rides in the slot 136 in the side rail member 108, and a hook plate 174
which is
rigidly fastened to the slide portion 172. This hook plate 174 has a series of
features, preferably slots or notches 176, 178, 180, 182 and 184 spaced along
the
upper edge of the hook plate 174. The pin 161 projecting outward from the
upper
end 160 of the foot bar support arm 158 fits within one of these notches 176-
184 to
position the foot bar 111 at a particular desired angular position with
respect to the
frame 102 of the reformer 100.
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[0090]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.
[0091]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 Fig. 6, to firmly engage with the pin 161 at
the
closed end of the slot 176. To disengage the foot bar 111 from this slot 176,
the foot
bar 111 must be pushed down and pulled rearward (away from the foot end) to
align
the pin 161 with the widened slot entrance. The foot bar 111 may then be
rotated up
and lifted out of the slot 176 and repositioned in a different one of the
slots 178, 180,
182 and 184.
[0092]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 Fig. 6, the arm 158 is rotated about the
bolt 186
clockwise until the pin 161 engages a protruding surface 192 at the forward
end
(toward head end 104) of the hook plate 174. In this position, a shoulder 194
on the
support arm 158 engages with a latch pin 196 that projects through a slot 198
in the
hook plate 174. The latch pin 196 projects through the hook plate 174 from a
latch
arm 200 best seen in Fig. 7. When the foot bar 111 is then lowered, the
shoulder
194 of the arm 158 pushes the latch pin 196 down.
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[0093] 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.
[0094]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.
[0095]The slide assembly 172 is best seen in the view of Fig. 7 which is a
perspective inside view of the foot bar support assembly 170 shown in Fig. 6
that is
carried in the right side rail member 108. The slide assembly 172 includes an
elongated slide plate 204 that is preferably bolted or otherwise fixed to the
hook plate
174. This slide plate 204 rides in the slot 136 in the rail member 108 with
the hook
plate 174 and adjacent foot bar support arm 158 disposed within the free/open
space
between the outer wall 122 and mid wall 130 of the rail member 108. It is to
be
understood that another, mirror image foot support assembly 170 is disposed in
the
other (left) rail member 108.
[0096]A sectional view of a left rail member 108 as in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig.
8 with
the left foot bar support assembly 170 riding in the slot 136. All of the
component
parts of the assembly 170 are disposed between the outer wall 122 and mid wall
130
of the rail 108. Thus the complete foot bar support assembly 170 is hidden
from
view by a user sitting on the carriage 110. It is to be understood that the
right foot
bar support assembly 170 in the right rail member 108 is constructed
similarly. Thus
the component parts of the assemblies 170 are either interchangeable or are
mirror
images. For example, the foot bar support arms 158 and hook plates 174 are
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mirrored. The remainder of the component parts of the assembly 170 may be
interchangeable.
[0097]Turning back now 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 guide roller 208 that rotates about a vertical axis through the slide plate
204 is
mounted preferably adjacent to each support roller 206. The guide rollers 208
roll
along inner side surfaces of the slot 136 in the rail member 108 to guide the
support
assembly 170, and thus the foot bar 111, as it is translated (i.e., rolled)
fore and aft
along the rail members 108.
[0098]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.
[0099]A further sectional view through the left rail 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
foot support assembly 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 each corner, and at
least
two carriage guide wheels 212 positioned preferably along one side of the
carriage
110 that also ride in the space between the mid wall 130, the inner slanted
wall 126,
the skirt portion 128 and the bottom portion 140 of the mid wall 130 of the
rail
member 108. The support wheels 210 roll on the bottom portion 140.
[00100] 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.
[00101] Thus in the reformer 100 shown in Fig. 1, both support for the
carriage 110
and the support for the foot bar 111 is provided by structures beneath and
carried
within the side rail members 108 and are thus hidden from external view.
This
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arrangement presents a clean, uncluttered, appearance to the reformer
apparatus
100 and minimizes the surface areas that can collect dust over time.
Furthermore, in
order to provide a direct foot bar position feedback to the user of the
exercise
apparatus 100, a "J" shaped indicator member 214 is fastened to one or both of
the
slide plates 172. A distal tip 216 of the indicator 214 extends around a
bottom edge
and upward outside of the wall 122 of the side rail member 108 to provide a
user of
the reformer 100 with an indication of the foot support assembly position.
Corresponding markings (not illustrated) may be provided along the outer wall
122
for a user to utilize in positioning the foot bar 111 at preselected positions
along the
frame 102.
[00102] 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.
[00103] A low friction layer 218 of polymer sheet material (shown in Fig. 6)
is affixed
to the outer surface of the hook plate 174 between the hook plate 174 and the
support arm 158. This layer reduces any friction between the arm and the plate
during rotation of the foot bar 111 between the notches 176, 178, 180 182 and
184.
Alternatively, the low friction layer 218 may be applied to the inner surface
of the
arm 158. Further, a low friction layer 218 may optionally be applied to both
of these
facing surfaces.
[00104] 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.
[00105] Referring back to Fig. 1, at the head end 104 of the reformer
apparatus 100
there are two spaced apart risers 112 for directing arm cords 114 from the
carriage
17
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110 to the head end 104 and then to the arm cord end loops 116. Referring now
to
the close perspective view of one of the risers 112 at the head end 104 shown
in Fig.
10, each of these risers 112 includes a lower pulley wheel assembly 220
fastened
into a tubular riser boss 222 formed adjacent each curved end 107 of the head
end
104. Each riser 112 also includes a hollow tubular body 224 having its bottom
end
fitted within the tubular riser boss 222. The upper end 228 of the riser
tubular body
224 carries a cylindrical roller head 230 This roller head 230 includes a
tubular body
232 that fits into or is integrally formed with the body 224. The tubular body
232 has
an elongated aperture 234 through its side. A pair of vertically aligned guide
rollers
236 are mounted to the head 230 on both sides of the aperture 234. Mounted
within
and transversely across the tubular body 232 behind the aperture 234 is a
horizontal
cord pulley wheel or roller 238.
[00106] The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 is separately shown in perspective
view in Fig. 11. The lower pulley wheel assembly 220 has a flanged cylindrical
body
240 that is fastened to the bottom of the boss 222. Carried within the body
240 is a
horizontally journaled pulley wheel 242 and an angled cord guide disc 244. The
guide disc 244 is positioned in the body 240 above the wheel 242 at an angle
of
about 45 degrees. An aperture 246 is provided in the disc 244 along its lower
edge.
This aperture 246 is oriented directly above the periphery of the pulley wheel
242
such that a free end of an arm cord 114 that is lowered into the riser 112
through the
aperture 234 in the head assembly 230 is directed over the roller 238 and down
through the tubular body 224 and through the aperture 246 and past the pulley
wheel
242. A user can then grasp the free end of the cord 114 and fasten the cord to
the
carriage 110 as described in detail below.
[00107] 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.
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[00108] An exploded perspective view of the carriage 110 is separately shown
in
Fig. 12. The carriage 110 includes a generally rectangular frame 250, a
rectangular
support platform 252, a padded upper platform 254, and a pair of shoulder
stops
118. The frame 250 has upright side support plates 258, a vertical head end
plate
260 and a vertical spring support plate 262, both of which are fastened to the
side
support plates 258. All of these plates 258, 260 and 262 are also fastened 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 biasing springs 120.
The
other end of each spring 120 may be removably fastened to the anchor pins 148
in
order to vary the resilient bias, i.e. spring tension between the carriage 110
and the
foot end 106 of the frame 102. The side support plates 258 each support the
plafforms 252 and 254 and provide mounting flanges for support wheels 210 and
guide wheels 212. The head end plate 260 has a pair of spaced openings 264
therethrough which act as guides for the arm cords (not shown in Fig. 12).
[00109] 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 Fig. 15) therein that
fastens the stem 272 of the shoulder stop 118 to the carriage 110. The bore
268
extends through the support 266 and through the support plafform 252.
[00110] Fig. 15 is a partial vertical sectional view through the carriage 110
with the
padded upper plafform 254 not shown. As can be seen in this view, the cross
pin
270 acts as a pivot for the shoulder stop stem 272. A bias device 274 such as
a
flexible rubber tube positioned against the stem 272 provides a spring force
against
the stem 272 to maintain the stem 272 oriented vertical and flush with the
left side of
the bore 268. However, when a user pulls on the top of a shoulder stop 118
toward
the foot end of the frame 102, (as is shown) the stop rotates about the cross
pin 270,
compressing the bias device 274, and pushing a bottom end 276 of the stem 272
toward the head end of the frame 102 (to the right in Fig. 15).
[00111] A bottom plan view of a head end portion of the carriage 110 is shown
in
Figs. 13 and 14. These two views illustrate the configuration of the cord
retraction
mechanism 280 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The
arm cords 114 are not shown in this view for clarity. The cord retraction
mechanism
280 includes, for each cord 114, a spring biased reel housing 282 fastened to
the
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support plate 252, a spring biased cord reel 284 rotatably carried in the
housing 282,
and a toothed plate latch arm 286 rotatably fastened to the underside surface
of the
support plate 252 adjacent to the reel housing 282.
[00112] As is shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the two housings 282 of the cord
retraction
mechanism 280 are mounted side by side against the underside surface of the
platform 252. The two latch arms 286 are preferably plate members fastened for
rotation about pivot pins 288 adjacent the reel housings 282 so that they can
rotate
in the plane of the underside surface of support platform 252. Each latch arm
286 is
preferably an elongated plate shaped body having a toothed end 290 and an
opposite linkage end 292. The latch arms 286 are preferably mirror images of
each
other such that the opposite linkage ends 292 of each latch arm plate 286
movably
engage each other to link the latch arms 286 together under the support
platform
252.
[00113] 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. Fig. 13 shows the
shoulder stops 118 in a normal position, and thus the bottom ends 276 of the
stems
272 are not engaged with the hooks 294 of either latch arm 286. One or more
springs (not shown) are used to bias both latch arms 286 into engagement with
the
reels 284. With the arms 286 in this position, the arm cords 114 cannot be
retracted
or extended from the reels 284. They are locked.
[00114] Fig. 14 shows the configuration when the left bottom end 276 of stem
272 of
the right shoulder stop 118 is engaged with the hook 294 on the left latch arm
286.
This causes the latch arm 286 to rotate clockwise about pin 288, pulling the
toothed
end 290 out of engagement with the left reel 284 in Fig. 14. At the same time,
clockwise rotation of the left latch arm 286 caused counterclockwise rotation
of the
right latch arm 286 through the linked linkage ends 292. This rotation
similarly
causes the toothed end 290 of the right latch arm 286 to rotate out of
engagement
with its adjacent reel 284. Thus a user pulling either shoulder stop 118
toward the
foot end 106 of the frame 102 will cause both of the latch arms 286 to
disengage
from the reels 284, permitting a user to adjust either or both arm cord
lengths as
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desired. Upon release of the shoulder stop 118, the latch arms 286 re-engage
the
reels 284 to lock the reels and thus the arm cords 114 to the carriage 110.
[00115] 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.
[00116] Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative cord retraction mechanism
300
mounted beneath the carriage 110 in accordance with the present disclosure.
The
arm cords 114 again are not shown in this view for clarity. The cord
retraction
mechanism 300 includes, for each cord 114, a spring biased cord reel 302 that
is
mounted beneath the support plate 252 for rotation, in this embodiment, about
a
horizontal axle 304 supported from the support plate 252 between a bracket 306
and
the carriage frame side support plate 258. The cord reel 302 has a band brake
portion 308 and a cord support portion 310. One end of the cord 114 (not
shown) is
fastened to and wrapped around the cord support portion 310 of the reel 302.
As is
shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the two reels 302 of the cord retraction mechanism
300
are rotatably mounted side by side beneath the underside surface of the
platform
252.
[00117] 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.
[00118] 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.
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[00119] 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 Fig. 17. When the brakes are thus
released, a
user can withdraw more cord 114 or permit an internal spring in the reel 302
to rotate
the reel 302 and take up slack in the cord 114. When the user releases the
shoulder
stop 118, the springs 326 again pull on the cables 312 to stop rotation of the
reels
302 and thus secure the cords 114 to the carriage 110.
[00120] 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.
[00121] 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 Fig. 18, 19, 20 and 21. In this embodiment, on top of the
carriage
frame 250, the support plate 252 has a trapezoidal shaped extension portion
350
that extends toward the head end of the frame 102. The padded upper plate 254
has the same overall shape as in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 12, but is
separated into a rectangular portion 352 and a head rest portion 354 by a
transverse
hinge 356 beneath the padding near the shoulder stops 118.
[00122] 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
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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 Figs. 19-21. In particular, Fig. 19 shows the headrest
portion
354 in a down position. Fig. 20 shows the headrest portion 354 in a first
raised
position, with the rod 362 rotated about 90 degrees counterclockwise. Fig. 21
shows
the headrest portion in a second raised position with the rod 362 rotated an
additional 90 degrees counterclockwise. In this embodiment, cam block 364
provides three stable positions. Also, note that in Figs. 16 and 17, the head
rest
adjustment rod (not numbered) is shown with two handle ends rather than only
one
as in Figs. 18-21. Other configurations also are well within the scope of this
disclosure. For example, the cam block 364 may be smoothly curved without flat
portions for specific headrest elevations and the rod 362 may be configured to
provide a frictional hold such that the headrest portion 354 may be held at
any
desired elevation. Alternatively, the cam block may be configured with four or
more
flat regions, each corresponding to a different raised height.
[00123] A perspective view of another embodiment of a reformer exercise
apparatus
400 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 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 movement back and forth
between the ends 404 and 406 of the frame 402.
[00124] 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 Fig. 22. The carriage 410 is resiliently
biased
toward the foot end 416 of the frame 402 by one or more elastic members such
as
springs 420 (see Fig. 35).
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[00125] The exterior of the frame 402 has the same shape as frame 102 shown in
Fig. 2. Each of the head end 404, the foot end 406 and the side rail members
408
has a similar outer surface shape that smoothly merge together.
[00126] A separate inside perspective view of the head end assembly 404 is
shown
in Fig. 23. The head end assembly includes an end extrusion 500 that has 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 upright wall 422
merging
with a horizontal top wall 424 which merges with a downwardly and inwardly
slanted
inner wall 426. The inner wall 426 merges into a vertical skirt portion 428.
The
vertical skirt portion 428 joins with the horizontal stepped support plate
421.
[00127] 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.
[00128] 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.
[00129] Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a foot end assembly 406 of the frame
402.
The foot end assembly 406 is another extrusion 500 that has leg portions 502,
bosses 506 and a horizontal stepped support plate 421. Two rows of spool
shaped
anchor pins 448 are fastened to the plate 421. These pins 448 each can receive
and
hold a loop on one end of a spring 420 in order to fasten the spring 420 to
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 preferably tapers upward and inward from
its
base to a waist at a first angle from the pin's central axis and then outward
at a
24
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second angle greater than the first angle so that the free end of a spring
placed on
the pin 448, when under tension, is securely held at the waist of the pin 448.
This
second angle is preferably at least twice that of the first angle.
[00130] 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).
[00131] 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 reformer embodiment 400 the rail member
408 is
a composite extrusion formed by two separate extrusion portions: inner portion
417
and outer portion 419 that are joined together by rivets 514. This
construction of the
side rail member 408 is particularly advantageous for at least two reasons.
First,
such a configuration is easier to extrude as two separate extrusions that are
later
joined. Second, the outer portion 419 may be finished differently than the
inner
portion 417. Thus one version of the outer portion 419 may be either powder
coated
for durability and/or painted in selectable colors while the inner portion 417
is powder
coated or otherwise finished for durability, since it is not in view.
Furthermore, the
inner portion 417 since it also contains the rolling surfaces and index rail
feature for
the foot bar 411, may be separated and replaced if required due to wear. The
rail
member 408, as mentioned above, has an outer upright wall 422 that merges into
a
horizontal top wall 424 and then into a downwardly slanted inner wall 426 and
then
into a vertical skirt portion 428. The end members 404 and 406 have the same
exterior shape, but differ internally from the side rail members 408.
[00132] As is shown in Fig. 25, each side rail member 408 has a vertical mid
wall
430 between the slanted inner wall 426 and the upright outer wall 422. The mid
wall
430 has an outwardly facing upper longitudinally extending boss 432 and a
lower
outwardly facing longitudinally extending boss 434 parallel to the upper boss
432.
Together the mid wall 430, the upper boss 432 and lower boss 434 form an
outwardly open slot 436 therebetween. This slot 436 receives and carries one
of the
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foot bar support assemblies therein as will be described in detail below.
Between
the mid wall 430 and the slanted inner wall 426 is an upper horizontal support
wall
438. The support wall 438 extends the length of the rail member 408 and
provides
tortional rigidity to the structure of the rail member 408. Furthermore, this
support
wall 438 facilitates joinder between the inner and outer extrusion portions
417 and
419. A horizontal bottom portion 440 of the mid wall 430 acts as a support for
one
set of wheels supporting the carriage 410. The upper wall 438 serves also as
an
upper guide for the carriage support wheels on the rail members 408.
Furthermore,
the mid wall 430 between upper and lower walls 438 and 440 and the skirt
portion
428 serves as a lateral guide for the carriage 410.
[00133] 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.
[00134] 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 Figs. 23 and 24. These bosses help to ensure exact alignment
between the rails 408 and ends 406 and 406 such that a smooth exterior frame
surface is presented to a user of the apparatus 400.
[00135] The foot bar 411 shown in Fig. 22 is the same as that shown in Fig 5.
The
foot bar support assembly 470 is similar to but differs slightly from that
shown and
described above specifically with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. The foot
bar 411
is part of a foot support assembly 470 that cannot be seen in Fig. 22.
Referring now
to inner and outer views of the foot support assembly 470 shown in Figs. 29
and 30,
the connection portion 154 of the foot bar 411 is bolted or otherwise fastened
to a
bottom end 456 of an elongated foot bar support arm 458. The arm 458, best
shown
in Fig. 29, is an elongated flat plate member that has an engaging pin 461
projecting
outward from the upper end 460 of the arm 458. The arm 458 further has a
closed
pivot slot 462 radially extending parallel to the leg portion 152 of the foot
bar 411 and
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spaced from where the connection portion 154 of the foot bar 411 is attached
to the
arm 458.
[00136] The foot support assembly of reformer 400 shown in Fig. 22 includes a
left
foot bar support assembly 470, the foot bar 411, and a right foot bar support
assembly 470. Figs 29 and 30 are reverse perspective views of a right one of
the
foot bar support assemblies 470 in accordance with one 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 is 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
attached, a slide portion 472 that rides in the slot 436 in the side rail
member 408,
and a hook plate 474 which is rigidly fastened to the slide portion 472. This
hook
plate 474 has a series of features, preferably slots or notches 476, 478, 480,
482
and 484 spaced along the upper edge of the hook plate 474. The pin 461
projecting
outward from the upper end 460 of the foot bar support arm 458 fits within one
of
these notches 476-484 to position the foot bar 411 at a particular desired
angular
position with respect to the frame 402 of the reformer 400.
[00137] 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.
[00138] 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 Fig. 39. In this position, the foot bar 411 may be used as a
handle to
lift the foot end of the reformer 400. To ensure that the foot bar 411 does
not
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disengage from this slot 476, the terminal end of the slot 476 is hooked
upward, as
can be seen in Fig. 29, so as to firmly engage with the pin 461 at the closed
end of
the slot 476. To disengage the foot bar 411 from this slot 476, the foot bar
411 must
be pushed down and pulled rearward (away from the foot end) to align the pin
461
with the widened slot entrance. The foot bar 411 may then be rotated up and
lifted
out of the slot 476 and repositioned in a different one of the slots 478, 480,
482 and
484.
[00139] 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 Fig. 29, the arm 458 is rotated about the
bolt
486 clockwise until the pin 461 engages a protruding surface 492 at the
forward end
(toward head end 404) of the hook plate 474. In this position, a shoulder 494
on the
support arm 458 engages with a latch pin 496 that projects through a slot 498
in the
hook plate 474. The latch pin 496 projects through the hook plate 474 from a
latch
arm 530 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.
[00140] 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.
[00141] 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.
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[00142] The slide assembly 472 is best seen in the view of Fig. 30 which is an
opposite perspective view of the foot bar support assembly 470 shown in Fig.
29 that
is carried in the right side rail member 408. The slide assembly 472 includes
an
elongated slide plate 538 that is preferably bolted or otherwise fixed to the
hook plate
474. This slide plate 538 rides in the slot 436 in the rail member 408 with
the hook
plate 474 and adjacent foot bar support arm 458 disposed within the free/open
space
between the outer wall 422 and mid wall 430 of the rail member 408. It is to
be
understood that another, mirror image foot support assembly 470 is disposed in
the
other (left) rail member 408.
[00143] Turning back now 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 guide roller 540 that rotates about a vertical axis through the slide plate
538 is
mounted preferably adjacent to each support roller 536. The guide rollers 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 is translated (i.e., rolled)
fore and aft
along the rail members 408.
[00144] 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.
[00145] 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.
[00146] A low friction layer 546 of polymer sheet material (shown in Fig. 29)
is
affixed to the outer surface of the hook plate 474 between the hook plate 474
and
the support arm 458. This layer, as in the first embodiment 100, reduces any
friction
between the arm 458 and the plate during rotation of the foot bar 411 between
the
notches 476, 478, 480 482 and 484. Alternatively, the low friction layer 546
may be
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applied to the facing surface of the arm 458. To further reduce friction, a
low friction
layer 546 may optionally be applied to both of these facing surfaces.
[00147] 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.
[00148] 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.
[00149] Referring back to Fig. 22, at the head end 404 of the reformer
apparatus
400 there are two spaced apart arm cord risers 412 for directing arm cords 414
from
the carriage 410 to the head end 404 and then to the arm cord end loops 416. A
separate perspective view of a riser 412 is shown in Fig. 26 and an exploded
assembly view is shown in Fig. 27. In this embodiment 400, the riser 412 has
no
bottom pulley configuration as is utilized in riser 112. Instead, preferably a
pulley
and roller assembly 550 is inserted into the upper end of the riser tube 552.
This
pulley and roller assembly includes a support housing 554 that supports
laterally
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spaced apart vertical rollers 556 that rotate about parallel vertical axles
fastened into
the housing 554, and a pulley 558 mounted between and below the rollers 556 on
a
horizontal axle 560. Each of the rollers and the pulley 558 is supported on
its
respective axle between pairs of ball bearings mounted in the support housing
554.
[00150] 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 Fig. 26.
[00151] 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
Fig. 28. A threaded expansion plug 572 is press fit into the bottom end of the
riser
tube 552. This threaded expansion plug 572 engages with the threaded hand bolt
413 (Figs. 23, 28). When the hand bolt 413 is tightened, the riser 412 is
pulled down
into the boss 506 to secure the riser 412 in place. The riser tube 552 may
alternately
be made of different lengths such that different length risers 412 may be
selected for
different users. Finally, the lower opening 564 in the riser tube 552, besides
passing
the cord 414 therethrough, is used to receive part of a bracket 700 (an
example of
which is shown in Fig. 31) to removably hold the riser 412 beneath the head
end of
the carriage 410 during storage as is shown in Fig. 39.
[00152] The carriage 410 is separately shown in Figs. 31 and 32. An underside
separate perspective view of part of the carriage 410 is separately shown in
Fig. 31.
An underside view of the upholstered upper platform 574 is separately shown in
Fig.
32. The carriage 410 includes a generally rectangular frame 576, a rectangular
support plafform 578, the upholstered upper platform 574, and a pair of
shoulder
stops 418. The frame 576 has upright side support plates 580, a vertical head
end
plate 582 and a vertical spring support plate 684, both of which are fastened
to the
side support plates 580. All of these plates 580, 582 and 584 are also
fastened to
the underside of the support plafform 578 to provide a rigid carriage
structure. The
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upper side of the platform 578 includes shoulder stop supports 594 (See Fig.
34) as
in the first embodiment of the carriage 110 shown in Fig. 12.
[00153] 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 Fig. 31).
A
pair of elongated slots 592 are also formed in the head end plate 582. These
slots
592 are shaped to receive the stems of the shoulder stops 418 when the
shoulder
stops 418 are removed and attached to the carriage 410 for storage as is shown
in
Fig. 39.
[00154] The support platform 578 has a pair of shoulder stop supports 594
fastened
to its upper surface (as is shown in Fig. 34). Each of these supports 594 has
a pair
of vertical bores 596 and 598 therethrough. Vertical bore 596 has an oval
cross
section supports a cross pin 600 on the stem 602 of the shoulder stop 418.
Operation of the shoulder stop 418 is identical to that of the shoulder stop
118 of the
first embodiment 100, as shown in Fig. 15.
[00155] Fig. 33 is a perspective view of the shoulder stop 418. Note that the
stem
600 is offset from the axial centerline through the shoulder stop 418.
Referring now
to Fig. 34, a partial upper view of the upper plafform of the carriage 410 is
shown.
Each of the shoulder stop supports projects through and is flush with the top
of the
upper plafform 574. The inboard bores 598 are circular in cross section. Thus,
when the stems 600 of the shoulder stops 418 are placed in these bores 598 the
shoulder stops 418 cannot rotate as was the case in the first embodiment 100
described above and shown with reference to Fig. 15. However, when one, or
both,
shoulder stops 418 are located in the outboard bores 596, they can be tilted
toward
the foot end 406 just as described with reference to Fig. 15 in the first
embodiment
100.
[00156] 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
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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.
[00157] A partial perspective view of the bottom of the carriage 410, removed
from
the reformer 400, is shown in Fig. 35. In this view the springs 420 are shown
attached to the spring support plate 584. An exemplary arm cord 414 is shown
threaded through the guide hole 590 and into the cord retraction mechanism
610.
[00158] 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
cord retraction mechanism 610 in accordance with this embodiment of the
present
disclosure. The arm cords 414 are not shown in this view for clarity. The cord
retraction mechanism 610 includes, for each cord 414, a spring biased cord
reel 612
that is mounted beneath the support plate 578 for rotation about a horizontal
axis
and is supported from the carriage frame side support plate 580. The cord reel
612
has a coil spring portion 614 and a cord support portion 616. One end of the
cord
414 (not shown) is fastened to and wrapped around the cord support portion 616
of
the reel 612. As is shown in Figs. 35, 36 and 37, the two reels 612 of the
cord
retraction mechanism 610 are rotatably mounted side by side beneath the
underside
surface of the platform 578.
[00159] 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 plafform 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.
[00160] 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
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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.
[00161] 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 Fig. 35.
[00162] The retraction assembly 610 is shown in a cord locked condition in
Fig. 36.
In Fig. 37, the assembly 610 is shown in an unlocked condition wherein one of
the
shoulder stops 418, (the left one in Fig. 37) has been tilted toward the foot
end of the
reformer frame 402. In this view of Fig. 37, the stem 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 clockwise. At the same time, the
leg 642
must also rotate clockwise, rotating the arm portion 658 of the inner clamp
member
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650 counterclockwise. This action releases the arm cord 414 from the clamp
members 650 and permits the tension in the left cord reel to be felt on the
cord 414.
[00163] 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.
[00164] 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.
[00165] 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 Fig. 32. The rigid 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 may be made of plastic, composite
material or wood. The section 672 also has apertures 678 for receiving the
shoulder
stop supports 594 therethrough as above described. The sections 672 and 674
are
spaced apart by about 1/4 inch so as to give clearance for bending the head
end
portion of the upholstered platform 574 as is shown with reference to the
first
embodiment in Figs. 19-21. However, in this reformer 400, there is no cam
block
364. Instead, as shown in Fig. 32, an elongated adjustment lever 680 is
fastened 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
one
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
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end 684 has a series of notches 688 for adjusting the height of the head end
section
674. The opposite end of the lever 680 may have a knob 690 fastened thereto
for
rotating the lever 680 out of and into engagement of the notches 688 with a
corresponding flange of the head end support plate 582.
[00166] 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
Fig. 39.
When two or more reformers 400 are so stacked they are securely held laterally
in
place by these feet 429.
[00167] Furthermore, the risers 412 are removed from the head end 404 and
fastened to one of the brackets 700 (see Fig. 31 and Fig. 40 below). Each of
the
shoulder stops 418 is removed and the stems 600 passed through the shoulder
stop
slot openings 592, turned 90 degrees so that the pins 602 engage the head end
support plate 582.
[00168] An underside perspective view of the head end of the carriage 410 is
shown
in Fig. 40 showing the risers 412 and shoulder stops 418 spaced from these
holding
features. These holding features are slots 592 in the head end plate 582 and
spring
brackets 700 The spring brackets 700 resiliently snap within the lower
openings 564
to hold and retain the riser 412 in place without marring or otherwise
damaging the
exterior finish of the riser 412.
[00169] When the risers 412 and shoulder stops 418 are mounted beneath the
carriage 410 as shown in Figs. 39 and 40, the carriage 410 may be positioned
fully
at the head end of the frame 402, and an optional mat conversion pad 702 may
be
placed between the carriage 410 and the standing platform 423 to provide a
fully flat
mat surface. This mat conversion places the carriage 410 in a stationary
position at
the head end 404, and presents to the user a full flat surface.
[00170] The reformer 400 may optionally also be configured with a trapeze
tower
assembly 800 as is shown in Fig. 41. The tower assembly 800 basically
comprises a
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U shaped tower 802, a trapeze swing 804, and a pair of tower sockets 806. The
tower sockets 806 are fastened between the rail members 408 and the head end
extrusion 500 of the head end 404 and become an integral part of the frame
402.
The bottom ends of the tower 802 fit within the sockets 806 and are drawn into
the
sockets 806 as is shown in more detail in Fig. 43.
[00171] 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 Fig. 41, or may be formed from
straight sections joined by conventional 90 degree elbows. The tower 802 has a
plurality of spaced eyebolts 808 for attaching springs, straps, or pulleys 810
as may
be needed for particular exercises. Alternatively the vertical legs of the
tower 802
may have a vertical slot and adjustable clamp fittings provided therein for
anchoring
the springs, pulleys 810, or eyebolts 808 thereto.
[00172] 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 Fig. 44, or alternatively may be
configured to
be fastened with the same hand bolt 413 as is used to secure the riser 412 in
place
as is shown in Fig. 28. When the connector assembly 818 is utilized in place
of the
riser 412, then a second pulley 810 (not shown) could be fastened to the
assembly
818 and used as a lower arm cord guide directing the arm cord from the
carriage 410
to the lower pulley and through the upper pulley 810 to the hand loop as in
the
embodiments 100 and 400 shown in Figs 1 and 22.
[00173] A tower socket 806 is shown mounted on the head end of one of the side
rail members 408 in Fig. 42. The tower socket 806 is a metal extrusion,
preferably
aluminum, that has a tube portion 820 and an axially extending radial flange
portion
822. The flange portion 822 has a thickened edge 824 and a plate portion 826
that
is identically shaped to fit against end plate 407 of the head end extrusion
500 and
against the end of the side rail member 408. Locating 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 fasten the head end 404 and the socket 806
securely to the side rail member 408.
[00174] Fig. 43 is a cutaway view of an assembled tower 802 fastened in a
socket
806. In a fashion similar to that described above with reference to risers 412
being
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fastened into the bosses 506, the bottom end of the tower 802 is fitted with a
threaded expansion plug 830. A hand bolt 832 extending into the bottom of the
tube
portion 820 threads into the plug 830. When tightened, the expansion plug 830
draws the bottom end of the tower 802 down tightly into the socket 806 to
complete
the assembly of the tower 800 to the frame 402.
[00175] 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 Fig. 45. This
construction would preclude the need for tower sockets 806. In such an
alternative,
shown in Fig. 45, a hand bolt 832 would be again used to draw the bottom ends
850
of the tower 820 tightly into the bosses 506 just as the risers 412 would be
fastened
into the bosses 506 above described. In such an alternative configuration, of
course,
the risers 412 are not used. Instead, the arm cords 414 would each be attached
to a
pulley 810.
[00176] Turning now to FIG. 46, an exemplary handle end portion 880 of an arm
cord 114, 414 is shown attached to a hand strap 900. End portion 880 is turned
back on itself to form a flexible eye 882. The free end 884 of the end portion
880 is
sewn or otherwise permanently secured to the end portion 880 to form the eye
882.
This eye 882 replaces the need for a conventional metal or plastic snap clip
for
connection to a conventional hand grip.
[00177] 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 FIG. 46. The arm cords 114, 414 with
hand
strap 900 attached in this manner can be utilized with any conventional
reformer or
other exercise apparatus utilizing arm/foot cords as well as with the reformer
100,
400 of the present disclosure.
[00178] A hand grip 910 is shown in FIG. 47 that has a tubular handle 912.
This grip
910 may be utilized in place of hand strap 900. Again, the hand grip 910
preferably
has a flexible cord ring 904 as described above to fasten the hand grip 910 to
the
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end portion 880. Alternatively, a standard hand grip may be used that includes
a
metal D ring fastened to the hand grip 910 in place of the cord ring 904.
[00179] The reformer 100 or 400 may be configured with a jump board 950 as is
shown in FIG. 48. This jump board 950 is a generally rectangular plate
structure
with two parallel posts 952 that fit down into the inserts 510 in the bosses
506 in the
foot end 106, 406. These posts 952 each have a rectangular or square cross
sectional shape as is shown in the sectional partial view of FIG. 49.
[00180] 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.
[00181] In FIG. 48, note that the foot bar 411 is shown positioned adjacent
the head
end 404 of the frame 402. Furthermore the foot bar 411 support assemblies 470
are
shown in the free rotational position in which pins 461 are engaged in slots
484 as
described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. When the foot bar 411 is thus
positioned to be movable between the head and foot ends 404 and 406 of the
frame
402, an elastic resistance member 956 may be fastened to the connection
portions
154 of the leg portions 156 of foot bar 411 and stretched around the head end
404 of
the frame 402 as is shown in FIG. 48. With the foot bar 411 configured in this
manner, a user can sit or lay on the carriage 410, grasp the leg portions 156
of the
foot bar 411 and pull the foot bar 411 toward the carriage 410 against the
resistance
provided by resistance member 956.
[00182] 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
FIG.
48. Furthermore, the above description applies equally well to the first
embodiment,
reformer apparatus 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-21.
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[00183] 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 FIG. 48, or
longer
legs as shown in at least FIGS. 1 and 22. Accordingly, all such alternatives,
variations and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the scope
of
and as defined by the following claims.
