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 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 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 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.
[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 other 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.
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:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment
of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 is a separate perspective view of the frame of the reformer shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of one side rail member of the frame taken along the line
3-3 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the foot end of a reformer in accordance with the
present disclosure.
Fig. 5 is a separate perspective view of a foot bar utilized in the reformer exercise apparatus
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an outer perspective view of a right side rail member foot bar support assembly
in accordance with the present disclosure.
Fig. 7 is an inner perspective view of the right side rail member foot bar support assembly
shown in Fig. 6.
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.
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.
Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of the head end of the reformer apparatus shown in
Fig. 1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fig. 15 is a section al view through the carriage taken along the line 15-15 in Fig. 14.
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.
Fig. 17 is an underside view as in Fig. 17 showing the cord retraction system in a released position.
Fig. 18 is an underside perspective view of the head end of an alternative carriage in accordance
with the present disclosure.
Fig. 19 is a side view of the head end of the carriage shown in Fig. 18.
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.
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.
Fig. 22 is head end perspective view of an alternative reformer in accordance with the present
disclosure.
Fig. 23 is an inside separate exploded view of the head end assembly of the alternative reformer
shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 24 is an inside separate exploded perspective view of the foot end assembly of the alternative
reformer shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 25 is a cross sectional view of one of the two frame side rails in the alternative reformer
shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 26 is a separate assembled perspective view of a riser utilized in the reformer shown
in Fig. 22.
Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the riser shown in Fig. 26.
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.
Fig. 29 is a separate inside perspective view of the foot bar support assembly utilized in
the reformer shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 30 is an outside perspective view of the foot bar support assembly shown in Fig. 29.
Fig. 31 is a separate underside perspective view of the carriage frame assembly of the carriage
shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 32 is an underside perspective view of the support pad removed from the carriage shown
in Fig. 22.
Fig. 33 is a separate perspective view of a shoulder rest utilized in the reformer shown
in Fig. 22.
Fig. 34 is an upper partial exploded view of the carriage of the reformer shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 35 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.
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.
Fig. 37 is a view as in Fig. 36 with the cord retraction system in a cord unlocked position.
Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the head end of the carriage with the headrest in a lowered
position.
Fig. 39 is a perspective view a pair of reformers shown in Fig. 22 in a stacked configuration for storage.
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.
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.
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.
Fig. 43 is a sectional view through the trapeze tower socket of the tower shown in Fig. 41.
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.
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.
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.
FIG. 47 is a perspective view as in FIG. 46 with a handle attached to the arm cord in accordance with the present disclosure.
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.
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
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] Each corner of the frame
102, formed by the ends
104 and
106, includes curved outer upright wall
122, top wall
124 and inwardly slanted inner wall
126. Preferably inner wall
126 terminates in an upright lower skirt portion
128. The foot end
106 also includes two spaced apart tubular foot support bosses
146 formed therein. These foot support bosses
146 are used to support a flat, generally rectangular foot platform (not shown) often
called a "jump board". This jump board is a rectangular plate that has two spaced
parallel support posts that removably fit into the foot support bosses
146.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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 mirrored. The remainder of the component parts of the assembly
170 may be interchangeable.
[0048] 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.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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
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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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 platforms
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).
[0060] 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 platform
252.
[0061] Fig.
15 is a partial vertical sectional view through the carriage
110 with the padded upper platform
254 not shown. As can be seen in this view, the 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).
[0062] 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 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.
[0063] 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.
[0064] 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.
[0065] 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 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.
[0066] 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.
[0067] 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.
[0068] 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.
[0069] 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.
[0070] 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.
[0071] 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.
[0072] 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.
[0073] An adjustable headrest support plate
358 is fastened to the support plate
252 under the head rest portion
354. The extension portion
350 has an elongated vertical slot
357 therethrough preferably centered between the sides of the extension portion
350. The support plate
358 has a transverse channel
360 therein that carries an L shaped headrest adjustment rod
362 sandwiched between the channel
360 and the extension portion
350. Attached to the rod
362 is a cam block
364 that extends through the slot
357. Rotation of handle portion of the rod
362 forces the cam block
364 to rotate against the hinged head rest portion
354. As the cam block
364 is rotated by rotation of the rod
362, the head rest portion
354 is moved between the positions shown in 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.
[0074] 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.
[0075] 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).
[0076] 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.
[0077] 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.
[0078] 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.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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 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.
[0081] 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).
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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 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.
[0084] 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.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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 spaced from where the connection portion
154 of the foot bar
411 is attached to the arm
458.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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 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.
[0090] 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.
[0091] 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.
[0092] 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.
[0093] 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] 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 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.
[0098] 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.
[0099] 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.
[0100] 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 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.
[0101] 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.
[0102] 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.
[0103] 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 platform
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
584, 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 platform
578 to provide a rigid carriage structure. The 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.
[0104] 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.
[0105] 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.
[0106] 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 platform of the carriage
410 is shown. Each of the shoulder stop supports projects through and is flush with the
top of the upper platform
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.
[0107] In this embodiment of the reformer
400, not only does a user have an option of rotating the shoulder stops
418 when inserting them into the bores
596 to accommodate different shoulder widths, one or both shoulder stops
418 may be
inserted in the inner bores
598 to provide further width adjustment. If both shoulder stops
418 are located in the inner bores
598, then no adjustment of the arm cords
414 can be made. This is called the lockout position. However, if either one or both
shoulder stops
418 are placed in the outer bores
596, then adjustment of the arm cords
414 may be made with that shoulder stop in an outer bore
596.
[0108] 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.
[0109] 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.
[0110] The coil spring portion
614 is bolted to or integral with the cord support portion
616 and preferably carries within it a coil spring (not shown) that provides a takeup
preload tension on the cord
414 when its end is fastened to the cord support portion
616 of the reel
612. The retraction assembly
610 also includes a unique spring loaded cord clamp assembly
618 fastened to the support platform
578 that is operably coupled to an actuator linkage 620, which is, in turn, actuated
by either one of the shoulder stops
418 when installed in the appropriate bore
596.
[0111] The actuator linkage
620 is carried on an elongated flat plate
622 that is fastened to the support plate
578 via fasteners
624 and spans between the two side support plates
580 directly beneath the shoulder stops
418 and over the bores
596 and
598. Each end of the flat plate
622 has an elongated opening
626 aligned with a bore 596 and a circular opening
628 aligned with the bore
598. Pivotally carried side by side on the linkage plate
622 are a pair of T shaped links
630. Each T shaped link
630 pivots in the plane of the support plate
578 about the center of the head
632 of the link
630 on a pin
634 fastening the link
630 to the plate
622. One end
636 of the head
632 of each of the links
630 is positioned to engage a stem
600 of the shoulder stop
418 inserted into bore
596. The other end
638 of the head
632 of the T shaped link
630 couples with a corresponding end
638 of the other link
630. The ends
638 of the two links
630 are preferably also coupled together by a coil spring
640. Each T shaped link
630 includes an elongated leg
642. The end of this elongated leg
642 resides adjacent one of the clamp assemblies
618.
[0112] 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.
[0113] 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
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.
[0114] 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.
[0115] 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.
[0116] 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 ¼ 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 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.
[0117] 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.
[0118] 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.
[0119] 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.
[0120] 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.
[0121] 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 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.
[0122] 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.
[0123] 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.
[0124] 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.
[0125] 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 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.
[0126] 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.
[0127] 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.
[0128] 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.
[0129] 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 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.
[0130] 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.
[0131] 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.
[0132] 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.
[0133] 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.
[0134] 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.
CLAUSES
[0135]
- 1. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:
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 supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage
between the head and foot end portions;
a bias member connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame
for biasing the carriage toward the foot end of the frame; and
a foot support member supported by the side rail portions of the frame, wherein each
of the side rail portions has an upright outer wall and an integral horizontal top
wall merging into an inwardly and downwardly slanted inner wall.
- 2. The apparatus according to clause 1 wherein each side rail portion has a downwardly
extending mid wall between the outer wall and the inner wall for supporting the foot
support member.
- 3. The apparatus according to clause 2 wherein 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.
- 4. The apparatus according to clause 2 wherein each side rail portion includes a horizontal
wall between the inner wall and the mid wall.
- 5. The apparatus according to clause 2 wherein the mid wall has a lower end portion
forming a horizontal track for supporting the carriage.
- 6. The apparatus according to clause 3 wherein an end of the foot support member is
movably supported in the outwardly open slot between the upper and lower bosses.
- 7. The apparatus according to clause 2 wherein the mid wall includes a plurality of
features for discrete positioning of the foot support member along a length of the
side rail members.
- 8. The apparatus according to clause 1 wherein each of the frame portions has an upright
outer wall and an integral horizontal top wall merging into an inwardly and downwardly
slanted inner wall.
- 9. The apparatus according to clause 8 wherein each side rail portion has a downwardly
extending mid wall between the outer wall and the inner wall for supporting the foot
support member.
- 10. The apparatus according to clause 9 wherein 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.
- 11. The apparatus according to clause 9 wherein each side rail portion includes a
horizontal wall between the inner wall and the mid wall.
- 12. The apparatus according to clause 9 wherein the mid wall has a lower end portion
forming a horizontal track for supporting the carriage.
- 13. The apparatus according to clause 1 further comprising one or more hourglass spool
shaped pins secured to the foot end portion of the frame for receiving a free end
of one of the bias members.
- 14. The apparatus according to clause 13, wherein each pin has a central axis and
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 the spring placed on the pin is securely held at the waist of the
pin.
- 15. The apparatus according to clause 14, wherein the second angle is at least twice
that of the first angle.
- 16. In 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, wherein
the side rail portions of the frame each has an outwardly open slot therein, a foot
bar support assembly movably carried by each of the outwardly open slots for supporting
an end of the foot bar, each foot bar support assembly comprising:
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.
- 17. The support assembly according to clause 16 wherein the slide plate is an elongated
member having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface
of the slot.
- 18. The support assembly according to clause 16 wherein the slide plate has at least
one roller for riding against an upright surface within the slot.
- 19. The support assembly according to clause 16 wherein the one end is a bottom end
portion of the foot bar support arm.
- 20. The support assembly according to clause 16 wherein the foot bar support arm has
an upper end including an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature
of the hook plate.
- 21. The support assembly according to clause 16 wherein 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.
- 22. The support assembly according to clause 20 wherein the discrete feature is a
notch.
- 23. The support assembly according to clause 22 wherein the hook plate has an L shaped
slot for receiving the engaging member.
- 24. The support assembly of clause 21 wherein the portion of the foot bar support
arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.
- 25. 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
comprising:
a generally U shaped foot bar having a first end and a second end;
an elongated slide plate movably supported within with each of the slots;
a hook plate parallel to the slide plate fastened to each slide plate; and a foot
bar support arm parallel to the hook plate rotatably fastened to each hook plate and
fastened to one of the first and second ends of the foot bar.
- 26. The foot bar assembly according to clause 25 wherein the slide plate is an elongated
member having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface
of the slot.
- 27. The foot bar assembly according to clause 25 wherein the slide plate has at least
one roller for riding against an upright surface within the slot.
- 28. The foot bar assembly according to clause 25 wherein the one end is a bottom end
portion of the foot bar support arm.
- 29. The foot bar assembly according to clause 25 wherein the foot bar support arm
has an upper end including an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete
feature of the hook plate.
- 30. The foot bar assembly according to clause 25 wherein 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.
- 31. The foot bar assembly according to clause 29 wherein the discrete feature is a
slot.
- 32. The foot bar assembly according to clause 31 wherein the hook plate has an L shaped
slot for receiving the engaging member.
- 33. The foot bar assembly according to clause 30 wherein the portion of the foot bar
support arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.
- 34. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:
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;
a foot bar supported by the frame, wherein the side rail portions of the frame each
has an upright outer wall and an outwardly open slot therein facing the outer wall;
and
a foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the outwardly open slots for
supporting an end of the foot bar, each foot bar support assembly comprising:
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.
- 35. The reformer according to clause 34 wherein the slide plate is an elongated member
having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface of
the slot.
- 36. The reformer according to clause 34 wherein the slide plate has at least one roller
for riding against an upright surface within the slot.
- 37. The reformer according to clause 34 wherein the one end is a bottom end portion
of the foot bar support arm.
- 38. The reformer according to clause 34 wherein the foot bar support arm has an upper
end including an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the
hook plate.
- 39. The reformer according to clause 34 wherein 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.
- 40. The reformer according to clause 38 wherein the discrete feature is a slot.
- 41. The reformer according to clause 40 wherein the hook plate has an L shaped slot
for receiving the engaging member.
- 42. The reformer assembly of clause 40 wherein the portion of the foot bar support
arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.
- 43. The apparatus according to clause 34 further comprising one or more bias members
attached between the carriage and the foot end of the frame for urging the carriage
toward the foot end of the frame.
- 44. The apparatus according to clause 43 further comprising one or more hourglass
spool shaped pins secured to the foot end of the frame for receiving a free end of
one of the bias members to attach that bias member to the foot end.
- 45. The apparatus according to clause 44, wherein each pin has a central axis and
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 the spring placed on the pin is securely held at the waist of the
pin.
- 46. The apparatus according to clause 45, wherein the second angle is at least twice
that of the first angle.
- 47. An arm cord support riser for use in 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 near the foot end, wherein the head end of the frame has a
pair of spaced vertical bores formed therein, the cord support riser comprising: a
hollow cylindrical tube carrying a first pulley wheel disposed therein near an upper
end of the tube, the first pulley wheel rotating about a horizontal axle carried in
the tube; and
a guide in the tube on each side of an exit opening adjacent the first pulley wheel
for directing an arm cord out of the tube.
- 48. The arm cord support riser according to clause 47 wherein each guide is a roller
rotatable about a vertical axis.
- 49. The arm cord support riser according to clause 47 wherein the exit opening is
elongated to accommodate the arm cord passing around the first pulley wheel and out
of the tube.
- 50. The arm cord support riser according to clause 49 further comprising a second
pulley wheel disposed in the tube near a bottom end of the tube, for routing an arm
cord into the tube, through the tube, around the first pulley wheel and out through
the opening.
- 51. The arm cord support riser according to clause 47 further comprising another elongated
opening aligned below the exit opening for entry of an arm cord therein.
- 52. In 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, 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 comprising:
a first pulley wheel rotatably supported within an upper end of the tube;
a second pulley wheel within the tube near a bottom end of the tube; and a guide adjacent
the first roller for directing an arm cord around the first pulley wheel.
- 53. The riser according to clause 52 wherein the bottom end of the tube is open to
receive the arm cord therethrough.
- 54. The riser according to clause 52 wherein 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.
- 55. The riser according to clause 52 wherein the top of the tube has spaced guides
adjacent sides of the opening with the first pulley wheel therebetween.
- 56. The riser according to clause 51 further comprising a horizontal guide between
the spaced guides.
- 57. The riser according to clause 54 wherein the guides are rollers.
- 58. The riser according to clause 52 wherein the tube further comprises an internal
cord guide plate above the second pulley.
- 59. The riser according to clause 53 wherein the top is separable from and rotatably
fastened to the tube.
- 60. The riser according to clause 54 wherein the top has a pair of spaced guides adjacent
the opening.
- 61. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:
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;
a bias member between the carriage and the foot end for urging the carriage toward
the foot end of the frame;
a foot bar supported by the frame near the foot end;
wherein the head end of the frame has a pair of spaced vertical bores formed therein
each supporting a cord support riser comprising:
a hollow cylindrical tube carrying a first pulley wheel disposed therein near an upper
end of the tube, the first pulley wheel rotating about a horizontal axle carried in
the tube; and
a guide in the tube on each side of an exit opening adjacent the first pulley wheel
for directing an arm cord out of the tube.
- 62. The apparatus according to clause 61 wherein each guide is a roller rotatable
about a vertical axis.
- 63. The apparatus according to clause 61 wherein the exit opening is elongated to
accommodate the arm cord passing around the first pulley wheel and out of the tube.
- 64. The apparatus according to clause 63 further comprising a second pulley wheel
disposed in the tube near a bottom end of the tube, for routing an arm cord into the
tube, through the tube, around the first pulley wheel and out through the opening.
- 65. The apparatus according to clause 61 further comprising another elongated opening
aligned below the exit opening for entry of an arm cord therein.
- 66. The apparatus according to clause 64 further comprising one or more hourglass
spool shaped pins secured to the foot end of the frame for receiving a free end of
one of the bias members to attach that bias member to the foot end.
- 67. The apparatus according to clause 65, wherein each pin has a central axis and
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 the spring placed on the pin is securely held at the waist of the
pin.
- 68. The apparatus according to clause 66, wherein the second angle is at least twice
that of the first angle.
- 69. In a reformer exercise apparatus having a generally rectangular frame supporting
a carriage for reciprocal movement between a head end and a foot end of the frame,
and a pair of arm cords extending between the carriage, the head end of the frame,
and handles for a user on the carriage to grasp during exercising, an arm cord retraction
assembly mounted to an underside surface of the carriage, the assembly comprising:
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,
each reel having a toothed outer rim;
a pair of toothed latch members pivotably 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.
- 70. The retraction assembly according to clause 69 further comprising an actuator
connected to one of the latch members for rotating the latch members into and out
of engagement with the toothed rims of the retraction reels.
- 71. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:
a generally rectangular frame supporting a carriage for reciprocal movement between
a head end and a foot end of the frame, and a pair of arm cords extending between
the carriage, the head end of the frame, and handles for a user on the carriage to
grasp during exercise, the carriage having a pair of spaced shoulder stops extending
from an upper surface of the carriage; and
an arm cord retraction assembly mounted to an underside surface of the carriage, the
assembly comprising:
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,
each reel having a toothed outer rim;
a pair of toothed latch members pivotably 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.
- 72. The apparatus according to clause 71 further comprising an actuator connected
from one of the shoulder stops to one of the latch members for rotating the latch
members into and out of engagement with the toothed rims of the retraction reels.
- 73. The apparatus according to clause 71 wherein each of the shoulder stops is pivotably
mounted to the carriage and has an actuator extending from the shoulder stop through
the carriage that engages one of the latch members.
- 74. The apparatus according to clause 73 wherein pivotal movement of either shoulder
stop toward the foot end of the frame causes the latch members to disengage the toothed
outer rims.
- 75. The apparatus according to clause 71 further comprising a spring connected to
each latch member biasing the latch member into engagement with one of the retraction
reels.
- 76. The apparatus according to clause 71 further comprising one or more bias members
extending between the carriage and the foot end of the frame for urging the carriage
toward the foot end of the frame.
- 77. The apparatus according to clause 76 further comprising one or more hourglass
spool shaped pins secured to the foot end of the frame for receiving a free end of
one of the bias members.
- 78. The apparatus according to clause 77, wherein each pin has a central axis and
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 the spring placed on the pin is securely held at the waist of the
pin.
- 79. The apparatus according to clause 78, wherein the second angle is at least twice
that of the first angle.
- 80. An arm cord retraction kit for retrofitting a reformer exercise apparatus carriage,
the kit comprising:
a pair of cord retraction devices, each device having a stationary frame for mounting
to an underside surface of a reformer carriage, each frame carrying a rotatable spring
biased reel therein connectable to a free end of an arm cord, each reel having a toothed
outer rim; a pair of toothed latch members for pivotal mounting to the underside surface
of the carriage, wherein the latch members are connected mechanically together such
that rotation of one of the latch members out of toothed engagement with one of the
toothed outer rims causes the other of the latch members to rotate out of toothed
engagement with the toothed outer rim of the other spring biased reel; and an actuator
for engaging one of the latch members when the shoulder stops are mounted to the reformer
carriage.
- 81. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:
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;
a foot bar supported by the frame, wherein the side rail portions of the frame each
has an upright outer wall and an outwardly open slot therein;
a foot bar support assembly movably carried in each of the outwardly open slots, each
foot bar support assembly supporting one end of the foot bar; and
an elastic resistance member biasing the foot bar support assembly toward one of the
head and foot ends of the frame.
- 82. The apparatus according to clause 81 wherein the resistance member is fastened
between at least one foot bar support assembly and the head end of the frame.
- 83. The apparatus according to clause 81 wherein the resistance member is fastened
to each foot bar support assembly and extends around the head end of the frame.
- 84. The apparatus according to clause 81 wherein each foot bar support assembly comprises:
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.
- 85. The apparatus according to clause 84 wherein the slide plate is an elongated member
having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface of
the slot.
- 86. The apparatus according to clause 84 wherein the slide plate has at least one
roller for riding against an upright surface within the slot.
- 87. The apparatus according to clause 84 wherein the one end is a bottom end portion
of the foot bar support arm.
- 88. The apparatus according to clause 84 wherein the foot bar support arm has an upper
end including an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the
hook plate.
- 89. The apparatus according to clause 84 wherein 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.
- 90. The apparatus according to clause 88 wherein the discrete feature is a slot.
- 91. The apparatus according to clause 90 wherein the hook plate has an L shaped slot
for receiving the engaging member.
- 92. The apparatus according to clause 91 wherein the portion of the foot bar support
arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.