Exercise apparatus and method of collapsing the same

• US 20040058788A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick A. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Patrick A. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Patrick A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,767,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/95
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0087 with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/904 Removably attached to wheelchair, home furnishing, or home structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a collapsible exercise apparatus, generally comprising a riser assembly, a carriage assembly, riser assembly support means, and peripheral attachments. The riser assembly further comprises a pair of parallel riser members and the carriage assembly further comprises a riser-engaging end. The riser-engaging end is received between the riser members in a carriage assembly-receiving track. The user may thus selectively incline the carriage assembly in the carriage assembly-receiving track in this operational state for exerting muscular effort against varying degrees of the user'"'"'s own body weight resistance to achieve some level of physical activity or as part of an otherwise regular exercise regimen. To enable easy horizontal transferability, for example, during shipping or when not in use, the carriage assembly is easily nested within the carriage assembly-receiving track. Additionally, no tools are required to assemble or collapse the exercise apparatus.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

a rail-riser rod;

an exercise bar;

a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising a pair of parallel, vertical riser members, riser spacer means for maintaining the riser members in parallel relation, and an appendage exercise assembly, the riser spacer means thus creating a rail-receiving track between the riser members, the riser members each having a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, and a plurality of equally-spaced, laterally-aligned riser-rod-receiving apertures between the superior riser end and the inferior riser end, each inferior riser end having a rear portion and a front portion, the riser-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative riser aperture pairing, the riser aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod, the appendage exercise assembly comprising a cord-riser rod and a pair of cord assemblies, the cord-riser rod being selectively inserted laterally through a first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing, the cord-riser rod having laterally-aligned cord assembly attachment ends, the cord assembly attachment ends extending laterally from the riser members when selectively inserted therethrough, the cord assemblies each comprising cord-riser rod attachment means, a length of cord, and an appendage-engaging assembly, the appendage-engaging assemblies each further comprising an appendage-engaging portion and cord attachment means, the lengths of cord each having a cord-riser rod attachment end and an appendage-engaging assembly attachment end, the cord-riser rod attachment means removably attaching the cord-riser rod attachment ends to the cord assembly attachment ends, the cord attachment means attaching the appendage-engaging portions to the appendage-engaging assembly attachment ends for enabling exercise;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel, angled rail members, rail spacer means for maintaining the rail members in parallel relation, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the angled rail members each having a guide wheel portion, a runner wheel portion, and a plurality of spaced, laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for further enabling exercise, the riser-engaging end having a pair of laterally-aligned rail-rod-receiving apertures, the rail-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative rail aperture pairing, the rail aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod, the riser-engaging end being received in the rail-receiving track, the rail-riser rod being selectively and removably inserted laterally through a second user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the seat assembly comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions; and

a riser support assembly, the riser support assembly comprising a rear support assembly, a front support assembly and lateral support means, the rear support assembly comprising a pair of rear stabilizer members and a pair of rear stabilizer rods, the rear stabilizer members each having an anterior rear end and a posterior rear end, the anterior rear ends being pivotally attached to the rear portions, the rear stabilizer rods each having a rear stabilizer member attachment end and a rear riser member attachment end, the rear stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the rear stabilizer members, the rear riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the rear stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing rearward support to the riser assembly, the front support assembly comprising a pair of front stabilizer members and a pair of front stabilizer rods, the front stabilizer members each having an anterior front end and a posterior front end, the posterior front ends being pivotally attached to the front portions, the front stabilizer rods each having a front stabilizer member attachment end and a front riser member attachment end, the front stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the front stabilizer members, the front riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the front stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing front support to the riser assembly, the lateral support means being removably affixed to the inferior end to provide lateral support to the riser assembly.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail-riser rod is further defined by comprising an insertion end and a hand-grip end, the insertion end being selectively and removably inserted laterally through the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the hand-grip end being outfitted with a hand-grip for enabling easy manual insertion or removal of the insertion end.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising roller means for movement.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising a foot platform-receiving sleeve and a reversible foot platform assembly, the foot platform assembly comprising a foot platform and a foot platform flange, the foot platform flange for superior or inferior insertion into the foot platform-receiving sleeve, the foot platform thus providing support to a user'"'"'s body weight when in an engaged superior position or providing elevated support to the foot platform end when in an engaged inferior position.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the carriage assembly is nestedly received within the carriage assembly-receiving track for enabling horizontal transferability.

7. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

a rail-riser rod;

an exercise bar;

a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising a pair of parallel, vertical riser members and riser spacer means for maintaining the riser members in parallel relation, the riser spacer means thus creating a rail-receiving track between the riser members, the riser members each having a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, and a plurality of equally-spaced, laterally-aligned riser-rod-receiving apertures between the superior riser end and the inferior riser end, each inferior riser end having a rear portion and a front portion, the riser-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative riser aperture pairing, the riser aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel, angled rail members, rail spacer means for maintaining the rail members in parallel relation, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the angled rail members each having a guide wheel portion, a runner wheel portion, and a plurality of spaced, laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for further enabling exercise, the riser-engaging end having a pair of laterally-aligned rail-rod-receiving apertures, the rail-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative rail aperture pairing, the rail aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod, the riser-engaging end being received in the rail-receiving track, the rail-riser rod being selectively and removably inserted laterally through a first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the seat assembly comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions; and

a riser support assembly, the riser support assembly comprising a rear support assembly, a front support assembly and lateral support means, the rear support assembly comprising a pair of rear stabilizer members and a pair of rear stabilizer rods, the rear stabilizer members each having an anterior rear end and a posterior rear end, the anterior rear ends being pivotally attached to the rear portions, the rear stabilizer rods each having a rear stabilizer member attachment end and a rear riser member attachment end, the rear stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the rear stabilizer members, the rear riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the rear stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing rearward support to the riser assembly, the front support assembly comprising a pair of front stabilizer members and a pair of front stabilizer rods, the front stabilizer members each having an anterior front end and a posterior front end, the posterior front ends being pivotally attached to the front portions, the front stabilizer rods each having a front stabilizer member attachment end and a front riser member attachment end, the front stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the front stabilizer members, the front riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the front stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing front support to the riser assembly, the lateral support means being removably affixed to the inferior end to provide lateral support to the riser assembly.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein the rail-riser rod is further defined by comprising an insertion end and a hand-grip end! the insertion end being selectively and removably inserted laterally through the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the hand-grip end being outfitted with a hand-grip for enabling easy manual insertion or removal of the insertion end.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein the riser assembly further comprises an appendage exercise assembly, the appendage exercise assembly comprising a cord-riser rod and a pair of cord assemblies, the cord-riser rod being selectively inserted laterally through a second user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing, the cord-riser rod having laterally-aligned cord assembly attachment ends, the cord assembly attachment ends extending laterally from the riser members when selectively inserted therethrough, the cord assemblies each comprising cord-riser rod attachment means, a length of cord, and an appendage-engaging assembly, the appendage-engaging assemblies each further comprising an appendage-engaging portion and cord attachment means, the lengths of cord each having a cord-riser rod attachment end and an appendage-engaging assembly attachment end, the cord-riser rod attachment means removably attaching the cord-riser rod attachment ends to the cord assembly attachment ends, the cord attachment means attaching the appendage-engaging portions to the appendage-engaging assembly attachment ends for further enabling exercise.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 10 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising roller means for movement.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising a foot platform-receiving sleeve and a reversible foot platform assembly, the foot platform assembly comprising a foot platform and a foot platform flange, the foot platform flange for superior or inferior insertion into the foot platform-receiving sleeve, the foot platform thus providing support to a user'"'"'s body weight when in an engaged superior position or providing elevated support to the foot platform end when in an engaged inferior position.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the carriage assembly is nestedly received within the carriage assembly-receiving track for enabling horizontal transferability.

14. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

a rail-riser rod;

a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising a pair of parallel, vertical riser members and riser spacer means for maintaining the riser members in parallel relation, the riser spacer means thus creating a rail-receiving track between the riser members, the riser members each having a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, and a plurality of equally-spaced, laterally-aligned riser-rod-receiving apertures between the superior riser end and the inferior riser end, each inferior riser end having a rear portion and a front portion, the riser-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative riser aperture pairing, the riser aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel, angled rail members, rail spacer means for maintaining the rail members in parallel relation, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the angled rail members each having a guide wheel portion and a runner wheel portion, the riser-engaging end having a pair of laterally-aligned rail-rod-receiving apertures, the rail-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative rail aperture pairing, the rail aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod, the riser-engaging end being received in the rail-receiving track, the rail-riser rod being selectively and removably inserted laterally through a first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the seat assembly comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions; and

a riser support assembly, the riser support assembly comprising a rear support assembly, a front support assembly and lateral support means, the rear support assembly comprising a pair of rear stabilizer members and a pair of rear stabilizer rods, the rear stabilizer members each having an anterior rear end and a posterior rear end, the anterior rear ends being pivotally attached to the rear portions, the rear stabilizer rods each having a rear stabilizer member attachment end and a rear riser member attachment end, the rear stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the rear stabilizer members, the rear riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the rear stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing rearward support to the riser assembly, the front support assembly comprising a pair of front stabilizer members and a pair of front stabilizer rods, the front stabilizer members each having an anterior front end and a posterior front end, the posterior front ends being pivotally attached to the front portions, the front stabilizer rods each having a front stabilizer member attachment end and a front riser member attachment end, the front stabilizer member attachment ends being pivotally attached to the front stabilizer members, the front riser member attachment ends for releasable fastening attachment to the riser members, thus enabling users to orient the front stabilizer members at right angles to the riser members for providing front support to the riser assembly, the lateral support means being removably affixed to the inferior end to provide lateral support to the riser assembly.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the rail-riser rod is further defined by comprising an insertion end and a hand-grip end, the insertion end being selectively and removably inserted laterally through the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the hand-grip end being outfitted with a hand-grip for enabling easy manual insertion or removal of the insertion end.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the exercise apparatus is further defined by comprising an exercise bar and the angled rail members each further comprise a plurality of spaced, laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for further enabling exercise.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the riser assembly further comprises an appendage exercise assembly, the appendage exercise assembly comprising a cord-riser rod and a pair of cord assemblies, the cord-riser rod being selectively inserted laterally through a second user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing, the cord-riser rod having laterally-aligned cord assembly attachment ends, the cord assembly attachment ends extending laterally from the riser members when selectively inserted therethrough, the cord assemblies each comprising cord-riser rod attachment means, a length of cord, and an appendage-engaging assembly, the appendage-engaging assemblies each further comprising an appendage-engaging portion and cord attachment means, the lengths of cord each having a cord-riser rod attachment end and an appendage-engaging assembly attachment end, the cord-riser rod attachment means removably attaching the cord-riser rod attachment ends to the cord assembly attachment ends, the cord attachment means attaching the appendage-engaging portions to the appendage-engaging assembly attachment ends for further enabling exercise.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising roller means for movement.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising a foot platform-receiving sleeve and a reversible foot platform assembly, the foot platform assembly comprising a foot platform and a foot platform flange, the foot platform flange for superior or inferior insertion into the foot platform-receiving sleeve, the foot platform thus providing support to a user'"'"'s body weight when in an engaged superior position or providing elevated support to the foot platform end when in an engaged inferior position.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the carriage assembly is nestedly received within the carnage assembly-receiving track for enabling horizontal transferability.

22. A method of collapsing the exercise apparatus of claim 14, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the rail-riser rod from the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus detaching the carriage assembly from the riser assembly;

reinserting the rail-riser rod through an inferior most riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus reattaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly;

removing the lateral support means from the inferior end;

unfastening the front riser member attachment ends from the riser members;

pivoting the front support rods in a forward manner about the front stabilizer member attachment ends to a substantially horizontal position;

pivoting the riser assembly and the rear support assembly in a forward manner about the inferior most riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing to a substantially horizontal position;

unfastening the rear riser member attachment ends from the riser members;

pivoting both the rear stabilizer members about the anterior rear ends and the rear stabilizer rods about the rear stabilizer member attachment ends in a forward manner to a substantially horizontal position;

thus collapsing the exercise apparatus such that the carriage assembly is nestedly received within the carriage assembly-receiving track for enabling horizontal transferability.

23. The method of collapsing the exercise apparatus of claim 22, whereby the method comprises the additional steps of:

removably attaching the front riser member attachment ends to the riser members after pivoting the front support rods in a forward manner about the front stabilizer member attachment ends to a substantially horizontal position; and

removably attaching the rear riser member attachment ends to the riser members after pivoting both the rear stabilizer members about the anterior rear ends and the rear stabilizer rods about the rear stabilizer member attachment ends in a forward manner to a substantially horizontal position.

24. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

a rail-riser rod;

a pair of parallel, vertical riser members, the riser members each having a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, and a plurality of equally-spaced, laterally-aligned riser-rod-receiving apertures between the superior riser end and the inferior riser end, the riser-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative riser aperture pairing, the riser aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel, angled rail members, rail spacer means for maintaining the rail members in parallel relation, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the angled rail members each having a guide wheel portion and a runner wheel portion, the riser-engaging end having a pair of laterally-aligned rail-rod-receiving apertures, the rail-rod-receiving apertures having cooperative rail aperture pairing, the rail aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the rail-riser rod, the riser-engaging end being received in the rail-receiving track, the rail-riser rod being selectively and removably inserted laterally through a first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the seat assembly comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions; and

riser member support means for maintaining the riser members in vertical, parallel-spaced relation, the riser member support means thus creating a rail-receiving track between the riser members.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 24 wherein the rail-riser rod is further defined by comprising an insertion end and a hand-grip end, the insertion end being selectively and removably inserted laterally through the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus removably attaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly, the hand-grip end being outfitted with a hand-grip for enabling easy manual insertion or removal of the insertion end.

26. The exercise apparatus of claim 25 wherein the exercise apparatus is further defined by comprising an exercise bar and the angled rail members each further comprise a plurality of spaced, laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through a second user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for enabling exercise.

27. The exercise apparatus of claim 26 wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises an appendage exercise assembly, the appendage exercise assembly comprising a cord-riser rod and a pair of cord assemblies, the cord-riser rod being selectively inserted laterally through a second user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing, the cord-riser rod having laterally-aligned cord assembly attachment ends, the cord assembly attachment ends extending laterally from the riser members when selectively inserted therethrough, the cord assemblies each comprising cord-riser rod attachment means, a length of cord, and an appendage-engaging assembly, the appendage-engaging assemblies each further comprising an appendage-engaging portion and cord attachment means, the lengths of cord each having a cord-riser rod attachment end and an appendage-engaging assembly attachment end, the cord-riser rod attachment means removably attaching the cord-riser rod attachment ends to the cord assembly attachment ends, the cord attachment means attaching the appendage-engaging portions to the appendage-engaging assembly attachment ends for further enabling exercise.

28. The exercise apparatus of claim 27 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

29. The exercise apparatus of claim 28 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising roller means for movement.

30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising a foot platform-receiving sleeve and a reversible foot platform assembly, the foot platform assembly comprising a foot platform and a foot platform flange, the foot platform flange for superior or inferior insertion into the foot platform-receiving sleeve, the foot platform thus providing support to a user'"'"'s body weight when in an engaged superior position or providing elevated support to the foot platform end when in an engaged inferior position.

31. The exercise apparatus of claim 30 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the carriage assembly is nestedly received within the carriage assembly-receiving track for enabling vertically-oriented storage of the exercise apparatus.

32. A method of collapsing the exercise apparatus of claim 24, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the rail-riser rod from the first user-selected cooperative riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus detaching the carriage assembly from the riser assembly;

reinserting the rail-riser rod through an inferior most riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing, thus reattaching the carriage assembly to the riser assembly;

pivoting the rail assembly in an upward manner about the inferior most riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing to a substantially vertical position; and

inserting a rod through an intermediate cooperative riser aperture pairing and through an intermediate rail aperture pairing, thus collapsing and locking the carriage assembly in a substantially vertical position in nested relation to the riser assembly within the carriage assembly-receiving track.

33. The method of collapsing the exercise apparatus of claim 25, whereby the method comprises the additional step of:

translating the seat assembly toward the riser members before pivoting the rail assembly in an upward manner about the inferior most riser aperture pairing and the rail aperture pairing to a substantially vertical position.

34. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising a pair of parallel riser members, the riser members each having vertical dimension, a superior end, an inferior end, and rail-riser means receiving structure;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel rail members, rail spacer means for maintaining the rail members in parallel relation, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the riser-engaging end having rail-riser means for selectively raising or lowering the riser-engaging end, the rail-riser means being selectively attached to the rail-riser means receiving structure, the seat assembly comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having roller means for movement;

the roller means for movement being operatively engaged with the rail members; and

riser member support means for maintaining the riser members in vertical, parallel-spaced relation, the riser member support means thus creating a rail-receiving track between the riser members.

35. The exercise apparatus of claim 34 wherein the rail members are each further defined by comprising angled rail members, the angled rail members having a runner wheel portion and a guide wheel portion.

36. The exercise apparatus of claim 35 wherein the exercise apparatus is further defined by comprising an exercise bar, the rail members each further comprising a plurality of laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for further enabling exercise.

37. The exercise apparatus of claim 36 wherein the roller means for movement is further defined by comprising a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions.

38. The exercise apparatus of claim 37 wherein the riser assembly further comprises appendage exercise assembly attachment means and an appendage exercise assembly, the appendage assembly being removably attached to the appendage exercise assembly attachment means for further enabling appendage-dependent exercise.

39. The exercise apparatus of claim 38 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising a pair of appendage-engaging portions and connector means for operatively connecting the appendage-engaging portions to the riser members.

40. The exercise apparatus of claim 39 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

41. The exercise apparatus of claim 40 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the riser member, carriage assembly, and riser member support means are nestedly collapsed for enabling horizontal transferability.

42. An exercise apparatus for enabling exercise by way of selective levels of body weight resistance, the exercise apparatus comprising:

at least one riser member, the riser member having vertical dimension, a superior end, an inferior end, and rail-riser means receiving structure;

a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a rail assembly and a movable seat assembly, the rail assembly comprising a pair of parallel rail members, a riser-engaging end and a foot platform end, the riser-engaging end having rail-riser means for selectively raising or lowering the riser-engaging end, the rail-riser means being selectively attached to the rail-riser means receiving structure, the movable seat assembly being operatively engaged with the rail assembly; and

riser member support means, the riser member support means for maintaining the vertical dimension.

43. The exercise apparatus of claim 42 wherein the seat assembly is further defined by comprising a body support platform and roller means for movement, the body support platform having a body contact upper portion and a rail-engaging lower portion, the rail-engaging lower portion having a pair of laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions and a hover portion intermediate the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions, the laterally-spaced roller means attachment portions each having roller means for movement;

the roller means for movement being operatively engaged with the rail members.

44. The exercise apparatus of claim 43 wherein the rail members are each further defined by comprising angled rail members, the angled rail members having a runner wheel portion and a guide wheel portion.

45. The exercise apparatus of claim 44 wherein the roller means for movement is further defined by comprising a plurality of runner wheels and a plurality of guide wheels, the runner wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the runner wheel portions, the guide wheels being spatially located for operative engagement with the guide wheel portions.

46. The exercise apparatus of claim 45 wherein the exercise apparatus is further defined by comprising an exercise bar and the rail members each further comprise a plurality of laterally-aligned exercise bar-receiving apertures between the riser-engaging end and the foot platform end, the exercise bar-receiving apertures having cooperative bar aperture pairing, the bar aperture pairing for cooperatively receiving the exercise bar, the exercise bar being selectively and removably inserted laterally through user-selected cooperative bar aperture pairing for further enabling exercise.

47. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 wherein the riser assembly further comprises appendage exercise assembly attachment means and an appendage exercise assembly, the appendage assembly being removably attached to the appendage exercise assembly attachment means for further enabling appendage-dependent exercise.

48. The exercise apparatus of claim 47 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising a pair of appendage-engaging portions and connector means for operatively connecting the appendage-engaging portions to the riser member.

49. The exercise apparatus of claim 48 wherein the appendage exercise assembly is further defined by comprising an appendage-engaging assembly selected from the group consisting of a hand-engaging grip and an ankle-encircling harness.

50. The exercise apparatus of claim 49 wherein the foot platform end is further defined by comprising a reversible foot platform assembly.

51. The exercise apparatus of claim 50 wherein the exercise apparatus is selectively collapsible, whereby the riser member, carriage assembly, and riser member support means are nestedly collapsed.