Reformer exercise apparatus anchor bar assembly

• US 7,163,500 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balanced Body Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Balanced Body Incorporated
• Inventors: Janowski, Brian, Endelman, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/723,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 482/142, 482/139, 482121-130, 482133-135, 482/908, D21/665, D21/676, D21/686, D21/690
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/04 attached to static foundation , e.g. a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0007 by alternatively exercising arms or legs, e.g. with a single set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• 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 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0257 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/035 for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously

Abstract

A reformer exercise apparatus has a generally rectangular frame having a head end and a foot end and including a pair of spaced apart parallel track members, a movable carriage mounted on the frame for movement along the track members between said head and foot ends against one or more springs connected between the carriage and the foot end of the frame and an elastic member anchor bar and carriage stop assembly to adjustably position the carriage and elastic members on the tracks to accommodate a wide range of user heights. The anchor bar and carriage stop assembly includes an anchor bar having each end disposed in an elongated slot formed in each track member. The elongated slot has spaced gear teeth defining spaced anchor bar stop or lock portions. The anchor bar can be moved between lock portions only when rotated to an unlocked position wherein the bar can operably slide along the slot.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a generally rectangular frame having a head end and a foot end and including a pair of spaced apart parallel track members between the ends, wherein each track member is a tubular extrusion having a rectangular cross section;

a movable carriage mounted on said frame for movement along said track members;

a plurality of elongated elastic members extending between said carriage and an anchor bar near said foot end of said frame;

an elastic member anchor bar and carriage stop assembly mounted to the track members adjustably anchoring said plurality of elastic members to the anchor bar held by the track members while maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between said carriage and said anchor bar, the anchor bar having opposite ends, each end including an axially extending tenon having two opposite sides, each track member including a longitudinally extending elongated slot sized to receive one of the tenons therein, each slot having spaced notches forming anchor bar stop portions defining spaced lock positions, wherein said opposite sides of said tenons engage the anchor bar stop portions of the slots in the locked positions, and a guide member attached to said anchor bar inside each said tubular track substantially centering said tenon in said slot.

2. An anchor bar and carriage stop assembly for use in a reformer apparatus having a movable carriage mounted on parallel track members, the assembly comprising:

each said track member having an elongated tubular shape and a longitudinal axis, each track member having an elongated slot through a wall of the tubular shape and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said track member; and

an anchor bar having opposite ends, each end extending into the elongated slot in one of the track members, wherein each said elongated slot has a plurality of spaced notches forming anchor bar stop portions engaging the end of the bar to prevent movement along the slot when the anchor bar is in a locked position in one of the notches and a wheel attached to each end of the anchor bar in the tubular track member to center the end in the slot.

3. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a generally rectangular frame having a head end and a foot end and including a pair of spaced apart parallel track members between the ends;

a movable carriage mounted on said frame for movement along said track members;

a plurality of elongated elastic members extending between said carriage and said foot end of said frame;

an elastic member anchor bar and carriage stop assembly mounted to the track members having an anchor bar supported within the track members adjustably anchoring said plurality of elastic members to the anchor bar; and

a guide means in the track member for preventing binding of the anchor bar in the track member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the guide means is a wheel fastened to a portion of the anchor bar within the track member.

5. An anchor bar and carriage stop assembly for use in a reformer apparatus having a movable carriage mounted on parallel track members, the assembly comprising:

each said track member having an elongated hollow tubular shape and a longitudinal axis, each track member having an elongated slot through a wall of the hollow tubular shape, the elongated slot extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said track member; and

an anchor bar having opposite ends, each end extending through the elongated slot in the wall of one of the track members, wherein each said elongated slot has a plurality of spaced notches forming anchor bar stop portions engaging the end of the bar to prevent movement along the slot when the anchor bar is in a locked position in one of the notches and a wheel inside each tubular track member attached to the end of the anchor bar in the tubular track member to center the end in the slot.

6. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a generally rectangular frame having a head end and a foot end and including a pair of spaced apart parallel hollow rectangular tubular track members between the ends;

a movable carriage mounted on said frame for movement along said track members;

a plurality of elongated elastic members extending between said carriage and said foot end of said frame;

an elastic member anchor bar and carriage stop assembly mounted to the track members having an anchor bar supported within a closed slot in each of the hollow tubular track members adjustably anchoring said plurality of elastic members to the anchor bar at selected distances from the foot end of the frame; and

a guide means in each of the track members for centering and preventing binding of the anchor bar in the track member.