Pilates reformer exercise machine

• US 8,500,614 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Rooks
• Original Assignee: Michael Rooks
• Inventors: Rooks, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JOSHUA S
• Application Number:
  US13/425,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 482/34, 482/79, 482/142, 482 70- 72, 482/92, 482120-126, 482131-140, 482145-148, 482907-908
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2026/006 with feet supports below their pivotal point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/022 with springs acting at different parts of the stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0087 with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers A63B22/0076 takes precedence

Abstract

A reformer includes a combined mount that serves to attach and support a foot bar assembly, a jump board, and a spring bar. The combined mount is easily and quickly attached to a side rail of a frame of the reformer. A carriage of the reformer includes a combined wheel axle and strap attachment point, which eliminates the need for a separate strap attachment bracket. The carriage also include side wheels which are mounted on the sides of the carriage, and which are biased outward so that they contact the side rails of the frame of the reformer.

Claims

1. A carriage for a reformer, comprising:

a base plate;

a plurality of bottom wheel mounting brackets attached to a bottom surface of the base plate along two opposite sides of the base plate;

a plurality of bottom wheels, wherein at least one bottom wheel is mounted on each bottom wheel mounting bracket;

a plurality of side wheel mounting brackets attached to the base plate along the two opposite sides; and

a plurality of side wheels, wherein at least one side wheel is mounted in each side wheel mounting bracket, wherein the side wheels are configured to contact inner sides of a reformer mounting frame upon which the carriage is mounted, and wherein each side wheel mounting bracket includes a biasing element that biases its at least one side wheel outward from the side of the base plate.

2. The carriage of claim 1, wherein each side wheel is mounted on an axle that is slidably mounted in a side wheel mounting bracket, and wherein each biasing element biases an axle of a side wheel outward away from a central portion of the base plate.

3. The carriage of claim 1, wherein each bottom wheel mounting bracket includes an axle that is used to mount a bottom wheel to the bottom wheel mounting bracket, and wherein an inner side of each axle includes an attachment point that is configured to be attached to a strap of a reformer that causes the carriage to move with respect to a frame of the reformer.

4. The carriage of claim 3, wherein each axle comprises an eye bolt, and wherein the eye end of each axle is oriented towards a central portion of the base plate.

5. The carriage of claim 1, further comprising:

an upholstery backing plate that is attached to the base plate with a plurality of fasteners; and

an upholstery section attached to a top of the upholstery backing plate.

6. The carriage of claim 5, wherein the upholstery section comprises:

a plurality of padding layers mounted on a top of the upholstery backing plate; and

a cover layer mounted on a top of the plurality of padding layers, wherein edges of the cover layer are fixed to the upholstery backing plate.

7. The carriage of claim 6, wherein the plurality of padding layers comprises:

a first padding layer mounted on top the upholstery backing plate;

a second padding layer mounted on top of the first padding layer, wherein the second padding layer is harder than the first padding layer; and

a third padding layer mounted on top of the second padding layer, wherein the third padding layer is harder than the first padding layer, but softer than the second padding layer.

8. A carriage for a reformer, comprising:

a base plate;

a plurality of bottom wheel mounting brackets attached to a bottom surface of the base plate along two opposite sides of the base plate;

a plurality of bottom wheels, wherein at least one bottom wheel is mounted on each bottom wheel mounting bracket, wherein each bottom wheel mounting bracket includes an axle that is used to mount a bottom wheel to the bottom wheel mounting bracket, and wherein an inner side of each axle includes an attachment point that is configured to be attached to a strap of a reformer that causes the carriage to move with respect to a frame of the reformer;

a plurality of side wheel mounting brackets attached to the base plate along the two opposite sides; and

a plurality of side wheels, wherein at least one side wheel is mounted in each side wheel mounting bracket, wherein the side wheels are configured to contact inner sides of a reformer mounting frame upon which the carriage is mounted, wherein each axle comprises an eye bolt, and wherein the eye end of each axle is oriented towards a central portion of the base plate.

9. The carriage of claim 8, further comprising:

an upholstery backing plate that is attached to the base plate with a plurality of fasteners; and

an upholstery section attached to a top of the upholstery backing plate.

10. The carriage of claim 9, wherein the upholstery section comprises:

a plurality of padding layers mounted on a top of the upholstery backing plate; and

a cover layer mounted on a top of the plurality of padding layers, wherein edges of the cover layer are fixed to the upholstery backing plate.

11. The carriage of claim 10, wherein the plurality of padding layers comprises:

a first padding layer mounted on top the upholstery backing plate;

a second padding layer mounted on top of the first padding layer, wherein the second padding layer is harder than the first padding layer; and

a third padding layer mounted on top of the second padding layer, wherein the third padding layer is harder than the first padding layer, but softer than the second padding layer.