Reformer exercise apparatus footbar support assembly

• US 9,132,311 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balanced Body Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Balanced Body Incorporated
• Inventors: Masterson, Brian, Oberwelz, Elger, Yurchenco, James R., Patron, Anthony, Overthun, Thomas Dieter Christian, Student, Joerg, Webster, David, Savarino, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deichl, Jennifer M
• Application Number:
  US14/209,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• 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 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/152 Bowden-type cables
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0089 a counterforce being provided to the support force-resisting aspects A63B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0247 with legs in a kneeled 90/90 position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K

Abstract

A reformer exercise apparatus is disclosed that has a generally rectangular frame. The rail portions of the frame each have an upright outer wall and a hidden outwardly open slot therein. A foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the outwardly open slots supports the foot bar. Each foot bar support assembly has an elongated slide plate movably supported within the slot, a hook plate fastened to the slide plate, and a foot bar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate. A pair of tubular risers each having a lower and upper roller therein at the head end of the frame direct arm cord ends to a cord retraction assembly mounted on the carriage. The retraction assembly mounted to the carriage releases the cords by pivoting either one of the shoulder stops toward the foot end of the frame.

Claims

1. A foot bar assembly for use on a reformer exercise apparatus having a generally rectangular frame with parallel side portions, a head end and a foot end, each side portion having a foot bar support feature extending along at least part of the side portion, the foot bar assembly comprising:

a generally U shaped foot bar sized to span the parallel side portions when the foot bar assembly is installed on the reformer exercise apparatus, the foot bar having a first end and a second end; and

a pair of foot bar support assemblies, wherein each foot bar support assembly comprises;

an elongated slide plate configured to be movably supported by the foot bar support feature of one of the side portions;

a hook plate parallel to the slide plate fastened to the slide plate;

a foot bar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate parallel to and alongside the hook plate and having an end fastened to one of the first and second ends of the foot bar; and

a locking member operably coupled to the hook plate to permit movement of the slide plate along the foot bar support feature only when the foot bar assembly is mounted on the foot bar support features of a reformer exercise apparatus and the foot bar support arm is in a predetermined position with respect to the hook plate and to prevent movement of the slide plate along the foot bar support feature when the foot bar support arm is in other than the predetermined position.

2. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the foot bar support feature is an outwardly open slot and the slide plate is an elongated member having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface of the open slot.

3. The foot bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the slide plate has at least one roller for riding against an upright surface within the open slot.

4. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the end is a bottom end portion of the foot bar support arm.

5. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the foot bar support arm has an upper end including an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the hook plate.

6. The foot bar assembly according to claim 1 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.

7. The foot bar assembly according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the discrete features is a slot.

8. The foot bar assembly according to claim 7 wherein the hook plate includes an L shaped slot for receiving an engaging member.

9. The foot bar assembly according to claim 6 wherein the portion of the foot bar support arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.

10. The foot bar assembly according to claim 6 wherein the foot bar support arm has an upper end that includes an engaging member for selectively engaging each of the discrete features, the foot bar support arm cooperating with one of the discrete features to permit movement of the slide plate along the foot bar support feature.

11. 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 open slot therein, a foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the open slots for supporting an end of the foot bar, each foot bar support assembly comprising:

an elongated flat slide plate movably supported within the open slot for movement along the open slot;

a hook plate outside the open slot and fastened parallel to the slide plate, the hook plate having an upper edge defining a plurality of discrete features therein;

a foot bar support arm having one end fastened to a foot bar end and a portion rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate and an upper end selectively engaging one of the discrete features to position the foot bar at predetermined angles with respect to the frame; and

a locking member connected to the hook plate operable to permit movement of the slide plate within the open slot only when the foot bar support arm is in a predetermined position with respect to the hook plate and prevent movement of the slide plate within the open slot when the foot bar support arm is in other than the predetermined position.

12. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the slide plate is an elongated member having opposite ends, each end carrying a roller for riding on a bottom surface of the open slot.

13. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the slide plate has at least one roller for riding against an upright side rail surface within the open slot.

14. The foot bar support assembly reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the foot bar end is a bottom end portion of the foot bar support arm.

15. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the foot bar support arm has a portion cooperating with a lock member to fasten the slide plate at predetermined positions along the open slot.

16. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein a portion of the foot bar support arm engages the lock member when the foot bar support arm engages a predetermined one of the discrete features to permit the foot bar support assembly to be moved along the open slot.

17. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 11 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.

18. The foot bar support assembly reformer exercise apparatus of claim 17 wherein the portion of the foot bar support arm includes a pin for removably engaging one of the discrete features.

19. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the hook plate has an L shaped slot for receiving the pin.

20. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising:

a generally rectangular frame;

a carriage mounted on the frame for movement between a head end and a foot end of the frame along parallel sides of the frame, each side having a foot bar support feature extending along a portion of the side,

a foot bar spanning the parallel sides of the frame and having first and second ends; and

a pair of foot bar support assemblies, each fastening one of the first and second ends of the foot bar to one of the foot bar support features, each foot bar support assembly comprising;

an elongated slide plate movably supported by the foot bar support feature extending along the portion of one of the sides;

a hook plate parallel to the slide plate fastened to the slide plate;

a foot bar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate parallel to the hook plate and having one end fastened to one of the first and second ends of the foot bar; and

a locking member operably coupled to the hook plate to permit movement of the slide plate along the foot bar support feature only when the foot bar support arm is in a predetermined position with respect to the hook plate and prevent movement of the slide plate along the foot bar support feature when the foot bar support arm is in other than the predetermined position.