Abstract:
A floor plate is suitably sized to receive a wheelchair and also supports a base frame along rear and side edges. Prepositioned brackets on the floor plate secure the base frame using quick-connect fasteners. Opposite side portions of the base frame carry elevated, horizontal, tubular, side housings that telescope over elongated exercise bars. A fastener secures each exercise bar in a housing at a variably selected degree of insertion. An upright tube at the rear of the base frame has an open top forming a socket. An upright standard engages the socket and carries an overhead bar supporting a transverse crossbar over the center of the floor plate. The ends of the crossbar, the front ends of exercise bars, the front end of the floor plate, and various other locations on the base frame carry C-shaped attachments for clip-on resistance members. The attachments are sized to serve as handgrips. Casters on the rear edge of the floor plate are moved into ground-engaged positions with the upward tilting of the front of the floor plate, which is aided by the use of handgrip attachments on the front of the floor plate. Fasteners securing the base frame to all other components are quickly released for rapid disassembly of the exercise frame, enabling it to be transported by hand or by vehicle to a next site.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention generally relates to exercise devices that 
         [0003]    provide support for the entire body. More specifically, the exercise frame is of the type that utilizes resilient force as resistance, with user supplied counter force against a user occupied platform. The invention is an exercise frame with a uniquely portable frame that provides wide adjustability to the needs of the user. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0005]    Exercise frames are known in many configurations. The typical purpose of an exercise frame is to provide a supporting and anchoring structure for resistance elements and devices while a user is exercising. Thus, such exercise frames may be a part of a weightlifting system or another type of exercise system, such as a system employing elastic cords as resistance elements. 
         [0006]    As special need exists for an exercise frame that is highly portable. This need relates to the work of therapists and trainers who bring equipment with them to a user&#39;s location. Although various exercise frame or devices are foldable or capable of convenient storage, they do not offer realistic capability to be assembled and disassembled in minutes. Neither do they offer the realistic capability to be carried in manageable subassemblies by a single person over considerable distance. Further, they do not offer the realistic capability to be loaded into a single passenger automobile that is sized on the order of a station wagon. 
         [0007]    All of these capabilities are required in order for many therapists and trainers to call upon a significant plurality of clients per day. In some cases, the client cannot conveniently travel to the trainer or to a gym, making it highly important that the trainer can travel with his equipment to the client. Thus, the subcomponents of an exercise frame should be easy to handle and should include aids for lifting and carrying. 
         [0008]    It would be beneficial for the exercise frame to be configured with attachments for anchoring resilient force elements from a wide variety of positions, thus enabling exercises to originate from many directions. In a frame with transportable components, it would be desirable for the attachment points to be configured and arranged to aid in assembly, disassembly, and movement of subcomponents. 
         [0009]    Some such clients may be limited in their movements or confined to wheelchairs. Consequently, a suitable portable exercise frame should meet the additional qualification of being suited for use by a seated user, such as a user in a wheelchair. A variety of exercise frames are adapted for use by wheelchair users, but none are known to meet the full range of aforementioned requirements. 
         [0010]    In the general art of exercise devices, typical known devices are not necessarily able to provide a wide range of exercise, accommodate wheelchairs, and enable rapid portability. Some employ limited features also found in the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,190 to Azari shows an exercise frame that employs tension members clipped to any of a variety of eyelets, some at high locations and others at low locations. However, this frame is not highly portable and the eyelets are not adapted to assist in assembly, disassembly, and movement of subcomponents. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,160 to LaFond shows an exercise frame built on a base plate and carrying an adjustable overhead bar with transverse crossbar. However, this frame is not highly portable and offers substantially limited forms of exercise. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,992 to Shafik shows a multiple purpose exercise frame that supports boxing equipment such as a punching bag and heavy bag on variably positioned supports. This type of exercise equipment does not lend itself to the portability needed for purposes of the present invention. 
         [0013]    Additional general background is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,919 Jorgensen, which shows the use of elastic resistance members to provide tension. U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,897 to Olson shows a frame with adjustable height for a specific exercise component. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,525 to Davis shows a small and simple exercise device for use in a shower, and this device is transportable. None of these devices provides equivalent functions and advantages as the present invention. 
         [0014]    A number of exercise devices can accommodate a wheelchair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,297 Muir shows an exercise frame with operator cage to receive a wheelchair. A lap restraint arm is specifically suited to support a user in a wheelchair. This exercise frame clearly is not portable in the way required for purposes of the present invention. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,128 to Mabry shows an exercise frame with operator area receiving a wheelchair that is strapped in place. However, this exercise frame employs fixed weight and is not reasonably portable. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,227 to Sowell shows an exercise frame suited for use by an operator in a wheelchair. Various exercise appliances are slidable on the frame to be within reach of the operator seated at a single station. However, this frame is not reasonably portable within the needs of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise frame that meets the needs of trainers and therapists who transport exercise equipment to the location of the user. The exercise frame is versatile and enables a wide variety of exercises. The exercise frame also is well suited to the needs of those in a wheelchair. In addition, the exercise frame employs multi-function components to aid in handling the assembly, disassembly, and movement of the frame. 
         [0018]    To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the method and apparatus of this invention may comprise the following. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Against the described background, it is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a strong and versatile exercise frame that also is disassembled and reassembled with ease, allowing the exercise frame to be transported as desired. 
         [0020]    According to the invention, a portable exercise frame is convertible between assembled and disassembled configurations. In the assembled configuration, a floor plate defines an operator area and is suitably sized to receive a user, optionally in a wheelchair. The floor plate carries a base frame. Portions of the base frame include opposite, first and second side frames located near opposite, first and second side edges of the floor plate. Another portion of the base frame is a rear frame located near a rear edge of the floor plate. The opposite, first and second side frames each including an upstanding portion carrying a respective first and second longitudinally elongated side housing spaced above the floor plate. The side housing defines a passage oriented from front-to-rear of the floor plate. First and second longitudinally elongated exercise bars are telescopically received in the passages of the respective first and second side housings. Fasteners releasably secure the first and second longitudinally elongated exercise bars in a selected position through the respective side housings, chosen from a plurality of available positions. A plurality of anchoring members is configured suitably for, in use, attaching a resistance element to the exercise frame when the frame is in assembled configuration. The anchoring members are suitably configured for hand engagement to aid in carrying disassembled portions of the exercise frame when in disassembled configuration. At least some of said anchoring members are mounted to the floor plate, to the base frame, and to the exercise bars. 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the assembled exercise frame, taken from a front right elevated viewpoint, and showing a representative number of fasteners in exploded position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view thereof, taken from a left rear elevated viewpoint, and showing a representative number of fasteners in exploded position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The invention is a mobile exercise frame  10  that is especially suited for use by an operator or user who is in a wheelchair, although its use is not limited to that application. In fully assembled configuration, the exercise frame  10  is able to provide a full range of body exercise, using resilient cords as a source of resistance. The cords are secured to the frame or platform, and the operator supplies counter force against a operator occupied platform. An important feature is that the frame is capable of being disassembled with speed and ease, reducing the frame  10  to components that are readily carried and transported to different sites. The components are sized to fit into a normal automobile of size similar to a station wagon. Correspondingly, the components of the exercise frame  10  are conveniently sized to be carried into a new location and quickly assembled there. 
         [0025]    The exercise frame  10  is formed of a limited number of components. These components are joined together by connections that can be secured by a removable pin so that assembly and disassembly of the frame requires no tools. The connections typically will be by overlapped walls of mated components carrying one or more aligned apertures. The removable pin is inserted or removed from an aligned aperture to assemble or disassemble the components. The components are a floor plate, a base frame that mates with the floor plate, a pair of elongated arms that mate with the base frame, an overhead frame that mates with the base frame, and a body support member that mates with the base frame. Thus, the base frame mates with all of the other components and provides a supporting structure that unites the various components into the assembled exercise frame  10 . 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the exercise frame  10  includes a floor plate  12  that defines an operator area. The size of the floor plate is suitable to receive a wheelchair so that, optionally, the user can remain in a wheelchair during exercise. A suitable size of the floor plate is a rectangle of about thirty-six inches from front-to-rear and about forty inches from side-to-side. The entire exercise frame  10  can be lightweight, for example formed of aluminum, because the floor plate  12  will carry the weight of the operator. Thus, the operator provides stability by locating his own mass upon the floor plate  12  during use. 
         [0027]    The floor plate  12  is a generally rectangular plate and is equipped with peripheral fittings or brackets  14  for defining a reception area on the floor plate for receiving the base frame  16 . In addition, the brackets  14  connect the base frame  16  to the plate  12 . The fittings  14  may be angle brackets having one arm welded to the floor plate  12  to fix the brackets in predetermined positions. The second arm of each bracket  14  is upstanding and spaced inwardly from the periphery of the floor plate  12  by the approximate thickness of base frame members, further described below. This inward spacing may be about two inches. 
         [0028]    The bottom of base frame  16  rests on the floor plate during use. The bottom of base frame  16  is sized to fit the perimeter of the floor plate at a predetermined position, which preferably is along rear edge thereof and at contiguous portions of each side edge thereof. The bottom of base frame  16  defines a three-sided rectangle with an open front allowing a wheel chair to enter the operator&#39;s area defined by the central portion of the floor plate  12 . The base frame  16  can be viewed as composed of three sub-frames. One sub-frame is a rear frame, and two additional sub-frames are side frames. The rear frame includes a rear bar  18  that extends along the rear edge of the floor plate. The rear bar is similar in length to the width of the floor plate, which as noted above may be about forty inches. 
         [0029]    The rear frame is connected to the two side frames. Rear bar  18  is connected at its opposite ends to a pair of sidebars  20  that extend along the opposite sides edges of the floor plate. The sidebars  20  extend from the rear edge of the floor plate toward the front edge. The sidebars  20  are the bottom portions of the two side frames. The sidebars  20  extend over only a part of the front-to-rear distance of the floor plate  12 , such as about two-thirds of this distance or about two feet. 
         [0030]    At least two brackets  14  connected each of the bottom edge bars  18 ,  20  to the floor plate. The brackets  14  may be welded to the top surface of floor plate  12  in suitable positions to mate against the bottom bars of a properly positioned base frame  16 . The upright arm of each fitting defines a fastening aperture. The base frame bars  18 ,  20  each define a matching transverse aperture to each of the corresponding bracket apertures so that the base frame  16  can be secured to the brackets  14  when the base frame is in its predetermined, proper position with respect to the floor plate  12 . 
         [0031]    Removable fasteners  22  are inserted through the aperture of each bracket and into the matching aperture in the base frame during assembly. The fasteners  22  are generally pin fasteners. More specifically, each may be of any known type of quick-connect fasteners, although bolts or bolts with nuts also might be used. Preferred quick-connect fasteners include clevis pins, detent ring pins, bow-tie locking cotter pins, lynch pins, or pressure screws. Suitable quick-connect fasteners are of the type that can be pushed through the aligned holes of the two components and removed by pulling. A detent or similar spring-loaded feature of such a fastener will provide positive retention while allowing the fastener to be pulled out for quick disassembly. Similar fasteners  22  can be used throughout other portions of the assembly. 
         [0032]    The side frames of base frame  16  each include an attached an upright portion  24 , which typically is welded to a base frame bar  20 . Each of the two opposite sidebars  20  carries an attached upright side frame  24 . Each upright side frame  24  is topped by a horizontal side housing  26 , preferably formed of square tubing. The tubing enables each side housing  26  to telescopically receive a carried bar  34  that is longitudinally elongated and formed of suitably sized square tube, as described below. Solely for convenience of reference, throughout this description and the claims that follow, the elongated bars  34  that are received in the side housings  26  may be referred to as exercise bars. 
         [0033]    The side housings  26  are preferred to be substantially shorter than the front-to-rear dimension of the floor plate, so as to reveal most of the length of a carried exercise bar  34 . A suitable length of a side housing  26  is about one foot. These side housings  26  preferably are positioned with a rear end of each lying at the vertical rear plane of the floor plate and extending forward there from. The upright portions  24  of the base frame  16  are suitably sized to carry the housings  26  at about the shoulder height of a seated user, such as a user in a wheelchair. A suitable height for portions  24  is about two and one-half to three feet above the floor plate  12 . The exercise bars  34  are carried at about this specified height above the floor plate  12 . 
         [0034]    The rear frame of base frame  16  carries an upright, vertical tube  28 , which may be welded to the rear member  18  near the center of its length. At a position about two feet above rear member  18 , the central vertical tube  28  carries a horizontal housing  30 . The housing  30  has a hollow core that is longitudinally oriented from front-to-rear of the floor plate. Housing  30  will be referred to as a central housing. 
         [0035]    Above the horizontal, central housing  30 , the vertical tube  28  defines a vertical socket housing with open top. The socket housing may be an additional length of square tubing that is welded to the top of horizontal, central housing  30 . The vertical socket housing will be considered herein to be a further extension of vertical tube  26 . Therefore, the socket housing is considered to be the top portion of vertical tube  28 . The socket housing is suited to receive an overhead frame, described below. A suitable length for the socket housing is about fifteen inches. A side wall of the socket housing and a side wall of the central housing  30  each define a transverse aperture suitably sized to receive a pin fastener  22 . 
         [0036]    The vertical tube  28  of the rear frame is connected to each of the side frames. Preferably, right and left junction rods  32  are welded at one end to the tube  28  and at the second end to a respective one of the horizontal side housings  26 . The junction rods  32  and rear bar  18  lie along the vertical rear plane of the floor plate. Each horizontal side bar  20 , the attached upright frame  24 , and the attached side housing  26  may lie along a vertical side plane of the floor plate. The upright side frames  24  are at least partially forward of the rear plane and establish a strong, truss-like structure in the construction of the base frame  16 . The complete base frame is about forty-three inches high at the top of vertical bar  28 , forty inches wide, and about two feet long at the side frame bars  20 . This size is easily handled and moved through doorways. The base frame  16  has an open front, which further aids movement around obstacles in confined areas. 
         [0037]    As noted previously, each of the horizontal side housings  26  slidably or telescopically receives a longitudinally elongated horizontal exercise bar  34 . The exercise bars  34  may be formed of square tubing having a cross-section size that fits telescopically inside the square tube of a housing  26  by sliding in or through the hollow core of the side housing. The cross-sectional sizes of the side housings  26  and exercise bars  34  are suitable to permit free sliding between them, while engagement with the square cross-sectional profile of housings  26  prevents the exercise bars  34  from substantial twisting about the longitudinal axis. A side housing may have a two and one-half inch wall length in cross-section. An exercise bar  34  may have a two-inch wall length in cross-section, which suitably fits through the hollow center of a side housing  26  when standard square tubing is used. Each exercise bar  34  is longer than the front-to-rear dimension of the floor plate  12 , which enables the exercise bar to be engaged in a side housing  26  while extending beyond the front edge of the floor plate. A suitable length for an exercise bar  34  is about five feet. 
         [0038]    An exercise bar  34  can be secured in any of a variety of positions with respect to a telescoped side housing  26 . For example, the aperture formed in the sidewall of each side housing  26  may carry a fastener  22 , which can be a setscrew or a quick-connect device that can be engaged in an aligned transverse aperture in an exercise bar  34 . Performing exercises on the assembled frame  10  can benefit from frequent repositioning of the exercise bars  34 . For this reason, a preferred fastener  23  is installed on side housings  26 . Fastener  23  is a cartridge composed of a keeper holding a spring-loaded pin. The cartridge  23  semi-permanently mounts to the aperture of housing  26 . The keeper retains the moveable fastening pin while allowing the pin to be moved into or out of engagement with the exercise bar  34 . 
         [0039]    Each of the exercise bars  34  defines a series of longitudinally spaced apertures. For example, an exercise bar may define a series of apertures at six-inch spacing. A fastener  22  in the side aperture of a housing  26  can be engaged with any of the apertures in the series defined by exercise bar  34 . Thus, such a fastener can lock the position of the exercise bar at any of a variety of preselected positions with respect to the side housing  26 . Therefore, although the exercise bar may be about five feet in length, a substantial portion of this length can be moved rearward of the side housings  26 , if desired. 
         [0040]    The base frame  16  supports an overhead frame at the top socket of vertical bar  28 . A vertical standard  36  of the overhead frame fits into the top socket of vertical bar  28 . A side wall of the vertical standard  36  defines an aperture that aligns with the aperture of the vertical socket when the standard is bottomed in the socket. A pin fastener  22  is inserted through the aligned apertures between the two components. A suitable vertical length for the standard is about sixty-four inches. 
         [0041]    Near its top, the vertical standard  36  carries an overhead bar  38  that extends forward over the operator area of the floor plate  12 . At a forward end, the overhead bar  38  carries a transverse crossbar  40 , forming a T-shaped horizontal, overhead structure. The crossbar  40  has a width similar to or wider than the width of the floor plate  12 . The length of the overhead bar  38  is sufficient to locate the crossbar  40  over a central part of the operator area of the floor plate  12 . A suitable length for the overhead bar is about twenty-two inches. A suitable length for the crossbar is about four feet. 
         [0042]    The base frame  16  provides support for a body support member. The base frame carries a torso support pad  42  of the body support member. A user can employ the torso support pad  42  as either a backrest or a chest rest, especially when the user is seated in a wheelchair. A depth adjustment bar  44  is carried on the rear of the torso support pad  42  and defines a closely spaced series of apertures. Central housing  30  receives the adjustment bar  44 . A suitable length for the depth adjustment bar  44  is about fourteen inches, and a suitable spacing of apertures through the bar  44  is about two inches. The pad  42  extends into the operator area by a depth that is adjusted by locking the adjustment bar  44  to the central housing  30  at the desired relative position. A fastener  22  is inserted through the aperture of the central housing and a selected aperture of the adjustment bar  44  to select the position of the torso support pad  42 . 
         [0043]    Anchors  46  are attached at various positions to other components of the exercise frame  10  to provide attachment points for resistance elements such as elastic cords. The anchors also are configured to provide convenient handgrips for assembling, disassembling, and moving components of the exercise frame. At least some of the anchors  46  may be U-shaped and of about a three inch width so that they are easily engaged by hand. These anchors are especially useful for lifting and carrying the various component assemblies of the exercise frame  10 . Anchors  46  that configured as handgrips are located at the forward end of each exercise bar  34 , at the opposite ends of the overhead crossbar  40 , at the front end of each side bar  20 , and at the front edge of the floor plate  12 . Anchors in these positions are a substantial aid to the portability of the exercise frame  10  when it is in disassembled configuration. 
         [0044]    In the assembled exercise frame  10 , the anchors  46  are located at near floor-level positions, mid-level positions, and overhead positions to enable a range of full body exercises. For example, two low anchors  46  are carried on each of the two sidebars  20 . These include the front anchors described above and midpoint, L-shaped anchors that are connected between each sidebar  20  and its upright side frame  24 . Two additional low anchors  46  are carried on the top face of rear bar  18 . The rear bar anchors may be slightly smaller than the handgrip anchors. Two more low anchors  46  are attached to the floor plate near its front edge, as previously described. If desired, low level anchors can be used to secure a wheelchair to the floor plate  12  during exercise, using elastic cords. The floor plate also carries a pair of caster wheels  48  at the rear edge. The anchors  46  on the front edge of the floor plate can serve the additional function of lifting grips for tilting the assembled exercise frame  10  onto the rear caster wheels  48  for minor local movement of the entire frame  12 . 
         [0045]    The front end of each horizontal exercise bar  34  carries a mid-level anchor, as previously described. Two additional mid-level anchors are carried on the bottom face of junction rods  32 . These may be of the smaller size and are directly opposite the similar anchors on the top face of the rear bar  18 . Another two mid-level anchors are carried on the center-facing walls of side housings  26 . As also previously described, the crossbar  40  carries two overhead anchors  46 . 
         [0046]    Elastic cords  50  provide resistance force for exercises. On one end, each cord  50  carries a closed fastener  52  that can engage any of the anchor rings. Suitable fasteners include a carabiner, eyehook, or gated spring clip. The opposite end of each cord  50  carries a handgrip. 
         [0047]    In use of the assembled frame  10 , the operator, trainer or therapist can clip fasteners  52  of cords  50  to any of the anchors  46  to position the cords for use in exercise. As may be required, the positions of some anchors  46  are adjustable to conform to the user&#39;s body size, exercise position, or other preferences. The anchors are adjustable at least by moving the horizontal exercise bars  34  to a new position within housings  26 . Thus, it is possible for a user to conduct exercises with resistance members attached from low, mid-level, or overhead positions. 
         [0048]    The specific exercises and elastic cord attachments are selectable according to the needs and desires of the user. The exercise frame offers a stable and versatile platform for exercising all parts of the body. A user not in a wheelchair can substitute an ordinary exercise bench in the operator area. 
         [0049]    The widely adjustable exercise arms  34  offer particular advantage. The anchors  46  near the front ends of the arms  34  can be placed anywhere from a full forward position to a full rearward position. In full forward position of the arms  34 , the attached anchors  46  are nearly five feet in front of the rear plane of the frame  10 . As indicated, above, the anchors  46  are of suitable size to be convenient handgrips. The fully forward position of arms  34  and attached anchors  46  offers assistance and guidance for a user moving a wheelchair into the operator area. If the arms  34  are moved as far back as possible in housings  26 , the attached anchors  46  are only about a foot in front of the rear plane of the frame  10 . If desired for any reason, the arms  34  could be reversed in direction and inserted from the rear of housings  26  to extend from the rear of the frame  10 . Such reverse placement of the arms  34  would open the sides of the operator area of frame  10  to accommodate an appropriate situation. 
         [0050]    The frame  10  is easily and quickly assembled for use. The floor plate  12  can be carried by attached front anchors  46  or wheeled on rear casters  48  to a desired position and then placed on a floor. The base frame  16  is set upon the floor plate, guided by the pairs of side and rear brackets  14 . The spacing of brackets  14  from the juxtaposed edges of the floor plate is approximately the thickness of the tubing forming the base frame  16 , such that the base frame is accurately guided to its proper position wherein apertures of the base members  18 ,  20  are aligned with the apertures of corresponding brackets  14 . Fasteners  22  are inserted through the accurately aligned apertures to temporarily secure the base frame  16  to the floor plate  12 . With this single assembly step, the partial frame provides anchors at low and mid-level and can be used for many exercises. 
         [0051]    In most cases, it is desirable to slide each the two exercise arms  34  into a respective housing  26  and align the aperture of the housing  26  with any one of a series of apertures spaced along arm  34 . The pin of fastener cartridges  23  is pulled back for receiving the arms  34  into the housings  26 . The pin is moved forward to temporarily secure the arm  34  in one of the available positions. With this second assembly step, the partial frame provides anchors at an expanded and variable range of mid-level positions and can be used for an expanded range of exercises. Optionally, the torso rest  42  can be positioned, if desired, by inserting adjustment bar  44  through central housing  30  and aligning the aperture of housing  30  with a selected one of several available apertures spaced along bar  44 . A fastener  22  is inserted through the aligned apertures to temporarily secure the torso pad in one of the available positions. 
         [0052]    In order to fully assemble the frame  10 , standard  36  is inserted into the top socket of vertical bar  28 . The standard  36  bottoms in the top socket when in fully inserted position. For example, the standard can bottom against the top wall of central housing  30 . An aperture through the standard  36  and an aperture through the vertical bar  28  are prepositioned to align when the standard  36  is bottomed in the socket. A fastener  22  is inserted through the aligned apertures to temporarily secure the standard  36  in the vertical socket. With this third and final assembly step, the frame  10  provides anchors additionally at overhead positions for a still further expanded range of exercises. 
         [0053]    The frame  10  is disassembled by the reverse steps. Removing the one fastener  22  from vertical bar  28  and standard  36  releases the standard  36  for removal from engagement with the top socket of vertical bar  28 . Pulling back the spring-loaded pin of fastener cartridge  23  from each side housing  26  releases each exercise arm  34  for removal from engagement with a side housing  26 . Removing each of the fasteners  22  from the brackets  14  on the floor plate  12  releases the base frame  16  for removal from floor plate  12 . Removing one fastener  22  from central housing  30  releases adjustment bar  44  for removal of the torso pad  42  from housing  30 . The disassembled components are small enough and lightweight enough to be carried comfortably by hand. Typically, the disassembled components can be compactly lashed together on a small hand truck for convenient movement as a single bundle to or from an automobile. 
         [0054]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be regarded as falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.