Abstract:
A collapsible exercise device includes a vertical support member, first and second sets of rails pivotally connected to each other, and a strut interconnecting the vertical support member and the rails. A user support platform engages the rails. First and second combination pulley-support and pull-up bars are pivotally connected to the first end of the first set of rails for movement between at least a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. First and second pulleys are slidably connected to bars and receive a cable, which is also connected to the user support platform. The exercise device is foldable such that the vertical support member, the rails and the strut are substantially parallel to each other; and the rails are extendable from the vertical support member and are alignable such that the user support platform is rollable along the first and second pulleys.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an exercise device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device wherein the exerciser exerts muscle force against an adjustable portion of the exerciser&#39;s own body weight. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Home exercise is becoming increasingly more popular. Home exercise offers the health benefits of regular exercise while recognizing that many people have difficulty in finding sufficient time in their schedule for a full workout at a health club or gymnasium. An exerciser may exercise at home whenever the exerciser&#39;s schedule permits. This flexibility in scheduling often allows for a more consistent and thus healthful exercise regime. 
     Home exercise, however, has its drawbacks. In particular, in order to exercise all or most of the muscle groups, multiple pieces of home exercise equipment may be required. Furthermore, these multiple pieces of equipment may require permanent installation in the exerciser&#39;s home. 
     Permanent or not, many popular pieces of home exercise equipment occupy a great deal of space. This makes the use of this equipment impractical in homes or apartments which do not have the required extra space. Furthermore, non-permanent pieces of equipment are often difficult to disassemble and may require much storage space even when disassembled. A user must then often choose between an exercise device providing a complete exercise regime and a device which fits the exerciser&#39;s home space. 
     There is, thus, a need for exercise equipment which may be easily stored when not in use, does not occupy a great deal of space when in use and provides for exercising all or most of the muscle groups. 
     Exercise devices are known in which a user, positioned on a support platform, propels that support platform up an inclined ramp. One way by which the platform may be propelled is by pulling a cable connected to the support platform through a variety of pulleys positioned on the exercise device. By changing positions on the platform and by changing the method by which the platform is propelled, a user can exercise multiple muscle groups. 
     While early versions of these devices did not allow for easy storage, later designs were proposed that allowed for some type of disassembly in the design. Even the later designs do not, however, provide complete foldability of the exercise unit. The designs include some separate elements which must be disengaged to allow for foldability of the device. Thus, these designs cannot be folded and stored as a unit. Moreover, the designs are not easily converted from the folded stored state to an unfolded state for use. 
     Another problem with early versions of these devices is that they did not allow for a wide variety of different types of muscle exercises, especially multiple muscle exercises for each specific muscle group. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an inclined ramp exercise device which is easily foldable to a size which allows for easy storage, is easily unfolded into a useable state, and which allows for exercising multiple muscle groups and multiple exercises for each muscle group. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an exercise device that substantially obviates one or more or the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An aspect of the invention involves a collapsible exercise device including a vertical support member, and first and second sets of rails each having a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first set of rails are pivotally connected to, and adjustably supported by, the vertical support member. The first ends of the second set of rails are pivotally connected to the second end of the first set of rails. A strut includes a first end pivotally connected to the vertical support member and a second end pivotally connected to the rails where the rails are pivotally connected to each other. A user support platform with rollers engages the first and second set of rails. First and second combination pulley-support and pull-up bars are each pivotally connected to the first end of the first set of rails for movement between at least a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position where the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars are used for performing pull-ups. First and second pulleys are slidably connected to bars. A cable extends through the first and second pulleys and is connected to the user support platform. The exercise device is foldable such that the vertical support member, the first set of rails, the second set of rails and the strut are substantially parallel to each other; and the first and second set of rails are extendable from the vertical support member and are alignable such that the user support platform is rollable along the first and second pulleys. 
     In further implementations of the above aspect of the invention, the collapsible exercise device may include one or more of the following: a folding squat platform pivotally and removably connected to the second end of the second set of rails and a squat stand telescopingly and removably engaged with the folding squat platform; a push-up bar removably connected to the second end of the second set of rails; a padded foot support removably connected to the second end of the second set of rails; a dip bar assembly connected to the second set of rails, and the dip bar assembly including a pair of dip bars movable between at least a retracted, out-of-the way position, and a non-retracted, ready-for-use position; a foot support assembly pivotally connected to the first set of rails, and the foot support assembly pivotable between at least a retracted, out-of-the way position, and a non-retracted, ready-for-use position; and the vertical support member includes a vertical support tower including opposite sides with tower level tracks therein, the tower level tracks including multiple vertically spaced hooks, the first end of each of the first set of rails being pivotally connected to, and adjustably supported by opposite hooks of the tower level tracks. 
     It is understood that both the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation to the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages, and principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an exercise device; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of the exercise device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the exercise device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with a telescoping squat stand removed from a folding squat platform and the folding squat stand shown in an unfolded state; 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  4 A and details the telescoping squat stand removed from a folding squat platform; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with a telescoping squat stand removed from a folding squat platform and the folding squat stand shown in a folded state; 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  5 A and details the folding squat platform shown in a folded state; 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with a telescoping squat stand removed from the folding squat platform and an embodiment of a toe bar accessory attached to the folding squat stand; 
         FIG. 5D  is an enlarged perspective view of the area D of FIG.  5 C and details the toe bar accessory and the folding squat stand in an unfolded state; 
         FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate an embodiment of a telescoping toe bar accessory 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with the telescoping squat stand and folding squat platform replaced with a push-up bar accessory; 
         FIG. 6B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  6 A and details the push-up bar accessory; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with the telescoping squat stand and folding squat platform replaced with a padded foot support accessory; 
         FIG. 7B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  7 A and details the padded foot support accessory; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  without the telescoping squat stand and folding squat platform and shows a dip bar accessory in an retracted state; 
         FIG. 8B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  8 A and details the dip bar accessory; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the device similar to FIG.  9 A and shows the dip bar accessory in a unretracted state; 
         FIG. 9B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  9 A and details the dip bar accessory in a retracted state; 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG.  1  and shows a folding foot platform in an unfolded state; 
         FIG. 10B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  10 A and details the foot platform; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the device similar to FIG.  10 A and shows the folding foot platform in a folded state; 
         FIG.11B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  11 A and details the folding foot platform in a folded state; 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG.  1  and shows folding, combination pulley-support and pull-up bars in a folded down or pull-up state; 
         FIG. 12B  is an enlarged perspective view of the area B of FIG.  12 A and details the folding, combination pulley-support and pull-up bars in a folded down or pull-up state; 
         FIG. 13  is a right side elevational view of the exercise device shown in  FIG. 1  in a semi-folded state; and 
         FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the exercise device shown in  FIG. 1  in a folded state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a collapsible exercise device  100  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described. The collapsible exercise device  100  is shown in an unfolded state. The collapsible exercise device  100  includes a vertical support member or tower  110  having a base  120  and a tower housing  130 . The base  120  includes a pair of opposite foot-shaped base members  140  joined by an intermediate base section  150 . The tower housing  130  extends from the intermediate base section  150  of the base  120 . The tower housing  130  includes a front vertical face  160 , a rear vertical face  170 , and opposite symmetric sides  180 . The sides  180  include tower level tracks  190  with multiple tower level hooks  200  evenly vertically spaced along the tracks  190 . 
     Slide bars  210  extend inwardly from proximal ends  220  of a pair of upper rails  230 . The inwardly extending slide bars  210  may be slid up or down in the tower level tracks  190  and set in corresponding tower level hooks  200  to a desired height. The slide bars  210  may be removable from the upper rails  230 . A pair of lower rails  240  are pivotally connected to the upper rails  230  at rail pivot points  250 . A strut  260  is pivotally connected to the base  120  through a lower pivot bar  270  at the base members  140  and is also pivotally connected to the rail pivot points  250  through an upper pivot bar  280 . The strut  260  includes an upper strut post  290  matingly received within a lower strut post  300 . The strut posts  290  may be locked with respect to each other with a spring-loaded pull pin  310  and lateral holes in the upper strut post  290 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, one end of the strut  260  may be pivotally connected to the upper pivot bar  280 , while the other end includes a support platform that rests on a floor. 
     A user support platform  320  is slidably attached to the rails  230 ,  240  through support frame or glide board  330  and rollers (not shown) on the support frame  330 . A main support pad  340  is attached to and supported by the support frame  330 . A bumper (not shown) may be positioned on the lower rails  240  to prevent the user support platform  320  from rolling all the way down the lower rails  240 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 A- 5 B, a telescoping squat stand  350  and folding squat platform  360  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will be described. In  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the folding squat platform  360  is shown in an unfolded state with the telescoping squat stand  350  removed from the folding squat platform  360 . The folding squat platform  360  includes opposite parallel rails  370  joined by perpendicularly extending cross rail  380 . Each rail  370  has a generally square cross-section and includes a short, straight pivot portion  385 , a curved portion  390 , and an elongated distal portion  400 . The pivot portion  385  carries a spring-loaded pull pin  410  for locking the folding squat platform  360  within pin holes  415  near a distal end  420  of the lower rails  240 . A spring-loaded depressible pin  430  is carried in the elongated distal portion  400  for locking the folding squat platform  360  in place along the folding squat platform  360 . 
     In the unfolded state shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the curved portion  390  of the rails  370  and the cross rail  380  are supported by a cross member  440 . The cross member  440  has a generally cylindrical configuration and extends perpendicularly between the distal ends  420  of the lower rails, joining the lower rails  240 . Ends  450  of the cross member  440  extend laterally beyond the distal ends  420  and may carry rollers or wheels for rolling this part of the exercise device  100  along the floor. 
     The folding squat platform  360  may be pivoted or folded up to the compact position shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , where the elongated distal portion  400  of the folding squat platform  260  is generally parallel with the lower rails  240 . The telescoping squat stand  350  includes opposite straight parallel rails  460 , perpendicularly extending supports  470 , and a squat platform  480  supported by and connected to the rails  460  and supports  470 . The rails  460  include a generally square cross-sectional, hollow configuration and telescope onto (matingly receive) the elongated distal portions  400  of the rails  370 . When attaching the squat stand  350  to the rails  370 , the pins  430  may be depressed slightly to allow the rails  460  to slide completely onto the rails  370 . Each rail  460  may include one or more pin holes  490  that the spring-loaded pin  430  snap locks into when the hole  490  is over the pin  430 . The telescoping squat stand  350  may be removed by pressing down on the pins  430  and sliding the rails  460  of the squat stand  350  off of the rails  370  of the folding squat platform  360 . The folding squat platform  360  (or the folding squat platform  260  and connected squat stand  350 ) may be removed from the distal ends of the lower rails  240  by pulling the pull pins  410  out of the pin holes  415  and removing the folding squat platform  360  from the lower rails  240 . 
       FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate an embodiment of a telescoping toe bar accessory  501  that attaches to the folding platform  360  in the same manner as the telescoping squat stand  350 . The toe bar accessory  501  includes opposite straight parallel rails  502 , perpendicularly extending toe bar  503 , and a cylindrical toe pad or cushion  504  that surrounds a central portion of the toe bar  503 . The rails  502  include a generally square cross-sectional, hollow configuration and telescope onto (matingly receive) the elongated distal portions  400  of the rails  370 . When attaching the toe bar accessory  501  to the rails  370 , the pins  430  may be depressed slightly to allow the rails  502  to slide completely onto the rails  370 . Each rail  502  may include one or more pin holes  505  that the spring-loaded pin  430  snap locks into when the hole  505  is over the pin  430 . The telescoping toe bar accessory  501  may be removed by pressing down on the pins  430  and sliding the rails  502  of the toe bar accessory  501  off of the rails  370  of the folding platform  360 . The folding platform  360  (or the folding platform  260  and connected toe bar accessory  501 ) may be removed from the distal ends of the lower rails  240  by pulling the pull pins  410  out of the pin holes  415  and removing the folding platform  360  from the lower rails  240 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6A , an embodiment of a push-up bar accessory  500  that may be easily attached to and removed from the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240  will now be described. The push-up bar accessory  500  includes a pair of opposite coupling brackets  510  for connecting the push-up bar accessory  500  to the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240 . A push-up bar  520  includes handles  530  with grips  540 , upwardly angled portions  550 , and intermediate portion  560 . The push-up bar  520  is connected to the brackets  510  near where the intermediate portion  560  joins the angled portions  550 . The brackets  510  carry spring-loaded pull pins  570  for attaching the push-up bar accessory  500  to and removing it from pin holes  415  at the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an embodiment of a padded foot support accessory  580  that may be easily attached to and removed from the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240  will now be described. The padded foot support accessory  580  includes a foot pad  590  supported by and connected to opposite brackets  600  for connecting the padded foot support accessory  580  to the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240 . The brackets  600  carry spring-loaded pull pins  610  for attaching the padded foot support accessory  580  to and removing it from pin holes  415  at the distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240 . In the position shown, the padded foot support accessory  580  is supported by the brackets  600  on the lower rails  240  and the cross member  440 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A-9B , an embodiment of a dip bar accessory  620  that may be used with the exercise device  100  will now be described. The dip bar accessory  620  includes handles  630  with grips  640  attached at ends  650  to perpendicularly extending cross rails  660 . The handles  630  may have a generally cylindrical, tubular configuration and the cross rails  660  may have a generally square cross-sectional, hollow configuration. The cross rails  660  slide laterally in and out within brackets  670  mounted to the lower rails  240 . The brackets  670  have rectilinear cut outs  680  that the cross rails  660  slide within. A locking mechanism (not shown) of the brackets  670  (or as one or more separate members) allow the handles  630  to be moved laterally outward and rotated 90 degrees upward to the unretracted state shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , and moved laterally inward and rotated 90 degrees downward to the retracted state shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . In the unretracted, active state shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the cross rails  660  are low enough and the handles  630  are disposed laterally outward far enough so as to avoid contact with the support frame  330  of the user support platform  320  when the platform  320  is in motion. In the retracted state shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the handles  630  are disposed beneath and parallel to the lower rails  240 . In this position, the handles  630  are also are disposed laterally inward far enough so as to avoid contact with the support frame  330  of the user support platform  320  when the platform  320  is in motion. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10A-11B , an embodiment of a folding foot platform  700  that may positioned in an unretracted or unfolded state ( FIGS. 10A ,  10 B) and a retracted or folded state ( FIGS. 11A ,  11 B) will now be described. The folding foot platform  700  includes a generally Y-shaped member  710  telescoped within an upside-down generally T-shaped member  720 . The generally Y-shaped member includes a cylindrical main insertion tube  730  and upwardly angled foot retaining tubes  740 . Cylindrical toe cushions  750  cover the upwardly angled foot retaining tubes  740 . The upside-down generally T-shaped member  720  includes a main receiving tube  760  and outwardly perpendicularly extending cylindrical heel support tubes  770 . Cylindrical heel cushions  780  cover the heel support tubes  770 . The main insertion tube  730  is slidably received within the main receiving tube  760  and may be locked relative thereto with a pull pin within holes in the tubes  730 ,  760 . Outer lateral ends of the heel support tubes  770  are fixedly connected to pivoting brackets  790 . The pivoting brackets  790  are pivotally connected to inner sides  800  of the upper rails  230  through pivot pins  810 . In the unretracted state shown in  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, a user may position his or her feet into the folding foot platform  700  by putting toes underneath the toe cushions  750  and heels on the heel cushions  780 . The brackets  790 , and, hence, the folding foot platform  700 , are prevented from pivoting farther upward than the state shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  by an upper flange  820  of the upper rails  230 . When not in use, the folding foot platform  700  may be pivoted or folded to an out-of-the-way, retracted or folded state shown in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  12 A, and  12 B, an embodiment of folding, combination pulley-support and pull-up bars  830  will now be described. In the embodiment shown, each bar  830  has a trapezoidal configuration and includes the following main sections: a short, straight, proximal tubular section  840 , a straight, distal tubular section or pull-up handle  850  parallel to and longer than the proximal tubular section  840 , an elongated, straight, angled, outer tubular section  860 , and an elongated, straight, inner tubular section  870  perpendicular to the proximal tubular section  840  and the distal tubular section  850 . An outer end of the proximal tubular section  840  is connected to a proximal end of the outer tubular section  860  by a tubular proximal outer elbow  880 . An outer end of the distal tubular section  850  is connected to a distal end of the outer tubular section  860  by a tubular distal outer elbow  890 . An inner end of the distal tubular section  850  is connected to a distal end of the inner tubular section  870  by a tubular distal inner elbow  900 . An inner end of the proximal tubular section  840  is connected to a proximal end of the inner tubular section  870  by a pivoting bracket  910 . The pivoting bracket  910  is pivotally connected to an attachment bracket  920 , which is attached to the proximal end  220  of the upper rails  230 . The pivoting bracket  910  carries a spring-loaded pull pin  930 . The attachment bracket  920  may include a vertical pin hole, a horizontal pin hole, and a collapsing pin hole. 
     For normal use, the bars  830  may be moved to the position shown in FIG.  1  and locked into place using the pull pin  930  and the vertical pin hole on the attachment bracket  920 . For performing chin ups, the bars  830  may be moved to the position shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and locked into place using the pull pin  930  and the horizontal pin hole on the attachment bracket  920 . For collapsing the exercise device  100 , the bars  830  may be moved to the position shown in  FIG. 13 , where the bars  830  are parallel to the upper rails  230  and locked into place using the pull pin  930  and the collapsing pin hole on the attachment bracket  920 . 
     Pulleys  940  are slidably attached to the bars  830 . Each pulley  940  includes a collar  950  and a spring-loaded pull pin  960 . An exerciser may move each pulley  940  to a desired position on the bar  830  by pulling on the pull pin  960 , sliding the pulley  940  via the collar  950  to a desired position on the bar  830 , and releasing the pull pin  960  to lock the pulley  940  in place on the bar  830 . It should be noted, the pulley  940  may be slid onto sections or elbows other than the inner tubular section  870 . 
     A connector extends through the pulleys  940  and connects to the user support platform  320 . The connector may be of any suitable well-known type, but shown by way of example  1  is a cable  970 . The cable  970  includes handles  980  (connected via links  990 ) at each end and extends through the pulleys  940  positioned on the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars  830  and loops through a third pulley  1000  attached to the user support platform  320 . The third pulley  1000  is positioned along the lateral centerline of the user support platform  320 . This position allows for unilateral (i.e. one arm), bilateral (i.e., two arm) and static equilibrium (i.e. holding the user support platform  320  suspended by keeping a constant force on each handle  980 ) use. 
     The cable  970  and the handles  980  may hang from attachment member  1001  ( FIG. 4A ) when not in use for storage purposes. The attachment member  1001  may also be used for connecting a separate pulley and leg ankle cuff. 
     The cable  970  should preferably be of sufficient length to extend through the pulleys  940  and allow the exerciser to grasp one or both of the handles  980  while the exerciser is on the user support platform  320  and the user support platform  320  is at rest. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the connector may be two separate cables extending through the pulleys  940  with each cable fixedly attached to the user support platform  320 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the collapsible or foldable nature of the exercise device  100  will now be described.  FIG. 13  shows the collapsible exercise device  100  in a semi-folded state. The slide bars  210  at the proximal ends  220  of the upper rails  230  are lowered to the bottom of the tower level tracks  190  of the vertical support tower  110 , and the squat stand  350  is folded over onto the user support platform  320 . The rail pivot points  250  and the upper pivot bar  280  are then drawn up away from the floor while rollers on the cross member  440  roll along the floor. The exercise device  100  continues to be folded until the vertical support tower  110 , the strut  260 , the upper rails  230 , the lower rails  240 , the user support platform  320 , the squat stand  350 , and the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars  830  are substantially parallel as shown in FIG.  14 . It should be noted that in this position, the user support platform  320  may be rolled up the lower rails  240  and off of the collapsed exercise device  100 . To unfold the exercise device  100 , the rollers on the cross member  440  at distal ends  420  of the lower rails  240  are rolled along the floor away from the vertical support tower  110 . Once the upper rails  230  and the lower rails  240  are extended along the floor  52 , the slide bars  210  at the proximal ends  220  of the upper rails  230  are raised via the proximal ends  220  of the upper rails  230  just above a desired height and lowered into tower level hooks  200  at the desired height. The squat stand  350  may then be folded to the position shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In use, the exerciser positions himself or herself on the user support platform  320  and grasps one or both of the handles  980 . The exerciser then draws one or both of the handles  980  toward the exerciser and by doing so transports the user support platform  320  up along the lower rails  240  and upper rails  230 . 
     By varying the height of the proximal ends  220  of the upper rails  230  on the tower level hooks  200  of the vertical support tower  110 , the angle θ (shown in  FIG. 2 ) may be adjusted. The adjustment of this angle θ alters the percentage of the exerciser&#39;s weight which the exerciser&#39;s muscles are moving. This allows for adjustment of the intensity of the exerciser&#39;s workout. Weight bars (not shown) may be added to the user support platform  320  so that weight plates (not shown) may be positioned on the weight bars, thus adding to the weight propelled by the exerciser&#39;s muscles. 
     The exerciser may vary the position of the pulleys  940  on the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars  830  in the manner described above. For example, the pulleys  940  may be raised or lowered on the inner tubular sections  870  so that the handles  980  and pulling motion are at a more comfortable orientation or to work different muscle groups. The pulleys  940  may be moved to the outer tubular sections  860  (or other sections) for a wider grip and motion of the handles  980  or to work different muscle groups. 
     An exerciser may also vary the resistance while working upper body muscles by positioning him or herself on the user support platform  320  with the exerciser&#39;s feet on the squat stand  350  or floor. The legs and lower body then provide assistance in moving the user support platform  320 , lessening the load on the upper body muscles. The exerciser may also use the squat stand  350  to perform the squat exercise for the lower body muscles. 
     In an alternate embodiment, an exerciser may lie on the user support platform  320  with the exerciser&#39;s feet positioned in the foot platform  700  as described above. By bending the exerciser&#39;s legs, the exerciser draws the user support platform  320  up along the rails  230 ,  240 . The exercise may also perform sit ups on the user support platform  320  by securing his or her legs in the foot platform  700 . In this embodiment, the squat stand  350  and folding platform  260  may be replaced with the padded foot support accessory  580  to support the feet. 
     In a further embodiment, the squat stand  350  and folding platform  260  may be replaced with the push-up bar accessory  500 . The exerciser performs push ups using the push-up bar accessory  500  with his or her feet on the floor, and the chest over the distal part of the lower rails  240 . The exerciser may also lie on the user support platform  320  and use the push-up bar accessory  500  to perform a military press or similar exercise. 
     In another embodiment, the exerciser may lie on the user support platform  320 , grip the handles  630  of the dip bar accessory  620  ( FIGS. 8A ,  8 B), and perform dips, exercising the arms and chest. 
     Furthermore, an exerciser may lower the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars  830  to the position shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B as described above, position himself or herself on the user support platform  320 , and grasp the handles  850 . By drawing the exerciser toward the handles  850 , the exerciser is exercising additional muscle groups. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the collapsible exercise device  100  described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.