ANCHOR BAR AND CARRIAGE STOP ASSEMBLY

A reformer has parallel tracks extending between a head end and a foot end and an anchor bar and carriage stop assembly fastened to the frame adjacent the foot end of the frame. The assembly includes an anchor bar slidably fastened to a pair of elongated plates each fastened to one of the tracks. Each plate has an elongated closed slot therein extending parallel to and below the one of the tracks. The anchor bar has opposite ends, each end extending through one of the elongated slots and through an elongated spacer member pivotally fastened to the end of the anchor bar. Each elongated spacer member has a distal end carrying a pin fastened thereto extending through the elongated slot, wherein the pin has a carriage stop fastened to the pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus used in Pilates type exercises. In particular, this disclosure relates to a new anchor bar and carriage stop assembly for use in a reformer exercise apparatus.

State of the Art

Exercise machines utilized in the performance of physical exercises originated by Joseph Pilates typically are often performed on a stationary apparatus called a reformer. A reformer typically has a rectangular wood or metal frame having a foot end and a head end. A pair of parallel side rails separates the head and foot ends. A rolling carriage is configured to roll along between the side rails from the foot end to the head end and is biased toward the foot end of the frame by one or more coil springs connected to an anchor bar fastened to the frame near the foot end and to the carriage. A foot bar is fastened to the foot end of the frame. A user typically sits or reclines on the carriage and pushes against the foot bar to move the carriage away from the foot end of the frame during exercise. There are a variety of mechanisms to vary the distance between the carriage and the foot end when the carriage is at a rest position. Exemplary mechanisms are disclosed in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,163,500 and 11,065,495.

Some reformers have a member fastened to an inner surface of the side rails to form a track on which the carriage rolls between the head and foot ends of the reformer frame. Typically such reformers may also have a plurality of holes in the members into which a carriage stop block may be placed to maintain a certain distance between the anchor bar and the carriage. Often such anchor bar support assemblies require modification of existing anchor bar support brackets, etc. Thus there is still a need for a simple anchor bar and carriage stop assembly that can be installed on any such reformer.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure includes a generally rectangular frame, a carriage on the frame configured for movement back and forth between a head end and a foot end of the frame on parallel tracks, one or more bias members fastened between the carriage and an anchor bar carried at the foot end of the frame for biasing the carriage toward the foot end of the frame on the parallel tracks, a foot bar fastened at or adjacent to a foot end of the frame, and an anchor bar and carriage stop assembly fastened to the frame adjacent the foot end of the frame. The one or more bias members, such as an elongated coil spring, is carried in the anchor bar and carriage stop assembly.

This anchor bar and carriage stop assembly includes an anchor bar slidably fastened to a pair of elongated plates each of which is fastened to one of the tracks fastened to or constituting a side of the frame. Each elongated plate has an elongated closed slot therein extending parallel to and below the one of the tracks to which the elongated plate is fastened. This elongated slot has a set of spaced apart downwardly extending notches along its length

The anchor bar is a tubular or solid cylindrical body that has opposite ends, each end having an axle extending through one of the elongated slots and through a proximal end of an elongated spacer member pivotally fastened to the end of the anchor bar. Each elongated spacer member has a distal end carrying a pin fastened thereto extending through the elongated slot in the respective one of the elongated plates. This pin in turn has a carriage stop fastened to the pin.

When the assembly is mounted to the foot end of a reformer exercise apparatus, the anchor bar may be moved between the notches to position the anchor bar at different distances from the foot end of the frame determined by the notch positions, while at the same time, the carriage stop fastened to the pin also protruding through the elongated closed slot, maintains the carriage at a predetermined minimum distance from the anchor bar at all times. This arrangement permits persons of different heights to use the reformer exercise apparatus appropriately for their particular size while maintaining proper leg angle orientation with regard to position of the foot support bar or foot support plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One exemplary embodiment of an anchor bar and carriage stop assembly100installed for use on a reformer exercise apparatus10in accordance with the present disclosure is shown inFIG.1. An enlarged view of the anchor bar and carriage stop assembly100installed at the foot end portion of the apparatus10is shown inFIG.2with the sides12and foot end16shown in phantom lines. The reformer10includes a pair of parallel sides12that extend parallel between a head end14and a foot end16of the generally rectangular reformer frame. A carriage18rides back and forth between the head end14and foot end16on tracks20that either are integral with or fastened to the sides12of the reformer frame. One or more coil springs22are typically fastened to and biased between the carriage18and the foot end16.

The anchor bar and carriage stop assembly100includes a generally cylindrical spring anchor bar102, two rectangular guide plates104and two spacer members106, each attached to an opposite end of the anchor bar102. Each of the guide plates104has a central elongated longitudinal closed slot therein and is adapted to be fastened to an inside or inner facing surface of one of the tracks20of the reformer10near the foot end16of the reformer10. The anchor bar102, shaped somewhat like a baker's rolling pin, has opposite ends each having an axle108protruding axially from the anchor bar102. Each axle108carries a first bearing bushing or roller110that rolls or slides in the elongated closed slot112that extends longitudinally in each guide plate104.

Also attached to the distal end of the axle108is a connecting arm or spacer member106pivotably connected to the axle108. This spacer member106extends alongside and parallel to the guide plate104on an opposite side of the guide plate104from the anchor bar102and is positioned below the track20when the assembly100is fastened to the tracks20of a reformer10. The distal end116of the spacer member106has a pin member118fastened thereto that extends parallel to the anchor bar102and carries a second bearing bushing roller110that also rides in the same closed slot112.

Attached to the pin member118is a carriage stop block124. This carriage stop block124engages a portion of the carriage18to prevent the carriage from getting too close to the anchor bar102. This pin member118may be removably fastened to the distal end116of the spacer member106and preferably carries the second bearing roller110that also rides in the longitudinal closed slot112. Alternatively the pin member118may be fastened to a carriage stop block124so as to extend through the second bearing roller110and the closed slot112to the spacer member106.

One end of each of the closed slots112has an enlarged aperture120sized to receive and retain one portion of each of the bearing rollers110therethrough. Each closed slot112has a general width less than the enlarged aperture120so that, once installed, the bearing rollers110are each captured and retained within one of the closed slots112. Each closed slot112includes a plurality of spaced apart stop notches122that extend down generally at a right angle from the longitudinal axis of the closed slot112and may optionally be angled at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the closed slot112so as to inhibit unintentional disengagement of the bearing roller110and axle108from the notch122. Each of these notches122corresponds to a predetermined distance from the foot end16of the reformer exercise apparatus10when the assembly100is installed.

Attached to the pin member118is a carriage stop block or cushion cap124. This stop block124is configured to abut against the carriage18to maintain a predetermined distance between the anchor bar102and the carriage18while the anchor bar102is moved from one stop notch122to another along the length of the closed slot112.

This guide plate104is configured to be screwed or otherwise fastened to the track20of the side rail12of the reformer exercise apparatus10so that the elongated slot112extends alongside and parallel to and below the track20.FIG.4shows a cross sectional view of one side12of the reformer10with the assembly100installed. Each elongated guide plate104of assembly100is essentially fastened to one side of the track20such that the spacer member106and carriage stop block124are below and adjacent the track20. Not shown is a corner of the carriage18that preferably includes a bracket or portion of the carriage18that engages the stop block124.

Referring now toFIGS.3and4, each bearing bushing roller110has different inner, middle and outer diameter disc portions. The inner portion of each bearing bushing roller110has a first diameter larger than the width of the slot112but less than the diameter of the enlarged aperture120at one end of the closed slot112. The mid or middle diameter disc portion is sized to readily slide along the closed slot112without binding. The second or outer disc portion of each bearing roller110is greater in diameter for butting against the side of the closed slot112and against either the carriage stop block124or the anchor bar102to which the bearing roller110is attached. This essentially captures each of the bearing bushing rollers110in its closed slot112. Because the spacer member106has one end fastened to the axle108of the anchor bar102and the other end fastened to the pin member118carrying the stop block124, movement of the anchor bar102along the slot112necessarily moves the pin member118and the stop block124along the slot112.

In order to adjust the longitudinal position of an anchor bar102with respect to the foot end16of the reformer10, utilizing the assembly100in accordance with the present disclosure, a user simply manually lifts up the anchor bar102and slidably moves the anchor bar102along the parallel slots112in each of the plates104from one stop notch122to an adjacent stop notch122and then lowers the anchor bar102into the appropriate stop notch122. This automatically also moves the carriage18along with the anchor bar102thereby maintaining a constant minimum distance between them.

The assembly100in accordance with the present disclosure may be installed in any reformer exercise apparatus and the spring anchor bar will always be kept aligned and parallel, maintaining the same minimum distance from the carriage18. The anchor bar102in the present assembly100cannot rotate down so as to inadvertently release a spring22if there is no tension on the spring22. Downward and upward rotation of the anchor bar102is simply constrained by the height of the particular notch122in the slot112in which the anchor bar102is carried. The arrangement with the stop blocks124always being in a fixed orientation with respect to the anchor bar102and the spacer member106also ensures that the assembly moves only parallel to the tracks20, and without binding.

A number of variations of the above assembly are envisioned. For example, the arrangement or positioning of the bearing bushing rollers110on the axles108and pins118may be reversed, i.e. with the greater second disc diameter portions facing the rail20, for example, rather than toward the axle or stop block or bumper. Alternatively a bearing bushing roller110may be constructed from three different diameter discs stacked together or constructed from two spaced washers on a common axle for the mid portion instead of providing a mid portion that can roll along the axle. Accordingly, all such alternatives, variations and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the scope of and as defined by the following claims.