Abstract:
A carriage for use in a reformer exercise apparatus is disclosed that has a pair of upwardly extending folding shoulder stops mounted thereto at one end and a headrest between the shoulder stops that extends outward from the carriage toward the head end of the frame. A pair of roller wheels at the head end and a pair at the foot end of the carriage support the platform. A single common axle supports the head end pair of rollers from the carriage, forms a pivot support for the folding shoulder stops, and forms part of an adjustable position support assembly for the headrest. The shoulder stops are preferably attached to a tubular sleeve that rotates on the common axle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/070,362, filed Mar. 1, 2005. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/035,842 filed Dec. 24, 2001, published as Publication No. US-2002-0058573-A1, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment in which a movable carriage is utilized to at least partially support a user&#39;s body, commonly referred to as a “reformer”, and more particularly to a telescopically collapsible reformer with a compact movable carriage. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Joseph H. Pilates, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,621,477, originally developed the concept of using a wheeled platform carriage connected to a resistance device such as a set of weights in conjunction with a stationary frame to provide a variable resistance against which a user could push with his/her feet or pull with the arms while in a sitting or recumbent position in order to exercise the major muscle groups of the user&#39;s trunk, legs and/or arms. Since that time many changes and improvements in the design of such an apparatus have occurred. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,338,276, 5,607,381 and 5,681,249 disclose reformers and several footrest arrangements and adjustable headrest assemblies for this type of exercise apparatus. One of the difficulties, which the currently available reformers do not optimally address, is the portability and storability of the apparatus. My related patent application identified above discloses a collapsible reformer apparatus that is easily stored and transported. However, this reformer has a carriage that is complex to manufacture. Accordingly, there is a need for a simpler carriage for a collapsible reformer type of exercise apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention addresses the above-identified limitations in conventional reformer designs. An embodiment of the present invention is an exercise apparatus that has a wheeled carriage having a rigid platform with a generally flat top surface. The carriage is movably mounted on parallel track members of a generally rectangular telescopically collapsible frame, which has a head end and a foot end. The carriage has a pair of upwardly extending folding shoulder stops mounted thereto at one end and a headrest between the shoulder stops that extends outward from the carriage toward the head end of the frame. A single common axle carried by the carriage frame supports and provides a pivot for the folding shoulder stops. A pair of roller wheels at the head end and a pair at of roller wheels at the foot end of the carriage are positioned to roll on the track members. Preferably the single common axle also supports the head end pair of roller wheels and forms part of an adjustable position support for the headrest. A plurality of elastic members such as coil springs may be selectively connected between the foot end and the carriage to elastically bias the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. 
     The carriage assembly has a generally rectangular frame. The carriage frame has a pair of spaced parallel channels that support roller wheels at each end thereof that ride on the reformer frame rails. A single axle rod extends across the carriage frame between the head end channels and provides a pivot support for a pair of shoulder stop fastened to the axle. Preferably the shoulder stops are fastened to a support tube or sleeve that rides on the axle rod and the axle rod ends pass through the head ends of the channels. The axle rod may also preferably pass through the head end rollers, and provide part of a support for the headrest. 
     The assembly preferably includes a pair of spaced shoulder stops foldably attached to the axle via the support tube at a head end of the carriage frame and an adjustable headrest attached to the frame and positioned between the pair of folding shoulder stops. The folding shoulder stops are fastened to the tube such that the shoulder stops can rotate with the tube about the axle rod between an upright position and a folded position. The headrest has a bracket pivotally attached to an underside of the headrest that engages the shoulder stop support tube. The bracket has a series of notches to selectively receive the support tube to position the headrest at a desired position. The single axle rod in one embodiment thus serves four functions: it supports the head end support rollers, supports the carriage frame, supports the shoulder stops, and supports the headrest. 
     For storage, the frame rail assemblies may be telescopically collapsed, capturing the carriage between the head and foot ends, and the shoulder stops can be unlatched and folded back over the axle rod so that the tops of the shoulder stops fit into cutouts in the head end of the reformer frame to make a compact package that may be rolled under a bed, stored in a closet, or transported in a vehicle. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein a particular embodiment of the invention is disclosed as an illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a partial upper perspective view of the head end of the carriage used in one embodiment of the reformer exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing the shoulder stops in an upright and locked position. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a reformer with the carriage shown in  FIG. 1  having the shoulder stops in a folded, storage position. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the head end of the carriage shown in  FIG. 1  with the headrest lowered. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage shown in  FIG. 3  with the headrest raised. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a collapsible reformer with the carriage of  FIG. 1  and the telescopic frame partially collapsed and the shoulder stops in an upright position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the underside of the reformer shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a separate perspective full view of the underside of the carriage in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A reformer exercise apparatus  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in upper and lower perspective views in  FIGS. 5 and 6  respectively. In these two views, the telescopic frame  102  of the reformer  100  is shown collapsed rather than fully extended. The frame  102  has a head end  104  and a foot end  106  and a pair of parallel track or rail member assemblies  108  separating the head end  104  from the foot end  106 . 
     A movable carriage assembly  110  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in partial perspective views in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The carriage assembly  110  includes four roller wheels  112  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 ) fastened to the underside of the carriage  110 . The roller wheels  112  roll on the track member assemblies  108  to support and guide movement of the carriage  110  back and forth along the track member assemblies  108  of the frame  102 . Up to seven elastic members, e.g., springs  114 , shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , may be selectively connected between the carriage  110  and the foot end  106  to bias the carriage  110  toward the foot end  106  with varying amounts of spring force. 
     A foot bar  116  is removably fastened to the frame  102  at the foot end  106  so as to provide a stationary support for a user to push against in order to move the carriage  110  back and forth along the track member assemblies  108 . The foot bar  116  may be withdrawn, reversed, i.e., turned around, and reinserted into one of two sets of apertures  120  in the foot end  106  to provide a different horizontal foot position. This moves the foot bar  116  closer to or away from the carriage assembly  110 . Thus, there are potentially four positions in which the user can place the foot bar  116  accommodating those users that may have shorter or longer legs. 
     The foot end  106  also includes a horizontal foot platform  118  for a standing user to place one foot on while the other foot is placed on the carriage assembly  110  for standing exercises on the apparatus  100 . This platform  118  is preferably made of two pieces of folded sheet material such as aluminum, aluminum alloy or rigid plastic, and more preferably of steel sheet metal, and also serves as a cross member to support and space the rail member assemblies  108  apart. The second piece of sheet metal forms a channel shaped trough that forms jump board support  122 . The jump board support  122 , and the upper portion of the foot bar  116  together provide a support for a rectangular jump board (not shown) that is vertically positioned with its bottom end engaged the channel formed by the jump board support  122 . The back of the upper end of the jump board rests against the horizontal foot support portion of the foot bar  116 . Alternatively, a jump board that has two spaced support posts may be used. In this alternative, the posts would fit into one pair of the holes  120 . 
     The head end  104  is designed to space the telescopic rail member assemblies  108  rigidly apart, act as a handle when the reformer  100  is collapsed, receive upper ends of the shoulder stops, and support a pair of pulley assemblies  130  on removable posts  131  for hand cords (not shown). One end of the hand cord is adjustably fastened to cleats  126  on the carriage  110 . A user typically grips the other end of the cord during arm or leg exercises. The head end  104  has a folded sheet metal cross member  132 , preferably made of steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, that is fastened to the head ends of the rail member assemblies  108  by a spud that receives screws securing the cross member  132  to the head ends of the rails  108 . The cross member  132  preferably has a vertical wall and a top wall  134 . The ends of the rail member assemblies  108  are fastened to the vertical wall of the cross member  132 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The top wall  134  of the cross member  132  has a portion that slopes downward toward the top of the rail member assemblies  108 . The top wall  134  of the cross member  132  is screwed or otherwise fastened to the top of the rail member assemblies  108  through the spud (not shown) located inside the head ends of the rail member assemblies  108 . The top wall  134  has a pair of spaced cutouts  136  for receiving the shoulder stops  142  when the shoulder stops  142  are in a folded position as shown in  FIG. 2  and further described below. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the head end of the carriage assembly  110  is separately shown in two perspective views. The carriage assembly  110  has a rigid sheet metal frame  138  that has a folded, generally rectangular shape. A flat rectangular cushion pad  140  is secured to the upper surface of the frame  138 . A pair of shoulder stops  142  are spaced apart and fastened to the frame  138  near a head end of the frame  138  in accordance with the present invention. These shoulder stops  142  engage a user&#39;s shoulders when the user lies on his or her back on the carriage  110  while exercising on the apparatus  100  and prevent the user from sliding toward the head end  104 . A padded headrest  144  is fastened by a hinge at a base end of the headrest  144  to the frame  138  between the shoulder stops  142 . A bracket  146  is pivotally fastened to the underside of the headrest  144 . This bracket  146  is an oval structure with an elongated slot that has a set of notches  148  and can be rotated by a user to adjust the incline of the headrest  144  between one of three positions. The hinged bracket  146  rests upon a tubular support sleeve  150 , which in turn slides on a common axle  152 . The axle  152  preferably passes through the carriage frame channels  154  of the frame  138  and is fastened to the carriage frame  138  via snap rings. 
     A separate perspective view of the underside of the carriage assembly  110  shown in  FIG. 7  shows the structure of the carriage frame  138 . The frame  138  may be formed from a single piece of sheet material or from sheet material sections that may be welded or otherwise fastened together. The frame  138  has two parallel U shaped side channels  154 , each of which has a longitudinal flange  156 . A series of three cross members  158 , 160  and  162  are rigidly fastened to the flanges  156 . The head end cross member  162  is an elongated piece of sheet metal folded to a C shaped cross sectional shape. This cross member  162  has a latch portion  164  that extends to form a hook portion  166  to engage a flange on a track frame cross rail  109  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) to capture the head end of the carriage  110  to the rail assemblies  108  when the carriage is fully retracted against the foot end  106 . 
     The middle cross brace member  160  is preferably also a sheet material member, such as steel sheet metal, folded into a C shaped cross sectional shape that spans between the parallel side members  154  and is fastened to the flanges  156 . This cross brace member supports the underside of deck pad  140  and acts as the carriage end anchor for the springs  114 . The foot end cross member  158  has again a C shaped cross sectional shape, and has a series of holes (not shown) through a vertical portion of the cross brace member  160  through which springs  114  pass. 
     At each end of the flanges  156  on the side channel members  154  are rotatably mounted guide wheels  168 . These guide wheels rotate about vertical axes and ride against the vertical walls of the track member assemblies  108  to keep the carriage  110  centered as it moves back and forth on the track assemblies  108 . 
     At the head end of the frame  138  a single axle  152  passes through the channel portions  154  and through the head end rollers  112  located in both channel portions  154 . At the foot end of the frame  138 , each roller  112  has a short axle  172  that secures the roller  112  to its respective channel portion  154 . The single axle  152  at the head end passes through the channel portions  154 , the rollers  112 , and through the support tube or sleeve  150 . Thus the axle  152  also passes through the headrest support bracket  146  and preferably supports the rollers  112 , the shoulder stops  142 , and the headrest  144 . Against each end of the support sleeve  150  on the axle  152  is a coil spring  174 . Each spring  174  is sandwiched between the support sleeve  150  and the adjacent channel portion  154  so that the support sleeve  150  is spring biased in a centered position between the channel portions  154 . 
     Each of the shoulder stops  142  includes a generally L shaped support bracket  176  that has a cushion  178  mounted on one leg of the bracket and an angled flap  180  formed on the other leg. The flap  180  is rigidly fastened to the support sleeve  150  and has a knob handle  182  affixed to a distal end of the flap  180 . The top of the carriage frame cross member  162  has a latch  184  fastened next to each L shaped support bracket  176  such that the latch  184  forms an open slot that receives the bracket flap  180  underneath it to latch the shoulder stops  148  in an upright normal support position, as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The springs  174  at each end of the tubular sleeve  150  bias the support sleeve  150  such that the shoulder stop brackets  176  remain retained under the latches  184 . In addition, a removable latch pin  185  passing through the latch  184 , flap  180  and cross member  162  is preferably used to positively lock the shoulder stops  142  in normal position. 
     When a user wants to store the reformer  100 , she collapses the frame rail assemblies  108  to capture the carriage  110 , removes the pin  185 , moves the knob  182  to the right in  FIG. 1  to slide the support sleeve  150  to the right, disengaging the brackets  176  from the latches  184 , and then rotates the shoulder stops  142  to the storage position shown in  FIG. 2 . When the frame  102  is collapsed, the pads  178  of the shoulder stops  142  fit into the cutouts  136  in the cross member  132  of the head end  104 . As is best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the axle  152  supports the head end of the channel members  154 , the roller wheels  112 , the shoulder stops  142  via the sleeve  150 , and the headrest  144  via the bracket  146 . 
     Many changes may be made to the carriage in accordance with the present invention that will be readily apparent. For example, the form and shape of the headrest and shoulder stops may be different than as shown in the drawing figures. The carriage frame  138  may be constructed from a single sheet of sheet metal folded to form the complete frame structure of elements  154 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160 ,  162  and  164 . However, such a single piece structure may be more difficult to manufacture than one made of separate pieces, riveted, bolted or welded together. 
     The headrest support bracket  146  may be a different shape than that shown. It may, for example, be a closed oval or simply an elongated post member with laterally extending arms forming shelves to engage the tube  150  on the axle  152  to provide the several various elevational support positions. The axle  152  may be separate from the head end roller axles. In such an alternative, the axle  152  would pass into the channel members  154  at a location spaced from the rollers  112  and the rollers  112  would have separate axles. Accordingly, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described and shown herein with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated but is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included by the following claims. All patents, patent applications, and printed publications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.