Patent Publication Number: US-2013244844-A1

Title: Exercise table

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 12/555,460 filed Sep. 8, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/084230, filed Nov. 9, 2007, to which priority is claimed and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment and more particularly to an exercise table commonly referred to as a “Reformer” and used in Pilates type exercise. The table includes an outer framework with a reciprocating spring-biased support platform or carriage on which a user is supported for reciprocating movement and a foot bar against which the user may engage his or her feet. A pair of legs at the head and foot of the table support the framework with the legs being tapered. An opening through the frame is provided vertically above each leg so inserting the legs of an overlying table through an opening in the frame of an underlying table and into closely adjacent relationship with the legs of the underlying table can nestably stack a plurality of the tables. The table includes other features for facilitating nestable stacking. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exercise by human beings has become increasingly popular for health and other related reasons. Such exercise takes numerous forms including aerobics, strengthening, and more recently exercises related to Pilates, Gyrotonics and the like. Some of these exercises can be done without equipment while others require equipment. Some exercises associated with Pilates require a table having a spring-resisted platform on which a user lies. A foot bar against which the user can apply pressure to reciprocally move the platform is provided along with a hand-pulled rope for the same purpose. An exercise table for use in such exercises is commonly referred to as a “Reformer.” Inasmuch as the Reformers can be used in home or in a classroom setting where there are numerous such Reformers, storage for the Reformers becomes an issue. For example, a Reformer, if used in a class setting, requires substantial space for storage because there is a plurality of such Reformers. The Reformers preferably include a generally horizontal frame that is supported by legs, which elevate the frame to an operating height. When the Reformers are stacked for storage purposes, the legs rest on the underlying frame of an adjacent Reformer so the full height of the Reformer is required in a stack of such Reformers. Accordingly, while the Reformer itself serves a very useful purpose, it would be far more desirable if it could be stored in a manner requiring less space while also being configured at the desired working height, which of course is valuable in exercise facilities such as health clubs. 
     It is to provide an improved Reformer that can be stored in a relatively small amount of space that the present invention has been developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The exercise table or “Reformer” of the present invention is similar to Reformers known in the art in that it includes a peripheral rectangularly-shaped frame defining longitudinal tracks on opposite sides and head and foot end components. Adjacent the foot component of the frame, a pivotal foot bar is adjustably positioned at a location for engagement by a user of the table with the user lying on a reciprocable platform that is spring biased toward the foot end of the frame but supported on rollers which ride in the longitudinal tracks of the frame. In this manner, an individual lying on the platform with his feet against the foot bar can extend his legs causing the platform on which he is seated to roll longitudinally of the table against the spring bias and return when the user&#39;s legs are again bent. The foot bar is adjustable between different use positions and also a storage position in which the foot bar rests upon the platform in contiguous relationship therewith and closely adjacent to the horizontal plane of the framework. 
     The support platform also includes a coplanar head rest and a pair of pivotally mounted shoulder blocks which are movable between a use position wherein they extend vertically upwardly above the plane of the support platform for engagement by a user&#39;s shoulders and a folded position where they are substantially coplanar with the support platform and the horizontal plane of the framework for storage purposes. 
     Vertically adjustable pulleys are also mounted on the head end component of the framework and are telescopically movable between an elevated use position and a lowered storage position with the lowered storage position being closely adjacent to the horizontal plane of the frame. In the elevated position, the pulleys cooperate with hand-manipulated ropes for also moving the support platform against the spring bias. 
     It will be appreciated from the above that while the foot bar, the shoulder blocks, and the pulleys can be elevated for use in operating the exercise table, they can also be lowered into a storage position closely adjacent to the horizontal level of the frame of the exercise table to minimize the space occupied when the exercise tables are stacked in storage. 
     The frame for the exercise table is supported at opposite ends with head and foot legs, which have downwardly and inwardly inclined side components and a horizontal bottom component, which interconnects the two side components. An opening is defined in the framework in vertical alignment with each leg so that exercise tables in accordance with the invention can be stacked on each other with the tapered legs of an overlying table passing through an associated opening of an underlying table and into closely adjacent relationship with the legs of the underlying table. In other words, the tables are allowed to nest and can be closely stacked with each other not only due to the tapered configuration of the legs which permits nesting but also the movable positioning of the foot bar, the shoulder blocks, and the pulleys. 
     Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the exercise table of the present invention in a use position. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary isometric similar to  FIG. 1  looking from a different direction. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the exercise table as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front-end elevation of the table of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5A  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 3  showing the pulleys of the head end component of the frame in an elevated position. 
         FIG. 5B  is a section similar to  FIG. 5A  showing the pulleys in a lowered position. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the pivotal movement of the foot bar and the shoulder blocks. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged section taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a section similar to  FIG. 7  illustrating the lock pin for the shoulder blocks in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric similar to  FIG. 1  showing the foot bar, shoulder blocks, and pulleys in a lowered storage position. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged section taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged section taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric similar to  FIG. 9  showing two identical exercise tables in nestably stacked relationship. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged section taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an isometric of a further embodiment of the exercise table of the present invention showing a different system for adjusting the anchor bar. 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the foot end of the table shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a fragmentary plan view of the foot end of the table of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged fragmentary section showing some of the components shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a fragmentary section taken along line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 21  is a fragmentary top plan view showing the adjustment system for the anchor bar and support platform for the table of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 22  is a fragmentary top plan view similar to  FIG. 21 , showing the adjustment in a different position. 
         FIG. 23  is a fragmentary top plan view similar to  FIG. 22  with the adjustment in still a further position. 
         FIG. 24  is a fragmentary top plan view similar to  FIG. 23  with the adjustment in still another position. 
         FIG. 25  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  25 - 25  of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 25A  is a fragmentary section taken along line  25 A- 25 A of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 26  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  26 - 26  of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 27  is an enlarged section taken along line  27 - 27  of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 28  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  28 - 28  of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 29  is an isometric of the inner wall of a positioning plate used in the adjustment of the anchor bar of the table of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 30  is a horizontal section showing the interrelationship between the positioning plate shown in  FIG. 29  and the anchor bar used in the exercise table of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 31  is a fragmentary vertical section through a side of the table of  FIG. 15  showing an adjustable abutment stop system for the support platform. 
         FIG. 32  is a fragmentary isometric showing the adjustable abutment stop connected to a side of the table of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 33  is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line  33 - 33  of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 34  is an exploded isometric of the abutment stop as shown in  FIG. 33 . 
         FIG. 34A  is a bottom isometric of the stabilizing member used in the abutment stop of  FIG. 33 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an exercise table  20  of the “Reformer” type is illustrated as having a peripheral frame with a pair of longitudinally extending side components  22 , a head component  24  and a foot component  26 . The side frame components have inwardly opening channels  28  which define tracks on which a support platform  30  is supported with rollers  32  ( FIG. 2 ). The support platform includes a rigid structural panel  34  ( FIG. 5 ) of generally rectangular configuration having a strength and size to substantially support the back of the user of the table. At the head end of the panel, a head support  36  is centrally positioned for supporting a user&#39;s head and on opposite sides of the head support are a pair of shoulder blocks  38  which are pivotally mounted in a manner and for a purpose to be described hereafter. Positioned adjacent to the shoulder blocks are conventional rope locks  40  on each side of the panel also for a purpose to be described hereafter. The panel  34  has anchored thereto one end of a plurality of coil springs  42  whose opposite ends are secured to an anchor rod  44  having its opposite ends secured to anchor blocks  46  slidably supported within the channels  28  of the side frame components. In this manner, it will be appreciated the support platform can be moved by rolling it along the side frame components toward the head end of the frame against the bias of the coil springs which will automatically return the platform toward the foot end when the counter bias force is released. 
     Near the foot end of the frame, a foot bar  48  is mounted on the end of a pair of parallel side links  50  whose lower ends are supported on pivot pins  52  ( FIG. 1 ) secured to brackets  54  anchored to the side frame components  22 . The foot bar and side links therefore define a generally inverted U-shaped structure which pivots about the pivot pins in selected ones of a plurality of use positions to be described hereafter and a storage position as shown for example in  FIG. 9 . Adjustment arms  56  are pivotally connected to the side links at an intermediate location along the length of each side link and have their lower ends interconnected by a support bar  58  with the lower end of each adjustment arm having a hook-shaped catch  60 , as seen for example in  FIG. 5 , for releasable support on one of a plurality of vertically spaced support pins  62  anchored to the foot frame component  26  so the inclination of the side links and the spacing of the foot bar from the support platform  30  can be releasably adjusted. Further, the foot bar can be pivoted into the storage position of  FIG. 9  by rotating the foot bar in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , until it rests on the support platform as shown in  FIG. 9   
     In the head component  24  of the frame, a pair of vertically adjustable pulleys  64  are mounted for cooperation with flexible ropes  66  ( FIG. 1 ) with the pulleys each being mounted on a vertical post  68  that is movable between an elevated use position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a lowered storage position as shown in  FIG. 5B . The pulleys can be locked in their use position with a lock pin  70  in a manner to be described hereafter and will remain in the storage position by gravity. 
     A head support leg  72  and a foot support leg  74  are secured to and depend downwardly from the side frame components  22  near the head and foot of the frame with each leg having inwardly and downwardly tapered side elements  76 , the upper ends of which are anchored to an associated side frame component, and an interconnecting lower element  78  so the support legs are generally trapezoidal in configuration. The support leg  74  at the foot end of the exercise table has a pair of rollers  80  rotatably mounted thereon so the table can be easily rolled between desired locations by lifting the head end of the table and rolling the table along a support surface with the rollers. 
     As will be appreciated with the more detailed description of the exercise table hereafter, since various components of the exercise table are movable between use and storage positions and the support legs are tapered and vertically aligned with openings through the frame, the tables can be nestably stacked with identical tables to save on storage space. 
     Looking more particularly at the foot end component  26  of the frame, as probably best seen in  FIG. 2 , it can be seen to be a substantially hollow, generally U-shaped component having openings at opposite ends for frictional receipt of the side components  22  of the frame so the foot end component establishes an end cap at the foot end of the frame, which could also be mechanically secured. Within the foot end component, a pair of brackets  82  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ) are disposed adjacent each end with the brackets supporting the three horizontally disposed but vertically displaced support pins  62  which are adapted to releasably receive the hook-shaped catch  60  of an adjustment arm  56 . As mentioned previously, the hook or catch on the end of the adjustment arms can thereby be releasably positioned on any one of the three support pins thereby selectively and temporarily positioning the location of the foot bar  48  at different elevations and spacings from the support platform  30  due to the pivotal mounting of the foot bar. Of course, when the hook-shaped ends of the adjustment arms are completely released from a support pin, the foot bar can be pivoted in a clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 6  until the foot rod rests upon the support platform in the storage position of the foot bar. 
     The support platform  30  itself is possibly best understood by reference to  FIG. 5  where it can be seen to include the generally rectangularly shaped rigid panel  34  upon which is disposed a padded cover  84  on the foot end thereof on which a user of the exercise table  20  can position his or her body. The panel extends beyond the pad toward the head end of the frame so as to define a ledge  86  on which the head support  36  and the shoulder blocks  38  are mounted along with the rope locks  40 . An L-shaped bracket or bar  88  is transversely supported underneath the panel  34  and defines an anchor for one end of the coil springs  42  with the opposite end of the coil springs being connected to anchor loops  90  on the transverse anchor rod  44 , which as previously noted is secured at its opposite ends in anchor blocks  46  slidably positioned within the side components  22  of the frame. Shock absorbers  91  ( FIG. 1 ) are secured to the foot end of the support platform to cushion contact of the support platform with the sliding blocks  46  and also establish a uniform spacing between the support platform and the anchor bar  44  when the support platform is fully retracted as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this manner, it will be appreciated the support platform is biased toward the foot end of the frame by the coil springs and the panel itself is supported for rolling movement along the side frame components by rollers  32  at each end and on each side of the panel with only a roller at the head end of the panel being shown for example in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Horizontal rollers (not seen) for guiding the rolling movement of the support platform are also provided for engagement with vertical walls of the side components  22 . 
     The anchor blocks  46  are slidably mounted ( FIG. 5 ) on a grooved plate  92  in each side frame component  22  with the groove having a longitudinally extending element  94  and four downwardly extending notches  96 , for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . A slide pin on the outside of the anchor blocks (not shown) is received within the groove so it can slide along the longitudinal element  94  of the groove and be releasably and selectively positioned in any one of the four downturned notches  96 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the slide pin is positioned within the notch closest to the head end of the frame even though, as mentioned, it can be positioned in any of the four notches, which adjusts the position of the foot end of the coil springs  42  so the device can accommodate individuals of different heights. In other words, a shorter individual would probably position the anchor blocks  46  in the notch closest to the foot end of the frame, while a taller individual might position the anchor blocks as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  where the support platform  30  is spaced a greater distance from the foot bar  48 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , each shoulder block  38  can be seen to include a rigid backing plate  98  on which a pad  100  is mounted and covered. The pad of course faces the foot end of the table so as to engage a user&#39;s shoulders when the user is lying on the support platform  30  on his or her back and with his or her feet resting on the foot bar. As mentioned previously, the shoulder blocks are pivotal between a use position as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , and a storage position as seen in  FIG. 9 . Each shoulder block has its rigid plate secured along a lower edge to a hinge  102  that is also secured to the panel  34  of the support platform, and each shoulder block includes an arcuate guide  104  which is secured to the rigid plate  98  of the associated shoulder block and extends through a slotted opening  106  provided in the panel of the support platform. The arcuate guide has a transverse hole  108  through a lower end thereof, which selectively and releasably receives a lock pin  110  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The lock pin is slidably and transversely mounted within the panel as probably best illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . It will there be seen that the lock pin has a cylindrical shaft  112  and a handle  114  radially disposed thereon with the handle projecting above the panel for access by a user. The handle can slide the lock pin axially between a locking position shown in  FIG. 7  and a release position as shown in  FIG. 8 . When it is desired to elevate the shoulder blocks so they are useful in operation of the exercise table, the shoulder block can be pivoted into its raised use position and then the lock pin is biased by a spring  115  to the locking position of  FIG. 7  so the pin snaps into the hole  108  in the arcuate guide and thereby retains the shoulder block in the elevated use position. Of course, for storage purposes, the lock pins are used to release the associated shoulder blocks so they can be pivoted downwardly into the storage position of  FIG. 9  where they remain by gravity. 
     The head support  3   6  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) also has a rigid back plate, which is not seen, and a pad  116  mounted on the upper surface thereof and is secured to the panel  34  of the support platform  30  in any suitable manner. 
     The rope locks  40  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) disposed adjacent to the pivotal shoulder blocks  38  are conventional rope lock items having two slightly spaced eccentric cams which are rotatable about vertical axes and cooperate with ropes, cords, or the like in securing the ropes  66  to the rope lock at a desired position along the length of the rope. Such rope locks are commonly used on sailboats or the like. The ropes  66  with which the rope locks cooperate are shown only in  FIG. 1  and are passed upwardly through a hole  118  in the panel  34  adjacent a rope lock with one free end of the rope hanging beneath the platform. The other end of the rope is extended through the rope lock, where it can be gripped at any location along its length, then to the head end of the frame where it passes around an associated pulley  64  and returned loosely toward the support platform  30 . The end of the rope returned toward the support platform has a handle  120  for gripping by a user. In this manner, a user positioned on the platform can reciprocate the platform by engaging the foot bar  48  with his or her feet while extending and retracting his/her legs and/or pull and release the ropes  66  to effect the same movement. 
     It is probably best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the pulleys  64  at the head end of the frame, as previously mentioned, have vertical support posts  68  which are movable between the elevated position shown in  FIG. 5A  and a lowered position shown in  FIG. 5B . The elevated position, of course, is used when the device is in use so the pulley is free to receive the previously discussed rope  66  and the lowered position of  FIG. 5B  is used when the table is being stored and stacked on similar tables. 
     Each support post  68  is generally cylindrical in configuration with the pulley  64  being anchored at the top of the post in a laterally projecting direction toward the foot end of the exercise table in any suitable manner. The lower end of the support post has a circumferential groove  122  formed therein with the groove adapted to cooperate with the lock pin  70  that is mounted within a horizontally disposed cylindrical neck  124  on a receiving cylinder  126  having a vertically extending cylindrical recess  128  for slidably receiving the support post. The lock pin can therefore be moved between a locking position of  FIG. 5A  and a release position of  FIG. 5B  so that in the release position, the support post can be moved upwardly or downwardly within the recess. In the raised position of  FIG. 5A , the lock pin can be advanced into the circumferential groove  122  to hold the post in an elevated use position but with the lock pin released, the post can be lowered into the storage position of  FIG. 5B  where it remains by gravity and friction. 
     As possibly best appreciated by reference to  FIG. 3 , the frame defines an open space  1   30  vertically above each support leg  72  and  7   4  so that identical exercise tables can be stacked on each other as seen in  FIGS. 12-14  by inserting the legs of an overlying exercise table through the open space above the support legs of an underlying table until four support pads  132  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  11 - 14 ) on the underside of the side frame components  22  at opposite ends thereof abut the top surface of the side frame component of the underlying exercise table. In this same position, centering pads  134  on the inner surface of the tapered side elements  76  of the legs of the underlying exercise table guide an outer surface of the tapered side elements of the legs of the overlying exercise table as best appreciated by reference to  FIG. 14  when tables are being stacked. As also appreciated in  FIG. 14 , the legs can have support feet  136  secured thereto if desired. As previously mentioned, and as clearly illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the leg  74  at the foot end of the frame has the rollers  80  which are rotatably mounted so the exercise table can be moved from one location to another by elevating the head end of the frame and rolling the frame on a support surface with the rollers. 
     As can be appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 12-14 , when one exercise table is nestably stacked in another, they are in closely adjacent relationship partially due to the fact that the support legs  72  and  74  are nestable and also due to the fact that the foot bar  48 , shoulder blocks  38 , and pulleys  64  can be lowered into storage positions that are very close to the top surface of the frame. In fact, the foot bar, shoulder blocks, and pulleys only extend above the horizontal plane of the frame by a distance which corresponds with the height of the support pads  132  on which one frame rests on another frame. It will also be appreciated that when the tables are nestably stacked, they occupy far less space than if they could not be nestably stacked and, accordingly, a significant number of the exercise tables can be stored in a health club or the like in a relatively small space. 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric of an alternative exercise table  140  which is identical to that previously described except in the systems for adjusting the operation and movement of support platform  142 . Accordingly, the components of the exercise table shown in  FIG. 15  which are not related to the adjustment of the support platform, as will be described hereafter, have not been referenced by new reference numerals but rather have reference numerals identical to those in the embodiment of the exercise table shown in  FIGS. 1-14 . In the table illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the support platform  142  again has head  36  and shoulder  38  supports at the head end of the platform  142  but the foot end of the support platform is different. The platform, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-14 , is connected to the head ends  1   43  ( FIG. 18 ) of a plurality of resilient members in the form of return coil springs  144  but the coil springs are anchored at their foot ends  146  to an anchor rod  148  which is different from the anchor bar of  FIGS. 1-14  and is adjustably mounted on the frame  150  of the exercise table. Movement of the support platform toward the foot end  152  of the table under the bias of the coil springs is limited by an adjustable abutment stop system  154  which will also be described in detail hereafter. 
     With initial reference to  FIGS. 15-19  and  25 - 30 , the selectively moveable anchor bar  148  ( FIG. 15 ) can be seen to extend transversely between opposite side walls  156  of the exercise table and includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced anchor loops  158  to which the foot end  146  of the coil springs  144  are attached. The coil springs therefore bias the support platform  142  toward the foot end  152  of the table. It is desirable that the initial spring bias be constant, necessitating a constant spacing between the support platform and the anchor rod, when the support platform is in its initial retracted position, but it is also desirable for different sized individuals that the retracted position of the support platform be adjustable relative to the foot bar  48  to accommodate different sized individuals so if the support platform is retractably positioned at one location for a given sized individual, the anchor rod  148  needs to be relatedly positioned to maintain the desired bias from the coil springs. The embodiment of  FIGS. 15-34A  permits the platform to be selectively positioned with respect to the foot bar  48  while maintaining the same initial tension of the springs regardless of the positioning of the support platform relative to the foot bar  48 . 
     The anchor rod  148 , as will be appreciated, extends transversely of the table  140  and with reference to  FIG. 26 , it can be seen the anchor rod includes an elongated rigid tube  160  which defines a longitudinal cylindrical cavity  162  therein that varies in cross sectional dimension. The cavity has relatively large diameter portions  164  at its opposite ends and a relatively small diameter central portion  166  between the larger diameter portions. Within both larger diameter portions, a slide pin  168  is slidably positioned with both slide pins having an axial extension  170  at its outer end and a reduced diameter portion  172  corresponding to the diameter of the central cavity  166  in the anchor rod. A shoulder  174  is defined between the larger and smaller diameter portions of the slide pins and an opposing shoulder  176  is defined by the larger and smaller diameters of the cavity  162  in the anchor rod. Coil spring  178  is positioned between the shoulders  174  and  176  to bias both slide pins in an outward axial direction. 
     With reference to  FIG. 27 , a transverse finger pin or handle  180  extends through and is connected to each slide pin  168  and rides within diametrically opposed slots  182  in the anchor rod  148  so that movement of the finger pin is limited by the extent of the slots. Each finger pin has a pair of partial sleeves or pinch guards  184  secured thereto. Each finger pin is held in slidable position along the length of the anchor rod so that the slide pin is always desirably positioned for manual manipulation in moving the slide pin inwardly against the bias of an associated coil spring  178  and permitting the slide pin to move linearly outwardly under the bias of the coil spring. The pinch guards prevent the fingers from getting pinched between the spring-loaded pin and the slot in the anchor rod. 
     Welded to the top of the anchor rod  148  at each end thereof is a short guide cylinder  186  ( FIG. 25 ), also having a longitudinal cylindrical passage  188  therethrough, with the passage having enlarged diameter segments  190  at each end of the guide cylinder and a smaller diameter portion  192  in the center connecting the larger diameter portions. In the larger diameter portions, linear bearings  194  are positioned and held in place by c-clips  196  with the bearings adapted to slide along an associated longitudinally extending support rod  198  at an associated side of the exercise table  140 . The support rods are supported at opposite ends by brackets  200  as best seen, for example, in  FIGS. 19 and 25 . The anchor rod can therefore be slid longitudinally of the table while extending transversely of the table to adjust the location of the anchor rod along the length of the table and accordingly the foot  25  ends  146  of the coil springs which are secured to the anchor rod. 
     It is desirable to selectively position the anchor rod  148  in any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the exercise table  140  to maintain a desired initial tension or bias in the coil springs  144  depending upon the initial position of the support platform, as mentioned previously. To do so, the central axial extensions  170  from each slide pin  168  cooperate with an associated positioning plate  202  best seen in  FIGS. 28 and 29 . Each positioning plate is a bar that can be anchored to an associated side of the table through anchor holes  204  and includes four detents  212  and  212   a  along its length which are equally spaced with the three detents closest to the head end  208  of the table  140  having a tapered ramp or cam  210  sloping toward the foot end  152  of the table. The positioning plates are of course laterally aligned on opposite sides of the table and are adapted to receive and retain the anchor rod in one of four designated detents or positions  212  or  212   a  as will be described hereafter. 
     Once the positioning plates  202  are mounted on the sides of the exercise table  140 , the anchor rod  148  can be aligned with associated or aligned detents  212  and  212   a  in the positioning plates so that the axial extensions  170  from each slide pin  168  can be received and releasably retained in a detent. A detent is in reality a location as illustrated in  FIG. 28  adjacent to a vertical wall  214  near the lower-most extent of a tapered ramp  210  or in the case of the detent closest to the foot end  152  of the exercise table, it is an oval-shaped cavity  212   a  in which the axial extension of a slide pin can be releasably received. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 28 and 30 , the anchor rod  148  is being shifted between the detent  212  closest to the head end  208  of the table and the next adjacent detent closer to the foot end  152  of the table and as will be appreciated, simply by sliding the anchor rod toward the foot end of the table along the support rods  198 , the axial extension  170  on each slide pin  168  will engage the adjacent ramp  210  which acts as a cam in forcing the slide pin axially inwardly of the anchor rod against the bias of the coil spring  178  within the anchor rod. Once the slide pin is retracted far enough, the anchor rod can be slid across the inwardly facing surface  216  of the positioning plate until it encounters the next adjacent detent where the slide pin is pushed outwardly by the coil spring  178  to engage the associated vertical wall  214  of the detent which will hold the pin in that detent due to the bias placed thereon by the coil spring  178 . Preferably the springs  144  are disengaged from the anchor rod  148  before its position is adjusted. 
     It will be appreciated from the above, that by merely sliding the anchor rod  148  toward the foot end  152  of the exercise table  140 , the anchor rod becomes releasably fixed in successive detents  212  which will hold the anchor rod at a predetermined position along the length of the exercise table when the axial extension  170  is pulled against vertical wall  214  as the springs  144  are elongated during exercise. When the anchor rod gets to the oval detent  212   a  closest to the foot end of the table, it is received in the oval detent which has no ramp. In moving the anchor rod toward the head end of the table, the finger pin or handle  180  is retracted to move the slide pin  168  against the bias of the internal coil spring  178  disengaging the extension  170  from a detent  212  or  212   a  so the anchor rod can be moved toward the head end  208  of the table until it is desirably positioned in a preselected detent. 
     Of course adjustment in the position of the anchor rod  148  is made in response to or prior to adjusting the static or rest position of the support platform to accommodate exercisers of different body sizes. In order for the springs  144  to always have the same initial tension, the support platform itself, in order to adjust its retracted or rest position, must have its movement toward the foot end of the table limited in correlation with the positioning of the anchor rod. Accordingly, the abutment stop system  154  mentioned previously also has four pre-designated positions so that if the anchor rod is in one position, an abutment stop  218  is positioned in a correlated position. 
     The abutment stop system  154  is best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 20 through 24  and  31  through  34 A. As possibly best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 20 and 32 , the abutment stop system includes an abutment stop  218  and a dual-layer assemblage  220  which adjustably receives the abutment stop that is movable between fixed positions defined in the assemblage. The assemblage includes a lower plate  222  that is in reality a rectangular frame having a wide longitudinal side  224 , a narrow longitudinal side  226  ( FIG. 34 ) and integral closures  228  ( FIG. 31 ) at opposite ends interconnecting the longitudinal sides. These sides of the lower plate are probably best seen in  FIGS. 31 ,  32  and  34  with the wide longitudinal side further including attachment holes  230  through which threaded fasteners  232  as seen in  FIG. 32  can be passed to secure the lower plate to an associated side of the exercise table frame. The lower plate is wide enough so that it extends into the space between the sides of the exercise table. The lower plate defines a longitudinally-extending gap or slot  234  between the longitudinal side members for a purpose to be defined hereafter. 
     The assemblage  220  includes an upper plate  236  which is also a rectangular frame but has equal sized longitudinal side members  238  seen in  FIGS. 32 and 34  and integral end members  240  interconnecting the associated ends of the longitudinal side members. Again, a gap or slot  242  is defined between the longitudinal side members which is narrower than the longitudinal gap  234  in the lower plate member  222  for a purpose to be described hereafter. The upper plate has legs  239  extending downwardly at its four corners and at the mid-points along its longitudinal side members  238  to create a space  241  between the upper and lower plates. Four equally-spaced vertical cylindrical passages  252  extend through the upper plate and are centered within the slot  242  with the cylindrical passages obviously having a diameter greater than the width of the slot  242  in the upper plate. The dual-plate assemblage  220  is held together with screw-type fasteners  254  as seen best in  FIG. 32 . 
     The abutment stop system  154  includes an abutment pin  256  probably best seen in  FIGS. 33 and 34  and an enlarged cylindrical head  258  of a relatively firm shock absorptive material such as rubber. The enlarged head is positioned to engage an engagement bar  254  on the underside of the foot end of the support platform  142  to limit movement of the support platform toward the foot end  152  of the exercise table  140 . The pin  256  is a downwardly extending shaft of varying diameter. The top  260  of the shaft which extends into and is secured to the cylindrical head  258  as seen in  FIG. 33  is of a first diameter with the bottom  262  of the shaft being of a smaller diameter and being threaded on the lowermost end  264 . The smaller diameter portion of each pin has a diameter that is equivalent to or slightly less than the width of the slot  242  in the uppermost plate  236  of the assemblage while the upper portion  260  of the pin  256  is of a diameter that is greater than the width of the slot  242  in the upper plate but equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the four spaced vertical passages  252  formed along the slot in the upper plate. 
     The abutment pin  256  is adapted to be received in a cylindrical passage  265  through a stabilizing member or slide  268  seen best in  FIGS. 34 and 34A  having an ovular horizontal top plate portion  270  and a lower smaller ovular rib  269  conforming in configuration to the plate portion  270  projecting downwardly therefrom. The narrow dimension of the ovular rib  269  is equal to or slightly narrower than the slot  234  in the lower plate  222  so as to be positionable therein. The top plate portion  270  has a thickness equal to or slightly less than the space  241  between the upper and lower plates so as to be slidable therein. A hollow cylindrical sleeve  267  having the passage  265  extends downwardly from the plate portion  270  through which the abutment pin  256  extends. As mentioned, the ovular plate  270  of the stabilizer member is adapted to be slidably positioned in the space  241  between the upper  236  and lower  222  plates of the assemblage. The stabilizing member may be made of a low friction material so that it slides easily between the upper and lower plates. The narrowmost width of the ovular rib  269  as mentioned is equal to or slightly less than the spacing between the longitudinal sides of the lower plate  222  so that it is guided in its sliding movement along the length of the assemblage by the slot  234  in the lower plate in which it is slidably disposed. 
     The depending sleeve  267  of the stabilizing member  268  has a diameter that is equal to the broader dimension of the rib  269  and is therefore equal to or slightly less than the spacing between the longitudinal sides  224  and  226  of the lowermost plate  222  in the assemblage so that it too can slide along the length of the slot  234 . 
     The abutment stop  218  is connected to the assemblage of plates by passing the pin  256  first downwardly through the upper plate  236  and subsequently through the stabilizing member  268  with the stabilizing member being positioned so that the upper ovular plate  270  slides in the space  241  between the upper and lower plates. The rib  269  extends into the slot  234  and the sleeve  267  of the stabilizing member protrudes downwardly through the lowermost plate and through an upper washer  276  which abuts the upper end of a compression spring  278  and a lower washer  280  which abuts the lower end of the compression spring  278  so that a nut  282  can be threaded onto the lower threaded end  264  of the pin to hold the pin and the associated enlarged cylindrical head  258  in a slidable relationship to the assemblage. Since the washer  276  fits over sleeve  267  as does spring  278 , as a result, the spring pushes the washer  276  against the plate  222  and against washer  280 . Washer  280  is confined on pin  256  by the nut  282 . The spring  278  therefore biases the abutment stop  218  into one of the four cylindrical passages  252 . 
     The compression spring  278  biases the enlarged cylindrical head  258  along with the abutment pin downwardly until the abutment head rests against the top of the upper plate  236  ( FIG. 31 ). The abutment pin  256  is releasably retained in this position at one of four different locations defined by the vertical passages  252  as will be described hereafter but can be removed from those locations by lifting the abutment head  258  against the bias of the spring  278 , as illustrated with an arrow in  FIG. 33 , and sliding the abutment pin longitudinally of the assemblage. 
     When the abutment head  258  is in its lowermost position ( FIG. 31 ), the upper portion  260  of the abutment pin  256  which is of relatively large diameter is horizontally aligned with the slot  242  in the uppermost plate  236  but as mentioned previously, has a larger diameter than the slot  242  so it can only be moved into horizontal alignment with the slot when the pin is positioned in one of the cylindrical passages  252  formed through the upper plate. Accordingly, the abutment stop  218  can only be lowered when it is positioned in one of the four cylindrical passages  252 . The compression spring  278  biases the abutment stop downwardly so that when the pin is in a cylindrical passage, the abutment head rests against the top of the uppermost plate and the upper portion  260  of the abutment pin is horizontally aligned with the slot  242  in the uppermost plate. Since the uppermost portion of the pin is wider than the slot in the uppermost plate, it is confined within a passage  252  and held in that position. To move the abutment pin between the four positions identified by the vertical passages so that it is correlated with the positioning of the anchor rod  148  previously described, the enlarged head  258  is lifted against the bias of the compression spring  278  until the narrower lower portion of the abutment pin is horizontally aligned with the slot  242  in the upper plate which as mentioned previously is equal to or smaller in diameter than the slot  242  in the upper plate so that it can be slid along the slot from one vertical passage to another. Accordingly, the abutment pin is easily moved between the four fixed positions by lifting the enlarged head, sliding the abutment pin to the desired cylindrical passage  252  and then allowing the abutment head to be lowered through the bias of the compression spring. 
     As mentioned previously, there are four selected positions for the abutment stop  218  as well as four selected positions for the anchor rod  148  and those positions are equally spaced. Accordingly, if the abutment stop is positioned in one pre-selected position, the anchor rod can be positioned in a corresponding position so the coil springs  144  have a predetermined initial tension and that predetermined tension can be maintained by making sure the abutment stop is in a fixed position that correlates with the fixed position of the anchor rod. 
     While it is not always necessary, there can be an abutment stop system  154  on both sides of the exercise table  140  or only on one side but if there were two they would work identically and would be aligned with each other on opposite sides of the exercise table. 
     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood the disclosure has been made by way of example and changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.