Reformer exercise apparatus foot bar

Abstract

A reformer exercise apparatus is disclosed that has a generally rectangular frame, a carriage movably supported on the frame, and a foot support member supported by the side rail portions of the frame. The foot support member has an inverted U shape carbon fiber tube having ends each fixed to a foot bar support member having a cylindrical base, a cylindrical post welded to the base, and a foot bar support arm welded to one end of the cylindrical base, for connection to a foot support assembly operable to selectively position the foot support member at various positions along the side rail portions of the frame.

Claims

1. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel spaced side rail portions, a head end portion, and a foot end portion; a movable carriage supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage between the head and foot end portions; a bias member connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame for biasing the carriage toward the foot end of the frame; and a foot support member supported by the side rail portions of the frame, wherein the foot support member has an inverted U shape carbon fiber tube having ends each fixed to a foot bar support member having a cylindrical base, a cylindrical post welded to the base, and a foot bar support arm welded to one end of the cylindrical base.

2. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each end of the carbon fiber tube is telescopically received over one of the cylindrical posts of one of the foot bar support members and adhesively bonded thereto.

3. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cylindrical post includes a plurality of spaced annular grooves around the post.

4. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cylindrical post is tubular.

5. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

6. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a zippered fabric cover over the tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

7. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the zippered fabric cover is a vinyl fabric.

8. A foot support member for use in a reformer exercise apparatus having a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel spaced side rail portions, a head end portion, and a foot end portion, a movable carriage supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage between the head and foot end portions, a bias member connected between the carriage and the foot end portion of the frame for biasing the carriage toward the foot end of the frame, wherein the foot support member is supported by the side rail portions of the frame, the foot support member comprising: a pair of foot bar support members attached to the side rail portions of the frame, each foot bar support member having a base, a foot bar support arm fastened to the base and a cylindrical post welded to the base; and an inverted U shape carbon fiber tube having opposite ends each telescopically received over and fixed to the cylindrical post of each of the pair of foot bar support members.

9. The foot support member according to claim 8 wherein each cylindrical post includes a plurality of spaced annular grooves around the post.

10. The foot support member according to claim 9 wherein the U shaped carbon fiber tube has a foot support portion extending at a right angle to and between a pair of parallel leg portions extending between the foot support portion and the ends.

11. The foot support member according to claim 8 wherein each cylindrical post is tubular.

12. The foot support member according to claim 8 wherein the support arm extends parallel to the cylindrical post.

13. The foot support member according to claim 8 further comprising a tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

14. The foot support member according to claim 13 further comprising a zippered fabric cover over the tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

15. The foot support member according to claim 14 wherein the zippered fabric cover is a vinyl fabric.

16. A reformer exercise apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel spaced side rail portions, a head end portion, and a foot end portion; a movable carriage supported by the side rail portions for movement of the carriage between the head and foot end portions; and a foot support member supported by the side rail portions of the frame, wherein the foot support member has a pair of foot bar support members movably attached to the side rail portions of the frame and an inverted U shape carbon fiber tube having opposite ends each telescopically received over and fixed to a cylindrical post of each of the pair of foot bar support members welded to a base of the respective foot bar support member, and a foot bar support arm fastened to one end of the base of the respective foot bar support member.

17. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each cylindrical post is tubular.

18. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

19. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a zippered fabric cover over the tubular cushion over the carbon fiber tube.

20. The reformer exercise apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the zippered fabric cover is a vinyl fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional reformer exercise apparatus.

(2) FIG. 2 is a separate perspective view of the foot bar in the conventional reformer exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight foot bar for a reformer in accordance with the present disclosure prior to installation of a cushion sleeve and vinyl fabric cover.

(4) FIG. 4 is a separate exploded perspective view of a bottom end of the foot bar shown in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lightweight foot bar shown in FIG. 3 with its cushion sleeve and zippered cover installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) An exploded perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a lightweight foot bar 100 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 3. The foot bar 100 includes an inverted U shaped carbon fiber tube 102 which has a straight horizontal foot support portion 104 and two parallel leg portions 106 each bent at a right angle to the horizontal foot support portion 104 and a pair of foot bar support members 108a and 108b bonded permanently to the distal ends of the leg portions 106.

(7) Each foot bar support member 108a and 108b is a single unitary steel body which has a short cylindrical base 110 having a cylindrical outer side and opposite ends, a tubular spud or post 112 welded into a radial bore in the cylindrical side of the cylindrical base 110 so as to extend radially from the base 110, and an elongated flat plate foot bar support arm 114 having one end welded at a right angle to one end of the cylindrical base 110 so that the support arm 114 extends parallel to the post 112. The other end of the elongated flat plate foot bar support arm 114 has an engaging pin 116 projecting out from the foot bar support arm 114 at a right angle to the arm 114 away from the post 112 for engaging a feature in a hook plate (not shown) in the foot support assembly described in detail in each of the patents mentioned above. The support arm 114 on member 108a is oriented in one direction on the base 110. The support arm 114 on member 108b is reversed as is shown in FIG. 3.

(8) The carbon fiber foot bar tube 102 has an inner diameter of about 1.07 inch and an outer diameter of about 1.25 inch, thus having a wall thickness of about 0.125 inch. The spud post 112 in this exemplary embodiment projects from the cylindrical base 110 about 3.6 inches and includes a series of axially spaced annular grooves 115 in its outer surface to facilitate distribution of epoxy adhesive. The post 112 may be a solid cylindrical body or may be tubular as shown and has an outer diameter preferably about 1.04 inch.

(9) The distal end of the leg portion 106 of carbon fiber foot bar tube 102 is sized to telescopically fit over the post 112 of one of foot bar support members 108a and 108b and is secured thereto via an epoxy adhesive. Similarly, the distal end of the other leg portion 106 of the foot bar tube 102 is telescopically slipped over the other post 112 of the other foot bar support member 108a or 108b and bonded thereto with the epoxy adhesive.

(10) Prior to joinder of the tube 102 to the foot bar support members 108a and 108b, a closed cell polymeric foam sleeve is slipped over the foot bar tube 102 which provides about a ⅜ inch thick cushion around the tube 102. Finally, after bonding the foot bar support members to the foot bar tube 102, a vinyl fabric zippered cover 118 is preferably wrapped around the sleeve covered foot bar tube 102 and zipped closed to complete the assembly of the foot bar 100 as is shown in FIG. 5.

(11) Many changes may be made to the foot bar of this disclosure. For example, the cushion sleeve may be dimensioned other than as above described and the vinyl fabric cover may be different than that shown in FIG. 5. The dimensions of the foot bar tube 102 may differ as well. Accordingly, all such alternatives, variations and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the scope of and as defined by the following claims.