Chair exercise apparatus

Abstract

A Pilates chair exercise apparatus has a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface, an inverted Y shaped seat support member fastened to an upper portion of the frame, a seat fastened to an upper end of the seat support, and a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to the frame and a foot support fastened to a distal end of the arm, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame. A rotary torque unit mounted to the frame beneath the seat biases each of the arms. The rotary torque unit includes a rotary spring cassette that carries a plurality of flat coil springs each having only one end fastened to an axle at one end of one of the arms. Combinations of the springs in the spring cassette may be user selected without the user leaving the seat of the chair exercise apparatus.

1 . A chair exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface;   an inverted Y shaped seat support fastened to an upper surface portion of the frame;   a seat fastened to an upper end of the inverted Y shaped seat support; and   a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to the frame and a foot support fastened to a distal end of each of the parallel arms, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame toward the seat.   
     
     
         2 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each arm is pivotally biased away from the frame by a rotary arm torque unit mounted beneath the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the frame has a generally U shape with two parallel base portions. 
     
     
         4 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the frame further comprises a mid portion spaced between the two parallel base portions. 
     
     
         5 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each rotary arm torque unit includes a plurality of flat coil springs. 
     
     
         6 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each rotary arm torque unit is fastened to the inverted y shaped seat support. 
     
     
         7 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each rotary arm torque unit comprises a plurality of selectively engageable rotary springs fastened to a common axle rotatably carried by the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each rotary arm torque unit includes a plurality of separately selectable flat coil springs engaging an axle supporting one of the arms. 
     
     
         9 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the rotary arm torque unit comprises a cassette housing carrying a plurality of flat coil springs in a cassette in the cassette housing and a plurality of selectors for selecting one or more of the flat coil springs to engage the arm to which the rotary arm torque unit is attached. 
     
     
         10 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein each selector is configured to engage one of the plurality of flat coil springs. 
     
     
         11 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the cassette comprises a cassette comb having a plurality of spaced apart tines or partitions supporting at least one of the plurality of flat coil springs therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . A chair exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface;   a Y shaped seat support fastened to an upper surface portion of the frame;   a seat fastened to the seat support; and   a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to one of the frame or a portion of the seat support, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame toward the seat by at least one flat coil spring.   
     
     
         13 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein each arm is pivotally biased away from the frame by a rotary arm torque unit. 
     
     
         14 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the frame is a generally U shaped frame having parallel base portions and a mid portion spaced between the parallel base portions. 
     
     
         15 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein each rotary arm torque unit includes a plurality of flat coil springs. 
     
     
         16 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein each rotary arm torque unit is fastened to at least one of the seat support or the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein each rotary arm torque unit comprises a plurality of selectively engageable rotary springs fastened to a common axle rotatably carried by the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein each rotary arm torque unit includes a plurality of separately selectable flat coil springs engaging an axle supporting one of the arms. 
     
     
         19 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the rotary arm torque unit comprises a cassette housing carrying a plurality of flat coil springs in a cassette in the housing and a plurality of selectors connected to the cassette housing for selecting one or more of the flat coil springs to engage the arm to which the rotary arm torque unit is attached. 
     
     
         20 . A chair exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface;   a seat support merging into an upper surface portion of the frame;   a seat fastened to a seat support portion of the seat support; and   a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to one of the frame or a portion of the seat support, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame toward the seat by a rotary arm torque unit fastened below the seat to one of the frame or a portion of the seat support, and wherein each rotary arm torque unit carries a cassette having a plurality of flat coil springs each selectively engageable with the arm to which the rotary arm torque unit is connected.   
     
     
         21 . A rotary arm torque unit for use in an exercise apparatus, the rotary arm torque unit comprising:
 a housing;   a bearing supported rotary shaft in the housing for carrying an arm fastened to one end of the rotary shaft; and   a cassette carried on the rotary shaft, the cassette having a plurality of flat coil springs therein each having a first end connected to the rotary shaft and a free second end engageable with the housing via one of a plurality of selectors carried by the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The rotary arm torque unit according to  claim 21  further comprising a cassette comb carried in the housing separating at least two of the plurality of flat coil springs from each other. 
     
     
         23 . The rotary arm torque unit according to  claim 22  wherein the cassette comb is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         24 . The rotary arm torque unit according to  claim 22  wherein the cassette comb has a plurality of spaced apart tines to axially space apart at least two of the plurality of flat coil springs along the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The rotary arm torque unit according to  claim 24  wherein the free ends of two of the plurality of flat coil springs engage the housing to preload the rotary arm torque unit. 
     
     
         26 . The rotary arm torque unit according to  claim 25  wherein the cassette has 7 flat coil springs. 
     
     
         27 . A kit for installing rotary torque units in a chair exercise apparatus having a frame and seat, the kit comprising:
 a pair of rotary arm torque units; and   a left rotary arm and a right rotary arm each having a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein each rotary arm torque unit comprises:   a cassette housing configured to be fastened to the frame beneath the seat of the chair exercise apparatus;   a bearing supported rotary shaft in the cassette housing adapted to be fastened to the proximal end of one of the rotary arms; and   a cassette carried on the bearing supported rotary shaft, the cassette having a plurality of flat coil springs therein each having a first end connected to the rotary shaft and a free second end engageable with the cassette housing via one of a plurality of selectors carried by the cassette housing.   
     
     
         28 . The kit according to  claim 27  further comprising a cassette comb carried in the cassette housing separating at least two of the plurality of flat coil springs from each other. 
     
     
         29 . The kit according to  claim 28  wherein the cassette comb is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         30 . The kit according to  claim 28  wherein the cassette comb has a plurality of spaced apart tines to axially space apart at least two of the plurality of flat coil springs along the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The kit according to  claim 30  wherein the free ends of two of the plurality of flat coil springs engage the cassette housing to preload the rotary arm torque unit. 
     
     
         32 . The kit according to  claim 31  wherein the cassette has 7 flat coil springs. 
     
     
         33 . A support post member for a chair exercise apparatus comprising:
 a mounting bracket configured to be fastened to a frame of the chair exercise apparatus; and   a hinged post member having a long leg and a short leg, the short leg extending at an angle from the long leg, the short leg hinged to a cross member of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         34 . The support post member according to  claim 33  further comprising a handle fastened to a distal end of the hinged post member. 
     
     
         35 . The support post member according to  claim 33  wherein the long leg of the hinged post member has a first portion telescopically carried within a second portion and the short leg extends at a right angle from a proximal end of the long leg. 
     
     
         36 . The support post member according to  claim 35  further comprising a handle fastened to a distal end of the first portion of the long leg of the hinged post member. 
     
     
         37 . The support post member according to  claim 33  wherein the short leg of the hinged post member has a locking member engageable with the cross member of the mounting bracket to releasably hold the short leg parallel to the cross member in an operating position when the hinged post member is fastened to the chair exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         38 . The support post member according to  claim 35  wherein the short leg of the hinged post member has a locking member engageable with the cross member of the mounting bracket to releasably hold the short leg parallel to the cross member in an operating position when the hinged post member is fastened to the chair exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . A chair exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface;   an inverted Y shaped seat support fastened to an upper surface portion of the frame;   a seat fastened to an upper end of the inverted Y shaped seat support;   a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to the frame and a foot support fastened to a distal end of each of the parallel arms, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame toward the seat; and.   a pair of hinged support post members each fastened to a mounting bracket attached to the inverted Y shaped seat support, wherein each support post member is movable from a storage position below the seat to an operable position extending upward alongside the seat, wherein each hinged support post member has a long leg and a short leg, the short leg extending at an angle from the long leg, the short leg hinged to a cross member of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         40 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 39  wherein each arm is pivotally biased away from the frame by a rotary arm torque unit mounted beneath the seat. 
     
     
         41 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 39  further comprising a handle fastened to a distal end of each hinged support post member. 
     
     
         42 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 39  wherein the long leg of each hinged support post member has a first portion telescopically carried within a second portion and the short leg extends at a right angle from a proximal end of the long leg. 
     
     
         43 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 42  further comprising a handle fastened to a distal end of the first portion of the long leg of each hinged support post member. 
     
     
         44 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 39  wherein the short leg of each hinged support post member has a locking member engageable with the cross member of the mounting bracket to releasably hold the short leg parallel to the cross member in the operable position. 
     
     
         45 . The chair exercise apparatus according to  claim 42  wherein the short leg of each hinged support post member has a locking member engageable with the cross member of the mounting bracket to releasably hold the short leg parallel to the cross member in an operating position.