Exercise apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus suitable for pilates and other exercise comprises rails, supported on a box-like frame and an exercise carriage, mounted on the rails, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage section and a second carriage section which sections can be (i) connected together to form a single exercise carriage which slides forwards and backwards on the rails, or (ii) disconnected to form two exercise carriages which independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails. The apparatus also has a seat with a spring-biased foot pedal and a spring-biased trapeze bar.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Exercise apparatus, comprising:
 (1) a box-like frame defining an exercise area within and around the frame, comprising:
 (a) two rails, referred to as lower rails, supported on the frame and on which is mounted an exercise carriage comprising a first carriage section and a second carriage section; 
 (b) two left hand side uprights, being proximal to the first carriage section; 
 (c) two right hand side uprights being proximal to the second carriage section; and 
 (d) two upper rails mounted between the two pairs of uprights, 
 
 wherein the first carriage section and the second carriage section can be (i) connected together to form a single exercise carriage which slides forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise, and (ii) disconnected to form two exercise carriages which independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise; 
 (2) from 2 to 5 springs removably attachable to the frame, the first carriage section and/or the second carriage section so that:
 the first carriage section is connectable by one or more of the springs to the frame; and / or the first carriage section is connectable by one or more of the springs to the second carriage section; and / or 
 the second carriage section is connectable by one or more of the springs to the frame; 
 
 (3) a lock to lock the first carriage section at any position along the rails; 
 (4) a lock to lock the second carriage section at any position along the rails; 
 (5) two pulleys attached to the frame, two ropes threaded through the pulleys and two rope cleats located on the first carriage section, and wherein the ropes have two ends, one of which is free and one is to attach to one of the rope cleats; 
 (6) a seat mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights, and a resistance-biased foot pedal associated with the seat, further comprising springs connecting the pedal to the uprights or to the seat and offering resistance to movement of the pedal away from the seat by a user; and 
 (7) a trapeze bar pivotally mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights or between the two upper rails, biased to provide resistance to movement. 
 
     
     
       2. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the from 2 to 5 springs can be independently connected between the first carriage section and the frame. 
     
     
       3. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the from 2 to 5 springs can be independently connected between the first carriage section and the second carriage section. 
     
     
       4. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the from 2 to 5 springs can be independently connected between the second carriage section and the frame. 
     
     
       5. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising springs connecting the pedal to the uprights or to the seat and offering resistance to movement of the pedal away from the seat by a user. 
     
     
       6. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising springs connecting the trapeze bar to the frame, e.g. to the uprights or to the upper rails, offering resistance to movement of the bar by a user. 
     
     
       7. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot bar attached between the left hand side uprights or the right hand side uprights. 
     
     
       8. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ladder attached to the upper rails. 
     
     
       9. The exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the upper rails extend between the right hand uprights and the left hand uprights and comprise projections which project to the right of the right hand uprights or to the left of the left hand uprights, the ladder being connected to the projections. 
     
     
       10. The exercise apparatus of claim  9  1, further comprising a flat board, attached to the right hand side uprights or to the left hand side uprights, substantially perpendicular to the exercise carriage. 
     
     
       11. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising one or more buffers to lessen the impact of the exercise carriage at the limits of its travel on the rails. 
     
     
       12. The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising four pulleys, two mounted on each of the left hand side uprights, wherein each pulley can be fastened at any position along the length of its upright. 
     
     
       13. Exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a box-like frame defining an exercise area within and around the frame, the frame comprising:
 two lower rails; 
 two left hand side uprights; 
 two right hand side uprights; and 
 two upper rails mounted between the two pairs of uprights; 
   an exercise carriage, comprising a first carriage section and a second carriage section, mounted on the lower rails, wherein the first carriage section and the second carriage section can be (i) connected together to form a single exercise carriage which can slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance, and (ii) disconnected to form two exercise carriages each of which can independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance;   a lock to lock the first carriage section at any position along the rails;   a seat mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights;   a resistance-biased foot pedal associated with the seat; and   springs connecting the pedal to the uprights or to the seat and offering resistance to movement of the pedal away from the seat by a user,   wherein the two left hand side uprights are proximal to the first carriage section, and   wherein the two right hand side uprights are proximal to the second carriage section.   
     
     
       14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjustable resistance is provided by springs. 
     
     
       15. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising springs removably attachable to the frame, the first carriage section and/or the second carriage section so that:
 the first carriage section can be connected by one or more springs to the second carriage section; and/or   the second carriage section can be connected by one or more springs to the frame.   
     
     
       16. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising springs removably attachable to the frame, the first carriage section and/or the second carriage section so that:
 the first carriage section can be connected by one or more springs to the second carriage section; and/or   the first carriage section can be connected by one or more springs to the frame.   
     
     
       17. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising from 2 to 5 springs which can each be independently connected between the first carriage section and the frame. 
     
     
       18. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising from 2 to 5 springs which can each be independently connected between the first carriage section and the second carriage section. 
     
     
       19. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising from 2 to 5 springs which can each be independently connected between the second carriage section and the frame. 
     
     
       20. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising a lock to lock the second carriage section at any position along the rails. 
     
     
       21. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising:
 two pulleys attached to the frame;   two ropes threaded through the pulleys; and   two rope cleats on the first carriage section,   wherein the ropes have two ends, one of which is free and one is to attach to one of the rope cleats.   
     
     
       22. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising four pulleys, two mounted on each of the left hand side uprights, wherein each pulley can be fastened at any position along the length of its upright. 
     
     
       23. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising a trapeze bar pivotally mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights or between the two upper rails, biased to provide resistance to movement. 
     
     
       24. The exercise apparatus of claim 23, comprising springs connecting the trapeze bar to the frame, offering resistance to movement of the bar by a user. 
     
     
       25. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising a foot bar attached between the left hand side uprights or the right hand side uprights. 
     
     
       26. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising a flat board, attached to the right hand side uprights or to the left hand side uprights, substantially perpendicular to the exercise carriage. 
     
     
       27. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, comprising one or more buffers to lessen the impact of the exercise carriage at the limits of its travel on the rails. 
     
     
       28. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the seat is configured to be mounted in a fixed position between the two left hand side uprights or between the two right hand side uprights. 
     
     
       29. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the seat is configured to be mounted at a level that is raised up with respect to the level of the first and second carriage sections. 
     
     
       30. Exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a box-like frame defining an exercise area within and around the frame, the frame comprising:
 two lower rails; 
 two left hand side uprights; 
 two right hand side uprights; and 
 two upper rails mounted between the two pairs of uprights; 
   an exercise carriage, comprising a first carriage section and a second carriage section, mounted on the lower rails, wherein the first carriage section and the second carriage section can be connected together to form a single exercise carriage which can slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance, and disconnected to form two exercise carriages each of which can independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance;   a lock to lock the first carriage section at any position along the rails;   a seat mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights;   a resistance-biased foot pedal associated with the seat; and   four pulleys, two mounted on each of the left hand side uprights, wherein each pulley can be fastened at any position along the length of its upright,   wherein the two left hand side uprights are proximal to the first carriage section, and   wherein the two right hand side uprights are proximal to the second carriage section.   
     
     
       31. Exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a box-like frame defining an exercise area within and around the frame, the frame comprising:
 two lower rails; 
 two left hand side uprights; 
 two right hand side uprights; and 
 two upper rails mounted between the two pairs of uprights; 
   an exercise carriage, comprising a first carriage section and a second carriage section, mounted on the lower rails, wherein the first carriage section and the second carriage section can be connected together to form a single exercise carriage which can slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance, and disconnected to form two exercise carriages each of which can independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails during exercise against an adjustable resistance;   a lock to lock the first carriage section at any position along the rails;   a seat mounted between the two left hand side uprights, or between the two right hand side uprights;   a resistance-biased foot pedal associated with the seat; and   one or more buffers to lessen the impact of the exercise carriage at the limits of its travel on the rails,   wherein the two left hand side uprights are proximal to the first carriage section, and   wherein the two right hand side uprights are proximal to the second carriage section.