Pilates reformer

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to an exercise apparatus having a frame comprising a first end, a second end and two generally horizontal frame members extending from the first end to the second end, a carriage supported by the horizontal frame members, the carriage being configured to translate along at least a portion of a length of the horizontal frame members and having a planar support surface, a first set of springs supported by the carriage, the first set of springs being configured to extend toward at least the first end of the frame, and a convertible platform positioned adjacent to at least one of the first and second ends of the frame. A vertical height of the convertible platform is adjustable from a first, platform or carriate height position to at least a second, chair position relative to a ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame comprising a first end, a second end, and two generally horizontal frame members extending from the first end to the second end;   a carriage supported by the horizontal frame members, the carriage being configured to translate along at least a portion of a length of the horizontal frame members and having a planar support surface;   a first set of springs supported by the carriage, the first set of springs being configured to extend toward at least the first end of the frame; and   a convertible platform positioned adjacent to at least one of the first and second ends of the frame;   wherein:
 the convertible platform comprises a planar first surface having an approximately horizontal orientation; 
 a vertical height of the convertible platform is adjustable from a first position to at least a second position relative to a ground surface; 
 when the convertible platform is in the first position, the planar first surface of the convertible platform is approximately level with the planar support surface of the carriage; and 
 when the convertible platform is in the second position, the planar first surface of the convertible platform is positioned above the planar support surface of the carriage, thereby permitting a user to perform a different variety of exercises on the platform in a different plane of movement from a standing, kneeling, and lying positions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of springs supported by the carriage, the second set of springs being configured to extend toward the second end of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of springs is configured to extend toward the first end of the frame and the second end of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible platform can be supported on one or more guides along which the convertible platform can be moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more helical springs, gas springs, or other springs that exert an upward force on the convertible platform to enable a user to more easily move the convertible platform from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of handle members positioned adjacent to the convertible platform, each handle member having a body portion configured to extend in a vertical direction and a gripping portion configured to extend in a direction approximately transverse to the body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each handle member is configured such that the gripping portion can be secured in any of a plurality of rotational orientations relative to the body portion independent of the rotational position of the other of the handle members. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each handle member is further configured such that a vertical position of the gripping portion of each handle member is adjustable between a plurality of different vertical positions relative to the ground surface, such that the gripping portion can be secured in any of a plurality of different vertical positions relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising one or more rotatable pedal members positionable adjacent to at least one of the first end and the second end of the frame, the pedal members being configured to rotate about an approximately horizontally oriented axis and configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a downward force thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more pedal members are retractable such that, the pedal members are in a retracted state when not being used, and in an extended state when being used. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a foot strap that can be positioned at any desired location along the length of the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carriage comprises a plurality of openings formed through a top surface thereof;   each the plurality of openings are configured to removably support a shoulder pad therein;   the should pads define a first width in a first direction and a second width in a second direction, the second width being greater than the first width;   the shoulder pads can each be supported in one of a plurality of different orientations;   when the shoulder pads are positioned in the openings such that the shoulder pads are each in a first orientation, the spacing between adjacent shoulder pads is less than when the shoulder pads are positioned in the openings such that the shoulder pads are in a second orientation.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is removably supportable by any of a plurality either of a first pair of brackets and a second pair of brackets supported by the frame, wherein the platform positioned in the first pair of brackets would position the platform at the first position and the platform positioned in the second pair of brackets would position the platform at the second position. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame comprising a first end, a second end and two generally horizontal frame members extending from the first end to the second end;   a carriage supported by the horizontal frame members, the carriage being configured to translate along at least a portion of a length of the horizontal frame members and having a planar support surface;   a first set of springs supported by the carriage, the first set of springs being configured to extend toward at least the first end of the frame; a platform positioned adjacent to an end portion of the frame, the platform having a top surface that is positioned above a top surface of the carriage and is configured to support a user in a seated position; and   a pair of handle members positioned adjacent to the platform adjacent to each side of the platform;   wherein:
 each handle member has a first portion configured to extend generally away from the ground surface and a second portion supported by the first portion that extends approximately perpendicularly away from the first portion; 
 the position of each handle member can be adjusted such that the second portion can be moved from a first position height relative to the ground surface to a second height relative to the ground surface, the second height being further away from the ground surface than the first height; and 
 the second portion of each handle member is selectively rotatable about an axis extending approximately through the centerline of the first portion of the handle member such that the rotational orientation of each handle member can be adjusted from a first rotational orientation to at least a second rotational orientation about the axis extending approximately through the centerline of the first portion of the handle member. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein an end of the first portion of the handle member has a square cross-sectional shape configured to be received within a square shaped opening of a support member secured to the apparatus such that the support member remains in a fixed rotational position and prevents the first portion of the handle member from rotating when the end of the first portion of the handle member is engaged with the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the platform is positionable such that a top surface of the platform is approximately 8 inches or more above a top surface of the carriage. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of handle members, and the pair of handle members is convertible from a first footbar position in which the second portion of each handle member is pointing inwardly toward one another to a second handle position in which each handle member has been extended further away from each first portion and is positionable in an angular orientation wherein each of the second portions is pointing approximately in the same, parallel direction. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising one or more rotatable pedal members positionable adjacent to at least one of the first end and the second end of the frame, the pedal members being configured to rotate about an approximately horizontally oriented axis and configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a downward force thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more pedal members are retractable such that the pedal members are in a retracted state when not being used, and in an extended state when being used. 
     
     
         20 . A method of exercising, comprising:
 supporting one's body on a carriage member movably supported by one or more guides of an exercise apparatus;   exerting a force against a bar assembly using one's feet, thereby causing the carriage member to travel away from the bar assembly along the one or more guides of the apparatus, the bar assembly having a first bar member supported by one side of the apparatus and a second bar member supported by a second side of the apparatus;   raising the first bar member from a first position to a second position, the second position being further away from a ground surface than the first position; and   rotating the member of the bar assembly from a first rotational orientation to a second rotational orientation such that a handle member of the bar assembly points in a different rotational orientation when the bar assembly is in the first rotational orientation as compared to the second rotational orientation.