Stowable exercise studio apparatus

Abstract

An exercise system is disclosed that includes a storage apparatus or like item having an interior area, and a reformer pivotably coupled thereto to transition between an in-use position for use as exercise equipment and a stowed position. The reformer includes at least one telescoping rail having a first end and a second end, at least one ground support apparatus configured to support the at least one rail and raise the at least one rail from a ground surface, and a carriage movably engaged with the at least one rail to translate between the first end and the second end of the at least one rail. A variable resistance system is disposed in the storage apparatus, the variable resistance system comprising at least one tension member that imposes tension or resistance on an operator of the carriage.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a storage apparatus having an interior area;   a reformer pivotably coupled to the storage apparatus to transition between an in-use position for use as exercise equipment in a horizontal orientation and a stowed position where the reformer is stored in the storage apparatus in a vertical orientation, wherein the reformer comprises: at least one rail having a first end and a second end; at least one ground support apparatus configured to support the at least one rail and raise the at least one rail from a ground surface; and a carriage movably engaged with the at least one rail to translate between the first end and the second end of the at least one rail; and   a variable resistance system comprising a plurality of tension members, a plurality of latches, and a plurality of movement devices disposed in the storage apparatus, wherein each of the tension members has a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to a top member of a supporting frame, and the second end being configured to become engaged or disengaged via a respective one of the plurality of latches, wherein the supporting frame is secured to the storage apparatus,   wherein each of the plurality of latches is configured to move when engaged or disengaged, respectively about a pivot point to engage and couple to a respective one of the plurality of tension members, and movement of the latch about the pivot point is controlled by a corresponding one of the plurality of movement devices, and   wherein the plurality of latches and the plurality of movement devices are mounted to a sled, the sled being configured to slide vertically up and down on a rail, a cable being attached to the rail such that the rail implements a guide system that allows for transfer of tension from the plurality of tension members via a cable through a plurality of pulleys into a device rail and to an operator on the carriage.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the movement of the latch engages a single one of the plurality of tension members based on a first resistance level selection, two ones of the plurality of tension members based on a second resistance level selection, and three ones of the plurality of tension members based on a third resistance level selection; and   each of the plurality of movement devices is selected from a group consisting of: a pneumatic pump, servo motor, electromechanical device, and actuator device.   
     
     
         3 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a storage apparatus having an interior area; and   a reformer pivotably coupled to the storage apparatus to transition between an in-use position for use as exercise equipment in a horizontal orientation and a stowed position where the reformer is stored in the storage apparatus in a vertical orientation,   wherein the reformer comprises: at least one telescoping rail having a first end and a second end; at least one ground support apparatus configured to support the at least one telescoping rail and raise the at least one telescoping rail from a ground surface; and a carriage movably engaged with the at least one telescoping rail to translate between the first end and the second end of the at least one telescoping rail when fully elongated.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a variable resistance system disposed in at least one of the carriage and the storage apparatus, the variable resistance system comprising at least one tension member. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system according to  claim 4 , wherein the variable resistance system is disposed in the storage apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one tension member has a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to a top member of a supporting frame, and the second end being configured to become engaged or disengaged via a respective one of a plurality of latches, wherein the supporting frame is secured to the interior area of the storage apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of latches is configured to push and pull when engaged or disengaged, respectively; and   the push and the pull of the latch is controlled by a corresponding one of a plurality of movement devices, each of the plurality of movement devices being selected from a group consisting of: a pneumatic pump, servo motor, electromechanical device, and actuator device.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the at least one tension member is a plurality of tension members; and   the push and the pull is a motion that moves a respective one of the latches via a pivot point to select or deselect one or more of the plurality of tension members.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise system according to  claim 8 , wherein the push or the pull of the latch engages a single one of the plurality of tension members based on a first resistance level selection, two ones of the plurality of tension members based on a second resistance level selection, and three ones of the plurality of tension members based on a third resistance level selection. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise system according to  claim 8 , wherein the latches and the movement devices are mounted to a sled, the sled being configured to slide vertically up and down on a rail. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a cable attached to a bottom running along the rail such that the rail implements a guide system that allows for transfer of tension from the tension members via a cable through a plurality of pulleys into a device rail and to an operator on the carriage. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a selector for selecting the first resistance level selection, the second resistance level selection, and the third resistance level selection. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one telescoping rail is a first telescoping rail and a second telescoping rail in a set of rails. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the rails in the set of rails have a length as elongated that is greater than a height of the storage apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage apparatus comprises a set of recesses configured to receive the set of rails and nest the set of rails therein. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first retractable cable extending from a first side of the reformer and a second retractable cable extending from a second side of the reformer. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a U-shaped handle coupled to a platform that projects upwards from a surface of the platform. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a door movably coupled to the storage apparatus, wherein the door comprises a transparent reflective portion and the storage apparatus comprises a display device positioned behind the transparent reflective portion. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise system according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one computing device configured to display workout information in the display device. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise system according to  claim 19 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to collect a measurement associated with an exercise performed using the exercise system and provide the measurement to the at least one computing device.