Exercise machine

Abstract

In one aspect of the present exercise machine, an assembly is attached to the end of a reformer, where the assembly comprises a seat mechanism and a pedal mechanism. The seat mechanism has a seat, a bracket supporting the seat, and a height adjustment system, where activation of the height adjustment system permits selective adjustment and locking of the height of the seat and the bracket by restricting travel of the seat and bracket to a slanted path that is slanted relative to the vertical. The pedal mechanism has an axle, a first pedal arm with a first pedal, and a second pedal arm with a second pedal. The pedal mechanism is located directly beneath the seat when the seat mechanism is in a lowest position and partially exposed in a higher position.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a frame;   a resistance member resistively connected to the frame;   ropes, including first, second, third and fourth ropes, each attached to the resistance member and having a handle at its distal end for grasping and pulling when in use; and   a rope-adjustment member that is rotatable around a pivot point,   wherein the proximal end of each of the first and second ropes is attached at a first position on the rope-adjustment member and the proximal end of each of the third and fourth ropes is attached at a second position on the rope-adjustment member, said second position being opposite said first position across the pivot point.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein when rotated, the rope-adjustment member equally and simultaneously adjusts the lengths of all of said ropes. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein said resistance member comprises a carriage, adapted for a user to at least one of sit or lie upon while pulling a pair of said ropes, thereby causing the carriage to move. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein said rope-adjustment member is located on the underside of the carriage. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein said rope-adjustment member is configured as an elongated arm. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a rope equalizing/adjustment mechanism that enables a user to independently adjust the length of at least one of the ropes, so that two of the handles are even with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rope-adjustment member is part of an equalizing mechanism that also includes a pair of equalizing/adjustment mechanisms,   the first, second, third and fourth ropes are arranged in two pairs, with the ropes in each said pair arranged so as to be pulled together to move the resistance member, and   one rope in each said pair attaches to the rope-adjustment member via a separate one of the equalizing/adjustment mechanisms, for lengthening and shortening said one rope, thereby permitting the ropes in said corresponding pair to be equalized in length.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , wherein the ropes of one of said pairs extend toward the front of said exercise machine and the ropes of the other of said pairs extend toward the rear of said exercise machine. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , said resistance member comprises a carriage, adapted for a user to at least one of sit or lie on while pulling one of the pairs of said ropes, thereby causing the carriage to move, and wherein said equalizing mechanism is located on the underside of the carriage. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , wherein said ropes extend through pulleys on the frame before attaching to the equalizing mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein the resistance member is resistively connected to the frame using springs. 
     
     
         13 . A method of adjusting the lengths of four ropes that are attached, via first, second and third rotatable members, to a resistance member on an exercise machine, said four ropes consisting of first and second pairs of ropes, with the ropes in each of said first and second pairs arranged for use together, and with a different one of said first and second pairs being used for different exercises, said method comprising:
 rotating the first rotatable member to simultaneously and equally adjust the lengths of the four ropes;   if necessary, rotating the second rotatable member to adjust the length of one of the ropes in the first pair in order to equalize the lengths of the ropes in the first pair; and   if necessary, rotating the third rotatable member to adjust the length of one of the ropes in the second pair in order to equalize the lengths of the ropes in the second pair.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance member comprises a carriage, adapted for a user to at least one of sit or lie upon while pulling one of the pairs of said ropes, thereby causing the carriage to move. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first rotatable member is located on the underside of the carriage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third rotatable members are located on the carriage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ropes of the first pair extend toward the front of the exercise machine and the ropes of the second pair extend toward the rear of the exercise machine.