Exercise equipment

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface, the carriage being movably mounted on parallel track members of a side frame having a head end and a foot end, the carriage having a pair of shoulder stoppers mounted thereon and a plurality of elastic members connected between the foot end and the carriage to elastically bias the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. The apparatus has a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly that includes an anchor rod having at least one elongated stop member disposed perpendicular to the anchor rod and fixed thereto, the stop member having a carriage stop surface positioned toward an end of the stop member remote from the anchor rod, and the stop member further includes at least one movable engagement device that engages the side frame of the exercise apparatus. The anchor rod and the stop assembly can be easily moved and readjusted with one hand through a safe and smooth operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of exercise apparatus commonly referred to as reformer trainers, in which a movable carriage is utilized to at least partially support a user's body. More specifically, the present invention relates to a carriage stop assembly for such reformer trainers. Background Art

[0002] The reformer trainer concept was originally developed by Joseph H. Pilates and utilizes a wheeled platform carriage connected to a resistance device (such as a set of weights) in combination with a fixed frame to provide variable resistance that a user can push against with his / her feet or pull with his / her arms while in a seated or lying position to exercise the major muscle groups of the user's torso, legs, and / or arms. The general form of exercise performed using these reformer trainers is now known as Pilates. Since this original concept is nearly 100 years old, many changes and improvements to the design of such exercise apparatus have been proposed.

[0003] Current conventional reformer trainers include a wheeled platform carriage that rides on or in a parallel rail system that is located on or forms part of a rectangular wooden or metal frame. The carriage is connected to a series of parallel springs or elastic members, which in turn are connected in some form or other to the foot ends of the rectangular frame. The carriage typically rides on parallel rails or within tracks mounted on the inner sides of the sides of the rectangular frame. The sides of the frame are generally much longer than the ends of the frame. In most arrangements, the carriage includes a pair of spaced padded upright shoulder stops and a headrest at one end to support the user's shoulders and head when the user is reclined on the carriage. In most modern arrangements, there is an adjustable foot bar, foot support, or foot pedal on which the user places his / her feet or hands; it is mounted on or to the foot ends of the rectangular frame. During operation, the user is able to push on the foot pedal, causing the carriage to move away from the foot pedal along the tracks, and this movement is resisted by spring tension. Depending on the prescribed exercise routine, this resistance can provide a beneficial workout for the leg and foot muscle groups.

[0004] Most conventional recombination trainers utilize a generally U-shaped foot bar located at or on the foot end of the frame, which has a straight foot support between a pair of parallel legs that pivot relative to the sides of the frame in some manner. The foot bar is typically adjustable for desired height and distance from the carriage. The positioning of the foot bar can be used to accommodate different heights of users of the apparatus. Another common feature is a spring anchor bar that spans the foot end of the frame and is typically secured to or fixed to the foot end by using an anchor bar support bracket located at the end or on either side of the frame. In a typical arrangement, the end of the anchor bar or multiple portions of the anchor bar will be located within one of a plurality of grooves or slots in the anchor bar support bracket. These grooves are designed to provide a number of different positions and distances of the anchor bar relative to the carriage. Additionally, the anchor bar typically has means for securing each spring independently to the anchor bar, so there are a number of different arrangements for different exercise resistances, which are adjusted by the distance of the anchor bar from the carriage and the number and nature of the springs through the spring tension of the springs fixed to the anchor bar and the carriage to meet the needs of the user. Thus, the size and / or ability and / or strength of the recombination trainer user can be accommodated in a variety of ways through foot bar, anchor bar, and spring-related adjustments. In an alternative arrangement, the anchor bar can be permanently fastened to the frame. During use, the carriage is typically prevented from moving closer to the foot pedal and the anchor bar by a stop pin fastened to at least one of the side frames or associated tracks of the recombination trainer. When the carriage is stationary, the carriage abuts against these stop pins. In EP1774993, the conventional stop pin arrangement is replaced by a carriage stop surface located at the free end of the anchor bar arm, which in turn is fixed to the anchor bar in a perpendicular manner at its opposite end. In this arrangement, the anchor bar arm extends perpendicularly from the front of the anchor bar and presents the carriage stop surface to the carriage. The advantage of this arrangement is that the distance between the stop surface and the anchor bar is maintained or fixed at each position of the anchor bar within the anchor bar support. This arrangement facilitates one-handed adjustment of the anchor bar position without having to reposition the stop pin and / or remove the spring. However, it has a serious drawback in that it is difficult for some users to make such an adjustment and may be unsafe for all users, especially when the spring load on the anchor bar is high; when the spring bar is lifted too high, the stop surface may separate from contact with the carriage.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an exercise apparatus of the recombination trainer type having an adjustable carriage and spring arrangement that is easy and safe for a user to operate with one hand. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention addresses the above limitations in the design of conventional recombination trainers. The present invention is an exercise apparatus that includes a preferably wheeled carriage having a generally flat top surface. The carriage is movably mounted on parallel track members of a generally rectangular frame having a head end, a foot end, and two side members. The carriage has a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a headrest located between the shoulder stops and extending outwardly from the carriage toward the head end of the frame. A plurality of elastic members connected between the foot end and the carriage elastically bias the carriage toward the foot end of the frame. A movable spring anchor rod having an integral carriage stop assembly is provided at the foot end of the rectangular frame preferably having an anchor rod support bracket, and these cooperate to anchor the elastic members and properly position the carriage relative to the anchor rod. Further, a footrest support mechanism is preferably provided at the foot end of the frame.

[0007] The movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly generally includes an anchor rod having at least one and preferably two elongate stop members disposed perpendicular to the anchor rod and fixed thereto, each stop member having a carriage stop surface located at an end of the stop member remote from the anchor rod and facing the stop, and each stop further including at least one movable engagement device that engages a side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and is located near the carriage stop surface. In this arrangement, the elongate stop members extend perpendicularly from the front of the anchor rod and the carriage stop surfaces are presented to the carriage. At the same time, the movable engagement devices of the elongate stop members that engage the side members of the frame near the carriage stop surface and the stop member ensure that the elongate members and the anchor rod carriage stop assembly are supported when the spring anchor rod disengages the anchor rod support bracket to move to another position on the anchor rod support bracket. This new arrangement associated with this assembly and the elongate stop members provides improved stability and smooth operation to the exercise apparatus during anchor rod repositioning and is safer than prior arrangements. This new arrangement allows the anchor rod, including any number of attached springs, to be removed and safely repositioned on the exercise apparatus.

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus that includes a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface, the movable carriage being movably mounted on parallel track members of side members of a frame that also has a head end and a foot end, the carriage having a pair of shoulder stops mounted thereon and a plurality of elastic members connected between the foot end and the carriage to elastically bias the carriage toward the foot end of the frame, characterized in that the apparatus includes a movable spring anchor rod carriage stop assembly that includes an anchor rod having at least one elongate stop member disposed perpendicular to the anchor rod and fixed thereto, the stop member having a carriage stop surface located at an end of the stop member remote from the anchor rod and facing the stop, and the stop member further including at least one movable engagement device that engages a side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and is located toward an end of the stop surface of the stop member.

[0009] Preferably, the exercise apparatus has an anchor bar bracket stop assembly including two elongate stop members.

[0010] In one embodiment, the elongate stop member has a bracket stop surface at its end.

[0011] In one embodiment, the elongate stop member includes a separate stop surface member fixed at its bracket end.

[0012] In one embodiment, the stop surface member includes an elastomeric material or polymeric material or is metal.

[0013] In one embodiment, the stop surface member is located between the end of the elongate stop member and the movable engagement device.

[0014] In one embodiment, the movable engagement device is a vertically oriented wheel riding in a C-shaped or square cross-section chute positioned along the side of a side member of the frame or within the side member of the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the frame has a frame of metal C-shaped or square cross-section.

[0015] In yet another arrangement, the elongate stop member and / or the stop surface member can be arranged to be located within a hollow (e.g., C-shaped cross-section) exercise frame.

[0016] The movable engagement device can include a shaped portion of low friction material moving within a hollow cross-section frame (e.g., C-shaped or U-shaped or rectangular or square cross-section). In these arrangements, the movable engagement device secures the elongate stop member by, for example, a pin or shaft that can pass through a slot in the side of the side frame. The pin or shaft can be secured to the low friction material by a bushing bearing or a similar arrangement.

[0017] The movable engagement device is designed to provide stiffness between the elongate stop member and the side member of the frame and is thus preferably designed and arranged to allow the elongate stop member to rotate about an axis between the engagement device and the side member of the frame but to prevent any other movement between the side member of the frame and the elongate stop member other than parallel movement with each other. Thus, the elongate stop member can move parallel to the side member of the frame or rotate about the movable engagement device on an axis perpendicular to the side member of the frame; other movements are prevented or severely restricted. Thus, during use, the anchor bar separates from the anchor bar support bracket, and when the attached elongate member moves during this separation, the elongate member rotates about a vertical axis at the movable engagement point. Then, when the anchor bar moves to a new position, both the anchor bar and the movable engagement device move relative to the side member of the frame, and when the anchor bar is placed in the new position, the elongate stop member is able to rotate about the axis to the same orientation relative to the side member of the frame as before the anchor bar moved at the new position for the movable engagement point.

[0018] Preferably, the movable engagement means is located at a point on the elongate stop member that permits sufficient rotation about the axis of the movable engagement means to permit separation of the attached anchor bar from the anchor bar support. If positioned too close to the anchor bar, the rotational ability will be insufficient to separate the anchor bar.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, where the frame side member is a square cross-section channel, the movable engagement means preferably includes a vertical wheel and a combined horizontal wheel that rides within a square cross-section slideway along the side of the frame side member or located within the frame.

[0020] In another embodiment, the end of the elongate stop member is located between the stop surface member and the movable engagement means.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the movable engagement means is a pin and slot arrangement, such as where the slot is formed of a low friction material, such as a low friction polymer slot on the frame side member, and a shaft or pin (i.e., a metal pin) extending from the side of the elongate stop member engages into the slot. In a preferred embodiment, the pin or shaft is an integral part of the stop surface member. In a preferred embodiment, the pin or shaft portion of the stop surface member passes through the elongate stop member to engage with the slot in the frame side member. The slot is preferably located in a metal plate or portion attached to the side frame of the exercise apparatus or within the frame side member of the exercise apparatus. Preferably, the slot is made of a low friction polymeric material and preferably a hard low friction polymeric material. Preferred materials include polyoxymethylene (POM)-based polymers, nylon materials, and acetal homopolymers (such as the acetal homopolymer series produced by DuPont).

[0022] In a typical arrangement, a spring anchor bar is captured by a pair of spring anchor bar supports, each having a plurality of bar receiving grooves. Each support is fixed to the frame side member or frame end. The assembly may also include a latch mechanism that can be operated with one hand to removably secure the assembly to the spring anchor bar support. One end of each stop member having its stop surface member acts as a carriage stop, which correctly maintains the minimum distance between the carriage and the anchor bar regardless of which groove in the support carries the anchor bar. During operation, once the anchor bar is removed from the anchor bar support, the movable engagement means holds the assembly and the apparatus frame in a relatively set and rigid but movable spatial arrangement, which ensures easy and stable repositioning of the assembly.

[0023] In an alternative arrangement, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus including a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface, the carriage being movably mounted on parallel track members of a frame side member having a head end and a foot end, the carriage having a pair of shoulder stoppers mounted thereon and a plurality of elastic members connected between the feet and the carriage to resiliently bias the carriage toward the foot of the frame side member, characterized in that the exercise apparatus includes a movable spring anchor rod carriage stopper assembly, the assembly including an anchor rod and at least one elongated stopper member disposed perpendicular to the anchor rod and pivotally fixed to the carriage, the stopper member having a stopper surface located toward an end of the stopper member remote from the carriage, and the stopper member further including a movable engagement device that engages the frame side member of the exercise apparatus and is located toward the end of the stopper surface of the stopper member.

[0024] In this arrangement, the stopper member is pivotally mounted to the front of the carriage and is not part of or attached to the anchor rod. Under tension, the stopper surface of the stopper member removably contacts the anchor rod to provide a carriage stopping function during use. Preferably, the stopper surface includes a U-shaped or C-shaped profile that can engage the anchor rod at the contact point and partially surround the anchor rod. This ensures that when the anchor rod moves, the stopper member that engages the anchor rod through this feature moves in unison with the anchor rod.

[0025] All embodiments of the present invention may also include an auxiliary locking mechanism to fix the anchor rod and / or the elongated stopper member after the anchor rod and / or the elongated stopper member have been repositioned in the apparatus.

[0026] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which specific embodiments of the present invention are disclosed as illustrative examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the foot end of an exercise apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 1A is Figure 1 an exploded view of area A in

[0029] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a top view of the exercise apparatus shown in

[0030] Figure 3 is in Figure 1 a perspective view of different sized movable spring anchor rod carriage stopper assemblies used in the apparatus of

[0031] Figure 4Is a perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 Is a top view of the foot end of an exercise apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention incorporating the assembly of Figure 4 ;

[0033] Figure 6 Is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus according to the present invention using an axle and slot as a movable engagement means;

[0034] Figure 6A Is Figure 6 An exploded view of area B in

[0035] Figure 7 Is a top view of the foot end of an exercise apparatus according to Figure 6 ;

[0036] Figure 8 Is a top view and a perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly for an apparatus for Figure 6 And Figure 7 ;

[0037] Figure 9 Is a perspective view of the foot end of an exercise apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 10 Is a perspective view of a movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly for an apparatus for Figure 9 ; And

[0039] Figure 11 Is an enlarged portion of a top view of a movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly as shown in Figure 8 ; Detailed Description

[0040] Refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1A And Figure 2, the illustrated exercise apparatus 1 has a foot end 2, side frames 3, and a carriage 4. Also shown are foot bar assemblies 5, 5' and 6, 6' that can be adjusted for different heights and distances from the carriage 4. A movable spring anchoring bar 8 is shown, the anchoring bar 8 having a square cross-section and having a plurality of anchor points 14 for a movable spring 7. Two elongate stop members 9 are fixed to two ends of the movable spring anchoring bar 8, the elongate stop members 9 extending from the movable spring anchoring bar 8 towards the carriage 4 and being arranged substantially parallel to the side frames 3. The movable spring anchoring bar 8 includes pins 15 at either end that engage with and are fixed within slots 13 in anchoring bar supports 16 fixed to the side frames 3. At the ends of the elongate stop members 9 there are provided stop surface members 10 that are located between the ends of the elongate stop members 9 and a movable engagement device 11 that is securely engaged within a C-shaped cross-section profile 12 of the side frame 3. In this embodiment, the movable engagement device 11 takes the form of a wheel arrangement that has an axis perpendicular to the elongate stop members 9 and the frame 3 and that passes through the stop surface member 10 and the end of the elongate stop member 9. During use, the movable spring anchoring bar 8 and its pins 15 are removed from their engaged state within the slots 13 of the anchoring bar supports 16 and the entire assembly is pivoted about the axis by the wheels 11, which are securely located within the C-shaped cross-section 12. As the anchoring bar 8 moves towards the next slot 13 in the anchoring bar support 16 and towards the carriage 4, the wheeled movable engagement device 11 travels within the C-shaped cross-section and maintains the end of the elongate stop member 9 and the stop surface member 10 in rigid alignment with the frame 3 about the pivot axis. The anchoring bar 8 is raised, forcing the elongate stop member 9 to rotate upwards about the pivot axis of the wheel. Once the anchoring bar 8 is aligned with and placed in the position of the next slot 13 in the anchoring bar support 16, the attached elongate stop member 9 will now rotate downwards about the pivot axis of the wheel and the entire assembly will be rigidly locked in place for use. During this movement, due to the stiffness of the anchoring bar 8 and the constrained but movable positioning of the movable engagement device 11 relative to the anchoring bar 8, the entire assembly maintains its strength and stiffness through this movement, ensuring smooth and safe operation.

[0041] Reference Figure 3 , two similar anchoring bar assemblies 20 are shown, which have an anchoring bar 8 with pins 15 and anchor points 14. The assembly has elongate stop members 9 and 9' that have stop surface members 10 and wheel devices 11 for movable engagement at their ends. The stop members 9 and 9' have different lengths.

[0042] Reference Figure 4 , as Figure 1As an alternative to the C-shaped cross-sectional profile 12, the anchor rod assembly 40 is designed for use with an exercise apparatus having a side frame with a square cross-sectional profile. The assembly 40 has an anchor rod 45 which has an anchor rod pin 48, a spring anchor point 46, an elongated stop member 43, a stop surface member 42, and two-wheeled devices 41 and 47 for movable engagement. The larger wheel 41 and the smaller wheel 47 mounted perpendicular to the larger wheel 41 cooperate to ensure proper alignment and travel of the assembly within the square cross-sectional frame apparatus.

[0043] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 4 The apparatus of [reference] is shown in-situ in an exercise apparatus 50 which has a frame end 56 and a side frame 49 which has an internal channel (not shown) with a square cross-section. Also shown is an anchor rod support member 51 which is fixed to the side frame 49 and has a plurality of slots 55 for engaging the pin 48 of the anchor rod 45. Also shown are foot rod assemblies 52, 53 and 54.

[0044] Reference Figure 6 , shows an exercise apparatus 60 which incorporates a pin 94 (not shown) and a low friction slot or guide 69 arrangement as a movable engagement means. In particular shown are a bracket 61, a shoulder stop 62, a side frame 63, foot rod assemblies 64 and 65, an anchor rod 66, an elongated stop member 67, a stop surface member 68 and a slot 69 lined with a low friction polymer within the side frame 63 and an anchor rod support 72 fixed to the side frame 63. This is shown in more detail in Figure 6A and Figure 7 and Figure 6A and Figure 7 shows an apparatus 70 having foot pedal assemblies 64, 74, 75 and 76, an anchor rod 66 with a square cross-section having an end pin 73, an elongated stop member 67 and a stop surface member 68 and a spring 77. A pin attached to or passing through the elongated stop member 67 is movably engaged within the slot 69. In Figure 8 and Figure 11Also shown further in [the text] is the anchoring rod assembly 90 for the instrument, where an anchoring rod 91 is shown having an end pin 93 for engagement with an anchoring rod support 72 (not shown). The anchoring rod 91 has two elongated stop members 92 and two stop surface members 95 at the ends of the elongated stop members 92 remote from the anchoring rod 91. Also shown is a pin or shaft 94 adjacent the stop surface members 95; these pins engage within slots 69 of the instrument and rotate and slide within the slots 69. During use, the elongated stop members 92 and the stop surface members 95 are capable of pivoting about the axes of these pins 94, but any other movement is restricted except as they move with these pins 94 as the pins 94 rotate and / or slide within the low-friction slots 69. As Figure 11 shown, the end pin 93 has two sections 120, 121, the first section 120, which is closer to the elongated stop member 92, is larger in size than the second section 121, which has the correct size to fit snugly within a slot 71 of the anchoring rod support 72. The larger size of the section 120 ensures minimal lateral movement of the anchoring rod 91 when the end pin 93 is located within the slot 71, while ensuring that the sides of the elongated stop members 67, 92 do not contact the instrument frame 63 and the anchoring rod support 72 during use. The movable engagement means in the form of the pins 94 includes two sections 122, 123. The first section 122, which is closer to the outer surfaces of the elongated stop members 67, 92, fits snugly within the low-friction slots 69 of the instrument 60, while the outer section 123 in the form of a flange is placed within the interior of the side frame 63 and prevents lateral movement of the pins 94 while engaging within the low-friction slots 69. This arrangement ensures that when the anchoring rod 91 is separated from the anchoring rod supports 71, 72, the elongated stop members 67, 92 are rigidly held in place relative to the side frame 63 and remain engaged with the side frame 63, but can pivot freely about the pins 94, and the entire anchoring rod assembly can thus move to a new slot 71 position within the anchoring rod support 72 when the pins 94 slide freely within the constraints of the low-friction slots or guides 69. Also shown is a stop surface 124 of the stop surface member 95.

[0045] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 and [the text], shows an instrument 100 and an anchoring rod assembly 200 utilizing a top surface track 109, where a part of a movable engagement means 107 in the form of a wheel is engaged on the top surface track 109. Shown are elongated stop members 102, foot pedal assemblies 103, 111, 112, 114, and 115 at the foot end of the instrument 100, a square-section anchoring rod 104, a spring anchor 105, a bracket 106, a bracket spring 116, a side frame 114, a stop surface member 108, and an aligned wheel 117.

[0046] The present invention may be practiced in other ways than those specifically described above. Many variations, alternatives, changes, and equivalents to the various structures shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0047] Accordingly, the present invention may be practiced differently than as specifically described and shown in the embodiments referenced herein. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described, but rather is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and broad scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. All patents, patent applications, and printed publications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0048] It should be understood that any embodiment described herein may be used in combination with one or more of each of the other embodiments, and all such combinations of embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

[0049] All features (including any appended claims, abstract, and drawings) disclosed for each embodiment in this specification and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, unless at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive combinations.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus, the exercise apparatus comprising a movable carriage having a generally flat top surface, the movable carriage being movably mounted on parallel track members of a frame having a head end, a foot end, and side members, the movable carriage having: a pair of shoulder stops mounted to the movable carriage; and a plurality of elastic members connected between the foot end and the movable carriage to elastically bias the movable carriage toward the foot end of the frame, characterized in that, The exercise apparatus includes a movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly, the movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly including an anchor rod having an associated anchor rod support for engaging with the anchor rod, the anchor rod having at least one elongated stop member disposed perpendicular to the anchor rod and fixed to the anchor rod, the at least one elongated stop member having a bracket stop surface positioned at an end of the at least one elongated stop member remote from the anchor rod, and the at least one elongated stop member further including at least one movable engagement device that engages the side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and the elongated stop member at a pivot point about an axis perpendicular to the side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and near the bracket stop surface, the pivot point being remote from the position of the anchor rod on the elongated stop member and separated from the position of the anchor rod on the elongated stop member.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable spring anchor rod bracket stop assembly includes two elongated stop members.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The at least one elongated stop member includes a stop surface member fixed at its end.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein The stop surface member includes an elastomeric material or a polymeric material.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The stop surface member is located between the end of the at least one elongated stop member and the movable engagement device.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The movable engagement device is a vertical wheel that rides in a C-shaped cross-sectioned chute along the side of the side member of the frame or within the side member of the frame.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The side member of the frame is a C-shaped cross-sectioned frame.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The movable engagement device is a vertical wheel combined with a horizontal wheel, both the vertical wheel and the horizontal wheel riding in a square cross-sectioned chute along the side of the side member of the frame or within the side member of the frame.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The side member of the frame is a square cross-sectioned frame.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The end of the at least one elongated stop member is located between the stop surface member and the movable engagement device.

11. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable engagement device includes a slot in the side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus and a shaft extending from the side of the at least one elongated stop member and engaging with the slot.

12. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The shaft is an integral part of the stop surface member fixed at the end of the at least one elongated stop member.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, The integral part of the stop surface member that is the shaft passes through the at least one elongated stop member to engage with the slot.

14. The exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The slot is located in a metal plate or metal portion attached to or within the side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

15. The exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The slot includes a low friction material.

16. The exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The stop surface member includes a metal material or a low friction material.

17. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one movable engagement device includes a low friction material that slidably engages within the side member of the frame of the exercise apparatus.

18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that, The low friction material is a low friction polymeric material.

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