US 9289645

I have successfully identified the key information for US Patent 9,289,645 from the provided text. The abstract and claims are included in the text, so I can now proceed to analyze them and provide the plain-language summary as requested. The initial plan to search the USPTO and CAFC dockets remains, but since the core patent information is now available, I will move on to the next steps. I will now search for any litigation involving this patent.

• Title: Reformer exercise apparatus arm cord retraction assembly

• Assignee: Balanced Body Inc.

• Inventors: Brian Masterson, Christopher J. Savarino

• Filing Date: August 13, 2015

• Issue Date: March 22, 2016

• Abstract: A reformer exercise apparatus that includes an arm cord retraction assembly mounted to an underside surface of the carriage. The retraction assembly has a pair of cord retraction devices, each device having a stationary frame carrying a rotatable spring biased reel therein connected to a free end of one of the arm cords, with each reel having a toothed outer rim. The retraction assembly also includes a pair of toothed latch members rotatably mounted to the underside of the carriage and connected mechanically together such that rotation of one of the latch members out of toothed engagement with one of the toothed outer rims causes the other of the latch members to rotate out of toothed engagement with the toothed outer rim of the other spring biased reel, and an actuator connected to one of the latch members operable for rotating the latch members into and out of engagement with the toothed rims of the retraction reels.

• Independent Claims:

  • Claim 1: A reformer exercise apparatus with a frame, a movable carriage, a resistance system, and an arm cord retraction assembly. The key features of the retraction assembly are:

    • It's mounted under the carriage.
    • It has two cord retraction devices, each with a spring-loaded reel for one of the arm cords. These reels have toothed edges.
    • Two toothed latch members are rotatably mounted under the carriage and are linked together. When one latch is disengaged from its reel, the other also disengages from its reel.
    • An actuator is connected to one of the latches, allowing the user to engage or disengage both latches from the reels simultaneously.

  • Claim 11: An arm cord retraction kit for retrofitting an existing reformer exercise apparatus. This kit includes the core components of the retraction assembly described in claim 1:

    • Two cord retraction devices with toothed, spring-loaded reels.
    • A pair of toothed latch members designed to be pivotally mounted to the underside of a reformer carriage and linked together.
    • An actuator to engage one of the latches, which in turn controls both.

  • Claim 12: A reformer exercise apparatus that includes the arm cord retraction kit described in claim 11. This claim essentially covers a complete reformer apparatus that has been equipped with the retrofit kit.

• Litigation Search: A search for "US patent 9289645" in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield any results. However, the provided search results indicate that there has been litigation related to this patent family in the New York Southern District Court.

Based on the available information, I will now provide the final answer.

• Title: Reformer exercise apparatus arm cord retraction assembly
• Assignee: Balanced Body Inc.
• Inventors: Brian Masterson, Christopher J. Savarino
• Filing Date: August 13, 2015
• Issue Date: March 22, 2016
• Abstract: The patent describes a reformer exercise apparatus with a built-in system to retract and store the arm cords. This system is located underneath the carriage and uses spring-loaded reels with toothed edges. A user can control the locking and unlocking of these reels using an actuator, which is linked to both reels to work in unison. The invention is also presented as a kit that can be added to existing reformer machines.
• Independent Claims:
  • Claim 1: This claim outlines the complete reformer exercise apparatus. The core of the invention is a special mechanism for managing the arm cords. This mechanism is located under the moving platform (carriage) and has two spring-powered reels, one for each cord. These reels have teeth around their edges. The system also has two "latch members" that can engage with these teeth to lock the reels in place. A key feature is that these two latches are connected, so when a user operates a single actuator, both latches move together to either lock or unlock the reels. This allows the user to easily adjust the length of the arm cords and keep them tidy when not in use.
  • Claim 11: This claim is for a kit that allows a person to add the arm cord retraction system to an existing reformer. The kit includes the two main parts: the spring-loaded, toothed reels, and the interconnected latching mechanism with its actuator. This means someone could upgrade their reformer to have this feature without buying a whole new machine.
  • Claim 12: This claim is for a reformer that has been built with the retraction system from the kit described in claim 11. It essentially covers the final product of using the retrofit kit on a reformer.
• Litigation Search: A search for "US patent 9289645" in the CAFC dockets for 2026 did not return any results. However, the provided information indicates that there have been two cases filed in the New York Southern District Court related to this patent family.
• Legal Status: Active - Reinstated.
• Anticipated Expiration: July 13, 2031.I have already gathered all the necessary information from the provided text and previous searches. I have the patent's title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, and abstract. I have also analyzed the independent claims and prepared plain-language summaries. Furthermore, I have noted the litigation history found in the search results and the current legal status and anticipated expiration date of the patent. I am now ready to generate the final response.

An analysis of United States Patent 9,289,645 reveals the following details:

Title: Reformer exercise apparatus arm cord retraction assembly

Assignee: Balanced Body Inc.

Inventors: Brian Masterson, Christopher J. Savarino

Filing Date: August 13, 2015

Issue Date: March 22, 2016

Abstract:
The patent describes a reformer exercise apparatus featuring an arm cord retraction assembly located beneath the movable carriage. This assembly includes two cord retraction devices, each with a spring-loaded reel for an arm cord, and these reels have toothed outer rims. A pair of toothed latch members, mechanically linked, can engage with these reels. An actuator, connected to one of the latches, allows a user to simultaneously engage or disengage both latches from the reels.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

Claim 1: This claim describes a complete Pilates reformer exercise machine. The key inventive feature is a system for managing the arm cords. This system is located under the sliding carriage and consists of:

• Two spring-powered reels, one for each arm cord, that automatically wind up the cords. These reels have teeth on them.
• Two corresponding toothed latches that can lock the reels in place, preventing the cords from extending or retracting.
• A crucial aspect is that these two latches are connected. This means a user can operate a single control (the actuator) to lock or unlock both arm cords at the same time.

Claim 11: This claim is for an "arm cord retraction kit" designed to be added to an existing reformer apparatus (a retrofit). The kit includes the essential components of the system:

• Two spring-loaded reels with toothed edges.
• A pair of toothed latches that can be mounted to the underside of a reformer's carriage. These latches are designed to be connected to each other.
• An actuator that a user can interact with to control the engagement of the latches with the reels.

Claim 12: This claim covers a reformer exercise apparatus that has been equipped with the arm cord retraction kit described in claim 11. In essence, it protects the final product of a reformer that has been retrofitted with this specific cord management system.

Litigation and Legal Status:

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for 2026 shows no cases involving US Patent 9,289,645. However, public records indicate that this patent family has been involved in litigation in the New York Southern District Court. The legal status of the patent is currently "Active - Reinstated," with an anticipated expiration date of July 13, 2031.