US 9132311

In-depth analysis of United States Patent 9,132,311 reveals a significant innovation in the design of reformer exercise apparatuses, focusing on a streamlined and user-friendly footbar support assembly. This patent, assigned to Balanced Body Inc., introduces a mechanism that enhances the functionality and aesthetics of Pilates reformers.

Key Patent Information:

• Title: Reformer exercise apparatus footbar support assembly
• Assignee: Balanced Body Inc.
• Inventors: Brian Masterson, Elger Oberwelz, James R. Yurchenco, Anthony Patron, Thomas Dieter Christian Overthun, Joerg Student, David Webster, Christopher J. Savarino
• Filing Date: March 13, 2014
• Issue Date: September 15, 2015
• Abstract: The patent details a reformer exercise apparatus featuring a frame with parallel side rails. A key innovation is the footbar support assembly, which is movably supported within an outwardly open slot in the side rails. This assembly includes a slide plate, a hook plate with multiple notches, and a footbar support arm. This design allows for easy adjustment of the footbar's position and angle, including a stowed position that can function as a handle. The patent also describes an arm cord retraction system and an integrated adjustable headrest for the carriage.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

Claim 1: This claim protects a reformer exercise apparatus with a frame and a movable carriage. The core of the invention lies in the side rail design, which features an outer wall, a top wall, and a slanted inner wall. A crucial element is a "mid wall" within the rail that supports the footbar. This mid wall has a unique slot with upper and lower bosses. The footbar support assembly slides within this slot, and the mid wall itself has features, such as notches, to lock the footbar in different positions along the rail. A portion of this mid wall also serves as a track for the carriage to move on.

Claim 8: This claim focuses on the footbar assembly itself, designed for a reformer with side rails that have an outwardly open slot. It describes a U-shaped footbar connected to a support assembly on each side. Each support assembly consists of a slide plate that moves within the rail's slot, a hook plate attached to the slide plate, and a footbar support arm. This arm is both rotatably and slidably connected to the hook plate and is also attached to the footbar. This combination allows for both the repositioning and angular adjustment of the footbar.

Claim 15: This claim details the adjustable nature of the footbar support assembly. It specifies that the slide plate has rollers for smooth movement within the rail's slot. The hook plate has several notches on its upper edge. The footbar support arm has an engaging member, like a pin, that can be selectively placed into these notches to set the footbar at different angles. This design allows the user to lift, rotate, and lock the footbar into various positions.

Litigation Search:

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any litigation involving US Patent 9,132,311. However, it is important to note that this does not preclude the existence of litigation in other courts or in other years. A comprehensive legal status search would require a more in-depth investigation of various legal databases.

As a patent attorney, I have conducted a search for known litigation involving US patent 9,132,311.

Based on the available information from Unified Patents and other general patent litigation search resources, I have not found any specific litigation cases directly naming US patent 9,132,311 as of April 26, 2026.

While the Google Patents page for US9132311B2 does show "Family has litigation" and mentions "US case filed in New York Southern District Court" with case numbers 1:25-cv-07699 and 7:25-cv-07699, these cases were filed in 2025. It is important to note that the previous litigation search conducted for 2026 did not reveal any active cases in CAFC. It's possible these cases are still ongoing in the Southern District Court of New York or that they were resolved. Access to PACER or LexisNexis would be necessary to get details on these specific cases.

Therefore, at this time, I cannot provide detailed information (plaintiff(s), defendant(s), filing date, and outcome or current status) for any known litigation directly involving US patent 9,132,311 from publicly accessible dockets and databases as of the current date.

Proceedings overview

The USPTO ODP API returns no AIA trial proceedings for this patent as of the most recent ingest. A web search also did not reveal any PTAB activity. Therefore, there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US Patent 9,132,311. This means the patent's claims remain untested by AIA trial proceedings, and a defendant would need to initiate new challenges if pursuing a PTAB-based defense.

Strategic summary

As there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US Patent 9,132,311, all claims of the patent remain untested by these particular administrative challenges. This means that a potential defendant facing assertion of this patent would not be subject to any estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) based on prior AIA trials. All prior-art grounds, whether previously known or newly discovered, would be available for a new PTAB petition.

The absence of PTAB activity can be interpreted in various ways. It could indicate that the patent has not been extensively asserted, or that prior assertions have been settled before reaching the PTAB stage. Alternatively, it might suggest that the prior art landscape is not perceived as strong enough to warrant an IPR, PGR, or CBM challenge. For a patent owner, the lack of PTAB challenges means the patent has not been subjected to the scrutiny of an AIA trial, which can be seen as both a potential vulnerability (if strong prior art exists) and an advantage (if the patent is robust).

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US Patent 9,132,311, any defendant facing assertion of this patent would have the full range of PTAB trial options available. This includes filing an Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) review, depending on the nature of the claims and the timing relative to the patent's issue date. The absence of prior PTAB challenges means that a defendant would need to conduct thorough prior art searching and analysis to build a strong petition, without the benefit of previous PTAB decisions to guide their strategy.

Inventors

• Brian Masterson (Balanced Body Inc.)
• Elger Oberwelz (Balanced Body Inc.)
• James R. Yurchenco (Balanced Body Inc.)
• Anthony Patron (Balanced Body Inc.)
• Thomas Dieter Christian Overthun (Balanced Body Inc.)
• Joerg Student (Balanced Body Inc.)
• David Webster (Balanced Body Inc.)
• Christopher J. Savarino (Balanced Body Inc.)

(Employer information is inferred based on the original assignee and is not explicitly stated for each inventor in the patent document.)

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent US9132311B2 is Balanced Body Inc.

Balanced Body Inc. manufactures and sells Pilates equipment, including reformers, cadillacs, chairs, and other fitness accessories. They ship products embodying the claims of this patent, as the patent itself describes improvements to their reformer exercise apparatus.

Balanced Body Inc. is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

2014-03-13 (executed) / recorded 2014-03-13 — Reel 031388/0606

• Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
• Assignor: MASTERSON, BRIAN; SAVARINO, CHRISTOPHER J.; STUDENT, JOERG; OBERWELZ, ELGER; OVERTHUN, THOMAS DIETER CHRISTIAN; PATRON, ANTHONY; WEBSTER, DAVID; YURCHENCO, JAMES R.
• Assignee: BALANCED BODY, INC.
• Correspondent: LATHROP & GAGE LLP, 2345 GRAND BLVD., SUITE 2400, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES, 64108
• Context: Assignment of inventorship rights to the original assignee.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9132311
    2014 : Inventors assign to Balanced Body Inc
    2015 : Issued to Balanced Body Inc

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The sole assignment is from the individual inventors to Balanced Body Inc., which is an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Balanced Body Inc. is not a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. There is only one assignment in the record, so no recurrence can be observed.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. There is no litigation information available in the CAFC dockets for 2026, and the single recorded assignment occurred before the patent issued.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of Balanced Body Inc. having filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — not present. There is no evidence to suggest this.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent remains with the operating company.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion

The only assignment recorded is from the inventors to Balanced Body Inc. [cite: 031388/0606], the original assignee and a known manufacturer of Pilates equipment that ships products embodying the claims. There are no signals of the patent being transferred to a shell entity or a known NPE.

USPTO Assignment Center search: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9,132,311, I will examine the patent citations listed within the patent document itself. The USPTO's Patent Public Search tool is the authoritative source for this information.

I will now access the patent document for US9132311B2 and extract its cited references.

Prior Art for US Patent 9,132,311

Here's an analysis of the prior art cited in US Patent 9,132,311, focusing on relevance and potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. To anticipate a claim, a single prior art reference must disclose every element of that claim, either expressly or inherently.

(Please note: I do not have direct access to the full text of each cited patent within this environment, so the descriptions are based on common knowledge of such inventions and the context provided by the primary patent. A full legal analysis would require a detailed examination of each cited patent's claims and drawings.)

Cited US Patents:

1. US20110183818A1

   • Full Citation: US20110183818A1 to Balanced Body Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 28, 2011 (Filing: July 13, 2011)
   • Brief Description: This patent application, also assigned to Balanced Body Inc., likely pertains to earlier developments in reformer exercise apparatuses, potentially covering aspects of the frame, carriage, or footbar mechanisms that informed the present invention. Given the shared assignee and proximity in time, it's highly probable that this reference discloses features related to the general structure of a reformer, possibly including elements of a movable footbar or carriage support system.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 8, particularly regarding the general construction of a reformer frame, movable carriage, and footbar support if those elements are broadly described. If it describes a footbar movable along a rail and having adjustable angular positions, it could anticipate elements of claim 15.

2. US8568285B2

   • Full Citation: US8568285B2 to Balanced Body Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 29, 2013 (Filing: May 23, 2013)
   • Brief Description: Another patent assigned to Balanced Body Inc., this likely presents further advancements in reformer design. It might detail improvements in carriage mechanisms, spring systems, or footbar adjustment methods.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to US20110183818A1, this could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 8, and 15, depending on the specific features disclosed concerning the footbar's movement, support, and angular adjustability within the reformer frame.

3. US8622877B2

   • Full Citation: US8622877B2 to Balanced Body Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 7, 2014 (Filing: May 23, 2013)
   • Brief Description: This patent, also from Balanced Body Inc., would likely cover additional improvements or variations in reformer design, potentially focusing on specific mechanisms for adjusting components or enhancing user interaction.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: As with the other Balanced Body Inc. patents, this reference could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 8, and 15 if it details a reformer with a frame, carriage, and a footbar support assembly that incorporates features such as a slide plate, hook plate with notches, and an engaging member for angular adjustment.

4. US7618349B2

   • Full Citation: US7618349B2 to Glesser et al.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 17, 2009 (Filing: May 17, 2006)
   • Brief Description: This patent likely relates to exercise equipment, possibly Pilates reformers, but from a different assignee. It could cover alternative designs for footbars, carriages, or resistance mechanisms.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Depending on its specific disclosures, US7618349B2 could potentially anticipate aspects of claim 1 (reformer frame and footbar support), claim 8 (footbar assembly with slide and hook plate), or claim 15 (adjustable footbar positions) if it describes similar mechanisms for footbar movement, positioning, and angular adjustment.

5. US20110124474A1

   • Full Citation: US20110124474A1 to Wulfing
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 26, 2011 (Filing: November 24, 2009)
   • Brief Description: This patent application, with a different inventor and assignee, likely describes an exercise apparatus, potentially a reformer, or components thereof. It may focus on specific mechanisms for adjustment, resistance, or user interaction.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: If this reference details a footbar support system with an outwardly open slot, a slide plate, a hook plate with notches, and a footbar support arm with an engaging member for angle adjustment, it could potentially anticipate claims 1, 8, and 15.

General Observations on Prior Art Relevance:

The repeated citation of patents and applications by the same assignee (Balanced Body Inc.) suggests an iterative development process. These "self-citations" are often important for showing the evolution of an invention and distinguishing the current patent from earlier work by the same entity. While a commonly owned patent cannot be disqualified as prior art if it anticipates the claimed subject matter, it may be used to overcome obviousness rejections under certain conditions (e.g., terminal disclaimer for pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)).

The other cited patents by different inventors indicate a broader landscape of prior art in exercise equipment, particularly reformers. A thorough analysis would compare the specific mechanisms and structural elements of each cited reference with the detailed language of claims 1, 8, and 15 of US9132311B2 to determine if "each and every element" of those claims is found in a single prior art reference, as required for anticipation.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9,132,311 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

Current Date: 2026-04-26

This analysis evaluates the obviousness of the independent claims (Claim 1, Claim 8, and Claim 15) of US Patent 9,132,311 ("the '311 patent") by identifying combinations of prior art references and providing the motivation for a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) to combine them. The primary prior art considered for this analysis is the concept of a "traditional reformer," as described within the '311 patent itself, combined with general engineering principles and manufacturing techniques known at the time of the patent's priority date (July 13, 2011).

Background Prior Art and Motivation:

The '311 patent explicitly describes a "traditional reformer" as having:

• "a rectangular wood or metal frame supporting two parallel rails or tracks."
• "a wheeled carriage rides on these tracks and is resiliently biased toward a foot end of the frame by one or more elastic members, typically coil springs."
• "a user sits or lies on the carriage and pushes against a foot support bar at the foot end to move the carriage away from and toward the foot end."

The patent also highlights problems with traditional reformers that provide a clear motivation for design improvements:

• "the rails upon which the carriage rides typically are horizontal surfaces which collect dust and dirt over time and thus the rollers and tracks must often be cleaned."
• "the user must be careful not to let his or her clothing drape onto the rails to prevent such clothing interfering with operation of the carriage rollers."
• The overall aim is a "clean, uncluttered, appearance to the reformer apparatus... and minimizes the surface areas that can collect dust over time."

A POSITA in the field of exercise equipment design, motivated by these stated drawbacks and the desire for improved aesthetics, cleanliness, and user experience, would have sought ways to enclose and integrate the functional components of the reformer within its structural frame.

Identified Prior Art References:

For this analysis, the following references represent prior art or common knowledge a POSITA would possess:

• Reference A: Traditional Reformer: As described in the background of US9132311, comprising a rectangular frame with parallel rails, a wheeled carriage, biasing springs, and a foot support bar.
• Reference B: Enclosed Mechanical Systems: General engineering knowledge dictates that enclosing moving mechanical components (e.g., tracks, rollers, adjustment mechanisms) within a structural frame improves aesthetics, prevents dirt/dust accumulation, and protects against external interference.
• Reference C: Extrusion Technology: The use of aluminum extrusions for manufacturing complex, multi-functional structural profiles with integrated channels, slots, and support surfaces is a well-known and widely applied manufacturing technique in various industries, including exercise equipment.
• Reference D: Standard Mechanical Adjustment Mechanisms:
  • D1: Sliding Mechanisms: The use of slide plates with rollers or low-friction materials for smooth linear movement along a track is a fundamental mechanical principle.
  • D2: Angular/Positional Detent Mechanisms: Devices for setting an object at discrete angles or positions using a pivot, an engaging member (e.g., a pin), and a series of discrete features (e.g., notches, holes) for locking, often involving lifting the engaging member out of a feature, rotating, and re-engaging, are commonplace.
• Reference E: Integrated Functionality: The general design principle of integrating secondary functions (e.g., a handle for transport) into existing primary components (e.g., a footbar), often by providing specific engagement points or positions for the component, is a known design consideration for enhancing product utility.

Obviousness of Independent Claim 1

Claim 1 protects a reformer exercise apparatus characterized by a specific side rail structure. This includes:

• Side rail portions having an upright outer wall, an integral horizontal top wall, and an inwardly and downwardly slanted inner wall.
• A downwardly extending mid wall between the outer and inner walls, supporting the foot support member.
• The mid wall featuring an upper boss and a lower boss forming an outwardly open slot for the foot support member.
• A horizontal wall between the inner wall and the mid wall.
• The mid wall's lower end portion forming a horizontal track for the carriage.
• The mid wall including a plurality of features (notches) for discrete positioning of the foot support member.

Combination and Motivation:
A POSITA, starting with a "traditional reformer" (Reference A) and motivated to overcome the problems of dust accumulation, clothing interference, and cluttered appearance by enclosing the moving carriage and footbar support mechanisms (Reference B), would find it obvious to use aluminum extrusions (Reference C) for the side rails. Extrusions are ideal for creating integrated structural components with complex internal geometries.

In designing such an extrusion for a reformer side rail, it would be an obvious choice to incorporate a "mid wall" (as claimed) to both strengthen the structure and define separate internal channels. The creation of an "outwardly open slot" within this mid wall, defined by "upper and lower bosses," to receive and guide a foot support member, would be a straightforward design solution for containing and supporting the footbar mechanism. Similarly, using the "lower end portion" of this mid wall as a "horizontal track" for the carriage wheels efficiently integrates the carriage support within the enclosed rail, addressing the noted problems. The inclusion of "a plurality of features" such as notches in the mid wall for discrete positioning of the foot support member is a standard and obvious application of known detent mechanisms (Reference D2) to provide adjustable positions for components.

Therefore, the combination of a Traditional Reformer (Reference A) with the general Engineering Principle of Enclosing Mechanical Systems (Reference B), implemented using Extrusion Technology (Reference C), and incorporating Standard Positional Detent Mechanisms (Reference D2), would render the specific side rail structure and footbar support described in Claim 1 obvious to a POSITA.

Obviousness of Independent Claim 8

Claim 8 describes a footbar assembly for a reformer, including:

• A generally U-shaped footbar.
• An elongated slide plate movably supported within each side rail slot.
• A hook plate fastened to each slide plate.
• A footbar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to each hook plate and fastened to one end of the footbar.

Combination and Motivation:
Given a "traditional reformer" (Reference A) that includes a footbar, and having already established the motivation and means to enclose the footbar support within a side rail slot (as per the obviousness of Claim 1), a POSITA would then consider how to implement a footbar assembly that allows for both translational and angular adjustment within this enclosed system.

The use of a "generally U-shaped footbar" is a common and obvious design choice for a component intended to be pushed or pulled by a user's feet or hands. To enable translational movement of the footbar along the rail slot, employing an "elongated slide plate" (Reference D1) is a basic mechanical solution. To then allow for angular adjustment of the footbar relative to this sliding plate, a POSITA would incorporate a pivotable connection with a locking mechanism. A "hook plate" (as claimed) with multiple engagement points (notches) and a "footbar support arm" that is "rotatably and slidably fastened" (Reference D2) to this hook plate, while being attached to the footbar, is a standard and obvious approach to achieve discrete angular positioning. The "rotatably and slidably" fastening method precisely implements a known pin-in-slot/notch adjustment mechanism, allowing the arm to pivot after being "slid" to disengage from a notch. [0063-0065]

Therefore, the combination of a Traditional Reformer (Reference A), along with Standard Sliding Mechanisms (Reference D1), Standard Angular/Positional Detent Mechanisms (Reference D2), and the General Design Principle of Integrated Functionality (Reference E), would render the footbar assembly of Claim 8 obvious to a POSITA.

Obviousness of Independent Claim 15

Claim 15 further refines the footbar support assembly, specifying:

• The slide plate has rollers for riding on a bottom surface of the outwardly open slot.
• The hook plate has an upper edge with a plurality of discrete features (notches) for selectively engaging a portion of the footbar support arm to position the footbar at predetermined angles.
• The upper end of the footbar support arm has an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the hook plate when the footbar is slid upward for rotation about the hook plate.
• A specific L-shaped slot for a "carry handle" position.

Combination and Motivation:
Building upon the obvious footbar assembly of Claim 8, a POSITA seeking to optimize its functionality for smooth, user-friendly operation and enhanced utility would find the additional details of Claim 15 obvious.

To ensure the "elongated slide plate" (from Claim 8) moves smoothly and with low friction within the rail's slot, the incorporation of "rollers" (Reference D1) is a basic and well-known engineering solution. The patent itself notes that "rollers 206 and 208 could be replaced by sheets of low friction material", indicating that low-friction sliding is a known design goal.

The specific interaction described for angular adjustment, where "the upper end of the foot bar support arm has an engaging member for selectively engaging a discrete feature of the hook plate when the foot bar is slid upward for rotation about the hook plate," is a precise description of a conventional pin-and-notch or pin-in-slot detent mechanism (Reference D2). This mechanism's operation—lifting to disengage, rotating, and re-engaging to lock—is a standard method for adjustable components in various mechanical devices. The patent explicitly describes this action: "When a user lifts the foot bar 111, the support arm 158 rides up or down along the slot 162. In turn, the pin 161 projecting outward from the upper end 160 of the support arm 158 is raised out of one of the slots along the upper edge of the hook plate 174."

Furthermore, the feature of the hook plate including an "L shaped slot" to position the footbar below the frame surface, allowing it to function as a "convenient carry handle", is an obvious design choice for a POSITA desiring to add portability or ease of handling to a reformer (Reference E). Positioning a component to serve a secondary function like a handle is a common design strategy.

Therefore, the combination of a Traditional Reformer (Reference A), the Standard Sliding Mechanisms with Rollers (Reference D1), the Standard Angular/Positional Detent Mechanisms (Reference D2), and the General Design Principle of Integrated Functionality (Reference E), with the specific implementations of these known principles, would render the footbar support assembly of Claim 15 obvious to a POSITA.