Patent ID: 7717832

Claim:
A shoulder press exercise machine, comprising: a main frame having a user support mount, a forward end and a rear end; a user support frame movably mounted on the user support mount which is movable between a start position and an end position which is rearwardly displaced relative to the start position during an exercise, the user support frame including a first user support portion and a second user support portion located on the user support frame at a predetermined position relative to the first user support portion such that predetermined, spaced first and second parts of a user's body engage the first and second user support portions only when the user is positioned on the user support frame in an exercise position facing the forward end of the frame, and wherein the second user support portion is adapted to support the upper back of a user; at least one shoulder press exercise arm movably mounted on one of the frames at a mounting rearward of at least one of the user support portions, the exercise arm having at least one user engagement device adapted for engagement and actuation by a user in performing a shoulder press exercise, the exercise arm being movable in an exercise movement in which the user engagement device is located higher at the end of the exercise movement than at the start of the exercise movement; the user support frame having no exercise arm movably mounted forward of the first user support portion; the user engagement device being adapted for engagement by a third part of the user's body different from the parts engaged by the first and second user support portions, the user engagement device and first and second user support portions being located at predetermined spaced positions relative to the main frame in an exercise start position for engagement simultaneously by the first, second and third parts of the user's body when performing a shoulder press exercise facing the forward end of the main frame; a connecting linkage which connects movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support frame, whereby exercise movement of the exercise arm simultaneously moves the user support frame in the same general direction as the exercise arm is moved; and a load separate from the user which resists movement of at least one of the user support frame, exercise arm, and connecting linkage; whereby the combined motion of the user, user support frame and user engagement device substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight shoulder press exercise.