Patent ID: 7909743

Claim:
A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising: a stationary frame having opposite first and second sides and opposite ends; first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on the first and second sides, respectively, of the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame; a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the respective first and second vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame, and an exercise bar having a user engaging portion for gripping by a user when performing weightlifting exercises, opposite first and second end portions of a first diameter extending outwardly from the respective first and second sides of the frame for receiving one or more selected weights, a protective sleeve mounted on each end portion, a first annular stop of greater diameter than the first end portion located between the first end portion and the first vertical slide, a second annular stop of greater diameter than the second end portion located between the second end portion and the second vertical slide, the user engaging portion, annular stops and end portions having a common central longitudinal axis, and at least a first rack engaging portion between the user engaging portion and the first annular stop, the rack engaging portion having a cylindrical surface of diameter substantially equal to the first diameter which has a central axis coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the user engaging portion and weight receiving end portions; the stationary frame including a rack assembly which has at least one support portion which directly engages the cylindrical surface of the first rack engaging portion at a position spaced transversely outward from the first vertical slide at the first side of the frame and inward from the first annular stop in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly; and the user engaging portion of the exercise bar assembly being rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides and rack engaging portions and freely rotatable through 360 degrees.