Patent ID: 7766802

Claim:
A mid-row exercise machine, comprising: a floor-engaging main frame having a forward end and a rear end; a user support frame pivotally associated with the main frame and movable between a start position and an end position during an exercise, the user support frame moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement; the user support frame having at least a primary support and a secondary support for supporting spaced positions on a user's body throughout an exercise movement, the primary support supporting the majority of a user's weight in the start position of the support frame, and the secondary support being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary support and not moving relative to the primary support as the user support frame travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement; a user engagement device movably mounted relative to the frames and having at least one hand grip for gripping by a user positioned on the user support, the user engagement device being movable in a mid-row, pulling exercise movement path between a start position in which the hand grip is at a first position spaced in front of at least one of the primary and secondary supports, and an end position spaced rearwardly from the first position closer to said at least one support; a connecting linkage which translates pulling movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame; and a load for resisting movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting linkage; whereby the combined motion of the user, user support, and user engagement device substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a rowing exercise.