Weight lifting machine for safe free-bar bench press exercising

摘要

A weight training apparatus that allows the user to safely perform free-bar type bench press exercises, both in the standard fashion and in the more effective eccentric contraction fashion is described. The weight bar is attached to a cable system that incorporates a safety stop to prevent the weight bar from crushing the chest of the user in case of accident and especially features a guided sled proximal the user's feet and connected to the weight bar by the same cable system and whereby the user may, at his option at any time during the exercise, partially support or lift the weight bar by engaging the guided sled with his feet and pushing it using his leg muscles.