Pulldown exercise machine

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention contemplates a pulldown exercise machine having a frame that pivotally supports two levers with forward ends adapted to be grasped and pulled downwardly, either independently or simultaneously, to raise the weighted rearward ends, with the pulldown movements oriented in a manner that accommodates the natural musculoskeletal structure of the human body.
The frame has sides that diverge outwardly from the front of the machine, and the levers are moved through correspondingly diverging planes.
Moreover, the location of the non-aligned pivot axes, the lengths and starting angles of the forward ends of the levers, and the angles of the handles attached to the forward ends combine to provide a machine that, based upon feedback from a number of individuals involved in the field of strength training, more naturally accommodates the musculoskeletal movements of a human being.
By providing two independently operable levers that are designed to match the natural movement of muscles of one side with respect to the entire body, this improved pulldown machine is particularly suitable for rehabilitation after an injury.
In accordance with the objects of this invention, a pulldown exercise machine preferably includes a frame, a seat connected to the frame, the frame having two vertically upright sides that diverge outwardly from the front of the seat and two levers, each lever pivotally connected to one of the outwardly diverging sides and having an angled handle located at a forward end in front of the seat and a weight supporting hub connected to a rearward end located behind the seat.
The lever pivot axes are located above and behind the seat and are perpendicular to their respective sides of the frame.
When the handles are grasped and pulled in a downward direction, the arcuate paths traversed by the handles and the levers are along vertical planes that diverge outwardly from a vertical midplane that bisects the seat.
The angled orientation of the levers and the handles with respect to the forward facing direction of the seat provides a natural grasping position for coupling the applied pulldown force to two diverging vertical planes of motion that seem to more naturally accommodate the structure of the human body relative to this maneuver