# US 12,759,203 B2 · Fitness machines, handles for fitness machines, and methods for making fitness machines and handles

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- Number: US 12,759,203 B2
- Document ID: US12759203B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/450,923
- Filed: 2023-08-16
- Published: 2024-02-22
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-08-18
- Assignees: Life Fitness, LLC
- Applicants: Life Fitness, LLC
- Inventors: Charles A. Haley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759203B2

## CPC

- B29C 45/1634: {with a non-uniform dispersion of the moulding material in the article, e.g. resulting in a marble effect}
- A63B 22/02: with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)}
- B29C 45/1775: {Connecting parts, e.g. injection screws, ejectors, to drive means}
- A63B 2230/04: heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
- B29C 2045/0089: {successive filling of parts of a mould cavity, i.e. one cavity part being filled before another part is filled (sequential filling to prevent weld lines B29C2045/0032)}
- B29K 2995/0005: Conductive
- B29K 2995/0097: Thickness
- B29L 2031/52: Sports equipment {; Games; Articles for amusement}; Toys (B29L2031/54 takes precedence)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method of making a fitness machine. The method includes providing a base device with which an operator may exercise and providing handles each having a non-conductive portion and a conductive portion, the conductive portion being electroplated. The method further includes coupling the handles to the base device so as to be gripped by the operator while exercising and electrically coupling the conductive portion of each of the handles to a control system configured to determine cardiac information for the operator, where the conductive portion of each of the handles receives electrical activity from the operator when gripped, and where the conductive portion is electrically coupled such that the electrical activity is provided to the control system for determining the cardiac information for the operator based thereon.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a fitness machine, the method comprising:
providing a base device with which an operator may exercise;
providing handles each having a non-conductive portion and a conductive portion, the conductive portion being electroplated, wherein for at least one of the handles the conductive portion comprises a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion formed in two non-contiguous areas;
coupling the handles to the base device so as to be gripped by the operator while exercising; and
electrically coupling the conductive portion of each of the handles to a control system configured to determine cardiac information for the operator, wherein the conductive portion of each of the handles receives electrical activity from the operator when gripped, and wherein the conductive portion is electrically coupled such that the electrical activity is provided to the control system for determining the cardiac information for the operator based thereon.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming each of the handles via two-shot injection molding, wherein a first shot in the two-shot injection molding comprises a first material that forms the non-conductive portion, and wherein a second shot in the two-shot injection molding comprises a second material that defines a shape of the conductive portion, whereby the conductive portion is electroplated upon the second material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the first material is incompatible with an electroplating process and the second material is compatible with the electroplating process, further comprising performing the electroplating process on each handle to form the conductive portion upon the second material thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the handles comprises first part and a second part each having the non-conductive portion, and wherein a first area of the two non-contiguous areas is formed on the first part and a second area of the two non-contiguous areas is formed on the second part, further comprising coupling the first part and the second part together such that the non-conductive portions electrically insulate the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion from each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, further comprising forming the non-conductive portions of the first part and the second part of the at least one of the handles via two-shot injection molding, wherein a first shot and a second shot in the two-shot injection molding comprise a first material and a second material that are different than each other, wherein the non-conductive portions of the at least one of the handles have exterior sides facing outwardly and interior sides facing inwardly when the first part and the second part are coupled together, and wherein for the first part and the second part of the at least one of the handles the exterior side of the first material is entirely covered by the second material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein foreach of the handles each of the two non-contiguous areas extends between an exterior side configured to be contacted by the operator in use and an interior side positioned inside the at least one of the handles, further comprising, electrically coupling the control system via conductors to the interior sides of the two non-contiguous areas such that the conductors are protected within the handles.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the conductors comprise connectors for connecting wires, further comprising electrically coupling the control system to the two non-contiguous areas by drawing the connectors into contact with the interior sides of the two non-contiguous areas via fasteners.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming each of the handles of a first material via injection molding, wherein the first material is compatible with an electroplating process, further comprising masking the first material such that a masked portion of the first material is covered for each of the handles, and performing the electroplating process on each of the handles to form the conductive portion upon a remaining portion of the first material that is unmasked, wherein the masked portion forms the non-conductive portion of the handle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising coupling the handles so as to be at least partially recessed within the base device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein each of the handles comprises an exterior surface configured to be contacted by the operator in use, further comprising coupling each of the handles to the base device such that the exterior surface is flush with the base device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, for each of the handles, forming the conductive portion to be less than 0.10 mm thick.