Abstract:
A rock climbing anchor and related methods are described. The climbing anchor comprises a body and a base member or skeleton. The body allows for traditional lead climbing protection to be placed and secured. The body can be molded around the skeleton. The skeleton serves to support the body against large forces generated by a falling climber, and to act as a secondary safety measure against a fall. Various scenarios or arrangements can be provided or created on a climbing wall to train a climber or give a climber a variety of experiences.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/869,746, filed Aug. 25, 2013, titled “ARTIFICIAL ROCK CLIMBING ANCHOR FOR USE WITH TRADITIONAL LEAD CLIMBING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an artificial rock anchoring device for use in recreational rock climbing. More particularly, it relates to an artificial rock anchor that utilizes an internal skeleton as a safety measure against taking a fall. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Artificial rock climbing walls placed in gyms create a controlled environment, including safety measures, that allows beginners to try out the sport of climbing and experienced climbers to practice their skills. A typical rock climbing wall contains T-nut screw inputs. The T-nuts allow for removable pieces called rock climbing holds to be set on the wall to create a climbing route of variable difficulty. The shape of the holds, their placement, and the curvature of the wall determine the difficulty of the route. Additionally, artificial rock climbing walls allow climbers to try different forms of climbing. 
     Depending on the height of the wall and the safety measures installed, a climbing route can be approached either by top rope, bouldering, or lead climbing techniques. Top rope climbing requires the use of a rope, used for the climber&#39;s safety, that runs from the climber through an anchor system at the top of the route down to a belayer at the foot of the route. Bouldering is the unassisted climbing of shorter walls that results in the climber either dropping a short distance or climbing to a safe platform at the end of a route. In certain gyms, lead climbing is possible but requires more equipment than top rope or bouldering. Like top rope, lead climbing requires the assistance of a rope and belayer, however, the rope is not fixed to an anchor system at the top of the wall. Instead, the climber brings the rope up as they climb and clips it to anchor points on the wall. These anchor points will catch the climber if they fall, but they do not aid in ascension process. 
     Lead climbing is split into the sub-categories of sport and traditional climbing. Both sub-categories follow the lead climbing process previously outlined, but the key difference is how the anchor points relate to the wall. In sport climbing, the anchor points are directly bolted to either a real rock or an artificial climbing wall. From the fixed bolts is a tether with a carabiner that clips the rope to the wall. Sport climbing is the most common form of lead climbing that is practiced on artificial walls. This is due to the abundance of T-nut screw inputs on artificial climbing walls that are used to bolt tethers along a climbing route. 
     In traditional lead climbing, the anchor points are not permanently fixed or bolted to the wall. Instead, the anchor points consist of removable protective gear that is placed on or into rocks. The removable protective gear operates by binding against the rock to hold its placement through friction. In the case of a fall, the removable gear will bind against the rock to catch the falling climber. If the removable gear does not properly engage or bind against the rock due to improper placement, it may slip out of place and will not serve as a protective measure. In this instance, the climber will continue to fall until the next lowest piece of removable protective gear engages. 
     Removable protective gear is comprised of two categories, active protection and passive protection. Active protection constitutes any removable gear that has an activating mechanism, such as pulling a lever, to cause the gear to expand. Active protection includes the cam-type protective gear. Passive protection constitutes any removable gear that does not have moving parts. 
     Traditional climbing is typically reserved for the outdoors where it can be placed in real rock. There remains a continuing need for artificial climbing holds, walls, and equipment for training and practicing lead climbing. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments relate to a unique climbing anchor that allows for traditional lead climbing to be practiced on artificial climbing walls. Like climbing holds, it is an external piece of gear that can be bolted to the T-nuts in a climbing wall. The anchor consists of a body that is molded around a skeleton. The body comprises an interior and exterior surface. The interior surface provides an engagement area for either active or passive protection to be placed and secured. The exterior surface provides a surface that a climber can grab or stand on while climbing. The skeleton comprises a frame and an exposed tongue. The frame is buried within and supports the body against the large forces generated by active type protection. The exposed tongue protrudes from the body, but is connected to the skeleton. The tongue has a hole from which a safety tether can be placed. At the base of the skeleton are two holes. One is a through-hole for a bolt that goes to the climbing wall. An additional screw can be placed in the second hole to prevent rotation of the anchor. 
     Some embodiments relate to a method for using the climbing anchor. A climber practicing tradition lead climbing will climb up to the anchor, place a piece of protection in the interior surface, clip the carabiner on the protection into the safety tether, and finally clip their climbing rope into the same carabiner. If a climber using the anchor falls, the first measure of protection is the removable gear placed in the anchor. If the removable gear slips out of place, the second measure of protection is the safety tether, which is directly anchored to the wall through the skeleton. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an artificial climbing anchor according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a lower side view of an artificial climbing anchor of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an artificial climbing anchor of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view of an artificial climbing anchor according to some embodiments in use with active protection. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of an artificial climbing anchor according to some embodiments in use with passive protection. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a skeleton according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a skeleton of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a skeleton of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary method of using or installing an artificial climbing anchor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an exemplary embodiment of a climbing anchor  100  (i.e., a climbing hold) including a body  150  on a base member or skeleton  400 , which is partially shown here but shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6-8 . The anchor  100  can be used for training and/or pleasure on artificial structures such as man-made climbing walls and structures. As described based on one orientation when in use,  FIG. 1  is a front view,  FIG. 2  is a bottom view, and  FIG. 3  is a side view of the climbing anchor  100 . The climbing anchor  100  is generally U-shaped when viewed from the bottom, though other configurations are contemplated to simulate rock climbing conditions. In other words, the climbing anchor  100  may include a back for contact with a climbing wall, a first side protruding away from the climbing wall, and a second side protruding away from the climbing wall. 
     The body  150  includes an exterior surface  102  and interior surface  104 . The interior surface  104  is generally inward facing or concave in orientation and is shaped to receive an active protection piece (shown herein elsewhere). The body  150  is made of a material to withstand repeated use of protective gear. In some embodiments, the body  150  is made of a resilient material. In various embodiments, the body material is selected to simulate or feel like rock. The body  150  is shown as one piece, but other configurations are contemplated. For example, the interior surface  104  may be a replaceable piece after repeated use has caused wear and tear. The exterior surface  102  can be used in the same fashion as a climbing hold, to by providing a surface that a climber can grab or stand on while climbing. For example, the climbing hold is rounded and free of sharp edges to allow a climber to grasp or grapple the climbing hold with a bare hand to support a portion or full weight of the climber and attached gear. 
     Any forces placed on the body  150  are generally directed to the skeleton  400 . As partially shown, skeleton  400  can be rigid and includes an exposed tongue  110  and multiple holes or apertures formed therein, including an anchoring hole  120 , a hole  122 , and a tether hole  114 . In the embodiment shown, the body  150  can partially surround the skeleton  400  except for the exposed tongue  110 . The artificial climbing anchor  100  is adapted to be positioned on the wall by a bolt  124  positioned through an anchoring hole  120 . The anchoring hole  120  may be larger in diameter than hole  122  in some embodiments. Further, in some embodiments, the anchoring hole  120  is disposed at or near the center of the skeleton  400 , and the hole  122  is disposed off-center. Bolt  124  applies most of the force required to keep the artificial climbing anchor  100  attached to the climbing wall. Bolt  124  may be permanent or removable. To prevent rotation about the anchoring hole  120 , a hole  122  with a set screw  123  can optionally be placed in the artificial climbing anchor  100 . Protruding from one side of the body  150  is the exposed tongue  110  of the skeleton  400 . Tether hole  114  in the exposed tongue  110  is adapted to connect to a tether  112 , which may be placed as a secondary safety measure in the case of a fall. The skeleton  400  is formed of a substantially rigid material to withstand expanding forces generated by a piece of protection while substantially maintaining the general shape and related functionality. For example, a force may be applied to the skeleton  400  through an active piece of protection, especially when a climber falls and the active piece of protection responds by generating additional expansive forces. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show the climbing anchor  100  in use according to some embodiments.  FIG. 4  shows the climbing anchor in use with active protection  200 . As illustrated, active protection  200  includes a cam  130 , which is a commonly used as a piece of active protection, shown engaged against the interior surface  104  of the climbing anchor  100 . Attached to the end of the cam  130  is a rope coupling device, which is shown as a tether  132  and a carabiner  134 . This tether  132  is fixed to the cam  130  and is connected to a carabiner  134 . The carabiner  134  is clipped into three points, the tether  132  coupled to the cam  130 , the tether  112  coupled to the climbing anchor  100 , and a climbing rope  140 . When in use, climbing rope  140  may be attached to a climber. When a climber falls, for example, active protection  200  responds by generating additional expanding forces to increase frictional interference with the interior surface  104 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the artificial climbing anchor  100  in use with passive protection  300 . As illustrated, passive protection  300  includes a nut  136 , which is a commonly used as a piece of passive protection, shown binding against the interior surface  104  of the climbing anchor  100 . Fixed through the nut  136  is a rope coupling device, which is shown as a wire  138 . The wire  138  is shown connected to a carabiner  134 . The carabiner  134  is, as similarly shown in  FIG. 4 , clipped into three points, the wire  138  coupled to the nut  136 , the tether  132  coupled to the cam  130 , and a climbing rope  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, interior surface  104  is includes a taper, or flare, inwardly toward a bottom end of the body  150  to accommodate the shape of the nut  136  such that frictional interference is increased in response to a downward force applied to the passive protection  300 , such as the downward force generated by a climber&#39;s weight. 
     In more detail, the climbing anchor  100  can be used with either active protection  200  or passive protection  300 . In either case, the order of operation is the same. First, a climber will ascend up to where the climbing anchor  100  can be reached. Then, the climber will remove a piece of protection from their climbing harness and insert it into the body  150 . The piece of protection will be placed such that it binds or engages against the interior surface  104  of the climbing anchor  100 . After the protection is placed, the climber then clips the carabiner  134  on the protection to a tether  112  on the climbing anchor  100 . Finally, the climber will clip their climbing rope  140  to the carabiner  134 . This will provide two measures of protection against a fall. The first measure is the protection placed in the climbing anchor  100 . The second measure is the tether  112  attached to the climbing anchor  100 . For example, if the first measure fails, the second measure can provide protection against a fall. 
     The primary difference between using active protection  200  or passive protection  300  with the climbing anchor  100  is that the climber must decide which type of protection is most acceptable based upon the shape of the interior surface  104 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , if there is a slight flare to the shape of the interior surface  104 , a nut  136  may be convenient to use. However, if there is no flare to the shape of the interior surface  104 , a cam  130  may be more acceptable. The type of protection used with the climbing anchor  100  ultimately depends on the shape of the interior surface  104 , and the protection carried by the climber. A climbing wall could be outfitted with multiple climbing anchors  100  having various configurations to produce a particular level of difficulty or scenarios for training a rock climber to use various protective gear. For example, a configuration can simulate a rock climbing location found elsewhere. As another example, the configuration can teach one or more climbing skills related to lead climbing. 
     In further detail, the interior surface  104  is one of various shapes and texture sufficient for a climber to be able to use either active protection  200  or passive protection  300 . The exterior surface  102  is optionally one of various shapes and texture sufficient for a climber to use as a hand or foot hold. The length and width of the climbing anchor  100  is sufficient enough to allow for single or multiple protection placement areas within the interior surface  104 . For example, the length or width of the climbing anchor  100  may range from 3 to 36 inches. The width may be measured from one point of the exterior surface  102  to another point of the exterior surface  102 , for example. The depth of the climbing anchor  100  will be sufficient enough for a piece of protection to be placed completely into the interior surface  104 , such as 3 to 10 inches. The tether  112  is sufficiently long enough to allow for clipping into a carabiner  134 , such as 6 to 24 inches. 
     The interior surface  104  and exterior surface  102  of the body  150  may be molded from plastic, such as polyurethane, or any other material that feels and acts like rock, such as hardness, rigidity, roughness or other properties of rock. The material must be of high enough strength to hold against strong forces generated by a cam  130 , or forces generated by a nut  136 . In some embodiments, the material is able to be molded into various shapes and textures to create a rock-like feel. In various embodiments, the protection can be made of a harder and/or more rigid material than the body  150 , and the skeleton  400  can be made of a harder and/or more rigid material than the body. Other hardness, rigidity and other property configurations are contemplated, such as durability. The body  150  can be man-made material, natural material or a combination of the two. 
       FIGS. 6-8  show an embodiment in which the skeleton  400  is buried, at least partially, within the body  150 . The skeleton  400  comprises a frame  126  and an exposed tongue  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  126  includes apertures or holes  116  formed therein and protrusions or projections  118  that provide additional support to the body  150  on the skeleton  400 . For example, the apertures and protrusions provide mechanical interlocking of the body  150  and the skeleton  400 . The exposed tongue  110  includes a tether hole  114  from which a tether can be attached. At the bottom of the frame  126  are anchoring hole  120  for a bolt and hole  122  for a fastener or set screw  123 . 
     In some embodiments, the skeleton  400  matches the general shape and width of the body  150  sufficiently for the frame  126  to be completely buried. To improve the support given, the frame  126  matches the general depth, length, and width of the body  150  in some embodiments while being buried no less than ⅛ inch from the surface. The exposed tongue  110  is sufficiently long enough such that it protrudes from the body  150 . The tether hole  114  in the exposed tongue  110  is wide enough for a tether  112  to hang loosely therefrom. 
     The skeleton  400  may be made from metal, such as iron, steel, or aluminum. In some embodiments, the skeleton  400  is made of a material more resistant to deformation than the body  150 . The material must be able to withstand forces generated by a climber falling a distance of up to 30 feet. The frame  126  and exposed tongue  110  are adapted to be of sufficient width such that they are not at risk of breaking or bending from forces such as these. In various embodiments, the frame  126  is made of the same material as the exposed tongue  110 . In other embodiments, the frame  126  and exposed tongue  110  may be made of different materials. 
       FIG. 9  shows an exemplary method  500  for testing or using the climbing anchor  100 . In step  502 , the anchor is bolted into a climbing wall, artificial or natural, by a user, such as an installer, a tester, or a climber. The climbing wall is adapted to receive the bolt and hold the anchor in place. In step  504 , a screw is optionally set into the anchor and climbing wall to prevent the anchor from rotating about the bolt used to bolt the anchor into the climbing wall. 
     In step  506 , a user attempting to test the anchor or climb the wall determines an appropriate piece of protection, such as active protection with a cam or passive protection with a nut. The determination can be made based on the size, orientation, and type of protection available to the user. In step  508 , the piece of protection is placed into the anchor. In step  510 , a carabiner or other rope coupling device, which is attached to the piece of protection, is attached to the anchor. In some cases, the carabiner is attached to a tether, which is attached to the anchor. 
     While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered to be some embodiments thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, permutations and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Exemplary embodiments include multiple components, regions, aspects and/or steps, though other contemplated embodiments can include less than all such components, regions, aspects or steps. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiments, but by all embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention.