Patent Publication Number: US-2012046145-A1

Title: Rock climbing wall

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The key feature of the proposed improved rock climbing wall is to cover the climbing surface, be it a wall, roof, inclined plane, etc. with a number of parts or geometric bodies that, once in place, present a smooth and homogeneous finish with no other cavities than the holds themselves. 
     The geometric bodies that will be placed on the surface of the rock climbing wall may be of any suitable geometric shape, the most appropriate being the cube, as it has six identical faces giving it perfect symmetry in all its axes, although other shapes can also be used, such as the tetrahedron in which there are obviously four faces to each part. 
     These geometric bodies will be complemented with the traditional holds the climber can lean on and grip when ascending, the hold in this case will not protrude from the climbing surface plane, instead it will be defined by a cavity, which obviously more closely resembles a natural rock climb than the traditional climbing wall, since normally a rocky wall has more cracks and hollows and to a lesser extent grips protruding from the face of the rock. 
     It must also be emphasised that the view a climber has of the rock face he is about to ascend in reality does not provide many clues for the route that can be followed, a situation that is reproduced in the rock climbing wall that is the object of this invention, in addition to which the position of the geometric bodies can be altered with relative frequency as they may all be equal in terms of geometric shape and therefore interchangeable; their orientation can also be changed without having to move their position thus varying both the holds available for the climb and the spatial configuration of each one according to its orientation. 
     Clearly, some of the faces on the geometric bodies may lack the cavity corresponding to the hold, with the aim to being able to design the whole wall with the desired number of holds. 
     The climbing wall can be created by covering the climbing surface with a set of compartments where the said geometric bodies will be inserted. The set of compartments can be constructed using modular units to provide the spaces, manufactured with a light and resistant material, preferably wood, as this is cheap and easy to use without the need for the moulds that would be required if using plastic. Laminated water-proof materials can also be used. 
     These modular units are easy to handle and to secure to the surface where the climbing wall is to be attached or installed, thanks to the type of material used in their manufacture, being variable in size and in the number of number of spaces in each modular unit. 
     Once the compartments are placed on the climbing surface, the geometric bodies containing the holds can be inserted, arranging the climbing routes to the desired level of difficulty. 
     The geometric bodies can be formed in such a way that all the holds of the geometric bodies have the same degree of difficulty; alternatively, different levels can be created as required. 
     Therefore, in the rock climbing wall that is the object of this invention, the climbing routes are easily modified by simply exchanging the geometric bodies or varying the relative position of some of them, offering the climber a surface with or without holds, allowing the continuous creation of new routes, thus realistically reproducing the conditions of natural mountain climbing. 
     This system is simply and easily maintained, since exchanging the geometric bodies and altering their relative position lengthens the time before the cleaning of the holds becomes necessary, thus delaying the moment when the parts have to be removed to be cleaned properly while maintaining at all times the type of hold chosen. 
     With regard to the anchoring of each geometric body part in its corresponding space, this can be done using screws, clips, or a bayonet system etc. or even by means of a bracket anchored by a screw at each intersection of the side partitions that make up the compartments. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are many types of rock climbing walls used to make climbing activities possible in locations away from mountains by means of artificial walls on which the parts, basically the holds are arranged and secured, made usually of polyester mixed with sand to achieve a non-slip touch similar to that of natural rock; sometimes the rock climbing wall is covered with a sheet, generally made of wood, of suitable thickness and with perforations in staggered layout where the holds are attached using bolts, arranged at the climber&#39;s criteria in order to create climbing routes of varying degrees of difficulty, being measured and marked with coloured tape so that the climber can adjust the climb to the desired level. 
     Examples of such are Spanish Utility Models ES 1033772 U and ES 1039265 U as in both cases the holds mentioned are elements of varying sizes and shapes that protrude from the wall to which they have been suitably attached using a system of bolts or by other means. 
     However, in the above mentioned Utility Models, and in others, the holds are usually permanently attached, meaning the climbing routes cannot be changed thus making it less challenging for the climber, apart from the fact that the structure must be dismantled quite frequently in order to clean the holds, something which is considerably time consuming. 
     Patent AT371002B describes the use of concrete blocks to build a wall suitable for rock climbing. To achieve this, the blocks are stacked and joined together using cement to fill the spaces in the blocks, resulting in a fixed structure that will not allow subsequent changes to the position of each block or their replacement for new ones; not being suitable for the construction of rock climbing walls inclined above the climber like those currently in use. For these reasons, the rock climbing wall described in this patent would provide a vertical surface suitable for climbing activity, without the possibility of subsequently altering the climbing routes. 
     Patent FR2917642A1 describes a multi-sport device, used mainly for climbing and acrobatic circuits, that can be moved with the help of a vehicle but not suitable for providing a rock climbing surface where the routes can easily and quickly be modified, or for adopting to sloping positions. 
     Document DE202005009100U1 describes a three-dimensional climbing maze, based on a structure unrelated to regular rock climbing walls and to the one specifically described in this report. 
     Finally, document DE102005063225A1 relates to a portable rock climbing wall that is not suitable for the creation of a rock climbing wall equivalent to those currently used for this type of sport, since it does not provide climbing surfaces that meet the current standards established for this type of facility, especially those intended for official competitions. 
     None of the above documents describes the creation of a standard, rock climbing wall, approved for official competitions, which provides sloping climbing surfaces, with easily and quickly modifiable climbing routes, and with the equally useful feature that enables the dismantling of the climbing holds to be cleaned and maintained, or to replace them for others in good condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved rock climbing wall, whose obvious aim is to allow the climbing activity to take place wherever the rock climbing wall is installed. The wall is made up of a number of geometric bodies or parts that are placed on the surface to be used for climbing (walls, roof, inclined planes, etc). 
     The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of a climbing wall with the ability to easily alter the position and shape of the holds that are placed on it. This will provide the climbers with grip and support in their ascent and also facilitate the replacement and relocation of the holds. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To supplement the description given below, and with the aim of providing a clear understanding of the characteristics of this invention, in accordance with a pre-emptive example of its practical implementation, provided as an integral part of this description are a set of drawings of an illustrative but not limiting nature representing the following: 
         FIG. 1  shows a frontal perspective of a modular unit that may be used in the construction of the climbing wall that is the object of this invention, in which the modular unit is square and sub-divided into square compartments. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of one of the cube-shaped geometric bodies to be placed in one of the compartments of the modular unit represented in the previous figure, showing different holds in the same cube-shaped geometric body. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a frontal view of an anchoring method, using brackets, to secure the cube-shaped geometric bodies into the compartments of the modular unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved rock climbing wall in this invention is constructed by covering the climbing surface with either an assortment or geometric bodies ( 3 ) or geometrically similar bodies having on all or some of their faces different cavities or hollows that constitute the classic holds ( 4 ) or grasp and support elements for the climber; holds ( 4 ) that may in some cases have protruding elements. 
     Once the geometric bodies ( 3 ) have been attached to the wall using screws or any other suitable means, the result will be a smooth and homogeneous finish, as the parts will totally cover the climbing surface leaving no spaces between them, with cavities corresponding to the holds ( 4 ). 
     To place the geometric bodies ( 3 ), the climbing surface can be covered with a set of compartments ( 2 ) whose configuration complements that of the geometric bodies ( 3 ) which are designed to fit securely into the compartments; so in the drawings, the compartments ( 2 ) shown are square and logically the geometric bodies ( 3 ) will be cube-shaped. 
     The set of compartments can be fitted using modular units ( 1 ) which will be made preferably of wood or laminated water-proof materials, with side partitions ( 5 ) constructed both vertically and horizontally to form the compartments ( 2 ). These side partitions ( 5 ) will enable the geometric bodies ( 3 ) to be secured by any suitable means, either using screws or even brackets ( 6 ) attached using a screw at each intersection between the side partitions ( 5 ) as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this way, when the bracket ( 6 ) is parallel to the side partitions ( 5 ), the four compartments ( 2 ) that meet at this intersection are free, blocking of the geometric bodies ( 3 ) being achieved by turning the bracket ( 6 ) and securing it in a cross-shaped position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Some of the compartments ( 2 ) containing the geometric bodies ( 3 ) can be seen in  FIG. 1 ; these geometric bodies ( 3 ) are fitted with hold ( 4 ) on their faces to provide support or grip for the climber on his ascent. 
     Once the surface has been covered with the modular units ( 1 ), it becomes simple to fill the compartments ( 2 ) with the geometric bodies ( 3 ), creating climbing routes at any level and degree of difficulty desired depending on the holds ( 4 ) fitted in the geometric bodies ( 3 ) and which are placed facing outwards, grouped in one way or another. 
     These geometric bodies ( 3 ) can be placed in such a way that all the holds ( 4 ) in one geometric body ( 3 ) offer the same difficulty, although varying difficulty can also be obtained by grouping them as required, for example, opposite faces having the same difficulty, thus facilitating replacement when they become dirty, while maintaining the level of difficulty already established. 
     One of the main advantages of this invention is its maintenance, as the holds ( 4 ) become dirty with use or the accumulation of dust, grease from the hands and magnesium used by the climbers, making them difficult to grip as they become slippery. To eliminate this effect, it is necessary to remove the holds ( 4 ) every so often to clean or replace them. 
     In the proposed system, this replacement is quick as the geometric body ( 3 ) is simply taken out and turned around to show another face with a hold ( 4 ) having the same shape, without having to replace it for a different one; in this way the geometric bodies ( 3 ) can remain in place for longer before having to be removed for cleaning. 
     Likewise, the work required to change the climbing routes, which must be carried out by an operator fairly frequently as the users of this type of installation prefer not to know the routes in advance, becomes simpler. Interchanging the position of the geometric bodies ( 3 ) or changing their orientation so that they offer the climber a hold ( 4 ) or not, is very easy. It is possible for example to close a compartment ( 2 ) that previously provided the climber with a hold ( 4 ) and open a hold ( 4 ) within his reach in another compartment ( 2 ) that had previously been closed, thus maintaining the same degree of difficulty, if required.