Portable climbing wall

Abstract

A portable rock-climbing wall which can be easily assembled, used, disassembled and transported, and, further, provide for multiple orientations and configurations utilizing a climbing wall, and various adjustable support structures.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/258,780, filed Dec. 28, 2000.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of climbing training equipment. In particular, the invention relates to a portable climbing wall apparatus designed to be easily assembled, used, disassembled, and transported; and designed to be easily assembled into multiple orientations and configurations.

[0004] Rock climbing has long been a passion for many outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to the aesthetic pleasures of the sport, rock climbing provides exceptional cardiovascular exercise, working both upper body and lower body muscle groups.

[0005] As the appeal of the sport has grown, artificial climbing surfaces have been developed which allow greater access to the sport and also allow enthusiasts to climb and train year round. Also, these artificial climbing surfaces allow people to climb and train in areas where no mountainous or natural vertical rock surfaces exist.

[0006] However, in order to provide for a realistic climbing experience, most of these artificial climbing surfaces must be anchored to a relatively tall, stationary structure. In addition, if these artificial climbing surfaces are to be enclosed for year-round use in colder climates, the building enclosing them must have sufficient height and space for erection of such a climbing surface. These considerations limit the places where artificial climbing surfaces can be located. Furthermore, these surfaces are by necessity anchored to their supporting structure, and are therefore not portable.

[0007] Thus, a need exists for a smaller, portable climbing apparatus. Several patents have been issued for reduced-size climbing walls, notably U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,919,117 (Thompson, et. al.) and 5,125,877 (Brewer). Both of these patents disclose climbing wall apparatuses wherein the overall climbing surface consists of a plurality of smaller planar members affixed to belts that are rotatably disposed about an elongated oval frame. While these inventions are in a sense “portable” in that they are not permanently affixed to a stationary structure, they are certainly not designed for frequent disassembly or ease of transportation.

[0008] It is, therefore, a novel and useful improvement to the art to provide for an inexpensive, portable climbing wall apparatus which can be easily assembled, used, disassembled and transported for use in multiple locations, and which is capable of assembly into multiple orientations and configurations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide for a portable climbing wall apparatus that can be easily assembled, used, disassembled and transported.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a portable climbing wall apparatus that can be easily assembled into multiple orientations and configurations.

[0011] Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0012] In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portable climbing wall according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the climbing wall of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention provides for a portable climbing wall apparatus designed to be easily assembled for use, disassembled and transported. In addition, the present invention can be assembled into multiple orientations and configurations.

[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, a portable climbing structure 10 is shown. Climbing structure 10 includes a planar climbing wall 12. Climbing wall 12 consists of a support structure or scaffolding 14, and a plurality of climbing panels 16 attached thereto. Climbing panels 16 can be attached to scaffolding 14 in any suitable manner, for instance, bolts, rivets or any other suitable fastener. In one mode of the invention, scaffolding 14 can include three separate 4 ft.×8 ft. sections. Each 4 ft.×8 ft. section would have a 4 ft.×8 ft. panel 16 attached thereto. The three 4 ft.×8 ft. sections could be connected together to form an 8 ft.×12 ft. climbing surface. The sections could be attached together in any suitable manner, for instance, bolting or the like. Having three separate sections of climbing wall 12 with each section comprised of a section of scaffolding 14 and a panel 16 allows for easy positioning and repositioning of the climbing wall at various locations. More specifically, wall 12 could be broken down into three separate sections that will fit easily through various doorways and other exits and entrances to a building in which climbing structure 10 is to be assembled. As is apparent, it would also be possible for climbing wall 12 to be a single structure comprised of a single unitary scaffolding 14 and various panels 16 attached thereto. Such a structure would be suitable if entrances to and exits from the facility in which the climbing structure 10 are appropriate. Each panel has on it a plurality of predrilled holes which are used to attach climbing handholds/footholds 24. Handholds/footholds 24 are what give a climber a structure to grip onto with his or her hand or foot, and which allows a climber to move along the wall. Panels 16 and the handholds/footholds 24 associated therewith can be found in a prefabricated form and can be purchased from Groperz, a division of Everlast Climbing Industries, of St. Paul, Minn.

[0017] Wall 12 is pivotally attached to a base structure 18 at a pivot point 20. Pivot point 20 allows wall 12 to be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about point 20. The pivotal attachment between wall 12 and base structure 18 can be of any suitable arrangement, for instance, a pin and hole orientation, or a solid rod creating the pinning structure.

[0018] Additionally, base 18 can be of any suitable construction, for instance, a metal frame laying upon a support surface 22, or potentially a solid generally rectangular panel.

[0019] With reference to FIG. 2, climbing wall 12 is shown in approximately a 60-degree orientation. This orientation creates an overhang-type situation wherein the wall extends at a 60-degree angle to support surface 22, thus creating a challenging climbing surface for a climber. In order to support wall 12 in this 60-degree orientation, at least two generally vertical support members 26 are located on opposite sides of wall 12. Support members 26 are pivotally mounted to base 18 via a pivot point 28. Additionally, each support 26 has a plurality of apertures 30 spaced along its length. Apertures 30 are used to support wall 12 in any number of various angled orientations. Such support can take place through use of pins which are secured through apertures 30 and secured through suitable apertures in wall 12. Additionally, it would be possible for apertures 30 to allow for positioning of pins and scaffolding 14 resting on such pins. Still further, apertures 30 allow attachment of at least two support braces 32. More specifically, each brace 32 is attached pivotally on one end to an appropriate aperture 30 in support 26 and pivotally attached on another end at pivot point 34 to base 18.

[0020] A user can adjust the angle of wall 12 simply by adjusting wall 12 to the appropriate aperture 30, and also adjusting braces 32 to the appropriate apertures. More 20 specifically, in FIG. 2, two other possible orientations of wall 12 are indicated with dashed lines.

[0021] The first line 36 is a 90-degree orientation of wall 12, and the second line 38 is a 30-degree orientation of wall 12. In order to position wall 12 to its 30-degree orientation, wall 12 is unpinned from its relative aperture and rotated downwardly about pivot point 20 to appropriate apertures 30 that are associated with the 30-degree angle so that they align with another appropriate aperture in wall 12 and thereafter repinned. As is apparent, although only a 30degree and a 90-degree orientation are shown, other angled orientations can be accomplished by utilizing apertures 30 and other appropriate apertures in wall 12. In order to obtain certain orientations, for instance, the 90-degree orientation, a different pin location may need to be utilized in wall 12, and further, braces 32 may need to be repositioned in other apertures 30. Structure 10 can also have a cable 40 and a pulley 42 on each side of the wall 12. Such structure can help support the upper portion of wall 12 and can also allow ease in lowering the structure. One end of cable 40 is attached to the upper portion of wall 12 and the other can be removably attached to support 26. Cable 40 also extends around a portion of pulley 42.

[0022] Additionally, multiple structures 10 can be used to create a complex multi-angled climbing wall.

[0023] The present invention allows for a portable climbing wall that can be adjusted to various angles of orientation, thus presenting increasing difficulties. For instance, the 30-degrees orientation would be considered very difficult and the 90-degree orientation less difficult. This allows a climber to safely practice these difficult conditions at a location that is close to the ground, as opposed to a full-sized wall. Further, because the climbing apparatus can be easily disassembled and reassembled, it eliminates the need for special equipment or for having a special building to house the climbing wall. The supports 26, braces 32 and base structure 18 can be made of any suitable material, for instance, rectangular steel tubing.

[0024] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

[0025] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0026] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A portable climbing structure comprising:

a base;

a wall pivotally coupled with said base, wherein said wall is adjustable relative to said base to establish at least one angle between said wall and said base; and

a plurality of handholds/footholds coupled with said wall.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one support member coupled with said base and said wall.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

at least one support brace coupled with said base and said support member.

4. The structure as recited in claim 2, further including:

at least one first aperture formed in said support member; and

a pin adapted to fit within said first aperture, wherein said pin is adapted to couple said wall and said support member.

5. The structure as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

at least one second aperture formed in said wall adapted to allow said pin to fit therein, wherein said pin couples said wall with said support member.

6. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said wall includes at least one panel.

7. The structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said panel is removable.

8. The structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said wall includes a scaffolding structure, wherein said panel is adapted to be coupled with said scaffolding structure.

9. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein said scaffolding structure is adapted to be broken down into sections.

10. The structure as recited in claim 9, wherein said scaffolding structure and said panels are adapted to be assembled in a plurality of orientations and configurations.

11. The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a pulley coupled with said support member; and

a cable coupled with said support member said pulley and said wall,

wherein said cable is adapted to support said wall.

12. The structure as recited in claim 11, wherein said cable is removably coupled with said support member.

13. A climbing structure comprising:

a base;

a wall pivotally coupled to said base wherein said wall is comprised of at least one removable panel coupled to a scaffolding structure adapted to be broken down into sections; and

a plurality of handholds/footholds coupled with said wall

14. A climbing structure comprising:

a base;

a wall pivotally coupled to said base;

a plurality of handhold/foothold coupled with said wall; and

means for adjusting said wall relative to said base.

15. The structure as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

means for removing said wall from said base.

16. A climbing structure comprising:

a base;

a wall pivotally coupled to said base wherein said wall includes at least one removable panel coupled with at least one scaffolding structure adapted to be broken down into sections and wherein said wall is adjustable relative to said base to establish at least one angle between said wall and said base;

a plurality of handholds/footholds coupled with said wall;

at least one support member coupled with said base and said wall, said support member further defining at least one first aperture and said wall further defining at least one second aperture;

a pin adapted to couple said wall with said support member;

at least one support brace coupled with said base and said support member,

a pulley coupled with said support member; and

a cable coupled with said support member said pulley and said wall wherein said cable is adapted to support said wall;

wherein said scaffolding structure and said panels are adapted to be assembled in a plurality of orientations and configurations.