Artificial rock with protective recess

Abstract

An artificial rock which is mountable on a climbing wall has a recess formed in therein. The recess is bound by a pair of lateral surfaces which entirely or in sections may be downwardly and inwardly tapered and/or parallel to one another. The recess is configured to receive a safety device such as a piton or a camming device to support various climbing equipment with a rope threaded thereon to provide a safety feature for climbers and to allow climbers to practice with the climbing equipment. When tapered, the recess is preferably bounded by tapered lateral surfaces which angle in mating fashion with respective tapered surfaces of a piton. The recess may be bounded by a rear surface which tapers downwardly and forwardly whereby the recess accommodates various sizes of pitons therein.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/656,200 filed Feb. 25, 2005; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to equipment used for mountain climbing and rock climbing. More particularly, the invention relates to climbing walls and the artificial rocks used thereon. Specifically, the invention relates to such an artificial rock having a recess formed therein for receiving a safety device such as a piton or a camming device.

2. Background Information

Mountain and rock climbing over the last several decades have become an increasingly widespread sport. The sport is broadly divided into free climbing and climbing with ropes and related equipment. Due to the popularity of the sport, the practice of rock climbing indoors has become widespread with the advent of climbing walls using artificially formed gripping surfaces, such as artificial rocks which are attached to walls formed of any suitable material. Such artificial rocks have been used broadly within the free climbing aspect of the sport although safety ropes suspended from above are typically attached to climbers as they practice this free climbing style. However, the other aspect of climbing has yet to be represented in the artificial industry, that is, wherein climbers use ropes and related equipment to suspend themselves or protect themselves from falling by inserting a structure known as a piton or other safety device into a crevice of a rock. Thus, there is a need to provide a climbing wall on which climbers may practice their trade using pitons, ropes and related equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an artificial rock for use with a climbing wall, the rock comprising a first rigid wall having a first lateral surface; a second rigid wall which is adjacent and fixed with respect to the first wall and which has a second lateral surface which generally faces the first lateral surface; wherein the rock has a back adapted to face the climbing wall when mounted thereon; wherein the first and second lateral surfaces define therebetween a forward opening recess adapted to receive a safety device therein for supporting climbing equipment; and wherein the rock has sufficient strength to support a weight of a climber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a climbing wall in which a first embodiment of the artificial rock of the present invention is used showing a climber in diagrammatic form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the artificial rock.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the artificial rock.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the artificial rock.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the artificial rock mounted on a wall with a piton inserted within the recess of the rock and other climbing equipment hanging from the piton.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 6 which is similar to FIG. 5 and shows the piton seated within the recess of the artificial rock.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the artificial rock similar to FIG. 6 but showing a larger size piton within the recess of the artificial rock.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 and shows a piton in the recess of the artificial rock which is smaller than the other pitons shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the artificial rock of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the artificial rock of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the artificial rock of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the artificial rock of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-4; a second embodiment of the artificial rock is indicated generally at 100 in FIGS. 10-11; a third embodiment of the artificial rock is indicated generally at 200 in FIGS. 12-13; and a fourth embodiment of the artificial rock is indicated generally at 300 in FIGS. 14-15. Artificial rock 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a climbing wall 12 being used by a climber 14. In particular, one of artificial rocks 10 is shown supporting climbing support equipment 16 with a climbing rope 18 slidingly mounted thereon with rope 18 secured to climber 14.

In accordance with the invention and with reference to FIGS. 2-4, rock 10 is a rigid and substantially solid structure or body defining a central vertically elongated recess 20 therein which generally tapers downwardly and inwardly. Rock 10 is preferably formed as an integral one-piece member. Rock 10 has a top 22, a bottom 24, a front 26, a back 28 and first and second sides 30 and 32 in opposed relation to one another. Each of top 22, bottom 24, front 26, back 28, first side 30 and second side 32 are substantially flat surfaces. Each of top 22 and bottom 24 is substantially horizontally oriented while each of front 26 and back 28 are substantially vertically oriented. Each of first and second sides 30 and 32 taper downwardly and inwardly (FIG. 3) with respect to a vertical plane 34 disposed therebetween whereby top 22 has a width W1 adjacent back 28 which is wider than a width W2 of bottom 24 adjacent back 28. Each of first side 30 and second side 32 also tapers forwardly and inwardly (FIG. 4) with respect to vertical plane 34. Rock 10 has a thickness T1 (FIG. 5) which is suitable to provide sufficient structural strength to rock 10 for supporting the weight of a climber thereon. In addition, thickness T1 allows the flat upper surface of top 22 to be sufficiently large for a climber to grasp by hand or upon which a climber may stand so that rock 10 may serve in part as a standard artificial rock for use on a climbing wall. Rock 10 defines a pair of mounting holes 36 disposed on opposed sides of recess 20 and extending from front 26 to back 28. Each hole 36 is a counterbore hole and thus has a narrower section 38 (FIG. 4) which communicates with back 28 and a wider section 40 which communicates with a narrow sections 38 and front 26.

Recess 20 extends in a continuous manner from top 22 to bottom 24 and thus is upwardly opening at top 22 and downwardly opening at bottom 24. Each of rock 10 and recess 20 has a length which is the same as the other, as represented at L in FIG. 5. Recess 20 opens forwardly at front 26 along its entire length L. Recess 20 is bounded by first and second opposed lateral surfaces 42 and 44 and by a rear surface 46. Each of first and second lateral surfaces 42 and 44 taper inwardly and downwardly with respect to vertical plane 34 which is disposed centrally therebetween whereby artificial rock is bilaterally symmetrical with regard to plane 34. Recess 20 has an upper width W3 (FIG. 3) at top 22 of rock 10 and a lower width W4 (FIG. 4)at bottom 24 of rock 10 whereby width W4 is smaller than width W3. Each of surfaces 42 and 44 is substantially flat, whereby each surface 42 and 44 has constant taper along length L of recess 20. Although the angle of taper may vary, a preferred angle of taper A (FIG. 3) between surfaces 42 and 44 typically ranges from 8.0° to 14.0° (eight to fourteen degrees), more preferably from 9.0° to 12.0° (nine to twelve degrees) and most preferably is approximately 11.0° (eleven degrees). Likewise, a preferred angle B (FIG. 3) between vertical plane 34 and each of surfaces 42 and 44 is approximately 5.5° (five and a half degrees). Rear surface 46 tapers downwardly and forwardly. More particularly, rear surface 46 is substantially flat and thus has a constant taper from top 22 to bottom 24 of rock 10 to form an angle C (FIG. 5) with respect to a second vertical plane 48 which is perpendicular to first vertical plane 34. While angle C may vary, it is preferably approximately 11.0° (eleven degrees). At bottom 24 of rock 10, recess 20 has a depth D1 (FIG. 5) extending from front 26 of rock 10 to rear surface 46.

Rock 10 may be thought of as including a pair of laterally spaced and relatively thick walls 50A and 50B which are separated by recess 20 and respectively include first and second lateral surfaces 42 and 44, with walls 50A and 50B joined by a rear bridge 52 which includes rear surface 46. Rear bridge 52 has an upper thickness T2 (FIG. 5) at top 22 and a lower thickness T3 (FIG. 5) at bottom 24 which is greater than thickness T2. While the relative sizes of thickness T1, T2 and T3 may vary, thickness T2 of the present embodiment is approximately ⅕ of thickness T1 and thickness T3 is approximately ¾ of thickness T1. Rear bridge 52 is configured to provide as much structural strength to rock 10 as possible while also permitting recess 20 to appropriately receive various size pitons therein whereby larger pitons may be accommodated in the upper portions of recess 20 while smaller pitons may be accommodated in the lower portions of recess 20, as detailed further below.

In use and with reference to FIG. 6, rock 10 is mounted on climbing wall 12 utilizing fasteners such as threaded fasteners 54 extending respectively through mounting holes 36. Climber 14 mounts climbing support equipment 16 via recess 20 in rock 10 in order to provide a safety feature as the climber climbs upwardly of rock 10. More particularly, support climbing equipment 16 includes a passive safety device in the form of a piton 56 with a cable 58 threaded through holes (not shown) formed in the piton whereby cable 58 forms a closed loop (FIG. 7). Equipment 16 further includes a first carabiner 60 and a second carabiner 62 joined by a connecting strip 64. As is well known in the art, each carabiner 60 and 62 has pivotable arm 66 which pivots as indicated by arrow A between a closed position shown in solid lines and an open position shown in dashed lines of second carabiner 62. Typically, the pivotable arm 66 is spring-biased towards the closed position although not all carabiners are spring-biased in this fashion. First carabiner 60 is mounted in a loop to loop fashion on cable 58 and hangs downwardly therefrom. Strap 64 is mounted on first carabiner 60 and hangs downwardly therefrom with second carabiner 62 mounted on strap 64 and hanging downwardly therefrom. In standard fashion, rope 18 is moved as indicated at arrow B to move arm 66B into the open position in order to loop rope 18 through second carabiner 62. Arm 66B moves back to the closed position whereby rope 18 is securely looped through carabiner 62. Rope 18 freely slides through the opening in carabiner 62 to allow the climber to move up and down the wall without restriction. In case the climber falls, rock 10, via piton 56, the other support equipment 16 and rope 18, will support the climber to limit the distance fallen.

To use support equipment 16 with rock 10, piton 56 is inserted into recess 20 and moves downwardly as indicated at arrow C in order to wedge in between first and second lateral surfaces 42 and 44 whereby support equipment 16 supported by rock 10 with piton 56 engaging surfaces 42 and 44. Although not required, it is preferred that lateral surfaces 42 and 44 are configured to mate with downwardly and inwardly tapered opposed side surfaces 68 and 70 of piton 56. With piton 56 firmly wedged or seated within recess 20, cable 58 hangs downwardly therefrom and passes through a lower portion of recess 20 at bottom 24 thereof, the lower portion having depth D1 (FIG. 5). The fact that recess 20 at bottom 24 extends rearwardly from front 26 of rock 10 allows cable 58 to hang substantially vertically downwardly from piton 56 as shown in FIG. 7. If recess 20 did not extend rearwardly from front 26 at bottom 24, cable 58 would angle downwardly and forwardly from piton 56 in order to pass beyond bottom 24 of rock 10, a configuration which would tend to pull piton 56 forward and out of recess 20. While it is not required that cable 58 be able to hang vertically downward from piton 56 within recess 20, it is preferred that recess 20 be configured so that cable 58 will not angle forwardly from piton 56 to a degree that would tend to pull piton 56 out of recess 20.

FIG. 8 shows artificial rock 10 in use with another piton 72 which is larger than piton 56. Thus, piton 72 is seated within recess 20 at a position which is higher than the position at which piton 56 is seated within recess 20. FIG. 9 likewise shows another piton 74 which is smaller than either of pitons 56 and 72 so that piton 74 is seated within recess 20 at a position which is lower than that of piton 56 within recess 20. Thus, it is evident that rock 10 may be used with a variety of pitons of different sizes.

Artificial rock 100 (FIGS. 10-11) is similar to rock 10 except that the recess formed therein has a different configuration which allows rock 200 to be used with an active safety device such as camming device 102. The configuration of rock 100 allows both for active and passive safety devices.

In accordance with the invention and with continued reference to FIGS. 10-11, rock 100 is a rigid and substantially solid structure or body defining a centrally vertically elongated recess 104 which extends from a top 106 of rock 100 to a bottom 108 of rock 100. Top 106 and bottom 108 are substantially horizontal and parallel to one another. Rock 100 has a front 110 and back 112 which are substantially vertical and parallel to one another. Rock 100 has first and second sides 114 and 116 taper inwardly and downwardly in the same manner as sides 30 and 32 of rock 10. Each of top 106, bottom 108, front 110, back 112, first side 114 and second side 116 are substantially flat surfaces.

Recess 104 includes three sections which are vertically oriented with respect to one another. In particular, recess 104 includes a tapered upper section 118, a vertically parallel intermediate section 120 and a tapered lower section 122. More particularly, upper section 118 has first and second lateral surfaces 124 and 126 which taper downwardly and inwardly with respect to a first vertical plane 128 disposed therebetween. Rock 100 is bilaterally symmetrical about plane 128. Lateral surfaces 124 and 126 extend from top 106 of rock 100 downwardly to respective first and second intersection locations 130 and 132 which define the bottom of upper section 118 and the top of intermediate section 120. Upper section 118 has a vertical height HI extending from top 106 of rock 100 to intersection locations 130 and 132.

Intermediate section 120 has first and second opposed lateral surfaces 134 and 136 which are parallel to one another and vertical plane 128. First and second lateral surfaces 134 and 136 of intermediate section 120 define therebetween a width W5. Lateral surfaces 134 and 136 extend downwardly respectively from first and second intersection locations 130 and 132 to a lower end of intermediate section 120 at first and second intersection locations 138 and 140 which define the bottom of intermediate section 120 and the top of lower section 122 of recess 104. Intermediate section 120 has a vertical height H2 defined between intersection locations 130 and 132 at the top of section 120 to intersection locations 138 and 140 at the bottom of intermediate section 120.

Tapered lower section 122 of recess 104 has first and second opposed lateral surfaces 142 and 144 which taper inwardly and downwardly with respect to plane 128 from intersection locations 138 and 140 to bottom 108 of rock 100. Lower section 122 has a vertical height H3 defined between intersection locations 138 and 140 at the top thereof to bottom 108 of rock 100. Although the heights HI, H2 and H3 may vary, they are all the same in the present embodiment so that upper section 118 extends from top 106 of rock 100 one-third of the way down to bottom 108, intermediate section 120 extends from one-third of the way down to two-thirds of the way down to bottom 108 and lower section 122 extends from two-thirds of the way down to bottom 108 of rock 100. Thus, each of sections 118, 120 and 122 represent a respective one-third of the height of rock 100.

It is further noted that the respective lateral surfaces of upper section 118 and lower section 122 are substantially flat and are angled in a manner similar to lateral surfaces 42 and 44 of artificial rock 10. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the angle between the respective lateral surfaces of sections 118 and 122 is represented at “A” and the angle between vertical plane 128 and each of the lateral surfaces of the respective sections 118 and 122 is represented by “B”. Angles A and B have the same preferred measurements as with recess 20 of rock 10.

Rock 100 further includes a rear surface 146 which bounds the rear of recess 104. Rear surface 146 is substantially flat and tapers downwardly and forwardly with respect to a second vertical plane 148 perpendicular to first vertical plane 128, as described with regard to rear surface 46 of recess 20 of rock 10, as indicated at C in FIG. 11. At bottom 108 of rock 100, recess 104 has a depth D2 (FIG. 13) extending from front 110 of rock 100 to rear surface 146 thereof. Depth D2 of rock 100 is greater than depth D1 (FIG. 5) of rock 10.

Rock 100 may be thought of as having a pair of lateral walls 150A and 150B analogous to walls 50A and 50B of rock 10. Thus, lateral walls 150A and 150B are spaced from one another and separated by recess 104 of rock 100. Lateral wall 150A includes lateral surfaces 124, 134 and 142 of respective sections 118, 120 and 122 of recess 104. Lateral wall 150B likewise includes lateral surfaces 126, 136 and 144 of recess 104. Lateral walls 150A and 150B each define a counterbore mounting hole 154 analogous to mounting holes 36 and having the same configuration. Lateral walls 150A and 150B are joined by a rear bridge 152 which includes rear surface 146. Similar to rear bridge 52 of rock 10, rear bridge 152 is thicker adjacent bottom 108 of rock 100 than it is adjacent top 106 of rock 100. One distinction of recess 104 with respect to recess 20 of rock 10 is that recess 104 at bottom 108 of rock 100 is deeper than is recess 20 adjacent bottom 24 of rock 10. This distinction relates to the use of camming device 102, which has a greater depth dimension which passes through the opening of recess 104 adjacent bottom 108 of rock 100. Thus, this increased depth dimension accommodates the depth of camming device 102 sufficiently to help prevent device 102 from pulling forward and out of recess 104, as described with regard to piton 56 and recess 20 of rock 10.

In use, rock 100 is mounted on climbing wall 12 in the same manner as described with reference to rock 10. Upper section 118 and lower section 122 of recess 104 are configured for use with passive safety devices such as a piton as described with reference to rock 10. However, as previously noted, rock 100 is also configured for use with active safety devices such as camming device 102. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a climber may use support equipment 156, including camming device 102, in conjunction with artificial rock 100. Climbing support equipment 156 further includes a carabiner 60 connected by a connecting strap 64 to camming device 102.

Camming devices 102 includes a frame 158 with a plurality of camming members 160 pivotally mounted thereon adjacent an end of frame 158 whereby members 160 move as indicated by Arrows D in FIG. 10 between open and closed positions. Camming members 160 are spring biased to the open position. Adjacent an opposed end of frame 158 from camming members 160 is a thumb grip 162. A finger grip 164 is movably mounted on frame 158 and actuator cables 166 are connected to finger grip 164 and operatively connected to camming members 160 whereby movement of finger grip 164 toward thumb grip 162, as indicated by Arrow E in FIG. 10, pulls actuator cables 166 in the direction of Arrow E to move camming members 160 toward the closed position. Frame 158 includes a U-shaped support 168 which strap 64 is mounted in a loop-to-loop fashion on connector section 170. Carabiner 60 is suspended from strap 64 via a loop-to-loop connection therewith.

To use support equipment 156 with rock 100, camming device 102 is operated to move camming members 160 toward the closed position so that camming members 160 may be inserted into recess 104 within intermediate section 120 thereof. More particularly, a climber will position a thumb on thumb grip 162 and a finger or fingers on finger grip 164 and squeeze to move camming members 160 toward the closed position. Once camming members 160 are inserted within intermediate section 120 of recess 104, the climber will release his or her grip on thumb grip 162 and finger grip 164 to allow camming members 160 to move toward the open position due to the spring bias thereof. Movement of camming members 160 toward the open position engages the respective camming members 160 against lateral surfaces 134 and 136 of intermediate section 120 to hold camming device 102 in place within recess 104. As is well known in the art, downward force on frame 158 of camming device 102 is translated to a camming force which moves or attempts to move camming members 160 toward the open position, thereby creating a forceful engagement between camming members 160 and lateral surfaces 134 and 136.

Device 102 is disposed within recess 104 so that U-shaped support 168 of frame 158 and actuator cables 166 pass through lower section 122 and out of recess 104 at bottom 108 of rock 100. Thumb grip 162 and finger grip 164 are disposed below bottom 108 of rock 100 with finger grip 164 spaced downwardly therefrom sufficiently to allow the climber to insert a finger in order to operate device 102 from below rock 10. As previously noted, depth D2 of recess 104 adjacent bottom 108 of rock 100 is greater than that of recess 20 of rock 10 in order to accommodate frame 158 and actuator cables 166 of device 102. As previously noted, intermediate section 120 has a width W5 (FIG. 11) between lateral surfaces 134 and 136. Because camming devices similar to device 102 come in a variety of sizes, width W5 may vary to accommodate camming devices or other active safety devices which are configured to move outwardly to engage lateral surfaces 134 and 136.

Artificial rock 200 (FIGS. 12-13) is similar to rock 100 except that rock 200 defines a recess 202 rearwardly bound by a rear surface 204 which is substantially vertical and parallel to rear 112 of rock 200. Rock 200 thus includes a rear bridge 252, analogous to rear bridge 152 of rock 100, which has a constant thickness T4 (FIG. 13) from top 106 to bottom 108 of rock 200. Artificial rock 200 has a pair of spaced lateral walls 250A and 250B which are analogous to walls 150A and 150B of rock 100. Walls 250A and 250B are similar to walls 150A and 150B except that they do not extend back as far adjacent recess 202, especially adjacent top 106 of rock 200, as do walls 150A and 150B due to the different configuration of rear bridge 252 of rock 200. Thus, recess 202 includes an upper section 218, an intermediate section 220 and a lower section 222 which are analogous to sections 118,120 and 122 of recess 104 of rock 100 and are utilized with the safety devices in the same manner.

It was noted with respect to rock 100 that thumb grip 162 and finger grip 164 were disposed below bottom 108 of rock 100 with finger grip 164 spaced downwardly therefrom sufficiently to allow the climber to insert a finger in order to operate device 102 from below rock 10. However, this is not a requirement, as shown with rock 200 in FIGS. 12-13. Thus, for example, when camming members 160 are disposed within recess 202 of rock 200, the lower end of camming device 102 may swing from a position forward of front 110 of rock 200 to a position which is within recess 202. Thus, the climber may insert camming members 160 into recess 202 while finger grip 164 is disposed in front of rock 200 and once finger grip 164 is released to engage members 160 with lateral surfaces 134 and 136, the climber may move the lower end of device 102 or allow it to be moved to a position within recess 202 so that it is not necessary for finger grip 164 to be disposed below rock 200. This insertion process may be reversed in order to access finger 164 and remove camming device 102 from recess 202. Because of this ability to swing camming device 102 as described above, finger grip 164 may be disposed within recess 202 or similar recesses when in use, as shown in FIGS. 12-13.

Artificial rock 300 is similar to rock 200 except that rock 300 defines a recess 302 which is laterally bound by first and second lateral surfaces 304 and 306 which are substantially flat and vertical and parallel to one another and vertical plane 128. A substantially flat and vertical rear surface 308 bounds recess 302 rearwardly in the same manner as rear surface 204 bounds recess 202 of rock 200. Artificial rock 300 includes a pair of spaced lateral walls 350A and 350B analogous to walls 250A and 250B of rock 200. Lateral walls 350A and 350B respectively include lateral surfaces 304 and 306. Thus, walls 350A and 350B vary from walls 250A and 250B with respect to the different configuration of recesses 302 and 202 respectively.

Recess 302 thus has a width W5 (FIG. 14) which is constant from top 106 to bottom 108 of rock 300. Thus, rock 300 is configured for use with active safety devices such as camming member 102 but not for use with passive safety devices such as pitons 56, 72 and 74. Device 102 is operated so that camming members 160 engage lateral surfaces 304 and 306 of recess 302 in the same manner as described with the previous embodiments wherein device 102 engaged lateral surfaces 134 and 136 of intermediate section 120 of rock 100 and intermediate section 220 of rock 300.

Thus, the present invention provides several embodiments of an artificial rock which may be used as a standard artificial rock on a climbing wall and also with climbing support equipment which provides a safety feature for the climber and allows the climber to practice with said equipment. Each of the artificial rocks of the present invention is thus configured to support the weight of the climber using the rock, whether the climber is placing his or her weight on the rock with a hand or foot thereon, or via the use of safety devices like those described herein. While smaller climbers may of course be supported by rocks of comparatively lesser strength, the rocks of the present invention should easily support a weight of 200 pounds without breaking or pulling loose from the climbing wall. More typically, the present rocks will support 300, 400, 500 pounds and often much more in order to ensure safety of the climber. The rocks also are configured to support such weights when applied via gravity as a sudden downward force via the safety devices within the recess of a respective rock, as is the case when the climber falls and is caught by the safety equipment suspended from the rock.

It will be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changes may be made which are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the overall shape of the body of the artificial rock may be varied substantially without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for instance, the artificial rock may have a body which is shaped more like a standard artificial rock used with climbing walls to provide different gripping surfaces for the hands and feet of the climber while also providing the recess therein for use with a piton. In addition, the recess formed in the artificial rock may have a variety of configurations. The surfaces which bound the recess of the embodiment shown in the drawings are all substantially flat and with regard to the tapered recess or sections thereof provide a constant taper, although this is not required. Thus, for instance, lateral surfaces 42 and 44 and rear surface 46 may have angles which vary along the length of the recess from top to bottom. This would include such surfaces being angled or being curved in a convex manner while moving downwardly along the recess. Because a piton seated within the recess may or may not come into contact with rear surface 46 or a surface analogous thereto, the particular angle at which the rear surface tapers is of less concern than that of the lateral surfaces bounding the recess. Nonetheless, as previously noted, the rear bridge of artificial rock 10 must have sufficient structural strength in order to support a climber utilizing rock 10.

It will be appreciated that with artificial rocks such as rocks 100 and 200 which include a tapered section and a parallel-side section that the tapered and parallel sections may be disposed at various levels within the artificial rock. Thus, an artificial rock may have a parallel section at the top and a tapered section at the bottom or vice versa. In addition, such a rock may include any number of tapered sections and parallel sections which are suitable to the purpose of supporting a safety device therein.

The various recesses may also be formed in a manner to help prevent a piton or other safety device from becoming dislodged therefrom through the forward opening portion of the recess. Thus, for instance, the lateral surfaces bounding the recess may angle inwardly and forwardly in a manner that would tend to move the safety device in a rearward manner when seated in the recess. In addition, lips may be formed which extend inwardly respectively from the lateral walls (such as 50A and 50B) along the front of the rock to provide a barrier which would prevent a safety device from sliding forward and out of the recess. Other variations will be evident to one skilled in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. An artificial rock for use with a climbing wall, the rock comprising:

a first rigid wall having a first lateral surface;

a second rigid wall which is adjacent to the first wall and which has a second lateral surface which generally faces the first lateral surface;

wherein the rock has a back adapted to face the climbing wall when mounted thereon;

wherein the first and second lateral surfaces define therebetween a forward opening recess adapted to receive a safety device therein for supporting climbing equipment; and

wherein the rock has sufficient strength to support a weight of a climber.

2. The rock of claim 1 wherein the recess is wider at a top thereof than at a bottom thereof.

3. The rock of claim 1 wherein the recess is deeper at a top thereof than at a bottom thereof.

4. The rock of claim 1 wherein the recess has a top which opens upwardly.

5. The rock of claim 1 wherein the recess has a bottom which opens downwardly whereby the bottom of the recess is adapted to allow a portion of the climbing equipment to hang there through.

6. The rock of claim 1 wherein the recess extends from a top of the rock to a bottom of the rock.

7. The rock of claim 1 wherein the lateral surfaces are substantially parallel to one another whereby the rock is adapted for use with an active climbing safety device within the recess.

8. The rock of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the lateral surfaces taper downwardly and inwardly toward one another.

9. The rock of claim 8 further including a rigid rear wall having a surface which bounds the recess.

10. The rock of claim 9 wherein the surface of the rear wall tapers downwardly and forward.

11. The rock of claim 8 wherein the recess has a top and a bottom; and wherein the lateral surfaces taper downwardly and inwardly toward one another from the top to the bottom.

12. The rock of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the lateral surfaces are substantially parallel to one another.

13. The rock of claim 8 wherein the lateral surfaces of the at least one portion are substantially flat and define an angle therebetween within the range of 8.0 to 14.0 degrees.

14. The rock of claim 8 in combination with a piton having outwardly facing lateral surfaces which taper downwardly and inwardly toward one another; and wherein the at least a portion of the lateral surfaces of the first and second walls tapers downwardly and inwardly at about the same angle as do the lateral surfaces of the piton.

15. The rock of claim 1 wherein the first and second walls have a front surface which is substantially flat and substantially vertical when the rock is in a mounting position.

16. The rock of claim 1 further including a rigid rear wall which extends between and is connected to each of the first and second walls; and wherein the rear wall has a surface which bounds the recess.

17. The rock of claim 16 wherein the rock has a substantially flat back surface which is adapted to abut the climbing wall when mounted thereon.

18. The rock of claim 1 wherein the first and second walls are part of an integral one-piece body.

19. The rock of claim 1 further including a mounting mechanism adapted to mount the first and second walls on the climbing wall.

20. The rock of claim 19 wherein the mounting mechanism includes at least one threaded fastener which extends through a hole formed in one of the first and second walls.