CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/923942, filed on October 21, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates to climbing walls and, in particular, to climbing walls that receive inputs from a climber climbing the wall and based on those inputs provide outputs to the climber. In addition, similar or the same climbing paths can be presented on different walls simultaneously.

[0002] Rock climbing and bouldering have conventionally been performed in an outdoor setting where a climber climbs up or across a natural rock formation. In addition, artificial rock walls that include holds fastened thereto have been developed that can simulate the experience of climbing natural rock formations. The rock wall are typically located in an indoor climbing gym but can also be located outdoors.

[0003] Rock walls can be from a few feet to several stories high. The holds fastened to the wall have conventionally been made of a resin and are bolted on to the wall. In some instances, a wall may have many holds with different colors fastened to it. The different color holds can be used with each successive same colored hold defining a different routes along (up, across, or both). Alternatively, the routes can be marked by colored tape. Both of the above methods result in routes that are generally static and require significant effort change a route.

[0004] More recently, some gyms have provided illumination behind generally clear holds. The illumination can come from, for example, a diode. By selecting which diodes are “on”, a certain route can be designated. In this manner, a route setter can change routes on wall by changing which holds are illuminated. On manner in which this can be performed is to have a control application on an electronic device (e.g., tablet or smartphone) that communicates with a controller that commands which holds are illuminated. In such systems, the entire route is typically illuminated and remains so until the next route is selected, the wall is put into standby where no holds are illuminated, or the wall is otherwise powered down.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to a first embodiment, a rock wall that includes rock climbing holds attached thereto is provided. Some or all of the holds have the ability to receive an inputs from a climber while the climber is climbing the wall. For example, the holds can include pressure or other sensors therein can determine if a user is contacting or has contacted a particular hold. The rock wall can provide the inputs to a controller that, based on the inputs received from the holds, will provide outputs to the climber. For example, the controller could cause a “next” hold or group of holds that the climber is to grab along a particular route only after the climber has contacted a particular hold along the route.

[0006] According to another embodiment, a system that includes a plurality of rock walls that each include rock climbing holds attached thereto is provided. In this system, the rock climbing holds can generally be arranged in a same or similar manner on each of the walls (or as least have portions thereof that include the similar arrangements). In such a case, specific holds on each wall can be illuminated so that each wall can simultaneously display a same route. The climbing walls can be in a same location (e.g., a single climbing gym), can be geographically diverse from one another (e.g., in different climbing gyms) or a combination of both. In this embodiment, the individual rock walls can also be operated as in the prior embodiment or as described in the attached claims.

[0007] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

[0009] FIG. l is a schematic diagram illustrating showing climbing wall that includes rock climbing holds attached thereto according to one embodiment; and [0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating showing climbing wall that includes rock climbing holds attached thereto according to one embodiment showing how a route can branch based on a quality of climber contacts with the holds.

[0011] The diagrams depicted herein are illustrative. There can be many variations to the diagram or the operations described. For instance, the actions can be performed in a differing order or actions can be added, deleted or modified. Also, the terms “coupled”, “connected” and variations thereof, describe having a conductive path between two elements. The use of such terms herein provides written description for both direct and indirect couplings/connections. In the claims, such terms shall include both direct and indirect connections/couplings unless the claim specifically states that connection is direct. A direct connection/coupling is a connection/coupling between the elements with no intervening elements/connections between them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Disclosed herein is rock climbing wall that based on input received from sensors on the wall or that can glean information about a climbers progress on the wall can vary a route along the wall. The varied route is thus directed to an individual climber based on real time performance.

[0013] To this end, and referring now to FIG. 1, a rock climbing wall 100 is provided that includes a support wall 102. The support wall 102 can be made of, for example, a durable substance such a plywood. Of course, the support wall 102 can be of other materials such as granite, concrete sprayed onto a wire mesh, pre-made fiberglass panels, manufactured steel and aluminum panels, textured fiberglass walls and inflatables. While shown as being flat, the support wall 102 is not so limited and can have an irregular surface.

[0014] Attached to the support wall 102 are a plurality of rock climbing holds. While not specifically numbered in FIG. 1, the skilled artisan will realize that the rock climbing holds are denoted by the closed shapes on the wall. The rock climbing holds can be attached to the support wall 102 in a variety of manners as in known in the art.

[0015] In general terms, a climber traversed the rock climbing wall 100 along a route. An example route is shown by arrow A. To traverse the route, the climber will, in succession, grab the rock climbing holds that are contacted by the arrow.

[0016] The route in prior instances was defined either by a succession of like colored rock climbing holds or by rock climbing holds marked with tape. The route is typically set by a route setter and is fixed in that it does not change and remains the same overtime. In this manner, the entire route is static and fully disclosed to the climber before the climber beings traversing the route A

[0017] Herein, a sensor or other measurement device can measure certain aspects of the climber traversing a particular route and cause the route to branch into different sub routes, some of which may be harder than others. This concept is shown graphically in FIG. 2. In particular, in FIG. 2, a route B (or simply route) is shown as existing between lines 202 and 204. The route, as illustrated begins along a primary route 210 and then branches between first and second sub-routes 212, 214. The second sub-route branches into third and fourth sub-routes 216, 218.

[0018] In one embodiment, the rock climbing holds can include an illumination device on or inside them (e.g, a diode) that allows for the holds to light up. Alternatively, an external illumination source can be provided that allows particular one of the rock climbing holds to be illumined. This may be accomplished, for example, by lasers or colored light.

[0019] In prior systems, a general route can be established by lighting all rock climbing holds along it. For example, all rock climbing holds contacted by arrow A on Route A can be illuminated before the climber begins climbing. Such systems, while useful, do not allow for any variation of the route in real-time as the climber traverses the route.

[0020] Consider for an example, a case where a climber begins to traverse the climbing wall as embodied in FIG. 2 along route B. In one embodiment, some or all of the primary route 210 can initially be illuminated or otherwise identified. For short, illumination will be used in the following description but any manner of (preferably non-permanent) identification could be used Continuing with the example where the primary route 210 is illuminated, in one embodiment that could result in holds 1-4 all being illuminated with other holds not being illuminated.

[0021] As shown after rock climbing hold 4 is passes, the route splits into first and second sub-routes 212, 214. In one embodiment, the first sub-route is easier than the second sub-route 214. In such a case, the second sub-route 214 may be referred to as a more challenging route relative first sub-route 212 which, thus, may be referred to a less challenging route.

[0022] The rock wall 100 of FIG. 2 can be connected to a control device 200 such that is operatively connected to rock wall 100 so that it can receive information from a sensing apparatus (not shown) that can determine if the climber contacted one or more of the rock climbing holds along the primary route 210. Based on receiving this information, another rock climbing hold can then be illuminated. For example, if it is determined that hold 3 was contracted, hold 5 could then be illuminated. That is, the next illuminated hold is not necessarily the next successive hold. However, this is not a requirement. For instance, if it is determined that hold 3 was contracted, hold 5 could then be illuminated.

[0023] Alternatively, and by way of example only, if it is determined that hold 3 was contracted, hold 8 could then be illuminated. To that it end, it shall be understood that a quality of how hold 3 was contacted can be utilized to select between additional hold that is illuminated. Stated differently, the quality of how the hold was contacted can cause the controller to cause the route to follow a branch (sub-route) that more or less challenging. For example, if the climber only contacted hold 3 for a short time, the climber may be experienced and/or having a good day should be challenged by being cause to follow the second (more challenging) branch 214 rather than the first (less challenging branch) 212. In a different example, if the force exerted on hold 3 (or a peak value thereof) is higher than a threshold, it may be assumed that the transition from hold 3 to hold 4 was difficult for the climber and, thus, that the first (less challenging branch) 212 should be selected. Further, consider the example where hold 3 is never contacted but hold 4 is. This can indicate that the climber may be experienced and/or having a good day and was capable of skipping hold 3 and should be challenged by being cause to follow the second (more challenging) branch 214 rather than the first (less challenging branch) 212. Additionally, in some instances the sensing apparatus can determine if one hold 3 was contacted by 1 or 2 hands. This can be accomplished, for example, by utilizing more than one force sensor on the hold. Again, such information can be used to select an additional hold to be contacted by the climber.

[0024] Of course, other types of conclusions can be reached based on the times/forces/numbers of hands without departing from the general understanding that a signal received by the control device 200 from a sensing apparatus indicative of the climber contacting the first one of the plurality of rock climbing holds, causes at least a second one of the plurality of rock climbing holds to be indicated as an additional hold to be contacted as the climber traverses a climbing route along the wall. Further, additional or alternative information can be utilized.

[0025] Referring back to FIG. 2, assume that the first sub-route 212 has been selected. In such case, all of holds 5, 6 and 7 could be illuminated or only one a time. Now assume that the second sub-route 214 was selected. Based on information received about the contact quality of any or all of holds 1-4 and 8-9, the control device 200 can select between the third and fourth sub-routes 216, 218. In this example, the third sub-route 216 can be a less challenging route compared to the fourth sub-route 218. As illustrated, and by way of example only, routes 216/218 are branches off of the “primary route” 214. These two routes include holds 10, 11 and 12, 11 respectively. Thus, while be “different” they do include at least one common hold.

[0026] Herein, the holds either have sensing elements in/on them or the system a whole includes a sensing apparatus that can determine a quality of how a climber contacts one or more of the holds along the route. Examples of such qualities can include forces exerted on the hold, a time the climber contacted a hold, a number of hands on the hold or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the sensing apparatus comprises one or more force sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors. Such sensors can be used to determine any of the above qualities of the contact. In an alternative embodiment, the sensing apparatus is a camera or a laser scanner and the sensing apparatus has a field of view that extends over at least a portion of the support wall 102. This device can be used instead of or in addition to the FSR sensors. In one embodiment, the sensing apparatus can be implemented such that conductive “chalk” is on the holds and contact of the climbers hand will thereby vary a captaincy between two locations on the hold.

[0027] In any of the above described embodiments, the rock climbing wall can include a wall angle adjustment system that, based on the signal, adjusts an angle of the platform relative to a horizontal axis. In such an embodiment, the control device selects the additional hold from a first group of the rock climbing holds along a more challenging route and a second group of the rock climbing holds along a less challenging route based at least in part on the angle of the platform relative to the horizontal axis.

[0028] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0029] While the preferred embodiments to the invention have been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.