Multi-purpose adjustable-incline climbing wall

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable-incline climbing wall. The climbing wall comprises one or more climbing panels supported by a frame and a system for adjusting the incline of the frame to provide a climbing wall of a desired incline. The incline of the climbing wall may be adjusted by activating an actuator, which extends the upper portion of the frame a distance from a support wall, tilting the climbing wall to a desired incline. When the climbing wall is substantially vertically oriented, the system for adjusting the incline of the climbing wall may extend only a small distance from the support wall so that the adjustable-incline climbing wall has a relatively small footprint. In some embodiments, the climbing wall may also comprise one or more fitness accessories that can brought to an optimal height for a particular user through adjustment of the climbing wall incline.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An adjustable-incline climbing wall comprising:
 a. one or more climbing panels configured to provide a climbing surface;   b. a plurality of climbing grips affixed to the climbing surface;   c. a wall frame supporting the one or more climbing panels;   d. a system for adjusting an incline of the climbing surface, the system comprising
 i. a support assembly comprising
 a fixed frame element that supports a lower edge of the wall frame in a raised position relative to a ground surface on which the support assembly rests, and 
 an actuator support frame; and 
 
 ii. a linear actuator configured to adjust the incline of the climbing surface so that the climbing surface may be positioned at a plurality of angles within a permitted range; 
   wherein the linear actuator has a first end hingedly connected to the actuator support frame and a second end hingedly connected to the wall frame;   wherein the lower edge of the wall frame is hingedly connected to a top of the fixed frame element; and   wherein the permitted range includes between about 95° and about 55° relative to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the permitted range includes between about 97° and about 55° relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 2 , wherein the permitted range includes between about 100° and about 55° relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the permitted range includes between about 95° and about 45° relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the fixed frame element is at least twelve inches above the ground surface; and
 wherein the fixed frame element comprises a front surface which provides a lower, fixed portion of the climbing surface.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 5 , wherein the lower, fixed portion of the climbing surface comprises one or more climbing grips. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic linear actuator, a hydraulic linear actuator, and an electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the linear actuator is hingedly connected to the actuator support frame at a fixed location. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the linear actuator is hingedly connected to the wall frame at a fixed location. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly includes a base unit having a first end and a second end, the actuator support frame being positioned at the first end of the base unit and the fixed frame element being positioned at the second end of the base unit. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more stabilization members that connect the actuator support frame to the fixed frame element. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator support frame comprises at least first and second vertical members and a crossbar member. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator support frame supports the first end of the actuator at a position that is higher than the top of the fixed frame element. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator, each of the first and second linear actuators having a first end hingedly connected to the actuator support frame and a second end hingedly connected to the wall frame,
 the first ends of the first and second linear actuators being aligned along the same horizontal plane and the second ends of the first and second linear actuators being aligned along the same horizontal plane; and   wherein the first and second linear actuators are configured to operate in sync with one another   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator support frame comprises at least first and second vertical members and a crossbar member. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the first linear actuator is positioned substantially at a top of the first vertical member and the first end of the second linear actuator is positioned substantially at a top of the second vertical member. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 16 , further comprising a first stabilization member that connects the first vertical member of the actuator support frame to the fixed frame element and a second stabilization member that connects the second vertical member of the actuator support frame to the fixed frame element. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 17 , wherein the top of each of the first and second vertical members is positioned higher than the top of the fixed frame element, and
 wherein each of the first and second stabilization members extend diagonally downward between substantially the top of the vertical member and the fixed frame element.   
     
     
         19 . An adjustable-incline climbing wall comprising:
 a. one or more climbing panels configured to provide a climbing surface, the one or more climbing panels being configured to receive a plurality of climbing grips;   b. a wall frame supporting the one or more climbing panels;   c. a system for adjusting an incline of the climbing surface, the system comprising
 i. a support assembly comprising
 a fixed frame element that supports a lower edge of the wall frame in a raised position relative to a ground surface on which the support assembly rests, and 
 an actuator support frame; and 
 
 ii. at least first and second linear actuators, the first and second linear actuators being configured operate in sync with one another to adjust the incline of the climbing surface so that the climbing surface may be positioned at a plurality of angles within a permitted range; 
   wherein each of the first and second linear actuators has a first end hingedly connected to the actuator support frame and a second end hingedly connected to the wall frame;   wherein the lower edge of the wall frame is hingedly connected to a top of the fixed frame element;   wherein the actuator support frame comprises at least first and second vertical members and a crossbar member; and   wherein the first end of the first linear actuator is positioned substantially at a top of the first vertical member and the first end of the second linear actuator is positioned substantially at a top of the second vertical member.   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable-incline climbing wall of  claim 19 , further comprising a first stabilization member that connects the first vertical member of the actuator support frame to the fixed frame element and a second stabilization member that connects the second vertical member of the actuator support frame to the fixed frame element.