Adjustable, variable step campus board

Abstract

A campus board climbing assembly is made up of a plurality of panels stacked vertically, with the front surfaces of the panels together forming a climbing surface. The front surfaces of the panels include climbing grips, such as rungs. The assembly also includes an adjustment system that is configured to move the panels between at least a first position, in which the front surfaces of the panels form a substantially continuous climbing surface, and a second position, in which the front surfaces of the panels form a stepped climbing surface.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A campus board climbing assembly comprising:
 a plurality of panels, each panel having a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, wherein the plurality of panels are stacked vertically such that the front surfaces together form a climbing surface;   a first side pane and a second side pane, wherein each of the plurality of panels is slidably connected to the first and second side panes; and   an adjustment system configured to move the plurality of panels between at least:
 a first position, in which the front surfaces of the panels form a substantially continuous climbing surface, and 
 a second position, in which the front surfaces of the panels form a stepped climbing surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , in which the system is configured to move the plurality of panels to a plurality of different positions in which the front surfaces of the panels form a stepped climbing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable connection comprises the combination of a guide rail and an element that travels along the guide rail. 
     
     
         4 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment system comprises one or more adjustable frames, each of the one or more adjustable frames being configured (i) to rotate or pivot forward, causing the plurality of panels to move in a forward direction, and (ii) to rotate or pivot rearward, causing the plurality of panels to move in a rearward direction. 
     
     
         5 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more adjustable frames are positioned behind the plurality of panels and between the first and second side panes. 
     
     
         6 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment system further comprises one or more actuators configured to bring about the rotation or pivoting of the one or more adjustable frames. 
     
     
         7 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more adjustable frames comprises a lever assembly that is pivoted by the one or more actuators. 
     
     
         8 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pivot point for the lever assembly is located at or near the bottommost of the plurality of panels, such that the upper portion of the lever assembly is pivoted forward a greater distance than the lower portion of the lever assembly to bring about the stepped climbing surface. 
     
     
         9 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more adjustable frames comprise a rotatable frame having a plurality of fingers, each of which is connected to a rear surface of one of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         10 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fingers have different lengths, with the length of the fingers increasing moving vertically upward, such that rotation of the rotatable frame brings about the stepped climbing surface. 
     
     
         11 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more adjustable frames comprise a plurality of mechanical linkages, each of which is connected to a rear surface of one of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         12 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of mechanical linkages have different lengths, with the length of the mechanical linkages increasing moving vertically upward, such that forward movement of the one or more adjustable frames brings about the stepped climbing surface. 
     
     
         13 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment system is configured to be operated automatically. 
     
     
         14 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment system is configured to be operated manually. 
     
     
         15 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the adjustment system is configured to be operated by a hand crank. 
     
     
         16 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , in which the front surface of one or more of the plurality panels, and optionally the front surfaces of each of the plurality of panels, comprises at least one grip. 
     
     
         17 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 16 , in which the at least one grip comprises a rung. 
     
     
         18 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , in which the front surface of one or more of the panels, and optionally the front surfaces of each of the plurality of panels, comprises one or more apertures configured to receive a user-held peg. 
     
     
         19 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , in which the first and second side panes are mounted to a support structure. 
     
     
         20 . The campus board climbing assembly of  claim 1 , in which the climbing surface has a first incline angle when in the first position and a second incline angle when in the second position, the second incline angle being greater than the first incline angle.