Expandable climbing panel and climbing wall having such a panel

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a climbing wall comprising one or more expandable climbing panels. The expandable climbing panel may be configured so that changing the angle of a portion of the climbing wall in one direction causes the climbing panel to expand, such that the panel provides an increased climbing surface area, and changing the angle of the portion of the climbing wall in the other direction causes the climbing panel to contract, such that the panel provides a reduced climbing surface area. By hingedly attaching the expandable climbing panel to first and second wall portions, at least one of which is adjustable to a plurality of angles, a climbing wall that can be brought into a variety of different configurations, e.g. at the touch of a button, is produced.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A climbing wall assembly comprising:
 an adjustable-incline wall portion comprising a climbing surface configured to receive a plurality of climbing grips and a framework;   a fixed frame element that supports a lower edge of the adjustable-incline wall portion in a raised position relative to a ground surface, the lower edge of the adjustable-incline wall portion being hingedly connected to a top of the fixed frame element;   a support structure positioned behind the adjustable-incline wall portion; and   a system for changing inclines of upper and lower segments of the adjustable-incline wall portion with respect to a vertical axis, the system comprising:
 a first actuator having a first end connected to the support structure and a second end connected to a lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion, the first actuator being configured to change an incline of the adjustable-incline wall portion about the hinged connection between the lower edge of the adjustable-incline wall portion and the top of the fixed frame element; and 
 a second actuator having a first end connected to the support structure and a second end connected to an upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion, the second actuator being configured to change an incline of the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion about a hinged connection between the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion and the lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic linear actuator, a hydraulic linear actuator, and an electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second actuator is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic linear actuator, a hydraulic linear actuator, and an electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the second actuator is connected to the support structure at a higher vertical position than the first end of the first actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the first actuator is connected to a first crossbar of the support structure and the first end of the second actuator is connected to a second crossbar of the support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first actuator is connected to the lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion at a position adjacent to the hinged connection between the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion and the lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion. 
     
     
         7 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second actuator is connected to the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion at a position adjacent a top edge of the upper segment. 
     
     
         8 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is one of a first set of actuators, each of which having a first end connected to the support structure and a second end connected to a lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion,
 the first set of actuators together being configured to change the incline of the adjustable-incline wall portion about the hinged connection between the lower edge of the adjustable-incline wall portion and the top of the fixed frame element.   
     
     
         9 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second actuator is one of a second set of actuators, each of which having a first end connected to the support structure and a second end connected to an upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion,
 the second set of actuators together being configured to change the incline of the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion about the hinged connection between the upper segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion and the lower segment of the adjustable-incline wall portion.   
     
     
         10 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed frame element comprises a front surface which provides a lower, fixed climbing surface. 
     
     
         11 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the fixed frame element is at least twelve inches above the ground surface. 
     
     
         12 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured such that: (i) the lower wall segment may be brought to a lesser angle relative to vertical than the upper wall segment to produce a concave climbing surface, and (ii) the lower wall segment may be brought to a greater angle relative to vertical than the upper wall segment to produce a convex climbing surface. 
     
     
         13 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing surface is continuous between the lower segment and the upper segment throughout a permissible range of inclines. 
     
     
         14 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more expandable climbing panels, wherein the one or more expandable climbing panels are configured to be expanded and retracted by operation of the first actuator, the second actuator, or both. 
     
     
         15 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more expandable climbing panels has the general shape of a triangle. 
     
     
         16 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of climbing grips arranged along the climbing surface. 
     
     
         17 . The climbing wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be operated independently, such that the angle of the lower wall segment may be adjusted independently of the angle of the upper wall segment, and vice versa.