Climbing wall assemblies

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to climbing wall assemblies having a variety of improvements. For instance, the climbing wall assemblies may include connectors to attach the surface panels to the framework, in which the connectors may be mounted substantially anywhere along the front of the framework and at substantially any angle, providing for the securement of climbing panels in various geometries. The climbing wall assemblies may also include braces that may easily be adjusted to a desired length and configuration during construction of a climbing wall. The climbing wall assemblies may also include variable-angle, integral front posts, which provide for the easy and stable securement of climbing panels in various geometries. These improvements provide climbing wall assemblies that may be easily assembled to produce a desirable climbing wall structure having few framework components.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A climbing wall comprising:
 a framework;   one or more surface panels affixed to the framework, each of the one or more surface panels having a front face; and   a plurality of climbing holds arranged along the front face(s) of the one or more surface panels;   wherein the front face of at least one of the one or more surface panels comprises a textured surface that is substantially transparent.   
     
     
         2 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface comprises an aggregate dispersed in a substantially transparent matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The climbing wall of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially transparent matrix is polymeric. 
     
     
         4 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , wherein the substantially transparent matrix is an epoxy or polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , in which the aggregate comprises glass particles. 
     
     
         6 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , in which the aggregate comprises a light-transmitting silica sand, a ceramic powder, or a natural granular material. 
     
     
         7 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , in which the aggregate has particle sizes between about 100 microns and about 900 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , wherein the aggregate itself has at least 80% transmittance of visible light. 
     
     
         9 . The climbing wall of  claim 2 , in which the textured surface further comprises a top layer of clear polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , the surface panel further comprising at least one layer underlying the textured surface and having a wood grain that is visible through the textured surface. 
     
     
         11 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , the surface panel further comprising at least one layer underlying the textured surface and having a graphic element that is visible through the textured surface. 
     
     
         12 . The climbing wall of  claim 11 , wherein the graphic element comprises a business name, a business logo, an image associated with the installation location of the climbing wall, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , the surface panel further comprises at least one layer underlying the textured surface, the at least one layer comprising a light-emitting element. 
     
     
         14 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more light emitting elements positioned behind the surface panel and configured to emit light through the surface panel. 
     
     
         15 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the surface panel further comprises a substantially transparent base layer. 
     
     
         16 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , in which the textured surface that is substantially transparent has at least 85% transmittance of visible light. 
     
     
         17 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , in which the textured surface that is substantially transparent has at least 90% transmittance of visible light. 
     
     
         18 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more volumes, at least one of the one or more volumes having a substantially transparent, textured surface. 
     
     
         19 . The climbing wall of  claim 18 , wherein the substantially transparent, textured surface of the at least one volume is coarser than the substantially transparent, textured surface of the one or more surface panels. 
     
     
         20 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , in which each of the one or more surface panels comprises a textured surface that is substantially transparent.