EP0612541A1 - Climbing wall construction system - Google Patents

Abstract

In DE 39 04 722, a system was published, which consists of climbing plates of different geometrical shapes which are to be connected at any angular position via hinges which close without a gap. The aim of the present invention consists in further developing the system in DE 39 04 722 in such a manner that its variation possibilities are again significantly increased. In the construction system according to the invention, the "climbing plates" consist of supporting frames and textured plates which are to be mounted thereon and can be exchanged at any time. Moreover, it includes a rapid-closure system which automatically centres the hinges on assembly and can be secured in such a manner that even movable climbing walls become possible. The corner construction allows maximum utilisation of the hinge angles and the holes at the corners are closed by screw-in shaped parts. A special fastening system for screw-on grips allows, in addition to the rotation thereof, mounting at different inclinations also. Connection to commercially available scaffolding systems is achieved using adaptor pipes; base elements afford a stable standing surface and allow fastening of edge plates to a hall wall or ceiling. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a building system for artificial climbing walls and / or climbing towers according to the preamble of claim 1.
Climbing systems of this type are used for training and competition purposes both outdoors and in halls.
The system to be described here enables the construction of a large number of differently shaped systems, permits variations in climbing difficulties by changing the handles and by exchanging or rotating entire structural panels, and also enables the systems to be converted into other shapes. It is particularly suitable for the construction of movable climbing walls.

State of the art

DE 39 04 722 makes the most important contribution to the current state of the art. This is a building system with different, geometrically shaped climbing plates (for example squares, various triangles, regular pentagons, etc.). All edges of these panels of equal length can be coupled in any angular position using separable hinges. In order to ensure gap-free closing between coupled plates in any angular position, the edges of the plates are each half formed by a cylinder concentric with the axis of rotation of the hinges and half by a corresponding recess. With this system, a large number of spatial wall shapes can be realized with a small number of different basic elements.
An overview of previous developments is contained in DE 39 04 722.

Criticism of the state of the art

DE 39 04 722 allows the construction of a large number of different wall shapes - but the possible variations are not yet used optimally. The design features responsible for this are shown below:
The climbing plates are firmly attached to the hinges and represent load-bearing elements of the entire climbing wall. It is therefore not possible or only possible to replace or rotate individual climbing plates when the system is fully installed.
Since the outer or inner handles are screwed onto a flat surface or in a suitable recess, they can be turned, but their inclination cannot be varied.
The bolts are inserted into the hinges. During assembly, the individual panels must be moved into the exact position in which the hinges close with a certain amount of force. Problems arise in practice (exact position cannot be fixed with one arm; clamp bolts). In addition, there are no fuses for the bolts.
The corner construction shown in DE 39 04 722 does not allow the constructively possible freedom of movement, which means that the possibilities of the system are restricted. In addition, it is particularly at risk of damage in the case of acute-angled corners (36 °).

task

• daß bei fertig montierten Kletterwänden einzelne Kletterplatten austauschbar bzw. drehbar sind:
• daß anschraubbare Griffe nicht nur drehbar, sondern auch in verschiedenen Abstufungen neigbar sind;
• daß die Verbindung der Scharniere mittels eines Schnellverschlußsystems erfolgt und dieses System gleichzeitig ein Zentrieren der Scharniere bewirkt;
• daß die Ecken so weit ausgespart werden, daß der volle. konstruktiv mögliche Bewegungsumfang realisierbar ist und die entstehenden Löcher durch einschraubbare Passteile geschlossen werden;
• daß bewegliche Konstruktionen möglich werden,
• und daß das Bausystem durch geeignete Basiselemente und Adapterteile an Boden. Wand und/oder Gerüst zu befestigen ist.

Based on DE 39 04 722, the invention has for its object to improve a generic construction system for climbing systems. that the system's possible variations are increased considerably. In particular, this means

• that when the climbing walls are fully assembled, individual climbing plates can be exchanged or rotated:
• that screw-on handles are not only rotatable, but can also be inclined in different increments;
• that the connection of the hinges takes place by means of a quick-release system and this system simultaneously causes the hinges to be centered;
• that the corners are cut out so far that the full one. constructively possible range of motion is feasible and the resulting holes are closed by screw-in fitting parts;
• that moving constructions become possible
• and that the building system through suitable base elements and adapter parts on the ground. Wall and / or scaffold is to be attached.

Solution: construction system for climbing systems

• Abb. 1
  verdeutlich die Trennung von Rahmen und Strukturplatte. Sie zeigt als Schnitt ein geeignetes Aluminiumprofil (a.) mit integriertem, dickwandigem Rohr sowie die an dem Profil mit Senkkopfschrauben zu befestigende Strukturplatte (b.).
  Die Trennung von Rahmen und Strukturplatten bewirkt, daß lediglich die Rahmen zu den tragenden Elementen der Kletterwandkonstruktion gehören. Die Strukturplatten haben. abgesehen von versteifenden Effekten. keine tragende Funktion mehr. Sie können jederzeit gegen gleich große Platten anderer Struktur ausgetauscht werden. Darüber hinaus können Platten mit entsprechender Geometrie auch in verschiedenen Positionen eingesetzt werden - ein regelmäßiges Fünfeck z.B. in fünf. ein Rechteck in zwei.
  Der Vorteil des Profils mit integriertem Rohr besteht erfindungsgemäß darin. daß die Scharnierteile und die Zylinder identisch sind und nicht mehr aufwendig am Rahmen befestigt werden müssen.
  Das dargestellte Profil gestattet positive Winkelstellungen bis zu 54° (spitze Kante) und negative Winkelstellungen bis zu rund 300° (enge Verschneidung). Die Profile werden auf Gehrungen geschnitten und zu Rahmen mit geeigneten geometrischen Formen verschweißt.
  Aus Stabilitätsgründen liegt es nahe, die Srukturplatten nochmals mit einem internen Rahmen (c.) zu versteifen. der in eine entsprechenden Aussparung des äußeren Profils passt.
• Abb. 2
  zeigt als Aufsicht eine mögliche Art der Ausfräsung des Rohres. so daß die Profile im Sinne von Scharnieren zusammenwirken können.
  Die Ausfräsung hat dabei so zu erfolgen, daß der Kantenverlauf der Fräsung bzw. des Rohres bezüglich der Rohrmitte punktsymmetrischen Charakter aufweist. Entsprechende, für den Zusammenbau erforderliche Toleranzen sind abweichend von der Symmetrie zu berücksichtigen.
  Die Rohre müssen in einem gewissen Abstand (d.) vor den Ecken enden, um den vollen Bewegungsumfang der Scharniere zu gewährleisten. Dieser Abstand wird parallel zur Drehachse der Scharniere gemessen und beträgt:
  $\text{d = r/tg(α/2)}$
  
  mit: r = Radius des Rohres und α = kleinster auftretender Rahmeneckwinkel. Diese Forderung ergibt z.B. bei r = 14.5 mm und α = 36° einen minimalen Abstand vom Rohrende Zur Ecke von rund 45 mm und bewirkt bei Verbindung rechtwinkliger Platten in einer Ebene kreuzförmige Öffnungen im Bereich der Eckpunkte (vgl. Abb.6).
• Abb. 3
  stellt ein Schnellverschlußsystem dar. Sie zeigt als Längsschnitt ein Scharnierteil. das aus Rohrstück mit Gewinde (e.). aus Rohrstück mit Senkbohrung (f.) und einem Gewindestift mit Innensechskant und Zapfen (g.) besteht. Das Scharnierteil ist oben in offener und unten in geschlossener Position dargestellt.
  Die Führung des Scharnierbolzens durch ein Gewinde hat die folgenden drei Vorteile:
  Erstens wird. sobald der Zapfen in die Senkbohrung eingegriffen hat. das Scharnierteil durch weiteres Einschrauben des Gewindestiftes zwangsweise zentriert.
  Zweitens erreicht man durch Anziehen des Gewindestiftes. daß das für die Montage notwendige axiale Spiel des Scharniers auf Null reduziert wird.
  Und drittens stellt das Gewinde gleichzeitig eine Sicherung für nach der Montage nicht mehr bewegte Scharnierteile dar (Sicherung für bewegte Scharnierteile vgl. Abb. 5).
  Zur Erhöhung der Stabilität des Scharniers wählt man einen Gewindestift, dessen Zapfen so lang ist. daß er noch die nächste Scharnierverbindung (z.B. in Kantenmitte) stabilisiert. Diese Konstruktion kann erforderlich sein. wenn die Stabilität einer Kante nicht mehr ausreicht, um im Bereich der Kantenmitte die für Sicherungshaken erforderlichen Festtigkeitswerte zu gewährleisten. Diese Situation ist besonders In Dächern vorstellbar, wenn im Bereich der Kantenmitte eine axiale Belastung des Sicherungspunktes auftritt.
• Abb. 4
  zeigt als Längsschnitt ein Sicherungssystem für den Gewindestift. Es sind: (h.) eine metrische Schraube, deren Kopf der Größe des Innensechskants des Gewindestiftes entspricht (bei M20-Gewinde für den Gewindestift ist hier M6 zu verwenden; (i.) ein Abstandhalter; (j.) zwei Beilagscheiben; (k.) ein Gummiring und (l.) eine Mutter.
  Die abgebildete Konstruktion wird bis zum Anschlag in den Innensechskant des korrekt angezogenen Gewindestiftes gesteckt. Anschließend zieht man die Mutter soweit an. daß der Gummiring fest gegen das Gewinde gepresst wird. Dadurch entsteht eine Drehsicherung für den Gewindestift. Diese Drehsicherung ist erforderlich, wenn Scharniere nach der Montage der Kletterwand noch bewegt werden sollen (bewegliche Kletterwand).
• Abb. 5
  zeigt als Aufsicht und als Schnitt ein Winkelteil für 90° (m.) und ein Einsteckteil (n.) sowie als Aufsicht eine dreiviertel geschlossene Ecke.
  Die Winkelteile (m.) dienen zum Schlieißen der Löcher an den Eckpunkten (vgl. Text zu Abb. 2). Das abgebildete Teil erfordert mindestens eine 90°-Rahmenecke und wird mit dem Gewinde des Scharniers verschraubt. Dies geschieht mittels der in das Winkelstück integrierten Schraube (p.) und dem Adapterteil (q.), das den Schraubendurchmesser an das Gewinde des Scharnierteils anpasst. Eine Nut (r.) am anderen Schenkel des Winkelteils verhindert, daß sich das montierte Winkelteil wegdrehen kann.
  Das Winkelteil (m.) wird durch elastische Plastikteile (n.) zum Einstecken in die verbleibenden Scharnierrohre ergänzt.
• Abb. 6
  zeigt eine runde Vertiefung in der Oberfläche einer Strukturplatte als Aufsicht und als Schnitt.
  Die Vertiefung hat die Form der Oberfläche eines Kugelsegmentes und enthält an mehreren Stellen Gewindebuchsen (s.). Im abgebildeten Beispiel beträgt der Kugelausschnitt 90° und die Gewindebuchsen sitzen in der Mitte des Ausschnittes und kranzförmig im Abstand von 15°.
  Je nach der Drehung der Strukturplatte können mit dieser Anordnung der Gewindebuchsen die aufzuschraubenden Klettergriffe in drei bis vier Abstufungen um max. 15° (min. ca. 8°) nach oben und unten geneigt werden. Natürlich lassen sie sich nach wie vor auch durch Drehen variieren.
• Abb. 7
  zeigt als Schnitte Möglichkeiten der Montage von Griffen in den runden Vertiefungen.
  • 7.1. stellt ein "Totelement" dar, das man benötigt, um die runde Vertiefung auszugleichen, sofern keine Griff- bzw. Trittmöglichkeit gewünscht wird.
  • 7.2. zeigt das selbe Totelement in einer der äußeren Gewindebuchsen montiert, so daß es einen Griff bzw. Tritt bildet.
  • 7.3. zeigt ein Totelement mit exzentrischer Befestigung, das durch Drehen eine stufenlose Veränderung der Tritt- bzw. Griffgröße gestattet.
  • 7.4. zeigt einen Innengriff in maximal abschüssiger Stellung montiert.
  • 7.5. zeigt den seiben Innengriff in maximal positiver Stellung montiert.
  • 7.6. zeigt einen Außengriff, der unter Verwendung eines vorderseitig planen Adapterteiles montiert wurde.

The object is achieved by the features of claim one and the features of subclaims two to eight. The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of examples and with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1
  illustrates the separation of frame and structure plate. It shows a section of a suitable aluminum profile (a.) With an integrated, thick-walled tube and the structural plate to be attached to the profile with countersunk screws (b.).
  The separation of the frame and structural panels means that only the frame belongs to the load-bearing elements of the climbing wall construction. The structure plates have. aside from stiffening effects. no longer a supporting function. They can be replaced at any time with panels of the same size and of a different structure. In addition, plates with the appropriate geometry can also be used in different positions - a regular pentagon, for example in five. a rectangle in two.
  The advantage of the profile with an integrated tube according to the invention is that. that the hinge parts and the cylinders are identical and no longer need to be attached to the frame.
  The profile shown allows positive angular positions up to 54 ° (pointed edge) and negative angular positions up to around 300 ° (tight intersection). The profiles are mitred and welded to frames with suitable geometric shapes.
  For reasons of stability, it makes sense to stiffen the structure plates again with an internal frame (c.). that fits into a corresponding recess in the outer profile.
• Fig. 2
  shows a top view of a possible way of milling the pipe. so that the profiles can work together in the sense of hinges.
  The milling must be carried out in such a way that the edge profile of the milling or of the pipe is point-symmetrical with respect to the pipe center. Corresponding tolerances required for assembly must be taken into account deviating from the symmetry.
  The pipes must end at a certain distance (d.) From the corners to the to ensure full range of movement of the hinges. This distance is measured parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinges and is:
  $\text{d = r / tg (α / 2)}$
  
  with: r = radius of the tube and α = smallest occurring corner angle. This requirement results, for example, at r = 14.5 mm and α = 36 ° a minimum distance from the pipe end to the corner of around 45 mm and, when rectangular plates are connected, creates cross-shaped openings in the plane of the corner points (see Fig. 6).
• Fig. 3
  represents a quick release system. It shows a hinge part as a longitudinal section. the one from pipe with thread (e.). consists of a pipe section with countersunk hole (f.) and a grub screw with hexagon socket and pin (g.). The hinge part is shown in the open position at the top and in the closed position at the bottom.
  Guiding the hinge pin through a thread has the following three advantages:
  First will. as soon as the pin has engaged in the counterbore. the hinge part is forcibly centered by further screwing in the grub screw.
  Second, you can do this by tightening the grub screw. that the axial play of the hinge required for assembly is reduced to zero.
  And thirdly, the thread also serves as a safety device for hinge parts that are no longer moving after assembly (safety device for moving hinge parts, see Fig. 5).
  To increase the stability of the hinge, choose a grub screw, the pin of which is so long. that it still stabilizes the next hinge connection (eg in the middle of the edge). This construction may be necessary. when the stability of an edge is no longer sufficient to ensure the strength values required for securing hooks in the area of the center of the edge. This situation is particularly conceivable in roofs when there is an axial load on the securing point in the area of the center edge.
• Fig. 4
  shows a longitudinal section of a locking system for the grub screw. They are: (h.) A metric screw, the head of which corresponds to the size of the hexagon socket of the grub screw (for M20 threads for the grub screw, M6 is closed here use; (i.) a spacer; (j.) two washers; (k.) a rubber ring and (l.) a nut.
  The construction shown is inserted into the hexagon socket of the correctly tightened grub screw until it stops. Then you tighten the mother so far. that the rubber ring is pressed firmly against the thread. This creates a rotation lock for the grub screw. This rotation lock is required if hinges are to be moved after the climbing wall has been installed (movable climbing wall).
• Fig. 5
  shows an angle part for 90 ° (m.) and a plug-in part (n.) as a top view and a cut as well as a three-quarter closed corner as top view.
  The angular parts (m.) Are used to close the holes at the corner points (see text for Fig. 2). The part shown requires at least a 90 ° frame corner and is screwed to the thread of the hinge. This is done using the screw (p.) Integrated in the contra-angle handpiece and the adapter part (q.), Which adjusts the screw diameter to the thread of the hinge part. A groove (right) on the other leg of the angled part prevents the assembled angled part from turning away.
  The angle part (m.) Is supplemented by elastic plastic parts (n.) For insertion into the remaining hinge tubes.
• Fig. 6
  shows a round depression in the surface of a structure plate as a top view and as a cut.
  The depression has the shape of the surface of a spherical segment and contains threaded bushings in several places (see). In the example shown, the spherical cut-out is 90 ° and the threaded bushes sit in the center of the cut-out and are ring-shaped at a distance of 15 °.
  Depending on the rotation of the structure plate, this arrangement of threaded bushings allows the climbing holds to be screwed on in three to four increments by max. 15 ° (min. Approx. 8 °) up and down. Of course, they can still be varied by turning them.
• Fig. 7
  shows cuts as options for mounting handles in the round recesses.
  • 7.1. represents a "Totelement", which one needs to compensate for the round depression, if no grip or step possibility is desired.
  • 7.2. shows the same Totelement mounted in one of the outer threaded bushings, so that it forms a handle or step.
  • 7.3. shows a Totelement with eccentric attachment, which allows a stepless change of the step or handle size by turning.
  • 7.4. shows an inner handle mounted in the maximum inclined position.
  • 7.5. shows the inner handle in the maximum positive position.
  • 7.6. shows an outer handle, which was mounted using a flat front adapter part.

Fortifications

Adapter tubes and basic elements are used for the internal bracing of the frames, for connection to commercially available scaffolding and for fastening the frames to the floor, wall and / or ceiling.

The adapter pipe consists of a piece of pipe and at least two metal blocks welded to it. The blocks each have a bore with an internal thread and are screwed to the inner leg of the profile with countersunk screws. The diameter of the adapter tube is approx. 48 mm. It can be connected to any scaffolding using the standard and rotating couplings and additional 48 mm pipes. The same system is used for bracing between different frames.

The base element consists of a profile edge and at least two U-profile parts welded on in the area of the hinges, which form stable support surfaces. The basic elements are required to withstand the pressure that the lower frames exert on the floor. spread over a larger area and to achieve solid stability for the lower frames. The base parts can also be used through holes in the contact surfaces. to attach marginal frames of a given climbing wall to the hall ceiling or one of the walls.

Claims (8)

Construction system for variable climbing systems, consisting of prefabricated climbing plates - with different geometric shapes. - straight edges. - suitable surface structure and threaded bushings for attaching safety hooks as well as external and internal handles: Climbing plates that can be attached to a wall or scaffolding and that can be connected using hinges and cylinders concentric to them in any angular position and close without gaps. characterized, - That the climbing plates consist of frames and structural plates to be fastened to them. - that the hinges and the cylinders concentric to them are identical, - That the frame consist of a suitable profile (eg made of aluminum) in which a thick-walled tube is integrated. that this tube is in each case removed (milled out) over half the edge length in such a way that the remaining tube parts of two edges interact in the manner of hinges, - And that the bolts (grub screws with hexagon socket and pin) are screwed into the hinges by means of a thread in the outer tube part. Building system for climbing systems according to claim 1, characterized. that countersunk holes exist in the respective inner hinge parts of an edge. through which the bolts to be screwed in from the outside force centering of the hinges. Construction system for climbing systems according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the bolts are so long that they also grip hinges located further inside (eg at the middle of the edge). Building system for climbing systems according to claims 1 to 3, characterized.
that the bolts of hinges. which are moved after assembly (movable climbing wall) can be locked with a safety system. Building system for climbing systems according to claims 1 to 4, characterized.
that the holes formed at the corner points are closed by angular parts which are to be screwed into an outer hinge part and by additional flexible plastic fitting parts which are to be inserted into the remaining hinge parts. Building system for climbing systems according to claims 1 to 5, characterized.
that there are round depressions in the structure plates with the shape of the surface of a spherical segment, which contain threaded bushings in several places and thus the attachment of a given climbing grip is not only rotatable. but also allow in different inclinations. Building system for climbing systems according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in
that the frame by means of adapter tube parts which are connected to at least two points with one or more frames. can be connected to a standard scaffolding system. Building system for climbing systems according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the frames are set up on the floor or fastened to the floor, wall or ceiling with the aid of basic elements which consist of a frame edge and perforated plates attached to it.

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