GB2424597A

GB2424597A - Rock climbing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2424597A
Application number: GB0524474A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu Feng Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2005-12-01
Publication date: 2006-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-01
Also published as: GB0524474D0; TWI268168B; TW200633743A; GB2424597B

Abstract

A rock climbing apparatus including a support stand 1 on which a main body frame 2 is mounted. The main body frame 2 has two lateral columns 21, several transverse support beams (212 Figure 4) and several longitudinal support columns (213) built between the lateral columns 21 to serve as a support skeleton. A rotary mechanism 3 is arranged in the main body frame 2, including at least two chains (31) in parallel to the length of the main body frame 2, multiple transverse slats 32 in parallel to the width of the main body frame 2 and a power supply 33 for driving the chains (31) to circularly revolve. The longitudinal support columns (213) of the main body frame 2 are arranged in a position where the chains (31) are positioned. Each longitudinal support column (213) has a rib rail (216 Figure 6) whereby the link shafts (312) of the chains (31) are slidably leant on the rib rail (216). The transverse slats 32 are fixed on the chains (31) and immediately adjacent to each other. The chains (31) are positioned near the middle of the transverse slats 32. The transverse slats 32 can circularly revolve along the lateral columns 21. Several rocks 4 are locked on one face of each transverse slat 32 distal from the chains (31) for a user to climb.

Description

ROCK CLIMBING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a rock climbing apparatus, and more particularly to a lightweight rock climbing apparatus which has suflicient strength and can be easily assembled for personal or domestic rock climbing exercise.

Background and Prior Art known to the ADplicant

Rock climbing has become a popular activity. However, natural outdoor rock field can be hardly found. Moreover, there is safety problem in real rock climbing. Therefore, many artificial rock fields have been built. However, the artificial rock field necessitates larger space and the equipments of the artificial rock field are expensive. Therefore, the cost for such rock climbing exercise is high.

U.S. Patent Nos. 5549195, 5125877 and 5919117 disclose rock climbing apparatuses. In each of those rock climbing apparatuses, a caterpillar structure is arranged on a frame body. The caterpillar structure is connected with a transmission mechanism for restricting the rotational speed of the caterpillar structure. Two sides of the caterpillar structure are respectively disposed in the rails of the frame body via chains or rollers, whereby the caterpillar structure can circularly revolve along the rails. Multiple rocks are arranged on the caterpillar structure for a user to climb for rock climbing training and exercise.

In the caterpillar structure of the above rock climbing apparatus, simply two sides of the caterpillar structure bear the force, while the middle of the caterpillar structure totally lacks support structure. The rocks are positioned on the middle of the caterpillar structure.

Therefore, when a user climbs the rocks, the application force will totally fall onto the middle of the caterpillar structure. In order to avoid swing or deformation of the caterpillar structure, the caterpillar structure is designed with quite strong structure for bearing all the application force in climbing.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 5549195 discloses a caterpillar structure composed of multiple solid planks. U.S. Patent No. 5125877 discloses a caterpillar structure composed of multiple metal frames pivotally connected with each other. A board body is inlaid in each metal frame. U. S. Patent No. 5919117 discloses a caterpillar structure composed of multiple extruded board bodies pivotally connected with each other. In order to avoid deformation of the caterpillar structures, in all the above rock climbing apparatuses, the caterpillar structures are designed with quite strong and complicated structures. This results in that the rock climbing apparatus has a weight up to several hundred kilograms.

Therefore, it is hard to move the rock climbing apparatus. In other words, such rock climbing apparatus is unsuitable for personal or domestic rock climbing exercise.

Furthermore, the frame body of the rock climbing apparatus is a huge and heavy structure for supporting the heavy caterpillar. Therefore, the rock climbing apparatus can be hardly assembled or transferred.

Besides, the caterpillar structure has gaps between the board bodies and the frames. These gaps are enlarged when the caterpillar is curved. A user's hairs, clothes, trousers or shoelaces may be chucked in the gaps to result in accident.

U.S. Patent No. 6860836 of this applicant discloses a relatively lightweight rock climbing apparatus. A circularly rotating mechanism is mounted between two frames of a bed. The circularly rotating mechanism includes several sprockets. Each chain has multiple lugs arranged at intervals for mounting multiple transverse beams in parallel to the shaft. Two ends of each transverse beam are respectively inserted in open sides of the two frames.

The transverse beams connected with the chains can be circularly revolved along the inner edges of the open sides of the frames. The chains and the transverse beams are wrapped with serially connected soft pads for shading the chains and the transverse beams.

Multiple rocks are locked on outer sides of the soft pads corresponding to the lugs of the chains. Several U-shaped stopper boards are fixed between the frames corresponding to the chains, whereby the chains can lean on the stopper boards.

The chains can circularly revolve in a fixed path between the frames. The rocks are arranged on the chains which serve as the main supports for the rocks. Multiple transverse beams are arranged on the chains at intervals for bearing the outward pulling force exerted onto the rocks. The chains lean on the U-shaped seats for bearing the inward pushing force exerted onto the rocks. The above structure is simplified and the weight thereof is minifled.

However, in practice, the above rock climbing apparatus still has some shortcomings. The rocks are fixed on the chains. When the rocks are forced inward, the lateral sides of two links of the chain abut against the U-shaped seat. When the chain revolves, the links and the U-shaped seat will abrade each other to produce noise. After a period of use, the links and the U-shaped seat will be worn out. This will affect the smoothness of the revolution and even the strength of the chain. In addition, when the rocks are forced outward, two ends of the transverse beam will abrade the open sides of the frames. Similarly, the transverse beam and the inner sides of the frames will be worn out and noise is produced.

Moreover, the above rock climbing apparatus is lightweight and suitable for personal or domestic use. However, the frames still have a considerable length exceeding the height of an adult for a user climb. The frames are divided into two segments. However, the segments can be hardly conveniently DIY assembled. Furthermore, there is no support structure between the frames. The entire structure is simply supported by the bed.

Therefore, the strength of the rock climbing apparatus is still insufficient.

Besides, the transverse beams are arranged at intervals. Therefore, a gap is defined between two transverse beams. Although the transverse beams are wrapped with the soft pads, a user still often touches the gaps when climbing. At this time, the soft pads will be depressed to contact with the chains or the skeleton inside the frame. Under such circumstance, the inner faces of the soft pads will be abraded and worn out by the chains or the skeleton of the frame.

In addition, the soft pads must have a certain tightness to keep the surface smooth.

However, the transverse beam is wrapped with the soft pad and fixed on the chain via the rock. When the transverse beam is revolved to the sprocket, the transverse beam will be tangential to the circumference of the sprocket. Accordingly, two ends of the transverse beam will lift the soft pad as shown in Fig. 18. At this time, the soft pad will be tensioned.

In some cases, the soft pad will be broken in the position where the rock is fixed. In some serious cases, the chain will be unable to revolve. In the case that the soft pad is made of a resilient material, the inner face of the soft pad will be abraded by the chain or the skeleton of the frame. As a result, after a period of use, the soft pad will elasticall) fail due to the continuous tension.

Summary of the Disclosure

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a rock climbing apparatus including a support stand on which a main body frame is mounted. The support stand serves to support and the main body frame on the ground. The main body frame is an elongated rectangular frame body composed of several frame bodies. Two sides of the main body frame respectively have two lateral columns with substantially C-shaped crosssection. The opposite faces of the lateral columns are respectively formed with two open sides. Several transverse support beams and several longitudinal support columns are built between the open sides of the lateral columns of the main body frame to serve as a support skeleton of the main body frame. A rotary mechanism is arranged in the main body frame. The rotary mechanism includes at least two chains in parallel to the length of the main body frame, multiple transverse slats in parallel to the width of the main body frame and a power supply for driving the chains to circularly revolve. Each chain is composed of multiple links and link shafts. The chains are positioned near the middle of the main body frame. The longitudinal support columns of the main body frame is arranged in a position where the chains are positioned. Each longitudinal support colunm has a rib rail corresponding to the link shafts of the chain, whereby the link shafts are slidably leant on the rib rail. The transverse slats are fixed on the chains and immediately adjacent to each other. The chains are positioned near the middle of the transverse slats.

Two ends of each transverse slat respectively extend into the open sides of the lateral columns of the main body frame, whereby the transverse slats can circularly revolve along inner edges of the open sides. Several rocks are locked on one face of each transverse slat distal from the chains, whereby a user can climb the rocks with hands and feet.

All the rocks are fixed on the transverse slats which are driven by the chains. Therefore, when a user climbs and treads the rocks, the longitudinal application force will be borne by the chains. In addition, the chains lean on the longitudinal support columns of the main body frame. Therefore, when the user climbs the rocks, the force directed to the main body frame will be borne by the longitudinal support columns. The link shafts of the chains slidably lean on the rib rails of the longitudinal support columns. Therefore, the friction between the chains and the longitudinal support columns is reduced, whereby even under greater longitudinal application force, the chains can still smoothly revolve.

Moreover, the chains are positioned near the middle of the transverse slats so that the strength of the middle of the transverse slats is enhanced. Accordingly, it is no more necessary to design the transverse slats with heavy or solid structure as the conventional caterpillar structure. Instead, the transverse slats can be lighter or hollow structures so as to greatly minify the weight of the entire rock climbing apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above rock climbing apparatus in which several transverse support beams and several longitudinal support columns are built between the lateral columns of the main body frame to serve as transverse and longitudinal supports. Therefore, the strength of the main body frame is greatly enhanced.

The middle section of the main body frame is pivotally disposed between the two lateral supports of the support stand. The main body frame is composed of several frame bodies which can be conveniently personally or domestically assembled. In addition, the main body frame can be disassembled into several frame bodies so as to minify the volume and facilitate the transfer.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above rock climbing apparatus in which the transverse slats are immediately adjacent to each other and fixed on the chains. Therefore, the transverse slats can shade the transverse support beams, the longitudinal support columns and the chains arranged inside the frame body frame. In addition, the resilient strips are disposed on the sidewajjs of the transverse slats, whereby the resilient strips of the adjacent transverse slats can resiliently abut against each other so as to block the gap between the adjacent transverse slats. Therefore, the hairs or clothes of a user is prevented from being chucked in the gap. Accordingly, the conventional soft pad can be omitted to eliminate the shortcomings caused by the soft pad.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above rock climbing apparatus in which the transverse slats are immediately adjacent to each other and fixed on the chains. When the transverse slats revolve to the shaft rods, the adjacent transverse slats will depart from each other to form a gap. Several polygonal or circular stopper blocks are arranged on the shaft rods for blocking the gaps between the adjacent transverse slats so as to prevent the user's feet from incautiously extending into the gaps.

Therefore, the safety in use can be ensured.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above rock climbing apparatus in which an antiwear jacket is fitted on each end of the transverse slat extending into the lateral column of the main body frame. The antiwear jacket is made of antiwear material. Therefore, when the transverse slat circularly revolves along the inner edges of the open sides of the lateral columns, the antiwear jackets abut against the inner edges of the open sides to enhance the lubrication and reduce the noise caused by friction.

Included within the scope of the invention is rock climbing apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated by, any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, in which the shade boards are detached from the lateral supports; Fig. 2 is a perspective assembled view of the present invention, in which the shade boards are assembled with the lateral supports; Fig. 3 is a side view of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows the internal structure of the main body frame, the position of the chains and the structure of the extension supports of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 shows the structure of the tension adjustment unit of the present invention; Fig. 9 shows the structure of the stopper block of the present invention; Fig. 10 shows the structure of the transverse slat of the present invention; Fig. 11 shows the assembly of the present invention; Fig. 12 shows that the resilient strips of the transverse slats of the present invention block the gaps between the transverse slats; Fig. 13 is a perspective partially exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a perspective assembled view of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 shows the internal structure of the main body frame, the position of the chains and the structure of the extension supports of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the installation of the inclination control unit of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. I 7A is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention before the angle of the main body frame is adjusted; Fig. 1 7B is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention after the angle of the main body frame is adjusted; and Fig. 18 shows that the soft pad of the conventional rock climbing apparatus is lifted by the transverse beam.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Please refer to Figs. 1 to 12. The rock climbing apparatus of the present invention includes a support stand 1 having a base 11 rested on the ground. Two lateral supports 12 respectively upward extend from two sides of the base 11. A main body frame 2 is pivotally mounted between the two lateral supports 12.

The main body frame 2 is an elongated rectangular frame body composed of several frame bodies. The main body frame 2 has two lateral columns 21 with substantially C- shaped cross-section. The opposite faces of the lateral columns 21 are formed with open sides 211. Several transverse support beams 212 and several longitudinal support columns 213 are built between the lateral columns 21 to serve as a support skeleton of the main body frame. In this embodiment, the main body frame 2 is composed of an upper, a middle and a lower frame bodies 22. Each frame body 22 has transverse support beams 212 and longitudinal support columns 213. The adjacent transverse support beams 212 of the frame bodies 22 abut against and attach to each other to connect the frame bodies 22.

Several locating members 214 and several fixing members 215 are disposed on the connected transverse support beams 212. In this embodiment, the locating member 214 includes a boss 21 4A and a hole 21 4B in which the boss 21 4A is inserted as shown in Fig. 6. The boss 2l4A and the hole 2l4B are respectively formed on the connected transverse support beams 212 for locating and assembling the frame bodies 22 into the main body frame 2. Two pivot shafts 23 respectively protrude from two sides of the middle frame body 22. The pivot shafts 23 cooperate with two shaft seats 24 to pivotally connect the middle frame body 22 with the lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1. In addition, two locating holes 221 are respectively formed on two sides of the middle frame body 22. The lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1 are formed with multiple adjustment holes 121 corresponding to the locating holes 221 of the middle frame body 22. Each lateral support 12 of the support stand 1 has an insertion pin 13 corresponding to the adjustment hole 121 and the locating hole 22. The insertion pin 13 can be passed through the adjustment hole 121 and inserted into the locating hole 221 to fix the main body frame 2 in an inclined position.

Two extension supports 14 respectively outward extend from two sides of the lateral supports 12. Each extension support 14 has a transverse extension beam 141. One end of the extension beam 141 is fixedly connected with one end of an oblique beam 142 and spaced from the ground by a gap. The other end of the extension beam 141 is locked on the base 11. The other end of the oblique beam 142 is locked on outer side of upper end of the lateral support 12. A pad body 145 is disposed under lower end of the oblique beam 142. The pad body 145 has an adjustment member 143 which can be rotated to adjust the height. In this embodiment, the adjustment member 143 is a bolt. A shade board 144 is laid between each lateral support 12 and the oblique beam 142 to cover the lateral support 12 and the oblique beam 142. The shade board 144 substantially is a hollow triangular column having an open lateral face facing the lateral support 12 and an open bottom face.

The rock climbing apparatus of the present invention further includes a rotary mechanism 3 arranged in the main body frame 2. The rotary mechanism 3 includes at least two chains 31 in parallel to the length of the main body frame 2, multiple transverse slats 32 in parallel to the width of the main body frame 2 and a power supply 33 for driving the chains 31 to circularly revolve. Each chain 31 is composed of multiple links 311 and link shafts 312. The chains 31 are positioned near the middle of the main body frame 2. The longitudinal support columns 213 of the main body frame 2 are arranged in a position where the chains 31 are positioned. Each longitudinal support column 213 has a rib rail 216 corresponding to the link shafts 312 of the chain 31, whereby the link shaft 312 is slidably leant on the rib rail 216. The transverse slats 32 are fixed on the chains 31 and immediately adjacent to each other. The chains 31 are positioned near the middle of the transverse slats 32.

In this embodiment, the rotary mechanism 3 includes three chains 31 in parallel to the length of the main body frame 2. The rotary mechanism 3 further includes two shaft rods 34, several sprockets 35 disposed on the shaft rods 34 corresponding to the chains 31 and a tension adjustment unit 36 for adjusting the tension of the chains 31. The shaft rods 34 are connected between two sides of the main body frame 2 in parallel to each other. The middle of each shaft rod 34 is retained by several support members 38. Each chain 31 is wound around a pair of corresponding sprockets 35. Each chain 31 has multiple Jugs 313 arranged at intervals and connected with the links 311 for locking the transverse slats 32.

Two ends of each transverse slat 32 respectively extend into the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21 of the main body frame 2, whereby the transverse slats 32 can circularly revolve along the inner edges of the open sides 211. The tension adjustment unit 36 includes a movable seat 361 pivotally connected at each end of one shaft rod 34. The movable seat 361 is movable along the lateral column 21 of the main body frame 2. An axially extensible adjustment bolt 362 is disposed under the movable seat 361 as shown in Fig. 7. The adjustment bolt 362 is extensible to change the position of the movable seat 361, whereby the tension of the chains 31 is adjustable. The power supply 33 is a frequency-changing motor with a reducer. The power supply 33 is mounted at one end of the other shaft rod 34 and connected with the shaft rod 34 for driving the shaft rod 34 to rotate and further driving the chains 31 to circularly revolve. The frequency-changing motor can adjust the rotational speed of the chains 31. Several stopper blocks 37 are disposed on the body of the shaft rod 34 with the power supply 33. Each stopper block 37 has a polygonal or circular cross-section. In this embodiment, the stopper block 37 has a circular cross-section as shown in Fig. 9 for blocking the gap between the adjacent transverse slats 32 when revolving to the shaft rod 34.

Several rocks 4 are locked on one face of each transverse slat 32 distal from the chains 31, whereby a user can climb the rocks 4. In this embodiment, the transverse slat 32 is an elongated slat made by extrusion. The cross-section of the transverse slat 32 is substantially U-shaped as shown in Fig. 10. Each transverse slat 32 has two sidewalls 321 respectively perpendicularly extending from two sides of the transverse slat 32. In addition, each transverse slat 32 has three receiving seat 322 lengthwise extending between the sidewalls 321 in parallel thereto. Several nuts 323 are accommodated in each receiving seat 322, whereby several bolts 324 can extend through the rocks 4 to screw into the nuts 323. Each of two lateral receiving seats 322 is formed with a slot 327 corresponding to the nut 323. When mounting the rock 4, the nuts 323 and bolts 324 of the lateral receiving seats 322 can be adjusted to the periphery of the rock 4 for fixing the rocks 4 on the transverse slat 32. A soft resilient strip 325 is disposed on each sidewall 321 of the transverse slat 32 for abutting against another resilient strip 325 of an adjacent transverse slat 32. Therefore, the gap between the adjacent transverse slats 32 can be blocked. In addition, an antiwear jacket 326 is fixedly disposed on each end of the transverse slat 32 extending into the lateral column 21 of the main body frame 2. When the transverse slat 32 circularly revolves along the inner edges of the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21, the antiwear jackets 326 abut against the inner edges of the open sides 211 to enhance the lubrication and reduce the noise caused by friction.

The power supply 33 of the rotary mechanism 3 serves to drive the chains 31 to revolve.

Accordingly, the transverse slats 32 are driven to circularly revolve along the length of the main body frame 2. Therefore, the positions of the rocks 4 fixed on the transverse slats 32 are changeable. In addition, the rotational speed of the chains 31 is adjustable by means of the frequency-changing motor of the power supply 33. Therefore, a user can climb the rocks 4 the positions of which are continuously varied so as to achieve an exercising effect.

The rocks 4 are all fixed on the transverse slats 32 which are driven by the chains 31.

Therefore, when a user climbs and treads the rocks 4, the longitudinal application force will be borne by the chains 31. In addition, the chains 31 lean on the longitudinal support columns 213 of the main body frame 2. Therefore, when the user climbs the rocks 4, the force directed to the main body frame 2 will be borne by the longitudinal support columns 213. The link shafts 312 of the chains 31 slidably lean on the rib rails 261 of the longitudinal support columns 213. Therefore, the friction between the chains 31 and the longitudinal support columns 213 is reduced, whereby even under greater longitudinal application force, the chains 31 can still smoothly revolve. Moreover, the chains 31 are positioned near the middle of the transverse slats 32 so that the strength of the middle of the transverse slats 32 is enhanced. Accordingly, it is no more necessary to design the transverse slats 32 with heavy or solid structure as the conventional caterpillar structure.

Instead, the transverse slats 32 can be lighter or hollow structures so as to greatly minify the weight of the entire rock climbing apparatus.

Furthermore, several transverse support beams 212 and several longitudinal support colunms 213 are built between the lateral columns 21 of the main body frame 2 to serve as transverse and longitudinal supports. Therefore, the strength of the main body frame 2 is greatly enhanced. The middle section of the main body frame 2 is pivotally disposed between the two lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1. The main body frame 2 is composed of three frame bodies 22 which are easily assembled by means of simple locating and fixing structures. When assembled, as shown in Fig. 10, the middle frame body 22 is first pivotally mounted between the two lateral supports 12. Then, the middle frame body 22 is adjusted to an inclined state. Then, by means of the locating members 215 and the fixing members 215, the upper and lower frame bodies 22 are sequentially connected and fixed with the middle frame body 22. Then the chains 31 and the transverse slats 32 are sequentially assembled. Finally, the power supply 33 and the shaft rods 34 are connected and the tension adjustment unit 36 is adjusted to adjust the tension of the chains 31. At this time, the assembly is complicated. Such assembling procedure can be conveniently personally or domestically accomplished. In addition, the main body frame 2 can be disassembled into three frame bodies 22 so as to minify the volume and facilitate the transfer.

Besides, the transverse slats 32 are immediately adjacent to each other and fixed on the chains 31. Therefore, the transverse slats 32 can shade the transverse support beams 212, the longitudinal support colunins 213 and the chains 31 arranged inside the frame body frame 2. In addition, the resilient strips 325 are disposed on the sidewalls 321 of the transverse slats 32, whereby the resilient strips 325 of the adjacent transverse slats 32 can resiliently abut against each other so as to block the gap between the adjacent transverse slats 22 as shown in Fig. 12. Therefore, the hairs or clothes of a user is prevented from being chucked in the gap. Accordingly, the conventional soft pad can be omitted to eliminate the shortcomings caused by the soft pad.

Moreover, the transverse slats 32 are immediately adjacent to each other and fixed on the chains 31. When the transverse slats 32 revolve to the shaft rods 34, the adjacent transverse slats 32 will depart from each other to form a gap. Several polygonal or circular stopper blocks 37 are arranged on the shaft rods 34 for blocking the gaps between the adjacent transverse slats 32 so as to prevent the user's feet from incautiously extending into the gaps. Therefore, the safety in use can be ensured.

Besides, the antiwear jacket 326 is fitted on each end of the transverse slat 32 extending into the lateral column 21 of the main body frame 2. The antiwear jacket 326 is made of antiwear material. Therefore, when the transverse slat 32 circularly revolves along the inner edges of the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21, the antiwear jackets 326 abut against the inner edges of the open sides 211 to enhance the lubrication and reduce the noise caused by friction.

Figs. 13 to 17 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in whicha substantially L-shaped cover board 25 is bridged between top ends of the lateral columns 21. The cover board 25 has a cover section 251 downward extending from top ends of the lateral columns 21. A safety unit 26 is mounted under each end of the cover board 25. In addition, a safety unit 26 is mounted near bottom end of each lateral column 21 on the climbing face. The safety units 26 serve to protect users from being clamped and injured and thus ensure safety of the users in rock climbing exercise, especially children.

In addition, a frame bar 27 is bridged between the lateral columns 21 and fixedly connected with the frame body 22 on backside thereof. A link 15 is bridged between the lateral supports 12 to face the frame bar 27. An inclination control unit 5 is detachably mounted between the link 15 and the frame bar 27. The inclination control unit 5 has a lifting motor 51. A telescopic rod of the lifting motor 51 is pivotally connected with the frame bar 27.

A control panel 6 is mounted at top end of the left lateral support 12 of the support stand 1. Before rock climbing exercise, a user can first use the control panel 6 to adjust the inclination control unit 5 to achieve a desired inclination angle of the main body frame 2 for climbing the rocks. Such adjustment can be easily and conveniently performed by the user.

Furthermore, two substantially C-shaped lateral bars 217 are respectively fixedly connected with the lateral colunms 21. The lateral bars 217 protrude from the lateral columns 21 to the climbing side. The lateral bars 217 are positioned between the cover board 25 and the pivot shafts 23. The lateral bars 217 are formed with multiple through holes 218 corresponding to each other. Two sensing switches 28 are mounted in a pair of through holes 218.

The height of the sensing switches 28 can be adjusted according to the heights of different users. When a user climbs to a position between two sensing switches 28, the rotary mechanism 3 is activated. This is convenient to a rock-climber.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rock climbing apparatus comprising: a support stand 1 on which a main body frame 2 is mounted, the support stand 1 serving to support and the main body frame 2 on the ground, the main body frame 2 being an elongated rectangular frame body composed of several frame bodies 22, two sides of the main body frame respectively having two lateral columns 21 with substantially C-shaped cross-section, opposite faces of the lateral columns 21 being respectively formed with two open sides 211, several transverse support beams 212 and several longitudinal support columns 213 being built between the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21 of the main body frame 2 to serve as a support skeleton of the main body frame 2; and a rotary mechanism 3 arranged in the main body frame 2, the rotary mechanism 3 including at least two chains 31 in parallel to the length of the main body frame 2, multiple transverse slats 32 in parallel to the width of the main body frame 2 and a power supply 33 for driving the chains 31 to circularly revolve, each chain 31 being composed of multiple links 311 and link shafts 312, the chains 31 being positioned near the middle of the main body frame 2, the longitudinal support columns 213 of the main body frame 2 being arranged in a position where the chains 31 are positioned, each longitudinal support column 213 having a rib rail 216 corresponding to the link shafts 312 of the chain 31, whereby the link shafts 312 are slidably leant on the rib rail 216, the transverse slats 32 being fixed on the chains 31 and immediately adjacent to each other, the chains 31 being positioned near the middle of the transverse slats 32, two ends of each transverse slat 32 respectively extending into the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21 of the main body frame 2, whereby the transverse slats 32 can circularly revolve along inner edges of the open sides 211, several rocks 4 being locked on one face of each transverse slat 32 distal from the chains 31, whereby a user can climb the rocks 4 with hands and feet.

2. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support stand I has a base 11 rested on the ground and two lateral supports 12 respectively upward extending from two sides of the base 11, the main body frame 2 being pivotally mounted between the two lateral supports 12, two extension supports 14 respectively outward extending from two sides of the lateral supports 12.

3. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body frame 2 is composed of an upper, a middle and a lower frame bodies 22, the middle frame body 22 being pivotally mounted between the lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1, each frame body 22 having transverse support beams 212 and longitudinal support columns 213, the adjacent transverse support beams 212 of the frame bodies 22 abutting against and attaching to each other to connect the frame bodies 22 with each other, several locating members 214 and several fixing members 215 being disposed on the connected transverse support beams 212 for locating and fixedly assembling the frame bodies 22 into the main body frame 2.

4. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locating member 214 includes a boss 214A and a hole 214B in which the boss 214A is inserted, the boss 214A and the hole 214B being respectively formed on the connected transverse support beams 212 for locating and assembling the frame bodies 22.

5. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein two pivot shafts 23 respectively protrude from two sides of the middle frame body 22, the pivot shafts 23 cooperating with two shaft seats 24 to pivotally connect the middle frame body 22 with the lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1, whereby the main body frame 2 can pivotally swing relative to the support stand 1, two locating holes 221 being respectively formed on two sides of the middle frame body 22, the lateral supports 12 of the support stand 1 being formed with multiple adjustment holes 121 corresponding to the locating holes 221 of the middle frame body 22, each lateral support 12 of the support stand 1 having an insertion pin 13 corresponding to the adjustment hole 121 and the locating hole 22, whereby the insertion pin 13 can be passed through the adjustment hole 121 and inserted into the locating hole 221 to fix the main body frame 2 in an inclined position.

6. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary mechanism 3 includes three chains 31 in parallel to the length of the main body frame 2, the rotary mechanism 3 further including two shaft rods 34, several sprockets 35 disposed on the shaft rods 34 corresponding to the chains 31 and a tension adjustment unit 36 for adjusting the tension of the chains 31, the shaft rods 34 being connected between two sides of the main body frame 2 in parallel to each other, the middle of each shaft rod 34 being retained by several support members 38, each chain 31 being wound around a pair of corresponding sprockets 35, each chain 31 having multiple lugs 313 arranged at intervals and connected with the links 311 for locking the transverse slats 32.

7. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tension adjustment unit 36 includes a movable seat 361 pivotally connected at each end of one shaft rod 34, the movable seat 361 being movable along the lateral column 21 of the main body frame 2, an axially extensible adjustment bolt 362 being disposed under the movable seat 361, the adjustment bolt 362 being extensible to change the position of the movable seat 361, whereby the tension of the chains 31 is adjustable, the power supply 33 being a frequency-changing motor with a reducer, the power supply 33 being mounted at one end of the other shaft rod 34 and connected with the shaft rod 34 for driving the shaft rod 34 to rotate and further driving the chains 31 to circularly revolve.

8. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein several stopper blocks 37 are disposed on a body of the shaft rod 34 with the power supply 33.

9. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each stopper block 37 has a substantially polygonal cross-section.

10. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each stopper block 37 has a substantially circular cross-section.

I. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the transverse slat 32 is an elongated slat made by extrusion, the crosssection of the transverse slat 32 being substantially U-shaped, each transverse slat 32 having two sidewalls 321 respectively perpendicularly extending from two sides of the transverse slat 32, each transverse slat 32 further having at least one receiving seat 322 lengthwise extending between the sidewalls 321 in parallel thereto, several nuts 323 being accommodated in the receiving seat 322, whereby several bolts 324 can extend through the rocks 4 to screw into the nuts 323 for fixing the rocks 4 on the transverse slat 32.

12. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein three receiving seat 322 lengthwise extend between the sidewalls 321 in parallel thereto, each of two lateral receiving seats 322 being formed with a slot corresponding to the nut 323.

13. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein a soft resilient strip 325 is disposed on each sidewall 321 of the transverse slat 32 for abutting against another resilient strip 325 of an adjacent transverse slat 32 so as to block the gap between the adjacent transverse slats 32.

14. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein an antiwear jacket 326 is fixedly disposed on each end of the transverse slat 32 extending into the lateral column 21 of the main body frame 2, whereby when the transverse slat 32 circularly revolves along the inner edges of the open sides 211 of the lateral columns 21, the antiwear jackets 326 abut against the inner edges of the open sides 211 to enhance the lubrication and reduce the noise caused by friction.

15. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each extension support 14 has a transverse extension beam 141, one end of the extension beam 141 being fixedly connected with one end of an oblique beam 142 and spaced from the ground by a gap, the other end of the extension beam 141 being locked on the base 11, the other end of the oblique beam 142 being locked on outer side of upper end of the lateral support 12, a pad body 145 being disposed under lower end of the oblique beam 142, the pad body 145 having an adjustment member 143 which can be adjusted in height.

16. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a shade board 144 is laid between each lateral support 12 and the oblique beam 142, the shade board 144 substantially being a hollow triangular column having an open lateral face facing the lateral support 12 and an open bottom face.

17. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frame bar 27 is bridged between the lateral columns 21 and fixedly connected with the frame body 22 on backside thereof; a link 15 being bridged between the lateral supports 12 to face the frame bar 27, an inclination control unit 5 being detachably mounted between the frame bar27 andthe link 15.

18. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inclination control unit 5 has a lifting motor 51 locked on the link 15, a telescopic rod of the lifting motor 51 being pivotally connected with the frame bar 27.

19. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a substantially L-shaped cover board 25 is bridged between top ends of the lateral columns 21, the cover board having a cover section 251 downward extending from top ends of the lateral columns 21.

20. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a safety unit 26 is mounted under each end of the cover board 25.

21. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a safety unit 26 is mounted near bottom end of each lateral column 21 on the climbing face.

22. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control panel 6 is mounted at top end of one of the lateral supports 12.

23. The rock climbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein two substantially C- shaped lateral bars 217 are respectively fixedly connected with the lateral columns 21, the lateral bars 217 protruding from the lateral columns 21 to the climbing side, the lateral bars 217 being formed with multiple through holes 218 corresponding to each other, whereby two sensing switches 28 are mounted in a pair of through holes 218 of the lateral bars 217.

I

24. Rock climbing apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated by, any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.