US20080032863A1

US20080032863A1 - Climbing Wall System

Info

Publication number: US20080032863A1
Application number: US11/629,186
Authority: US
Inventors: Katarina Delsing; Stefan Lindberg; Mats Liljedahl; Michael Thomsen
Original assignee: DIGIWALL TECHNOLOGY AB
Current assignee: DIGIWALL TECHNOLOGY AB
Priority date: 2004-06-10
Filing date: 2005-04-28
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: WO2005120660A1; SE0401511L; SE525706C2; EP1765469A1; SE0401511D0

Abstract

A climbing wall system comprising a climbing wall (1) provided with several holds (6, 7, 8, 9), each connected to a respective sensor which is arranged to detect the presence of a foot or a hand on the hold (6, 7, 8, 9), where said system comprises a sound system (15) arranged to play music, and a control device (16) arranged to receive signals of the sensors and control the sound system (15) to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold (6, 7, 8, 9) is touched.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a climbing wall system comprising a climbing wall provided with several holds, each connected to a respective sensor which is arranged to detect the presence of a foot or a hand on the hold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, computer games and music are two major leisure pursuits for children and young people. However, during these activities the user is in a substantially sedentary position. A problem, to which attention has been paid in the last few years, is that the physical activity of children and young people is too low, which partly is a consequence of the increase in sedentary activities, such as watching television, using computers, and playing video games. The low physical activity strongly contributes to overweight, which has a negative effect on the child and results in overweight related diseases as an adult. This is a major health problem. One way to increase the physical activity of children is to connect computer game and music products to physical activity, or make traditional physical activities more attractive to children and young people by equipping these with different kinds of electronics making the activity in question more exciting and more tempting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,584 A discloses several sensors placed on a plane surface and connected to a video game computer. A user can control the course of events of a video game by stepping on said sensors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,789 A also discloses a control of a video game by a user stepping on any of several sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,627 A discloses a game playing apparatus where a user shall strike different targets mounted on obelisks. When the targets are active they are illuminated and they are deactivated by a strike whereby the target goes out. A sound generator which is mounted on an obelisk emits a tone verifying a successful strike of a target. The user uses a staff to strike the targets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,954 A discloses a climbing wall comprising holds which detect the weight of a climber. Signals from weighted holds are transmitted to a computer which stores the route chosen by the climber. Electronically activated markers positioned adjacent to each hold then indicate the holds comprising this specific route. A new climber can try to follow this specific route by using indicated holds, but if the new climber uses an “illegal” hold which is not indicated, and thus is not included in the route, this is registered by the computer.
Further, EP 0,968,741 A1 discloses a climbing wall. This climbing wall comprises holds each connected to electronic means which act on a light or sound indication means associated with the hold, when the hold detects the presence of a foot or a hand. The electronic means are arranged to light, in a random manner, the indication means of a hold, and when said hold detects the presence of a foot or hand, the electronic means are arranged to light the indication means of another unspecified hold.
However, above-mentioned devices are not challenging or exciting enough for a user, and also provide a far too low physical activity. Above mentioned climbing walls certainly provide an adequate physical activity, but are not challenging, amusing or exciting enough to attract en large amount of user, among both adults, children, and young people.

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a climbing wall which is more attractive, challenging, tempting and exciting for different users, such as adults, children and young people, and which also activates several of the senses of the user, such as hearing, sight, and touch, in an effective way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned object is attained by providing a climbing wall system of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1, where the system comprises a sound system arranged to play music, and a control device arranged to receive signals of the sensors and control the sound system to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold is touched. Advantageously, the sensor is a capacitive sensor connected to the attachment means of the hold, attaching the hold to the climbing wall. By this climbing wall system, a climbing wall is attained which is more attractive, tempting and exciting, and offers more challenges and enhances the adventure of climbing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the control device is arranged to control the sound system to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold is touched, the musical fragment being a part of created music. This music can be adapted to the type of climbing which is performed, so that the music can “guide” the climbing of the climber and influence the climbing in such a way that it becomes an enhanced climbing experience. The created music can be a melody or several melodies.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the control device is arranged to control the sound system to play a sequence of musical fragments which together form music, if the holds of a certain sequence are touched after one another. This music must not be composed from the beginning, but can be composed during the climbing itself, by the holds which the climber chooses to touch. By this system a climbing wall is attained, where the climber, or climbers, during physical activity can create new music without the ability to play an instrument or compose music.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the present invention, said system comprises an indicating system connected to the control device, arranged to indicate to a climber which hold of said certain sequence of holds to touch, in order to achieve said music. By this system many different kinds of climbing are possible under the influence of music, which further enhances the experience of climbing.
According to still another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the indication system comprises a visual indicating means for each hold, which is connected thereto, the control device being arranged to control said indicating means. Advantageously, said indicating means comprises a light source arranged to illuminate when the associated hold shall be touched and arranged to go out after said hold has be touched. Said light source can for example be installed in the hold. By this system, a climbing wall is provided, which is more attractive, tempting and exciting, especially for children and young people, and which also activates several of the senses of the climber such as hearing, sight, and touch, in an effective way.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the climbing wall is divided into climbing wall sections which are arranged to be horizontally and/or vertically coupled together, providing a complete climbing wall, and advantageously, each climbing wall section comprises a section control device, arranged to communicate with the climbing wall section, the system comprising a coordinating device, to which the section control devices and the control device are connected, arranged to co-ordinate the communication between the section control devices. By dividing up the climbing wall into section, the climbing wall can be designed in various ways, whereby various climbing walls are provided, and in addition, the transport of the climbing wall is facilitated.
Above-mentioned connections can be wireless or be attained by suitable cables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the climbing wall system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the climbing wall system according to the present invention in the form of a block diagram. The system comprises a climbing wall 1 divided into four climbing wall sections 2, 3, 4, 5, which are arranged to be horizontally and/or vertically coupled together, providing a complete climbing wall 1. Each climbing wall section 2, 3, 4, 5 is about 1.2 metres by about 2.4 metres, but other dimensions are also possible. Each climbing wall section 2, 3, 4, 5 comprises several holds 6, 7, 8, 9, for example 15-20 holds, each provided with a respective capacitive sensor arranged to detect the presence of a foot or hand on the hold 6, 7, 8, 9, and with a light source, in the form of a light emitting diodes, installed in the hold 6, 7, 8, 9, and a section control device 10, 11, 12, 13 arranged to receive signals from the sensors and transmit signals to the light source. The system comprises a coordinating device 14, to which the section control devices 10, 11, 12, 13 are connected, arranged to co-ordinate the communication between the section control devices 10, 11, 12, 13. Further, the system comprises a sound system 15 arranged to play music, and a control device 16 arranged to receive the signals of the sensors, via the coordinating device 14 and the section control devices 10, 11, 12, 13, control the light sources, and control the sound system 15 to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold 6, 7, 8, 9 is touched, such as being held by a hand or feeling the weight of a foot or hand, according to a first interaction model 17. According to a second interaction model 18, the control device 16 is arranged to control the sound system 15 to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold 6, 7, 8, 9 is touched, the musical fragment being a part of created music. According to a third interaction model 19, the control device 16 is arranged to control the sound system 15 to play a sequence of musical fragments which together form music, when the of holds 6, 7, 8, 9 of a certain sequence of holds 6, 7, 8, 9 are touched after one another. Also other interaction models are possible, some examples of which are given below.
According to further interaction models, the first, second, and third interaction models 17, 18, 19 are expanded so that the control device 16 is arranged to indicate which hold 6, 7, 8, 9 to touch by lighting the light source of the hold 6, 7, 8, 9, and after the hold 6, 7, 8, 9 has been touched, to put out said light source. According to these three further interaction models, a climber can by his climbing provide previously composed music, a piece of music which is commonly known or music which has been composed by the climbing of a previous climber.
According to still another interaction model, one or several climbers are allowed to climb freely on the climbing wall 1, the control device 16 being arranged to control the sound system 15 to play music which is formed by how fast or slowly a climber climbs and by the holds 6, 7, 8, 9 which are used, or if there are several climbers, also by how the climbers are climbing in relation to each other, how close to each other, or remote from each other etc.
According to another interaction model, the control device 16 is arranged to light the light sources of a sequence of several holds 6, 7, 8, 9 at the same time, which are the only holds 6, 7, 8, 9 allowed to be touched along a route towards a “goal hold” which is indicated by the control device 16, the control device 16 being arranged to light and put out the light source of the “goal hold” in a twinkling manner. If the climber touches a hold 6, 7, 8, 9 which is put out, the control device 16 controls the sound system 15 to play an unpleasant melody and if the climber touches an illuminating hold 6, 7, 8, 9, the control device 16 controls the sound system 15 to play a rewarding melody.
According to yet another interaction model, for at least two climbers, the control device 16 is arranged to light a new hold 6, 7, 8, 9 for each climber at the same time, and put out the same after the presence of a hand or a foot, and arranged to control the sound system 15 to play a musical fragment when an illuminating hold 6, 7, 8, 9, is touched, the musical fragments having a coordinating effect on the climbers, and, at the same time, helping the climbers to climb along similar climbing routes and touch next illuminating hold 6, 7, 8, 9 at the same time.
According to a further interaction model, for at least two climbers, the control device 16 is arranged to randomly light the light source of a new hold 6, 7, 8, 9, intended to be touched by any of the climbers during the whole climbing, in the vicinity of any of the holds 6, 7, 8, 9 which already are being touched, and then light a further new hold 6, 7, 8, 9 to touch etc. If the climber does not touch a new hold 6, 7, 8, 9 which is lit, or loose the hold of an already illuminating hold 6, 7, 8, 9, which shall be touched, the control device 16 is arranged to control the sound system 15 to play an unpleasant musical fragment. If a new illuminating hold 6, 7, 8, 9 is touched, the control device 16 is arranged to control the sound system 15 to play a rewarding musical fragment. Further, the control device 16 is arranged to control the sound system 15 to play music which is adapted to the chosen interaction model. The control device 16 can also provide a scoring system for each interaction model.

Claims

1. A climbing wall system comprising a climbing wall provided with several holds, a sensor connected to a each hold to detect the presence of a foot or a hand on the hold, sound system arranged to play music, and a control device arranged to receive signals of the sensors and control the sound system to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold is touched.

2. A climbing wall system according to claim 1, the including attachment means attaching each respective hold to the climbing wall and wherein each sensor is a capacitive sensor connected to each attachment means.

3. A climbing wall system according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the sound system to play a certain musical fragment when a certain hold is touched, the musical fragment being a part of created music.

4. A climbing wall system according to claim 3, wherein the control device controls the sound system to play a sequence of musical fragments which together form music, if the holds of a certain sequence are touched after one another.

5. A climbing wall system according to claim 4, wherein said system comprises an indicating system connected to the control device, for indicating to a climber which hold of said certain sequence of holds to touch, in order to achieve said music.

6. A climbing wall system according to claim 5, wherein the indication system comprises a visual indicating means for each hold, which is connected thereto, and the control device controls said indicating means.

7. A climbing wall system according to claim 6, wherein said indicating means comprises a light source which illuminates when the associated hold should be touched and arranged to go out after said hold has been touched.

8. A climbing wall system according to claim 7, wherein said light source is installed in the hold.

9. A climbing wall system according to claim 1, wherein the climbing wall is divided into climbing wall sections which are arranged to be horizontally and/or vertically coupled together, providing a complete climbing wall.

10. A climbing wall system according to claim 9, wherein each climbing wall section comprises a section control device for communicating with the climbing wall section, and the system comprises a coordinating device to which the section control devices and the control device are connected, and arranged to co-ordinate the communication between the section control devices.