US20140357451A1

US20140357451A1 - Modular knockdown climbing volumes, kits and method of assembly

Info

Publication number: US20140357451A1
Application number: US14/289,897
Authority: US
Inventors: Walson Tai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-05-29
Filing date: 2014-05-29
Publication date: 2014-12-04
Also published as: DE102014107649A1

Abstract

A modular climbing volume has an enclosed space, and can be attached to a climbing wall or frame. The volume has at least two panels, one of which is a mounting panel for removeably securing the climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame. The at least two panels each comprise one or more connecting edges, each panel removeably secured to at least one other of the at least two panels to form a pair of adjoining panels, wherein the panels of each pair of adjoining panels define an interior angle α therebetween, and wherein the connecting edges of each pair of adjoining panels are bevelled at a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of the interior angle α.

Description

CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits under 35 U.S.C 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/828,276, filed May 29, 2013, the subject matter of which is incorporated fully herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to climbing wall volumes, and more particularly to modular volumes that can be dissembled for shipping, storing and installation.

BACKGROUND

Indoor climbing and the use of climbing walls is an increasingly popular form of rock climbing performed indoors and on artificial structures commonly known as climbing walls.
The first indoor climbing walls were often brick structures that had limited flexibility in providing varying climbing routes and obstacles for increasing the difficulty of the climb.
More modern climbing facilities now employ climbing structures made of plywood and sprayed or coated with synthetic resins to imitate the texture of real rock face. Such climbing walls can be varied in height, steepness and can have a variety of holds attached thereto to increase the difficulty level. This variety has led to the increase in the popularity of the sport of climbing.
Another recent innovation in climbing walls is the use of climbing volumes. Climbing volumes are large, hollow, bolted-on climbing and bouldering holds, similar to the typical climbing holds. Volumes can be attached to a pre-existing climbing wall to provide new varying terrain features as well as to increase the number and kinds of obstacles for athletes.
Climbing volumes are available commercially, such as from Motavational Volumes (a company based in Sanger, Tex., USA), HRT Safety Holds (a company based in Sofia, Bulgaria), Nicros Volumes (a company based in Saint Paul, Minn., USA), Rockwerx (a company based in Barre, Mass., USA), Hangfast Adventure Structures (a company based in Bingley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom), and Entre-Prises International (a company having an office in Bend, Oreg., USA).
However, such commercially available volumes are sold as unitary piece items, thereby making transportation and storage thereof difficult. Further, larger one-piece volumes can be difficult to install onto a climbing wall due to their size and weight.
As a result, backyard enthusiasts have resorted to manufacturing their own volumes for their personal use on their home climbing wall systems. For example, Andy Librande has made available on the internet his home-made videos demonstrating the building of simplistic volumes made by cutting out appropriate shapes of plywood and assembling the cut pieces with screws.
However, home built volumes are often simple geometric structures and do not provide variety, and for athletes who are looking for increasingly challenging routes, these structures can be insufficient to satisfy their desire for even more difficult and varied terrain.
Further, there is an increased risk to safety of the climbers who make their own climbing volumes. The climbing volumes themselves may not have the structural integrity to maintain their form under the load of climbers using them and the volume itself may not have the strength to be safely secured to a climbing wall.
There is a need for a climbing volume that is easy to install, compact for shipping and storage, and structurally strong when installed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments herein can be described as modular, knockdown, collapsible and disassembleable climbing wall structures or volumes, which can be independently created and used in different climbing wall systems. Embodiments of the volume comprise panels that can be completely disassembled and packed in a compact form for transportation and storage, and later reassembled for use by attachment to climbing walls. These volumes can be mounted to any surface, such as climbing walls and frames, and climbing holds and other accessories may also be attached thereon. The individual panels or assemblies of panels are lighter in weight than is a completed volume and therefor can be more readily manipulated and secured to the climbing wall. The assembly of the volume can be completed at the wall using the final panel or panels.
Generally, embodiments of climbing wall volumes disclosed herein comprise at least two panels that, when assembled, form a volume that projects outward from the climbing wall to which it is attached. One panel forms a mounting panel adapted for attachment to the climbing wall and an additional panel or panels form side panels, such side panels interconnecting with one another and the mounting panel to form a completed three-dimensional hollow structure or form which encloses a space therein, hence projecting outward from the wall.
The mounting panel is adapted to be removeably secured to a climbing wall and is further adapted to be removeably secured to each of adjacent side panels and along connecting edges. Each of the side panels are also adapted to be removeably secured to one another along their connecting edges. The feature of removeably securing to each other permits flexibility in the weight of the partially assembled volume, providing temporary access to the mounting panel for securing to the wall, and final closing of the volume with the last panel or panels.
The edges of each of the mounting panel and the side panels form a pair of corresponding bearing surfaces, the bearing surfaces at one edge engaging a corresponding bearing surface of an adjacent panel or mounting panel. The corresponding bearing surfaces of the corresponding edges connect together and transfer and share loads imposed therebetween. Loads include the weight of the panels themselves and those imposed by a climber.
In a broad aspect, a modular climbing volume having an enclosed space for attaching to a climbing wall or frame comprises at least two panels, one of which is a mounting panel for removeably securing the climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame. The at least two panels each comprise one or more connecting edges, and each panel is removeably secured to at least one other of the at least two panels to form a pair of adjoining panels. The panels of each pair of adjoining panels define an interior angle α therebetween, and the connecting edges of each pair of adjoining panels are bevelled at a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of the interior angle α. When said at least two panels are connected along their connecting edges, they form the volume.
In another broad aspect, a method of installing a complete climbing volume having an enclosed space on a climbing wall or frame involves pre-fabricating at least two panels, one of which is a mounting panel, pre-fabricating a plurality of fastening means for removeably securing each panel to one another, and assembling said at least two panels together to form the complete climbing volume. Each of the at least two panels has at least one bevelled connecting edge for removeably securing the panels to at least one other of said at least two panels to form a pair of adjoining panels.
In another broad aspect, a modular kit for assembling a complete climbing volume having an enclosed space comprises a plurality of panels, one of which is a mounting panel for removeably securing the climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame and a plurality of fastening means for removeably securing the panels together. Each of the plurality of panels has at least one bevelled connecting edge for removeably securing to at least one other of said plurality of panels to form a pair of adjoining panels, wherein the panels of each pair of adjoining panels forms an interior angle α therebetween, and wherein the connecting edges of each pair of adjoining panels are bevelled at a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of the interior angle α.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate prior art geometrically shaped volumes commercially available from Motavational Volumes, the volumes being secured to a climbing wall;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art hemispherical volume commercially available from Rockwerx, secured to a climbing wall;

FIG. 3 illustrates various prior art volumes suspended from an overhanging tubular climbing frame;

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a disassembled modular climbing volume, illustrating a mounting panel, and four side panels;

FIG. 4B is a cut-away, perspective view of the embodiment of a completed modular climbing volume according to FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is the embodiment of a disassembled modular climbing volume according to FIG. 4A, flat packed in a case for storage and or transportation;

FIG. 5 is a side view of bevelled edges of a pair of adjoining panels, illustrating a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of an interior angle α between the adjoining panels;

FIG. 6 is another side view illustrating bevelled edges of a different pair of adjoining panels, once again illustrating a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of an interior angle α between this pair of adjoining panels;

FIG. 7A illustrates a right pyramid shaped volume, disassembled into individual panels having a substantially square shaped mounting panel and four triangular shaped side panels;

FIGS. 7B and 7C are illustrative of the assembled embodiment of FIG. 7A secured to a climbing wall;

FIG. 8A illustrates a cube shaped volume, disassembled into individual panels, including a mounting panel, four side panels, and a top panel;

FIG. 8B illustrates the assembled embodiment of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A illustrates a pentagonal shaped volume, including a mounting panel, five side panels and a top panel;

FIG. 9B illustrates the assembled embodiment of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of an angled bracket, nuts and screws for removeably securing the mounting panel and plurality of side panels to one another;

FIG. 11 is partial cross-sectional view of a bracket using a nut and bolt to removeably secure two adjoining panels to one another; and

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 11 showing nuts secured on an interior side of the bracket;

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a modular climbing volume having a mounting panel and four side panels aligned and ready for installation;

FIG. 14 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 13, showing the mounting panel with four brackets installed;

FIG. 15 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 13, showing the mounting panel having one bracket installed and a first side panel aligned therewith;

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 15, showing the first side panel secured to the mounting panel, and illustrating the angle α_Bbetween the mounting panel and a first side panel;

FIG. 17 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 13, having a second side panel aligned therewith;

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 17, the second side panel secured to the mounting panel and to the first side panel by brackets;

FIG. 19 illustrates two volumes adjacent one another, ready to receive extensions or a bridge therebetween; and

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of an extension or bridge connecting the two adjacent volumes of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the prior art, and as shown in FIGS. 1A to 3, commercially available climbing wall volumes, also known as forms, can be relatively large in size and be of varying geometric complexities. FIG. 2 shows a prior art volume that is simply a hemisphere which can be secured to a climbing wall. Other volumes can comprise complex geometric shapes, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3. In use, climbing holds can be secured to the volumes to provide locations that a climber may grasp onto and use to manoeuvre themselves. Such volumes are often single piece units that take up large amounts of storage space and can be difficult and expensive to transport. The larger single-piece units are also heavy and thus difficult to install, as they typically require cranes to hoist up the volume into position before it can be secured into position above the ground. Conventional climbing volumes rely on the support structure for supporting the volume under load.
In embodiments set forth herein, a modular knockdown climbing volume 10 comprises two or more panels 20 that are removeably secured to each other and to a climbing wall 22. One of the panels 20 forms a mounting panel 20 m that is secured to the climbing wall 22 and each additional panel 20 becomes a side panel 20 secured to the mounting panel 20 m to complete the volume 10. The mounting panel 20 m is adapted to be removeably secured to the climbing wall 22 and is removeably securable to each of the one or more adjacent side panels 20 along connecting edges 35. One or more of the panels 20 can be pre-assembled to the mounting panel 20 m before securing to the wall 22 or one or more panels 20 can be secured to each other before securing the mounting panel 20 m after it is mounted to the wall 22.
Each of the side panels are removeably secured to one another along their respective connecting edges 35. The feature of removeably securing to each other permits flexibility in the lifting and assembly weight of the partially assembled volume, whilst providing temporary access to the mounting panel for securing to the wall, and final closing of the volume with the last panel or panels.
Herein the mounting panel 20 m is also referred to as a first panel and additional panels 20 as second or side panels. The mounting panel presents a flat mounting profile for engaging and removeably securing the climbing volume to support structure, such as a climbing frame or climbing wall 22. The mounting panel is typically a contiguous flat panel for ready attachment to a corresponding flat portion of the climbing wall 22. The mounting panel 20 m provides secure and strong mounting to the climbing wall 22, and thereafter, at least one second panel, such as additional side panels 20 can be removeably secured thereto.
Depending on the final desired geometric shape of the completed volume, the at least one second panel can be two or more side panels 20 which, when assembled together with the mounting panel 20 m, form a completed volume.
Each panel 20 comprises at least one connecting edge 35 along its periphery for engaging and removeably securing to another panel 20 adjacent thereto forming a pair of adjoining panels 20,20. The connecting edges 35 define bearing surfaces 40 which engage a corresponding bearing surface 40 of an adjacent panel 20. The bearing surfaces 40,40 transmit loads from panel-to-panel and through the designated mounting panel 20 m to the climbing wall 22. In an embodiment, corresponding bearing surfaces 40,40 can be flat or can have a profile, such as a tongue-and-cheek profile to facilitate assembly of the completed volume.
The panels 20 are removeably secured to one another using fasteners or other attachment means for creating the completed climbing volume 10. The completed climbing volume is fully enclosed for defining a cavity therein. When secured to the mounting panel 20 m, side panels 20 provide an exterior surface for the removable attachment thereto of climbing holds or other climbing accessories.
With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, embodiments of a modular knockdown climbing volume 10 can be formed or created by assembling or removeably securing a plurality of panels 20 together. In the illustrated pyramidal volume, a first mounting panel 20 m, and four side panels 20 are provided. In this example, the designated mounting panel 20 m is illustrated as the rectangular panel and the remaining panels 20 are triangular. Alternatively, a triangular panel could form the mounting panel and one rectangular and three triangular panels could form the side panels.
As shown, the four side panels are itemized as 20 _A,20 _B,20 _C,20 _D. The mounting panel 20 m defines four connecting edges 35, each having a bearing surface 40. A plurality of attachment openings 25 associated with the designated mounting panel 20 m, such as holes or reinforced holes therethrough, permit the mounting panel 15 to accept or pass mounting means (not shown) for removeably securing the mounting panel 20 m to the wall. The attachment openings 25 are typically configured to be compatible with corresponding points of attachment for known climbing walls. Each of the four, triangular side panels 20 _A,20 _B,20 _C,20 _Dalso have three connecting edges 35, each connecting edge defining a bearing surface 40.
In an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 4B, a completed volume 10 can optionally have hold openings 30 for accepting attachment means for attaching climbing holds (not shown) thereto. Again, hold openings 30 are typically compatible with corresponding points of attachment for known climbing holds. In some embodiments, a panel 20 may be provided with both attachment holes 25 and hold openings 30 so that the user has options to use any of the volume panels 20 as a mounting panel 20 m.
With reference to FIG. 4C, embodiments of volumes 10 disclosed herein can be disassembled and flat-packed in a compact form and placed in a carry or storage case 60 for ease of storage or transportation.
In order to increase the structural integrity of a completed volume, adjacent panels 20 form a pair of adjoining panels 20,20 which engage one another continuously along their corresponding bearing surfaces 40,40 of their corresponding connecting edges 35,35. For example, the bearing surfaces 40 of the mounting panel 20 m and the bearing surface 40 a side panel 20 can engage one another or the bearing surfaces 40 of two adjacent side panels 20 can engage one another.
Further, to distribute a load placed on the completed volume 10, such as when a climber is suspended therefrom, the connecting edges 35 of the mounting panel 20 m and or the connecting edges 35 of the side panels 20 are bevelled, providing an angled bearing surface 40,40.
Generally and schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two adjacent panels 20,20, whether the panels are a mounting panel 20 m and a side panel 20, or two side panels 20, form a pair of adjoining panels 20,20 and define an interior angle α. For illustrative purposes only, the adjoining panels in FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown to be the first mounting panel 20 m and one of the second side panels 20 _A. The interior angle α is specific to the pair of adjoining panels 20 m and 20 _A. To distribute a load placed on the pair of panels 20 m and 20 _A, when a climber is suspended from the volume, the connecting edges 35 between the two adjoining panels 20 m and 20 _Arespectively are bevelled at complementary bevel angles θ, which are about one-half of the interior angle α; that is, θ=α/2. Thus, each connection comprises a bevelled edge 35 for engaging a corresponding bevelled edge 35 of an adjacent, adjoining panel.
The 50/50 split of the specific interior angle α ensures face-to-face contact between the corresponding bearing surfaces 40 equally dividing the load placed on the two adjoining panels 20,20 thereby equally distributing the load placed on the completed volume 10. Further, relative movement therebetween is minimized to reduce the risk of loosening connecting fasteners.
Accordingly, depending upon the geometric shape of the volume 10, each pair of adjoining panels 20,20 can have its own specific interior angle α, and the connecting edges 35 between the pair of adjoining panels will have a corresponding and specific bevel angle θ.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each panel 20 m and 20 _Acomprises at least one connecting edge 35. Each connecting edge 35 is adapted to engage and be removeably secured to a corresponding connecting edge 35 of an adjacent panel 20 m or 20 _A.
Depending on the geometric shape of the volume and designated mounting panel 20 m, the at least one second panel 20 can be two or more panels. In a two panel volume, the side panel is a unitary panel removeably securable to the mounting panel 20 m about its entire periphery. For example, a circular mounting panel 20 m could have a right circular conical or hemispherical one-piece side panel that can be removeably secured thereto about its connecting edge, being a circular periphery. For embodiments where the mounting panel 20 m is a geometric polygon with a particular number of connecting edges, the volume will also comprise at least the same number of flat, planer side panels 20 as are the number of connecting edges 35.
For illustrative purposes only, volumes 10 having simple geometric shapes, such as those shown FIGS. 7A through 9B, are described in some detail, however, embodiments of other volumes can have more complex geometric designs.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in an pyramidal embodiment of a climbing volume 10, the mounting panel 20 m designated for mounting to the wall 22 is rectangular in shape and has four connecting edges 35 for accommodating four triangular side panels 20. Each of the triangular side panels 20 has three connecting edges 35 a,35 b,35 c, a connecting edge 35 a for connection to the connecting edges 35 of the mounting panel 20 m, and connecting edges 35 b and 35 c for connection to opposing and adjacent side panels 20. The mounting panel 20 m and the four side panels 20 are interconnected with one another to form the completed volume 10 in the shape of a pyramid.
As shown, each connecting edge 35 of the mounting panel 20 m engages a corresponding connecting edge 35 a of one of the four side panels 20 adjacent thereto. Further, and as shown, the two remaining connecting edges 35 b,35 c of each side panel 20 also engage a corresponding connecting edge 35 c,35 b, respectively, of one other of the four side panels 20 adjacent thereto.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the generally rectangular or square mounting panel 20 m serves as the mounting panel for removeably securing the pyramid shaped volume 10 to a climbing wall 50. However, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 7B, one of the four triangular panels 20 is designated and functions as the mounting panel (20 _m) for mounting the volume 10 to a climbing wall 40.
It would be understood by a skilled person that for any given climbing volume, it is preferable to have a profile or periphery of the mounting panel 20 m that is flat so as to mount the volume to a corresponding flat portion of a climbing wall. Thus, for a volume having a geometric shape having only flat surfaces, any one of the mounting panel 20 m or one of the side panels 20 can be used to mount the completed volume 10 to a climbing wall. For a cone-shaped or hemispherical-shaped volume, the base of the geometric shape forms the flat mounting panel 20 m, and for a volume having a cylindrical shape (not shown), either the of the flat end panels could serve as the mounting panel 20 m.
FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate another embodiment having generally cubic volume 10, each panel of which forms a generally square mounting panel 20 m, five square side panels 20, one of which forms a closing top side panel 20 t. As shown, the mounting panel 20 m, the side panels 20 each comprise four connecting edges 35 for interconnection to the mounting panel 20 m and to each other.
FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate another embodiment comprising a substantially pentagonal shaped mounting panel 20 m, six panels 20 being five trapezoidal side panels and a smaller pentagonal shaped top-mounted side panel 20 t. As shown, the mounting panel 20 m has five connecting edges 35 for connection with the five side trapezoidal panels 20. The mounting panel 20 m, trapezoidal panels 20 and top pentagonal panel 20 p interconnect to form a substantially pentagonal frustum (a pentagonal pyramid that has been truncated). As shown, each of the five trapezoidal panels 20 has four connecting edges 35, whilst the smaller pentagonal shaped panel 20 p has five connecting edges 35.
Applicant notes that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7A to 9B are just a few examples of simple geometric volumes, and more complex volumes can be embodied herein, for example as shown in FIG. 20.
Referring back to FIG. 4A and with reference to FIG. 10, an example of an embodiment has a substantially square mounting panel 20 m having four connecting edges 35; four substantially triangular side panels 20 _A-D; and fastening means 120, such as mounting brackets 122, bolts 124, and nuts 126, for interconnecting the mounting panel 20 m and side panels 20 _A-Dwith one another. The mounting panel 20 m, side panels 20 _A-Dand fastening means 120, can all be flat packed in a compact carrying case 60 (see FIG. 4C) for transportation or storage.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, and for illustrative purposes only, a suitable bracket 122 can be used to removeably secure a pair of adjoining panels, such as the mounting panel 20 m and side panel 20 _A. However, as previously discussed above, each pair of adjoining panels may have a corresponding interior angle α that is unique to the two adjoining panels. Accordingly, and as shown, the suitable bracket 122 used to secure the two adjoining panels 20 m and 20 _Ais an angled bracket having a bracket angle β that is substantially the same as the interior angle α for the two adjacent panels 20 m and 20 _A.
Accordingly, the modular knockdown climbing volume comprises more than one angled bracket with screws for securing the brackets to the panels, each bracket potentially having a different angle β than another bracket in the volume, thereby allowing for pairings of panels at different angles.
The angled bracket is made of a material that is sufficiently strong to avoid plastic deformation under the load of the volume and that placed thereon by a climber.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a bracket 122 can be removeably secured to a panel by a nut 126 and bolt 124. In an embodiment, a bracket opening 128 for permitting the bolt 124 to pass therethrough, and the nut 126 aligned with the bracket opening can be welded or otherwise secured to the bracket 122. A corresponding panel opening 130, aligned with the bracket opening 128 and nut 126 can also be made in the panel, thus allowing the bolt 124 to pass through the panel and bracket 122, and be removeably secured thereto by the nut 126. In one embodiment, the panel opening comprises a countersink or counterbore, so that the bolt or screw sits flush with or below the surface of the panel (see FIG. 11).
In an embodiment, the nut 126 can be a retainer weld nut, also known as a bridge weld nut (see FIG. 12), which can compensate for clearance issues, the retainer weld nut having some limited range of movement to permit some misalignment. In another embodiment, the nut 126 can be welded onto the bracket 122.

Installation

In an embodiment, a completed volume can be installed on a supporting surface, such as a climbing wall or frame, as individual panels or as partial sections of an incomplete volume. This allows larger and/or heavier completed volumes to be installed at locations where installations of a similarly sized one-piece volume would normally be difficult.
For illustrative purposes only, Applicant describes a method of installation using the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
As shown in FIG. 13, an embodiment of a modular knockdown climbing volume can comprise the square mounting panel 20 m, one isosceles triangular side panel 20 _A, two right triangular side panels 20 _B, 20 _C, one equilateral triangular side panel 20 _D, and a plurality of connecting brackets 122. These panels can be pre-fabricated using known techniques.
For the given geometry, one calculates each interior angle α between each pair of adjoining panels to determine the bevel angle θ required for each connecting edge 35 of each panel 20. Once the specific bevel angles are known, the mounting panel 20 m and the side panels 20 _A-Dcan be pre-fabricated, each of the panels 20 having its connecting edges 35 cut to the appropriate calculated bevel angle θ. Further, based on the calculated interior angles for each pair of adjoining panels, the bracket angles β are determined and the appropriate brackets 122 are manufactured for each particular pair of adjoining panels.
In order to make installation easier, one can lay out the various panels and align them on a flat surface as shown in FIG. 13.
As shown in FIG. 14, four connecting brackets 12 for removeably securing the side panels 20 _A-Dto the mounting panel 20 m can be attached to the mounting panel 20 m. Then the mounting panel 20 m with connecting brackets can be put at its desired position on a pre-existing climbing wall and secured thereto by known methods and fasteners (not shown). For example, the mounting panel 20 m can be secured to the climbing wall by using bolts and anchors, such as T-nuts.
With reference to FIGS. 15 to 16B, any one of the four side panels 20 _A-Dcan then be attached to the mounting panel 20 m using the appropriate connecting bracket 122. For illustrative purposes only, side panel 20 _Bis shown to be the first of the four side panels to be removeably secured to the mounting panel 20 m. Again, one can assemble the volume 10 on the wall, panel-by-panel, or pre-assemble some of the panels before attaching the mounting panel 20 m to the wall.
As previously mentioned, each side panel creates an interior angle α between itself and an adjoining adjacent side panel 20 _A,20 _B,20 _C, or 20 _D, or mounting panel 20 m. Accordingly and similarly, the connecting edges of adjacent side panels are also bevelled at an angle that is substantially one-half of the interior angle α therebetween. This further ensures that any load placed on the volume during use is distributed panel-to-panel throughout the entire completed volume, increasing structural integrity.
Each of the four pairs of side panels create their own specific interior angle α specific between the mounting panel 20 m and that particular side panel 20 _A,20 _B,20 _C, or 20 _D. Accordingly, Applicant notes that the bevel angle θ of each of the connecting edges 35 of the mounting panel 20 m and the connecting edges 35 of its corresponding side panels 20 _A,20 _B,20 _C, or 20 _Dcan be different from the bevel angle 8 for another pair of connecting edges.
Accordingly, as each pair of adjoining panels 20,20 has a specific interior angle α, and thus has a specific bevel angle θ along its corresponding connecting edge, it is functionally important to align the appropriate connecting edge 35 of the appropriate side panel with the corresponding connecting edge 35 of the mounting panel 20 m.
The bevelling of the connecting edges 35 ensures that any load placed on the completed volume will be divided and spread over the entirety of the completed volume 10, thus increasing the structural integrity of the completed volume.
Shown in greater detail in FIGS. 16A and 16B, and as previously discussed above, the mounting panel 20 m and the side panel 20 _Btogether create an interior angle α_Bspecific to the mounting panel 20 m and side panel 20 _B. As shown in FIG. 16B, to distribute load placed on the mounting panel 20 m and side panel 20 _Bby a climber, and to minimize movement therebetween, the connecting edge 35 _Bof the mounting panel 20 m and the connecting edge 35 _B side panel 20 _Bare adapted and arranged to engage one another continuously along their respective bearing surfaces 40 _Band 40 _B.
With reference to FIG. 17, after a first side panel, in this particular case side panel 20 _B, has been removeably secured to the mounting panel 20 m with bracket 122, a subsequent panel, such as side panel 20 _C, can be removeably secured in a similar fashion.
FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate the bevel angles θ_BCof the connecting edges of side panel 20 _Band side panel 20 _Cwhich engage one another. As described previously, side panels 20 _Band 20 _Ccreate an interior angle α_BCthat is specific thereto, and the bevel angle θ_BCof the connecting edges of the pair of side panels are substantially one-half of the interior angle α_BC. Note that in FIG. 18A, should the mounting panel 20 m and two side panels 20 _Cand 20 _Bnot already be secured to the wall, there is still access to the attachment openings 25 so as to secure the mounting panel 20 m to the wall.
With reference to FIG. 20, an embodiment of a modular knockdown climbing volume is shown having a complex geometric shape. The climbing volume has a plurality of side panels 20 which may be of different sizes and shapes secured to one another. The interior angle of any one pair of adjoining side panels may vary from the interior angle of another pair of adjoining side panels.

Bridges or Extensions

Applicant notes that bridges or extensions can be installed on a climbing wall to interconnect two adjacent volumes already secured to the climbing wall. FIG. 19 illustrates two pre-existing volumes V1 and V2, adjacent one another and already secured on a climbing wall. To increase versatility, the two volumes V1 and V2 can be conjoined by installing a bridge or extension panels 20 e therebetween. Simply, the extension panel 20 e is another form of the side panel 20, interconnecting between other side panels 20 of volumes V1 and V2 and to each other. As shown in FIG. 20, the extension panel 20 e can be any particular geometric shape to form fit between the two volumes V1 and V2.
Similar to the volumes described above, extension panels 20 e also have bevelled connecting edges having a bevel angle θ_Ethat is substantially one half of the interior angle α_Efor a pair of adjoining extension panels 20 e, so as to distribute a load over the extension panels. The panels of the extension can also be removeably secured to the volumes V1 and V2 using fastening means.
However, Applicant notes that the connecting edges between the extension panels 20 e and the panels of the pre-existing volumes V1 and V2, may not necessarily be bevelled.
Extensions to a single volume already secured on a wall can be added to further increase variability in volume options. Additional extension panels can be added to the pre-existing volumes, to create a larger volume, or to change the volume shape outside of the original mounting panel perimeter.

Claims

1. A modular climbing volume having an enclosed space for attaching to a climbing wall or frame, comprising at least two panels, one of which is a mounting panel for removeably securing the climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame;

said at least two panels each comprising one or more connecting edges, each panel removeably secured to at least one other of the at least two panels to form a pair of adjoining panels,

wherein the panels of each pair of adjoining panels define an interior angle α therebetween,

wherein the connecting edges of each pair of adjoining panels are bevelled at a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of the interior angle α, and

wherein when said at least two panels are connected along their connecting edges, the panels form the volume.

2. The modular climbing volume of claim 1, wherein the mounting panel further comprises a flat mounting profile for engaging the climbing wall or frame.

3. The modular climbing volume of claim 1, further comprising at least one angled bracket having an bracket angle β that is substantially equal to the interior angle α.

4. The modular climbing volume of claim 1, further comprising hold openings in at least one of said at least two panels for removeably securing a climbing hold thereto.

5. The modular climbing volume of claim 1, wherein the mounting panel further comprises attachment openings for removeably securing the volume to the climbing wall.

6. The modular climbing volume of claim 1, further comprising extensions for extending the climbing volume or interconnecting the climbing volume with another climbing volume removeably secured to the climbing wall or frame.

7. The modular climbing volume of claim 6, wherein the extensions further comprise a plurality of extension panels, each extension panel having bevelled connecting edges.

8. A method of installing a complete climbing volume having an enclosed space on a climbing wall or frame comprising:

pre-fabricating at least two panels, one of which is a mounting panel, and each of the at least two panels having at least one bevelled connecting edge for removeably securing the panels to at least one other of said at least two panels to form a pair of adjoining panels;

pre-fabricating a plurality of fastening means for removeably securing each panel of each pair of adjoining panels to one another; and

assembling said at least two panels together to form the complete climbing volume.

9. The method claim of claim 8, wherein the panels of each pair of adjoining panels in the modular climbing volume form an interior angle α and pre-fabricating the at least two panels further comprises:

calculating an interior angle α;

determining a bevel angle θ for each panel of the pair of adjoining panels; and

bevelling the connecting edges of each panel of each pair of adjoining panels to bevel angle θ.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein pre-fabricating of the plurality of fastening means further comprises pre-fabricating a bracket for each pair of adjoining panels that has a bracket angle β that is substantially the same as the interior angle α.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein assembling the at least two panels together to form the complete climbing volume further comprises:

removeably securing the mounting panel to the climbing wall or frame; and

removeably securing the other of the at least two panels to the mounting panel.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein when the at least two panels are three or more panels, further comprising:

removeably securing the mounting panel to a second panel of the three or more panels, forming an incomplete climbing volume;

removeably securing the incomplete climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame; and

removeably securing at least a third panel of the three or more panels to the incomplete volume to form the complete climbing volume.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein pre-fabricating of the mounting panel further comprises providing attachment openings for removeably securing the mounting panel to the climbing wall or frame.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-fabricating of the at least two panels further comprises providing hold openings for removeably securing a climbing hold to the climbing volume.

15. A modular kit for assembling a complete climbing volume having an enclosed space comprising:

a plurality of panels, one of which is a mounting panel for removeably securing the climbing volume to the climbing wall or frame;

each of the plurality of panels having at least one bevelled connecting edge for removeably securing to at least one other of said plurality of panels to form a pair of adjoining panels; and

a plurality of fastening means for removeably securing the panels together,

wherein the panels of each pair of adjoining panels forms an interior angle α therebetween, and

wherein the connecting edges of each pair of adjoining panels are bevelled at a bevel angle θ that is substantially one half of the interior angle α.

16. The modular kit of claim 15, wherein the fastening means further comprises an angled bracket having a bracket angle β that is substantially equal to the interior angle α.

17. The modular kit of claim 15, further comprising extensions for extending the climbing volume or interconnecting the climbing volume with another climbing volume removeably secured to the climbing wall or frame.