EP0433195A1 - Mobile artificial climbing wall - Google Patents

Abstract

An artificial climbing wall comprising a support frame (8, 9, 12) covered on the outside by a hard facing (11, 13) which defines the wall to be scaled. The wall is characterized in that it is at least partially constituted of one or more groups of individual frame portions (8, 12) which, together with the facing plates (13) which they carry on all or part of their outer surfaces, form wall modules (1, 3) in each group, said wall modules being pivotably or slidably mounted with respect to each other, preferably in a vertical direction.

Description

The present invention relates to an artificial climbing wall comprising a support frame externally covered with a hard covering which defines the wall to be climbed.

As we know, rock climbing on an artificial wall is an increasingly popular sport, which is practiced either outdoors or indoors, in the form of competition, demonstration or even a simple show.

To date, artificial climbing walls of various types are known, the common characteristic of which is their large size, essentially in the height direction, which in order to guarantee quality competitions or shows, must in fact reach at least five to six meters.

It follows that the currently known artificial climbing walls cannot be transported on the road without being completely dismantled. This dismantling complicates the transfer of the walls between two places of presentation that are geographically distant and this quasi or awareness-raising operation therefore becomes extremely restrictive ..

The present invention proposes to overcome this drawback and, to do this, it relates to an artificial climbing wall of the type specified in the introduction, which is characterized in that its support frame is at least partly made up of one or more groups of individual frameworks which, with covering plates which they carry respectively on all or part of their external faces, form in each group wall modules mounted pivoting or sliding one relative to the other, preferably in the height direction, so as to be movable between a retracted position and a deployed position in which they reconstitute the wall in the functional state.

Thus, the artificial climbing wall according to the invention has a retractable structure making it possible to reduce its dimensions, mainly in the height direction, which therefore makes it easily transportable on the road, without prior disassembly.

So that this wall can be easily transferred between two places of presentation, it is provided, according to a complementary characteristic of the invention, that it be mounted, in particular by the respective base modules of the groups of sliding modules, on the plate d '' a trailer fitted with folding ground stabilizing stands.

According to a preferred embodiment, the modules of at least one of the groups of sliding modules are formed from hollow three-dimensional frameworks open at one end and have progressively decreasing transverse dimensions, so as to be telescopically nestable one in the 'other.

Thanks to their three-dimensional configuration, generally parallelepipedal with a large depth, the frameworks of the moles can be lined, on at least three of their lateral faces, with cladding plates, which advantageously allows the surface to be increased to a large extent. of the wall to be scaled.

As a variant, however, the frames of the sliding modules can have a planar or three-dimensional configuration with a depth significantly reduced with respect to the width of their front face and only carry covering plates on the latter.

The modules are in this case simple wall elements sliding one on the other in the manner of the mobile sections of a fire engine ladder and, to further reduce the overall height of the wall made up of one or more groups such sliding modules and therefore facilitate their transport on a trailer or other support base, it is provided according to another characteristic of the invention, that the frame of the base module of each group is articulated on said support base around an axis substantially parallel to the lower edge of its front face.

Furthermore, the telescopic retraction and deployment of all the modules in all or part of the groups is advantageously done by means of one or more operating devices, acting between the frameworks of the modules.

In the case more particularly of groups of modules which can be fitted one into the other in the height direction, such an operating device will preferably be constituted by a cross-over structure, possibly moved by a jack. In the case where the modules are simple wall elements sliding one on the other, one can alternatively use a lifting system with traction cable, motorized or manual.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the covering plates are, at least in the module or modules of each group other than the basic module, fixed on support frames mounted which can be moved frontally outward on the respective faces of the corresponding framework to, after deployment of the modules, allow a continuous climbing wall to be reconstructed.

Due to their mobility, the support frames for the covering plates can also be tilted more or less in one direction or the other with respect to the vertical, for example by means of adjustable stroke cylinders, to create on the reconstructed wall, areas of overhanging or overhanging walls. In addition to the advantage of being retractable, the artificial climbing wall according to the invention therefore also offers that of having a transformable configuration.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale à l'état déployé, d'un mur selon le premier mode de réalisation;
• - la figure 2 en est une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1, le mur étant représenté stabilisé sur le sol;
• - la figure 3 montre le mur de la figure 2 à l'état rétracté;
• - la figure 4 est une vue de dessus, à plus grande échelle, de la moitié de droite du mur de la figure 1, sans les plaques de revêtement;
• - les figures 5 à 7 sont des vues de détail agrandies du mur des figures 1 à 4;
• - les figures 8 et 9 sont respectivement une vue latérale en coupe verticale et une vue de dessus du mur conforme au deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, à l'état déployé; et
• - la figure 10 est une vue latérale de ce même mur, complètement escamoté.
• - la figure 11 représente schématiquement une variante de réalisation.

Two embodiments of the artificial climbing wall in accordance with the present invention will now be described in more detail, but only by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view in the deployed state, of a wall according to the first embodiment;
• - Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1, the wall being shown stabilized on the ground;
• - Figure 3 shows the wall of Figure 2 in the retracted state;
• - Figure 4 is a top view, on a larger scale, of the right half of the wall of Figure 1, without the covering plates;
• - Figures 5 to 7 are enlarged detail views of the wall of Figures 1 to 4;
• - Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a side view in vertical section and a top view of the wall according to the second embodiment of the invention, in the deployed state; and
• - Figure 10 is a side view of the same wall, completely retracted.
• - Figure 11 shows schematically an alternative embodiment.

The base of the artificial climbing wall exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed by two modules 1, 2 resting on the platform 4 of a long road trailer 5 provided, at the ends of its two longitudinal members 6, with four folding crutches 7 The wheels 5a of the trailer are only shown in phantom in Figure 1.

Each of the modules 1, 2 is constructed from a hollow parallelepedic metal frame 8, 9, the depth of which, that is to say its dimension measured in the transverse direction of the trailer 5 (FIG. 2), covers the almost all or most of the width of the plate 4 of the latter. The two frameworks 8, 9 made up of horizontal and vertical bars welded to each other are, by their base, fixed side by side lengthwise, on the plate 4 of the trailer 5, for example using bolts, and can also be secured to each other at their mutual contact face 10, in the middle of the trailer. The frame thus formed is externally coated with plates 11 of a hard synthetic material imitating the appearance of rock, which define a continuous climbing wall on the four lateral faces of the frame.

The wall shown comprises a third parallelepiped module 3 which, in horizontal section, has dimensions smaller than those of the other two 1, 2, in order to be able to fit from above into one of them 1, through its upper face opened. The third module 3 also has a parallelepipedic framework 12 (shown in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3) carrying plates 13 similar to the plates 11.

At about a quarter of its height, the framework 12 of the third module 3 includes a set of lower cross members 14, 15 welded together to define an upper horizontal support structure 16 for a lifting device 17 which stands in the center of the module base 1, resting on the plate 4 of the trailer 5.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this lifting device 17 is formed by two parallel vertical rows of cross-pieces 18, 19 connected end to end by parallel transverse articulation axes 20 extending between the two rows to stiffen the lifting device 17. Each vertical row of cross-pieces 18 or 19 is secured to the platform 4 of the trailer by a foot 21 or 22 in the form of a member perpendicular to the articulation axes 20, each member being provided with a slot such that 23 in which slides the free end of a branch 18a or 19a of the lowest spider of the respective row, the second branch 18b of which is articulated to the frame. The same arrangements are provided at the upper end of the lifting device 17 for the two upper cross-pieces of the two rows, the corresponding members 24, 25 here being secured to the support structure 16.

A cylinder 26 is also interposed between the plate 4 of the trailer 5 and one of the lowest transverse axes 20 of the lifting device 17 for, in its extension phase, fully deploy the lifting device 17, as illustrated by figure 1, and thus place the module 3 in the high position, with its lower face substantially at the same level as the upper face of the base module 1.

Figures 1 and 2 also show that in the upper mobile module 3, the cover plates 13 are fixed on rectangular frames 27, 28, 29 which, as seen in Figure 4, are maintained respectively on the rear faces 12a , right side 12b and front 12c of the frame 12, the left side face 12d of the latter being bare in the example shown.

More precisely, the rear frame 27 is secured, respectively at its four corners, to the rods of four small parallel horizontal jacks, such as 30, which are fixed to the framework 12 by lugs 31. In the extended position, these cylinders move the frame 27 coated with the plates 13, parallel to itself and towards the outside of the frame, to bring it into the vertical alignment of the rear wall 1a of the base module 1 and resting thereon ci, as shown in figure 2.

The right frame 28 is connected by articulations 32, along its upper edge 28a, to the rods 33a of two long parallel jacks 33 whose body 33b is, as can be seen better in FIG. 5, the rear at 34 on a long support leg 35 hanging under an upper median cross member 36 of the frame 12. At its base, the frame 28 is subjected to the action of two small parallel jacks 37 resting on the frame 12. As can be seen from FIG. 6, these jacks 37 are intended to bring the round lower branch 28b of the frame 28 against a continuous stop 8a, of complementary shape, formed along the upper edge opposite the frame 8 of the basic module 1. The lower branch 28b of the frame 28 thus becomes a pivot axis around which the latter, coated with its plates 13, can be tilted by the extension of the two upper jacks 33 and thus placed overhanging above the right wall 1b of the basic module 1, as shown in Figure 1.

Returning to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the front frame 29 is articulated, along its upper branch 29a, by hinges 38 of horizontal axis on the upper bar opposite 39 of the frame 12. Its base 29b is also connected, near each of its lateral ends, by articulations 40 (see FIG. 7), to the rods 41a of two parallel jacks 41 whose body 41b is articulated at 42 on the framework 12. In position by extension, these jacks 41 bring the front frame 29 coated with its plates, 13 and pivoting around upper hinges 38, bearing by its base 29b on the upper edge 43 of the corresponding wall 1c, offset towards the front, of the base module 1, so as to place it on a slope relative to the latter, as shown in FIG. 2.

By playing on the extension stroke of the jacks 33, on the one hand, and 41, on the other hand, the degree of inclination of the walls of the upper module 3, formed by the coated frames 28 and 29, can be modified as desired. plates 13, and even bring them back to the vertical position.

The artificial climbing wall according to the invention thus has a variable geometry when it is placed in its functional configuration illustrated by FIG. 2, in which its upper module 3 is deployed outside of the lower module 1 and the crutches 7 of the trailer support 5 are unfolded and placed in abutment on the ground to stabilize it.

When one wishes to convey the climbing wall from one place of presentation to another, it suffices, before folding the crutches, to retract all of the jacks 30, 33, 37 and 41 then the jack 26 controlling the device lifting, so that the module 3 retracts completely inside the module 1, as shown in FIG. 3. The height of the wall being thus reduced by half, passing for example from 5 m to 2 m 50, transport of the latter on the road will not pose any traffic problem.

Figures 8 and 9 show a second possible embodiment of the artificial climbing wall according to the invention. Here, the two modules 44, 45 each have a metal frame 46, 47 which, in plan view, has the shape of a U, with a depth p reduced to a minimum. The frames 46, 47 are lined, only on their very wide front face, positioned very close to a longitudinal edge 48 of the plate 4 of the trailer 5, with one or more adjoining covering plates 49 identical to the plates 11 of the modules 1, 2 and fixed in the same way to the frames 47, 47.

As best shown in Figure 9, the two U-shaped modules 44, 45 are slidably mounted relative to each other in the manner of the movable sections of a fireman's ladder, thanks to the folded ends 50, 51 towards the other at a right angle, the sides 52, 53 of the frame 46 of the base module 44 resting on the plate of the trailer 5, and against which the straight ends of the sides 54 apply with gentle friction, 55 of the sliding frame 47. The latter can be hoisted out of the base module using a conventional lifting system with traction cable (not shown), motorized or manual control, of the type which also equips firefighters' ladders. Arriving in the high position, the upper frame comes to rest on retractable cleats 56 present along the upper edges of the sides 52, 53 of the base frame 46.

It is also possible, on the upper sliding module 45, to provide a movable frame for supporting the front cover plates 49, movable and tiltable using a group of jacks, as described above for the first embodiment. with reference to FIG. 4. In this case, the frame 47 of the sliding module will of course be provided, on its rear face, with support cross-members of the jacks.

In FIGS. 8 and 10, it can be seen that the frame 46 of the base module 44 is, along its rear edge, articulated on the plate 4 of the trailer 5 by hinges 57 with an axis substantially parallel to the lower edge. of the front face of the frame. Using one or more long cylinders 58 articulated, on one side, to the plate 4 of the trailer 5 and, on the other, to the two sides 52, 53 of the frame 46, the retracted wall, which has a height at most equal to the width of the trailer 5, reduced by its depth p, possibly folded down on the platform of the latter as shown in Figure 10. This additional arrangement allows to reduce to a minimum the total height of the retracted wall above the trailer, without increasing the overall width of the trailer. Its transport on the road is thus done in still improved safety conditions.

It goes without saying that numerous modifications and adaptations remaining within the scope of the present invention can be made to the two described embodiments of the latter. This is how one can provide in the artificial climbing wall several groups of telescopic or sliding modules, such as 1, 3 and 44, 45, arranged side by side or only one of these groups covering the most much of the length of the trailer. In each group, more than two modules can also be provided to increase the height of the wall in the functional state without increasing its bulk in the retracted transport position. Similarly, the lifting device with cross-pieces 17 or with traction cable could be replaced by any other lifting device with electrical, mechanical or pneumatic control.

FIG. 11 is a variant according to which the retraction of the support (s) (280) with their corresponding coatings (13) is effected by pivoting of these around a horizontal axis of rotation (281). A jack (33) being intended to control the pivoting of the support of its retracted position to its deployed position, and vice versa. FIG. 11 illustrating this variant shows on one side a support in the deployed position and on the other side another support in its retracted position. Of course the deployed position can be either that referenced by "b", but also the more pronounced one referenced by "a", to create an overhanging wall

Claims (10)

Artificial climbing wall comprising a support frame (8, 9, 12; 46, 47) externally covered with a hard covering (11, 13; 49) which defines the wall to be climbed, said support frame being at least for part made up of one or more groups of individual frameworks (8, 12; 46, 47) which, with covering plates (13; 49) which they carry respectively on all or part of their external faces, form in each group of wall modules (1, 3; 44, 45) mounted movable between a retracted position and an upward deployed position, and vice versa. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 1, characterized in that, in at least one of the groups, the modules (1, 3; 44, 45) are pivotally mounted relative to one another. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 1, characterized in that, in at least one of the groups, the modules (1, 3; 44, 45) are slidably mounted relative to one another in the direction height. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 3, characterized in that, in at least one of the groups, the modules (1, 3) are formed from hollow three-dimensional frameworks (8, 12) open at one end and have progressively decreasing transverse dimensions, to be telescopically nestable one inside the other. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 3, characterized in that, in at least one of the groups, the frames (46, 47) of the sliding modules (44, 45) have a planar or three-dimensional configuration with a depth (p ) markedly reduced compared to the width of their front face and only carrying covering plates (49) on the latter. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a transportable support base (4) on which the framework (46) of the base module (44) of the or each group of sliding modules is articulated about an axis (57) substantially parallel to the lower edge of its front face. Artificial climbing wall according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all or part of the groups of wall modules contains one or more operating devices (17), acting between the framework (9, 12) of the modules ( 1, 3) in the meaning of a telescopic deployment or retraction of all of the group's modules. Artificial climbing wall according to claim 7, characterized in that the maneuvering device consists of a structure (17) with crossbars (18, 19), possibly moved by a jack (26). Artificial climbing wall according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the covering plates (13) are, at least in the module (s) (3) of each group other than the module base (1), fixed on support frames (27, 28, 29) mounted movable frontally outwards on the respective faces (12b, 12c, 12d) of the corresponding framework (12). Artificial climbing wall according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, characterized in that it is mounted on the platform (4) of a trailer (5) provided with folding stabilizing legs (7) on the ground.

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