USOO9492725B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,492.725 B2 Jones (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 15, 2016 (54) ROCK CLIMBING WALLS, FALL SAFETY 2.93. R 1858 St.udeth et al.al PADS, AND ACCESSORIES 2013,0061393 A1 3/2013 Silverman (71) Applicant: ps Allan Jones, Salt Lake City, UT FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS DE 102006010413 10/2007 (72) Inventor: David Allan Jones, Salt Lake City, UT DE 2O2O10004470 T 2010 (US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS (73) Assignee: PLATYPUS IP, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (US) Cushioning Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia (Aug. 10, 2015). Crash Pad Review: The Best Bouldering Pad OutdoorGearLab (*) Notice:- r Subject to any disclaimer,- the term of this Crash(Aug. 6,Pads 2015). for Climbing and Bouldering (Aug. 6, 2015). patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Elasticity (physics) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Aug. 10, U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 2015). How to Choose the Best Bouldering Crash Pad—OutdoorGearLab (21) Appl. No.: 14/822,631 (Aug. 6, 2015). Scott Hildreth Physics 4A FreeFall Lab Chabot College (Aug. (22) Filed: Aug. 10, 2015 6, 2015). (65) Prior Publication Data Primary Examiner — Jerome W Donnelly US 2016/0030824 A1 Feb. 4, 2016 (57) ABSTRACT The inventions disclosed herein relate to designs of climbing (51) Int. Cl. Surfaces, fall safety pads and/or accessories related thereto. A63B 2L/00 (2006.01) According to Some embodiments, different impact Zones of A63B 69/00 (2006.01) a fall safety pad can have different cushioning attributes. The A63B 6/02 (2006.01) different cushioning attributes of the different impact zones (52) U.S. Cl. of the safety pad can be based on a vertical distance to a CPC ............. A63B 69/0048 (2013.01); A63B 6/02 directly overlying portion of the climbing surface. The (2013.01) different cushioning attributes of the different impact zones (58) Field of Classification Search Off the safetySafety proad d CanalSO1 COinS1Clerid a predipred1cted ad Or measured CPC ...................................................... A63B 21 FOO frequency of falling from a portion of the climbing Surface USPC 482/34, 35, 36 directly overlying each impact zone of the safety pad. Other See a lication file for complete search histo s intended climber attributes, enjoyment, and safety concerns pp p ry. can be considered in the design of the climbing Surface(s), (56) References Cited safety pad(s), and accessories disclosed. Further, wear, rep licability, customizations of enjoyment, and updates to U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS safety concerns in the climbing sport are further understood in view of this disclosure. 4,999,868 A 3, 1991 Kraft 5,604,021 A 2/1997 Wagner 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent Nov. 15, 2016 Sheet 3 of 6 US 9,492.725 B2 N-- ---- . s s --- * \s s s 8 SS S sors S3 S s ivorewooooooooooooooowoonisow.was s s' 8----YYYYs rx,y,-----Ya-Yaas - sesssssssssssssssssssssss-s-s-s-s-s-s rs W w as ----------aa-rara-arasWSSY ... ----a-rarxxxYavan SS s S s s s ---------ar-v-Ya-Yaras' --. ...a S. - 1. U.S. Patent Nov. 15, 2016 Sheet S of 6 exas..….……………….………,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzcrºººººº^***^^**^^*******************? Ns sever was orses S …...…...……„…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz&&&&&&&&&***************************************** ASMYYYYYYYYArway Sw assassassass-as-axaYYYYssexxxxxvisWXYYYYYYY US 9,492,725 B2 1. 2 ROCK CLIMBING WALLS, FALL SAFETY Bouldering movements are described as either “static' or PADS, AND ACCESSORIES “dynamic' which can add to the level of skill required, and/or likelihood of falling, using Such bouldering move BACKGROUND ments. Static movements are those that are performed slowly, with the climber's position controlled by maintain Rock climbing first emerged as a sport in the mid-1800s. ing contact on the boulder with the other three limbs. Early records describe climbers engaging in what is now Dynamic movements use the climbers momentum to reach referred to as bouldering, not as a separate discipline, but as holds that would be difficult or impossible to secure stati a form of training for larger ascents. In the early 20th cally, with an increased risk of falling if the movement is not century, the Fontainebleau area of France established itself 10 performed accurately. And, in the case of a bouldering race, as a prominent climbing area, where some of the first dynamic movements may be accentuated over static move dedicated bleausards (or “boulderers') emerged. The spe ments with a corresponding increase of required skill and/or cialized rock climbing shoe was invented by one Such likelihood/frequency of falling as speed, dynamic move athlete, Pierre Allain. ment, and/or difficulty of climbing route and holds are In the 1960s, the sport was pushed forward by American 15 increased. mathematician John Gill, who contributed several important Again, boulder problems are generally (but not always) innovations. Gill’s previous athletic pursuit was gymnastics, shorter than 20 feet (6.1 m) from ground to top. And, in a a sport which had an established scale of difficulty for commercial indoor rock climbing wall environment, may be particular movements and body positions. He applied this less. This may be so, in particular, with lower-skill, intro idea to bouldering, which shifted the focus from reaching a ductory, or younger climbers. The vertically shorter climb Summit to navigating a specific sequence of holds. Gill ing wall (and fall therefrom) makes the sport significantly developed a closed-ended rating system: B1 problems were safer than free solo climbing, which is also performed as difficult as the most challenging roped routes of the time, without ropes, but with no upper limit on the height of the B2 problems were more difficult, and B3 problems were climb. However, minor injuries are common in bouldering, those that had only been completed once. 25 particularly sprained ankles and wrists. Two factors contrib Two important training tools emerged in the 1980s: Boul ute to the frequency of injuries in bouldering: first, boulder dering mats and artificial climbing walls. The former, also problems typically feature more difficult moves than other referred to as “crash pads.” prevented injuries from falling, climbing disciplines, making falls more common. Second, and enabled boulderers to climb in areas that would have without ropes to arrest the climber's descent, every fall will been too dangerous to attempt otherwise. Indoor climbing 30 cause the climber to hit the ground. And, considering a walls helped spread the sport to areas without outdoor possible miss-hap with traditional top-roped indoor climb climbing, and allowed serious climbers to train year-round ing, free solo climbing, and even bouldering fall impact regardless of weather conditions. can vary greatly due to the height at which the un-obstructed As the sport grew in popularity, new bouldering areas fall began. were developed throughout Europe and the United States, 35 To prevent injuries, boulderers position crash pads near and more athletes began participating in bouldering compe the base of the boulder to provide a softer landing, as well titions. The visibility of the sport greatly increased in the as one or more spotters to help redirect the climber towards early 2000s, as YouTube videos and climbing blogs helped the pads. Upon landing, boulderers employ falling tech boulderers around the world to quickly learn techniques, niques similar to those used in gymnastics: spreading the find hard problems, and announce newly completed projects. 40 impact across the entire body to avoid bone fractures, and In early 2010, two American climbers claimed first positioning limbs to allow joints to move freely throughout ascents on boulder problems that have come to be regarded the impact. as the most difficult in the world: The Game near Boulder, Artificial (i.e. human made, designed, or manufactured) Colo., established by Daniel Woods; and Lucid Dreaming climbing walls are often used to simulate boulder problems near Bishop, Calif., established by Paul Robinson. The 45 in an indoor environment, usually at climbing gyms. These following year, fellow American Carlo Traversi claimed the walls are generally constructed with wooden panels, poly second ascent of. The Game and in January 2014, American mer cement panels, concrete shells, or precast molds of Daniel Woods completed the second ascent of “Lucid actual rock walls. Holds, usually made of plastic, are then Dreaming.” In 2011, Czech climber Adam Ondra claimed bolted onto the wall to create problems. The walls often the second ascent of Gioia, originally established three years 50 feature steep overhanging Surfaces, forcing the climber to earlier by Italian boulderer Christian Core, and suggested employ highly technical movements while Supporting much that it was among the world’s most challenging boulder of their weight with their upper body strength. And, the wall problems. Surface can be further complicated by attaching various Unlike other climbing sports, bouldering can be per “volumes” to the wall to which holds are then subsequently formed safely and effectively with very little equipment, an 55 attached. aspect which makes the discipline highly appealing to many Climbing gyms often feature multiple problems within climbers. the same section (or route) of wall. In the US the most Bouldering is a form of rock climbing which takes place common method Routesetters use to designate the intended on boulders and other Small rock formations, usually mea route for a particular problem is by placing colored tape next Suring less than 20 feet (6.1 m) from ground to top, but in 60 to each hold for example, holds with red tape would Some cases can measure up to 30+ ft. Unlike top rope indicate one bouldering problem, while green tape would be climbing and lead climbing, no ropes are used to protect or used to set off a different problem in the same area. aid the climber.