Exercise devices – Gymnastic – Arm or hand type climbing arrangement
Patent
1998-04-02
1999-08-31
Apley, Richard J.
Exercise devices
Gymnastic
Arm or hand type climbing arrangement
482 35, 482 51, 434247, A63B 6900, A63B 900
Patent
active
059446340
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns the field of physical and sporting activities, and relates to an artificial training hold for climbing, in particular for young children.
Holds of the generic type are known, generally consisting of a block provided with means for fastening to a wall, in particular bolting. At its periphery, the block has indented reliefs to accommodate the fingers, in order to provide a climber with something to grip.
Learning to climb is a popular way for young children to develop their motor co-ordination. More particularly, holds are known in which the block has a familiar configuration, for example that of a car, so that it can be identified with ease by young children.
One problem which needs to be solved resides in the lack of long-term attention which young pupils display for a sustained activity, and in the lack of interest which results when the arrangement of the holds on the wall becomes known and familiar.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
French Patent FR 2 578 166 discloses an artificial hold, particularly a training hold for climbing, which includes a block of arbitrary configuration, and having an arrangement for fastening to a wall. The block has at least one recess which opens onto one of its faces and is accessible after the block has been fastened to the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the invention is to provide an artificial training hold for climbing which makes it possible to capture and hold the attention of young pupils, and further allows the possible routes up a wall to be changed quickly.
A second object of the invention is to provide an artificial hold which, from a basic activity based on climbing, makes it possible to develop other types of training.
According to the invention, an artificial training hold for climbing, comprising a block of arbitrary configuration, provided with means for fastening to a wall and having at least one recess which opens onto one of its faces accessible after the block has been fastened to the wall, is characterized in that a removable plate provided with recognition means is accommodated inside said recess, said plate comprising at least one member forming part of means for removable connection to the block, so that it is easy to remove the plate from the block intentionally, by virtue of said removable connection means, but not accidentally, by virtue of its situation inside the block, which prevents it from being removed accidentally.
The result of these arrangements is, firstly, that a pupil can recognize one hold among many holds fitted to the wall, as he progresses along this wall, and finally that a theme route can be defined beforehand by a teacher, and secondly that the plate is easy to fit in and/or withdraw from the housing, either by the pupil as he progresses, or by the teacher with a view to quickly and easily varying the possible routes along the wall.
The term removable connection is intended to mean a connection which can be broken intentionally and easily, and/or conversely reestablished, and which may be either manual or assisted by mechanical means, so long as the connection is easy to break.
According to a first illustrative embodiment of said removable connection means, these are so-called weak connection means, that is to say they allow the plate to be withdrawn manually by a gentle pull; said weak connection means consist, for example, of means of the magnetic type, or alternatively of the self-fastening strip of interengageable hook-and-loop type; for example, such as is sold under the registered trademark "VELCRO"; that is to say ones which use two complementary supports, attached respectively to the block and to the plate, one having hooks and the other loops, or alternatively of the type involving the interlocking, with slightly tight contact, of the plate inside the housing, it being further possible for said interlocking to involve a clip.
According to another illustrative embodiment of said removable connection means, these are so-called
REFERENCES:
patent: 4136598 (1979-01-01), Hughes
patent: 5092587 (1992-03-01), Ulner et al.
patent: 5732954 (1998-03-01), Strickler et al.
Apley Richard J.
Hwang Victor K.
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