Artificial climbing trees and support system

Abstract

An artificial climbing tree assembly consisting of one or more artificial climbing trees will be constructed of a steel pipe or tubular framework, in segments or welded together, covered with molded segments having the outward appearance of a natural tree trunk texture. The trees will be attached to a base plate with a central support tower housing a safety belaying and repelling system. The unique safety incorporated into the invention is created by the inclination of the trees away from the top of the central support tower. A tether line attaches from the back of the climber to the top of the tree through a pulley system in the extension arm to the safety belaying and repelling system housed by the central support tower. The climbers are required to climb the face of the trees, where if they let go, they will fall away from the tree and will be slowly lowered by the safety belaying and repelling system to the foam-cushioned pad below. Varying degrees of climbing difficulty will be added to the trees by changing the textured surface, the shape of the tree trunks, and/or the inclination angle of the tree away from the top of the central support tower.

1 . An artificial climbing tree assembly and support system comprising: 
 a) base means for supporting one or more artificial climbing trees, wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees are removably attached to said base means;    b) a support structure coupled to said base means and adjacent to said one or more artificial climbing trees, which includes one or more extension arms extending to and supporting said one or more artificial climbing trees; and    c) a safety belaying and repelling system housed by said support structure;    whereby when a climber ascends and falls from said one or more artificial climbing trees, said safety belaying and repelling system safely decreases said climber's rate of fall.    
   
   
       2 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said base means is a platform with adjustable legs.  
   
   
       3 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said base means is covered by cushioned padding.  
   
   
       4 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 3 , wherein said base means is covered by Astroturf® or other artificial surface material.  
   
   
       5 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees are configured to resemble palm trees.  
   
   
       6 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees comprises: 
 a) a tree trunk; and    b) a decorative top section comprised of artificial foliage, wherein said decorative top section is located at the top of said tree trunk.    
   
   
       7 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 6 , wherein said tree trunk comprises: 
 a) a tubular framework; and    b) one or more molded segments having a textured surface, wherein said one or more molded segments encompass said tubular framework.    
   
   
       8 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 7 , wherein said tubular framework is comprised of joined together segments.  
   
   
       9 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees contain multiple limbs.  
   
   
       10 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 9 , wherein said multiple limbs are removably attached to said one or more artificial climbing trees.  
   
   
       11 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 10 , wherein the ends of said multiple limbs contain artificial foliage.  
   
   
       12 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said artificial climbing trees incline away from the top of said support structure.  
   
   
       13 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees contain one or more molded surface segments having a textured surface.  
   
   
       14 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 13 , wherein said textured surface contains multiple protrusions of varied shapes and sizes for the purpose of altering the degree of climbing difficulty of said one or more artificial climbing trees.  
   
   
       15 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said artificial climbing trees include a tubular framework.  
   
   
       16 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said artificial climbing trees are rigidly connected to said one or more extension arms of said support structure.  
   
   
       17 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees contain one or more molded surface segments having a textured surface.  
   
   
       18 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure is a tower.  
   
   
       19 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 18 , wherein said support structure is covered by artificial foliage.  
   
   
       20 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure is centrally located on said base means.  
   
   
       21 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure includes one or more adjustable extension arms.  
   
   
       22 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1 , wherein said safety belaying and repelling system comprises: 
 a) a safety harness for securing a climber to said safety belaying and repelling system;    b) a pulley system housed by said one or more extension arms for decreasing said climber's rate of fall from said one or more artificial climbing trees; and    c) a tether line extending from the back of said climber to the top of said one or more artificial climbing trees, through said pulley system housed by said one or more extension arms, to said support structure;    whereby when a climber falls from said one or more artificial climbing trees, said harness worn by said climber, in conjunction with said pulley system and said tether line, safely decrease said climber's rate of fall.    
   
   
       23 . The artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 1  further comprising a climber-activated audio/visual device to indicate when a climber has ascended to the top of said one or more artificial climbing trees.  
   
   
       24 . An artificial climbing tree assembly and support system comprising: 
 a) base means for supporting one or more artificial climbing trees, wherein said one or more artificial climbing trees are removably attached to said base means; and    b) a safety belaying and repelling system housed by said one or more artificial climbing trees;    whereby when a climber ascends and falls from said one or more artificial climbing trees, said safety belaying and repelling system safely decreases said climber's rate of fall.    
   
   
       25 . A method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system comprising the steps of: 
 a) assembling one or more artificial climbing trees;    b) providing a base means for supporting said one or more artificial climbing trees;    c) securing said one or more artificial climbing trees to said base means;    d) providing a means for housing a safety belaying and repelling system, wherein said means is coupled to said base means and adjacent to said one or more artificial climbing trees;    e) securing said one or more artificial climbing trees to said means for housing a safety belaying and repelling system; and    f) installing a safety belaying and repelling system within said means for housing a safety belaying and repelling system.    
   
   
       26 . The method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 25 , wherein said step of assembling said one or more artificial climbing trees further comprises: 
 a) joining a plurality of tubular segments together; and    b) covering said joined plurality of tubular segments with one or more surface segments containing a textured surface.    
   
   
       27 . The method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 25 , wherein said step of assembling said one or more artificial climbing trees includes covering a tubular segment with one or more surface segments containing a textured surface.  
   
   
       28 . The method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 25 , wherein said step of securing said one or more artificial climbing trees to said means for housing a safety belaying and repelling system includes inclining said one or more artificial climbing trees away from the top of said means for housing a safety belaying and repelling system.  
   
   
       29 . The method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 25 , further comprising the step of covering said base means with cushioned padding.  
   
   
       30 . The method for making an artificial climbing tree assembly and support system according to  claim 25 , further comprising the step of covering said base means with Astroturf® or other artificial surface material.