Safety features of a climbing apparatus for use in a water environment

Abstract

An aquatic climbing system having safety features. A climbing apparatus having a climbing surface suitable for use in a body of water in an aquatic environment; and one or more mitigation elements in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user conditions, the one or more user conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the mitigation element mitigates at least one of the one or more user conditions to enhance user safety of the user of the climbing apparatus.

1 . An aquatic climbing system having safety features, comprising:
 a climbing apparatus having a climbing surface suitable for use in a body of water in an aquatic environment;   one or more mitigation elements in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user conditions, the one or more user conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the mitigation element mitigates at least one of the one or more user conditions to enhance user safety of the user of the climbing apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mitigation element mitigates at least one of a falling condition and an entrapment condition of the one or more user conditions for the user of the aquatic climbing system. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mitigation element is an entrapment mitigation element that mitigates an entrapment condition of the one or more user conditions, wherein the entrapment condition is formed by the position of the climbing apparatus proximate a support structure proximate a body of water in the aquatic environment. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a first substantially vertical lower portion of a climbing surface and a second portion of the climbing surface contiguous and above said first substantially vertical lower portion and wherein the entrapment mitigation element comprises the first substantially vertical lower portion of the climbing surface at least partially submerged into the body of water contiguous the support structure sufficient to mitigate the entrapment condition. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of shaped surfaces of the climbing apparatus sufficient to encourage a user of the climbing apparatus to perform at least one of to stay to the climbing surface and to fall from the climbing surface into the body of water. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of shaped surfaces further comprise at least one of a plurality of bumper elements removably attached to the climbing apparatus and a frame structure suitable to support the climbing surface and wherein the plurality of shaped surfaces comprise a plurality of bumper elements removably attached to the frame structure. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the entrapment mitigation element is a shield functional to shield a gutter proximate the pool deck and the pool wall and wherein when the climbing apparatus is positioned proximate the gutter, the shield prevents entrapment of the user in the gutter. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of shaped surfaces of the climbing apparatus sufficient to encourage a user of the climbing apparatus to perform at least one to stay to the climbing surface and to fall from the climbing surface into the body of water. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mitigation element is a falling mitigation element that mitigates a falling condition of the one or more user conditions for the user. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the falling mitigation element comprises at least one portion of the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus being substantially vertical and having a plurality of recessed climbing assists. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of shaped surfaces of the climbing apparatus sufficient to encourage a user of the climbing apparatus to perform at least one to stay to the climbing surface and to fall from the climbing surface into the body of water. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the falling mitigation element comprises at least one portion of the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus having a substantially negative incline with respect to vertical sufficient to minimize contact of a body falling from the climbing surface with the climbing surface. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of shaped surfaces of the climbing apparatus sufficient to encourage a user of the climbing apparatus to perform at least one to stay to the climbing surface and to fall from the climbing surface into the body of water. 
   
   
       14 . An aquatic climbing system having safety features, comprising:
 a climbing apparatus having a climbing surface suitable for use in a body of water in an aquatic environment, wherein the climbing surface is formed of one or more sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface;   one or more mitigation elements in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user conditions, the one or more user conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the mitigation element mitigates at least one of the one or more user conditions to enhance user safety of the user of the climbing apparatus.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mitigation element mitigates at least one of a falling condition and an entrapment condition of the one or more user conditions for the user of the aquatic climbing system. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of modular sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface and wherein modular sections of the plurality of modular sections are interchangeable. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of modular sections further comprise one or more corresponding frame supports of a modular frame structure suitable to removably couple the plurality of modular sections together and support the climbing apparatus. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of modular sections are formed sections removably coupled together by a coupling element. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the climbing apparatus comprises one or more non-modular sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface. 
   
   
       20 . An aquatic climbing system having safety features, comprising:
 a climbing apparatus having a climbing surface suitable for use in a body of water in an aquatic environment;   an entrapment mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user conditions, the one or more user conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the entrapment mitigation element mitigates at least an entrapment user condition to enhance user safety of the user of the climbing apparatus; and   a falling mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and the one or more user conditions, wherein the falling mitigation element mitigates at least a falling user condition to enhance user safety of the user of the climbing apparatus.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a plurality of shaped surfaces of the climbing apparatus sufficient to encourage a user of the climbing apparatus to perform at least one to stay to the climbing surface and to fall from the climbing surface into the body of water. 
   
   
       22 . The climbing apparatus further comprising one or more sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface.