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; an entrapment mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user entrapment conditions, the one or more user entrapment 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 one of the one or more user entrapment conditions formed by the position of the climbing apparatus proximate a support structure proximate the body of water.

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;   an entrapment mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user entrapment conditions, the one or more user entrapment 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 one of the one or more user entrapment conditions formed by the position of the climbing apparatus proximate a support structure proximate the body of water.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a falling mitigation element to mitigate one or more falling user conditions for the user of the aquatic climbing system. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the entrapment mitigation element comprises at least one of a partially submerged first substantially vertical lower portion of the climbing surface and a shield functional to shield a gutter proximate a pool deck and a pool wall. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , 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. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , 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. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bumper elements are flared in shape to be larger in proximity to the pool deck. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises 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. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of shaped surfaces are integral the climbing apparatus 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a rear surface configured to discourage climbing of the rear surface by the user of the system. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the rear surface further comprises a safety cover over a frame that supports the climbing surface and the rear surface and wherein the safety cover of the rear surface covers the frame. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises one or more climbing features to assist the user stay within the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing surface is formed of one or more sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , 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. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , 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. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of modular sections are formed sections removably coupled together by a coupling element. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the climbing apparatus comprises one or more non-modular sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface. 
   
   
       17 . 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 entrapment conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the entrapment mitigation element comprises a first substantially vertical portion of the climbing surface at least partially submerged into the body of water contiguous a support structure and wherein the entrapment mitigation element is sufficient to mitigate one or more user entrapment conditions.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a second portion of the climbing surface contiguous and above said first substantially vertical lower portion. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein an entrapment condition of the one or more entrapment conditions is formed by one or more of a gap between the first substantially vertical lower portion and a pool wall of the support structure, and a gutter proximate the pool deck of the support structure and the climbing surface. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a falling mitigation element to mitigate one or more falling user conditions for the user of the aquatic climbing system. 
   
   
       21 . 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 entrapment conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the entrapment mitigation element comprises a shield operable to shield a gutter proximate a pool deck and a pool wall and wherein when the climbing apparatus is positioned proximate the gutter, the shield mitigates entrapment of the user in the gutter.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the shield is a panel removably attached to one or more of the pool deck and the pool wall to sufficiently cover the gutter proximate the climbing apparatus sufficient to mitigate entrapment of the user in the gutter. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a falling mitigation element to mitigate one or more falling user conditions for the user of the aquatic climbing system.