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 a falling mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user falling conditions, the one or more user falling conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the falling mitigation element mitigates at least one of the one or more user falling conditions.

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;   a falling mitigation element in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user falling conditions, the one or more user falling conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the falling mitigation element mitigates at least one of the one or more user falling conditions.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , 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 assist features. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially vertical at least one portion of the climbing surface is curved at the sides. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , 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 1 , 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. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , 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. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , herein the at least one portion of the climbing surface having the substantially negative incline with respect to vertical comprises one or more of a three-dimensional surface, a curved surface, a contoured surface, and an angled surface. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the climbing surface further comprises a second portion having an incline different from that of the at least one portion of the climbing surface. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the climbing surface is contiguous the at least one portion. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus comprises at least a first climbing portion, wherein the first climbing portion has a first angle relative to vertical sufficient to minimize contact of a body falling from the first climbing portion with the first climbing portion, wherein the first angle of the first climbing portion is a first angle of negative incline relative to vertical. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the climbing surface further comprises a second climbing portion contiguous the first climbing portion, wherein the second climbing portion has a second angle relative to vertical that is different from the first angle of the first climbing portion. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second angle of the second climbing portion is a larger angle of negative incline relative to vertical than the first angle of the first climbing portion. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second angle of the second climbing portion is substantially zero. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the climbing surface further comprises a lower portion contiguous to and below the first climbing portion. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the lower portion being at least partially submerged into the body of water. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the lower portion is substantially contiguous with respect to a pool wall proximate the body of water in the aquatic environment. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises one or more non-climbable portions having surface topology configured to discourage climbing by a user of the system. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein a non-climbable portion of the one or more non-climbable portions has a non-climbable surface topology characterized as being different than a first surface topology of the first climbing portion. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the non-climbable portion is contiguous the first climbing portion. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises a rear surface configured to discourage climbing by the user of the system. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the rear non-climbable surface comprises one or more of a safety cover and a non-climbable topology configured to discourage climbing by the user. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises the safety cover and a frame that supports the climbing surface and the rear non-climbable surface and wherein the safety cover of the rear non-climbable surface covers the frame. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an entrapment mitigation element functional to mitigate one or more entrapment user conditions. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing apparatus further comprises one or more climbing features to assist the user stay within the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the climbing surface is formed of one or more sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , 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. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , 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. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of modular sections are formed sections removably coupled together by a coupling element. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the climbing apparatus comprises one or more non-modular sections removably coupled together to form the climbing surface. 
   
   
       30 . 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;   a plurality of falling mitigation elements in cooperative arrangement with the climbing apparatus and one or more user falling conditions, the one or more user falling conditions having a potential adverse effect on user safety of a user of the aquatic climbing system, wherein the plurality of falling mitigation elements mitigate at least one of the one or more user falling conditions and wherein the plurality of falling mitigation elements further comprises:
 a first falling mitigation element having at least at least a first portion of the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus being substantially vertical and having a plurality of recessed climbing assist features; and 
 a second falling mitigation element having at least a second portion of the climbing surface of the climbing apparatus with a substantially negative incline with respect to vertical sufficient to minimize contact of a body falling from the climbing surface with the climbing surface.