Illuminated rock-climbing hold

Abstract

An illuminated climbing hold for mounting on a climbing wall, the illuminated climbing hold that consists of a body which has an exterior portion adapted to support a climber and a substantially planar mounting face adapted to engage the climbing wall, the body further consisting of an optional internal compartment and the body is made of transparent building material; an operational light source disposed inside the body, such as inside the compartment, and operational fastening means to attach the climbing hold to a climbing wall.

1 . An illuminated rock climbing hold comprising:
 A clear or semi-clear material molded into a desired shape with, an ability to mount the hold to a desired climbing surface that, will contain a power source and or light source within a cavity in said material, whereby said power source and or said light source will light up said clear or semi clear material.   
   
   
       2 . An illuminated climbing hold for mounting on a climbing wall, the illuminated climbing hold comprising:
 a body having an exterior portion adapted to support a climber and a mounting face adapted to engage the climbing wall, the body being made of transparent building material;   an operational light source disposed inside the body; and   a fastening device to attach the planar mounting face to the climbing wall.   
   
   
       3 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  further comprising an internal compartment in the body, whereby the light source is disposed within the internal compartment. 
   
   
       4 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 3  further comprising a lid member for securing the internal compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  in which the building material is selected from the group consisting of clear plastic, transparent resin, and other transparent and translucent materials. 
   
   
       6 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  in which the body is at least partially covered with flourescent paint. 
   
   
       7 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  in which the light source consists of one or more light emitting diodes. 
   
   
       8 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  in which the light source is a colored light emitting diode. 
   
   
       9 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  in which the light source is a flashing light emitting diode. 
   
   
       10 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  further having a power source disposed within the body of the climbing hold. 
   
   
       11 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 10  in which the power source is a battery. 
   
   
       12 . The illuminated climbing hold of  claim 2  further comprising a contact sensor which senses when a climber is using the climbing hold, whereby upon contact by a climber the illuminated climbing hold is illuminated. 
   
   
       13 . An array of illuminated climbing holds for creating a climbing route on a climbing wall, the array of illuminated climbing holds comprising:
 a plurality of illuminated climbing holds, each illuminated climbing hold further having a body having an exterior portion adapted to support a climber and a mounting face adapted to engage a climbing wall, the body being made of transparent building material, an operational light source disposed within the body of the climbing hold, and an operational fastening means to attach the climbing hold to the climbing wall; and   an electrical circuit interconnecting the light source of each illuminated climbing hold.   
   
   
       14 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller for automatically controlling the light sources disposed within the plurality of climbing holds. 
   
   
       15 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , in which the controller comprises a computer. 
   
   
       16 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , in which the controller is programmable. 
   
   
       17 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , in which the controller is pre-programmed. 
   
   
       18 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , in which the controller illuminates the array of illuminated climbing holds sequentially. 
   
   
       19 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , in which the controller illuminates the array of illuminated climbing holds upon use of the climbing hold by a climber. 
   
   
       20 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14 , further comprising means for electronically storing an illumination sequence of the illuminated climbing holds such that the sequence defines a climbing route. 
   
   
       21 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 12  in which the electrical circuit is interconnected between the light sources in series. 
   
   
       22 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 12  in which the electrical circuit is interconnected between the light sources in parallel. 
   
   
       23 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 12  in which the electrical circuit is interconnected between the light sources in combination of parallel and series. 
   
   
       23 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 12  in which the light source of each illuminated climbing hold having a direct connection to the computer. 
   
   
       24 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 14  in which the controller further comprises means for providing electrical power to the light source of each illuminated climbing hold individually. 
   
   
       25 . The array of illuminated climbing holds of  claim 12  further comprising a contact sensor which senses when a climber is using a climbing hold, whereby upon contact by a climber one or more of the array of illuminated climbing holds is illuminated.