Rock climbing walls, fall safety pads, and accessories

Abstract

The inventions disclosed herein relate to designs of climbing surfaces, fall safety pads and/or accessories related thereto. According to some embodiments, different impact zones of a fall safety pad can have different cushioning attributes. The different cushioning attributes of the different impact zones of the safety pad can be based on a vertical distance to a directly overlying portion of the climbing surface. The different cushioning attributes of the different impact zones of the safety pad can also consider a predicted or measured frequency of falling from a portion of the climbing surface directly overlying each impact zone of the safety pad. Other intended climber attributes, enjoyment, and safety concerns can be considered in the design of the climbing surface(s), safety pad(s), and accessories disclosed. Further, wear, replicability, customizations of enjoyment, and updates to safety concerns in the climbing sport are further understood in view of this disclosure.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement comprising:
 a first climbing arrangement, including:
 a first vertically extending climbing surface; and 
 a first fall safety pad disposed under the first vertically extending climbing surface for protecting a climber during a fall from the first vertically extending climbing surface; and 
   a second climbing arrangement, including:
 a second vertically extending climbing surface; and 
 a second fall safety pad disposed under the first vertically extending climbing surface for protecting a climber during a fall from the second vertically extending climbing surface; 
   wherein the second climbing arrangement is disposed vertically above the first climbing arrangement.   
     
     
         22 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to claim  1 , wherein:
 the first vertically extending climbing surface further extends in a horizontal direction over a distance of the first fall safety pad; and   the second vertically extending climbing surface further extends in a horizontal direction over a distance of the second fall safety pad.   
     
     
         23 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first fall safety pad extends a first horizontal length; and   the second fall safety pad extends in a second horizontal length less than the horizontal length of extension of the first fall safety pad.   
     
     
         24 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first vertically extending climbing surface extends in a horizontal distance greater than a horizontal distance of extension of the second vertically extending climbing surface.   
     
     
         25 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 24 , wherein the second vertically extending climbing surface horizontally extends less than the horizontal extension of the second fall safety pad such that a fall from the second vertically extending climbing surface by a climber is directly over but not beyond the length of the second fall safety pad. 
     
     
         26 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 24 , wherein the horizontal length of the second fall safety pad is less than the horizontal length of the first fall safety pad. 
     
     
         27 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 24 , wherein the horizontal length of extension of the second vertically extending climbing surface is less than the horizontal length of the first vertically extending climbing surface. 
     
     
         28 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 24 , further comprising a barrier preventing a climber from falling over a horizontal edge of the second fall safety pad. 
     
     
         29 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 28 , wherein the barrier includes a net. 
     
     
         30 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 24 , wherein the first climbing surface, first fall safety pad, second climbing surface, and second fall safety pad are supported by a vertical support structure. 
     
     
         31 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 30 , further comprising means for descending from a top of the vertical support structure. 
     
     
         32 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the means for descending from a top of the vertical support structure includes a repelling rope. 
     
     
         33 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to claim  20 , further comprising:
 a first impact zone of the first fall safety pad being located directly below a first fall location of the first climbing surface, the first impact zone including a first cushioning property associated with a first vertical fall distance of a climber falling from the first fall location of the first climbing surface, the first fall location of the first climbing surface being located directly over the first impact zone of the first fall safety pad; and   a second impact zone of the first fall safety pad located directly below a second fall location of the first climbing surface, the second impact zone including a second cushioning property associated with a second vertical fall distance of the climber falling from the second location of the first climbing surface, the second fall location of the first climbing surface being located directly over the second impact zone of the first climbing safety pad,
 wherein:
 the first cushioning property of the first impact zone of the first fall safety pad is different than the second cushioning property of the second impact zone of the first fall safety pad; and 
 the difference between the first cushioning property of the first impact zone and the second cushioning property of the second impact zone of the first fall safety pad is based at least in part on the different vertical fall distances from the first fall location and the second fall location of the first climbing surface. 
 
   
     
     
         34 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a first impact zone of the second fall safety pad being located directly below a first fall location of the second climbing surface, the first impact zone including a first cushioning property associated with a first vertical fall distance of a climber falling from the first fall location of the second climbing surface, the first fall location of the second climbing surface being located directly over the first impact zone of the second fall safety pad; and   a second impact zone of the second fall safety pad located directly below a second fall location of the second climbing surface, the second impact zone including a second cushioning property associated with a second vertical fall distance of the climber falling from the second location of the second climbing surface, the second fall location of the second climbing surface being located directly over the second impact zone of the second climbing safety pad,
 wherein:
 the first cushioning property of the first impact zone of the second fall safety pad is different than the second cushioning property of the second impact zone of the second fall safety pad; and 
 the difference between the first cushioning property of the first impact zone and the second cushioning property of the second impact zone of the second fall safety pad is based at least in part on the different vertical fall distances from the first fall location and the second fall location of the second climbing surface. 
 
   
     
     
         35 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the first location of the first climbing surface is immediately adjacent to the first impact zone of the first climbing safety pad; and   the first location of the second climbing surface is immediately adjacent to the first impact zone of the second climbing safety pad.   
     
     
         36 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 35 , wherein:
 the first location of the first climbing surface is disposed above the first location of the second climbing surface; and   the first location of the second climbing surface is disposed above the first location of the second climbing surface.   
     
     
         38 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to  claim 33 , wherein the first impact zone of the first fall safety pad includes a foam or inflated cushion and the second impact zone of the second fall safety pad includes a loose fill cushion. 
     
     
         39 . A multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement according to claim  20 , wherein:
 a maximum fall distance from the first climbing surface to the first fall safety pad is less than 20 feet high; and   a maximum fall distance from the second climbing surface to the second fall safety pad is less than 20 feet high.   
     
     
         40 . A method of utilizing vertical space in an indoor climbing gym, comprising:
 providing a multi-tiered indoor climbing arrangement comprising:
 a first climbing arrangement, including:
 a first vertically extending climbing surface; and 
 a first fall safety pad disposed under the first vertically extending climbing surface for protecting a climber during a fall from the first vertically extending climbing surface; and 
 
 a second climbing arrangement, including:
 a second vertically extending climbing surface; and 
 a second fall safety pad disposed under the first vertically extending climbing surface for protecting a climber during a fall from the second vertically extending climbing surface; 
 
 wherein the second climbing arrangement is disposed vertically above the first climbing arrangement.