Touch sensing and signalling device for climbing wall and touch sensing and signalling system comprising such device

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) for a climbing wall ( 100 ), said climbing wall ( 100 ) comprising a panel ( 1 ) and climbing holds ( 3 ) arranged thereon, said device ( 20 ) comprises a fastening element ( 4 ) for fastening the climbing hold ( 3 ) to the panel ( 1 ) and passing through the climbing hold ( 3 ) and the panel ( 1 ) in the mounted position of the climbing hold ( 3 ), said fastening element ( 4 ) is provided with a first end ( 4 a ) on the side of the climbing hold ( 3 ) and a second end ( 4 b ) opposite thereto, and with a through hole ( 5 ) connecting the first and second ends ( 4 a, 4 b ) and passing through the fastening element ( 4 ), the through hole ( 5 ) is provided with a first opening ( 5 a ) at the first end ( 4 a ) and a second opening ( 5 b ) at the second end ( 4 b ), and said device ( 20 ) comprises a light emitting device ( 30 ) for emitting light through the first opening ( 5 a ) and a circuit ( 50 ) arranged at the second end ( 4 b ), said circuit ( 50 ) comprising a capacitive sensor ( 52 ) connected to the fastening element ( 4 ) and a control unit ( 54 ) connected to the light emitting device ( 30 ) and adapted to operate said light emitting device ( 30 ). The invention further provides a system ( 200 ) comprising such a device ( 20 ).

1 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) for a climbing wall ( 100 ), said climbing wall ( 100 ) comprising a panel ( 1 ) and climbing holds ( 3 ) arranged thereon, characterised in that the device ( 20 ) comprises a fastening element ( 4 ) for fastening the climbing hold ( 3 ) to the panel ( 1 ) and passing through the climbing hold ( 3 ) and the panel ( 1 ) in the mounted position of the climbing hold ( 3 ), said fastening element ( 4 ) is provided with a first end ( 4   a ) on the side of the climbing hold ( 3 ) and a second end ( 4   b ) opposite thereto, and with a through hole ( 5 ) connecting the first and second ends ( 4   a ,  4   h ) and passing through the fastening element ( 4 ), the through hole ( 5 ) is provided with a first opening ( 5   a ) at the first end ( 4   a ) and a second opening ( 51 )) at the second end ( 4   b ), and said device ( 20 ) comprises a light emitting device ( 30 ) for emitting light through the first opening ( 5   a ) and a circuit ( 50 ) arranged at the second end ( 4   b ), said circuit ( 50 ) comprising a capacitive sensor ( 52 ) connected to the fastening element ( 4 ) and a control unit ( 54 ) connected to the light emitting device ( 30 ), wherein the control unit ( 54 ) is configured to receive data from the capacitive sensor ( 52 ) and, based on the received data, to operate the light emitting device ( 30 ). 
     
     
         2 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control unit ( 54 ) is configured to receive data from the capacitive sensor ( 52 ) and to operate the light emitting device ( 30 ) based on the received data. 
     
     
         3 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the fastening element ( 4 ) is a screw with a through hole ( 5 ) and an external thread. 
     
     
         4 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises a support element ( 2 ) with an internal threaded hole configured to receive the screw, which support element ( 2 ) is adapted to be fixed to the panel ( 1 ) of the climbing wall ( 100 ). 
     
     
         5 . A touch sensing and signal ling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the circuit ( 50 ) has an aperture formed therein, the aperture being lined with a metal ring ( 59 ) and adapted to receive the fastening element ( 4 ), and the capacitive sensor ( 52 ) is connected to the fastening element ( 4 ) via the metal ring ( 59 ). 
     
     
         6 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the circuit ( 50 ) is fixed to the second end ( 4   b ) of the fastening element ( 4 ) by means of a threaded nut ( 7 ). 
     
     
         7 . A touch sensing and signal ling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the circuit ( 50 ) is screwed to the panel ( 1 ) in the mounted state of the climbing hold ( 3 ). 
     
     
         8 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the light emitting device ( 30 ) comprises a light source ( 6 ) arranged on the circuit ( 50 ) and an optical fibre ( 10 ) guiding light from the light source ( 6 ) through the through hole ( 5 ) towards the first opening ( 5   a ). 
     
     
         9 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the light emitting device ( 30 ) comprises an electrical wiring ( 8 ) connected to the control unit ( 54 ) and guided through the through hole ( 5 ) towards the first opening ( 5   a ), and a light source ( 6 ) connected to an end of the wiring ( 8 ) facing the first end ( 4   a ). 
     
     
         10 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the light emitting device ( 30 ) is configured to emit light in at least two colours. 
     
     
         11 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a protective cap ( 9 ) for transmitting light from the light emitting device ( 30 ) is arranged at the first end ( 4   a ) of the fastening element ( 4 ). 
     
     
         12 . A touch sensing and signalling device ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the circuit ( 50 ) comprises a switching circuit ( 53 ) for adjusting the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor ( 52 ). 
     
     
         13 . A touch sensing and signalling system ( 200 ), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of touch sensing and signalling devices ( 20 ) according to  claim 1 , and a controller ( 210 ) connected to the devices ( 20 ) and adapted to receive and process data measured by capacitive sensors ( 52 ) of the devices ( 20 ) and to operate the light emitting devices ( 30 ) of the devices ( 20 ). 
     
     
         14 . A touch sensing and signalling system ( 200 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it comprises device groups ( 250 ) formed by the touch sensing and signalling devices ( 20 ), each of said device groups ( 250 ) being connected to a respective sensor hub ( 260 ) in such a way that the sensor hubs ( 260 ) are connected to each other and to the devices ( 20 ) of the respective device group ( 250 ), the sensor hubs ( 260 ) are configured to receive, process and transmit signals from capacitive sensors ( 52 ) of the devices ( 20 ) of the respective device group ( 250 ), and the controller ( 210 ) is connected to at least one of the sensor hubs ( 260 ). 
     
     
         15 . A touch sensing and signalling system ( 200 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the controller ( 210 ) is provided with one or more input peripherals ( 212 ) and the system ( 200 ) comprises a database ( 220 ) for storing data measured by the capacitive sensors ( 52 ).