Systems and methods for providing an adjustable climbing wall

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing climbing walls are discussed. While such systems and methods can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a climbing wall that has a base member and a climbing surface that includes at least one climbing hold. In some cases, the climbing surface is pivotally connected to the base member. Additionally, in some cases, the system includes an anchor that is configured to adjustably retain the climbing surface at an angle with respect to the base member. In some cases, the system further includes a camera, microphone, and/or display that are configured to allow a climber to have audio and/or visual interactions with another person in a remote location (e.g., for training, competition, etc.). In some cases, at least one climbing hold on the climbing surface comprises a sensor that is configured to indicate when a climber has used that hold. Other implementations are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climbing wall comprising,
 a first base member;   a climbing surface having multiple climbing hold couplers; and   a first camming coupler that is coupled to the climbing surface, adjacent to a lower end of the climbing surface,   wherein a portion of the first camming coupler extends from a climbing face of the climbing surface and pivotally couples the climbing surface to the first base member such that:   (i) as the climbing surface moves forward through its forward range of motion, the lower end of the climbing surface raises, and   (ii) as the climbing surface moves backward through its backward range of motion, the lower end of the climbing surface lowers.   
     
     
         2 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , further comprising a first climbing surface support that extends between the climbing surface and the first base member, wherein the first climbing surface support is configured to at least one of: (i) selectively retain the climbing surface in one of a plurality of positions and (ii) offset a weight of the climbing surface through at least a portion of the forward range of motion of the climbing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The climbing wall of  claim 2 , wherein the first climbing surface support comprises a gas spring that extends between the first base member and the climbing surface so as to be configured to offset the weight of the climbing surface through at least a portion of the forward range of motion of the climbing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The climbing wall of  claim 2 , wherein the first climbing surface support comprises a rigid brace that is configured to selectively retain the climbing surface in the one of the plurality of positions, and wherein a portion of the rigid brace couples to the first base member in front of the camming coupler. 
     
     
         5 . The climbing wall of  claim 4 , further comprising a gas spring that extends between the first base member and the climbing surface so as to be configured to offset the weight of the climbing surface through the at least the portion of the forward range of motion of the climbing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The climbing wall of  claim 3 , wherein the first base member extends out in front of the lower end of the climbing surface, wherein a first portion of the gas spring is disposed in front of a pivotal coupling between the climbing surface and the first base member, and wherein a second portion of the gas spring is coupled to the climbing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The climbing wall of  claim 4 , wherein the first base member extends out in front of the climbing surface, wherein a first portion of the rigid brace is disposed in front of a pivotal coupling between the climbing surface and the first base member, and wherein a second portion of the rigid brace is coupled to the climbing surface. 
     
     
         8 . The climbing wall of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second base member;   a second camming coupler;   a first rigid brace;   a second rigid brace;   a first gas spring; and   a second gas spring,   wherein the first base member is pivotally coupled to the first camming coupler at a first side portion of the climbing surface,   wherein the second base member is pivotally coupled to the second camming coupler at a second side portion of the climbing surface, with the second camming coupler being coupled to the second side portion of the climbing surface,   wherein the first rigid brace and the first gas spring each extend between the first base member and the first side portion of the climbing surface, and   wherein the second rigid brace and the second gas spring each extend between the second base member and the second side portion of the climbing surface.   
     
     
         9 . A climbing wall comprising,
 a base member;   a climbing surface having multiple climbing hold couplers and being pivotally coupled to the base member; and   a first climbing surface support that extends between the climbing surface and the base member, wherein a portion of the first climbing surface support is coupled to the base member in front of a pivot joint between the climbing surface and the base member, and wherein the first climbing surface support is configured to at least one of: (i) selectively retain the climbing surface in one of a plurality of positions and (ii) dampen movement of the climbing surface through at least a portion of a forward range of motion of the climbing surface.   
     
     
         10 . The climbing wall of  claim 9 , wherein the first climbing surface support comprises a rigid brace that is configured to selectively retain the climbing surface in the one of the plurality of positions. 
     
     
         11 . The climbing wall of  claim 9 , wherein the first climbing surface support comprises a gas spring that extends between the base member and the climbing surface so as to be configured to dampen movement of the climbing surface through at least a portion of the forward range of motion of the climbing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The climbing wall of  claim 9 , further comprising a camming coupler that extends forward from a lower end of a climbing face of the climbing surface and pivotally couples the climbing surface to the base member such that:
 (i) as the climbing surface moves forward through its forward range of motion, the camming coupler forces the lower end of the climbing surface to raise, and   (ii) as the climbing surface moves backward through its backward range of motion, the camming coupler causes the lower end of the climbing surface to lower.   
     
     
         13 . The climbing wall of  claim 9 , further comprising a second climbing surface support that comprises a rigid brace that extends between the base member and the climbing surface and that is configured to selectively retain the climbing surface in the one of the plurality of positions, and wherein the first climbing surface support comprises a gas spring that extends between the base member and the climbing surface so as to be configured to dampen movement of the climbing surface through the at least the portion of the forward range of motion of the climbing surface. 
     
     
         14 . A climbing wall comprising:
 a climbing surface that is configured to selectively move forward through a forward range of motion and backward through a backward range of motion, wherein the climbing surface comprises multiple climbing hold couplers that are each configured to hold a climbing hold on a front side of the climbing surface;   a first support, wherein the climbing surface is pivotally coupled to the first support;   a lever arm having a first portion that is pivotally coupled at a first coupling to a second support;   a lever arm coupler having a first part that is coupled to a second portion of the lever arm at a second coupling and having a second part that is coupled to the climbing surface at a third coupling; and   an actuator having a first section that is coupled to a third support and a second section that is coupled to the lever arm at a fourth coupling such that as the climbing surface moves through the forward range of motion, a weight of the climbing surface rests on the actuator.   
     
     
         15 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the first support and the second support comprise one single support. 
     
     
         16 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the fourth coupling is disposed behind the climbing surface. 
     
     
         17 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the first coupling, the second coupling, and the fourth coupling are disposed in a non-linear configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , further comprising a first gas spring and a second gas spring that are coupled to and extend between the third support and the lever arm, with the first gas spring and the second gas spring each being disposed on an opposite side of the actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The climbing wall of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is configured to dynamically modify an angle of the climbing surface as a climber is on the climbing surface. 
     
     
         20 . A climbing wall comprising:
 a base member:   a climbing surface that is pivotally connected to the base member such that the climbing surface is configured to selectively move through a forward range of motion and a backward range of motion, wherein the climbing surface comprises multiple climbing hold couplers such that a front surface of the climbing surface is configured to hold multiple climbing holds; and   an addressable light strip that runs in proximity to the multiple climbing hold couplers, wherein the addressable light strip comprises a plurality of light sources that are configured to light up to identify individual climbing holds while other light sources on the addressable light strip are not lit up.