Rotatable Rock Hold Adjusting Grip Difficulty

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional children's play structures lack adjustable features for varying climbing difficulty, limiting user engagement and safety as they are typically fixed and do not accommodate different skill levels.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable rock hold with a rotatable outer portion and multiple gripping surfaces of varying difficulty levels, secured by indicators and mechanisms such as bolts and ridges, allowing users to adjust the grip difficulty by rotating the outer portion relative to the climbing surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fixed climbing holds are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the climbing difficulty cannot be adjusted for different skill levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of climbing difficultyVSAvoidcomplexity of rock hold structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rock hold is divided into two main segments: a fixed base portion attached to the climbing wall and a rotatable outer portion containing multiple gripping surfaces. This segmentation allows the gripping surfaces to be rotated into different positions, enabling adjustment of climbing difficulty without complicating the overall structure. Each segment serves a specific function while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rock hold incorporates a rotatable outer portion that can be dynamically adjusted between different angular positions. This dynamic element allows the climbing difficulty to be changed by rotating the outer portion to present different gripping surface configurations, transforming a static structure into an adaptable one without significant complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple gripping surfaces are added to adjust difficulty, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariability of grip difficulty levelsVSAvoidnumber of components and securing mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable outer portion serves multiple functions: it holds multiple gripping surfaces, provides rotational adjustment capability, and incorporates securing elements to lock positions. By making this single component multi-functional, the design achieves variable grip difficulty levels without proportionally increasing the number of separate components or complexity of securing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The securing elements are integrated directly into the rotatable outer portion rather than being separate components. The ridges and grooves for position locking are combined with the rotational mechanism itself, merging multiple functions into a unified structure that reduces overall component count while maintaining adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the rock hold allows rotation for difficulty adjustment, then user engagement improves, but the attachment stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of difficulty adjustmentVSAvoidstability of attachment to climbing surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable outer portion is pre-equipped with securing elements such as ridges and grooves that are designed to lock into specific positions. This preliminary preparation of locking mechanisms ensures that when the outer portion is rotated to a desired position, it can be quickly and reliably secured without compromising attachment stability, maintaining both ease of adjustment and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If securing elements are added to maintain rotation positions, then reliability improves, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of rotated positionVSAvoideffort required to adjust and secure position

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The securing elements are designed to automatically engage with the climbing surface or internal structures when the rotatable outer portion is rotated to predetermined positions. The ridges and grooves self-lock without requiring additional manual securing actions, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation by eliminating the need for separate securing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11524218B2Adjustable difficulty rock hold

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 BACKYARD PROD LLC

AI summary

An adjustable rock hold having a rotatable outer portion configured to rotate about an axis of the adjustable rock hold and rotate with respect to a climbing surface, wherein the adjustable rock hold is configured to be attached to the climbing surface; a plurality of gripping surfaces positioned around an outer edge of the rotatable outer portion; and one or more securing elements configured to secure the rotatable outer portion with respect to the climbing surface.