Capacitive sensing climbing hold, associated production method and wall

Abstract

A capacitive sensing climbing hold includes at least one polymer matrix and an anchor point provided in the polymer matrix, the anchor point being configured for attaching the climbing hold to a climbing wall and for transmitting a capacitive contact to a capacitive sensing unit. The polymer matrix includes a carbon powder so that the carbon powder represents between 5% and 35% of the weight of the polymer matrix, preferably between 10% and 35% of the weight of the polymer matrix, the carbon powder being substantially evenly distributed in the polymer matrix.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing climbing hold comprising: at least one polymeric matrix; a polymeric resin without antistatic properties, said polymeric resin having added thereto a catalyst; and an anchor point provided in said polymeric matrix, said anchor point being configured to attach said climbing hold on a climbing wall and to transmit a capacitive contact to a capacitive detection assembly; wherein said polymeric matrix integrates a carbon powder so that said carbon powder represents between 5% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric matrix, said carbon powder being distributed substantially evenly in said polymeric matrix, and wherein the at least one polymeric matrix and the polymeric resin cooperate to form marbling in the climbing hold.

2. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 1, wherein said climbing hold comprises two polymeric matrices, at least one polymeric matrix incorporating a carbon powder so that said carbon powder represents between 5% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric matrix.

3. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 2, wherein the carbon powder represents between 10% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric matrix.

4. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 1, wherein said carbon powder corresponds to high structure carbon black.

5. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 1, wherein said carbon powder corresponds to graphite powder.

6. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric matrix integrates a silica powder.

7. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 6, wherein said polymeric matrix integrates between 5% and 35% by weight of carbon powder, and between 20% and 60% by weight of silica.

8. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 7, wherein the polymeric matrix integrates between 20% and 30% by weight of carbon powder, and between 40% and 60% by weight of silica.

9. A connected climbing wall comprising: climbing holds according to claim 1, and a capacitive detection assembly connected to each hold and configured to detect the contact of a climber on each hold.

10. A capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder represents between 10% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric matrix.

11. A method of manufacturing a climbing hold with capacitive detection comprising the following successive steps: preparing a polymeric resin; incorporating a carbon powder representing between 5% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric resin; agitating the mixture integrating said polymeric resin and carbon powder; placing the mixture under a vacuum bell so as to degas the mixture; adding a catalyst to the mixture before or after the agitating step of the mixture; molding the mixture so as to form said climbing hold; preparation of a second polymeric resin without antistatic properties; adding a catalyst to the second polymeric resin; and molding said second polymeric resin during the molding step of the mixture to form a marbled climbing hold.

12. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11 comprising the following additional steps: preparing a second polymeric resin without antistatic properties; adding a catalyst to the second polymeric resin; and molding said second polymeric resin before or after the molding step of the mixture.

13. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11 comprising the following additional steps: applying a back mold before the molding step of the mixture so as to form a cavity in said climbing hold; preparing a second polymeric resin without antistatic properties; adding a catalyst to the second polymeric resin; and molding said second polymeric resin in said cavity created by the application of the back mold.

14. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11, wherein the step of incorporating said carbon powder comprises adding a dispersing agent into said polymer resin.

15. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11, wherein the step of preparing a polymeric resin comprises adding silica.

16. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according claim 11, wherein the agitating step of the mixture is carried out at a speed of between 10 m/s and 20 m/s.

17. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11, wherein said polymeric resin corresponds to a polyester matrix.

18. A method of manufacturing a capacitive sensing climbing hold according to claim 11, wherein said polymeric resin corresponds to a polyurethane matrix.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the carbon powder represents between 10% and 35% of the weight of said polymeric resin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The way of implementing the disclosed embodiments and the advantages resulting therefrom shall be apparent from the following embodiment, given as a non-limiting example, in support of the annexed Figures wherein FIGS. 1 to 5 represent:

(2) FIG. 1: a schematic representation of the electrical schematic diagram of the capacitive detection of a climbing hold of the state of the art;

(3) FIG. 2: a front view of a climbing hold with capacitive detection of the state of the art;

(4) FIG. 3: a front view of a climbing hold with capacitive detection;

(5) FIG. 4: a schematic representation of the evolution of the detection rate of the hold in FIG. 3 based on the percentage of conductive particles; and

(6) FIG. 5: a flowchart of the steps involved in manufacturing the hold in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) This section describes a climbing hold the body of which has a single polymeric matrix but more polymeric matrices can be used without departing from contemplated embodiments.

(8) FIG. 3 illustrates a capacitive sensing climbing hold 20 according to an embodiment. The climbing hold 20 is attached to a wall with a socket head screw 21. To do this, the screw head 21 is integrated into a hold 20 cavity and the screw body 21 passes through a recess in the body of the climbing hold 20.

(9) The screw 21 is fixed on a climbing wall by a nut connected to an acquisition circuit similar to those of the state of the art. The body of the climbing hold 20 comprises a polymeric matrix 22 and a conductive powder 23. The conductive powder 23 corresponds to a carbon powder, such as highly structured carbon black or graphite powder. For example, graphite powder from the company Inoxia Ltd® can be used.

(10) The polymeric matrix 22 can be a polyester, polyurethane or any other compatible resin matrix. For example, a polyester matrix PO 820 of the brand Polyprocess can be used.

(11) The proportion of the conductive particles 23 is particularly sensitive to transmit electrostatic charges from the climber to the acquisition circuit. FIG. 4 illustrates the detection rate based on the percentage by weight of the conductive particles 23 for a climbing hold 20 with a polyester matrix associated with graphite powder. The improvement of the climber's detection is based on the ratio of 5% of the weight of the climbing hold 20 and stabilizes after a ratio of 25%.

(12) As shown in FIG. 3, for a climbing hold integrating 25% graphite powder, 50% silica and a polyester matrix and preferably 30% silica, the detection of the climber is homogeneous over the entire hold 20 revealing that the carbon powder 23 is particularly effective in transmitting electrostatic charges from the climber to the acquisition circuit.

(13) Such climbing hold 20 is achieved by the method described in FIG. 5. The first step 30 is to formulate the polymeric matrix 22. Preferably, the polymeric matrix 22 is formulated in a container 25 from a polyester or polyurethane resin. Polyurethane is obtained by combining an isocyanate and an alcohol. Polyester can be mixed with silica for an improved hold 20 that is more resistant to clamping forces.

(14) When the polymeric matrix 22 is obtained, in a second step 31, a carbon powder 23 is incorporated into the polymeric matrix 22. The weight of the carbon powder 23 is determined according to the desired properties but the weight of the carbon powder 23 must be between 5% and 35% by weight of the assembly formed by the polymeric matrix 22 and the carbon powder 23, and preferably between 10% and 35% of the weight of the assembly. In addition to carbon powder 23, a dispersing agent can be incorporated into the polymeric matrix 22 to improve the distribution of the carbon powder. The dispersing agent may correspond to the product BYK-W 969 of the BYK brand and the proportion of the dispersing agent can be chosen between 0% and 20% of the weight of the polymeric matrix 22.

(15) The carbon powder 23 is then mixed with the polymeric matrix 22 in a third step 32. The agitating can be carried out by a mixer 26 driven by a rotational movement inducing a linear displacement between 10 m/s and 20 m/s at the end of the blades of the mixer 26. For example, a 5-minute agitating can allow a good distribution of the carbon powder 23 in the polymeric matrix 22.

(16) At this stage, the mixture substantially represents the weight of the climbing hold 20. In the case of a polyester matrix, the mixture 24 can integrate between 5% and 35% by weight of carbon powder 23, preferably between 20% and 30% by weight of carbon powder 23, and between 20% and 60% by weight of silica, preferably between 40% and 60% by weight of silica.

(17) In a fourth step 33, to extract the air bubbles, the mixture 24 obtained is placed under a vacuum bell 27. A catalyst 28 is then added, in a fifth step 34, to mixture 24 to achieve the hardening of the mixture 24. Before the mixture 24 is completely hard, the mixture 24 is poured into a silicone mold 29 in a sixth step 35. Alternatively, the catalyst 28 can be integrated into the mixture 24 before agitating 33 and degassing 34.

(18) The mixture 24 sets in the mold to form a climbing hold 20 as shown in FIG. 3. In this solidification step, a metal screw 21 can be inserted into the mixture or the shape of the mold can be adapted to form a cavity and recess for positioning the screw 21.

(19) Then, a set of holds 20 can be used to form a capacitive sensing climbing wall by connecting each screw 21 of each hold 20 with a capacitive sensing assembly capable of detecting the contact of a climber on each hold 20.

(20) The disclosed embodiments improve the detection of a climber's contact at any point on the surface of a hold 20 since the carbon particles in the hold 20 form an antistatic network that transmits a low current. Indeed, when two carbon particles are close together, an electrostatic current can be transmitted between the two particles through a tunnel effect. As a result, the disclosed embodiments make it possible to improve the detection of a climber on a climbing hold with capacitive detection.