# US 2008/0185221 A1 · Automatic belay warning system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185221 A1 - Document ID: US20080185221A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/025,424 - Filed: 2008-02-04 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: NICROS, Inc. - Inventors: Nathan B. Postma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185221A1 ## CPC - A63B 69/0048: {for mountaineering, e.g. climbing-walls, grip elements for climbing-walls} - A63B 69/0064: {Attachments on the trainee preventing falling} - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A warning system for use with a climbing wall and an automatic belay apparatus for belaying a climber, the warning system providing a warning that a climber is not protected by the auto-belay apparatus. The warning system includes a sensor positioned to sense that a lower end of the climbing rope is secured to the climbing wall and the climber is not attached to the auto-belay system which indicates a dangerous situation, and a height sensor for sensing when the climber has reached a selected height on the climbing wall. A processor receives signals from the sensors and compares the signals to determine if the climber has reached the selected height with the lower end of the climbing wall still secured to the wall, and if so, then actuates a warning alarm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A warning system for use with a climbing wall and an automatic belay apparatus for belaying a climber, the warning system providing a warning that a climber is not protected by the auto-belay apparatus, the warning system comprising: a sensor positioned to sense that a lower end of the climbing rope is secured to the climbing wall and providing a first signal; a height sensor for sensing when the climber has reached a selected height on the climbing wall and providing a second signal; a warning alarm; and a processor for receiving the first and second signals and comparing the first and second signals to determine if the climber has reached the selected height with the lower end of the climbing rope still secured to the wall and then activating the warning alarm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 and further comprising an auto-belay functioning sensor for sensing that the automatic belay apparatus is functioning. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The warning system of claim 2 wherein the auto-belay functioning sensor senses movement of the climbing rope or cable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The warning system of claim 2 wherein the auto-belay functioning sensor senses tension or a lack of tension of the climbing rope. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The warning system of claim 2 wherein the upper end of the climbing rope is disposed on a rope reel that turns as the climbing rope moves, and the auto-belay functioning sensor senses turning of the rope reel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The warning system of claim 2 wherein the climbing rope at an upper end passes through first and second spaced apart pulley assemblies which provide tension to the climbing rope, and the auto-belay functioning sensor detects movement of one of the pulley assemblies. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 and further comprising an auto-belay clip attached to the lower end of the climbing rope and an auto-belay clip sensor positioned at an upper end of the climbing wall to detect the auto-belay clip at the top of the climbing wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The warning system of claim 7 and further comprising an alert and wherein the auto-belay clip sensor when sensing the auto-belay clip at the top of the wall issues an alert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 and further comprising a climbing rope malfunction sensor for detecting lateral position of the climbing rope and whether that position is outside of the position intended for the climbing rope. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The warning system of claim 9 wherein the climbing rope malfunction sensor is positioned proximate the top of the climbing wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The warning system of claim 9 wherein the climbing rope malfunction sensor includes a pair of spaced apart sensors and the intended position of the climbing rope to be between the sensors and the sensors capable of sensing that the rope has moved from the position between the sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 and further comprising a computer for collecting data from the sensors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12 wherein the computer collects data on the number of climbing cycles that the climbing rope has experienced. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12 wherein the computer includes software capable of analyzing the number of times that the climbing rope has been used in relation to time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12 and further comprising a plurality of sensors positioned on the climbing wall, each of the sensors providing data to the computer, and the computer including software to receive and store the data, and wherein the sensors sense a position of the climber on the climbing wall when the climber engages the sensor, the computer being capable of providing the climbing route of the climber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12 and further including a speed sensor or sensors that measures the speed of the climbing rope. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12 and further including height restriction sensors disposed at a selected upper position on the climbing wall capable of sensing the climber to climb past the height restriction sensors.