Artificial cave obstacle course with electronic sensing
OwnerDavid Alexander Jacksoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An obstacle course has the appearance of a natural cave environment. The course may include a plurality of interconnected, hollow, three-dimensional shapes through which human users can pass. The shapes may be modular to allow various different configurations of the course. The shapes may contain models of cave formations (speleothems), with which the users are expected to avoid contact and close proximity. Electronic sensing may be provided for monitoring any contact and proximity of the users to the speleothems, and additional electronic circuitry may be provided to present feedback to the users regarding their performance in the course.
Claims20
Apparatus for simulating a natural cave enterable by a human user comprising:
- a wall structure defining a cave-like passage through at least part of which the user must crawl;
- at least one artificial speleothem mounted on the wall structure to project into the passage where it is possible for the user to contact the speleothem as the user passes through the passage, but where it is alternatively possible for the user to successfully avoid contacting the speleothem as the user passes through the passage;
- means coupled to the speleothem for detecting contact of the speleothem by the user passing through the passage and for producing an electrical output signal indicative of an occurrence of said contact;
- and
- means responsive to said output signal for producing an output indication of the occurrence of said contact.
Apparatus for simulating a natural cave enterable by a human user comprising:
- a wall structure defining a cave-like passage through at least part of which the user must crawl;
- at least one artificial speleothem mounted on the wall structure to project into the passage where it is possible for the user to contact the speleothem as the user passes through the passage, but where it is alternatively possible for the user to maintain a safe distance from the speleothem as the user passes through the passage;
- a proximity sensor adjacent to the speleothem for detecting an occurrence of the user being closer to the speleothem than said safe distance and for producing an electrical output signal indicative of said occurrence;
- and
- means responsive to said output signal for producing an output indication of said occurrence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.