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EP-4738316-A1 - STRUCTURE FOR RECREATIONAL, DEMONSTRATIVE AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN TREE CLIMBING

EP4738316A1EP 4738316 A1EP4738316 A1EP 4738316A1EP-4738316-A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns an artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) comprising a central metal element (2) which develops along a longitudinal axis y from a lower end (2') to an upper end (2") fixed to a base (3) by means of appropriate means of connection (4), and one or more first lateral elements (5) in metal, each of which develops independently of the others along its own longitudinal axis w, said one or more first lateral elements (5) being connected to the central element (2) by means of appropriate first means of lateral connection (6), and second lateral elements (7) of wood or wood-like material, each of which develops independently of the others along its own longitudinal axis z, said one or more second lateral elements (6) being connected to the central element (2) by means of appropriate second means of lateral connection (8), wherein those first means of lateral connection (6) and those second means of lateral connection (8) allow to connect respectively and independently to each other one or more first lateral elements (5) and one or more second lateral elements (7) at different heights of that central metal element (2) along the longitudinal axis y and/or at different inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis y.

Inventors

  • CODEGA, ANTONIO
  • FIORI, GIORGIO

Assignees

  • Camp S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251029

Claims (19)

  1. Artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) comprising a central metal element (2) that develops along a longitudinal axis y from a lower end (2') to an upper end (2") fixed to a base (3) by means of appropriate means of connection (4), and one or more first lateral elements (5) in metal, each of which develops independently of the others along its own longitudinal axis w, said first lateral elements (5) being connected to the central element (2) by means of appropriate first means of lateral connection (6), and second lateral elements (7) of wood or wood-like material, each of which develops independently of the others along its own longitudinal axis z, said one or more second lateral elements (7) being connected to the central element (2) by means of appropriate second means of lateral connection (8), where said first means of lateral connection (6) and said second means of lateral connection (8) allow to connect respectively and independently to each other one or more first lateral elements (5) and one or more second lateral elements (7) at different heights of said central metal element (2) along the longitudinal axis y and/or at different inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis y.
  2. The artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first side elements (5) and/or at least one of the second side elements (7) is permanently connected to the central metal element (2).
  3. The artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to the preceding claim 1 or 2, wherein said central metal element (2) is hinged to the means of connection (4) of the base.
  4. The artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means of connection (4) of the base (3) comprises anchoring means (14) for climbing ropes.
  5. The artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said upper end (2") comprises means of upper connection (9) for the connection of one or more upper elements (10) that develop along their own longitudinal axis k, wherein said means of upper connection (9) allow said one or more upper elements (10) to be connected independently with different inclinations of each longitudinal axis k with respect to said longitudinal axis y of the central metal element (2).
  6. The demonstrative and formative artificial structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the said first side elements (5) and/or one or more of said upper elements (10) are covered with cladding elements (11) of wood or natural bark or of material simulating wood or natural bark.
  7. The artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the said first side elements (5) and/or one or more of the said second side elements (7) and/or one or more of said upper elements (10) comprise one or more secondary side elements (12).
  8. The artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said one or more secondary lateral elements (12) are independently fixed or rotatable from each other.
  9. The demonstrative and formative artificial structure for tree climbing activities (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said one or more secondary lateral elements (12) allow the insertion of real branches or wooden twigs (13).
  10. Artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (31) comprising a central metal element (32) that develops from a lower end (32') to an upper end (32") along a longitudinal axis y', whose lower end (32') is fixed to a base (33) by means of appropriate means of connection (34) and whose upper end (32") comprises means of upper connection (39) for fixing a summit (40), wherein said top element (40) simulates a natural continuation of the trunk of a tree.
  11. Artificial demonstrative and training structure for tree climbing activities (31) according to the preceding claim, wherein said top element (40) is made of wood or wood-like material.
  12. Artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (31) according to the preceding claim 10 or 11, wherein these means of upper connection (39) for fixing the top element (40) are represented by a metal flanged socket suitably connected and fixed to the upper end of the central metal element (32'').
  13. Artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (31) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which said central metal element (32) is covered with one or more cladding elements (33) in bark or wood or with materials simulating bark or wood, to allow progression and/or stationing on said central metal element (32) thus covered with crampons.
  14. Artificial demonstration and training structure for tree climbing activities (31) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said metal core member (32) is the metal core member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
  15. A complex artificial demonstration and training structure (50) for tree climbing activities comprising the artificial demonstration structure (1,31) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a machine (60) for lifting and/or moving one or more of: said metal central element (2,32), one or more of said first metal side elements (5), one or more of said first means of lateral connection (6), of one or more of said second lateral elements (7) made of wood, of one or more of said second means of lateral connection (8), of one or more of those upper elements (10), of those means of upper connection (39), of that top element (40).
  16. Complex demonstration and training artificial structure (50) for tree climbing activities according to the preceding claim, wherein such machinery (60) for lifting and/or moving allows the assembly and/or assembly and/or modification and/or disassembly of the demonstration artificial structure (1,31) or simulates demonstration and training operations.
  17. Complex artificial demonstration and training structure (50) for tree climbing activities according to claim 15 or 16 above, wherein such machinery (60) for lifting and/or moving is represented by a crane, such as a jib crane, a bridge crane or a mobile crane.
  18. A complex artificial demonstration and training structure (50) for tree climbing activities including the artificial demonstration structure (1,31) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 further including external anchoring means (51) which are not comprised in the artificial demonstration structure (1,31) and which are represented, for example, by friction means.
  19. The complex demonstrative and formative artificial structure (50) for tree climbing activities including the demonstrative artificial structure (1.31) according to the preceding claim, wherein these external means of anchoring (51) are positioned at the same height as the base (3,33) or at a higher height.

Description

Background To date, most of the training courses for tree climbing are carried out outdoors, on real plants, with problems related to the repeatability of operations, the difficulty of transferring all the techniques for all types of plants and situations, the limited possibilities of making cuts, and weather conditions. Some existing training centers have structures for tree climbing, which are essentially divided into two types: natural trunks, cut and repositioned inside the structure: they present the problems of not offering the possibility of branches (drying out over time they would not be resistant), rapid degradation and the impossibility of making cuts;artificial structures, which in some way simulate a trunk with branches, but without exactly replicating its conformation and without offering the possibility of cutting. The prior-art document US 2007/051038 disclosed an artificial structure that replicates plants for hornamental purposes and comprises live plants, maintained by irrigation systems. The well-known prior-art document GB 2,621,614 discloses a structure that accurately replicates a palm tree, on which it is possible to climb using a belay system. In the art, therefore, there is a lack of a training structure capable of replicating the activities described above, carried out in such a way as to artificially replicate the real situations that the tree climber encounters in the natural environment. Summary of the invention The purpose of the present invention is to provide an artificial structure and a complex artificial structure intended for demonstration and training in tree climbing, which allows the following demonstration and training possibilities: climbing on plants and progression on branches with rope access techniques, whether they are work or recreational;climbing on logs with progression techniques with crampons;pruning and cutting operations;operations of felling the top of the trunk;operations of removal of branches or portions of trunk through crane or helicopter simulation;removal of branches or portions of trunks by means of cableways;plan access operations through elevating work platforms. These goals are achieved by an artificial demonstrative and formative structure in accordance with claims 1 and 15. Further advantageous embodiments of the artificial demonstrative and training structure of the invention form the object of the respective dependent claims. Brief description of the figures The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clearer from the description of some of its preferred embodiments, illustrated below by way of example and not exhaustively, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the artificial structure of the invention, showing its main structural elements;Figure 2 is a view of the base of the artificial structure of the invention, highlighting the details of the fixing of the trunk to the ground and the means of friction at the base for anchoring the rope;Figure 3 shows in detail an example of the means of fixing the adjustable branches: the flanges on the trunk allow the variation of the angular position, while the pin and bolts at the base of the branch allow the adjustment of the inclination;Figure 4 shows the insertion in a fixed position of a wooden branch in a metal pipe fixed inside the main metal trunk;Figure 5 shows the upper part of the main trunk;Figure 6 depicts a primary metal branch with secondary metal branches attached, which can accommodate parts of wooden branches;Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the invention's artificial structure, with a log covered with wood (Figure 8) and a wooden top secured via a removable metal fixing mechanism;Figure 9 is a perspective view of the top part of a second embodiment showing the fastening system of the top member, including a flanged metal cup to fix the wooden log part, which can then be inserted into the top of the main log;Figure 10 is a view of a possible complex embodiment of the artificial demonstration and training structure, further including a lifting machine and additional external anchoring means. Detailed description of the invention The invention concerns an artificial structure designed for demonstration and training activities of tree climbing. The so-called tree climbing includes both recreational and sporting activities, such as tree climbing, and operational activities, such as, for example: pruning and cutting of branches, felling operations of the top of the trunk, removal of branches or portions of trunk by crane or helicopter or by cableway or by means of elevating work platforms. As shown in Figure 1, the structure of the invention, referred to as the artificial tree climbing structure 1, is composed of several interconnected components that simulate the natural environment of tree-climbing activities, providing a safe and controlled environment for practice and instruction