Project 4b: Climbing Wall

Abstract

This project involves constructing an indoor climbing play structure in order to help a child divert some dangerous sensory seeking behaviors. The climbing structure must be for indoor use, allow for multiple climbing and play methods, a slide, and safe for the child to use.

Team Members (from left to right): Bilkuei Haar, Kevin Molina-Espinoza, Joshua Matson, Mia Duke

Problem Statement

To construct a safe indoor climbing play structure that will divert certain sensory seeking activities and behaviors, mainly climbing on shelves and other pieces of furniture. The climbing structure must allow the child to regulate certain sensory needs, while also being able to play safely.

Design Specifications

Sensory friendly: To be Decided
Safe: railings on different parts of the structure,
Indoor use: The play structure will be located in a designated play area in the house
Dimensions: To be Decided
Must have different climbing options, such as a mountain themed wall and a traditional climbing wall
The play structure must also allow for different forms of sensory needs and activities, such as a slide and activity board

Background Research

The preliminary design research consisted of researching indoor portable climbing walls so we could get an idea on how our climbing wall should be structured or designed. We needed the climbing wall to be able to be used indoors, be portable, safe, sensory friendly, allow for different modes of climbing and play, and fit within a certain floor area. We researched different kinds of Montessori style indoor play gyms, children’s climbing walls, and playground structures, just so we could get a firm grasp of what we would be constructing. Some designs that were found online did not met the design specifications, but helped us to know what elements to use in our final design and what would allow for the child to play safely.

Sensory seeking is when a individual has purposefully seeks out experiences or things that will fulfill unmet sensory needs. Such examples of sensory seeking may be deep pressure hugs, chewing, rough play, spinning, among many others. Climbing is actually a way individuals may “seek” a sensory experience of vestibular movement. This allows for individuals to move and orient themselves in ways that enables them to both moves their entire body as well as allow them to regulate their vestibular system.

The first concept design involves having a triangular shaped climbing wall with rectangular faces for the child to climb on.
The frame would be “hollow” on the inside to allow seamless folding and concealment of the base part of the structure.
There would also be a mechanism that would enable wheels to fold out of the bottom whilst the structure is being “folded”, this would allow for easily portability and storage of the whole structure.
When the climbing structure is taken out again from storage, the wheels would fold back into the frame while the base is being locked into place.

Concept Design 2

A portable climbing wall designed at a slight angle.
Climbing holds on both sides of the design.
The climbing wall is held on both sides by two stands. (Maybe two more stands to hold the top of the design)
Mounted wheels on the stands to make it easy for movement from one place to another. (Heavy Duty locking hubs/ caster sets).
Wheels that can lifted up during use of the climbing wall and set back down when moving it around.
Wheels with locking mechanism to avoid movement during use.
Dimensions for the height, width, the angle of inclination and the stands arm length are still to be determined.

Concept Design Three is styled after a Montessori style indoor play gym
This design allows for a simple wooden frame, two different climbing options, a slide, and a set of monkey bars underneath the second level platform
A sensory/activity board would be mounted or inserted into the back wall of the “first level”, allowing the child to engage in fine motor skill and sensory activities
This design is not as “portable” as the others, but it would use nuts and bolts instead of wood screws, so if the family had to relocate it, it could be easily disassembled and reassembled using a simple wrench or Alan-wrench. It would also have certain interlocking pieces that a parent or other adult could take apart and put back together as well

Selected Concept Design

Based on the chosen criteria, the design selected was Concept Design 3, the playset with a slide and two separate climbing walls. Of the three options, it had the best combination of safety, cost, simplicity, creativity, longevity, and fun. It also satisfied the requests of the family for the indoor playset to fit within the 8 x 8 ft space.

Decision Matrix

Overview of Selected Design

Concept Design Three is styled after a Montessori style indoor play gym
This design allows for a simple wooden frame, two different climbing options, a slide, and a set of monkey bars underneath the second level platform
A sensory/activity board would be mounted or inserted into the back wall of the “first level”, allowing the child to engage in fine motor skill and sensory activities
This design is not as “portable” as the others, but it would use nuts and bolts instead of wood screws, so if the family had to relocate it, it could be easily disassembled and reassembled using a simple wrench or Alan-wrench. It would also have certain interlocking pieces that a parent or other adult could take apart and put back together as well

Describe Design Details

The design will be contained within an approximately 8×8 space. It will contain one main frame holding two climbing areas and slide. The height from ground to the top platform will be 60 inches plus the plywood and foam mat that the platform will consist of.

Frame

The frame consists of an array of 2×4 ‘s, with four legs and angled supports at each leg.

Climbing Walls

The climbing walls will sit at an angle to the opening of the top platform. The climbing holds will be outsourced. The pack has 25, so up to that amount will be distributed across the wall, which will be 33×59.25 inches in area.

Slide

Based on the existing design constraints, the slide would need to be at least 54 inches in height, as that would be the minimum height of the top platform prior to adding the cover and a mat. Slides should not exceed an incline angle of about 50 degrees, and the average slide incline should be approximately 30 degrees. The slide will be outsourced, with the specific dimensions being 48” H X 20” W X 91.5” D. The angle between the given slide of length 91.5 inches and the ground length of 73.87 inches (found using right triangle trig and the 60 inch height) was calculated to be 36.17 degrees. This amount is slightly above average, but it is still within a safe usage range.

Top Platform

The top platform covers the slide/climbing walls. The platform will be surrounded by guardrails that comply with recommended constraints set by the National Program for Playground Safety. Guardrails should have openings that are less than 3.5 inches apart and should be at least 29 inches high for children at preschool age. The present design accomplishes these objectives, providing sufficient perimeter protection that is also customizable using holes for fitting the guardrails onto.

Engineering Analysis 1

The analysis of the beam and top floor base.

Source: https://www.engineersedge.com/lumber.htm#google_vignette

Engineering Analysis 2

Analysis of the 2 x 4 legs that hold the top frame.

Source: https://www.engineersedge.com/lumber.htm#google_vignette

Engineering Analysis 3

Analysis of the plywood.

Source: https://www.matweb.com/search/datasheet_print.aspx?matguid=bd6620450973496ea2578c283e9fb807

Bill of Materials

Book1.pdf

Semester

2024 Fall