The first and only collapsible parkour vault box. Indoor gyms and outdoor events needed a solution for storage and mobility. The “tangbox” is designed to be a strong, lighter, cheaper, and more maneuverable alternative to traditional vault boxes. It’s also an eye-catcher.
Parkour is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the USA. Practitioners aim to get from A to B in the most efficient way possible typically in urban environments. This is done using only the human body and the surroundings for propulsion, with a focus on maintaining as much momentum as possible. Techniques involve running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, quadrupedal movement, and the like. Physically the movement aims to be fast, powerful, smooth, and precise. Philosophically parkour emphasizes community, progression, and safety.
A single 4’x8′ sheet of 1-1/8″ plywood is cut into three pieces and connected with commercial door hinges which allows the side panels to open and close. In the closed position, it folds into a narrow triangle that can easily be stored, transported, and maneuvered through doors or hallways. In the open position the “tangbox” becomes a parkour vault box. The side panels fold out, forming the classic trapezoidal vault box shape, which is then secured using pull-n-lock tie-downs. The thick plywood panels are rated to span 4ft without deflecting thereby doubling as structure. This eliminates the need of a 2×4 wood frame skeleton, which reduces weight, build cost, and time/technical skills required for construction.
This is the first design/build project developed at Tangbox Designs, eventually becoming the company name. It currently operates in three Bay Area gyms with pending orders from the East Coast.
*Special thanks to my friends and fellow practitioners with the San Francisco Parkour community!