Elevator assembly for swimming pool

Abstract

An elevator assembly structured to regulate the accessible depth of a swimming pool including a platform selectively and automatically moveable between lowered, intermediate and raised positions thereby regulating the depth of the pool as well as providing a stable barrier and support area adjacent the open top of the pool when in a raised position. A support assembly and drive assembly are operatively associated to move and maintain the platform in any of the aforementioned positions. The platform includes a passage assembly comprising an apertured construction including a plurality of openings disposed and dimensioned to facilitate water flow therethrough as the platform moves within the pool. A sensor assembly is disposed to monitor predetermined vicinity adjacent the pool and functions to automatically dispose the platform in the raised position, thereby preventing drowning of individuals who cannot swim.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to an assembly structured to regulate the accessible depth of a swimming pool or like structure by means of a movable platform disposable at various depths within the pool. The platform includes an apertured construction which facilitates movement of the platform through the pool water and possibly filtering the pool water as it passes through the apertured construction of the platform. Additional features include a heating assembly as well as a motion sensor structured to automatically position the platform into a raised, substantially covering position relative to the open top end of the pool, thereby restricting access of children and other individuals that cannot swim.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The popularity of domestic or home swimming pools, especially in geographical areas enjoying a moderate or tropical climate, has increased greatly over the years. The common enjoyment ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In contrast, when in the raised position, the platform is at least generally disposed adjacent the open top end of the pool and preferably oriented such that the outer surface of the platform is above the water level within the pool. Accordingly, when in the raised position the platform, and / or at least the exposed outer surface thereof may serve as a stage or like structure able to support a plurality of individuals thereon. Also, when in the raised position, the outer surface of the platform may be substantially flush with the surrounding peripheral border of the open top end so as to at least partially define a substantially level support structure. Also, because the dimension and configuration of the periphery of the platform substantially corresponds with that of the open top of the swimming pool, inadvertent access to the interior of the pool is effectively restricted. Accordingly, the platform serves as a barrier to prevent children, invalids or other individuals that cannot swim from accidentally falling into the swimming pool.

[0013]In the lowered position, the platform is disposed substantially adjacent to the floor of the pool, as set forth above. Therefore, the water within the pool will have a normal or intended accessible depth for conventional swimming, diving, etc. As also set forth above the platform may be disposed in one or more intermediate positions. Accordingly, at least one intermediate position is located closer to the open top end than the floor of the pool in order to establish a predetermined shallow depth of approximately 2 to 3 feet. At such depth, young children can enjoy the recreational facilities of the swimming pool without accidentally passing or falling into a “deep end” of the pool where drowning may occur. It is emphasized that the one or more intermediate positions of the platform are not necessarily limited to a position wherein the accessible depth is 2 to 3 feet. To the contrary, the platform can be located at a variety of depths between the raised and lowered positions.

[0016]As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the openings are disposed in spaced relation to one another and extend over at least a majority of the platform if not substantially the entire surface area thereof. In addition, the openings may be of a common size or different sizes such that the overall collective dimension of the openings facilitates the aforementioned flow of pool water between opposite sides of the platform as it moves between the various raised, lowered and intermediate positions. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the openings are structured to be closed thereby facilitating walking or conventional travel of an individual over the outer, exposed surface of the platform when it is in the raised position.

[0018]More specifically, the control assembly incorporates a sensor assembly preferably in the form of one or more motion sensors disposed to monitor the exterior of the pool at least in the vicinity adjacent the open top end and / or perimeter thereof. As such, the one or more motion sensors are operative to sense motion within the monitored vicinity and cause activation of the drive assembly so as to raise the platform into an uppermost or raised position. When so disposed, the platform will then serve as a barrier to prevent a child or other individual from falling into the pool and / or being completely submerged by the pool water. Performance capability of the sensor assembly in combination with activation of the drive assembly is such as to cause a substantially immediate travel of the platform into the raised position in a minimal amount of time. Accordingly, if a child or other individual accidentally falls into the open top end of the pool the immediate raising of the platform will rapidly diminish the depth of water to which the individual is exposed and eventually position the individual above the level of the pool water when the platform reaches the fully raised position.

[0020]Accordingly, the elevator assembly of the present invention is readily adaptable to enhance both the safety and recreational enjoyment of a conventional swimming by efficiently providing the movement of a platform within the interior of the swimming pool between raised, lowered and intermediate positions. In doing so, the accessible depth of the swimming pool can be regulated or access to the interior of the pool can be completely prohibited. Further, the versatility of operating the platform by either manual operation or automatic sensory facilities significantly increases the safety of domestic swimming pools in the extent of substantially eliminating the possibility of inadvertent drowning of infants or small children.

Problems solved by technology

Also, because the dimension and configuration of the periphery of the platform substantially corresponds with that of the open top of the swimming pool, inadvertent access to the interior of the pool is effectively restricted.

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