Automatic cover for a swimming pool
The automatic pool cover system addresses the challenge of installing in non-right angle pools by using a submerged platform with a front-end opening and reversed rotation, ensuring compliance with safety standards and smooth operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2022195732
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-09-14
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-09-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing automatic pool cover systems struggle to comply with safety standards when installed in swimming pools with non-right angles, such as rounded corners, due to constraints on the width of the opening required for the floating cover passage.
The cover device features a submerged platform with an opening located under the front end, allowing a free passage for the floating deck without obstructions, and a reversed rotation direction for the winding axis to facilitate unrolling and rolling, minimizing the need for guidance systems and reducing complexity.
Enables the installation of a pool cover system that meets safety standards by providing a free passage and reducing mechanical complexity, while ensuring smooth operation and compliance with non-right angle pool designs.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
DOMAINE TECHNIQUE DE L'INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of swimming pools, and more particularly to automatic pool cover devices. The invention is especially suited to a swimming pool with a wall that has non-right angles. ARRIERE-PLAN TECHNIQUE
[0002] An automatic pool cover system provides protection by preventing debris, leaves, or other dirt from falling into the pool, and also acts as a safety measure against drowning in case of an accidental fall, for example, by a child under 5 years old. An automatic cover system also helps retain the pool water's heat overnight. For all these reasons, the use of automatic pool covers has become increasingly common.
[0003] Often, an automatic swimming pool cover system consists of a roller shutter and includes a floating cover—or slatted cover—made up of several interlocking floating slats. The cover is designed to roll up around a winding / unwinding axle (hereinafter referred to as the "axle"), for example, a tube. In the "pool closed" position (hereinafter referred to as the "closed position"), the floating cover is extended: it is deployed on the water's surface to cover the pool. In the "pool open" position (hereinafter referred to as the "open position"), the floating cover is retracted, rolled up around the winding / unwinding axle, leaving the pool accessible.
[0004] The pool cover device can be positioned outside the pool, possibly right at the edge of the pool, with the cover wrapping around the axis in the "pool open" position and thus being outside the pool.
[0005] However, often for aesthetic reasons, it is possible to install the cover device directly in the pool, which allows it to be concealed, particularly when it is in the open position.
[0006] In this case, one method is to fix transversely, on either side of the pool basin and below the water's surface, fixing brackets to secure the roller tube and possibly other components of the cover system, such as a housing to enclose the tube. The housing can serve an aesthetic purpose, concealing the tube and the floating cover when open. It can also contribute to safety by preventing access to the cover system and / or allowing a pool user to stand on it. When open, the floating cover is rolled up around the tube and submerged.
[0007] There figure 1 illustrates such a cover system installed in a 100-meter swimming pool. figure 1 This is a view of a swimming pool 100 comprising a pool basin and a cover system (or roller shutter). The basin includes a first wall A and an opposing second wall B, walls A and B potentially defining a length of the basin. The cover system, positioned near a first wall (here, wall A), comprises a floating curtain 110, or cover 110, shown here almost completely wound around a winding axis (the axis is therefore invisible) and comprising a plurality of floating slats joined together. The illustrated cover system includes a casing (or enclosure) consisting of a platform 150 supported by beams 130 and 140. The platform 150 is, for example, a grating. The platform 150 may include a grating or a floor allowing a pool user to stand or sit on it.The platform 150 is positioned above the axis and therefore covers the axis and the floating deck wound around the axis when the cover device is in the open position. The cover device also includes a vertical separation wall 160 (partially shown in the figure). figure 1 ), located at the front of platform 150, separating the cover mechanism from the pool itself. The vertical partition wall 160 and platform 150 form a box covering the winding axle and protecting it, particularly when the floating cover 110 is wound around it in the open position. Platform 150 is typically located a few centimeters below the water's surface so that the floating cover 110 can pass over it when unrolled. In the illustrated example, the winding axle and beam 140 are supported by flanges, or fixing means for the cover mechanism, 120A and 120B, which are attached to the pool walls.
[0008] There figure 2 illustrates a side view of the cover device of the figure 1 The axis 270 is located near a wall of the pool delimiting the length of pool 100 (here, wall A). The platform 150 comprises a rear end, on the side of wall A of the pool, and a front end, shown in the figure 2 placed on the vertical partition wall 160. An opening is provided for the passage of the floating deck 110 between wall A and the rear end of the platform 150. As can be seen on the figures 1 And 2The direction of rotation of the winding / unwinding axis is chosen to allow the floating cover 110 to be unrolled along wall A of the pool so that the cover 110 can pass through the opening located between wall A of the pool and the rear end of the platform 150. When the floating cover 110 is thus unrolled from the rear end of the platform 150, its free end (i.e., its end not directly attached to the winding / unwinding axis 270) rises to the water surface, then tilts towards the opposite wall of the pool (wall B, not shown in the diagram). figure 2 The tilting of the free end of the floating cover 110 to the correct side (i.e., towards wall B) can be achieved by means of a ballast placed in this free end or by the shape of the free end itself. In the closed position, the floating cover 110 is fully extended and covers the surface of the water in the basin. Thus, in the closed position, the free end of the floating cover 110 abuts against wall B, and the end of the floating cover 110 connected to the axis 270, possibly via straps or bands, abuts against wall A.
[0009] For a cover system to be accepted as a safety cover, it must comply with a safety standard, such as the NF P90-308 standard defined by AFNOR (French Standardization Association). According to most standards, access to the mechanisms of a cover system must be protected. The platform 150 and the vertical wall 160, forming a box around the axis 270, thus protect access to the mechanisms, particularly to the axis 270. The NF P90-308 standard more specifically defines the horizontal opening through which the floating curtain 110 passes between the wall A and the rear end of the platform 150. This opening is a free passage, that is, not obstructed by a flap or shutter, whose movement between an open and a closed position allows for selectively creating an opening or providing protection against access to the floating curtain.Since this opening is left open, the standard specifies that its maximum width "d" must be less than a predetermined value. This predetermined value can be defined by a standard, for example, standard NF P90-308. This predetermined value is, for example, 80 mm according to standard NF P90-308 published in 2013.
[0010] However, this constraint on the maximum width of the opening between the wall and the rear end of the platform may no longer be met by a known cover device as previously described when the pool includes, for example, at least one rounded corner, or a chamfered edge, or any shape creating a reduction in the width of the pool on the side of wall A, here two rounded corners, as illustrated in the figure 3 .
[0011] There figure 3 includes a figure 3A and one figure 3B . There figure 3A This illustrates a top view of a swimming pool basin featuring rounded corners between two adjacent vertical walls. figure 3B illustrates a side view of a cover device similar to the cover device previously described, placed against the wall of a basin with rounded corners. Zone 380 of the basin, marked on the figures 3A et 3B The hatched lines indicate an area where the width of the pool is less than the width of the rest of the pool due to the rounded corners. These rounded corners are located at wall A and the two other vertical walls of the pool adjacent to wall A. This area 380 extends a distance "a" from wall A. A floating cover 310, designed to cover the surface of the pool when closed, is largely composed of floating slats with a width equal to the width of the pool. Therefore, the winding axis 370 cannot be installed too close to wall A to prevent the cover 310 from being wound or unwound within area 380, as this area is not wide enough for the passage of the slats of the floating cover 310.The minimum width of the opening of width "d" through which the deck 310 passes between wall A and the rear end of platform 350 is therefore constrained by the rounded corners formed at the junction of the vertical walls of the basin. More precisely, the minimum width of the opening of width "d" is constrained by the distance "a", the width "d" being no less than the distance "a". Thus, depending on the degree of the rounding, and therefore on the value of "a", it is not possible to have an opening with a width "d" that complies, for example, with the requirements of standard NF P90-308.
[0012] Some solutions have been developed involving the addition of an extra beam against the wall or a hatch to close the opening when the cover device is in the open position. These solutions include providing a flap or shutter that closes off the passage area of the floating deck 110, allowing for selective access to the floating deck or protection against access to it. The passage area of the floating deck 110 is thus no longer unobstructed, since there is no opening when the floating deck is in the open position. However, these solutions are complex to implement and costly in terms of additional equipment, and it may be preferable to leave an opening, i.e., a free passage for the floating deck, thus avoiding the need for moving parts for the platform 350.
[0013] It is therefore necessary to propose a solution to address the problem of installing a pool cover in a swimming pool with a basin and a wall that includes, for example, rounded corners, in accordance with a safety standard. The cover must be placed against this wall. Prior art embodiments are described in documents EP1154101, FR3106842, EP2845968, FR2997982, and AT379846. RESUME DE L'INVENTION
[0014] The invention relates to a cover device according to claim 1. In other words, this opening advantageously provides a free passage for the floating deck, that is, a passage without any obstruction by flap or shutter, thus avoiding the need for moving parts. In the absence of moving parts forming the platform or adjacent to the platform, the cover device is simple and reliable to manufacture.
[0015] Advantageously, the cover device can be placed against a wall of a swimming pool basin regardless of the shape of said wall.
[0016] According to the invention, the opening is located under the platform on the side of the front end of the platform.
[0017] Advantageously, the cover device does not include a horizontal opening into which something could fall.
[0018] The platform is submerged at a depth at least equal to a minimum depth determined according to a radius of curvature of the floating deck.
[0019] Advantageously, the floating apron can be unrolled / rolled up without user intervention.
[0020] According to the invention, the platform is immersed at a depth at least equal to twice the radius of curvature of the floating deck.
[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the direction of rotation of the winding axis is adapted to unroll the floating curtain on the side of the opening.
[0022] Advantageously, the cover device can minimize the use of guidance systems for the floating deck and / or friction, reducing its complexity and / or wear.
[0023] According to the invention, the cover device comprises a vertical partition wall disposed on the front end side of the platform, the platform and the vertical partition wall forming a box around the winding axis, the vertical partition wall including the opening for the passage of the floating deck, the opening preferably being located at the top of the vertical partition wall.
[0024] Advantageously, the cover device is protected in a casing.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover device comprises a vertical partition wall disposed on the side of the front end of the platform, the platform and the vertical partition wall forming a box around the winding axis, the vertical partition wall being positioned at the front of the front end of the platform, the opening for the passage of the floating deck being formed by a horizontal space between the front end of the platform and the vertical partition wall.
[0026] Advantageously, the cover device according to the invention can be installed in a basin already comprising a vertical separating wall.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the distance between the vertical separating wall and the floating curtain wound around the winding axis in the open position is greater than a predetermined value.
[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first end, referred to as the rear end, of the platform intended to be positioned near the first wall includes a shape enabling it to come to rest against the first wall.
[0029] The invention also relates to a swimming pool comprising a basin, the swimming pool comprising a cover device for the basin according to one of the preceding claims, the first end, referred to as the rear end, of the platform being positioned against the first wall of the basin.
[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pool includes at least one other vertical wall adjacent to the first wall of the pool, the angle of junction of the two walls not being right.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first wall of the basin comprises a non-planar shape. FIGURES
[0032] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 illustrates a swimming pool cover system known to someone in the trade. Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 illustrates a profile view of a swimming pool cover device known to a person in the trade. Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 includes the figures 3A et 3B and illustrates the problem posed by a swimming pool basin with rounded corners between two adjacent vertical walls. Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 illustrates a profile view of a swimming pool cover device according to the invention. Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 illustrates a profile view of a swimming pool cover device according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 illustrates side and top views of a swimming pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in an open position. Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 illustrates side and top views of a swimming pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in a first intermediate position. Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 illustrates side and top views of a swimming pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in a second intermediate position. Fig. 9 ] There figure 9 illustrates side and top views of a swimming pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in a third intermediate position. Fig. 10 ] There figure 10 illustrates side and top views of a swimming pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in a fourth intermediate position. Fig. 11 ] There figure 11 illustrates side and top views of a pool cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device being in a closed position. DESCRIPTION DETAILLEE DE L'INVENTION
[0033] The invention presented solves the problem of installing an automatic pool cover system, comprising a platform, submerged in a swimming pool basin, when the basin has a wall against which the cover system is positioned. This wall may, for example, have non-right angles (the two adjacent vertical walls not intersecting at a right angle). More specifically, the cover system according to the invention can be installed near a pool wall even if the wall has rounded corners formed between two adjacent vertical walls, or any other feature that reduces the width of the pool near the wall or, more generally, prevents a floating cover from being close to the wall (i.e., from coming abutting the wall). The invention can thus be implemented when an obstacle or protrusion is present along the wall.
[0034] The invention solves the problem of installing a submerged cover device in a swimming pool basin comprising a first wall, the pool including another wall adjacent to the first wall (the two walls forming a junction angle at their intersection), the junction angle of the two walls not being a right angle but, for example, rounded. In other words, the cover device according to the invention can be installed near, or against, a pool wall forming a rounded angle or a chamfer with an adjacent wall or having an irregular shape. Thus, the shape of the pool, viewed from above, may present junction angles other than right angles between adjacent walls. In other words, the vertical adjacent walls of the pool may meet at non-right angles, such as fillets, rounded corners, chamfers, or any other non-right angle junction.
[0035] THE figures 1 à 3 have been described previously.
[0036] There figure 4 illustrates a side view of a 400 pool cover device according to the invention.
[0037] The 400 pool cover system includes a closed position and an open position. The pool basin, similar to the one illustrated in the figure 1 The cover system comprises two opposing walls A and B defining the length of the pool (wall B is not shown). The cover device 400 includes a submerged winding axle 470 located near the first wall of the pool (here, wall A). The cover device 400 includes a floating apron 410, adapted to cover the pool basin in the closed position and to be wound around the winding axle 470 in the open position. The cover device 400 includes a submerged platform 450, for example, a grating 450, covering the winding axle 470 and the wound floating apron 410 in the closed position. The platform 450 has a first end, called the rear end, on the side of the first wall A and a second end, called the front end, on the opposite side of the first wall A, i.e., on the side of the second wall B.The cover device 400 includes an opening O on the front end of the platform 450. This opening O allows the floating deck to pass between the open and closed positions of the cover device. In other words, the opening O allows the floating deck 410 to pass when the cover device 400 moves from the open to the closed position (and vice versa). The opening O is located on the front end of the platform 450, here under a beam 430 that supports the platform 450 along with the beam 440. The opening O is a free passage, meaning it is not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position. Because of this free passage, the dimensions of the opening O may need to conform to certain predetermined values. These values may be defined by a standard, for example, standard NF P90-308.Thus, for example, the NF P90-308 standard published in 2013 defines that the width of the opening O, or the width of any free passage allowing access to the mechanism of the floating deck (that is to say here the distance between the bottom of the beam 430 and the top of a vertical partition wall 460) must be less than 100 millimeters.
[0038] The first end, referred to as the rear end, of the platform 450, intended to be positioned near wall A, includes a shape enabling it to bear against wall A. According to one embodiment of the invention, by " en appui contre la paroi A », It is important to understand that the shape of the first, or rear, end of platform 450 is designed to be placed close to wall A without leaving any gap between the edge of the first end and the wall, or with a maximum gap width less than a predetermined value, for example, defined by a standard such as NF P90 308. In other words, the shape of the first, or rear, end of the platform is designed to "conform" to the shape of wall A, particularly its possible rounded corners at the junctions with adjacent vertical walls. By "conform," it is understood that the gap between the first, or rear, end of platform 450 and wall A is less than a predetermined value. According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined value is defined in a safety standard, for example, NF P90-308.In this case, the opening with a width "d" which must comply with the constraints of the standard NF P90-308 corresponds to the gap between the first end, called rear, of the platform 450 and the wall A. This opening is a free passage, that is to say not obstructed by a flap or a shutter which would be movable between a closed and open position.
[0039] The platform 450 is submerged at a depth "h" at least equal to a minimum depth determined according to the radius of curvature of the floating deck 410. The radius of curvature of the floating deck 410 is smaller the more the floating deck 410 can be folded back on itself, or, in other words, the more "flexible" the floating deck 410 can be considered. In other words, the radius of curvature of the floating deck is smaller the more easily the floating deck can be rolled up on itself. It should be noted that the radius of curvature of the floating deck 410 is normally less than or equal to the radius of the winding / unwinding axis 470 of the floating deck 410 so that the floating deck 410 can be wound around the axis 470 without risk of damage.
[0040] This depth "h" corresponds to the space required between the water surface and the platform 450 so that the floating deck 410 can unroll normally without catching on any surface, particularly, as explained below, when the floating deck 410 has come to rest against the wall B and then unrolls towards the wall A.
[0041] According to the invention, the platform 450 is immersed at a depth "h" at least equal to twice the radius of curvature of the floating deck 410.
[0042] The direction of rotation of the winding / unwinding axis 470 is adapted to unwind the floating curtain 410 on the side of the winding / unwinding axis 470 opposite the wall A, that is, on the side opposite the wall against which the cover device 400 is positioned. In other words, the direction of rotation of the winding / unwinding axis 470 allows the floating curtain 410 to be unwinded on the side of the opening O, located on the side of the front end of the platform 450. Put another way, the direction of rotation of the winding / unwinding axis 470 allows the floating curtain 410 to be unwinded on the side of the front end of the platform so that the free end of the floating curtain 410 rises towards the opening O, possibly guided by a guide means, as the axis 470 is unwound.This direction of rotation allowing the apron 410 to be unrolled in order to go from the open position (apron 410 rolled around the axis 470) to the closed position (apron 410 unrolled and covering the surface of the basin) is represented in the . figure 4 by arrow F. This direction of rotation F allows the 410 deck to be unrolled with its free end rising from the front end of the platform 450, or substantially below the front end of the platform 450. This direction of rotation F for unrolling the 410 deck is the opposite direction to the usual unrolling direction used for traditional cover devices described in the figures 1 à 3 Using a direction of rotation F opposite to the usual direction of rotation advantageously allows the 410 curtain to be unrolled with its free end positioned directly on the side of the curtain's exit opening O, i.e., on the side of the front end of the platform 450. This direction of rotation F prevents the 410 curtain from catching under the surface of the platform 450 during its unrolling and facilitates its exit (or entry) through the opening O. It should be noted that the floating curtain 410 is wound around the axis 470 by rotating the winding axis 470 in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation F.
[0043] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover device 400 includes a guide means 480 for the deck 470 under the front end of the platform 450 (here shown under the beam 430). This guide means 480 guides the free end of the deck 410 when the deck 410 is unrolled to ensure that the deck 410 exits smoothly through the opening O without catching on an obstacle. The guide means 480 may include a tubular part with a substantially triangular cross-section as shown in the figure. figure 4 in order to guide the 410 apron during its unfolding.
[0044] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the guide means 480 can allow the use of an axis 410 having a conventional direction of rotation (i.e. unwinding of the apron 410 with a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation F), that is to say in which the free end rises along the wall A during the unwinding of the apron 410. In this case, the guide means 480 can guide the free end of the apron 410 so that it exits (and re-enters) via the opening O without catching under the grating 450.
[0045] The guiding means 480 may include straps (or any other means of connection, such as straps, ropes, cords, nets, etc.) fixed on one side to the front end of the platform 450, above the opening O, and including on the other side suspended weights placed between the wall A and the axis 470.
[0046] According to the invention, the cover device 400 comprises a vertical partition wall 460 in front of the platform 450, forming a box around the winding axis 470. The opening "O" for the passage of the floating curtain 410 can be located at the top of this vertical partition wall 460. The opening O is then positioned vertically. As in the previous embodiments, this opening constitutes a free passage, that is, not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position. According to a preferred embodiment, the distance "e" between the vertical partition wall 460 and the floating curtain 410 wound around the winding axis 470 in the open position (i.e., when the floating curtain 410 is fully wound around the axis 470) is at least equal to a predetermined value, for example, determined as a function of the thickness of the floating curtain 410.According to one embodiment of the invention, this distance "e" is at least 7 centimeters. This minimum distance between the vertical partition wall 460 and the rolled-up floating curtain 410 prevents the curtain 410 from rubbing against the vertical partition wall 460 during the rolling or unrolling of the floating curtain 410. Indeed, if the distance "e" between the vertical partition wall 460 and the rolled-up floating curtain 410 is too small, the curtain 410 may rub against or become stuck against the vertical partition wall 460.
[0047] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the vertical partition wall 460 is offset and positioned forward relative to the front end of the platform 450, with the upper end of the vertical partition wall 460 extending to the same height as the platform 450. In this case, the opening O is formed by the horizontal space between the front end of the platform 450 and the top of the vertical partition wall 460. The opening O is then positioned horizontally. As with the preceding embodiments, this opening constitutes a free passage, that is, one not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position.
[0048] There figure 5 illustrates a profile view of a 500 pool cover device according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0049] The 500 coverage device includes, as illustrated in the figure 4 a platform 550 supported by two beams 530 and 540, beam 530 supporting the front end of platform 550 in this example. A floating deck 510 is wound around an axis 570. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figure 5 differs from the embodiment illustrated in the figure 4 in that the cover device 500 is integrated into a cavity located at the bottom of the pool, against wall A. This embodiment is illustrated in the figure 5 therefore does not include a vertical wall identical to the vertical wall 460 of the figure 4 Similarly, according to this embodiment, the opening O, allowing the passage of the deck 510, is located on the front end side of the platform 550, beneath it, and opens horizontally at the bottom of the pool. The opening O may have to comply with the constraints of a standard, for example, standard NF P90-308. Since the opening O is a free passage, that is to say, not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position, its width may thus be subject to the same maximum value constraint as the width of the gap between the wall A and the platform ("d").
[0050] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cavity in which the cover device 500 is installed is constituted by a vertical wall similar to the vertical wall 460 of the figure 4 , for example, consisting of a concrete wall. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the vertical partition wall 460 is a vertical wall such as a concrete wall. The opening O is formed by a space between the front end of the platform 550 and the vertical partition wall, a space through which the floating deck 510 can pass. The opening O is then positioned horizontally, as illustrated in the figure 5 .
[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform 550 and the upper end of the vertical wall are flush with each other. According to another embodiment of the invention, the platform 550 is lower than the upper end of the vertical wall.
[0052] According to the invention, the cover device comprises a vertical partition wall located on the front end of the platform, the platform and the vertical partition wall forming a box around the winding axis. The vertical partition wall is positioned at the front of the platform's front end, with the opening O for the passage of the floating curtain being formed by a horizontal space between the front end of the platform and the vertical partition wall. As with the previous embodiments, this opening constitutes a free passage, that is, not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position.
[0053] THE figures 6 à 11 illustrate different positions of a 600 cover device for a swimming pool basin according to the invention between the open position shown in the figure 6 and the closed position represented in the figure 11 . THE figures 6 à 11 These figures therefore represent the same 600 cover device in different positions, between an open position and a closed position. These figures can be read in one direction or the other depending on whether the cover device moves from the open position to the closed position (reading direction of the figure 6 to the figure 11 ) or, conversely, from the closed position to the open position (reading direction of the figure 11 to the figure 6 ). The 600 cover device shown is, for example, the 400 cover device previously described.
[0054] There figure 6 illustrates side and top views of a pool cover device 600, comprising a wall A and an opposite wall B delimiting a length of the pool, according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device 600 being in an open position.
[0055] The cover device 600 is shown here in the open position, meaning that the cover 610 is fully wound around an axis 670 and access to the basin is unobstructed. Advantageously, in the open position, the free end of the floating cover 610 is located on the side of the front end of the platform 650, here under the front end of the platform 650, possibly under a guide means 680. The winding / unwinding direction of the cover 610 around the axis 670 is chosen such that the unwinding of the cover 610 occurs in such a way that the free end E of the cover 610 rises on the side of the opening O, here located under the front end of the platform 650, possibly guided by the guide means 680. In other words, the unwinding direction of the axis 670 corresponds to the previously defined direction of rotation F.
[0056] An area in which the width of the basin is less than the width of the rest of the basin due to the presence of rounded corners of the vertical wall A with the other adjacent vertical walls (or any other shape and / or protrusion) is represented by dashed lines. This area extends over a distance "a".
[0057] Regarding the view from above of the pool (below on the figure 6 and following), the surface of the basin covered by the floating deck 610 is shown by hatching. In the figure 6 With the cover device 600 in the open position, the floating apron 610 is fully rolled up. Access to the basin is therefore unrestricted.
[0058] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover device 600 comprises a vertical partition wall 660. The vertical partition wall 660 is located on the front end side of the platform 650, the platform 650 and the vertical partition wall 660 forming a box around the winding axis 670. The vertical partition wall 660 may include an opening O for the passage of the floating curtain 610. As in the preceding embodiments, this opening constitutes a free passage, that is, not obstructed by a flap or shutter that would be movable between a closed and open position. The opening O is preferably located at the top of the vertical partition wall 660, but it may be located at any height along the vertical partition wall 660. In one embodiment, the opening O is located at the bottom of the vertical partition wall 660, at the level of the bottom of the basin.
[0059] There figure 7 illustrates side and top views of the 600 cover device of a swimming pool according to an embodiment of the invention, the 600 cover device being in a first intermediate position.
[0060] There figure 7 represents a situation in which the apron 610 of the figure 6 The cover was partially unrolled, that is, at the beginning of the pool closure. Upon reaching the surface, the free end E of the cover 610 tilts in the direction of the wall B, for example, by means of a ballast placed in the free end E of the cover 610 (or due to the geometry of said free end E). As the cover is unrolled by the axis 670 rotating in the direction of rotation F, the cover 610 progresses across the surface of the pool towards the wall B, gradually covering the surface of the pool, as illustrated by hatching on the top view of the pool basin.
[0061] There figure 8 illustrates side and top views of the cover device 600 of a swimming pool basin according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device 600 being in a second intermediate position.
[0062] There figure 8 represents a situation in which the apron 610 has come to rest against the wall B. The free end E is in rest against the wall B. From this moment, during the unwinding of the apron 610 to close the basin, the apron 610 unwinds towards the wall A: the still submerged part of the apron 610 gradually unwinds on the surface of the basin towards the wall A.
[0063] There figure 9 illustrates side and top views of the 600 cover device of a swimming pool according to an embodiment of the invention, the 600 cover device being in a third intermediate position.
[0064] There figure 9 represents a situation in which the deck 610 has come to rest against the wall B and in which the deck 610 has partially unrolled towards the wall A. The part still submerged of the deck 610 has gradually unrolled on the surface of the basin, towards the wall A. The end G of the deck 610 attached to the axis 670 by means of straps 690 for example is represented here as having come out of the box of the cover device 600.
[0065] A circle of curvature C of the floating deck 610 is represented by dotted lines in the figure 9 The radius of curvature of the floating deck 610 corresponds to the radius of the circle of curvature C. The height "h" is determined so that the floating deck 610 can form a loop above the platform, the height "h" must therefore be greater than or equal to the diameter of the circle of curvature C, i.e. twice the radius of curvature of the floating deck.
[0066] If the water depth "h" above platform 650 is insufficient, the submerged portion of the floating cover 610 cannot deploy correctly on its own and remains trapped beneath the portion of the floating cover 610 already deployed on the surface. The cover device 600 cannot then fully cover the basin surface without additional intervention. A user can then complete the deployment of the floating cover 610 manually, for example, by pulling on it and / or assisting its deployment by lifting it during the final stage of unfolding.
[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, and depending on the buoyancy, size and / or rigidity of the slats constituting the floating deck 610, the height "h" may be slightly less than the diameter of curvature of the floating deck, the floating deck 610 being able to marginally protrude above the water surface when winding / unwinding over the platform 650.
[0068] There figure 10 illustrates side and top views of the cover device 600 of a swimming pool basin according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device 600 being in a fourth intermediate position.
[0069] There figure 10 represents a situation in which the floating deck 610 has come to rest against the wall B and in which the deck 610 has unrolled towards the wall A. The part still submerged of the deck 610 has gradually unrolled on the surface of the basin towards the wall A. The end G of the deck 610 attached to the axis 470, by means of straps for example, is represented here as having come out of the caisson of the cover device 600 and approaching the wall A, the deck 610 positioning itself due to its buoyancy on the surface of the basin.
[0070] There figure 11 illustrates side and top views of the cover device 600 of a swimming pool basin according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover device 600 being in a closed position.
[0071] There figure 11 This represents a situation in which the cover 610 has reached its abutment against wall B and wall A. The cover 610 completely covers the surface of the pool basin, and the cover device 600 is in its closed position. End E of the floating cover 610 is abutting wall B, and end G of the floating cover 610 is abutting wall A.
[0072] The 600 cover device can return to its open position, as illustrated in the figure 6 , by rotating the axis 670 in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation F in order to wind the apron 610 around the axis 670. During winding towards the open position, the apron 610 takes the various intermediate positions illustrated in figures 10 to 7, in the reverse order of the order previously described for unwinding the apron 610 towards the closed position.
[0073] The shape of the free end E of the floating deck 610 is designed to come abut against the wall B. Similarly, the shape of the end G of the floating deck 610 is designed to come abut against the wall A.
Claims
1. A cover device (400, 500, 600) for a swimming pool basin comprising a closed position and an open position, the basin comprising a first wall (A), the width of the basin on the side of the first wall being reduced, the cover device comprising: - a winding axis (470, 570, 670) submerged located close to the first wall of the basin, - a floating apron (410, 510, 610), adapted to cover the swimming pool basin in the closed position and to be rolled up around the winding axis in the open position, - a submerged platform (450, 550, 650) covering the winding axis and the rolled up floating apron in the open position, the platform comprising a first end, called the rear end, provided to be positioned close to the first wall, and a second end, called the front end, opposite the rear end, - the covering device comprising an opening (O) on the side of the front end of the platform, the opening providing passage of the floating apron between the open position and the closed position of the covering device, the opening being located under the platform (450, 550, 650) on the side of the front end of the platform, the cover device comprising a vertical separation wall (460, 660) arranged on the side of the front end of the platform, the platform and the vertical separation wall forming a box around the winding axis, the vertical separation wall comprising the opening (0) for the passage of the floating apron, the platform being submerged to a depth at least equal to twice the radius of curvature of the floating apron.
2. The cover device for a swimming pool basin according to the preceding claim, the direction of rotation of the winding axis being adapted to unwind the floating apron on the side of the opening.
3. The cover device for a swimming pool basin according to one of the preceding claims, the distance (e) between the vertical separation wall and the floating apron rolled up around the winding axis in the open position being greater than a predetermined value.
4. The cover device for a swimming pool basin according to one of the preceding claims, the first end, called the rear end, of the platform, intended to be positioned close to the first wall, comprising a shape making it possible to bear against the first wall.
5. A swimming pool (100) comprising a basin, the swimming pool comprising a cover device (400, 500, 600) for the basin according to one of the preceding claims, the first end, called the rear end, of the platform being positioned against the first wall (A) of the basin.
6. The swimming pool according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one other vertical wall adjacent to the first wall of the basin, the junction angle of the two walls not being square.
7. The swimming pool according to claim 5, the first wall of the basin comprising a non-planar shape.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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