basin such as a swimming pool with an underwater cover of the roller shutter type

Abstract

Basin, such as a swimming pool comprising a submerged deployable cover of the roller shutter type. The invention relates to a basin, such as a swimming pool comprising at least one bottom (7), two end walls (8, 9) and two longitudinal walls (10, 11) and comprising a submerged deployable cover (2) of the roller shutter type (3) comprising a curtain (4) adapted to wind around a winding tube (13) extending between the longitudinal walls (10, 11) near one (8) of the end walls (8, 9) and the bottom (7) of the basin (1).Advantageously, in the wound state, the section (S) of the roller shutter (3) is located: – at a distance (D1) less than 150 mm from the bottom (7) of the basin (1); – at a distance (D2) less than 150 mm from said end wall (8) of the basin (1); – at a distance (D3) less than or equal to 150 mm from a platform (14) installed horizontally above the winding tube (13) extending between the longitudinal walls (10, 11) of the basin (1); said platform (14) defining, with respect to said end wall (8) of the basin (1), a slot (15) with a width (l) less than 100 mm. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: a basin such as a swimming pool comprising a submerged cover of the roller shutter type

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of basins and more particularly to that of swimming pools, whether in-ground or above-ground, of the masonry, wooden, composite, or other type. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of basins such as swimming pools equipped with a submerged cover of the roller shutter type.

[0002] We already know of many basins, in particular swimming pools, which, for reasons of safety or even of preserving the water temperature, receive a cover, depending on the case, rigid and retractable or flexible and foldable, most often rolled up around a winding tube.

[0003] In this field of roller covers, above-ground or submerged roller shutters are particularly well known, comprising a curtain made up of a juxtaposition of slats connected together in an articulated manner to allow this curtain to adopt a folded arrangement, rolled around a winding tube or a deployed arrangement in which this curtain extends over the basin by floating above the water contained in the latter.

[0004] In an above-ground configuration, the winding tube of this roller shutter extends above the pool, most often at one of the lateral ends of the latter, being kept free to rotate at its ends by means of bearings fitted to support brackets anchored to this lateral end of the pool, on either side of the latter.

[0005] Even if such an above-ground roller shutter can be integrated under a bench at this lateral end of the pool, the submerged roller shutter is very often preferred, although it has other disadvantages.

[0006] Among these submerged roller shutters, the most well-known is the one installed under a deck extending above the water at one of the lateral ends of the pool. In this case, the roller shutter's winding tube extends underwater between the longitudinal walls of the pool, in a compartment separated from the main pool by a wall. Depending on the situation, this dividing wall should be built during the pool's design phase. It can also take the form of a panel made of synthetic material, designed to subdivide the pool by extending between its longitudinal sides, to which this wall is attached using suitable profiles.

[0007] It is understood that, depending on the solution adopted, the design of the swimming pool is complicated or the risks of water leakage are increased by the installation on the sides longitudinal profiles inside the basin, for fixing a panel added later.

[0008] In all cases, debris such as dead leaves or other materials inevitably accumulates at the bottom of this separate compartment, which is designed to house the roller shutter curtain in its rolled-up position. This debris is difficult to remove. Indeed, to remove this debris, it is usually necessary to remove the deck under which the roller shutter is installed, and the curtain itself must be brought into the extended position. However, access under the roller shutter's winding tube is not easy for removing or vacuuming this waste. Similarly, dismantling a synthetic material panel to access the area under the roller shutter can only be considered after largely draining the pool.

[0009] It is also known to house this roller shutter in a casing installed at the bottom of the pool or at a shallower depth so as to define a submerged area at one end of the pool. In both cases, this casing has at least one vertical front wall extending substantially to the bottom of the pool, at a determined distance from the side wall at that end of the pool so as to delimit a volume within which the roller shutter can retract, rolled up around the winding tube. This casing is closed at the top by a lid having a slot for the roller shutter curtain to pass through so as to allow it to be deployed above the water in the pool. If it is possible to stand on this lid when the casing is installed at the bottom of the pool, when installed at a shallower depth this lid can form a submerged area on which bathers can lie down or sit.

[0010] Debris can, again, accumulate inside such a box, debris which, if not regularly removed, can lead to an increased development of microorganisms in the basin, making water treatment more difficult.

[0011] This installation of the submerged roller shutter in a compartment separate from the main pool or in a closed box is intended to prevent a pool user from getting stuck under the roller shutter.

[0012] Depending on the country, certain standards are applicable in this matter, standards determining a maximum passage section preserved, for example, under a separating wall made of synthetic material or under the front wall of a box and the bottom of the basin or at the level of a passage slot of the roller shutter curtain that is included in the cover of an immersed box.

[0013] As part of an inventive approach, a solution was sought intended to: - to facilitate the natural removal of debris that may accumulate under a submerged roller shutter, thus avoiding encapsulating the latter, whether in a dedicated compartment in the pool or in a casing, - at the same time by addressing the risk that a user could be trapped at the bottom of the pool around this submerged roller shutter.

[0014] In this inventive approach, the two states of the roller shutter, folded and unfolded, have been taken into account. In the unfolded state, the roller shutter curtain floats above the water in the pool and constitutes a protective barrier preventing any fall into the water. Consequently, any risk of a bather becoming entangled under or around the winding tube submerged at the bottom of the pool is eliminated. Therefore, it is only in the folded state, wound around the winding tube, that this risk of snagging and / or jamming must be prevented.

[0015] The invention meets all of these objectives.To this end, this invention consists of a basin, such as a swimming pool comprising at least one bottom, two end walls and two longitudinal walls and comprising a submerged deployable cover of the roller shutter type having a curtain composed of a juxtaposition of slats connected together in an articulated manner and a winding tube to which one end of the roller shutter curtain is made fixed in order to wind around said winding tube or, when deployed, to extend above the water contained in the basin, said winding tube extending between the longitudinal walls near one of the end walls and the bottom of the basin, characterized in that, when wound around the winding tube, the cross-section of the roller shutter is located: - at a distance of less than 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm from the bottom of the basin; . - at a distance of less than 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm in relation to said end wall of the basin; - at a distance less than or equal to 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm relative to a platform installed horizontally above the winding tube extending between the longitudinal walls of the basin;

[0016] said platform delimiting in relation to said end wall of the basin a slot of a width less than 100mm, preferably less than 80mm.

[0017] According to another feature of the invention, said platform is defined by an inverted U-shaped structural beam comprising an upper wall, more particularly horizontal, on the longitudinal edges of which extend vertical wings, the first wing of which delimits, with said end wall, the slot of passage of the roller shutter curtain and an opposite wing, at least the lower end edge of the opposite wing respects a distance < X millimeters from the section of the rolled-up roller shutter curtain.

[0018] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in the fact that the roller shutter in the rolled-up state and immersed at the bottom of the basin is no longer encapsulated in a dedicated housing so that the circulation of the water, in particular generated by the filtration, can be established around this roller shutter when it is rolled up, but also in the deployed state avoiding a certain stagnation of the water as can occur in a box, for example.

[0019] In the deployed or partially deployed state of the roller shutter curtain, a cleaning robot can easily pass under the winding tube to remove any debris that may remain at the bottom of the pool in the part occupied by the roller shutter in the folded state.

[0020] Thanks to a particular arrangement, according to the invention, the risks of blocking or snagging around the roller shutter in the rolled-up state are likely to be avoided, whether under this roller shutter, between the latter and the end wall against which it is installed or under the platform thanks to a limited distance between the latter and the section of the rolled-up roller shutter.

[0021] Consequently, the present invention cleverly and economically remedies the constraints arising from the solutions of the prior art.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following description relating to an example of an embodiment given by way of illustration and not limitation.

[0023] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the figures in the appendix in which:

[0024] [Fig. 1] is a schematic and perspective representation of a swimming pool-type basin, according to the invention, equipped with an immersed roller shutter shown in the rolled-up state;

[0025] [Fig.2] is a schematic and perspective representation of this same basin, the with the roller shutter curtain deployed;

[0026] [Fig.3] is a partial schematic cross-sectional illustration of the pelvis illustrating the dimensions of the roller shutter installation in the rolled-up state in relation to the bottom of the pool, the end wall and the platform;

[0027] [Fig.4] is a schematic, partial, and perspective representation of an end of the winding tube and the platform above it fixed to one of the longitudinal walls, at the front of an end wall of the basin.

[0028] The invention as represented, in particular in figures 1 and 2, relates to a basin 1, in particular a swimming pool equipped with a deployable cover 2 of the submerged type in the form of a roller shutter 3.

[0029] This includes an apron 4 composed of a juxtaposition of blades 5 articulated together and allowing this apron 4 to occupy a folded position 12 described below and a deployed position 6 in which it extends, floating, above the water contained in the basin 1, as seen in [Fig.2].

[0030] The basin 2 conventionally comprises at least one bottom 7, end walls 8, 9 and two substantially longitudinal walls 10, 11. Thanks to the joints between the blades 5, this apron 4 can also occupy a folded position 12, visible in [Fig. 1], in which it is wound around a winding tube 13 generally driven in rotation by means of a motor (not shown) disposed, depending on the case, external to the basin or, directly, in the winding tube 13.

[0031] The winding tube 13 is installed near the bottom 7 of the basin 1 and one 8 of its end walls 8, 9. Preferably, the winding tube 13 extends parallel to this end wall 8 while being fixed at its ends in a freely rotational manner to the longitudinal walls 11, 12, by means of support bearings.

[0032] According to the invention, in its folded position 12, i.e., with the curtain 4 wound around the winding shaft 13, the roller shutter 3 has a section S located at a distance DI from the bottom 7 of the basin 1 of less than 150 mm, preferably less than or equal to 100 mm, this distance DI being, however, greater than a minimum functional value of 30 mm. Preferably, DI is greater than 40 mm, more particularly 45 mm. Advantageously, this distance DI is between 100 mm and 45 mm from the bottom 7 of the basin 1.

[0033] Furthermore, in this folded position 12, i.e., with the curtain 4 wound around the winding shaft 13, this section S of the roller shutter 3 is located, relative to said end wall 8 of the basin 1, at a distance D2 of less than 150 mm, preferably less than or equal to 100 mm, more particularly less than 70 mm, advantageously in the order of 60 mm, this distance D2 being, however, greater than a minimum functional value of 30 mm. Preferably, D2 is greater than 40 mm, more particularly 45 mm. Advantageously, this distance D2 is between 70 mm and 45 mm relative to said end wall 8 of the basin 1.

[0034] According to another feature of the invention, in this folded position 12, i.e. in the wound state of the curtain 4 around the winding shaft 13, the section S of the roller shutter 3 is located at a distance D3 less than or equal to 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm, relative to a platform 14 located horizontally above the winding tube 13 extending between the longitudinal walls 10, 11 of basin 1. This distance D3 is, however, greater than a minimum functional value of 30 mm. Preferably, this distance D3 corresponds to a functional value between 30 mm and 60 mm. Advantageously, it is on the order of 40 mm.

[0035] These distances D1, D2, D3 are determined with respect to a winding section S of the curtain 4 of the roller shutter 3 around the winding shaft 13. However, since this curtain 4 cannot be considered a fabric because it is composed of slats 5 of varying widths, articulated with each other, this winding section S can adopt a minimum value Sm or a maximum value SM, which can also take into account the deformation tolerance of the winding shaft 13. Such a winding shaft 13 usually having lengths of around 4m or even more, the deflection described in the central part can be several millimeters.

[0036] Also, according to the invention these distances D1, D2, D3 can be determined, as appropriate, in relation to a winding section S equal to a minimum value Sm or a maximum value SM, or even to a nominal value SN determined theoretically or corresponding to an average value (Sm+SM) / 2.

[0037] According to yet another feature of the invention, the platform 14 defines, with respect to the end wall 8, on the side of the basin 1 where the roller shutter 3 is installed, a slot 15 with a width 1 of less than 100 mm, preferably less than 80 mm, advantageously on the order of 70 mm. Through this slot 15, the curtain 4 of the roller shutter 3 is deployed. This slot 15 contributes to guiding the free end 16, opposite the end 17 fixed to the winding shaft 13, of this curtain 4 so that it can ascend along said end wall 8 until it reaches the surface of the water contained in the basin 1, and then extend progressively above this water surface from said end wall 8 towards the opposite end wall 9.

[0038] According to the invention, said platform 14 is defined by an inverted U-shaped beam 18 comprising an upper wall 19, preferably flat and horizontal, from whose longitudinal edges extend vertical wings 20, 21, a first wing 20 delimiting with said end wall 8 the slot 15 for the passage of the curtain 4 of the roller shutter 3, and an opposing wing 21. At least the lower end edge 22 of this opposing wing 21 maintains a distance D3 less than or equal to 150 mm, preferably less than or equal to 100 mm, from the winding section S of the roller shutter 3, the curtain 4 in the wound state. Preferably, this distance D3 corresponds to a functional value between 30 mm and 60 mm. Advantageously, it is on the order of 40 mm.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the first wing 20 has a height H1 greater than the height H2 of the opposite wing 21, having the advantage of increasing the guide height of the deck 4 through the slot 15, not to mention that it results in a better inertia to the deformation of this beam 18 defining the platform 14.

[0040] As for the width L of the beam 18 corresponding to this platform 14, it is at least equal to 150 mm. Preferably, it is at least equal to the rolled section S of the roller shutter 3.

[0041] Advantageously, this width L of the beam 18 is determined, taking into account the width 1 of the slot 15, so that the opposite vertical wing 21, on the side of the pool 1, is located at a distance D4 from the end wall 8 at least equal to the distance Dm separating the end wall 8 from the vertical longitudinal median plane P of the winding tube 13. The advantage of this feature is that a bather can only stand on the upper quarter 23 located on the side of the pool 1 of the rolled-up roller shutter 3. They will naturally slide towards the pool 1 and not between the rolled-up roller shutter 1 and the beam 18, under the lower edge of the opposite wing 21.

[0042] As for the length Lp of the beam 18 forming the platform 14, it will preferably be less than the width of the basin Lb between the longitudinal walls 10, 11 at the height of the end wall 8 corresponding to the side where the roller shutter 3 is located, in order to facilitate the installation of this beam 18. In particular, the length Lp of this beam 18 is equal to said width Lb less twice a functional clearance between this beam 18 and said longitudinal walls. This functional clearance j is advantageously less than 10 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 4 mm.

[0043] At its ends 24, this beam 18 is attached to the longitudinal walls 10, 11 by means of suitable fixing means 25 which can be directly associated with this beam 18. However, these fixing means 25 are advantageously defined by support brackets 26, for example in the form of a right angle, which can be attached to said longitudinal walls 10, 11, independently of the beam 18. The latter then fits into and / or rests on these support brackets 26 to be secured by suitable fastening means, such as screws and / or rivets.

[0044] It should be noted that the beam 18 forming the platform 14 can be designed in a tubular shape, more particularly in a rectangular parallelepiped section, without the invention being limited to such a profile shape.

[0045] According to the invention, at least the edges of this beam 18 at the longitudinal edges of the upper wall 19 and at the height of the lower end edge 22 of the opposite flange 21 have a radius of at least 1 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 2 mm to avoid any risk of cuts or injuries. Advantageously, each of the edges defined by this beam 18 are thus rounded.

[0046] The advantage arising from the present invention is that it provides a solution to all the problems of submerged roller shutter type covers. Not only does the design according to the invention eliminate the need to house this roller shutter in a dedicated compartment or casing, thus simplifying the overall design of a swimming pool, but it also greatly reduces the risk of dirt accumulation and makes removal easy.

Claims

1. Demands Basin, such as a swimming pool comprising at least one bottom (7), two end walls (8, 9) and two longitudinal walls (10, 11) and having a submerged deployable cover (2) of the roller shutter type (3) having a curtain (4) composed of a juxtaposition of slats (5) connected to each other in an articulated manner and a winding tube (13) to which one (17) of the ends of the curtain (4) of the roller shutter (3) is attached in order to wind around said winding tube (13) or to extend over the water contained in the basin (1), said winding tube (13) extending between the longitudinal walls (10, 11) near one (8) of the end walls (8, 9) and the bottom (7) of the basin (1), characterized in that, in the folded position (12) of the curtain (4), wound around winding tube (13), the section (S) of the roller shutter (3) is located: - at a distance (Dl) less than 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm from the bottom (7) of the basin (1); - at a distance (D2) less than 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm from said end wall (8) of the basin (1); - at a distance (D3) less than or equal to 150mm, preferably less than or equal to 100mm and greater than a minimum functional value of 30mm relative to a platform (14) installed horizontally above the winding tube (13) extending between the longitudinal walls (10, 11) of the basin (1); said platform (14): - defining, in relation to said end wall (8) of the basin (1), a slot (15) with a width (1) of less than 100 mm, preferably less than 80 mm; and - being defined by an inverted U-shaped structural beam (18) comprising an upper wall (19) on the longitudinal edges of which extend vertical wings (20, 21) of which a first wing (20) delimits with said end wall (8) the slot (15) for the passage of the curtain (4) of the roller shutter (3) and an opposite wing (21), at least the lower end edge (22) of this opposite wing (21) respects the distance (D3) with respect to the section (S) wrapped of the curtain (4) of the roller shutter (3) around the winding tube (13).

2. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to claim 1, characterized in that: • the distance (D1) is between 100mm and 45mm; • and / or the distance (D2) is less than 70mm and greater than 40mm; • and / or the distance (D3) corresponds to a functional value between 30mm and 60mm; • the slot (15) has a width (1) less than 80mm.

3. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first wing (20) has a height (H1) greater than the height (H2) of the opposite wing (21).

4. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width (L) of the beam (18) corresponding to the platform (14) is at least equal to 150mm.

5. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this width (L) of the beam (18) is determined, taking into account the width (1) of the slot (15), so that the opposite vertical wing (21) is located at a distance (D4) from the end wall (8) at least equal to the distance (Dm) separating the end wall (8) from the vertical longitudinal median plane (P) of the winding tube (13).

6. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beam (18) has a length (Lp) equal to the width of the basin (Lb) between the longitudinal walls (10, 11) at the height of the end wall (8) corresponding to the side where the roller shutter (3) is located, less twice a functional clearance (j) of less than 10 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 4 mm.

7. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beam (18) is attached at its ends (24) to the longitudinal walls (10, 11) by means of fixings (25).

8. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing means are defined by support brackets (26) on which the ends (24) of the beam (18) fit and / or rest to be secured therein by suitable fastening means, such as screws and / or rivets.

9. Basin, such as a swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the edges of the beam (18) at the level of the longitudinal edges of the upper wall (19) and at the height of the lower end edge (22) of the opposite wing (21) have a radius of at least 1mm, preferably greater than or equal to 2mm.

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