WINDING AND UNWINDING DEVICE FOR A SOFT POOL COVER
A central tubular bar with wheels and a freewheeling mechanism addresses the bulkiness and storage issues of existing pool cover devices, providing a compact, easy-to-use solution for winding and unwinding flexible pool covers.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023013048
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-11-24
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR WINDING AND UNWINDING A FLEXIBLE POOL COVER technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for rolling and unrolling a flexible pool cover. Flexible covers allow a pool to be covered when not in use, while preventing objects and debris such as dead leaves from falling into it. EARLIER ART
[0002] Pool covers prevent objects or people from falling into a pool when it is not in use. These covers are advantageously flexible, with a fabric body reinforced by crossbars. Flexible covers are compact when rolled up, less expensive than rigid structures with shutters, and can, in particular, be rolled up and down using low-power electric motors.
[0003] Rail systems are known, into which rigidifying crossbars for pool covers, or even sections of a shutter forming a rigid cover, slide. A motorized roller, located at one end of the pool, rolls and unrolls the cover. These rail systems are expensive and bulky.
[0004] An alternative known method is the use of pull straps that replace the rails at a lower cost, but these straps must be stretched over the pelvis or integrated into its structure. The soft cover is then more difficult to remove completely.
[0005] Document FR3084095 describes a rail-less and pull-back strap-free device with a mobile roller equipped with wheels, which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the devices described above. The device of FR3084095 comprises a structure spanning the pool to be covered, and wheels enabling the device to follow the front of the cover during its winding or unwinding.
[0006] The wheels and the shaft around which the cover is wound are synchronized in rotation, and driven by a single motor.
[0007] The FR3084095 device is, however, heavy and difficult to handle due to the presence of two follower assemblies on each side, each with wheels and a drive mechanism. For storage, it must be at least partially disassembled; otherwise, it can only be lifted with difficulty.
[0008] During storage, said device also takes up a significant amount of space.
[0009] There is therefore a need for a winding and unwinding device A flexible pool cover that is compact, lightweight, and easy to handle. This cover should also be simple to use and store, without taking up too much space when stored.
[0010] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] To this end, the invention proposes a device for winding and unwinding a flexible pool cover over said pool, comprising: - a central tubular bar, configured to be attached to a flexible pool cover, at one free end of said flexible cover, - two wheels, located on either side of the central tubular bar.
[0012] The two wheels span the basin. The device is characterized in that each wheel has a mechanical connector to the central bar, at least one of which passes through one of the two wheels and forms a power take-off for a mobile device to assist in winding the cover, allowing, when such a mobile device to assist in winding is engaged with the mechanical connector, the central tubular bar to be rotated to wind or unwind the flexible cover around said central tubular bar.
[0013] The device further includes a freewheeling mechanism between the central bar and each of the wheels, configured to decouple the rotation of said wheels and the rotation of the central bar in the direction of winding the cover and to couple the rotation of the central bar and the wheels in the direction of unwinding.
[0014] The device thus obtained is compact, lightweight and easy to use. Said device may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.
[0015] The mechanical connector can be a central shaft configured to be attached to the central tubular bar, which is rotationally fixed to said central tubular bar when attached.
[0016] The wheels can be removable and the central tubular bar can form a crossbar stiffening the cover once the wheels are removed.
[0017] Alternatively, the central tubular bar may have a removable connection to the soft cover, so as to be able to detach the winding and unwinding device as a whole from the soft cover and allow its removal once the soft cover has been unrolled over the pool.
[0018] Alternatively, the wheels may include a connection to the central tubular bar with a pivot joint with a longitudinal axis, which can be locked with the wheels in the rolling position, so that the central tubular bar can be placed on the ground once the pivot joint is released and the wheels are tilted.
[0019] In particular, the wheels can be connected to a central shaft forming a mechanical connector that can be inserted into the central bar and carries the pivot joint, the central shaft being mobile in translation relative to the central tubular bar between a position in which the pivot joint is inserted into the central tubular bar and locked, and a position in which the pivot joint is out of the central tubular bar and released.
[0020] Alternatively, the central shafts of the two wheels can be connected to each other by a pre-stressed flexible elastic which, when the central shafts are aligned with the central tubular bar, brings the two central shafts together and keeps them inserted in said central tubular bar.
[0021] The power take-off of the mechanical connector may have a lateral recess on at least one of the outer sides of the wheels, configured to receive a protrusion of complementary shape of the movable winding aid device.
[0022] Said lateral withdrawal may in particular be polygonal in shape.
[0023] Finally, the invention also relates to a pool cover and roller assembly, comprising: - a soft cover, - a motorized mobile device to assist in winding the cover, having a power take-off by which it is configured to exert torque for winding or unwinding the flexible cover, characterized in that it comprises a winding and unwinding device as previously described, the power take-off of which is configured to engage with the power take-off of the motorized mobile device for assisting in winding the cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0024] The present invention will be better understood upon reading the description of the figures, among which:
[0025] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of a cover and a first embodiment of the invention with the wheels in place,
[0026] [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of the cover and embodiment of [Fig.1] with the wheels removed,
[0027] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of the wheels in the preceding figures,
[0028] [Fig.4] is a partial perspective view of a cover and a second mode of implementing the invention with the wheels in the raised position,
[0029] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation of the wheels and their mechanical connector of the embodiment of [Fig.4],
[0030] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation of the wheels of an alternative embodiment to [Fig.4] in the engaged position,
[0031] [Fig.7] is a schematic representation of the wheels of an alternative embodiment to [Fig.4] in the unobstructed position.
[0032] The embodiments shown are given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples. Other embodiments may be derived from these by combination and variation. These embodiments are, of course, included within the scope of the invention.
[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0034] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly 100 consisting of a cover 200, a motorized mobile device 300 to assist in rolling up the cover 200, and a device for rolling and unrolling the cover 200 over a swimming pool (not shown).
[0035] The winding / unwinding movement is performed in the longitudinal direction. Gravity provides a vertical direction (considering the edge of the pool to be flat and horizontal). The third direction is considered transverse.
[0036] The winding and unwinding device 10 essentially comprises: - a central tubular bar 1, hollow at least at its ends, and - two wheels 3, located on either side of the central tubular bar.
[0037] Figure 2 shows the assembly 100 with the wheels 3 detached from the tubular bar central 1, and arranged next to the mobile device 300.
[0038] In this particular embodiment, the central tubular bar 1 is a transverse bar of the cover 200, and can thus be left in place once the cover 200 has been unrolled. The wheels 3 can be removed for this purpose.
[0039] According to a different embodiment, not shown, the central tubular bar 1 is connected to the cover 200 by means of straps, which pass through slots in the central tubular bar 1, thus forming a removable connection. The winding and unwinding device 10 as a whole can then be removed from the cover 200 once the latter is in place.
[0040] Alternatively, hooks on the central tubular bar 1 can engage with the straps or eyelets directly on the cover 200.
[0041] The other end of the cover 200 is fixed, for example, to eyelets or hooks attached to the edge of the pool.
[0042] The wheels 3, shown separately in [Fig. 3], comprise a mechanical connector 31 to the central tubular bar 1, here a central shaft removably inserted into the central tubular bar 1, which drives the central tubular bar 1 in rotation when it is itself rotated. The wheels 3 also comprise a wheel body 33, circular in shape, which bears against the ground. The wheel body 3 may, in particular, be provided with a skirt made of a rubber-like material forming a tire or at least a high-friction skirt.
[0043] Alternatively, the central shaft can be attached to the central tubular bar 1, for example by forming a housing for one end of said central tubular bar 1, by pinching or being screwed to the central tubular bar 1, or by presenting a screw, pin or ratchet connection.
[0044] The central shaft forming mechanical connector 31 is for example circular in shape, with a notch or protrusion engaging with a corresponding protrusion or notch of the central tubular bar 1. Alternatively, the central shaft may be polygonal, square or hexagonal in particular, to lock the central shaft and the central tubular bar 1 in rotation.
[0045] The wheel on the right in [Fig. 3] has on its outer radial face a notch forming a power take-off 35, which is square or more generally polygonal in shape. The polygonal recess 35 cooperates with a correspondingly shaped protrusion of the moving device 300, which transmits torque to the central tubular bar 1 via the polygonal recess. To accomplish this, a shaft passes through the wheel 3, connecting the power take-off 35 to the mechanical connector 31, thus transmitting the actuation of the moving device 300 to the central tubular bar 1.
[0046] The mobile device 300 is here an electric device, provided with a handle 301 and a handle 303, which allow the user to engage said mobile device 300 with the power take-off 35 without bending down, while following the winding of the cover 200. Other types of mobile devices 300 are however conceivable, for example a device with its own wheels, in particular free wheels rotating under the effect of drive by the wheels 3 in power take-off.
[0047] Alternatively, the mobile device 300 can be driven by the user's force, with a crank system whose actuation is multiplied and transmitted to the power take-off 35.
[0048] A freewheeling mechanism 5 is disposed between the mechanical connectors 31 and the wheel body 33, decoupling the rotation of the wheels 3 and the central bar 1 in the direction of winding the cover 200, and coupling the rotation of the central bar 1 and the wheels 3 in the direction of unwinding the cover 200.
[0049] Thus, in the winding direction, the central tubular bar 1 is driven by the mobile device 300. The cover 200 winds around said central tubular bar 1, while driving the assembly formed by the mobile device 300 and the winding and unwinding device 10. The wheels being then free, the winding and unwinding device 10 is synchronized with the winding of the cover 200.
[0050] In the unwinding direction, the wheels 3, driven by the central tubular bar 1, slip due to the smaller diameter of the wound cover reel 200. The wheels 3 are then driven, and by virtue of their slippage, maintain the cover 200 under tension during its unwinding.
[0051] Thus, the wheels 3 can be driven during unwinding, while during winding they are in frictionless rolling mode. Wear on the parts is therefore reduced.
[0052] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, the wheels 3 can be tilted around a longitudinal axis, so that, once the wheels 3 are tilted with their tops towards the inside of the cover 200, the central tubular bar 1, and therefore the free end of the cover 200, can be placed on the ground in order to completely close the pool.
[0053] Fig. 5 shows separately the wheels 3 of Fig. 4, with their mechanical connectors 31 out of the central tubular bar 1.
[0054] Said mechanical connectors 31 have a pivot joint 37 in the middle of a central shaft, inserted at least partially into the central tubular bar 1. The pivot joint 37 can be locked with the wheels 3 in a rolling position, i.e., with the wheels vertical. The pivot joint 37 allows the wheels 3 to be tilted about a longitudinal axis to allow the central tubular bar 1 to be placed on the ground.
[0055] In the embodiment shown, the central shaft carrying the pivot joint 37 is free to move transversely within the central tubular bar 1. In particular, the central shaft can be inserted until the pivot joint 37 is inserted into the central tubular bar 1 and thus locked. By removing the central shaft from the central tubular bar 1, the pivot joint 37 is then released, which allows the wheels 3 to be tilted.
[0056] Due to the presence of the freewheeling mechanism 5, the pivot joint 37 can rotate freely in one direction, thus ensuring that the axis of said pivot joint 37 can be aligned with the longitudinal direction. If friction is sufficiently low, this alignment will occur spontaneously in most cases once the pivot joint 37 is released.
[0057] Figures 6 and 7 show a third embodiment, derived from the previous one.
[0058] In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the wheels 3 are connected at the level of the end of their mechanical connector 31, which is in the form of a rigid central shaft, by an elastic 7.
[0059] The elastic band 7 is flexible and pre-stressed. The elastic band 7 pulls the wheels 3 from each other towards the middle of the central tubular bar 1.
[0060] In [Fig. 6], the central shaft forming the mechanical connector 31 is inserted into the central tubular bar 1 and the elastic band 7 is in its state of least deformation. In [Fig. 7], the central shafts forming the mechanical connectors 31 are removed from the central tubular bar 1 by pulling them out by the user.
[0061] When the central shafts forming mechanical connectors 31 are removed, the wheels 3 can tilt freely due to the flexibility of the elastic band 7. Under its own weight, the central tubular bar 1 will then come to rest on the ground. To return the wheels 3 to the rolling position, the user simply aligns the central shafts forming mechanical connectors 31 and the central tubular bar 1. The force The restoring force exerted by the elastic 7 will then pull the central shafts towards each other and thus stabilize the wheels 3 in the rolling position.
[0062] The device of the invention reduces the size of the winding and unwinding mechanism for the flexible cover 200, while being simple to use and manufacture. It is also compact, adapts to any pre-existing pool, and can be easily stored in a covered space such as a shed or technical room, either with the flexible cover 200 rolled up or by leaving it in place once unrolled.
Claims
Demands
1. A device for winding and unwinding a flexible pool cover (200) over said pool, comprising: - a central tubular bar (1), configured to be attached to a flexible pool cover (200), at a free end of said flexible cover (200), - two wheels (3), located on either side of the central tubular bar (1), characterized in that each of the wheels (3) has a mechanical connector (31) to the central bar, at least one of which passes through one of the two wheels (3) and forms a power take-off for a mobile device (300) to assist in winding the cover, allowing, when such mobile device (300) to assist in winding is engaged with the mechanical connector (31), the central tubular bar (1) to be rotated to wind or unwind the flexible cover (200) around said central tubular bar (1),and a freewheeling mechanism (5) between the central tubular bar (1) and each of the wheels (3), configured to decouple the rotation of said wheels (3) and the rotation of the central tubular bar (1) in the direction of winding the flexible cover (200) and to couple the rotation of the central tubular bar (1) and the wheels (3) in the direction of unwinding the flexible cover (200).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical connector (31) is a central shaft configured to be attached to the central tubular bar (1) which is rotationally fixed to said central tubular bar (1) when attached thereto.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wheels are removable and in that the central tubular bar (10) forms a transverse stiffening bar of the cover (200) once the wheels (3) are removed.
4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular bar (1) has a removable connection to the flexible cover (200), so as to be able to detach the winding and unwinding device (10) as a whole from the flexible cover (200) and allow its removal once the flexible cover (200) has been unrolled over the pool.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wheels (3) include a connection to the central tubular bar (1) with a pivot connection (37) with longitudinal axis, which can be locked with the wheels (3) in rolling position, so that the central tubular bar (1) can be placed on the ground once the pivot connection (37) is released.
6. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wheels are connected to a central shaft forming a mechanical connector (31) insertable into the central bar and carrying the pivot link (37), the central shaft being movable in translation relative to the central tubular bar (37) between a position in which the pivot link (37) is inserted into the central tubular bar (1) and blocked, and a position in which the pivot link (37) is out of the central tubular bar (1) and released.
7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the central shafts of the two wheels are connected to each other by a prestressed flexible elastic (7) which, when the central shafts are aligned with the central tubular bar (1), brings the two central shafts together and keeps them inserted in said central tubular bar (1).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power take-off (35) of the mechanical connector (31) has a lateral recess on at least one of the outer sides of the wheels (3), configured to receive a protrusion of complementary shape of the movable winding aid device (300).
9. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral withdrawal is polygonal in shape.
10. Pool cover and winder assembly, comprising: - a flexible cover (200), - a motorized mobile device (300) for winding the cover (200), having a power take-off by which it is configured to exert a torque for winding or unwinding the flexible cover (200), characterized in that it comprises a winding and unwinding device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, the power take-off (35) of which is configured to engage with the power take-off of the mobile device (300) for winding the cover (200).