Simplified design automatic pool cover system

Abstract

Simplified Automatic Pool Cover System The invention relates to a cover system (10) for a pool (2) comprising a submerged winding axle (12) disposed near a first end (4a) of the pool, a floating apron (16) forming a pool cover capable of covering the pool in a closed position and winding around the winding axle in an open position, a submerged platform (18) positioned to partially cover the winding axle and the floating apron when wound, the platform comprising a rear end (18a) positioned near or against the first end of the pool,and a beam (20) mounted against a front end (18b) of the platform (18) and comprising a skirt (22) extending towards the floating deck (16) when it is rolled up, providing with the deck an opening (24) whose height (h1) is less than a predetermined value while allowing the passage of the floating deck between the open and closed positions of the basin. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Simplified design automatic pool cover system technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the general field of swimming pools. More particularly, it concerns an automatic cover system for a swimming pool. Prior art

[0002] To prevent any risk of drowning in the event of an accidental fall, for example by a child under five years old, swimming pools are generally equipped with a cover system. Such cover systems also prevent leaves or other debris from falling into the pool, as well as retaining the water's heat overnight and reducing water evaporation during the day.

[0003] Most often, these cover systems comprise a roller shutter consisting of a floating curtain in the form of a roller shutter made up of slats hinged to one another with or without operating clearance between each slat (forming a cover) which is adapted to roll up and down around a winding axis located near one end of the pool. The floating curtain is able to cover the pool between its two opposite ends in a closed position and to roll up around the winding axis in an open position.

[0004] The cover system, and in particular its winding axle, can be positioned outside the pool, near one end thereof, referred to as an above-ground cover. However, for aesthetic or practical reasons, it is possible to install the cover system directly in the pool basin or in a dedicated housing within the pool basin for the installation of the floating cover near one end thereof, referred to as an in-ground cover, which allows it to be concealed and avoids losing swimming space, particularly when it is in the open position within the pool.

[0005] In this case, the winding axle of the cover system is generally submerged and fixed transversely on either side of the pool basin. When in the open position of the pool, the floating cover wound around the winding axle is submerged.

[0006] A horizontal platform supported by beams is most often positioned above the winding axis (and the floating cover when wound around it in the open position of the pool) to allow pool users to to stand or sit on it. At its rear end, on the side of the end of the basin where the winding axis is fixed, the platform provides a horizontal opening with this end allowing the passage of the floating apron during its winding and unwinding.

[0007] Furthermore, a vertical partition wall, located at the front of the platform, separates the cover system from the pool itself. The vertical partition wall and the horizontal platform thus form a box covering the winding axle to protect it, particularly when the floating cover is wound around it in the open position of the pool. Such an arrangement is typically implemented for aesthetic reasons (by concealing the winding axle and the floating cover when it is wound around the axle) but also for safety reasons.

[0008] Indeed, the cover system must comply with safety standards, for example, the NF P90-308 standard defined by AFNOR (French Standardization Association). According to these safety standards, access to the cover system mechanisms must be protected. In particular, the vertical wall and a platform forming the housing are arranged to limit access to the winding axle. The NF P90-308 standard specifies more specifically that the horizontal opening allowing the passage of the floating cover between the rear of the platform and the end of the pool must have a maximum width less than a predetermined value (for example, 80 mm according to the NF P90-308 standard published in 2013).

[0009] However, when the basin includes rounded corners or a cut-off plane or any other shape creating a reduction in the width of the basin on the end side where the winding axis is fixed, the maximum width constraint of the opening between the back of the platform and the end of the basin may no longer be met by a cover system as described above.

[0010] To remedy this problem, an automatic cover system meeting safety standards and particularly suited to a swimming pool with a reduced width at the end where the winding axle is fixed is known from French publication FR 3,127,003. This cover system differs from the one previously described, notably in that the opening allowing the passage of the floating cover is located at the front of the platform, and not at the rear. Description of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to provide an automatic cover system which has a simplified design compared to existing systems while being able to meet safety standards such as NF P90-308.

[0012] In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved by means of a pool cover system comprising two opposite ends delimiting a length of the pool, two opposite side walls and a bottom, the system comprising: - a submerged winding axis which is positioned near one end of the basin and at a predetermined height from the bottom of the basin, - a floating apron forming a basin cover which is capable of covering the basin between its two ends in a closed position of the basin and of winding around the winding axis in an open position of the basin, - a platform which is submerged and positioned to partially cover the winding axis and the floating apron when wound in the open position of the basin, the platform comprising a rear end positioned near or against the first end of the basin, and a front end opposite the rear end, and - a beam mounted against the front end of the platform and comprising a skirt extending towards the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin, providing with the floating deck an opening whose height is less than a predetermined value while allowing the passage of the floating deck between the open and closed positions of the basin.

[0013] The cover system according to the invention is remarkable in that it is devoid of any separating wall with the pool, and in particular of a vertical separating wall between the floating cover when it is wound on the winding axis and the pool, while still being able to comply with current safety standards. Its design is thus greatly simplified.

[0014] The height of the opening between the skirt of the beam and the floating deck can be less than 150mm, and preferably strictly less than 100mm, corresponding to the value set by standard NF P90-308 January 2023 edition.

[0015] In addition, the winding axis is advantageously positioned at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the basin, allowing a space between the bottom of the basin and the floating deck, when wound in the open position of the basin, whose height is less than a predetermined value.

[0016] In this case, the height of the space between the bottom of the basin and the floating apron when rolled up in the open position of the basin can be less than 150mm, and preferably strictly less than 100mm, corresponding to the value set by standard NF P90-308 January 2023 edition.

[0017] The bottom of the basin can be a wall or a beam installed under the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin. It can also be a wall forming part of the basin as well as a difference in level of the bottom of the basin.

[0018] The rear end of the platform can be positioned without support against the first end of the pool, which facilitates the installation of the cover system in a swimming pool without the need to provide support at the first end of the pool or to install a beam or any other support system for the rear end of the platform against the first end of the pool. This feature of the platform also allows the cover system according to the invention to adapt to pools with a reduction in width at its first end without specific means beyond its nominal length necessary to cover the floating cover wound around the winding axis in the open position of the pool.In this case, if necessary, a support system, integrated into the basin or installed on the first end of the basin or between the two side walls of the basin, can be provided to support the rear end of the platform.

[0019] Preferably, the system further comprises at least one guide piece attached to the beam and extending from a lower part of the beam towards the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

[0020] Preferably also, the skirt of the beam has a rounded shape or a straight slope in its lower part opposite the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

[0021] The platform and the beam can be positioned so as to extend longitudinally beyond the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

[0022] Preferably, the winding axis and the beam are mounted between two flanges which are fixed against the two opposite side walls of the basin.

[0023] Alternatively, the winding axis and the beam can advantageously be mounted directly against the two opposite side walls of the basin which are pre-equipped with mechanical interfaces.

[0024] The floating deck may comprise a plurality of articulated blades. In this case, the blades of the floating deck advantageously form an articulation angle between two adjacent blades of no more than 60° in both directions. Furthermore, a plurality of blades of the floating deck, having a limited maximum rotation between each, may be able to create a polygonal shape having an inscribed diameter of at least 100 mm.

[0025] The invention also relates to a swimming pool comprising a basin and a cover system for the basin as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a covering system according to the invention installed in a swimming pool basin.

[0027] [Fig.2] Fig.2 represents in side view the cover system of [Fig.1] in the open position of the basin.

[0028] [Fig. 3] to [Fig. 7] Figures 3 to 7 show a side view of the cover system of Figures 1 and 2 in different stages of basin closure. Description of embodiments

[0029] The invention applies to the automatic covering by a floating apron of a swimming pool basin 2 as partially represented in [Fig.1] and comprising: two opposite ends 4a, 4b which delimit a length of the basin (only a first end 4a is represented in [Fig.1]), two opposite side walls 6a, 6b, and a bottom 8.

[0030] The cover system 10 according to the invention includes, in particular, a winding shaft 12 which is disposed near the first end 4a of the basin and driven in rotation by a motor (not shown). This winding shaft is submerged inside the basin, positioned at a predetermined height from the bottom 8 of the basin.

[0031] More specifically, the winding axis 12 is in the form of a tube having a horizontal rotation angle XX and whose two ends are mounted on flanges 14 which are themselves fixed against the two opposite lateral walls 6a, 6b of the basin at its first end 4a. These flanges 14 can be monobloc to hold the winding axis 12 and the beam together or unitary to hold the winding axis and the beam separately. The cover system 10 according to the invention also includes a floating apron 16 forming a basin cover. More precisely, this floating apron 16 is dimensioned according to the width and length of the basin 2 so that it can be deployed on the surface of the water to cover the basin between its two opposite ends 4a, 4b in a closed position of the basin (case of [Fig.7]), and to wrap around the winding axis 12 in an open position of the pelvis (case of figures 1 and 2). .

[0032] In a known manner, the floating deck 16 consists in particular of a plurality of floating unit blades or a plurality of sets of floating solid blades 16a which are assembled to each other.

[0033] Preferably, the blades 16a of the floating deck 16 are articulated with each other so as to form an articulation angle between two adjacent blades of at most 60° in both directions.

[0034] Preferably also, the blades 16a of the floating deck 16 have a limited maximum rotation between each of them so as to create a polygonal shape having an inscribed diameter 34 of at least 100 mm. This advantageous arrangement is described below in connection with [Fig. 6].

[0035] According to the invention, the cover system 10 further includes a platform 18 which is submerged and positioned to partially cover the winding axis 12 and the floating apron 16 when it is wound in the open position of the basin (case of [Fig.2]).

[0036] The platform 18 is, for example, a grating or a floor allowing pool users to stand or sit on it. It comprises a rear end 18a which is positioned near or against the first end 4a of the pool, and a front end 18b which is opposite the rear end.

[0037] It will be noted in particular that the rear end 18a of the platform 18 can be positioned without support directly near or against the first end 4a of the basin, without the need to leave a space for the passage of the floating deck.

[0038] The cover system 10 according to the invention further comprises a single beam 20 which is mounted against the front end 18b of the platform 18 and which includes a skirt 22 extending towards the floating deck 16 when rolled up in the open position of the basin.

[0039] In its preferred embodiment, the beam 20 is obtained by an aluminum extrusion process. However, without prejudice to the features of the invention, this beam can also be obtained by the same extrusion process but from other materials (such as metals or plastics for example), as well as by any other process that can make it possible to obtain such a beam (such as coextrusion, pultrusion, cold profiling, rotomolding, metal fabrication or molding).

[0040] To optimize the beam's performance, it is not necessarily a single piece but may be made up of an assembly (removable or not) of several parts and materials. For example, the skirt could be made from PTFE injection-molded parts to improve the deck's sliding action, assembled in a removable manner onto a composite material profile serving as an interface. This profile would itself be riveted, in a non-removable manner, onto a thick steel sheet for the structural part, in order to reduce the beam's cost.

[0041] This beam 20 is mounted between the two flanges 14 which are fixed against the two opposite side walls of the basin and between which the winding axis 12 is also mounted.

[0042] In another embodiment not shown in the figures, the beam and the winding axis are mounted directly between the side walls of the basin which are for this purpose pre-equipped with mechanical interfaces, namely either by sealing parts, or by the realization of a particular structure of the walls of the basin (metal or composite basins) without the flanges.

[0043] Preferably, the skirt 22 of the beam has a rounded shape or a straight slope in its lower part opposite the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin. This shape facilitates the unrolling and passage of the floating deck.

[0044] Moreover, as shown more precisely in [Fig.2], the skirt 22 of the beam provides with the floating deck 16 (in the position wound around the winding axis corresponding to the open position of the basin) an opening (symbolized by the cylinder 24 in [Fig.2]) whose height h 1 (corresponding to the diameter of the cylinder 24) is less than a predetermined value (typically equal to 150mm, and preferably strictly less than 100mm) while allowing the passage of the floating deck between the open and closed positions of the basin.

[0045] In order to comply with the latest safety standards, the height h1 of this opening 24 between the skirt 22 of the beam and the floating apron 16 is preferably less than 100 mm. Such a value for the height hl is sufficient to allow the passage of the floating apron 16 while preventing a swimmer from getting a limb caught in it.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in [Fig.2], the winding axis 12 is advantageously positioned at a predetermined distance from the bottom 8 of the basin so as to allow a space to be left between the bottom of the basin and the floating deck 16 (when wound up in the open position of the basin), the height h2 of which is less than a predetermined value (typically equal to 150mm, and preferably strictly less than 100mm).

[0047] Here too, in order to comply with the latest safety standards, the height h2 is preferably less than 100mm, which prevents a swimmer from getting a limb stuck in this space.

[0048] In the event that the winding axis is installed at a distance greater than the predetermined distance allowing a height h2 to be less than 150mm, a partition can be made or installed under the floating apron when it is wound in the open position of the pool in order to ensure that the height h2 is less than the predetermined value.

[0049] It will be noted that with such an arrangement of the elements of the cover system according to the invention, the opening allowing the passage of the floating deck is located on the front side of the platform, and not at the rear of it, which makes it possible to install the cover system in basins having a reduction in their width on the side of the end at the level of which the winding axis is fixed by extending the platform towards this end of the basin.

[0050] For a platform whose length is increased beyond its nominal length required to cover the floating deck when rolled up in the open position of the basin, the rear end 18a of the platform can also be supported by a specially arranged part in the area of ​​the first end of the basin or by at least one support installed on this wall or the side walls in this area.

[0051] It should also be noted that, because the opening allowing the passage of the floating deck is located at the front of the platform and thanks to values ​​for the heights hl and h2 which comply with the recommendations of the safety standards, it is not necessary to position any separation wall to separate the cover system from the basin itself.

[0052] It will also be noted that, as will be described in more detail below, the direction of rotation F of the unwinding of the floating deck from the open position of the basin to the closed position of the basin is clockwise.

[0053] It should also be noted that the platform and the beam could be positioned so as to extend longitudinally beyond the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

[0054] According to an advantageous arrangement, the cover system 10 may further comprise one or more guide pieces 26 which are fixed to the beam 20 and extend from a lower part thereof towards the floating deck 16 (when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin). These guide pieces 26 may be regularly spaced from each other and allow the floating deck to be guided during its unrolling in the direction of rotation F to move from the open position of the basin to the closed position of the basin and to support all or part of the grating and the permissible loads on this grating.

[0055] In the case of a long guide piece or in the case of an arrangement of a plurality of guide pieces capable of extending from one lateral wall of the basin to the other, these guide pieces can advantageously form the platform of the invention in order to simplify its design. Such pieces can be obtained by the rotational molding process.

[0056] With reference to Figures 2 to 7, various stages of the automatic pool closure kinematics using the cover system according to the invention will now be described. Naturally, the pool opening kinematics are similar to the closing kinematics (in reverse).

[0057] When the basin is opened, the end of the rotation drive motor of the winding shaft 12 is set so that the free end 28 of the floating apron 16 (corresponding to the last blade thereof) stops behind the skirt 22 of the beam 20 (see [Fig.2]).

[0058] In this position of the floating deck corresponding to the open position of the basin, it should be noted that the opening 24, whose height is less than a predetermined value, is clearly delimited between the skirt 22 of the beam and the portion of the floating deck 16 that is wound around the winding axis in the open position of the basin. Of course, With a different limit switch setting for the drive motor rotating the winding shaft, the free end of the floating curtain could be positioned directly above the beam skirt (and therefore resting against its lower part). In this case, the opening, whose height is less than a predetermined value, would then be defined between the free end of the floating curtain under the beam skirt and the portion of the floating curtain that is wound around the winding shaft, without altering the principle of the invention.

[0059] To improve the sliding of the deck during its winding and unwinding phases, the skirt and the front part of the beam may include a coating or at least an interface piece having advantageous specific physical properties or geometry. In this case, the opening 24 will be located between this coating or interface piece and the portion of the floating deck 16 that is wound around the winding axis in the open position of the basin.

[0060] When the basin closing maneuver is activated, the winding shaft drive motor is triggered to rotate the winding shaft in the direction of rotation shown schematically on [Fig.3] by arrow F so as to unroll the floating apron 16.

[0061] As long as there are not enough slats of the floating deck in front of the beam, the floating deck continues to float under the lower part of the beam skirt and to rub against it. Once a certain number of slats of the floating deck are in front of the beam, the floating deck is pulled upwards by the buoyancy of the first slats, and the floating deck no longer rubs under the lower part of the skirt but is under tension between the floating deck wound on the winding axis and the lower front corner of the beam, between the lower skirt and the front part of the beam.

[0062] As shown in [Fig. 4], the first slats of the floating deck reach the surface of the water. In a known manner, the first two slats of the floating deck are connected by a retaining piece (not shown) which allows the deck to be oriented in the correct direction. The floating deck 16 then begins to unfold on the surface of the water in the basin towards its far end.

[0063] On [Fig.5], the free end 28 of the floating deck 16 then comes to rest against the second end 4b of the basin and continues to unwind from the winding axis.

[0064] It should be noted at this stage that the portion of the floating deck which is always wound around the winding axis is not necessarily composed of floating blades but potentially of winding straps 30 which connect the blades of the floating deck to the winding axis depending on the immersion depth of the winding axis and the distance between the front face of the beam and the first end of the basin.

[0065] As shown in [Fig. 6], the free end 28 of the floating deck being in abutment against the second end 4b of the basin, the other end 32 of the floating deck unfolds over the platform 18, forming between the deck blades a radius inscribed in a cylinder 34 of at least 100mm in diameter.

[0066] In [Fig. 7], the floating deck 16 is fully deployed with its end 32 abutting the first end 4a of the basin, at which point the cover system is installed. This position of the floating deck corresponds to the closed position of the basin.

[0067] It will be noted that, in this position, the winding straps 30 are positioned between the end 32 of the floating apron and the winding axis 12 without necessarily being under tension.

[0068] In this closed position of the basin, the two ends 28, 32 of the floating deck can then be attached to the respective ends 4a, 4b of the basin to secure it.

Claims

Demands

1. A cover system (10) for a swimming pool basin (2) comprising two opposite ends (4a, 4b) delimiting a length of the basin, two opposite side walls (6a, 6b) and a bottom (8), the system comprising: - a submerged winding axle (12) which is disposed near a first end (4a) of the basin and positioned at a predetermined height from the bottom of the basin, - a floating apron (16) forming a basin cover which is capable of covering the basin between its two ends (4a, 4b) in a closed position of the basin and of winding around the winding axle (12) in an open position of the basin, - a platform (18) which is submerged and positioned to partially cover the winding axle and the floating apron when wound in the open position of the basin, the platform comprising a rear end (18a) positioned near or against the first end (4a) of the basin,and a front end (18b) opposite the rear end, and - a beam (20) mounted against the front end (18b) of the platform (18) and comprising a skirt (22) extending towards the floating deck (16) when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin, providing with the floating deck an opening (24) whose height (hl) is less than a predetermined value while allowing the passage of the floating deck between the open and closed positions of the basin.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the height (hl) of the opening (24) between the skirt (22) of the beam and the floating deck (16) is less than 150mm.

3. System according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the winding axis (12) is positioned at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the basin allowing to leave between the bottom (8) of the basin and the floating deck (16) when wound in the open position of the basin, a space whose height (h2) is less than a predetermined value.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the height (h2) of the space between the bottom of the basin and the floating apron when rolled up in the open position of the basin is less than 150mm.

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein it lacks a vertical separating wall in front of the floating deck when rolled up in the open position of the basin.

6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bottom (8) of the basin is a wall or beam installed under the floating deck when rolled up in the open position of the basin.

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rear end (18a) of the platform (18) is positioned without support against the first end (4a) of the basin.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising at least one guide piece (26) integral with the beam (20) and extending from a lower part of the beam towards the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the skirt (22) of the beam has a rounded shape in its lower part opposite the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

10. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the platform (18) and the beam (20) are positioned so as to extend longitudinally beyond the floating deck when it is rolled up in the open position of the basin.

11. System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the winding axis (12) and the beam (20) are mounted between two flanges (14) which are fixed against the two opposite side walls (6a, 6b) of the basin.

12. System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the winding axis (12) and the beam (20) are mounted directly against the two opposite side walls (6a, 6b) of the basin which are pre-equipped with mechanical interfaces.

13. System according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the floating deck (16) comprises a plurality of hinged blades (16a).

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the joints between the blades (16a) of the floating deck form a joint angle between two adjacent blades of at most 60° in both directions.

15. System according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein a plurality of blades (16a) of the floating deck having a limited maximum rotation between each, are capable of creating a polygonal shape having an inscribed diameter of at least 100mm.

16. Swimming pool comprising a basin (2) and a cover system (10) for the basin according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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