Play pool

Abstract

We provide highly practical recreational pools. [Solution] A play pool 10 for storing water is constructed including a bottom sheet 14 and an annular side wall 16 integrally provided on the bottom sheet and inflated with air. The play pool 10 has an opening 18 formed by a slit in the side wall, and is equipped with a weir-forming body 20 positioned to lift the opening together with the bottom sheet in order to dam the stored water. By removing the weir-forming body, the stored water can be discharged from the opening. With this simple structure, water can be stored in the pool during play and discharged from the pool when it is time to drain it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pool for water play.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an air-injected play pool has been used as a play equipment for children to play in water. As such a play pool, for example, there is a play pool as described in the following patent document. In that play pool, a drain hole is provided in the bottom sheet in consideration of the convenience when draining the water in the pool.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The play pool described in the above patent document is configured to deploy a drain pipe connected to the drain hole when draining water, but it is necessary to keep the drain pipe folded during play. Also, in order to ensure drainage from the drain pipe, pillows are required on both sides of the drain hole in the bottom sheet. That is, the above play pool has a complicated structure related to drainage, and it is possible to improve the practicality of the play pool by devising a structure for discharging water. This invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a highly practical play pool.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the play pool of this invention is A play pool for storing water, comprising a bottom sheet and an annular side wall provided integrally with the bottom sheet and inflated with air, The container has an opening formed by a cut in the side wall, and is equipped with a weir-forming body positioned to lift the opening together with the bottom sheet in order to dam the stored water, and is configured so that the stored water can be discharged from the opening by removing the weir-forming body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The play pool of this invention is configured to retain water within the pool by lifting the opening together with the bottom sheet using the weir-forming body, and to discharge the water from the pool by removing the weir-forming body. In other words, with a simple structure, water can be stored in the pool during play and discharged from the pool when it is time to drain it. Embodiment of the invention

[0007] In the recreational pool of this invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "this pool"), the "bottom sheet" and "side walls" are not particularly limited in terms of material, but considering storage when not in use, it is desirable that they be made of a material with a certain degree of flexibility, such as vinyl, rubber, or tarpaulin. On the other hand, it is desirable that the "weir-forming body" does not deform easily, and it is acceptable that it be molded from a material with a certain degree of strength, such as metal or hard resin.

[0008] While water can be retained in the pool by blocking the opening from the outside, this requires that the blockage be held in place to prevent water leakage. In contrast, this pool retains water by lifting the opening along with the bottom sheet, thus ensuring retention as long as the weir-forming structure does not move. It is desirable that the height to which the opening is lifted by the weir-forming structure exceeds the water level to be stored in the pool. Incidentally, there are no particular limitations on the width of the opening, but it is desirable that it be greater than the height of the side wall in order to quickly drain water from the pool.

[0009] The shape of the opening is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to form the opening to have a "water conduit" and to lift the water conduit with a weir-forming body. Specifically, a pair of extensions are provided on both sides of the cut in the side wall, formed integrally with the side wall and extending outwards from the pool, and a part of the bottom sheet is made to extend below these extensions, and the water conduit is formed by this part and the pair of extensions of the side wall. In other words, the space between the pair of extensions of the side wall should function as a water conduit.

[0010] It is desirable that the weir-forming structure be provided with an inclined surface, and that the inclined surface be positioned so as to be in contact with the bottom sheet and so as to slope downward toward the center of the pool. By positioning the weir-forming structure in this manner, it can be easily removed when draining water. It is also desirable that the inclined surface slopes downward toward the surface on which the pool is installed (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "installation surface").

[0011] As will be explained in more detail later, in order to prevent the weir formation from easily moving, and to press it against the mounting surface using the water pressure of the water stored in the pool, it is desirable that the angle between the inclined surface and the mounting surface be as small as possible. However, the smaller the angle, the longer the inclined surface becomes, and thus the longer the weir formation itself becomes, resulting in an opening that is not compact. Considering these factors, it is desirable that the angle be between 20° and 30°. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the entire play pool of the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a three-view drawing showing the opening of the play pool in the deployed state of the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a three-view drawing showing the opening of the play pool in the embodiment when it is deployed and filled with water. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the inclination angle of the wedge blocks that form the weir. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, as an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, a recreational pool, which is an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition to the embodiments described below, the present invention can be carried out in various forms by making various changes and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, starting with the forms described in the section on "Embodiments of the Invention" above. [Examples]

[0014] [1] Overall configuration of the play pool The play pool (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "pool") 10 of the embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, constitutes a water play structure together with a slide 12. The pool 10 is composed of a bottom sheet 14 and generally annular side walls 16 provided on the periphery of the bottom sheet 14. The side walls 16 have a round cross-section, that is, they are cylindrical, and a portion of them extends through the slide 12. The pool 10 and the slide 12 are integrally formed. The side walls 16 and the slide 12 each have air chambers inside, and are inflated by injecting air into these air chambers from air inlets (not shown). The pool 10 is installed on a flat surface such as soil, concrete, or artificial turf, and contains, i.e., stores water inside the side walls 16 on the bottom sheet 14.

[0015] The materials used for the water play equipment are not particularly limited, but in the case of the pool 10 and slide 12 in this embodiment, the bottom sheet 14 is made of tarpaulin, which is a material formed by sandwiching a polyester fabric between layers of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The side walls 16 and slide 12 have a double structure consisting of an outer film and an inner film. The outer film is made of the tarpaulin mentioned above, and the inner film is made of rubber tarpaulin, which is formed by sandwiching a cloth fabric between layers of rubber. The edges of the bottom sheet 14 are glued to the bottom of the side walls 16 to prevent water leakage.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the pool 10 has an opening 18 in the side wall 16, and below this opening 18, a wedge-shaped block 20 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "wedge block 20") is positioned as a weir-forming body to dam the stored water. This wedge block 20 dams the water stored in the pool 10, preventing water from flowing out of the opening 18. Details of the opening 18 and the wedge block 20 will be explained in detail later. Note that the figure shows the state in which water up to the water level indicated by the dashed line is stored in the pool 10.

[0017] Here, a brief description of the slide 12 will be given. The central part in the lateral direction of the inclined surface of the slide 12 is the sliding surface 22, and both sides of the sliding surface 22 are the ascending surfaces 24. On the ascending surface 24, a non-slip bar 26 is attached. Although omitted in the figure, part of the water stored in the pool 10 is pumped to the upper part of the slide 12 by a pump and circulated along the sliding surface 22. Incidentally, a cushion 28 is laid under the bottom sheet 14 in the lower front of the sliding surface 22.

[0018] [2] Details of the opening and the wedge block Hereinafter, the opening 18 and the wedge block 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows the opening 18 in a state where the wedge block 20 is not arranged. FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) are respectively a top view, a side view, and a partial cross-sectional view from a front perspective. FIG. 3 shows the opening 18 in a state where the wedge block 20 is arranged. Similar to FIG. 2, FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) are respectively a top view, a side view, and a partial cross-sectional view from a front perspective.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 16 has a cylindrical shape and maintains its cylindrical shape by filling air into the internal air chamber 30. The opening 18 is formed by providing a cut 32 in this side wall 16. The side wall 16 has a pair of extending portions 34 that extend outward at each of both ends defining the cut 32. Each extending portion 34 has a cylindrical shape with the same outer diameter as the main body portion 36, which is the portion other than the extending portion 34, and is integrally formed with the main body portion 36. Briefly speaking, the end of the main body portion 36 is formed so as to be bent outward. Each extending portion 34 has an air chamber communicating with the air chamber 30 of the main body portion 36, and like the main body portion 36, is filled with air and inflated. The pair of extending portions 34 extend parallel to each other on the same plane as the main body portion 36.

[0020] The bottom sheet 14 has a shape as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 2(a). That is, the bottom sheet 14 has an extension part 38 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "bottom extension part 38") that extends below the pair of extension parts 34. Both ends in the width direction of this bottom extension part 38 are adhesively bonded to the pair of extension parts 34 of the side wall 16 so that water does not leak. A water channel 40 for guiding the stored water to the outside is formed by the pair of extension parts 34 of the side wall 16 and the bottom extension part 38. In Fig. 2, the water channel 40 is in a posture along the flat surface of the place where the pool 10 is installed, that is, the installation surface 42. In this state, it is possible to discharge the water stored in the pool 10 through the water channel 40, that is, the passage formed as the gap between the pair of extension parts 34.

[0021] Conversely, in order to store water in the pool 10, that is, in order to maintain the water in the pool 10 at a certain water level, it is necessary to prohibit the passage of water through the water channel 40. For this purpose, in this pool 10, as described above, the wedge block 20 as a weir forming body is used. The wedge block 20 only needs to be not easily deformed, and the material is not particularly limited, but in this pool 10, it is formed by bending a steel plate.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, the wedge block 20 has a wedge shape with an inclined surface 44, and as shown in Fig. 3(b), it is arranged to be inserted from the outlet side of the water channel 40 between the bottom extension part 38 of the bottom sheet 14 and the installation surface 42. That is, the wedge block 20 is arranged in such a direction that the inclined surface 44 slopes downward toward the center of the pool 10 so as to lift the opening 18 together with the bottom sheet 14. In this state, the opening 18, specifically, the water channel 40 is lifted along the inclined surface 44. Incidentally, in Fig. 3(a), the wedge block 20 is shown by a dashed line.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the state in which the water conduit 40 is raised and water is stored in the pool 10 up to the water level h, which is represented by the dashed line. In the figure, the water level h is set to the height of the side wall 16, that is, approximately 4 / 5 of the outer diameter φ of the side wall 16, which has a circular cross-section. Incidentally, since this pool 10 is a pool for splashing around, the outer diameter φ is set to be around 25 cm to 45 cm.

[0024] To drain the water from pool 10, as shown in Figure 3(c), the wedge block 20 can be pulled out from the water conduit 40 toward the outlet side of the water conduit 40. By removing the wedge block 20, the water conduit 40 will assume the position shown in Figure 2 due to the water pressure of the stored water, and the water will be naturally, or in other words, automatically, discharged from the water conduit 40. In order to drain the water quickly, in this pool 10, as shown in Figure 3, the width w of the water conduit 40, or in other words, the distance w between the pair of extensions 34 of the side wall 16, is set to be greater than or equal to the outer diameter φ of the side wall 16, more specifically, about 1.2 to 1.5 times the outer diameter φ.

[0025] [3] Regarding the inclination angle of the inclined surface of a wedge block As shown in Figure 4(a), in the pool 10 where water is stored, the wedge block 20 is subjected to a force on the inclined surface 44 that is proportional to the water level h of the stored water. This force is a force acting on the wedge block 20 due to water pressure, and will therefore be called the water pressure force F. This water pressure force F acts perpendicularly to the inclined surface 44. The water pressure force F can be considered as a horizontal component Fh, which is a horizontal component, and a vertical component Fv, which is a vertical component.

[0026] Frictional forces are generated between the bottom extension 38 of the bottom sheet 14 and the inclined surface 44 of the wedge block 20, and between the installation surface 42 and the bottom surface of the wedge block 20 that is in contact with the installation surface 42. When the horizontal component Fh overcomes these frictional forces, the wedge block 20 is moved by the horizontal component Fh. Although this is due to the material of the material constituting the installation surface 42, the magnitude of the frictional force between the installation surface 42 and the bottom surface of the wedge block 20 greatly affects how difficult it is for the wedge block 20 to move, and this frictional force increases as the vertical component Fv increases.

[0027] Here, we consider the inclination angle θ, which is the angle between the inclined surface 44 of the wedge block 20 and the installation surface 42. For example, as shown in Figure 4(b), if the inclination angle θ is increased, that is, if a wedge block 20' with an inclination angle θ' is used, the dimensions of the opening 18, more specifically the length of the water conduit 40 (the length of the extension 34 of the side wall 16), can be shortened, thus realizing a compact opening 18. On the other hand, the horizontal component force Fh becomes relatively large, and the vertical component force Fv becomes relatively small. As a result, the wedge block 20' becomes more easily moved by the water pressure of the stored water, and the stored water leaks out from the opening 18, i.e., the water conduit 40. In other words, the pool 10 will not be able to maintain a sufficient water level.

[0028] Conversely, for example, as shown in Figure 4(c), if the inclination angle θ is reduced, that is, if a wedge block 20" with an inclination angle θ'' is used, the horizontal component force Fh becomes relatively small, and the vertical component force Fv becomes relatively large. Therefore, the wedge block 20'' is difficult to move, and the pool 10 can maintain a sufficient water level. However, if the inclination angle θ is reduced, the dimensions of the opening 18, more specifically the length of the water conduit 40 (the length of the extension 34 of the side wall 16), will become longer. In other words, the water conduit 40 becomes an obstruction.

[0029] In light of the above, it is desirable that the inclination angle θ of the wedge block 20 be within an appropriate range. Specifically, although the inclination angle θ will vary depending on the material of the material constituting the installation surface 42, it is desirable that it be generally between 20° and 30°.

[0030] Furthermore, when the wedge block 20 is placed, even before water is stored in the pool 10, a force due to the elastic deformation of the side wall 16 acts on the opening 18, more specifically, the water conduit 40. More specifically, as shown in Figure 4(d), when the water conduit 40 is lifted by the wedge block 20, the main body 36 of the side wall 16, which is filled with air, becomes twisted, and a force that tries to undo this twist, i.e., an elastic restoring force Fs, acts on the inclined surface 44 of the wedge block 20. When the inclination angle θ of the wedge block 20 is within the appropriate range described above, the movement of the wedge block 20 is restricted by the action of this restoring force Fs, even when water is not stored in the pool 10. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 10: Play pool 12: Slide 14: Bottom sheet 16: Side wall 18: Opening 20, 20', 20”: Wedge block [weir forming body] 22: Sliding surface 24: Climbing surface 26: Anti-slip bar 28: Cushion 30: Air chamber 32: Cut 34: Extension (of side wall) 36: Main body (of side wall) 38: Extension (of bottom sheet), bottom extension 40: Water conduit 42: Installation surface 44: Inclined surface φ: Outer diameter of side wall (height of side wall) h: Water level of stored water w: Width of water conduit θ, θ', θ”: Incline angle of the inclined surface of the wedge block F: Force acting due to water pressure (water pressure force) Fh: Horizontal component Fv: Vertical component Fs: Force acting due to restoring force (restoring force)

Claims

1. A play pool for storing water, comprising a bottom sheet and an annular side wall provided integrally with the bottom sheet and inflated with air, A swimming pool having an opening formed by a cut in the side wall, and comprising a weir-forming body positioned to lift the opening together with the bottom sheet in order to dam the stored water, and configured so that the stored water can be discharged from the opening by removing the weir-forming body.

2. The side wall has a pair of extensions that each extend outward at the cut, and the opening has a water channel formed by these extensions and the extensions of the bottom sheet that extend below these extensions. The play pool according to claim 1, wherein the weir-forming body is arranged to lift its water channel.

3. The play pool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the weir-forming body has an inclined surface, and is installed such that the inclined surface is in contact with the bottom sheet and the inclined surface slopes downward toward the center of the play pool.

4. The play pool according to claim 3, wherein the angle between the inclined surface and the surface on which the play pool is installed is 20° or more and 30° or less.

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