Inflatable assembly forming a cover for a body of water

Abstract

The invention relates to an inflatable assembly (1) which forms a cover for a body of water (3) when in the inflated state, the assembly comprising at least one inflatable structure (2). According to the invention, the inflatable assembly (1) comprises at least one water ballast (6) which is intended to be submerged in the water (3).

Description

INFLATABLE BLANKET SET FOR BODY OF WATER

[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable assemblies forming a cover in the inflated state for bodies of water such as basins or swimming pools.

[0002] In the field of inflatable structures, we are familiar with the creation of inflatable structures designed to cover the surface of bodies of water such as swimming pools. These inflatable structures, thanks to the layer of air inside them, provide thermal insulation to maintain the water temperature, particularly during cooling periods when the pool is not in use. They also help limit water loss through evaporation. Furthermore, they can serve as a safety feature and help prevent accidents.

[0003] These inflatable structures can be made from sheets or films of thermoplastic polymer that are heat-sealed together. Heat sealing can be achieved by locally heating the sheet to its melting temperature.

[0004] The heat sealing of thermoplastic polymer sheets or films can be carried out in particular by ultrasound, conduction or high frequency.

[0005] Preferably, the thermoplastic polymer sheet(s) or film(s) have a thickness of less than 1 mm and preferably even less than 0.5 mm.

[0006] This type of material allows, as is well known, the simple production of a component with a sealed cavity that can be pressurized. Thermoplastic polyurethanes and polyvinyl chlorides are particularly suitable materials.

[0007] Such inflatable structures must be easy to use, quick to set up and maneuverable by a limited number of people, ideally no more than two.

[0008] In their deflated state, such structures can advantageously be wound around an axis, the winding and unwinding being triggered by rotation of The structure is only inflated when used as a pool cover. Since it is stored deflated, its footprint is reduced. It can also be stored on a mobile pallet, folded when deflated.

[0009] Such inflatable structures also have the advantage of being lightweight and easy to handle.

[0010] Inflating the structure ensures it takes shape on the pool and covers the water's surface. Inflation pressure is generally between 0.1 and 0.5 bar, and most often between 0.2 and 0.35 bar.

[0011] Structures thus created, in their inflated state, form a three-dimensional product with a length, a width, and a height or thickness.

[0012] For the purposes of this invention, the length of an inflatable assembly forming a cover for a body of water when inflated corresponds to its longest dimension. It is most often defined by the direction in which the inflated assembly is rolled up or unrolled during its deployment or storage.

[0013] According to the invention, the width of an inflatable assembly forming a cover for a body of water when inflated is measured along a direction perpendicular to the length of the inflatable assembly. The directions of width and length define a plane that substantially coincides with the substantially parallel surfaces of the mattress, including the one intended to come into contact with the surface of the body of water.

[0014] For the purposes of this invention, the height or thickness of an inflatable assembly forming a cover for a body of water when inflated is measured along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the length and width directions of the inflatable assembly. The height or thickness of such an assembly is the distance measured between two parallel planes parallel to each other and to the plane formed by the length and width directions of the inflatable assembly, said two planes being tangent to the outermost points of the outer surfaces of the inflatable assembly.

[0015] Such inflatable assemblies are described, for example, in document DE 3000396 A1. The inflatable pool cover described in this publication is a An inflatable mattress that rests on the surface of the water when inflated and essentially covers the entire surface of the water. When not needed, the cover can be rolled up onto a roller located at the edge of the pool.

[0016] Document FR 2822488 Al describes a swimming pool cover in the shape of a cushion made of sheets or films welded together around their perimeter.

[0017] Document WO 2022 / 264052 A1 further describes a swimming pool cover consisting of an inflatable mattress in which two sheets of flexible material are joined together by a plurality of threads or bonding fibers. This document describes a construction known as "drop stitch" which provides significant rigidity and perfectly flat mattress surfaces.

[0018] The inventors were able to demonstrate that these inflatable structures, designed to form pool covers, could present stability problems in inclement weather, particularly in strong winds. Indeed, these covers, which float on the water and have a thickness that catches the wind, and due to their lightness, can be moved by the wind. The intended thermal protection is then compromised.

[0019] There are also known retractable pool cover systems. These systems are made with rigid slats to form roller shutters that float on the water when unrolled. These systems provide a barrier to evaporation and a safety feature for people, but offer limited thermal insulation. They are also quite heavy, requiring reinforced roller mechanisms, and are consequently limited in size.

[0020] There are still systems of tarpaulins reinforced by spaced bars that cover the water's surface, resting on the beach. They offer the same advantages in terms of safety and evaporation barrier as the previously described shutter solution. However, they also share the same limitations in terms of thermal insulation and size, particularly due to their weight. Furthermore, storing these tarpaulins is complicated due to their bulk, and their installation is not straightforward.

[0021] The inventors have therefore set themselves the task of offering a pool cover that is compact, easy to install and stable in bad weather.

[0022] This goal is achieved according to the invention by an inflatable assembly forming a cover for a body of water in the inflated state, comprising at least one inflatable structure comprising two external surfaces whose average planes are substantially parallel, one being intended to come into contact with the water, said surfaces being formed by films of flexible material connected to each other on their edges to form a watertight structure having a length, a width and a thickness, said inflatable assembly comprising at least one water ballast intended to be immersed in the water.

[0023] For the purposes of the invention, the average plane of an external surface of an inflatable structure is defined as the plane tangent to the outermost points of the external surfaces of the inflatable structure and parallel to the plane formed by the directions of the length and width of the inflatable structure.

[0024] Preferably according to the invention, said at least one water ballast is fixed on the external surface intended to come into contact with the water of said at least one inflatable structure.

[0025] According to this design, the water ballast is submerged in the water when the inflatable assembly is deployed over the body of water to be covered.

[0026] For the purposes of this invention, a water ballast is a container that fills with water when the inflatable assembly is deployed. It fills through its open upper surface, which forms the opening of the container. The volume of water inside provides a load that helps to hold the inflatable assembly in place on the surface of the water on which it is deployed. Such a water ballast can, in particular, counteract the forces exerted by the wind and thus prevent the inflatable assembly from lifting.

[0027] The inventors have thus been able to present an inflatable unit that serves as a pool cover, which can be quickly installed by one or two people and can be easily sized for the area of ​​water to be covered.

[0028] Like the inflatable structures described earlier, the resulting cover is lightweight and easy to set up. Indeed, this type of inflatable structure is Designed for quick and easy installation, the materials used result in a relatively light weight, and setup is primarily achieved by inflation using a compressor connected to the inflatable unit via a valve. Installation can be easily carried out by one or two operators.

[0029] The inventors have also demonstrated that the inflatable assembly according to the invention can withstand gusts of wind without being displaced. Indeed, the water ballast, when sized in relation to the dimensions of the inflatable assembly, stabilizes the inflatable assembly on the body of water it covers, even in windy conditions.

[0030] It is still possible to plan for several water weights distributed over the surface of the inflatable assembly when the size of the inflatable assembly is significant.

[0031] Like the inflatable structures described above, the cover thus made also provides a thermal insulation function to maintain the water temperature, particularly during cooling periods when the pool is not in use.

[0032] Said at least one water ballast is advantageously made of a flexible film material. Said flexible film material is advantageously identical to the material constituting said at least one inflatable structure and is a polymer material such as polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride.

[0033] Preferably, said film constituting said at least one water ballast has a thickness between 100 and 500 microns and preferably between 150 and 350 microns.

[0034] Said at least one water ballast advantageously has a cylindrical or conical shape with a circular or polygonal cross-section.

[0035] Said at least one water ballast is advantageously attached to said at least one inflatable structure by at least one connecting tab fixed at each of its ends, on one side to the water ballast and on the other side to said at least one inflatable structure. The connecting tab is advantageously made of a material identical to that forming the water ballast and may be considered as part of the water ballast.

[0036] According to a first embodiment of the invention, said at least one water ballast is permanently attached to said at least one inflatable structure. This type of attachment can be achieved by welding, sewing, or any other suitable means such as gluing.

[0037] According to a second embodiment of the invention, said at least one water ballast is removably linked to said at least one inflatable structure by a linking device comprising at least two separable parts.

[0038] Preferably, according to this second embodiment of the invention, said at least one connecting device comprising at least two separable parts is of the detachable zipper type. One part of this connecting device is then attached to the mattress and the other part is attached to said at least one connecting tab, itself attached to the water ballast. Each of the parts is fixed by welding, sewing, or any other suitable means.

[0039] This connecting device comprising at least two separable parts may also be any other type of fastening system which is advantageously simple to use, such as, for example, Velcro® type fasteners or any type of quick-release buckle system.

[0040] To facilitate folding or rolling up the inflatable assembly, at least one water ballast is advantageously equipped with means allowing water to be evacuated with no effort other than that exerted by rolling or folding. A preferred embodiment consists of providing a perforation in the material forming at least one water ballast. The presence of at least one hole allows water to be evacuated, for example, when at least one water ballast is pulled out of the water with the inflatable assembly before it passes between rollers designed to expel the inflation air from the inflatable assembly.

[0041] Preferably according to the invention, the flexible material films forming said at least one inflatable structure are joined together by heat welding as explained previously.

[0042] According to a first variant embodiment, the external surfaces of said at least one inflatable structure are formed by films of flexible material connected to each other on their edges to form a cushion.

[0043] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the external surfaces of said at least one inflatable structure are formed by films of flexible material connected to each other on their edges by at least one film of flexible material to form a mattress.

[0044] According to one embodiment, according to this second variant of the invention, said at least one film of flexible material, which connects the two surfaces to form the sides of the inflatable mattress according to the invention, is made of at least two films, for example welded together to form the four sides of the mattress. According to another embodiment, each side is made individually of a film, the four films being welded together.

[0045] According to another embodiment of the invention, said at least one film of flexible material, which connects the two surfaces by forming the sides of the inflatable mattress according to this second variant of the invention, is made with a single film so as to limit the number of welds and facilitate the manufacture of an inflatable mattress.

[0046] Preferably according to the invention, the flexible material films forming the surfaces of said at least one inflatable structure and said at least one flexible material film forming the sides in the case of a mattress are polymer materials such as polyurethanes or polyvinyl chloride.

[0047] Preferably, films made of flexible materials have a thickness between 100 and 500 microns and preferably between 150 and 350 microns.

[0048] Preferably also according to the invention, when used on a body of water, the inflation pressure of the inflatable assembly is generally between 0.1 and 0.5 bar, and most often between 0.2 and 0.35 bar

[0049] Other advantageous details and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the examples of embodiments of the invention with reference to Figures 1 and 2, which represent; Figure 1, a perspective view of a diagram of an inflatable mattress according to the invention, Figure 2, a schematic representation of a water ballast fixed to the surface of the inflatable mattress in Figure 1.

[0050] The figures are not shown to scale to simplify understanding.

[0051] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an inflatable assembly 1, shown in its inflated state, comprising an inflatable structure 2, placed on a body of water 3. The inflatable assembly 1 thus presents a visible surface 4 and a surface 5 not apparent in Figure 1, which comes into contact with the water.

[0052] Inflatable assembly 1 is made from sheets of woven PVC (woven polyvinyl chloride) with a thickness of approximately 500 microns.

[0053] The inflatable structure 2 consists of two sheets of woven PVC, one forming surface 4, visible when the inflatable assembly is in use, the other forming surface 5, in contact with the water when the inflatable assembly is in use.

[0054] Inflatable structure 2 has a length of 12 meters, a width of approximately 8 meters and a height of approximately 20 centimeters.

[0055] Structure 2 still includes a valve, not shown in figure 1.

[0056] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a water ballast 6 fixed on the surface 5 of the inflatable structure 2, which comes into contact with the water.

[0057] The water ballast 6 is made of the same material as the inflatable structure and is attached to it by four fixing tabs 7, which are themselves attached to the surface 5 by detachable zipper-type fastening systems, not shown in Figure 2. The water ballast 6 has a conical shape with a square cross-section and offers a volume of 36 dm³. 3It thus exerts a holding force on the inflatable mattress 2 equivalent to a 36 kg body. Depending on the size of the inflatable assembly according to the invention, several water weights as described above are to be positioned to exert sufficient holding force, counteract the wind, and keep the assembly inflated on the surface of the water. The water weight 6 also has holes 8 to facilitate water drainage when folding or rolling up the inflatable assembly 1.

[0058] Handling tests were carried out with an inflatable assembly according to the invention, as shown in the figures and equipped with four water weights. The inflatable assembly is folded and placed on a mobile trolley with two rollers between which the inflatable assembly can pass. The trolley is brought to one end of an outdoor swimming pool with dimensions of approximately 96 m 2The inflatable structure is 12 meters long and 8 meters wide. It is connected to a compressor that supplies it with air. The initial inflation causes the inflatable structure to expand, exerting a tensile force on the two rollers between which the inflatable passes. Under this force, the structure gradually unfolds across the water. This technique for deploying an inflatable structure on a body of water is described, for example, in document WO 2022 / 264052. During the unfurling of the inflatable, the water weights are drawn into the water and fill with water as the inflatable unfolds. The inflatable structure is inflated to a pressure between 200 and 250 millibars.

[0059] The setup time for two people was approximately 30 minutes. Folding the entire unit, which requires deflation and then folding, takes 45 minutes.

[0060] Tests were carried out on a basin with a wind of approximately 70 km / h. The presence of the four water ballasts was sufficient to keep the inflatable assembly in position on the body of water.

Claims

DEMANDS 1 - Inflatable assembly (1) forming a cover for a body of water (2), in the inflated state, comprising at least one inflatable structure (2) comprising two external surfaces (4, 5) whose average planes are substantially parallel, one being intended to come into contact with the water (3), said surfaces (4, 5) being formed by films of flexible material connected to each other on their edges to form a watertight structure (2) having a length, a width and a thickness, characterized in that said inflatable assembly (1) comprises at least one water ballast (6) intended to be immersed in the water (3). 2 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one water ballast (6) is fixed on the external surface (5) intended to come into contact with the water (3) of said at least one inflatable structure (2). 3 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one water ballast (6) is irremovably linked to said at least one inflatable structure (2). 4 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one water ballast (6) is removably linked to said at least one inflatable structure (2) by at least one linking device comprising at least two separable parts. 5 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one connecting device comprising at least two separable parts is of the detachable zipper type. 6 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one water ballast (6) is made with a film of flexible material and in that said film of flexible material is a polymer material such as a polyurethane or a polyvinyl chloride. 7 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one water ballast (6) comprises means allowing the evacuation of water and preferably comprises at least one hole (8). 8 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two external surfaces of said at least inflatable structure (2) are formed by films of flexible material joined together at their edges to form a cushion. 9 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said external surfaces of said at least inflatable structure (2) are formed by films of flexible material connected to each other on their edges by at least one film of flexible material to form a mattress. 10 - Inflatable assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the films of flexible material forming said at least one inflatable structure (2) are polymer materials such as polyurethanes or polyvinyl chloride.

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