Foldable Pool Enclosure With Sliding Walls for Weather Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pool and spa coverings do not provide adequate protection from weather conditions and are often bulky and permanently fixed, limiting their usability and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A foldable enclosure system comprising a slidable outer wall, pivotable side walls, a roof, and a floor sealing member that can be extended or retracted to cover a pool or spa, providing weather protection and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional covering is provided to protect the pool from weather, then protection from wind, rain, and cold temperatures is improved, but the structure becomes bulky and permanently fixed in place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by designing a pool enclosure that transitions from a static, permanently fixed structure to a dynamic, movable system. The enclosure includes sliding panels that can move along tracks, allowing the structure to expand when weather protection is needed and retract when not needed, thus providing both protection and flexibility without being bulky or permanent
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the enclosure into multiple separate panels that can independently slide and reposition. This segmentation allows the structure to be configured in different states (expanded for protection, retracted for space efficiency) rather than being a single bulky fixed unit, resolving the contradiction between providing protection and avoiding bulkiness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional covering is provided to protect the pool from weather, then protection from wind, rain, and cold temperatures is improved, but the structure is permanently fixed in place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the permanently fixed enclosure into a dynamic system with movable panels that can slide along tracks. This allows the enclosure to adapt between expanded and retracted states, providing weather protection when needed while maintaining versatility and avoiding permanent fixation, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and adaptability
3Area of stationary object
If an uncovered pool area is used, then space efficiency is improved, but protection from weather elements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating an enclosure that can dynamically adjust between covering and uncovered states. When the panels are retracted, a large uncovered pool area is available for space efficiency; when expanded, the same structure provides complete weather protection, thus resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and weather protection
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable enclosure can turn an outdoor spa or swimming pool into its indoor counterpart, allowing the pool or spa to be used when the outdoor temperature is cold or when the weather is bad. An expandable room-like structure can cover the pool or spa in the back yard of the house. When the structure is not used, it can be retracted so it does not occupy much space in the house or in the back yard. The enclosure can include a sliding cover that can be used to cover up the pool and to allow people to walk on it. The expandable structure includes a sliding outer wall, two rotating side walls, a sliding wall seal, and several roof blocks.