Swimming Pool Cover Base Elements with Hollow Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swimming pool cover technologies are costly, prone to leaks, and lack visual appeal, with complex sealing requirements and high production expenses due to specialized materials and coatings.

Innovation Solution

A closure arrangement featuring base elements with hollow chambers and a connecting mechanism, using lightweight materials with a density between 0.01 and 0.7 g/cm3, and a spacer layer for buoyancy and color options, along with a non-positive fixing element for easy assembly and tool-free adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hollow chambers are sealed watertight with complex sealing devices, then liquid-tight sealing is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid-tight sealingVSAvoidsealing device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the sealing function from complex internal sealing devices and relocates it to simple end caps that close the hollow chambers. This removes the need for complex piston plates and elastic fillers, achieving watertight sealing through simple cap closure while dramatically reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of sealing the hollow chambers from the sides or bottom using complex internal mechanisms, the invention inverts the approach by sealing them from the ends using simple caps. This reversal of sealing direction simplifies the sealing mechanism while maintaining liquid-tight reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Illumination intensity

If specialized coatings and colors are applied to roller shutter slats, then visual appeal is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appealVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base elements serve multiple functions: structural support, buoyancy through hollow chambers, and aesthetic appearance through color integration. The coloring is incorporated into the base element material itself rather than requiring separate coating processes, achieving visual appeal without additional manufacturing complexity or cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the structural base element with the aesthetic coating by integrating color directly into the base element material. This combination eliminates separate coating processes and reduces manufacturing steps while maintaining visual appeal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If connection devices require additional securing against longitudinal displacement, then connection reliability is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting devices are designed with built-in features such as recesses and protrusions that automatically align and secure base elements in the correct position during assembly. This self-aligning design eliminates the need for additional securing operations while ensuring connection stability, reducing assembly time without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a cost-effective, leak-proof, and visually appealing swimming pool cover with improved buoyancy, thermal insulation, and resistance to hail, while allowing for easy assembly and adaptation to different pool geometries.

Implementation Method 1

the hollow chamber of the base element has a material whose density is between 0.01 and 0.7 g/cm3

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP3318699B1Closure arrangement for covering open containers containing liquid
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 REHAU AG & CO
  • EP3318699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3318699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3318699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a closure arrangement (1) for covering open containers with a liquid contained therein, in particular for covering swimming pools, which comprises at least two base elements (2), wherein the base element (2) has a hollow chamber (5), wherein at least one base element is movably connected at least partially with one of its longitudinal sides (21, 22) to a longitudinal side opposite this of an adjacent base element via at least one connecting means (3), and has at least one connecting device (4) on the longitudinal side (22) opposite the longitudinal side (21) connected with the connecting means, is characterized in that the hollow chamber (5) of the base element has a material whose density is between 0.01 and 0.7 g/cm³ as measured according to DIN 1183, and that at least one connecting device of the base element has at least one receiving element (7),The receiving opening (6) is arranged.