Modular Swimming Pool Grating With Interchangeable Decorative Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swimming pool gratings are heavy and costly, limiting appearance options due to material expense, necessitating high material costs for a fixed appearance.

Innovation Solution

A modular grating system with interchangeable decorative profiles that can be attached to a main profile, allowing for easy changes in appearance and reducing material costs by using removable decorative profiles made of materials like polycarbonate, PVC, PMMA, or metal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing gratings with fixed appearance are used, then structural strength and safety are ensured, but material cost increases and appearance customization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveappearance customizationVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The grating is divided into two separate components: a main profile that provides structural strength and a decorative profile that provides appearance customization. This segmentation allows the structural component to be manufactured once and reused, while only the decorative component needs to be replaced to change appearance, thereby reducing material costs and enabling customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main profile is designed with universal mounting features that allow multiple different decorative profiles to be attached to the same structural component. This multi-functionality enables a single main profile to serve multiple aesthetic purposes while maintaining structural integrity, reducing the need to replace the entire grating when appearance changes are desired.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If decorative profiles are made interchangeable and removable, then appearance customization is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveappearance flexibilityVSAvoidmodular system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative profile is designed to nest onto the main profile through a simple attachment mechanism where the decorative profile fits over the main profile's mounting features. This nested configuration allows for easy attachment and detachment without complex assembly procedures, maintaining simplicity while enabling customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The decorative profile incorporates self-aligning and self-attaching features that allow users to install and remove the decorative profiles without specialized tools or complex procedures. The mounting design enables user-friendly installation, reducing the complexity barrier for appearance customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the entire grating is replaced to change appearance, then aesthetic customization is achieved, but installation time and labor cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic customizationVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative profile is extracted as a separate, replaceable component from the main structural profile. This extraction allows users to remove only the decorative portion to change appearance while leaving the structural main profile in place, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements compared to replacing the entire grating assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The grating system transitions from a static, fixed appearance design to a dynamic, reconfigurable system where decorative profiles can be easily swapped. This dynamic capability enables appearance changes without the time-consuming process of complete replacement, allowing users to adapt aesthetics to changing needs while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4647567A1Swimming pool grating, equipment for swimming pool and installation method
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 BWT POOL PROD
  • EP4647567A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4647567A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4647567A1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a swimming pool grating (1), comprising an upper surface (2), a main profile (11) and a decorative profile (12), comprising a central part (121), a right side (122) and a left side (123), the upper surface (2) being located at least partly on the central part (121), the right side (122) and the left side (123) of the decorative profile (12) comprising a first clipping member (124) and a second clipping member (125), turned towards the first clipping member (124), the first clipping member (124) being constrained and wedged against a first part (114) of the main profile (11) and the second clipping member (125) being constrained and wedged against a second part (115) of the main profile (11) in the mounting position (M).