Swimming Pool Grid Element Anti-Entrapment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pool grids, especially those with curvilinear sections, fail to ensure user safety by allowing potential entrapments of fingers or toes while compromising water passage, leading to non-compliance with safety regulations.
Innovation Solution
A grid element with a main body defining a walking surface, featuring protruding teeth and shelves on alternating planes, allowing for interlocking without interference, enhanced structural rigidity, and anti-slip features to prevent entrapments and maintain efficient water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the distance between upper laths is increased to improve water passage efficiency, then water flow is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to potential entrapments of fingers or toes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by adding cross-pieces that extend perpendicular to the upper laths. This creates a three-dimensional grid structure where the cross-pieces form additional barriers that prevent entrapment while maintaining the horizontal spacing needed for water flow. The cross-pieces effectively add a vertical layer of safety protection without compromising the water passage capability of the horizontal laths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If single connections are used between cross-pieces to enable rotation and follow channel curvature, then adaptability to curved channels is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to creation of empty spaces that allow entrapments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into multiple discrete connection points between adjacent cross-pieces. Instead of relying on a single connection that may create gaps, multiple connection points distribute the structural support and eliminate empty spaces. This segmentation approach maintains the ability to follow curved channel geometries while ensuring continuous coverage that prevents entrapment hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary protective measures by adding cross-pieces and their connections before the potential hazard of entrapment can occur. The cross-pieces are positioned in advance to create a continuous protective barrier across the channel, eliminating the need for additional safety features during operation. This preliminary structuring ensures safety is built into the grid design from the outset.
3Strength
If multiple connections are used between cross-pieces to increase grid solidity, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural support function with the safety function by integrating cross-pieces into the existing grid framework. The cross-pieces are combined with the upper laths and connection elements to form a unified structure that provides both structural integrity and entrapment prevention. This merging approach achieves enhanced solidity without requiring separate, complex safety mechanisms, as the same structural elements serve multiple purposes.
Data Source
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Figure 10~11
AI summary
The present invention refers to an element (10, 110) for swimming pool grids (100). Said element (10, 110) is adapted to be connected to other elements in order to obtain a swimming pool grid (100), said swimming pool grids (100) being adapted to define a walking surface. Said element (10, 110) comprising: - a main body (11) which is developed along a first line (L1) and which defines a first plane (P1) corresponding to the walking surface of the grids (100); - at least one tooth (12) which protrudes from the main body (11) and is developed on the first plane (P1); - a connector (24) which is connected to the main body (11) and is adapted to removably connect the element (10, 110) to other elements (10, 110). Besides, the present invention refers to a swimming pool grid (100) comprising one or more of the elements (10, 110) according to the invention.