Pool Safety Ladder With Damped Flip-Up Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Above-ground pools pose a safety risk due to ladders that are easily accessible by children and adults, leading to potential accidents, and existing safety mechanisms are either complex, costly, or pose injury risks from movable parts.

Innovation Solution

A safety ladder assembly with a movable ladder portion that can be flipped between accessible and stowed positions, controlled by a dampening member to regulate the force required for movement, and includes a support base to prevent wobbling and enhance safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional safety mechanisms are added to pool ladders, then safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ladder is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can be independently positioned. The movable portion can be flipped between accessible and inaccessible positions, allowing safety control without complex locking mechanisms. This segmentation enables the ladder to provide both easy access when needed and child-proof safety when unattended.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ladder incorporates a movable portion that can dynamically change position between accessible and inaccessible states. This dynamic design allows the ladder to adapt to different safety requirements - fully accessible during supervised use and inaccessible when unsupervised - without requiring complex mechanical locks or electronic controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If movable parts are added to safety ladders, then safety control is improved, but injury risk from momentum increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety controlVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A dampening member is integrated into the connection mechanism to provide controlled resistance during movement of the movable ladder portion. This dampening element absorbs kinetic energy and prevents the movable parts from gaining excessive momentum, thereby cushioning against potential injury to users while still allowing smooth operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If the ladder is only connected to the pool, then installation is simplified, but stability decreases causing wobbling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidladder stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated assembly: it provides structural support, enables movable portion articulation, incorporates dampening for safety, and includes a support base for stability. This unified design maintains installation simplicity while achieving enhanced stability through the combined action of all components working together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If conventional ladders are used for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is worsened due to child accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess convenienceVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 ladder assembly provides safe and reliable access control, preventing unauthorized entry while minimizing the risk of injury from rapid movement, and is cost-effective to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

A dampening member is coupled to the connection mechanism for controlling the amount of force necessary to move the movable ladder portion between the first position and the second position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDampening: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4357560B1Security ladder for a pool

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIAL

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AI summary

A safety ladder for a pool includes a movable ladder portion that can be moved between an accessible position and an inaccessible position. The movable ladder portion is disposed substantially outside of the pool and provides a series of steps that can be climbed vertically for entry into the pool when it is located in the accessible position. In the inaccessible position, the movable ladder portion is moved such that the steps can no longer be climbed and access to the pool is prevented. Such safety ladder assemblies are provided primarily to prevent children and other at risk individuals from entering an unattended pool. A dampening member is provided such that the force necessary to move the movable ladder portion is regulated to prevent a dangerous accumulation of moment and limit a risk of injury through harmful contact therewith.