GB2167951A - A movable floor for a swimming pool - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable floor for a swimming pool comprises a deck structure (12) having a stainless steel framework (14) supporting a plurality of modular floor sections (16) each of which has a polyurethane foamed core, so that the resulting deck structure (12) is buoyant. The deck structure can be moved to any chosen depth in the pool by a system of cables and pulleys (24, 26) and can also be retained in a raised position by bolts (34) which are movable between retracted positions in the pool side walls and extended positions in which the bolts (34) engage in the deck structure (12). In its raised position the deck structure (12) presents a horizontal upper surface (20) which is above the water level and can be used for "dry" sports such as gymnastics or table tennis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Swimming Pools Field of the Invention This invention relates to swimming pools (a term which is intended to include diving pools) and is particularly concerned with the provision of a movable floor in a swimming pool.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention a movable floor for a swimming pool comprises a framework and a plurality of modular sections supported by the framework to form a deck structure, and operating means for moving the deck structure up or down within the pool to vary the effective dept of water therein and for retaining the deck structure at a chosen depth, wherein the deck structure is buoyant and, if unrestrained, floats on the water surface in a raised position with the upper surface of the deck structure above the water, to enable the upper surface of the deck structure to be used as a dry floor. The movable floor enables the effective depth of water in the swimming pool to be varied to suit different users and different circumstances.For example, the depth of water may be made quite small for small children orfor handicapped people, but the rigidity of the deck structure provides safety and inspires confidence. Further, as the deck structure is naturally buoyant it will float to the surface of the water if, for any reason, the operating means fail.

Preferably, the floor includes retaining means for retaining the deck structure in its raised position, so that the deck structure affords a rigid, supported floor which can be used for "dry" sports such as table tennis gymnastics, weight training or the like, the retaining means supporting the deck structure in its raised position even if the water level is lowered or the water is completely drained. The retaining means preferably comprise retaining members movable between an inoperative withdrawn position in which the members are located within the side walls of the swimming pool, and an extended operative position in which the members project from the side walls and engage in cooperating formations in the deck structure to lock the latter in the raised position.Alternatively, it is possible to provide the deck structure with movable retaining means which engage apertures or recesses in the side walls of the pool.

The retaining members may be horizontally movable bolts operated by an actuating system which is preferably pneumatic or hydraulic in nature, although manual operation is possible. In any event, interlock means are preferably provided to prevent the deck structure being moved when the retaining members are in their operative positions, and to prevent the retaining members being moved to their extended positions unless the deck structure is in its raised position.

Each modular section of the deck structure may comprise an outer skin of a synthetic plastics material, e.g., fibreglass surrounding an inner core of a buoyant material, e.g. a foamed plastics material such as polyurethane foam. These modular sections are detachably connected to the framework which is preferably of stainless steel. The framework is itself capable of being dismantled so that the whole deck structure can be dismantled and reerected.

Certain or all of the edges of the deck structure may have apertured members to enable water to flow through the apertures when the deck structure is raised or lowered. The apertured members may include perforated stainless steel panels which are attached to the framework at the edge or edges thereof and which are arranged to be coplanar with the remainder of the upper surface of the deck structure.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa plan view of a swimming pool fitted with a floor according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line li--ii of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrows lV-lVshown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 1, and Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line VI--VI of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows the edges of the swimming pool as a rectangle 10. The movable floor comprises a deck structure 12 consisting of a stainless steel framework 14 and twelve similar modular floor sections 16. At each end the deck structure 12 has four marginal members 17 each comprising four panels 18 of perforated stainless steel, the apertures in which enable water to pass through the deck structure as the latter is raised or lowered within the swimming pool.

Figure 2 shows the deck structure 12 in its raised position in which the upper surface 20 of the deck structure 12 is only slightly below the pool edge surface 22. The deck structure 12 can be moved within the pool by operating means including cables 24 passing around pulleys 26. The cables 24 are secured to the deck structure 12 at anchoring points, whence the cables pass vertically downwards to the pulleys 26 on the pool floor. The cables 24 are brought to one end of the pool, pass around pulleys 28 (Figure 1) and emerge from the pool to be linked to mechanical or hydraulically operated means for letting the cables in or out.

The deck structure 12 is buoyant by virtue of the twelve modular sections 16. Part of one of these sections 16 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3, which shows that each section 16 has a fibreglass outer skin 30 enclosing a polyurethane foamed core 32. The fibreglass outer skin 30 is bonded to square section stain less steel tubing which is rigidly attached to the remainder of the framework 14. The deck structure 12 is both rigid and buoyant and presents a horizontal upper surface 20 which is clear of the water level when the deck structure 12 is allowed to rise to its upper level. It will be appreciated that the bouyancy of the modular sections 16 is such that the deck structure 12 will rise to this upper level if unrestrained.This provides a fail safe feature, in contrast to known swimming pool floors which are generally heavier than water and sink if, for any reason, their supporting means fail.

The deck structure 12 is retained in its raised position by means of four retaining bolts one of which is shown at 34 in Figure 3. Each bolt 34 is movable between the retracted position shown in Figure 3, in which the bolt lies recessed within the side wall of the swimming pool, and an extended position in which the bolt projects from the swimming pool side wall and engages within an inverted channel 36 welded to the framework 14.

The shape of the inverted channel 36 is best seen in Figure 4. The position of the channel 36 is shown in Figure 1, the three other channels 36 being at positions such that the four channels 36 are at symmetrical positions on the two side walls of the pool.

The four bolts 34 are pneumatically or hydraulically operated by a cylinder 29, and interlocking means are provided so that when the bolts 34 are in their extended position the operating means moving the deck structure 12 cannot be energised, and such that the bolts 34 cannot be moved to their extended positions unless the deck structure 12 is in its raised position. Each bolt 34 slides on a stainless steel bearing sleeve 31 which is sealed to the pool wall by epoxy resin 33 and sealed at its inner end by a graphited mechanical seal 35 and a synthetic plastics seal 37. It will be seen from Figure 3 that the peripheral edge of the deck structure has a flexible edge seal 38 which engages the pool edge so as to bridge the gap between the pool edge and the deck structure.

It will be appreciated that as the deck structure 12 is moved through the water provision must be made for enabling the water to pass through the deck structure. This is achieved by use of the stainless steel panels 18 which are shown in greater detail in Figure 5. The stainless steel panels 18 are edged by fibreglass 40 and the intervening strips of fibreglass between adjacent panels 18 enclose a volume of foamed material 42, as shown in Figure 6.It will be appreciated that the stainless steel panels 18 present an upper surface which is coplanar with the upper surface of the modular sections 16so that the complete deck structure 12 presents a continuous horizontal surface 20 which may be used either to support people in the swimming pool at a chosen depth of water or as a dry sport surface when the deck structure is moved to its raised position in which the upper surface of the deck structure is clear of the water surface.

The deck structure can be dismantled and reerected, and each individual part can be taken through a normal doorway. The deck structure has a load capacity comparable with a normal floor of 100 kg/m2. Vibration from dynamic loads will largely be taken up by the deadening effect of the water.

By means of the cables 24, the deck structure 12 can be moved vertically, whilst remaining horizontal, and it can also be tilted at any angle required, to provide a beach effect or a pool of progressively varying depth. The tilting is end to end, i.e. it results in one end of the deck structure being higher than the other end.

The deck structure acts as a thermal blanket to reduce evaporation, reducing condensation and consequent repairs needed for a covering roof structure. The versatility of the deck structure means that different kinds of user can use and enjoy the pool. For example, disabled people can use the pool when exercise equipment is attached to the floor by being slotted into place in.formations on the upper surface of the deck structure.

Claims (13)

1. A movable floor for a swimming pool, the floor comprising a framework and a plurality of modular sections supported by the framework to form a deck structure, and operating means for moving the deck structure up or down within the pool to vary the effective depth of water therein and for retaining the deck structure at a chosen depth, wherein the deck structure is buoyant and, if unrestrained, floats on the water surface in a raised position with the upper surface of the deck structure above the water, to enable the upper surface of the deck structure to be used as a dry floor.

2. Afloor according to claim 1, and including retaining means for retaining the deck structure in its raised position, so that the deck structure affords a rigid, supported floor which can be used for "dry" sports such as table tennis gymnastics, weight training orthe like, the retaining means supporting the deck structure on its raised position even if the water level is lowered or the water is completely drained.

3. A floor according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprise retaining members movable between an inoperative withdrawn position in which the members are located within the side walls of the swimming pool, and an extended operative position in which the members project from the side walls and engage in cooperating formations in the deck structure to lock the latter in the raised position.

4. A floor according to claim 3, wherein there are four retaining members, two of which are arranged in spaced positions on one side wall of the pool and the other two of which are arranged at spaced positions on the opposite side wall.

5. A floor according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the retaining members are horizontally movable bolts operated by an actuating system which is pneumatic or hydraulic in nature.

6. A floor according to claim 5 wherein interlock means are provided to prevent the deck structure being moved when the retaining members are in their operative positions, and to prevent the retaining members being moved to their extended positions unless the deck structure is in its raised position.

7. A floor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each modular section of the deck structure comprises an outer skin of a synthetic plastics material surrounding an inner core of a buoyant material.

8. A floor according to claim 7, wherein the buoyant material is polyurethane foam material.

9. A floor according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the modular sections are detachably connected to the framework which is itself capable of being dismantled so that the whole deck structure can be dismantled and re-erected.

10. A floor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the framework is of stainless steel.

11. A floor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein certain or all of the edges of the deck structure have apertured members to enable water to flow through the apertures when the deck structure is raised or lowered.

12. A floor according to claim 11, wherein the apertured members include perforated stainless steel panels which are attached to the framework at the edge or edges thereof and which are arranged to be coplanar with the remainder of the upper surface of the deck structure.

13. A floor for a swimming pool constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.