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The present invention refers to a pool overflow edge.
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As it is known, with regard to water recirculation and filtering systems in pools there are basically two construction systems.
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The most traditional one is the so-called "skimmer" system. In such a system, pool water is sucked by pumps, through an array of ports onto the walls, then filtered and then inletted again in the pool.
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However, such a system, though quite simple and not highly critical from an implementation standpoint, entails a remarkable drawback in terms of cleanliness and hygiene of the pool and of the water.
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In fact, in pools with a skimmer system, the free surface of the water continually laps the sidewalls of the pool, accordingly staining them in the long run and compelling to continual cleaning operations. Moreover, such a system does not ensure a constant and complete flowing of the water along the entire free surface and this entails a possible permanence of residues (hair, insects, leaves, etc.) onto the surface of the water.
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The second system is called "overflow edge". In this case, the water from the pool continually overflows into a perimeter collection channel, through which it is then brought to a compensation tank, then filtered and inletted again in the pool.
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With respect to the skimmer system, the overflow edge entails several relevant advantages, in the first place of functional type. In fact, the superficial layer of the water, the most polluted one, is continuously interchanged through the edge, thereby keeping cleaner the water in the pool.
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However, the overflow system is more complex and expensive than the skimmer system, requiring special care and accuracy in the construction and installation steps.
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The main drawback in the use of such a system lies in that, once the overflow edge has been installed the pool filled with water, it is not possible to rectify any construction and/or installation fault. In particular, it is extremely important that the overflow edge be exactly flush with respect to the horizontal plane of the free surface of the water, otherwise there would be edge zones in which the water does not overflow into the perimeter collection channel, causing an inefficiency of the recycling system.
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On the other hand, the installation of an overflow edge is usually performed on an empty pool and therefore the correct positioning derives exclusively from the installers' care and the normal mounting tolerances of the various components.
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Hence, object of the present invention is to solve said problems, by providing an adjustable overflow edge as defined in claim 1.
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Further features of the present invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims thereof.
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The main advantage deriving from the use of the present invention lies in that it enables an extremely simpler installation, not requiring the absolute accuracy of the known systems. This result is attained thanks to a system for adjusting the height of the edge, that can be operated at completed installation, i.e. when the pool has already been filled with water, thereby micrometrically adjusting the height of the edge along the entire perimeter of the pool.
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Further advantages, as well as features and the operation modes of the present invention will be made evident in the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example, making reference to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 is a perspective view of a pool;
- figure 2 is a sectional view of an edge portion of the pool of figure 1;
- figure 2A is a detail of figure 2, illustrating the adjustment options;
- figure 3 is a view of a curved portion of the edge of the pool; and
- figures 4A and 4B illustrate the adjustment mode.
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The present invention will be described with reference to the aboveindicated figures.
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In particular, figure 1 shows a pool, the water recirculation and filtering system thereof being implemented with the so-called overflow edge system.
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Next, figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the edge of a pool 4, taken along line A-A of figure 1.
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The edge of the pool 4 is implemented through the union of a plurality of linear and/or curved overflow edge elements, all basically having the profile shown in figure 2.
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Each of said elements is usually made of metallic material, preferably of galvanized sheet iron. The different elements, which compounded will form the overflow edge of the pool 4, can then be made in different lengths to be adapted to the specific case, or even made in a manner such as to form angles and/or curves, through suitable shaping and/or sectional cuts.
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The overflow edge element comprises a support portion 2 shaped so as to form a perimeter channel 3 about the pool 4. The perimeter channel has the function of collecting the water 5 overflowing from the pool to the outside and of conducting it into the recycling and filtering system.
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Said support portion 2 may be constituted of plural parts connected thereamong through longitudinal junctions, or of a single piece of suitably shaped sheet iron. The optional junctions are made through fastening members such as screws, bolts and/or rivets, or by means of welding.
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The overflow edge element further comprises an overflow profile 6. The overflow profile 6 is connected to the support portion 2 along a longitudinal direction and has a first inner longitudinal edge 7 fixed to the support portion 2 in correspondence of the edge of the pool 4.
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Moreover, the overflow profile 6 has a second longitudinal edge 8 opposite to the first one that, in the operative configuration, will be arranged in correspondence of an edge of the perimeter channel. The edge 8 of the overflow profile is free, i.e. not constrained to the support portion 2.
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Lastly, the overflow profile 6 comprises a conveying portion 12, comprised between the two longitudinal edges 7, 8.
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The overflow edge element further comprises micrometric adjustment means 10 for the adjusting of the height of the overflow profile 6.
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More in detail, the overflow profile 6 actually constitutes the top end of the edge of the pool 4. When the pool is filled, water overflows through the top 11 of the overflow profile 6, to end into the perimeter channel 3.
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As explained hereto, it is required that the level of the overflow profile be exactly horizontal, in a manner such that water may evenly overflow along the entire perimeter of the pool.
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According to the present invention, the overflow profile 6 is preferably made of a rigid material, e.g. of galvanised sheet iron. However, the section of the overflow profile is such as to assure a certain flexibility of the portion 12.
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For instance, this portion could advantageously have an extension sufficient to allow a certain bending with respect to the edge 7, which is stationary.
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Such a bending, obtained by manoeuvring the adjustment means 10, results in a change of the height of the top 11 of the contour 6 with respect to the surface of the water.
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Evidently, by locally changing this height for each of the elements composing the overflow edge as a whole, a fine adjustment of the height of the latter is attained along the entire perimeter of the pool, thereby adapting it to the water surface in a manner such as to attain the desired end result.
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For this purpose, the adjustment means 10 may be constituted of one or more registering elements. In particular, depending on the length of each overflow edge element, there could advantageously be provided the presence of a registering element every 50-70 cm in the linear sections, and every 20-40 cm in the curvilinear sections.
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Each registering element 10 according to the present invention is a screw device interposed between the edge 8 of the overflow profile 6 and a corresponding region of the support portion 2, as is evident in figures 2 and 2A.
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The device 10 is constituted by two spacers, connected by means of a screw in a manner such that their mutual distance varies correspondingly to the operation of the screw device, e.g., through a key 15.
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In particular, one of the two spacers is integral to the edge of the overflow profile 6, whereas the other one abuts with, or, even better, is integral to the support portion 2.
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Hence, evidently by acting on the screw, as illustrated in figure 2A, it is possible to change, within certain limits, the height of the top 11 of the overflow profile 6. Reasonably, also to prevent excessive bending that could lead to a warping of the conveying portion 12, the height of the overflow profile may be changed of a maximum quantity D equal to about 1.5 cm.
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According to the present invention, the section of the overflow profile has been specifically designed, as shown in figures 2 and 2A, in order to make the adjustment operation as easy as possible. In particular, the conveying portion 12 is tilted, forming a flaring of the edge itself of the pool 4.
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Beyond the top 11 the section of the profile has a step 16, apt to receive an end of a grid 17 for covering the perimeter channel 3, and therefore it is collapsed onto itself to form a "C". Such a "C"-shaped structure provides a particular resistance to stresses and to yields, contributing to make the end structure particularly rigid.
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The key for the operation of the adjustment key could be inserted through a hole 18 made in the sheet iron of the profile 6, in correspondence of the adjustment device 10.
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As mentioned above, the main advantage attained by means of the present invention lies in that it enables the adjustment of the level of the overflow profile, when the pool 4 has already been filled with water, therefore when the installation is already completed.
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In fact, it is known that to complete the installation of an overflow edge it is necessary to arrange thereon a lining sheet 20. The sheet 20 is waterproof and laid from inside the pool 4 to entirely line the inside of the perimeter channel 3.
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In the case of the present invention, this is not a problem to the ends of the subsequent adjustment. In fact, making reference to figures 4A and 4B, these illustrate how the registration of the adjustment devices 10 may be carried on even when the overflow edge has been definitively installed.
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In fact, it will suffice to make a small hole in the lining sheet 20, just at the adjustment device to be operated. Once performed the adjustment via the key 15, the hole could easily be closed up by the appending of a small quantity of a specific adhesive in a manner such as to restore the waterproofing functionality of the lining 20.
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The present invention has hereto been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example.
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It is understood that other embodiments could be envisaged, all to be construed as falling within the protective scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.
