EP2157261A1 - Covering device for a pool, such as a swimming pool. - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a folding or rolling mechanism i.e. rolling tube (5), transversely extending to deployment direction of a flexible cover (2) e.g. roll top. A lifting unit (6) e.g. hoist, comprises an articulated arm for maintaining the mechanism in an angular position with respect to its longitudinal axis during displacement of the mechanism between a retracted position and a raised position (7) above a pool (3). A housing (10) is adjacent to the pool in the retracted position of the mechanism, and the cover is brought above the pool for deploying the cover in the raised position.

Description

The invention relates to a basin covering device, such as a swimming pool, comprising a mechanism for winding or folding a flexible cover or in the form of a deck with blades, this mechanism extending transversely to the direction for deploying said cover and being held at its ends by means of lifting means designed to transmit to said mechanism a vertical and horizontal component displacement from, from a housing adjacent to the basin, bring the cover to- above it for deployment.

The present invention relates to the field of pool cover devices, particularly swimming pools, reel type or other device for folding a cover, whether flexible or in the form of a deck blade.

There are different types of roll-up or collapsible pool covers.

In particular, some of these covers are made of a flexible material, such as a tarpaulin, more or less translucent for, depending on the case, to promote or not the passage of sunlight.

We still know blankets called "bubble sheets" intended to extend and float on the surface of the pool water so as to avoid loss of calories.

Such cover may also take the form of a simple net, often used during winter periods to prevent dead leaves and other debris from falling into the pool.

At the same time, there are known basin covers in the form of an apron composed of a juxtaposition of more or less rigid blades. These blades, as the case may be, are connected in an articulated manner to one another for winding or zigzag folding of said apron, or comprise, on their longitudinal edges, attachment means allowing them to deploy by coming to hook to each other forming the cover. During folding these blades are unhooked on the contrary from each other to fold overlay.

Whatever the nature of this cover, the mechanism that allows folding or winding extends transversely to one end of the basin. This mechanism, for example in the form of a winding tube, is held in rotation at its ends by means of support consoles resting on the ground. It is very common for at least one of these consoles has rolling means for laterally moving the pool cover. More exactly, the user grasps the console opposite to that provided with these rolling means for slightly raising the cover and pushing it in a longitudinal direction, that is substantially transverse to the direction of deployment.

Only sufficiently light covering devices are likely to be moved, thus, to clear the periphery of the basin and facilitate access to the latter. In particular, in the case of blade covers, the brackets are usually permanently attached to one end of the basin. Very often, moreover, such covers blades or deck are provided to float immediately above the body of water and it is essential, to allow its deployment, but also its folding that, for example, the tube of winding is perfectly square with the axis of deployment of said cover, or the axis of the basin.

This condition must also be respected for soft blankets, whether they are blankets intended to be spread over the pool or to float on the water. If this squareness is not perfect, the cover is caused to wind in spirals around the winding tube or folding can be done. Depending on the case, the total folding is prevented through a support bracket on which then rubs the corresponding longitudinal edge of the cover.

Also, it is clear that after each movement of the covering device, there is the problem of its positioning at the square in the axis of the basin and in the alignment of the edges of the latter.

Obviously, coming to fix the cover device at one end of this basin, we come to answer once and for all to this problem, except that we can no longer completely free around the pool.

Currently, there are solutions for housing such a cover device in a box in the form of a poolside reservation. In this case the cover is caused to extend on the surface of the water at the outlet of a communication slot with the housing which houses it. This means that the water basin communicates with the box housing the device and it is necessary to provide a flow of water connected to the filtration system to ensure its renewal in this box. In addition, the cover and the winding mechanism are kept constantly embedded in this water, which poses the problem of cleaning and accessibility. To this must be added that the water of a swimming pool is most often chlorinated and / or salty and therefore aggressive for mechanical parts.

Such cover devices must be installed as soon as the pool is built and represent a cost often much higher than the mobile devices described above.

We still know, by the document DE-31 42 873 , a covering device comprising a pool cover winding tube held at its ends by consoles in the form of levers mounted swinging in an upper angle of a chest adjacent to the basin. Also, since an erased position in this trunk, this winding tube and therefore the cover wrapped around it can be brought above said basin so as to allow the cover to fall freely in the latter and easily extend above the water. Lever-shaped consoles adopt an L shape in the corner of which is fixed the end of a telescopic cylinder.

He is also known by the document DE-41 09 584 a similar pool cover winding device. However, the tilting control means of the winding tube to bring it into its active position for the deployment or folding of the cover or in its retracted position in the boot provided for this purpose at the pool front are dissociated means opening and closing control of the lid used to close the safe.

The disadvantage deriving from these recovery devices according to these documents DE-31 42 873 and DE-41 09 584 consists in that the tilting commands of the support consoles lead to a rotation of the winding tube generating, necessarily, a partial unfolding of the cover. However, the shorter length of tarpaulin or unrolled shutter can handle the controls for storing and extracting the winding tube of the trunk. Similarly, this portion of the cover maintained deployed may rub along the walls of the trunk or on the edge of the pool during the various maneuvers, and thus become damaged in the long run. It can also soak in the bottom of the trunk in which rainwater can flow not necessarily clean.

The present invention proposes to meet all of the aforementioned drawbacks through a covering device that allows to completely release the periphery of the basin when the cover is folded, while avoiding all the constraints of specific arrangements that require, usually, submerged devices with deployment to water. More particularly, this device is able to avoid uncontrolled unfolding of the cover during the phases of retraction and deployment.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a basin covering device, such as a swimming pool, comprising a mechanism for winding or folding a flexible cover or in the form of a deck with blades, this mechanism extending transversely to the direction of deployment of said cover and being maintained, at its ends, by means of lifting means designed to transmit to said mechanism a vertical and horizontal component displacement, from a housing adjacent to the basin, to bring the cover above the latter for deployment, characterized in that said lifting means are defined to maintain said mechanism substantially in the same angular position with respect to its longitudinal axis during its movements between its retracted position in said housing adjacent to the pool and its position above the pool to allow the deployment of said cover.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lifting means at the ends of the mechanism for winding or folding the cover comprise articulated arms.

Apart from the fact that the covering device according to the invention can be erased in a suitable housing at the edge of everything while being able to extend over this basin for the deployment of the cover, the latter is perfectly maintained in position during these maneuvers so as to avoid a partial deployment of this cover. Moreover, in the case of a folding type cover, a change in its angular position may simply cause a malfunction of the deployment mechanism and this cover.

It has already been mentioned above all the disadvantages that can generate a partial unwinding of a roll-up cover during the retraction or lifting phases of the winding mechanism of this cover.

• la figure 1 représente de manière schématisée le dispositif de recouvrement selon l'invention escamoté dans un logement adjacent au bassin
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 illustrant le dispositif de recouvrement amené dans sa première position surélevée au-dessus du bassin en vue du déploiement et du repliement de la couverture.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and in view of the attached drawing corresponding to an embodiment of this invention.

• the figure 1 schematically represents the covering device according to the invention retracted into a housing adjacent to the basin
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 illustrating the recovery device brought into its first raised position above the basin for deployment and folding of the cover.

As shown in the figures of the attached drawing, the present invention relates to a covering device 1 having a cover 2 defined to extend over a pool 3, more particularly a pool.

In this regard, there is shown in the figures a mode of execution where the cover 2 is brought to fall back and float on the surface 4 of the water contained in the pool 3 or pool. However, the present invention can not be limited to such an application. In particular, it can be expected that the cover 2 is deployed above the basin 3 by resting on the peripheral edges of the latter, for example the pool edges.

As regards the cover 2 itself, it may be in the form of a tarpaulin or apron consisting of a succession of blades. Thus, these blades can be connected in an articulated manner to each other to allow the winding of the apron or folding accordion, just as these blades can be provided with attachment means to allow the folding of the deck by superposition of these blades . Similarly, this cover can be defined by an opaque tarpaulin or translucent, or even a net.

The covering device 1, according to the invention, comprises a mechanism 5 for winding or folding the cover 2. Thus, this mechanism can be in the form of a winding tube around which and from which can come s roll up or unfold the blanket 2.

Whatever the mechanism 5 extends transversely to the direction of deployment of the cover 2 and is held at its ends by suitable lifting means 6.

In one embodiment where this cover 2 is in the form of a foldable leaf deck, this mechanism will adopt, obviously an embodiment accordingly, for example that of a box provided with drive means ensuring as appropriate the attachment or stall of the blades in the deployment phase or folding. Whatever the case, this mechanism 5, whether in the form of a winding tube or a box, is held at its lateral ends by these lifting means 6.

Note, with regard to the driving of the winding tube 5 or any folding mechanism, to ensure, as appropriate, the deployment or folding of the cover 2, it can be manual or motorized type . In particular, manual drive means can be installed on the lifting means 6, just as on the latter can be attached an electric drive motor. Note also that such a motor can still take position in the winding tube 5 itself.

The lifting means 6 are defined to bring the mechanism 5, more particularly the cover 2, into at least a first raised position 7 above the basin 3 to allow the deployment of this cover 2 above the latter and beyond. at least a second lowered position 8, preferably below the level 9 of the basin 3, so as to allow the retraction of this mechanism 5 and this blanket 2, folded or wound, in a housing 10 adjacent the basin 3.

In sum, these lifting means 6 are thus designed to allow the installation of the covering device 1 in a housing which is adjacent to the basin, while being below the level of the latter so as to release its periphery. However, for the deployment of the cover 2, these lifting means 6 are able to raise it and position it above the basin 3 avoiding any communication between the latter and the housing 10.

According to the invention, the lifting means 6 are designed capable of transmitting to this cover 2, folded or wound, a combined movement, vertical and horizontal component, precisely to bring it from its initial position, retracted in a housing 10, which is adjacent to the basin 3, above the latter. Thus, this cover 2 can fall freely and vertically on the surface of the water 4 in this basin 3.

As it is also visible in the figure 2 when the winding tube 5, or any other adapted folding mechanism, is brought into this first raised position 7 above the basin 3, the blanket 2 can freely and vertically join the body of water 4, which this cover 2 is wholly or partly wound on this winding tube 5 or at the end of deployment.

In particular, according to the invention, the lifting means 6 are defined to maintain said mechanism 5, whether it be a winding tube or a box, substantially in the same angular position with respect to its axis. longitudinal, transverse to the direction of deployment of the cover 2, during its movements between its lowered position 8 and retracted into said housing 10 adjacent to the basin 3 and its position 7 above the basin 3 to allow the deployment of said cover 2.

Thus, by keeping a winding tube in the same angular position about its axis of rotation, the cover 2 wrapped around this tube is not likely to unfold in part to come interfere with the operation of extraction or retraction of the mechanism 5 in the housing 10. Similarly in the case of a folding mechanism of a cover in the form of a deck blade, systematically maintaining this angular position around its longitudinal axis, we can avoid malfunctions when folding or deploying this coverage.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the lifting means 6 comprise articulated arms 12 designed able to maintain, at each of its ends, the folding mechanism or winding 5, in this case the winding tube. Such articulated arms 12 can be mounted on a base 13 which can take up position in the housing 10 adjacent to the basin 3. In particular, these articulated arms can be pivotally mounted on a bracket 14 extending substantially vertically from this base 13.

As is visible in the drawings, the articulated arms 12 may consist of a combination of several arms 12A, 12B successively pivoted on the ends of each other. Servo-control means further connect these arms 12A, 12B to each other and / or to the base 13, or even the bracket 14 to ensure the servocontrol of the rotation of the arms 12A, 121B between them and to guarantee the maintenance of the mechanism 5 in the same angular position during maneuvers.

By way of example, this servocontrol can be ensured through a gear connection or any other mechanical transmission between these arms 12A, 12B and / or the base 13 or the bracket 14.

A deployment and folding control mechanism, of the hydraulic, hydroelectric or electrical type, can complete the lifting means 6 to actuate these articulated arms 12 and bring the mechanism 5, as the case may be, to its first raised position 7 or its second position. lowered position 8. Moreover, the enslavement referred to above can be ensured through this control mechanism.

The latter can still be controlled control opening and closing a hatch 15 ensuring the recovery of the housing 10, in particular when the covering device 1 is retracted there. However, such a hatch 15 may also be provided able to close the housing 10 when the mechanism 5 and thus the cover 2 has been brought to its first raised position 7 by the lifting means 6, this to prevent any fall in this housing 10. For example, this hatch 15 may be provided, laterally, with indentations or cutouts for the passage of the articulated arms 12.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to a design of lifting means 6 in the form of articulated arms. They can still be designed by jacks or even slides or other guide rails along which can, for example, be mounted movably in translation the ends of the mechanism 5.

The advantages deriving from the present invention consist, essentially, in that the covering device 1 not only does not encumber the periphery of the basin 3 when the cover 2 is rolled up or folded up, so when the pool is uncovered, but in in addition, it has all the advantages of longevity and ease of maintenance of a non-recessed and non-submerged cover. The invention also ensures a perfectly controlled deployment of the cover, that it is in flexible form or a blade shutter. It especially avoids that a partial deployment of this cover can occur during the lifting and lowering phases of the winding mechanism or folding.

Claims (11)

Pond covering device (3), such as a swimming pool, comprising a mechanism (5) for winding or folding a flexible cover (2) or in the form of a leaf deck, this mechanism (5) extending transversely to the direction of deployment of said cover (2) and being held at its ends by means of lifting means (6) designed to transmit to said mechanism (5) a vertical and horizontal component displacement for, starting from a housing (10) adjacent to the basin (3), bringing the cover (2) above the latter for its deployment, characterized in that said lifting means (6) are defined to maintain said mechanism (5) substantially in the same angular position relative to its longitudinal axis during its movements between its retracted position (8) in said housing (10) adjacent to the basin (3) and its position (7) above the pelvis (3) to allow deployment of said neck verture (2). Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting means (6) comprise articulated arms (12) designed to maintain at each of its ends, the folding mechanism or winding (5). Covering device according to claim 2, characterized in that the articulated arms (12) consist of a combination of several arms (12A, 12B) successively pivoted on the ends of each other. Covering device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the articulated arms (12) are mounted on a base (13). Covering device according to any one of claims 3, characterized in that servo means connect the arms (12A, 12B) to each other and / or to the base 13, to ensure the servocontrol of the rotation of these arms (12A, 121B) between them and guarantee the maintenance of the mechanism (5) substantially in the same angular position relative to its longitudinal axis during its movements. Covering device according to any one of claims 2 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a deployment and folding control mechanism, of hydraulic, hydroelectric or electric type for actuating the articulated arms (12) and bringing the mechanism (5), as the case may be, in its position (7) above the basin (3) or its retracted position (8). Covering device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said servo means are constituted substantially by said deployment and folding control mechanism. Covering device according to claim 6, characterized in that said control mechanism is slaved the control of opening and closing a hatch (15) ensuring the recovery of the housing (10) provided to accommodate the recovery device (1). Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that lifting means (6) consist of cylinders. Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting means (6) consist of slides or guide rails along which are mounted movable in translation the ends of the winding or folding mechanism (5). Covering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding or folding mechanism (5) is provided with manual drive means or an electric drive motor for the deployment control and folding the cover (2).

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