FR2714296A1 - Multi-purpose structure for aquatic sports activities - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure has a base (2) whose back tube (3) is fixed to the edge of the pool by a block, and feet (8) under each corner rest on the ground. The top part of the structure has bent tubes (5,6) which project over the water. Accessories (30) are fixed to the transversal tubes of the base and the upper part by supports (28) with sleeves which fit into the open end of the tubes. The block has a rod through it which is turned by a handle (16) to engage a bar on its lower end under a plate in the ground.

Description

 Multipurpose sleeper structure For mainly aquatic sports activities.

 The object of the invention relates to the technical sector of sports and educational equipment for water bodies.

 One of the aims of the invention is to make available to communities and individuals an economic set of means and equipment related to the activities practiced in water bodies, capable of being used in different applications, without modification significant of the surroundings of said water bodies.

 In a first application, we wanted the structure according to the invention to allow swimming, to several people simultaneously by a single monitor.

 For this and according to a first characteristic, the supporting structure is in the form of a bracket, the base of which positioned at the edge of the body of water comprises, on the one hand support points on the ground and, on the other hand, at least one anchoring point in said ground equipped for this purpose, while the upper part advancing above the water level and / or the base of the structure is equipped at the front, on the side opposite the plane of water, of means capable of receiving various accessories such as poles, brassiere holders, harnesses, etc.

 According to another characteristic, the anchoring point or points on the ground of the support structure are of the removable type and comprise an operating and locking element secured to the base of the structure and an additional receiving element buried in a cavity formed in the ground at the edge.

 According to another characteristic, the swimming aid equipment is adapted on supports arranged to be secured to the structure in a removable and orientable manner.

 We wanted the load-bearing structure to be usable for other applications than the teaching of swimming. For example, to serve as a support for sports equipment such as a water ball net, a basketball basket, a water polo cage, a supervisory or referee seat, a diving board ...

 For this, the structure can be equipped with all means and members for suspension, attachment, dismountable assembly, either from the jib equipment receiving the swimming aid supports, or by complementary arrangements.

 According to another interesting application, the supporting structure can be used to define water lines in a basin. For this, it can be fitted with tensioning crossbeams for wires, the other end of which can advantageously be fixed to ground anchoring points of the same type as those of the structure.

 These characteristics and others will emerge from the following description.

To fix the subject of the invention without however limiting it, in the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the support structure installed at the edge of a pool and equipped for swimming assistance.

 FIG. 2 is a profile view corresponding substantially to FIG. 1.

 FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding substantially to FIG. 2.

 Figure 4 is a sectional view on a large scale showing the anchor point of the bracket according to the invention.

 FIG. 5 is a plan view of the complementary equipment for locking the jib buried in the ground, considered along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

 Figure 6 is a sectional view on a large scale illustrating a pole support and connection with the bracket.

 Figures 7 and 8 are sections considered along line 7-7 of Figure 6, showing two embodiments of the swivel connection between the pole support and the bracket.

 FIG. 9 is a view in partial section on a large scale considered along the broken line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

 Figure 10 is a sectional view on a large scale illustrating an embodiment of a support point on the ground of the bracket.

 Figure 1 1 is a plan view illustrating several alternative embodiments of the support structure for various applications.

 Figure 12 is a sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the ground anchor point.

 FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 1313 of FIG. 12.

 In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in nonlimiting embodiments illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

 The supporting structure, referenced as a whole by the reference (SP), is in the form of a rigid bracket (1) composed for example of a base frame and support on the ground (2) with, a tube folded in a U (3) and closed by a lower crossmember (4), said frame being positioned on the ground at the edge of a body of water. At the four angles of the base frame are fixed perpendicularly arches (5) and (6) extending generally inclined towards the body of water where they meet and terminate in an upper crosspiece (7) parallel to the lower cross member (4), while a rear cross member (6a) connects the arches (6).

 At the angles of the tube (3) and on the cross-member (4) are positioned support points (8) on the ground made up of feet adjustable in height by screw nut (9) and preferably with adjustable support surface (10) for adapt to any deformation or inclination of the ground (figure 10).

 The bracket (1) is fixed to the ground, bearing on its feet (8) by at least one anchor point (11). Depending on the dimensions and the applications of the stem, other judiciously distributed anchor points can be provided.

 In the example illustrated, in particular in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the single anchor point is arranged in the middle part of the crosspiece (3a) of the base frame and is, for the part integral with the bracket, under the shape of a block (12) secured to said crosspiece (3a) with a vertically offset centering for guiding a sheath (14) which is crossed in leaktight fashion by an operating rod (15) the upper part of which forms grip handle (16), while on the lower end projecting under the block is wedged angularly a locking bar (17). A spring (18) interposed between a shoulder of the rod (15) and the shouldered bottom of the sheath (14), ensures the plating of the bar (17) at rest (broken lines, Figure 4).

 An additional receiving element (.19) allows the stem to be locked on the ground. This element is preferably housed in a cavity (S1) in the ground (S).

 To correctly and quickly position the supporting structure above this element, studs (20) are provided under the block (12) intended to cooperate with recesses (21) produced on a closure plate (22) disposed flush of the ground. This closure plate has in its middle part (FIG. 5) an oblong opening (22a) for the passage of the locking bar (17), as well as two guide columns (23) for a plug (24) subjected to the action of return springs (25) to seal off the opening (22a) in the unlocked position. Finally, a claw plate (26) is assembled to the columns (23) and to a box (27) to serve as a seal for the assembly by filling the cavity (S1) with cement.

 It is understood that to operate the locking of the structure on the ground, it suffices to act on the handle (16) against the spring (18) to allow the passage of the bar (17) in the opening (22a) , said bar pushing the plug (24) at the same time, then pivoting 90 "so as to place the bar (17) transversely (dashed lines, FIG. 5) relative to the opening (22a), position preferably marked by a recess (22b) of the opening (Figure 4).

 The abovementioned ground anchor point or points require work on the beach at the edge of the basin to accommodate the additional reception equipment (19), which can be annoying when it is not provided for during construction.

 According to the variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the anchor point or points are used without modifying the ground at the edge of the basin.

 For this, we advantageously use the chute (G) which is provided around the swimming pools for the flow of overflowing water.

 For this purpose, there is between the walls of the chute a pressure support device (36) composed of two coaxial threaded rods (37 38) with reverse pitch with support pads (37a-38a), cooperating with a block T-shaped support (39) which is traversed axially by a bore (39a) in which is centered the bearing surface (40a) of a fixing flange (40) with two lateral fixing points (41). The flange is traversed axially by a thread (40b) into which the threaded seat (42a) of an operating rod (42) which is connected to a support member (43) made integral with the base (2) gallows.

 In detail, the support member is composed of two half-collars (44) (45) mounted around the base tube. Preferably, to ensure firm anchoring of the structure, two adjustable support members (43) are provided and positioned in the middle part of the lateral tubes of the base (2).

 In the half-collar (44) is arranged an orifice for the passage of the operating rod (42) with a central part (44a) tapped for connection with the threaded part (42a) of the rod and two clearances (44b44c) of on either side for housing the corresponding bearing surfaces (42b-42c) of the rod.

 The upper part of the rod (42) has an appropriate operating head (42d) forming a handle, lever, or else drilled in (42e) for the introduction of an operating axis, when one does not want to allow the anchor to be released unexpectedly.

 Note that depending on the height position of the pressure anchor, a spacer washer (46) can be interposed between the flange and the support block so that said flange is substantially flush with the grid or grating ( G1) placed on the chute.

 In the case where there is no chute around the basin, one can simply drown the flange (40) or the support block (39) in a cemented cavity.

 On the other hand, the support pads (37a-38a) can be replaced by tapered ends to penetrate under pressure into the walls of the chute.

 In the application to the teaching of swimming, the gallows is equipped with related accessories, namely poles, portbrassières, harnesses ... For this, the upper crossbar (7) and / or the lower crossbar ( 4) of the bracket extend laterally beyond the frames and hoops and receive by any means, preferably removable, supports (28) of said accessories (Figures 1,2,3,6,9 in particular).

 To this end, the supports (28) are arranged with a shouldered sleeve (28a) intended to cooperate with the open ends of the crosspieces or they are detachably secured by any means such as elastic blade (29) including the end studs (29a) are housed in diametrically opposite holes (28b) of the sleeves and (4a) - (7a) of said crosspieces.

 To fix the supports (28) in an orientable manner on the crosspieces, other holes (4a-7a) are provided at angles (a-al) on the crosspieces, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. This orientation can also be obtained by other equivalent means such as pins, splines and locking ring, bayonet-type assembly, ball joint, universal joint, etc.

 The supports (28) are arranged according to the accessories which they must carry. In the example illustrated, these accessories are conventional poles (30) which are slidably mounted in an opening (28c) of the supports, established perpendicular to the sleeve (28a), and locked in position by an operating device (31) to clamping pads (31a).

 As indicated, the supports (28) can be adapted to receive other accessories. It is also possible, as shown in FIG. 11, to equip the ends of the crosspieces (4) and (7) with removable tubular extensions (32) of different lengths and provided with the aforementioned snap-fastening members, in order to separate the poles (30), or to fix on said poles or bars other accessories such as a net (F) of water ball. It is also possible, for example, to have at the ends of the lower cross member (4) extensions (33) equipped with attachment means (33a) for a wire or cable (34) intended to delimit water lines. In this case, opposite the basin, it is advantageous to fix these water lines in tension using elements (11) for anchoring to the ground cooperating with buried complementary elements (19) distributed around the basin. The water lines can also be hung on an eyelet (4b) of the crosspiece (4).

 The stem can also be fitted with other supporting members comparable to the crosspieces (4) and (7) such as the removable extensions (35) illustrated in FIG. 11 which can support, for example, a basket (B) of aquatic basketball or a support ( 28).

 The upper crossmember (7) can support, for example at its spring studs (29a) the frame (O) of a waterpolo cage (W).

 As illustrated in FIG. 2, between the arches (6) of the bracket, it is possible to fix in any detachable manner or not, a seat (A), a grating (C), a diving board (P).

 It is also possible to provide on the ground, parallel to at least one side of the basin, a buried rail (R), in place of the anchoring element (19) arranged to authorize the engagement and locking of the structure by its bar (17) at any point along said basin.

 To provide greater safety to apprentice swimmers, provision can also be made to attach a recovery net to the gallows at rest at the bottom of the pool and which can be quickly lifted by pulling the ropes wound on pulleys turning on crosspieces .

 Finally, it is obvious that this structure can be positioned around all types of public or private swimming pools, by the sea along a quay, on a pontoon offshore or even in a gym.

Claims (17)

-1- Multipurpose carrying structure for mainly aquatic sports activities characterized in that it is in the form of a bracket (1) whose base (2) positioned at the edge of a body of water, comprises of part of the ground support points (8) and, on the other hand, at least one anchor point (11-19) or (36-43) in said ground equipped for this purpose, while the upper part ( 5-6-7) advancing above the water level and / or the front part of the base (2) of the bracket, is equipped with means capable of receiving various accessories such as poles (30) for assisting the swimming, seat (A), grating (C), diving board (P) water polo cage (W), basketball basket (B), water ball net (F), water line device (34 ) .... -2- Support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchor point (s) (11-19) or (36-43) on the ground of the support structure are of the removable type and each comprise an operating element and locking (16) or (42) integral with the base (2) of the bracket (1) and one or more complementary receiving elements (19) (36) or (R) fixed flush with the ground bordering the plane of water. -3- Supporting structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the anchor point or points (36-43) are formed for the part integral with the base of the bracket, by two half-collars (44-45) fixed adjustable in position on the base (2), one of the half-collars being equipped with an operating rod (42) cooperating with the part of the anchor housed in the ground by means of the axial thread d '' a fixing flange (40) embedded in the ground. -4- Supporting structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the anchoring points (36) are constituted by a support block (39) connected to the flange (40) and transversely carrying two coaxial threaded rods (3738) to support and pressurizing pad (37a-38a) against the walls of a chute (G) generally fitted around the basins. -5- Structure according to claim 3 characterized in that said fixing flange (40) is directly embedded in a sealing cavity formed on the ground around the basin. -6- Supporting structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking element is a transverse bar (17) integral with an operating rod (15) whose upper end forms a grip handle (16); said strip projecting under a block (12) connecting with the base (2) and being able to be moved in the direction of the receiving element (19), against an elastic return member (18), to penetrate in an oblong opening (22a) made on a closure plate (22) of the element (19), then by pivoting 90, be housed in a notch (22b) of the opening (22a) for the purpose of locking gallows. -7- Supporting structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the complementary element (19) consists of a box (27) buried in a cavity (S1) of the ground (S) and formed at its lower part by a sealing plate (26) between the upper closure plate (22) and said plate (26) is disposed a plug (24) for automatically closing the opening (22a) by column guide (23) and springs (25 ) when said plug is not stressed by the locking bar (17). The complementary anchoring element consists of a buried rail (R), arranged parallel to the edge of the water body at least on one of its sides, and whose profile allows the engagement and locking of the bar (17) of the anchoring element (11). -8- Supporting structure according to claim 2, characterized in that -9- Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the points (8) of support on the ground of the bracket (1) are adjustable in height and adjustable by any means such as screw-nut (9) and surface d 'articulated support (10); these points being judiciously distributed under the basic frame (2). -10- Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (2) of the bracket (1) is constituted by a frame composed of a tube (3) folded into a U and closed by a lower crosspiece (4) ; at the four angles of the base rising in an inclined manner arches (5) (6) which meet in front of the base above the water level and which are connected to an upper crosspiece (7) while a rear upper cross member (6a) connects the arches (6). -11- Supporting structure according to claims 1 and 10 together characterized in that the means capable of receiving accessories are removably attached by any means to the projecting ends of the crosspiece (7) and / or the crosspiece (4). -12- Supporting structure according to claim 11, characterized in that the means capable of receiving accessories are supports (28) having a shouldered sleeve (28a) intended to cooperate with the open ends of the crosspieces (4) and (7) where they are detachably secured by any means such as pins, elastic blade (29) whose end pads (29a) are housed in holes (4a) (7a) of the sleeves and (28b) of the crosspieces. -13- Supporting structure according to claim 12, characterized in that the supports (28) are fixed in an orientable manner on the crossbars (4) and (7) by any means such as multiplication of the holes (4a) (7a). -14- Supporting structure according to claim 12, characterized in that the supports (28) are arranged with a sliding mounting opening (2 &) for poles (30) of swimming aid which are locked in position by an operating device (31) with clamping shoe (31a). -15- Supporting structure according to claims 10 and 12 together characterized in that the bracket (1) has, for example at its upper crosspiece (7) one or more removable extensions (35) fitted at the end of the latching members to receive supports (28) and other accessory holders. -16- Supporting structure according to claims 10 and 12 together, characterized in that the crosspieces (4) and (7) receive at the end removable tubular extensions (32) (33) of different lengths, capable of carrying supports (28 ) and other accessories. -17- Supporting structure according to claims 2 and 16 together, characterized in that the extensions (32-33) are equipped with attachment means (33a) for wires or cables (34) connected opposite to the plane d water to sets of ground anchor points (11) (19) or (R) in order to constitute water lines.