FR2776322A1 - Swimming pool floor able to be raised or lowered by scissors - Google Patents

Abstract

The swimming pool floor can be raised or lowered by a scissors linkage (3,6). Each scissor comprises two arms, the first (3b) being pivoted in its lower part around a pivot (3c) which can move longitudinally relative to the pool bottom (15). This arm is also pivoted in its upper part around a fixed pivot (3d). The second arm (3e) is pivoted in its lower part around a fixed pivot (3a) and about a pivot (3f) on the first arm.

Description

Movable pool floor between the bottom of the pool and the level

  of use. The present invention relates to a swimming pool floor movable between the bottom of

  the pool and the level of use.

  There are known swimming pools with movable floors between the bottom of the pool and the upper part thereof. European patent EP 0 549 472 B 1 describes such pools. When the movable floor is in the use position, it can either be submerged or in the cover position. In either case, the

  users lean or walk on the floor. It is therefore essential that this

  this one does not present parts in cantilever which could yield under the weight of the users. The mechanical elements described in the above European patent

  referenced allow to lift and support the floor in position of use.

  However, the arrangement of these mechanical elements does not allow a uniform distribution of the load of the floor and the people hanging over it. The distribution of the loads on the support elements varies according to the level of the floor between a high covering position and a low position at the bottom of the pool. In addition, the floor rests on the sliding heads of the mechanical elements. As a result, the floor is insufficiently guided and not very stable

  horizontally in the sliding direction.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy this problem of overhangs and to provide a solution enabling the loads of the

movable floor.

  The present invention also aims to provide a solution to

  problems of guidance and longitudinal stability of the floor.

  According to the invention, to achieve this objective, the movable floor between the bottom of the pool and the level of use is set in up or down movement by a system of at least two articulated scissors. In practice, the movable floor will preferably be set in motion and supported by several pairs of scissors distributed so that the load of the floor is distributed over several scissors, for example

staggered.

  According to a first characteristic, said two articulated scissors are located in the same plane or in two parallel planes, perpendicular to the bottom of the pool. According to a second characteristic, said two articulated scissors, each comprise two arms, arranged as follows: - the first arm is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot, movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the pool and is pivotally mounted at its upper part around a fixed pivot relative to the floor, - the second arm is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a fixed pivot relative to the bottom of the pool and is pivotally mounted around a pivot located on the first arm in the middle thereof and equidistant from the lower pivot of the first arm and the lower pivot of the second arm; Thanks to this arrangement of the scissor arms, the upper pivot of the first

  arm moves substantially vertically from the fixed lower pivot of the second arm.

  As the floor is fixed relative to the upper pivot of the first arm, the

  problems of guidance and longitudinal stability are solved.

  According to a third characteristic, said two scissors are arranged

  symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane of the scissors.

  More particularly, in the case where said two scissors are located in the same plane, preferably, they are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane perpendicular to the plane of the scissors. In the case where said two scissors are located in two parallel planes, preferably, they are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of intersection of the plane called the perpendicular plane and the median plane located

between the planes of the two scissors.

  Thanks to this arrangement of scissors, the floor is supported without having

cantilevered parts.

  According to a fourth characteristic, the lower pivots movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the pool are moved by displacement means exerting forces substantially located in the plane of the lower pivots

  longitudinally movable and directed along the axis of movement thereof.

  By virtue of this arrangement of the forces exerted by the displacement means, one avoids in particular knee-joint effects detrimental to the resistance of the mechanisms over time. One of the variant embodiments of the invention makes it possible to solve the problem of overhangs and load distribution, when the bottom of the swimming pool is inclined. In the case of this alternative embodiment, one of said two scissors is such that: - the first arm of said scissor is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the pool and is pivotally mounted at its upper part around a pivot movable longitudinally relative to the floor, - the second arm of said scissor is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a fixed pivot relative to the bottom of the pool and is pivotally mounted around a pivot located on the first arm equidistant from the lower pivot of the first arm and the lower pivot of the second arm; - the length of the first arm relative to that of the second arm being such

  that the floor is horizontal in a predetermined position of use.

  It is within the reach of those skilled in the art to calculate the length of the first arm as a function of the inclination of the bottom of the pool so as to compensate, at least in

  part in a predetermined position, the drop resulting from this inclination.

  Thanks to this arrangement of scissors, the upper pivot of the first arm can move longitudinally along the floor without deviating significantly from the

  vertical of the lower fixed pivot of the second arm.

  Preferably, the swimming pool floor according to the invention is such that the two lower pivots movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the swimming pool are

  located between the two fixed lower pivots relative to the bottom of the pool.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading

  the description of alternative embodiments of the invention, given by way of example

  indicative and not limiting, and of: - Figure 1 which shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the scissors according to the invention; Figure 2 and Figure 3 which show a top view and a side view of an alternative embodiment of the movable floor according to the invention in the case where the displacement means actuating the movable feet longitudinally are cylinders; - Figure 4 which shows a top view of alternative embodiment of the movable floor according to the invention in the case where the displacement means actuating the movable feet longitudinally is a screw actuated by a motor located outside the pool; - Figure 5 which shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the movable floor according to the invention in the case where the bottom of the pool is

inclined.

  We will now describe Figure 1 which represents a perspective view

  of an alternative embodiment of the scissors according to the invention.

  The walls 2 of the swimming pool 1 have been partially removed so as to reveal the scissors 3 to 14. For the same reason, the floor resting on the scissors 3 to 14 has not been shown. In the case of the alternative embodiment shown, the movable floor is in motion and supported by six pairs of scissors distributed, so that the load of the floor is distributed over several scissors, the feet of which are mounted pivoting around a fixed pivot 3a to 14a at the bottom of the pool are regularly spaced. The pairs of scissors 3, 6 and 4, 5 are located in the same plane A perpendicular to the bottom 15 of the pool. Similarly, the pairs of scissors 7, 10 and 8, 9 are located in the same plane B perpendicular to the bottom 15 of the pool. 1 is also the case with pairs of scissors 11, 14 and 12, 13. They are located in the same plane C perpendicular to the bottom 15 of the swimming pool. The articulated scissors 3 to 14 each have two arms, arranged as described below. The first arm 3b to 14b is pivotally mounted at its bottom around a pivot 3c to 14c, movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the pool, and is pivotally mounted at its top around a fixed pivot 3d at 14d by compared to the floor. The pivots 3c, 10c, 1 lc are integral with a movable carriage 16. The pivots 3c and 4c are integral with a rod 17, itself integral with the movable carriage 16. The pivots 9c and 10c are integral with a rod 18, itself secured to the movable carriage 16. The pivots 1 lc and 12c are secured to a rod 19, itself secured to the movable carriage 16. The pivots 6c, 7c, 14c are secured to a movable carriage 20,. The pivots Sc and 6c are integral with a rod 21, itself integral with the movable carriage 20. The pivots 7c and 8c are integral with a rod 22, itself integral with the movable carriage 20. The pivots 13c and 14c are integral with a rod 23, itself integral with the mobile carriage 20. The second arm 3e to 14e is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a fixed pivot 3a to 14a relative to the bottom of the pool 15 and is pivotally mounted around a pivot 3f to 14f located on the first arm 3b to 14b in the middle thereof and equidistant from the lower pivot 3c to 14c of the first arm and the lower pivot 3a to 14a of the second arm. Thanks to this arrangement of the scissor arms, the upper pivot 3d to 14d of the first arm 3b to 14b moves substantially vertically from the fixed lower pivot 3a to 14a of the second arm 3rd to 14e. The two scissors 3 and 6 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane A of the scissors. The two scissors 4 and 5 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane A of the scissors. The two scissors 10 and 7 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane B of the scissors. The two scissors 8 and 9 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane B of the scissors. The two scissors 11 and 14 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane C of the scissors. The two scissors 12 and 13 are arranged symmetrically

  on either side of a plane perpendicular to the plane C of the scissors.

  Thanks to this arrangement of scissors, the floor is supported by them without

have cantilevered parts.

  We will see, during the description of the variant embodiments represented on the

  Figures 2 and 4, how the lower pivots 3c to 14c movable longitudinally relative to the bottom of the pool are moved by means of displacement in particular jacks (case of the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2) or screws (case of the variant shown in Figure 4). These displacement means exert forces substantially located in the plane of the longitudinally movable lower pivots and

  directed along the axis of movement of these.

  Thanks to this tangential arrangement of the forces exerted by the displacement means, it is in particular avoided toggle effects detrimental to the resistance of the mechanisms over time. These displacement means actuate the mobile carriage 16, and the rods 17, 18, 19 and the pivots 3c, 4c, 9c, 10Oc, 1 lc 12c integral with this carriage and these rods in a first direction. These displacement means actuate the mobile carriage 20 and the rods 21, 22, 23 and the pivots 5c, 6c, 7c, 8c, 13c, 14c integral with this carriage and these rods in a second opposite direction. The floor rises or falls, as the angles of the scissor arms open or close. The fact that the movable feet move in two opposite directions contributes to the stability of the floor. This cannot

  not move in one direction or another.

  We will now describe the variant embodiment of FIG. 2 and of FIG. 3 which represent a top view and a side view of the movable floor according to the invention, in the case where the displacement means actuating the movable feet

longitudinally are cylinders.

  The same reference numerals have been used to designate the same elements as those represented in FIG. 1. We recognize the swimming pool 1, its bottom 15 and the walls 2. In FIG. 3, we also recognize: the scissors 3 and 6, as well that - the arms 3b, 3e, 6b, 6th, - the fixed pivots 3a, 6a, (10a, 14a; cf figure 2) integral with the bottom 15 of the pool - the mobile pivots 3c, 6c (10c, 14c; cf figure 2) - the articulation pivots 3f, 6f of the arms 3b, 3rd, 6b, 6th,

  - the fixed pivots 3d, 6d secured to the floor 30.

  The floor 30, visible in Figure 3, has been deleted in Figure 2, to show the hydraulic cylinders 31, 32, and their supply pipe 31a and 32a, actuating in two opposite directions 35, 36 the movable carriage 16 , and the mobile carriage 20. The mobile carriages 16 and 20 respectively support the mobile pivots 3c, 6c, and the mobile pivots 10c, 14c. Slides 33, 34 integral with the bottom 15 of the pool make it possible to guide the movement of the mobile carriages 16 and 20 which carry the mobile feet. The supply pipes 3a and 32a are connected to a hydraulic unit (not shown) which makes it possible to control the kinematics of the movement of the rods, so that the scissors open or close regularly and the floor s pupil staying horizontal. The hydraulic cylinders 31, 32, the

  mobile carriages 16, 20, and the slides 33, 34 are not shown in FIG. 3.

  We will now describe Figure 4 which shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the movable floor according to the invention in the case where the displacement means actuating the movable feet longitudinally is a screw actuated by

  an engine located outside the pool.

  We recognize the elements described with reference to Figure 2. A motor 40, located outside the pool, rotates a screw 41, substantially located in the plane of movement of the movable feet and parallel to the direction of movement of these. The screw 41 is screwed into nuts 42 and 43 integral with the moving carriages 16 and 20. The orientations of the threads of the screw 41 screwed into the nuts 42 and 43 are opposite. As a result, the rotation of the screw 41 causes the displacement of the mobile carriages 16 and 20, carrying the mobile pivots, in two

opposite directions 35 and 36.

  We will now describe, with reference to Figure 5 which shows a side view of the movable floor, an alternative embodiment of the invention to solve the problems of overhangs and load distribution when the bottom

of the pool is tilted.

  We recognize the two scissors 3 and 6. In the case of this alternative embodiment, one of the scissors 6 is such that the first arm 6b of said scissor is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot 6c movable longitudinally relative to at the bottom 15 of the pool 1 and is pivotally mounted at its upper part around a pivot 6d movable longitudinally relative to the floor 30. The second arm 6e of the chisel 6 is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot 6a fixed relative to the bottom 15 of the pool and is pivotally mounted around a pivot 6f located on the first arm 6b equidistant from the lower pivot 6c of the first arm and the lower pivot 6a of the second arm 6e. The length of the first arm 6b relative to that of the second arm 6e is such that the floor is horizontal in a position

  of predetermined use (that shown in Figure 5).

  It is within the reach of those skilled in the art to calculate the length of the first arm as a function of the inclination of the bottom of the pool so as to compensate, at least in part, for the difference in level resulting from this inclination, when the floor occupies said

predetermined position.

  Thanks to this arrangement of the scissors, the upper pivot 6d of the first arm can move longitudinally along the floor 30 without deviating substantially

  from the vertical 6g of the lower fixed pivot 6a of the second arm 6e.

  Preferably, as will be seen by referring to Figures 1, 3 and 5 for each pair of scissors the two lower pivots movable longitudinally 3c, 6c relative to the bottom 15 of the pool are located between the two lower pivots

  3a, 6a fixed relative to the bottom 15 of the pool.

Claims (3)

  1. Pool floor, said floor being movable between the bottom of the pool and the level of use and being moved up or down by a system of at least two articulated scissors (3, 6); - (a) said two articulated scissors being located in the same plane or in two parallel planes, perpendicular to the bottom (15) of the swimming pool (1); - (b) said two articulated scissors, each comprising two arms, * the first arm (3b) / being pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot (3c) movable longitudinally relative to the bottom (15) of the pool ( 1) and / being pivotally mounted at its upper part around a fixed pivot (3d) relative to the floor (30), * the second arm (3e) / being pivotally mounted at its lower part around a fixed pivot ( 3a) relative to the bottom (15) of the swimming pool (1) and / being pivotally mounted around a pivot (3f) located on the first arm (3b) in the middle thereof and equidistant from the lower pivot ( 3c) of the first arm and of the lower pivot (3a) of the second arm; (so that the upper pivot of the first arm moves substantially vertically from the lower pivot of the second arm) (c) said two scissors (3, 6) being arranged symmetrically on either side of a perpendicular plane in the plane of the scissors, (so that the floor is supported by the scissors without having a cantilever part) - (d) the lower pivots movable longitudinally (3c, 6c) relative to the bottom (15) of the swimming pool (1) are moved by displacement means (31, 32) exerting forces substantially located in the plane of the longitudinally movable lower pivots (3c, 6c) and directed along the axis of displacement thereof. 2. Pool floor according to claim 1, one of said scissors (6) being such that: - the first arm (6b) of said scissor * is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a pivot pivotally longitudinally (6c) by relative to the bottom (15) of the swimming pool (1) and * is pivotally mounted at its upper part around a pivot pivotable longitudinally (6d; fig. 5) relative to the floor (30), - the second arm (6e) of said scissor * is pivotally mounted at its lower part around a fixed pivot (6a) relative to the bottom of the pool and * is pivotally mounted around a pivot (6f) located on the first arm equidistant from the lower pivot (6c) of the first arm and of the lower pivot (6a) of the second arm; - the length of the first arm relative to that of the second arm being such   the floor is horizontal in a predetermined use position.   (so that the upper pivot of the first arm can move horizontally along the floor without deviating appreciably from the vertical of the lower pivot of the second arm)   3. Pool floor according to any one of claims 1 and 2, said   floor characterized in that the two lower pivots movable longitudinally (3c, 6c) relative to the bottom (15) of the pool (1) are located between   the two fixed lower pivots (3a, 6a) relative to the bottom (15) of the swimming pool (1).