FR2843153A1 - Temporary cover for swimming pool comprises several movable panels comprising removable fixings allowing their transverse connection and engagement on pool perimeter and rollers enabling longitudinal sliding on pool perimeter - Google Patents

Abstract

The temporary cover (5) for a swimming pool (1) having a perimeter (2) comprises several panels (6). The panels can be moved from a covering position (C) engaging the perimeter and an open position where the pool is totally uncovered. The panels comprise removable fixings (7) enabling them to be temporarily connected in a transverse direction as well as rollers (8) enabling them to slide in a longitudinal direction (L) on a horizontal plane on the perimeter. An Independent claim is included for a swimming pool fitted with a temporary cover.

Description

PROVISIONAL POOL COVERING DEVICE AND POOL

EQUIPPED WITH SAID DEVICE

  The present invention relates to the field of temporary swimming pool cover devices. The present invention relates more particularly to a provisional swimming pool cover device having a periphery providing a beach, said device comprising a plurality of panels, said panels being movable between a cover position C in which they cover said pool by cooperation with said range and an open position O

  in which said swimming pool is completely uncovered.

  The prior art already knows devices for

temporary pool cover.

  It is proposed, in the French patent application N0 FR 2 752 002 a cover system consisting of a single panel sliding on the pool decks

  and covering it in a waterproof and reversible manner.

  An important drawback of this system is that it is necessary to have, next to the swimming pool, an area equal to the swimming pool, in order to store the panel there when the swimming pool is uncovered. In addition, this surface is unusable, that is to say that it must remain permanently available to store the panel and do not

  can therefore be planted with shrubs for example.

  It is also proposed in French patent application NO FR 2 705 988 an arrangement of panels producing modules which can be positioned by hand across the swimming pool in order to constitute, by cooperation with the edges, a rigid cover. The modules consist of blades presenting elements of

  bevel connection, to allow an automatic self-locking effect.

  An important drawback of this system is that no automatic deployment of the panels, nor of means for fixing the panels to one another is provided. All stages of covering and discovering the

pool are manual.

  It is also proposed in French patent application No. FR 2 729 176 an arrangement of accordion panels which can be stored in the folded position in a box on the surface or below the level of the shelves. The panels are deployed using a drive mechanism and the hinge pins slide on the

  edges of the basin during deployment.

  An important drawback of this system is that the panels form a single whole and that they do not

cannot be separated.

  There is also proposed in the international patent application NI WO 00/61896 an arrangement of accordion or other panels, the panels being linked by

hinges.

  In the same way, an important drawback of this system is that the panels form a whole

  unique and that they cannot be separated.

  There is also proposed in the international patent application N0 WO 00/71839 an arrangement of slats which can be stored in the folded position and which is

  stretched in the unfolded position using ropes.

  Likewise, an important drawback of this system is that the slats form a single unit and that they cannot be separated. In addition, no electric automation seems to be provided to facilitate the

  deployment or storage of panels.

  The present invention intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a temporary swimming pool cover device by cooperation with the pool deck which makes it possible to completely automate the deployment or storage of the panels intended to cover the pool in the cover position. and arrange the panels in a much less arrangement

  troublesome than that of the devices of the prior art.

  In addition, the device according to the invention is simple to manufacture, simple to install and simple to put on.

in action.

  In addition, the present invention also intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device of which all the panels can be changed, if necessary, independently of each other. To do this, the present invention is of the type described above and it is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that said panels include removable fixing means, making it possible to temporarily connect them to each other according to a transverse direction as well as rolling means allowing them to slide in a longitudinal direction L and a substantially horizontal plane on

said range.

  Thus, the deployment of the panels is done very easily, by simple rolling, or sliding, on the beach of the pool, the panels attaching to each other using removable fixing means and the storage of the panels can be make by juxtaposition or superposition of the panels, one on the other, in

"sandwich".

  The provisional swimming pool cover device according to the invention preferably comprises drive means intended to allow pushing or pulling a single panel in said longitudinal direction, the other panels automatically following the movement of the

  motor panel driven by the drive means.

  In a variant, said drive means comprise a drive system, of the pinion / rack type or of the loop chain type, intended to cooperate with said rolling means of the motor panel using cooperation elements of the type

sprockets.

  In a preferred version, said covering device comprises support means intended to make it possible to raise or lower at least one panel in a substantially vertical direction V, said support means comprising a plate, at least one

  medium motor connected to the plate and at least one cable.

  In a preferred version, said motor means of the support device also makes it possible to translate a closing hatch of the storage device thanks to

tie rods.

  The provisional swimming pool cover device according to the invention preferably further comprises a storage device in which said panels can be stored superimposed, each panel having at its longitudinal ends a technical structure comprising a longitudinal guide intended to cooperate with

  the rolling means of the panel positioned above.

  The provisional swimming pool cover device according to the invention preferably further comprises a track of the rail type to allow the running means to slide in the longitudinal direction over said range, said running track being able to be incorporated in the curb or constitute

the curbstone.

  Said panels preferably comprise carrying transverse profiles provided with fixing means consisting of two inverted hooks or a single hook. In a preferred version, said panels comprise carrying transverse profiles each consisting of a tube covered with a profile having

  means for fixing covering elements.

  The present invention also relates to a swimming pool equipped with a cover device

provisional according to the invention.

  For this pool, said storage device is preferably located below the level of said

beach or on the beach.

  The present invention also relates to a fully automatic method of implementing a temporary cover device according to the invention for a swimming pool having a periphery providing a beach, said device comprising a plurality of panels, said panels being movable between a cover position C in which they cover said pool by cooperation with said area and an open position O in which said pool is completely uncovered, remarkable in that, during the steps of passing from the open position O to the position of cover C or vice versa, on the one hand said panels are provisionally automatically connected to each other, or respectively automatically detached from each other, in a transverse direction using removable fixing means and on the other hand said panels slide in a longitudinal direction L and a substantially horizontal plane P on said plag e using

rolling means.

  During the steps of passing from the open position O to the cover position C or vice versa, a single panel is preferably pushed or pulled in said longitudinal direction by means of drive. During the steps of passing from the open position O to the cover position C, said panels are preferably brought successively to the level of the deck using support means in a substantially vertical direction V, said means support comprising a plate, at least one drive means

  connected to the tray and at least one cable.

  Advantageously, the present invention thus makes it possible to completely automatically deploy a plurality of panels above a swimming pool, by rolling rolling means connected to the panels on the pool deck, each panel being temporarily attached to the previous one as and when measure of deployment or unhooking of the next as and when

storage.

  Advantageously also, the present invention makes it possible to store the panels in a shelter having a reduced bulk, the shelter being able to be hidden in the ground next to the swimming pool and being provided

  an elevator to mount the panels one by one.

  Advantageously also, the device according to the invention is simple to manufacture and to implement. he

  is thus very reliable and very safe.

  Advantageously finally, the deployment of the panels is simplified by the fact that the distance between each panel in the cover position is reduced as much as possible, so that the panels are guided

  mutually and do not shift longitudinally.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  description, given below for purely explanatory purposes,

  of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures: - Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal section view of a swimming pool provided with a device according to the invention in the cover position; - Figure 2 illustrates a detail view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention according to Figure 1, when the cover device is in the full cover position; - Figure 3 illustrates a detail view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention according to Figure 1, when the cover device is in the start of cover position; - Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a detail view in longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment of the support means of the device according to the invention; - Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the support means of Figures 4 to 6; - Figure 8 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of a swimming pool provided with a device according to the variant of Figures 4 to 6 in the cover position; - Figure 9 illustrates a detail view of Figure 8; - Figure 10 illustrates a detail view in longitudinal section of a swimming pool provided with a device according to the variant of Figures 4 to 6 in the start of cover position; - Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the support means of the device according to the invention; - Figure 12 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of a sectional panel fitted to the device according to the invention; - Figure 13 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the panel attachment portion; - Figure 14 illustrates an upper fixing means; - Figure 15 illustrates a lower fixing means; - Figure 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sectional panel fitted to the device according to the invention; - Figure 17 illustrates a vertical sectional view of a stack, or stacking, of panels according to the invention; FIG. 18 illustrates a section along AA of FIG. 16; - Figure 19 illustrates a detail view of Figure 18; - Figure 20 illustrates an exploded view of the detail of Figure 19; - Figure 21 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the panel attachment part according to the variant of Figures 18 and 19; - Figure 22 illustrates the rear of a panel for the variant of Figures 18 and 19; and - Figure 23 illustrates the front of a

  panel for the variant of Figures 18 and 19.

  A swimming pool 1, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, normally has a periphery forming a range 2, as well as, for example access steps 4. The water level, below range 2 is represented by ripples 3. The temporary pool cover 5 device 1 according to the invention is a device comprising a plurality of panels 6, said panels 6 being movable between an open position O in which said pool 1 is completely uncovered and a cover position C in which said panels 6 completely cover said swimming pool 1 by cooperation with said

track 2, illustrated in figure 1.

  Between the open position O and the cover position C, there are a plurality of intermediate positions, in which said panels 6 partially cover said pool 1 by cooperation with said

track 2.

  In the temporary pool cover 5 device 1 according to the invention, said panels 6 comprise removable fixing means 7, making it possible to temporarily connect them to each other in a transverse direction as well as rolling means 8 their allowing to slide in a longitudinal direction L and a substantially horizontal plane on

said range 2.

  As can be seen in Figure 1, even if the water level reaches range 2, the protective elements of the panels 6 are moved above the

water level.

  The direction of movement of the panels 6 is illustrated in FIG. 1 by the arrow F for the direction intended to cover the pool 1 and by the arrow F 'for the

  meaning to discover the pool 1.

  The device comprises drive means 9 intended to allow, alternately to push or pull at least one panel according to said

longitudinal direction.

  A particular feature of the invention is that the drive means 9 are preferably designed to allow, alternatively, to push or pull only one panel, all the other panels 6 already deployed by cooperation with the beach. 2 necessarily following the movement of the panel driven by the drive means 9 because the panels 6 are

  successively attached to each other during deployment.

  These drive means 9 comprise, for example, a drive system, of the chain or pinion / rack type intended to cooperate with said means

8.

  The device further comprises a storage device 12 in which said panels 6 can be stored superimposed, in order to form a stack 15, illustrated in FIG. 17. A hatch 13 allows access to the storage device 12 to be closed. This storage device 12 is preferably located below the level of said area 2, but it can be imagined that it is placed

on the beach 2.

  The storage device 12 comprises support means 10 intended to allow the lifting or lowering of at least one panel in a substantially vertical direction V, in order to allow, by means of an automatic control means, the successive positioning of each panel at level of track 2 during deployment and successive removal of each panel at

  level of track 2 during storage.

  A raceway, for example of the rail type, is provided on the area 2 to allow the rolling means 11 to slide or roll in the longitudinal direction L, on said area 2; said raceway can be incorporated into the coping or else

constitute the coping.

  In a variant illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11, the hatch 13 of the storage device 12 is translated from its closed position, illustrated in FIG. 4 in which its upper face is substantially at the same level as the track 2 in its open position, illustrated FIGS. 5 and 6 in which it allows the evacuation of a panel from the storage device 12, by means of the motor means 25 of the support device 10, lifting means 21, of the gas spring, spring, cable winding type, positioned under the hatch 13 and tie rods 23

  positioned, for example, at the four corners of the plate 14.

  In this variant, the vertical translation movements of the hatch 13, illustrated in FIG. 4 in FIG. 5, are operated by the use of the drive means 25 and by the resulting translation of the plate 14 upwards. This translation causes the same movement of the hatch 13 by releasing the means 21 and retaining the tie rods 23. Once the hatch 13 is open, the plate 14 can slide along the tie rods 23

  stationary, as can be seen in Figure 6.

  Vertical stops 22 guide and limit the vertical stroke of the hatch 13 vis-à-vis the device

storage 12.

  In this variant illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11, the support means 10 comprise at least one cable 23, 23 ', 23' ', 23' '', passing through different pulleys 24, 24 ', 24' ', 24' '' and a motor means 25 connected to the plate 14. This or these cables 23, 23 ', 23' ', 23' '' is or are fixed (s) at a first end in the upper part of the walls of the storage device 12 thanks to supports 26, 26 ', 26' ', 26' '' and a second

  end, directly or indirectly by means of the motor 25.

  Thus, each cable 23, 23 ', 23' ', 23' '' is pulled or retained by the motor means 25 to cause

  raising or lowering the platform 14.

  This plate 14 is guided in its vertical translational movement by guide columns 27, positioned against the vertical walls of the device

storage 12.

  The drive means 9, suspended under the hatch 13, are not illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11

  to facilitate the reading of the diagrams.

  In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10, the drive means 25 consists of a jack, for example a single-acting hydraulic jack, the fixed end of which is connected to a cable fixing support 30, to which two are connected respectively. two, the second end of four cables 23, 23 ', 23' ', 23' '', as can be seen more precisely in Figure 7. The implementation of the actuator causes the spacing or the approximation of pulleys of return of the cables relative to the fixed support 30. This implementation of the jack is of course controlled by a

automatism.

  In the variant illustrated in Figure 11, the vertical translational movement of the plate 14 is effected by two cables 23, 23 ', each fixed respectively at their ends to the upper ends of the storage device 12 by supports 26, 26' and respectively guided by return pulleys 24, 24 '. The motor means 25 consists of a hydraulic or electric motor having a drive axis comprising at each of its two ends a drum 28, 28 'on which the cable 23, 23' is wound. The drive means being fixed to the plate 14, the winding of the cables 23, 23 ', respectively around the drums 28, 28' by implementation of the motor causes the elevation of the plate 14. This implementation of the motor is of course controlled by an automation. In this variant, it is also possible to use four cables, each fixed to one end of a drum. Figure 12 illustrates a panel seen in longitudinal section. This panel has rolling means 8 at the front and at the rear, on each side, but it is also possible to position means for

  bearing 8 only at the front or at the rear.

  The rolling means 8 consist, for example of a wheel, as can be seen in the figures,

mounted on an axis.

  Said panels 6 consist of two transverse bearing profiles 16, for example made of extruded aluminum. In a basic version, the panels include hooks or the like mounted inverted, making the fixing means 7, as illustrated in the

figure 13.

  FIG. 14 illustrates an upper fixing means 18 situated at the rear of the panels (except possibly for the lowest panel of the storage device 12, when the covering device is in the open position) and FIG. 15 illustrates a lower fixing means 18 'located at the front of the panels (except possibly for the highest panel of the storage device 12, when the

  cover is in the open position).

  The bearing profiles 16 are linked to two structures 11 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pool 1, the rolling means 8 being mounted on these longitudinal structures 11, as illustrated in FIG. 16. The longitudinal structures 11 are preferably provided, each above the supports of the rolling means 8, a longitudinal guide 29, for guiding the rolling means 8 of the upper panel. This longitudinal guide 29 has a width which is substantially

  equal to the width of the rolling means 8.

  A protection system 20 is disposed between these two longitudinal structures 11. This system 20 consists for example of a plate or of transverse lamellae made of transparent plastic material, for example of P.M.M.A. in P.V.C. in polycarbonate or other, translucent or opaque, or metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel or other, or wood, or tarpaulin, or stretched canvas, or nets. This system is snapped onto each longitudinal structure 11, in order to produce a rigid assembly. The panels 6 are preferably provided on their longitudinal sides with a flexible flap 19 or in a brush allowing sealing with the ground, said flap being arranged in a longitudinal slot. In a variant, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 19 and 20, the profiles carrying 16 of the panels 6 consist of metal tubes 33, front and rear, each covered with a profile 32 of plastic material, the profiles of plastic material being intended to protect metal corrosion tubes. These profiles 32 are fixed to the longitudinal structures 11 and have means for fixing covering elements 31. Figures 21 to 23 illustrate a variant of

  realization of the fixing means 7.

  In this variant, the rear of the panels does not have a hook, as can be seen in FIG. 22. Only the front of the panels is provided with a hook 38, as can be seen in FIG. 23 (except possibly for the highest panel of the storage device 12, when the cover device is in

open position).

  Thus, this hook 38 comes to cooperate with the axis

  means for rolling the panel located in front.

  During deployment and in the cover position C, the distance d in the longitudinal direction between two successive panels is reduced as much as possible, as can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 21, so as to allow contiguous contact between the panels, providing self-guidance on the one hand during deployment and on the other hand a seal against rain in the cover position. The present invention also relates to a swimming pool 1 equipped with a cover device 5

provisional according to the invention.

  For the implementation of the basic version of the temporary pool cover 5 device 1 according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 12 to 15, starting from the open position O to arrive at the cover position C illustrated in Figure 1, you must first: 1- Lift the hatch 13 closing access to the storage device 12, located below the level of said area 2; then, 2- The support means 10 raise a first panel so that its rolling means 8 can cooperate with the plane formed by the pad 2; then, 3- The drive means 9 push this first panel onto track 2, as illustrated in FIG. 8, until only the rear upper fixing means 18 remain above the storage device 12; then, 4- The support means 10 raise the stack 15 of panels 6 so that the rolling means 8 of the next panel can cooperate with the plane formed by the track 2 and that its lower fixing means before 18 'come in cooperation with the rear fixing means 18 of the first panel; then - In the same way as for the first panel, the drive means 9 push this second panel onto track 2, until only its rear fixing means 18 remain above the device.

storage 12.

  The above even and then odd steps are

  reproduced for each of said panels, up to the last.

  The last panel is pushed by the drive means 9 onto track 2, the last panel remains engaged on the propulsion hub of the panels 6 and the hatch 13 remains in the open position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It is possible to provide a vertical protective skirt to close the space between track 2 and

the hatch 13 in the open position.

  In a preferred variant, illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11, - on the one hand, the drive means 9 only allow the drive of a single panel, from a position where it is on top of the stack 15, with its rolling means 8 at the same level as range 2, at a position where it is on range 2, completely removed from the storage device 12 - and on the other hand, these are the support means 10 which make it possible to lift the hatch 13 closing

the storage device 12.

  Thus, when the basin of the swimming pool 1 is open and the operator wishes to close the said basin, the following steps are carried out, which of course follow the command to the electrical cabinet to close the basin, by remote control or by pressing a button : - The support means raise the plate 14 supporting the stack 15 of panels 6, the drive means 9 and the hatch 13 (release of the springs or gas cylinders or bungee cords), - The first panel is propelled out of the pit and rolls on track 2 of the basin, - The hook system secures the next panel which is mounted at track 2 of the basin by the lift, - The second panel becomes propellant, the first panel being pushed by it ci, - The next panel arrives at level 2, the hook system secures the second panel to it and becomes a propellant panel and so on for the following panels 6; the last panel

  remaining engaged with the propellant.

  Once the basin is closed, the opening stages, in this preferred variant illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11, are as follows: - the last panel removed being engaged with the propulsion system, the operator controls the opening of the electrical box of the pelvis, - the last panel to come out goes under the hatch 13, by pulling the previous panels 6, -as and as the support means 10 forming an elevator cause the tray 14 to descend to form the stack 15 of panels 6; when the last panel is retracted, it remains in engagement with the propellant 9 of panels 6 which is suspended under the hatch 13 and the plate 14 is then in bottom stop of the tie rods 23, - the elevator continues, compressing the springs or gas cylinders or bungee cords, its descent and drives the hatch until it arrives at level 2 of the pool, because the tie rods are linked

  to the hatch 13 at their upper end.

  Thus, the system is completely hidden during

use of the swimming pool 1.

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variants of the invention without

  however, outside the scope of the patent.

Claims (15)

  1. Provisional cover device (5) for a swimming pool (1) having a periphery providing a surface (2), said device comprising a plurality of panels (6), said panels (6) being movable between a cover position C in which they cover said swimming pool (1) by cooperation with said beach (2) and an open position O in which said swimming pool (1) is completely uncovered, characterized in that said panels (6) include fixing means (7) removable, making it possible to temporarily connect them to each other in a transverse direction, that is to say along the width of the pool (1), as well as rolling means (8) allowing them to roll or slide in a longitudinal direction L and a plane substantially horizontal on said range (2).   2. Provisional cover device (5) for swimming pool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises drive means (9) intended to allow pushing or pulling a single panel according to said longitudinal direction.   3. Temporary swimming pool cover (5) (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said drive means (9) comprise a loop drive system of the chain type and / or of the pinion / rack type. , intended to cooperate with said rolling means (8) of the panel using elements of pinion type cooperation.   4. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 1   to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a storage device (12) in which said panels (6) can be stored superimposed, each panel (6) having at its longitudinal ends a technical structure (11) comprising a guide longitudinal (29) intended to cooperate with the rolling means of the panel positioned above.   5. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 1   to 4, characterized in that it includes support means (10) intended to make it possible to raise or lower at least one panel in a substantially vertical direction V, said support means (10) comprising a plate (14) , at least one motor means (25) connected to the plate (14) and at least one cable (23, 23 ', 23 '', 23 '' ').   6. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 1   to 5, characterized in that it further comprises a raceway of the rail type to allow the rolling means (8) to slide in the longitudinal direction over said track (2), said rolling race being able to be incorporated in the curbstone or else constitute the curbstone.   7. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 1   6, characterized in that said panels (6) comprise carrying transverse profiles (16) provided with fixing means (7) consisting of two inverted hooks or of a single hook.   8. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 5   7, characterized in that said motor means (25) of the support device (10) also makes it possible to translate a hatch (13) for closing the device   storage (12) thanks to tie rods (23).   9. Provisional cover (5)   swimming pool (1) according to any one of claims 1   8, characterized in that said panels (6) comprise carrying transverse sections (16) each consisting of a tube (33) covered with a profile (32) having means for fixing covering elements (31) . 10. Swimming pool (1) having a periphery providing a beach (2), said swimming pool (1) being equipped with a temporary cover device (5) according to one   any of claims 1 to 9.   11. Swimming pool (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said storage device (12) is located below the level of said beach (2) or on the beach. 12. Fully automatic method of implementing a provisional covering device (5) according to   any one of claims 1 to 9 for a swimming pool   (1) having a periphery forming a range (2), said device comprising a plurality of panels (6), said panels (6) being movable between a cover position C in which they cover said swimming pool (1) by cooperation with said range (2) and an open position O in which said pool (1) is completely uncovered, characterized in that, during the steps of passing from the open position o to the cover position C or vice versa, on the one hand, said panels (6) are provisionally automatically connected to each other, or respectively automatically detached from each other, in a transverse direction using removable fixing means (7) and on the other hand said panels (6) slide in a longitudinal direction L and a substantially horizontal plane over said range (2) at using rolling means (8).   13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that, during the steps of passing from the open position O to the cover position C or vice versa, a single panel (6) is pushed or pulled in said longitudinal direction thanks to means drive (9).   14. Method according to any one of   claims 12 or 13, characterized in that, during the   steps for passing from the open position O to the cover position C, said panels (6) are brought successively to the level of the shelf (2) using support means (10) in a substantially vertical direction V , said support means (10) comprising a plate (14), at least one motor means (25) connected to the   plate (14) and at least cable (23, 23 ', 23' ', 23' '').   15. The method of claim 14, characterized in that said motor means (25) of the support device (10) further allows to translate a hatch (13) for closing the storage device (12) thanks to tie rods (23).