GB1568090A

GB1568090A - Adjustable roof structures

Info

Publication number: GB1568090A
Application number: GB4653176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-10-25
Filing date: 1977-10-25
Publication date: 1980-05-21

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO ADJUSTABLE ROOF STRUCTURES (71) 1, WILLIAM LOVE, a British Subject of, Silverstones, Uffmor Lane, Hales owen, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with improvements relating to adjustable roof structures, in particular for outdoor swimming pools.

Whereas it is known to provide an outdoor swimming pool, particularly a swimming pool intended for private use, with a cover mounted over the podb previously such covers have been intended only to close the pool, to pre vet access thereto when it is intended no longer to use the pool, to minimize the hazard to children.

Additionally, existing covers when in use extend merely across the pool from one side to the cheer; thus, pool-side furniture is either left exposed, or must be removed from the vicinity of the pool.

This invention provides an outdoor swimming pool having a roof structure mounted for movement between a lowered position in which it substantially encloses the pool and a raised position in which access to the pool may readily be gained, power operated means for meving the roof structure between said two positions, and screening means secured to the roof structure and which when the roof structure is in its raised position may selectively be drawn to enclose one or more sides of the pool.

In that the roof structure may be moved between said two positions by said power operated means, there will be a much greater inclination by users of the pool to maintain the roof structure in its lowered position when the pool is not being used or when it is not likely to be used.

When the roof structure is in its lowered position, it may provide the following advantages, viz: (a) Access to the pool may be obviated, mininising the hazard to children when the pool is not being used; (b) escape of heat from the water may be reduced, lowering heating costs; (c) rainwater which would otherwise fall into the pool may be ducted to drain, minimising a temperature reduction and a dilution of the chlorinated swimming water which would otherwise take place; (d) debris such as leaves is prevented from falling into the pool.

When the roof structure is in its raised position, by selectively drawing the screening means around one or more sides of the pool, the pool may be used when it otherwise would not be used, or would not be used with such convenience, such as when it is raining, or when a cold wind is blowing across the pool, or when there is a need for privacy.

Preferably the roof structure comprises a downwardly-extending skirt which when the roof structure is in its lowered position will extend around the outside of a raised wall bounding the pool.

Such a downwardly-extending skirt, in conjunction with such raised wall, prevents entry of debris into the pool more readily than would be the case were such a skirt not provided. Additionally, ancilliary facilities associated with the pool, and projecting upwardly from the wall bounding the pool (such as the hand rail of steps leading into the pool, or diving board) will not interfere with such movement of the roof structure into its fully lowered position, such ancilliary facilities being accommodated within the height of the skirt.

Preferably the screening means comprises a curtain or blind, which may be of openwork and/or transparent construction, and which when the roof structure is in its raised position may be used to enclose at least one side of the pool to provide a windscreen, or to provide for privacy, or may be drawn entirely to enclose the pool, enabling the air around the pool to be heated, e.g. by a portable blower mechanism, allowing the pool to be used in conditions which would otherwise be unsuitable.

Where a skirt is provided, advantageously said curtain or blind is appendant to the skirt; thus, for curtaining, a rail may be provided around the skirt (e.g. from an inside wall thereof) upon rings or the like supporting articles of which a curtain may be hung. The curtain may thus be drawn entirely to enclose the full area (as when the weather is cold) or may be moved to extend across one or two sides of the pool, as aforesaid.

Alternatively, where a blind is used, such blind may be secured to the skirt, and retained in its raised position when the roof structure is lowered.

If desired, the roof structure may extend over part of an adjacent patio, to provide when in its raised position additional shelter, particularly to persons sojourning on the adjacent patio. Thus, when the roof structure is in its raised position, the screening means may be drawn around the adjacent patio.

Preferably the roof structure is gabled; in this manner, pool-side furniture may be left out on the adjacent patio, e.g. overnight, when the roof structure is in its lowered position.

Advantageously the roof structure is moved wholly vertically between its raised and lowered positions, such as by pressure fluid means.

There will now be given a detailed des cription, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment of this invention, which has been selected to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the roof structure in its raised position; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the roof structure in its lowered position; and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1.

The roof structure 6 is shown in the drawings mounted above a swimming pool 2 bounded by a shallow peripheral wall 4, and comprises girder framework 10 supporting two roof sections 8,8 and two end sections 9,9. Extending a short distance downwardly from the sections 8,9 is a peripheral skirt 11, said skirt supporting on its underside a curtain rail 12 from which a curtain 13 is hung by means of curtain rings moveable along the rail.

The girder framework 10 is supported by pistons of power operated means in the form of eight hydraulic piston/cylinder devices 14-21, the cylinders of which are buried beneath the ground. The devices 14-19 are disposed on opposite sides of the peripheral wall 4, but the devices 20 and 21 are spaced from the pool, and the roof structure 6 thereby extends above part of a patio 5 adjacent to one end of the pool.

When the piston/cylinder devices 14-21 are operated to move the roof structure to its raised position, there exists sufficient clearance between the skirt 11 and the wall 5 to allow access to the pool. Conveniently, this clearance is in the order of 6 foot 3 inches.

When in use, the curtain 13 may be drawn around the pool into a desired position, dependent for example on the prevalent weather çondiuons, and/or privacy requirements. For example, the curtain may be drawn around all sides of the pool, allowing access to the pool primarily only from the patio 5, whilst sufficient room is provided between the curtain and the wall 5 to provide a pathway extending around the other three sides of the pool. This allows the pool to be used in relatively severe conditions of wind and/or rain. However, if desired, the curtain may be pulled to one corner of the roof structure, or may be removed completely.

When the roof structure is in its lowered position (figure 2) the skirt 11 extends around the outside of the peripheral wall 4 on three sides thereof, effectively almost completely enclosing the pool to prevent access thereto by children, or debris.

Preferably remote control means is provided, allowing the roof structure to be readily moved at the will of an operator between its raised and lowered positions. Because of the ease with which this may be done, the pool may be retained closed at all times when it is not in use, or when it is not desired that the pool be open.

Further, the provision of the skirt ensures that when the roof structure is moved to its lowered position, complete enclosure of the pool is not made difficult by, for example, the hand rails of steps leading from the pool, such as are indicated by the number 25 in the drawings. Further however, desirably the roof is gabled so that pool furniture left on the patio adjacent the pool may be accommodated within the upper regions of the roof structure, when the roof structure is in its lowered position.

Conveniently, when the roof structure is being moved to its lowered position, the curtain is drawn to one side, and folded outwardly as the skirt 11 descends. However, if desired, the curtain may be left in position when the roof structure is lowered, or may be removed from the curtain rail 12.

Alternative to the use of a curtain which may be drawn around the pool, a number of venetian blinds may be secured to the skirt, and may be lowered, as desired, to enclose one or more sides of the pool, as aforesaid.

When lowering the roof structure, such venetian blind would be secured in their raised positions, and may be retained secured to the skirt.

Preferably however, the roof structure comprises a plurality of roller blinds, and advantageously these are secured to the skirt, such as on an inner wall thereof. Preferably, the roller blinds are conventional, in as much as they are provided with means to "roll up" the blind, but do not have the conventional ratchet mechanism: thus, one or more blinds may be pulled downwardly from the skirt, and temporarily secured to fixation means provided around the periphery Of the pool (and if desired, around the adjacent patio).

When it is desired to open the pool to the elements, it is merely necessary to release the ends of the roller blinds from the fixation means, and allow them to be "rolled up" into their respective containers. However, one or more of such roller blinds may if desired be serni-permanendy secured to such fixation means, and on lowering of the roof structure will merely be "rolled up," and on subsequent raising of the roof structure, will be "unrolled" to provide a screen around a portion of the periphery of the pool.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An outdoor swimming pool having a roof structure mounted for movement between a lowered position in which it substantially encloses the pool and a raised position in which access to the pool may readily be gained, power operated means for moving the roof structure between said two positions, and screening means secured to the roof structure and which when the roof structure is in its raised position may selectively be drawn to enclose one or more sides of the pool.

2. A swimming pod according to Claim 1 wherein the screening means comprises a curtain or blind.

3. An outdoor swimming pool according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the roof structure comprises a downwardly-extending skirt which when the roof structure is in its lowered position will extend around the outside of a raised wall bounding the pool.

4. A swimming pool according to Claim 3 wherein said screening means is detachably secured to the skirt.

5. A swimming pool according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the screening means extends from the roof structure to fixation means to which the screening means may releasably be secured to the ground along a line extending around rhe periphery of the pool.

6. A swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the roof structure extends over part of a patio adjacent the pool.

7. A swimming pool according to claim 6 wherein the screening means may be drawn entirely to enclose the pool and adjacent patio, when the roof structure is in its raised position.

8. A swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the roof structure is movable at least primarily vertically between its lowered and raised positions.

9. A swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the power operated means comprises fluid pressure devices operated by means of a remote, manually operated switch.

10. In or for a swimming pool, a roof structure constructed and arranged substan tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. advantageously these are secured to the skirt, such as on an inner wall thereof. Preferably, the roller blinds are conventional, in as much as they are provided with means to "roll up" the blind, but do not have the conventional ratchet mechanism: thus, one or more blinds may be pulled downwardly from the skirt, and temporarily secured to fixation means provided around the periphery Of the pool (and if desired, around the adjacent patio). When it is desired to open the pool to the elements, it is merely necessary to release the ends of the roller blinds from the fixation means, and allow them to be "rolled up" into their respective containers. However, one or more of such roller blinds may if desired be serni-permanendy secured to such fixation means, and on lowering of the roof structure will merely be "rolled up," and on subsequent raising of the roof structure, will be "unrolled" to provide a screen around a portion of the periphery of the pool. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An outdoor swimming pool having a roof structure mounted for movement between a lowered position in which it substantially encloses the pool and a raised position in which access to the pool may readily be gained, power operated means for moving the roof structure between said two positions, and screening means secured to the roof structure and which when the roof structure is in its raised position may selectively be drawn to enclose one or more sides of the pool.