MXPA99010894A - An antiwave bulkhead - Google Patents

Abstract

An antiwave bulkhead (10) for use in swimming pools comprises a plurality of separate bulkhead units (11), each having a pair of buoyancy tanks (24, 25) secured therewithin and provided with air supply conduits (26, 27) enabling air to be independently supplied to or evacuated from each of the buoyancy tanks. The bulkhead units include an elongated slot (21) in their front walls at the pool water level to admit water into the bulkhead units caused by the bow wave of an approaching swimmer, and grating (34, 34a) at the lower ends of the bulkhead units to displace the excess admitted water.

Description

MAMPARO AGA OLAS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to bulkheads for use in swimming pools. More particularly, this invention relates to a pool bulkhead which is stable, without torsion, which can easily compensate for a displacement or weight difference imposed on the bulkhead, and which minimizes or virtually eliminates the wave action against a swimmer by approaching the bulkhead to turn around. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of mobile bulkheads in swimming pools to provide a barrier at a predetermined distance for competing swimmers, swimmers who practice sport as a recreational activity or people who swim for their health and exercise is well known. Attempts were made to provide artificial barriers, ie, portable bulkheads that can be easily moved along the sides of a pool to adjust to different distances and that are resistant to twisting action after being placed in place in a pool. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,842,484 to Stark presents a pool bulkhead equipped with side wheels in order to facilitate the movement of the bulkhead along a pool. US Patent No. 3,935,599 to Stark also shows a pool bulkhead having end rollers for displacement of the bulkhead along a pool. U.S. Patent No. 3,962,735 to Davidson discloses a motorized mechanism for moving a pool bulkhead along a pool. U.S. Patent No. 4,574,404 to Stark presents a pool bulkhead having flotation tanks on the sides towards the exterior of the bulkhead compartments in order to facilitate the movement of the bulkhead. U.S. Patent No. 4,969,219 discloses a pool bulkhead having flotation tanks at opposite ends of the bulkhead and in selected transverse locations for the purpose of facilitating the uniform elevation of the bulkhead. While these prior art pool bulkheads offer useful improvements in overall bulkhead designs, they do not totally minimize or eliminate the bulkhead torsion, nor do they compensate for differences in weight distribution along the bulkhead, nor do they facilitate movement. of the bulkhead without the addition of expensive and heavy mechanisms, and do not compensate for the "wave of the bow" of the swimmer as the swimmer approaches the bulkhead which, in competitive events, can mean the difference between victory and defeat. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that these limitations with respect to the bulkheads of the prior art are overcome through the pool bulkhead against the wave of the invention. In general, the wave bulkhead of the present invention comprises a plurality of separate bulkhead units, each unit comprising: an upper wall and a bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall and opposite side walls that collectively define a bulk box. enclosed bulkhead; a grid at the lower end of said front and back walls to admit water from the pool into said bulkhead box; an elongated slot formed adjacent the upper end of said front wall; a front and rear float tank fixed within each of said bulkhead boxes; air supply ducts having an outlet communicating with the internal part of each of said flotation tanks; devices for supplying air to each of said flotation tanks through said air supply conduits; and, devices for evacuating air from said flotation tanks through said air supply conduits. In one embodiment of the wave bulkhead of the present invention openings are formed in the lower part of the flotation tanks in order to allow pool water to penetrate the tanks to compensate for weight differences in the bulkhead.

In another embodiment of the wave bulkhead of the present invention, a finger grip in the form of an elongated spine is provided at the top edge of each of said bulkhead units. In a further embodiment of the wave bulkhead of the present invention, openings are formed in the upper walls of the bulkhead units that communicate with the inside of the bulkhead boxes in order to drain the water from the swimmers in the bulkhead. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The wave bulkhead of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 is a partially fragmented plan view of the wave bulkhead of the invention; Figure 2 is a partially fragmented elevation view of the wave bulkhead of the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and, Figure 4 is an enlarged, stepped sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND THE INVENTION Turning now to the drawing where reference numbers refer to identical parts, it can be observe from the illustration of Figures 1 and 2 that the wave bulkhead of the present invention, generally identified by reference numeral 10, comprises a plurality of bulkhead units 11 each of which has an upper wall 12 , a bottom wall 13, a front wall 14, a rear wall 15 and walls of opposite sides 16 and 17 that collectively form a generally rectangular bulkhead enclosure 11 (a) (Figure 3). The opposite ends 18 and 19 of the bulkhead 10 are positioned on the walls of the pool 20 and supported on said walls. An elongated slot 21 (Figure 2) is formed adjacent the upper end of the front wall 14 in each of the bulkhead units 11 which are balanced such that the slots 21 are flush with the water level 22 of the pool or well just above that level. As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, each of the bulkhead units 11 has typically mounted there starting block 23 for swimmers in competitions. As illustrated in Figure 3, a front and rear pair of flotation tanks 24 and 25, respectively, are fixed within each of the bulkhead units 11 and have a plurality of openings 24 (a) and 25 (a) formed in their bottoms that communicate with the internal part of the bulkhead boxes (Figure 4). Separated air ducts 26 and 27 are successively placed through the front and rear flotation tanks 24 and 25. Air ducts 26 and 27 are equipped with air ports 28 and 29 that communicate with the internal parts of each air tank. float 24 and 25. Thus, air under pressure can be supplied from a conventional source of supply to each float tank 24 and 25 from conduits 26 and 27 through air ports 28 and 29. Similarly and again using conventional means, the air can be evacuated from the flotation tanks through air ports 28 and 29 and air ducts 26 and 27 so that the water in the pool will penetrate the flotation tanks 24 and 25 from the bulkhead boxes 11 (a) through the openings 24 (a) and 25 (a) in the bottoms of the flotation tanks 24 and 25. Air can be supplied under pressure to the flotation tanks 24 and 25 or evacuate said air under pressure n of the flotation tanks 24 and 25 by conventional means through the access ports 30 and 31 installed at each end 18 and 19 of the bulkhead 10 (Figures 1 and 2). As also shown in Figures 1 and 2, registration access ports 32 and 33 are provided at each end 18 and 19 of bulkhead 10. This allows easy access to the interior of bulkhead 10 for cleaning procedures, maintenance, repairs, alterations, and the like. As can be seen in Figure 4, the front and rear walls 14 and 15 of each bulkhead unit 11 have a flow through the grids 34 and 34 (a), respectively, adjacent to their lower end in order to allow that the water in the pool enters the bulkhead box 11 (a). As also shown in Figure 4, a raised elongated spine 35 and 36 can be provided at the upper end of each of the front and rear walls 14 and 15 to serve as a finger grip for swimmers who must begin their competition in the water . A tray for carrying the timing locks can also be carried inside the flotation tanks in accordance with that indicated at 37 in figure 4. In order to keep the upper wall 12 of each bulkhead unit as free of water as possible and to avoid an accidental slip on the part of the people who walk on the bulkhead, several slots or openings 28 (Figure 1) communicating with the internal part of bulkhead boxes 11 (a) can be provided for the purpose of draining the water that accumulates in the upper wall 12 of the bulkhead units 11. The bulkhead units can be manufactured with laminated balsa cores between suitable external plastic coatings or covered such as glass fiber, polyvinyl, polyvinyl esters, and similar, and the upper walls 12 can be manufactured from a conventional non-slip plastic surface in order to minimize the possibility of slip and fall. Da when they are in wet conditions. Each of the wave counter bulkhead units of the present invention can be manufactured to be from about 3 feet to about 6 feet high, from about 6 feet to about 8 feet long, and from about 4 feet to about 6 feet Wide. The individual bulkhead units 11 can be screwed together, glued with epoxy glue, and coated with sheets to provide the desired length of bulkhead 10 to accommodate different pool widths. The bulkhead units 11 are provided in sections such that they can be easily transported and easily assembled on site. As illustrated in Figure 4, the bulkhead units 11 are provided in two sections: a front section 40 and a rear section 41. These sections 40 and 41 are joined together through nuts and bolts 42 and 43 through flanges corresponding 44, 45n and 46, 47. after assembly of the front and rear sections 40 and 41 in order to form a bulkhead unit 11, the bulkhead units can be similarly joined together by the use of nuts and bolts inserted through bolt holes 48 and 49 prepared in end flanges 50 and 51 in order to complete the assembly of the bulkhead against waves 10. Once assembled, the bulkhead 10 is introduced into the pool water which penetrates into the pool. Bulkhead case 11 (a) (Figure 3) through the flow through the louvers 34 and 34 (a) at the lower end of the front and rear walls 14 and 15 (Figure 4). Air is admitted or air is evacuated from the flotation tanks 24 and 25 through air ducts 26 and 27 and air ports 28 and 29 (figure 3) until the bulkhead 10 is flush and the slot is elongated 21 on the front wall 14 east to the water level of the pool 22 or just above the water level of pool 22 (figure 2). At this time, ends 18 and 19 of the bulkhead are fixed on the walls of the pool 20 (figures 1 and 2) . To accommodate different numbers of competitors, starting blocks 23 are frequently added or removed from bulkhead 10 (figures 1 and 2). When this occurs, the bulkhead 10 may have a tendency to twist about its longitudinal axis due to an increased weight or weight loss of the starting blocks 23 and cause the bulkhead to become unbalanced or uneven. However, since the air can be independently supplied or evacuated independently of the flotation tanks 24 and 25 through air ducts 26 and 27 and air ports 28 and 29 (Figure 3), the bulkhead units 11 affected they can be easily adjusted either by adding more air in the flotation tanks 24 and 25 or by evacuating air therefrom and allowing the water to penetrate the bulkhead box 11 (a) through grids 34 and 35 (a) (FIG. 4) and thence towards the flotation tanks 24 and 25 through the openings 24 (a) and 25 (a) thus controlling and overcoming the unbalance or the uneven character. In swimming competitions, any water turbulence that decreases a swimmer's speed or tends to interfere with a swimmer's time is a critical and negative factor. The cause of such turbulence is created by the water displaced in front of a swimmer as a swimmer advances through the water; that is, a "wave of the bow" similar to "the wave created by a ship that moves in the water. As a swimmer approaches a bulkhead, the swimmer's "bow wave" is pushed into the bulkhead and bounces off the bulkhead toward the swimmer as well as toward swimmers in adjacent swim lanes. By providing an elongated slot 21 adjacent to the upper edge of the front wall 14 of each bulkhead unit 11 (Figures 2 and 4), this type of turbulence and "bow wave" interference is virtually eliminated. The "bow wave" created by the swimmer is pushed into the elongated slot 21, in the bulkhead case 11 (a) and is ejected out of the bulkhead case 11 (a) through the grids 34 and 34 (a ) at the bottom of the front and rear walls 14 and 15 in order to fully absorb and dissipate the energy produced by the "bow wave". Although the wave bulkhead of the present invention has been described with particularity and with some details, those skilled in the art will note that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (1)

1. A wave pool bulkhead comprising: (a) a plurality of separate bulkhead units having an upper wall and a lower wall, a front wall and a rear wall, and opposite side walls, said walls being joined together to collectively define an enclosed bulkhead box; (b) a grid placed at the lower end of each of said front and rear walls to allow the penetration of water from the pool into said bulkhead box and to allow the water caused by the bow wave of a swimmer to be ejected from said bulkhead box; (c) an elongated slot formed adjacent the upper end of said intermediate front wall between said side walls in each of said bulkhead boxes; (d) a front and rear float tank attached to each of said bulkhead boxes, each of said float tanks having a plurality of openings formed in the bottom walls thereof and communicating with the internal part of said floats. bulkhead boxes; and (e) an air supply conduit having an air port communicating with each of said front flotation tanks and an air supply conduit communicating with each of said rear flotation tanks in such a manner that it it can independently supply air to said front and rear flotation tanks and that air can be evacuated independently of said front and rear flotation tanks. The wave bulkhead according to claim 1, wherein a finger grip in the form of an elongated spine is provided at the upper edge of the front and rear walls in each of said bulkhead units. The wave bulkhead according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of each of said bulkhead units has slots formed therein that communicate with the internal part of said bulkhead box. The wave bulkhead according to claim 1, including a register access port at each end of said bulkhead. The wave bulkhead according to claim 1, including a device for securing said end of said bulkhead on the sides of a pool wall.