US20120247034A1

US20120247034A1 - Enclosure for a pleasure pool, which completely or partially adopts the shape of a rotunda

Info

Publication number: US20120247034A1
Application number: US13/512,332
Authority: US
Inventors: Frédéric Wystup; Yoann Ledriant; Jean-Pierre Charpentier
Original assignee: Abrisud SAS
Current assignee: Abrisud SAS
Priority date: 2009-12-03
Filing date: 2010-12-03
Publication date: 2012-10-04
Also published as: AU2010326430A1; EP2507448A2; BR112012013149A2; CN102713108A; WO2011067545A3; EP2507448B1; WO2011067545A2

Abstract

The invention relates to an enclosure for a pleasure pool, which is completely or partially in the form of a rotunda and which comprises a plurality of rotary angular roof elements. The aforementioned rotary angular roof elements form an angular portion of the rotunda and rotate about the same vertical axis, each element comprising a frame framing at least one cylindrical filler panel. The frame includes a lower circular edge that rests on the ground and an upper edge from which at least two sections extend towards the rotation shaft, which sections join so as, together with the upper edge, to form a frame for an angular portion of the roof-forming filler panel. The roof elements are mounted to rotate about the same vertical axis in order to move between an open position and a closed position. The enclosure is characterised in that each frame framing a cylindrical filler panel is provided with a section (C, C) that is curved in relation to the axis of rotation of the element and which is disposed in the internal portion between the lower edge and the upper edge, forming a handrail. The invention is suitable for pleasure pool covers.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of shelters for pleasure pools adopting the form of a rotunda and in particular to adaptations for producing the rotating-movement roof elements to the best standard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There exist in the prior art shelters for pleasure pools such as in particular spas that offer a rotunda form adopting a substantially hemispherical or cylindrical shape. There also exist in the prior art shelters for pleasure pools of the swimming pool type that offer a rotunda or semi-rotunda form.
To do this, these shelters comprise rotating roof elements each forming an angular portion of the shelter and rotating about the same vertical axis.
These roof elements comprise a circular lower edge resting on the ground, a cylindrical panel, and profiles starting from the top edge of the panel and joining it in order to form an angular roof portion, the connecting ends of said roof elements being mounted so as to rotate about the same vertical axis.
Unlike conventional roof elements that rest on either side of the pool and therefore have two support zones, the rotating roof elements participating in this rotunda are cantilevered and have a base bearing on the ground or on the area surrounding the pool and a top end in pivot connection about a vertical axis common to a plurality of rotating roof elements. This vertical axis constitutes a second support point offset with respect to the first and must therefore be sized for this purpose without impairing the aesthetic appearance.
Another constraint relating to the use of a rotunda form lies in the mobility of the rotating roof elements, a mobility that must allow the greatest possible access to the pool. However, conventionally, one or more rotating elements remain fixed in order to guarantee the support of the others and the rigidity of the whole. These fixed roof elements are then oversized in order to successfully implement this function of supporting the others.
Another solution consists of proposing a fixed internal structure for supporting said roof elements.
Another constraint lies in the sizing of the rotating elements which, if they must all pivot, must then have an extendable structure allowing the rotation and retraction of one rotating element with respect to another. However, in the context of a shelter having optimised rigidity, the thicknesses of the various profiles forming the support frame for the fill-in panels is liable to negate an aesthetic effect.
These various constraints led shelter designers to propose rotunda structures that are lighter and less mobile and have parts specifically sized for each rotating roof element constituting the rotunda.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Starting from this state of affairs, the applicant carried out research aimed at solving the drawbacks described above. This research resulted in the design and production of a shelter for pleasure pools having partially or wholly a rotunda configuration and comprising a plurality of angular rotating roof elements forming an angular portion of the dome or of the rotunda and rotating about the same vertical axis, each angular rotating roof element comprising a frame enclosing a cylindrical fill-in panel, the frame comprising a circular bottom edge resting on the ground, a top edge from which at least two profiles project towards the rotation axis, which join in order to form, with said top edge, a frame for an angular portion of the fill-in panel forming the roof, said roof elements being mounted so as to rotate about the same vertical axis. This shelter is remarkable in that each frame enclosing a cylindrical fill-in panel is equipped with a profile curved along the rotation axis of the element and placed in its internal part between the bottom edge and the top edge of a handrail.
The presence of this handrail profile affords numerous advantages in addition to a support for the user and better manoeuvrability of the roof element.
This is because this additional profile stiffens a frame and offers a support surface to the fill-in panel reinforcing those offered by the frame surrounding said panel.
This support will thus make it possible to avoid excess thickness of the fill-in panel. This is because a vertical cylindrical surface is subjected to the forces due to wind and must be able to withstand such forces. The shelter of the invention avoids a technological solution consisting of oversizing the frames or thicknesses of the panels, which would increase costs and reduce manoeuvrability.
The addition of this supplementary profile thus brings technical effects going beyond the handrail function while lightening the structure and at the same time stiffening it.
This shelter can adopt the form of a complete rotunda arranged for example above a spa or a semi-rotunda arranged at the end of a high shelter.
According to another feature, this shelter comprises a vertical shaft on which said rotating roof elements arranged below pivot.
According to the form adopted by the shelter, this shaft is supported by a different element. According to a first solution where the shelter adopts the form of a complete rotunda, it comprises an external arch 300 forming a portico and supporting said vertical shaft at its middle part.
The use of an additional external support structure is particularly advantageous in that it avoids the use of an internal supporting skeleton. In addition, it avoids the oversizing and fixing of one or more roof elements in order to fulfill this function. In addition, by avoiding making one of the roof elements fixed for support purposes, it guarantees complete angular mobility of the set of roof elements, allowing non-limitative positioning of the retracted assembly.
According to another particular advantageous feature contributing to stability and avoiding oversizing, said portico has an assembly of three uprights and three half-beams placed at 120 degrees.
According to another particularly advantageous feature contributing to the overall aesthetic appearance of the shelter, the top part of the rotating roof elements repeats the slope or curve of said portico.
Another feature participating in the aesthetic appearance lies in the fact that said rotating elements are sized so that, in the deployed position, one rim out of two advantageously coincides with the plane in which the upright and half-beam are situated.
According to one technological choice, the shelter adopts an extendable configuration in which the roof elements adopt a decreasing size to enable retraction thereof inside only one.
The angular roof elements are composed of:
a first vertical part consisting of a cylindrical portion with a vertical axis represented by the shaft,
a second substantially flat part with a triangular shape repeating any slope on the portico and providing a connection between the top edge of the cylindrical portion and the shaft.
According to a second solution in which the shelter adopts the form of a semi-rotunda placed at the end of a high shelter, the top end of said vertical shaft is fixed to an arch belonging to the frame of a non-rotating roof element with a size greater than the largest of the rotating roof elements.
According to another particularly advantageous feature, the top ends of said angular roof elements are equipped with a connecting part equipped with at least one collar preformed vertically with an orifice. In order to form a guide sleeve fitted on the shaft, said sleeve has a thickness less than or equal to one half of the connecting part so that turning over the connecting part allows by symmetry the pivot connection on the same shaft of an angular roof element of identical dimensions.
This feature makes it possible to use identical roof elements and thus reduces the cost of a rotunda. In addition, it makes it possible to use the same connecting parts for different roof elements. Such a feature is particularly suited to two identical roof elements arranged opposite each other. The following pair of roof elements has smaller dimensions but can have identical connecting parts fitted according to the same principle at a lower height along said shaft and so on.
According to the invention, said shelter is also remarkable in that it comprises two types of connecting part having sleeves disposed symmetrically on either side of the symmetry plane of the top part of the roof elements and used on the side towards which said element retracts.
According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the connecting part is equipped with two sleeves angularly offset on the same radius and offset in height so that, depending on the sleeve chosen, the height with which the roof element is associated with said shaft differs, thus allowing the pivoting of roof elements of identical sizes. Said angular offset increases the possibilities of angular movement of a roof element with respect to its opposite one placed symmetrically.
According to another particularly advantageous feature, the top part of the roof elements comprises two ends of two profiles the connection of which is provided by said connecting part. Said connecting part thus has several functions and reduces the number of parts necessary.
The fill-in panels framed by the profiles forming the frameworks of the roof elements can be produced from a plurality of materials, such as for example:
polycarbonate, transparent or not,
glass,
microperforated textile,
PVC,
etc.
Other features are able to be offered by the shelter of the invention, such as for example:
each frame of angular rotating roof elements comprises two uprights to which the ends of said curved profile are fixed, the latter being fixed in the thickness of said uprights so that it does not form, with respect to the latter, an inward projection opposite said uprights,
said curved profile is equipped, on the external periphery thereof, with fixing blocks fulfilling the function of points for supporting and fixing the fill-in panels,
the top adjoining the profiles enclosing the triangular roof panel is offset with respect to the rotation axis of said rotating roof element.
The fundamental concepts of the invention having been disclosed above in the most elementary form thereof, other details and features will emerge more clearly from a reading of the following description with regard to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limitative example an embodiment of a shelter for a pleasure pool according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of an embodiment of a shelter for a pleasure pool of the spa type according to the invention in the closed position,

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of the shelter of FIG. 1 in the open position,

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of an external perspective view of a shelter (or of a portion of a shelter) with an end adopting a semi-rotunda configuration in the closed position,

FIG. 4 is a drawing of the shelter of FIG. 3 with the rotunda in the open position,

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a detail view of the pivot connection of the rotunda,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first part connecting the top ends of the rotating roof elements,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second part connecting the top ends of the rotating roof elements,

FIG. 8 is a schematic detail drawing of the connection of the handrail with the panels,

FIGS. 9 and 9 a are schematic drawings illustrating the connection between the handrail and the uprights,

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a shelter for a spa in the closed position,

FIG. 11 illustrates the embodiment in FIG. 10 in the open position,

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of a plan view of an embodiment of the connection between the profiles forming the triangular roof portion of the roof module.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 1, the shelter referenced A is of the type opening and closing above a pleasure pool such as a spa, not illustrated.
This shelter A is broken down into a plurality of roof elements 100 resting on the ground S (or on an area surrounding the pool) and the top part of which is in abutment on and pivots on a shaft 200 supported by an external upper superstructure composed of a tripod 300 independent of the roof elements 100 and connected to the latter solely by means of the central shaft 200.
Said portico has a set of three uprights 310 and three half-beams 320 arranged at 120 degrees. The roof elements 100 move in the internal space delimited by this external structure 300.
Said angular roof elements 100 are composed of:
a first vertical part 110 consisting of a cylindrical portion with a vertical axis represented by the shaft 200,
a second substantially flat part with a triangular shape 120 repeating any slope on the gantry 300 and providing the connection between the top edge of the cylindrical portion and the shaft 200.
Each part is framed by a set of profiles 130 supporting fill-in panels P.
As illustrated, the profiles 131 and 132 forming the angle of the triangular portion 120 join and are connected by means of a connecting part 400 that provides the connection of the contiguous ends of the profiles and connection thereof to the shaft 200. As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 2, the various connecting parts 400 are identical despite the roof elements of different sizes and fit on the shaft 200, which comprises, on its bottom end, an axial stop 210 providing the support for this stack. In accordance with the invention, each frame framing a cylindrical fill-in panel is equipped with a profile C curved on the rotation axis of the element and which, placed in the internal part between the bottom edge and the top edge, forms a handrail.
As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 1, the various roof elements are sized angularly so that the edge thereof coincides in one case out of two with the plane in which an upright 310 and the beam 320 associated therewith of the portico 300 fit. Thus, according to the embodiment illustrated, the angular roof elements 100 are six (6) in number and are sized so as to correspond to substantially 60 degrees of the angular portion of the 360 degrees of the complete shelter.
As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 2, the largest roof element 100 comprises a third part 140 forming a façade consisting of transverse panels sized so as to provide the closure of the volume of the shelter A despite the reduced size of the smallest roof element joining said façade in the closed position.
The presence of the tripod supporting the roof elements 100 makes it possible to benefit from complete angular freedom as to the retracted open position illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 2.
As illustrated on the drawings in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shelter (or the shelter portion) referenced A′ as a whole is composed of a plurality of top roof elements referenced E′ and adopts, at one end, a semi-rotunda form R′.
More precisely, the shelter A′ is formed from rectilinear roof elements E1′ able to move in the direction of the double arrow F1′ in translation above its pool and roof elements E2′ forming angular portions of the semi-rotunda R′ and able to move in the direction of the double arrow F2′ in rotation about the same axis represented by the shaft 100′.
As illustrated, the rectilinear roof elements E1′ are composed of a framework formed from two skeleton elements 200′ braced by crossmembers 300′, a framework serving to frame and support one or more fill-in panels P′. More precisely, the skeleton elements 200′ are formed by two uprights 210′ supporting two beams 220′ assembled at the symmetry plane of the shelter, forming an angle to constitute a ridge of the roof of the shelter A′.
Said fill-in panels P′ may be produced from a plurality of materials, such as for example:
polycarbonate, transparent or not,
glass,
microperforated textile,
PVC,
etc.
In accordance with the invention, the external skeleton element 200′ situated at one end of the shelter A′ provides, by means of its beams 220′, the support for a shaft 100′ above which the angular roof elements E2′ constituting the rotunda R′ will pivot in order to pass from the position illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 4.
In accordance with the invention, each frame framing a cylindrical fill-in panel is equipped with a profile C′ curved along the rotation axis of the element and which, arranged in the internal part between the bottom edge and the top edge, forms a handrail.
As illustrated in the latter figure, the angular elements retract completely inside the rectilinear roof element to which they are connected, thus affording complete access to the inside of the shelter A′.
As illustrated, if the rotunda part R′ does indeed adopt an extendable structure, it adopts a symmetrical extendable structure and allows the use of identical angular roof elements. Thus, according to the embodiment illustrated, said rotunda R′ comprises five (5) rotating angular roof elements E2′ with four elements identical in pairs and a single fifth one smaller in height than those of the smallest pair. Thus, when they are in pairs, the roof elements are identical and are placed symmetrically with respect to each other without preventing retraction.
This specificity is made possible by the particularly judicious technical choices combined in the pivot connection used by the shaft 100′ and which appear on the drawings in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.
These angular elements E2′ are, according to the embodiment illustrated, composed of:
a first vertical part 410′ consisting of a cylindrical portion with a vertical axis represented by the shaft 100′,
a second substantially flat part with a triangular shape 420′ repeating the slope of the roof formed by the shelter and providing the connection between the top edge of the cylindrical portion 410′ and the shaft 100′.
The second part 420′ is therefore composed of a circular rim adopting the circular form of the rotunda and two profiles 421′ and 422′ connected at a first end to the top rim of the cylindrical portion and joining at an end that will come to be connected with the shaft 100′.
The connection between the two profiles 421′ and 422′ bordering the top part of the roof element E2′ and forming the triangular part and the connection between this top part and the shaft 100′ are produced by means of a connecting part.
According to one embodiment, this connecting part is identical for each angular roof element E2′.
Nevertheless, according to the embodiment illustrated, two types of connecting parts 500 a′ and 500 b′ (cf. FIGS. 6 and 7) each has a sleeve placed, according to the connecting part, symmetrically on either side of the symmetry plane of the top part of the roof elements and used according to the side towards which said element retracts.
The connecting part 500 a′ comprises a body 510 a′ from where project, at the angle of the triangle forming the top part of the roof element E2′, two profiles 520 a′ and 530 a′ able to fit in the joining hollow ends of the profiles 421′ and 422′. This body 510 a′ is also preformed from a sleeve 540 a′ bored with an orifice 541 a′.
According to the part 500 a′ or 500 b′, these collars have the same thickness and their bore is the same diameter, enabling them to offer a sliding pivot connection with the shaft 100′, as illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 5.
The presence of two collars and therefore of two possibilities of connection to the shaft 100′, possibilities of equivalent radius but different heights, is evidenced from a study of FIG. 5, which shows that the offset of the two collars enables the use at the same height of angular roof elements of equal dimensions. Thus, for the same height of the top roof element part, the two connecting parts have two collar position possibilities fitting in the total height of the connecting part and allowing the use of roof elements with the same dimensions. In addition, the angular offset of constant radius allows greater travel between two roof elements with the same dimensions and arranged opposite.
To facilitate this rotation, the connecting parts are also preformed so as to have cooperating complementary shapes once the connecting parts of two roof elements of identical dimensions are positioned on the shaft 100′ and allowing the greatest possible angular mobility. Thus each connecting part is preformed with the counter-shape of the collar of the connecting part of the facing roof element.
In order to support this assembly of pivoting parts, the shaft 100′ is associated, by means of a bearing 110′, with the beam 220′ and comprises, on its bottom end, a removable axial stop 120′. As illustrated, the top end of said vertical shaft 100′ is fixed to an arch 220 with a size greater than the largest of the rotating roof elements forming the rotunda R′.
In order to avoid said bottom stop 120′ supporting all the forces alone, axial support rings 130′ are fixed to the shaft 100′, being interposed between the collars 550′ or 540′ of the connecting parts 500′. In order to facilitate this function, said rings are associated with nylon braces.
As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 8, said curved profile C is equipped, on the external periphery thereof, with fixing blocks fulfilling the function of points supporting and fixing the fill-in panels 410.
In addition, as illustrated on the drawing in FIGS. 9 and 9 a, each frame comprises two uprights to which the ends of said curved profile C are fixed, the latter being fixed in the thickness of said uprights. As illustrated, the width of the handrail C is integrated in the thickness or in the width defined by the profile of the uprights. Thus the presence of said curved profile C forming a handrail does not constitute an obstacle to the rotation of the roof modules.
The embodiment of the shelter A″ illustrated by the drawings in FIGS. 10 and 11 offers a configuration in four roof modules 100″, 200″, 300″ and 400″ rotating with respect to the portico. As illustrated, these roof modules are fully moveable because of their adjusted size and their extendable configuration. A seal of the brush type provides the closure of the space left free between the modules. The roof elements can then turn without any obstacle in both directions.
According to the configuration proposed, the four roof modules have in pairs the same roof angle. Thus the roof module 100″ has the same angle as the module 300″. Likewise, the angle of the module 200″ is identical to that proposed by the module 400″.
In addition, the angle formed by the roof of the modules 100″ and 300″ corresponds substantially to twice that of the roof of the modules 200″ and 400″. This angular distribution allows the open configuration illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 11, where the two modules 200″ and 400″ fit in the angle formed by the two modules 100″ and 300″ placed one above the other.
The juxtaposition of the two modules 200″ and 400″ is made possible without conflict at the rotation shaft by means of the feature illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 12, which proposes that the top joining the profiles framing the triangular roof panel be offset with respect to the rotation axis.
It will be understood that the shelter that has just been described and depicted above was so described and depicted with a view to a disclosure rather than a limitation. Naturally various arrangements, modifications and improvements could be made to the above example without for all that departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Shelter for pleasure pools, having partially or entirely a rotunda configuration and comprising a plurality of angular rotating roof elements forming an angular portion of the rotunda and rotating about the same vertical axis, each angular rotating roof element comprising a frame framing a cylindrical fill-in panel, the frame comprising a circular bottom edge resting on the ground, a top edge from which two profiles project towards the rotation axis, which join in order to form, with said top edge, a frame for an angular fill-in panel portion forming the roof, said roof elements being mounted so as to rotate about the same vertical axis in order to pass from an open position to a closed position,

characterised by the fact that

each frame framing a cylindrical fill-in panel is equipped with a profile curved along the rotation axis of the element and which, arranged in the internal part between the bottom edge and the top edge forms a handrail.

2. Shelter according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises a vertical shaft on which said rotating roof elements arranged below can pivot.

3. Shelter according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that it comprises an external arch forming a portico and supporting, at its middle part, said vertical shaft.

4. Shelter according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said shaft comprises a bottom stop.

5. Shelter according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the top part of the rotating roof elements reproduces the slope or curve of said portico.

6. Shelter according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said portico has an assembly of three uprights and three half-beams arranged at 120 degrees.

7. Shelter according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that said rotating elements are sized so that, in the deployed position, one rim out of two coincides with the plane in which the upright and the half-beam are situated.

8. Shelter according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that it adopts an extendable configuration in which the roof elements adopt a decreasing size to enable them to be retracted inside a single one.

9. Shelter according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that the angular roof elements are six in number and are sized so as to correspond to substantially 60 degrees of angular portion of the 360 degrees of the total shelter.

10. Shelter according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said angular roof elements are composed of:

a first vertical part consisting of a cylindrical portion with a vertical axis represented by the shaft,

a second substantially flat part with a triangular shape reproducing any slope on the portico and providing the connection between the top part of the cylindrical portion and the shaft.

11. Shelter according to claim 8, characterised by the fact characterised by the fact that the largest roof element comprises a third part forming a façade consisting of transverse panels sized so as to provide the closure of the volume of the shelter despite the reduced size of the smallest roof element joining said façade in the closed position.

12. Shelter according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the top end of said vertical shaft is fixed to an arch belonging to the frame of a non-rotating roof element with a size greater than the largest of the rotating roof elements.

13. Shelter according to claim 12, characterised by the fact that the top ends of said angular roof elements are equipped with a connecting part equipped with a collar preformed vertically with an orifice in order to form a guide sleeve fitting on the shaft, said sleeve having a thickness less than or equal to one half of a connecting part so that the turning over of the connecting part allows by symmetry the pivot connection on the same shaft of an angular roof element of identical dimensions.

14. Shelter according to claim 12, characterised by the fact that it comprises two types of connecting part each having a sleeve arranged, according to the connecting part, symmetrically on either side of the symmetry plane of the top part of the roof elements and used according to the side towards which said element retracts.

15. according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said connecting part is equipped with two sleeves angularly offset on the same radius and offset in height so that, according to the sleeve chosen, the height with which the roof element is associated with said shaft differs, thus allowing the pivoting of roof elements of identical dimensions.

16. Shelter according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that the top part of the roof elements consists of two ends of two profiles the connection of which is provided by said connecting part.

17. Shelter according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said shaft comprises, on the bottom end thereof, a removable axial stop.

18. Shelter according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that the shaft is associated with rings forming an axial stop for the top ends of the roof elements and interposed between the stacked collars.

19. Shelter according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that the rotating angular elements are composed of:

a second substantially flat part with a triangular shape reproducing the slope of the roof formed by the shelter and providing the connection between the top edge of the cylindrical portion and the shaft.

20. Shelter according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that each frame of rotating angular roof elements comprises two uprights to which the ends of said curved profile are fixed, the latter being fixed in the thickness of said uprights so that it does not form, with respect to the latter, an inward projection opposite said uprights.

21. Shelter according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said curved profile is equipped, on the external periphery thereof, with fixing blocks fulfilling the function of points for supporting and fixing the fill-in panels.

22. Shelter according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the top joining the profiles framing the triangular roof panel is offset with respect to the rotation axis of said rotating roof element.