WO2005108716A1

WO2005108716A1 - Part for lining an opening of a swimming pool

Info

Publication number: WO2005108716A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/051582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry Van Hemelryck
Original assignee: Thierry Van Hemelryck
Priority date: 2004-04-09
Filing date: 2005-04-11
Publication date: 2005-11-17
Also published as: EP1584774A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a part (28) made of a material that is essentially impervious to ultraviolet rays and capable of lining a communicating opening (10) that connects the basin (2) of a swimming pool to a skimmer (14) of this swimming pool. The part (28) has the shape of a sleeve that is open at its two ends and is capable of being placed inside the opening (10) for accommodating the mouthpiece (35) and a substantial portion of its inner face whereby protecting the opening (10) from attacks due to solar rays and/or due to chemical attacks on the swimming pool water. The part (28) also comprises means (30) for fixing said part (28) to the opening (10) after insertion.

Description

PIECE OF COVERING OF A POOL MOUTH

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a piece for covering a mouth for communication between the pool of a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit, the mouth having an internal wall extending towards a mouth having a peripheral edge, the piece of covering having the form of a sleeve open at its two ends being able to be embedded in the mouth and comprising fixing means for fixing said part to the mouth after embedding.

The invention also relates to a system comprising such a covering part associated with such a mouth for communication between the pool of a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit.

State of the art

Swimming pools, in particular those used for swimming or bathing, are conventionally in communication with a hydraulic circuit by means of a communication mouth existing between the swimming pool basin and the hydraulic circuit.

In document FR-A-2 729 994, a communication mouth is also described, also called a suction or dead mouth, intended to be placed at the level of the surface of the swimming pool water and to be connected to a suction pump. This known communication mouth has a substantially elliptical cross section and has a substantially wall horizontal or slightly sloping. For a matter of aesthetics, only the peripheral edge of the mouth of the mouth is covered with a trim piece, also called a hubcap, which has the sole function of concealing the joints and the flange which ensures a tight fixing of the suction mouth to a vertical wall of the pool.

It has been observed that with certain materials, the internal wall of the mouths was poorly resistant to aging due in particular to ultraviolet radiation, which takes the form, for example, of a reduction in its impact resistance and by a modification of its original color.

The embrittlement of the material particularly favors the development of cracks in said mouth when the latter is subjected to mechanical stresses, such as for example during a period of frost or following a ground movement. Once damaged, the communication mouth must then be replaced because the flow of liquid to the suction pump is no longer optimal. Replacing the suction mouth requires a lot of work since it is generally installed in the wall of the pool before pouring the concrete and is then covered with a coping usually made of stone.

Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a covering piece which better protects existing communication outlets from aging. To this end, the covering part according to the invention is characterized in that it is made of a material substantially opaque to ultraviolet rays and in that it is capable of covering the mouth and a substantial part of the wall internal communication mouth.

Thus, the dressing piece acts as a protective shield for the mouth by isolating it from ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the aging of the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a covering piece which is easy to replace without requiring long and tedious manipulations.

To this end, according to a preferred embodiment, the covering part is characterized in that the fixing means are able to fix the covering part in a removable manner to the communication mouth.

Advantageously, the covering part according to the invention comprises a valve mounted in an oscillating manner inside the covering part.

Frequently, the existing suction outlets indeed include such a valve which makes it possible to prevent the backflow of water from the hydraulic system towards the swimming pool basin. However, such a valve can hinder the embedding of the trim piece and, if necessary, it must be removed in order to properly embed the trim piece, consequently depriving the existing hydraulic system of the function backflow prevention. The fact of providing such a valve mounted in the covering piece allows to find this function without other modifications to the existing hydraulic system.

Brief description of the figures These aspects as well as other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the appended figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a covering piece according to the invention before insertion thereof into a communication mouth.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the covering part of FIG. 1 after its insertion into said mouth. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the covering part of the fig.l after its insertion into said mouth.

Figs. 4a and 4b schematically show the cross sections of other forms of trim parts as inserted in other forms of communication outlets.

Detailed description of the invention

The covering part according to the invention is a part capable of being attached to the mouth of the communication mouth and on a substantial part of the internal wall of said mouth in order to cover them and isolate them from ambient light radiation, particularly from solar radiation and more particularly ultraviolet radiation.

The mouth is normally placed in a side wall of the pool and is usually located at the surface of the liquid in the pool. The hydraulic circuits conventionally used in swimming pools include a circulation pump and are used for water treatment, in particular for its purification and for the addition of adequate additives (bactericides and fungicides, for example).

The communication mouth opens to the right of the wall of the swimming pool by a mouth whose shape is not critical for the definition of the invention. It can be circular, elliptical or polygonal, for example square, rectangular or trapezoidal. The mouth of the mouth generally has a flange which allows the mouth to be fixed to a wall of the pool.

The part according to the invention is capable of covering the mouth of the mouth, including the flange of the mouth when the latter has one.

The mouths of rectangular cross section, elongated in a substantially horizontal direction and ending in a rectangular mouth are generally encountered. The dimensions (width x height) of the mouthpieces of rectangular section are usually between (300mm to 400mm) x (130mm to 165mm). As for the depth of the communication mouth, it usually extends over a length ranging from 300mm and 400mm. In order to allow an optimal liquid flow towards the interior of the communication mouth, the part covering may then have an opening of substantially rectangular shape. The width of the opening typically represents at least 80% of that of the mouth of the communication mouth and preferably at least 95% of that of the mouth of the communication mouth. As for the height, this typically corresponds to at least 80% of the height of the mouth of the mouth and preferably to at least 95% of the height of the mouth of the mouth. The covering piece is capable of covering the whole of the internal wall of the mouth or part of it.

In an advantageous embodiment, the covering piece is capable of covering at least 20% of the depth of the mouth, starting from its mouth. It is indeed in this part that the light intensity of the ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun is the most important.

Preferably, the covering part is able to cover at least 50% of the depth of the mouth because UV rays can reach this area indirectly, for example by simple reflections on the surface of the swimming pool water.

Even more preferably, the covering part is able to cover at least 90% of the depth of the mouth in order to counter rays of sun which can reach this zone by more complex indirect routes, such as for example via multiple reflections on the surface of the pool water.

The thickness of the covering part is also conditioned by the need for said part to be able to withstand the mechanical forces to which it is normally subject and in particular to the action of the ebb and flow of water. The covering part according to the invention can be a flexible or rigid. We prefer that it be rigid. The internal wall of the cladding part has an adequate profile to allow water circulation between the pool and the hydraulic circuit. Notwithstanding this condition, the profile of the wall of the covering part is not critical and the most suitable shape can be determined in each particular case by a person skilled in the art.

Preferably, the external wall of the covering part has a profile similar to the profile of the internal wall of the communication mouth so that the part can substantially match the shape of the mouth when it is embedded therein.

To facilitate the use of the covering part, it is able to be embedded in the communication mouth. The positioning of the part is obtained by simple translational movement of the part inside said mouth, as shown in FIG. 1.

After embedding, the cladding piece according to the invention must be able to be fixed in the mouth adequately to prevent it from being entrained by the flow and reflux of the pool water during operation thereof.

The part therefore comprises means for fixing the part in the mouth irremovable or removable. The irremovable fixing means, can for example consist of means of gluing, welding, with staples (non-exhaustive list) or a combination of these fixing means.

Preferably, the covering part comprises removable fixing means including for example screws or bolts, clips or retaining springs (non-exhaustive list).

The covering piece is made of a material which is substantially opaque to ultraviolet rays. The term “material substantially opaque to ultraviolet rays” is intended to denote by the term “material which does not transmit very little or no ultraviolet radiation. The choice of opaque material is therefore not critical for the definition of the invention, the most suitable material being able to be easily determined, in each particular case, by a person skilled in the art, depending on the operating conditions of the swimming pool and properties known from commercial materials.

Preferably, the material of the covering part is moreover not very chemically sensitive to water and to the additives that it possibly contains.

In general, the material of the covering part can be indifferently selected from polymers, for example synthetic polymers, and from metals. Metals are specially recommended for their mechanical resistance. Stainless steels are preferred, particularly austenitic stainless steels, among which steels of grade AISI 316, 316L and 316TI are especially recommended. Steels of grades AISI 316L and AISI 316TI are preferred. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the covering part includes means sealing that allow it to be joined tightly to the mouth. This embodiment has the advantage of avoiding the accumulation of dirt and the trapping of liquid between the internal wall of the mouth and the trim piece. For example, the sealing means include elastic seals between the covering part and the communication mouth.

The covering part according to the invention finds an application for any type of mouth serving as communication between a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit. It applies especially to mouths whose wall is made of a material capable of degrading under the action of ultraviolet rays, as is the case with certain synthetic polymers (PVC, ABS) commonly used for the construction of mouths of communication for swimming pool. The covering part according to the invention finds in particular an application for the mouths used for the admission of water into a swimming pool, as well as for the mouths serving for the extraction of water from a swimming pool, for example the mouths for surface skimmers, also called skimmers.

The invention therefore also relates to a system comprising a covering piece according to the invention associated with a mouth for communication between a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit, for example between a swimming pool and a swimming pool surface skimmer.

Pool skimmers are intended to be mounted in the hydraulic circuit of a swimming pool, to remove solid impurities which are on the surface of the water. In the system according to the invention, the mouth is provided with a covering part as defined above, which is attached to a substantial part of the surface of its internal wall in order to protect it from ultraviolet radiation.

An advantage of the covering part according to the invention is that it is possible to use it to protect a communication mouth of an already installed skimmer in order to prevent its aging. The use of such a protective part therefore makes it possible to avoid replacement of the skimmer's communication mouth, a replacement which causes high costs. The swimming pool shown in Fig. 2 comprises a basin 2 which is excavated below ground level 4 and which is intended to contain water. A side wall 6 of the basin 2 is substantially vertical. The lateral wall 6 is crossed by a communication mouth 10 between the pool 2 of the swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit comprising a surface skimmer 14. The skimmer 14 comprises a substantially vertical chamber 16, which is in communication, upstream, with the mouth 10 and, downstream, with a conduit 18 connected to a suction pump, not shown (the concepts “upstream” and “downstream” are defined relative to the direction of circulation of the water in the mouth 10, which will be explained below). The chamber 16 also includes a filter basket 20. The mouth 10 is tightly fixed to the wall 6 of the basin 2. In the example of FIG. 2, the cross section of the mouth 10 is rectangular. The mouth is covered with a coping 12, comprising for example a paving.

The side wall 6 and the bottom 22 of the basin 2 are covered with a waterproof sheet 24, called a "liner", made of PVC, shaped to the shape and dimensions of the basin. The mouth 10 of the skimmer 14 is generally made of PVC or ABS, materials which resist poorly to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

During the operation of the swimming pool, the basin 2 is filled with water up to a normal use level 26 and the water in the basin 2 is subjected to a continuous or periodic circulation through the mouth 10, towards the chamber 16, from where it is recycled in the basin 2 via the aforementioned suction pump. In chamber 16, the water is subjected to filtration in order to rid it of the solid particles which it contains.

According to the invention, an example of covering part 28 is a sleeve open at its two ends, embedded in the mouth 10. The dimensions and the shape of the sleeve 28 are adapted to those of the mouth 10, so that that the sleeve 28 substantially matches the shape of the mouth of said mouth 10 and extends over at least 90% of the depth of the mouth 10. Holding springs 30, in the form of lamellae integral with the sleeve 28, are interposed between the sleeve 28 and the internal wall of the mouth 10. The fixing of the sleeve 28 in the mouth 10 is thus removable; it suffices to exert a traction greater than the holding force exerted by the springs 30, in order to extract the covering part 28 from the mouth 10.

Alternatively, the sleeve 28 may for example have tabs (31) which can be screwed into the mouth 10 before insertion of the sleeve 28 into the mouth 10 and which, after insertion of the sleeve 28 into the mouth 10, can be screwed to the piece 28.

Of course, the covering part 28 may include any other means for fixing the covering part 28 to the mouth 10, once embedded in the mouth. Preferably, a seal between the sleeve 28 and the mouth 10 is ensured by a flexible seal 32, interposed between the downstream end of the sleeve 28 and the internal wall of the mouth 10, and by a second flexible seal 34 interposed between a flange 36 of the covering part 28 and a flange 35 of the mouth 10.

Optionally a valve 38 is mounted in an oscillating manner, inside the sleeve 28. The valve 38 performs the function, known per se, of preventing a backflow of water from the chamber 16 towards the basin 2. A stop ( not shown) ensures the non-return of the valve 38 towards the mouth of the part 10.

In the swimming pool shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 28 thus isolates the internal wall of the mouth 10 from solar radiation. It therefore prevents the internal wall of the mouth 10, often made of PVC or ABS, from being damaged by ultraviolet rays.

Figure 3 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the covering part 28 of fig.l after its insertion into said mouth 10. It can be seen that the part 28 also covers the mouth of the mouth 10, including the flange 35. Figure 3 also shows an alternative means of fixing the part 28 to the mouth 10 comprising one or more lugs 31 which can for example be screwed to the mouth 10 before inserting the part into the mouth and then for example screwed to the part after insertion into the mouth, which allows the part to be fixed to the mouth.

Figs. 4a and 4b schematically show the cross sections of other forms of trim parts 28 as inserted in other forms of communication outlets 10.

In summary, the invention can be described as follows: Dressing piece of a communication mouth 10 connecting the basin 2 of a swimming pool to a skimmer 14 of said swimming pool. The part 28 has a form of sleeve open at its two ends, capable of being embedded in the mouth 10 to cover the mouth and a substantial part of its internal face, so as to protect the mouth 10 from attacks due to rays solar and / or due to chemical attack from the pool water. The part 28 also has means 30 for fixing the said part 28 to the said mouth 10 after embedding. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been disclosed and described in particular above. The invention lies in the presentation of all new characteristics and in each combination of these characteristics. The use of the verbs "to understand, to include or to include" and their conjugated forms, does not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in the claims. The use of the article "a / une" in front of an element, does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments which are an illustration of the invention and which should not be considered as limiting.

Claims

1. Dressing part (28) of a communication mouth (10) between the basin (2) of a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit, the mouth (10) having an internal wall extending towards a mouth having a peripheral edge, the covering part (28) having the shape of a sleeve open at its two ends being able to be embedded in the mouth (10) and comprising fixing means for fixing said part (28) to the mouth (10) after embedding,

characterized in that it is made of a material substantially opaque to ultraviolet rays and in that it is capable of covering the mouth and a substantial part of the internal wall of the communication mouth (10).

2. trim piece (28) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means are adapted to fix the trim piece (28) removably to the communication mouth (10).

3. trim piece (28) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a valve (38) mounted in an oscillating manner inside the trim piece (28).

4. Dressing piece (28) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is a metal.

5. Dressing piece (28) according to claim 4, characterized in that the material is stainless steel.

6. Dressing piece (28) according to claim 5 characterized in that the material is austenitic stainless steel selected from those of grade AISI 316, AISI 316L and AISI 316TI.

7. Dressing piece (28) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material is a polymer.

8. Dressing piece (28) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes means (32, 34) for sealing between the dressing piece (28) and the mouth ( 10) when the part (28) is embedded in the mouth (10).

9. System comprising a covering part (28) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, associated with a communication mouth (10) between the pool (2) of a swimming pool and a hydraulic circuit (14).