WO2012101290A1

WO2012101290A1 - Swimming-pool- or bathtub-access system

Info

Publication number: WO2012101290A1
Application number: PCT/ES2011/000014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Alberto SERRANO CUBELLS
Original assignee: Serrano Cubells Carlos Alberto
Priority date: 2011-01-25
Filing date: 2011-01-25
Publication date: 2012-08-02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system providing access to a swimming pool (1) or bathtub raised above ground level. The access system of the present invention is located at the actual perimeter of the swimming-pool (1) or bathtub vessel and comprises an exterior door (2), an interior door (3), both of which fold, folding lateral closures (11) and a fixed module (4) formed by a floor (12) and two lateral walls (13) arranged so as to be parallel to one another and perpendicular to said floor (12), in which the fixed module (4), located between the two doors (2, 3) forms a leaktight compartment (5) together with said doors. The present invention likewise relates to the method for a user to access the swimming pool (1) or bathtub using the system described.

Description

ACCESS SYSTEM TO A POOL OR BATH

Technical sector of the invention

The present invention is framed within the facilities or deposits intended for bathing, including swimming pools, bathtubs, whirlpools, spas, etc. Specifically, the present invention relates to an access system to said deposits intended for bathing provided they are located on the floor surface.

Background of the invention

So far, the forms of access to the water of an elevated pool (bathtub, spa ...) are based on the use of stairs, either made in the pool's own glass, or as an additional element anchored to the glass of the pool, either internally or externally to it. However, the stairs present huge risks of slipping and falling and even more so when they are wet or damp, so they present a great inconvenience for users, especially for those with physical limitations.

After observing the difficulties that people encounter in accessing the pool and bathtubs vessel, the design of a water access system that avoids the inconveniences of current systems for this purpose has been chosen, thus providing an advantageous and safe solution for users, without the need for them to take special care to avoid landslides and falls. It also represents a great advantage for people with physical limitations.

Access systems to pools or bathtubs similar to those described by the present invention, the characteristics of which are described below, are not known in the state of the art.

Description of the invention

The water access system of the present invention is designed for swimming pools and elevated bathtubs, located on the ground surface. This system allows access to water without going up or down steps or over the edge of them, but directly access the floor of the pool or bathtub.

The water access system of the present invention is located in the perimeter of the vessel of the bathroom installation and mainly comprises the following parts:

- A swinging exterior door

- A hinged interior door - A fixed module formed by a floor and two side walls arranged parallel to each other and orthogonal to said floor. This module, located between the two doors, forms, together with said doors, a watertight compartment.

The exterior and interior door are abatiols, with their axis of rotation on their lower side, so that when they open, the doors are supported on the ground.

The exterior door communicates the exterior of the pool with the watertight compartment between both doors. The inner gate communicates said compartment with the pool.

The outer door can be opened or closed thanks to a strap or spring that is physically connected at one of its ends with said door and at the other end with the fixed module of the access system. The opening and closing of the outer door can be done manually or automatically. In the latter case, the system also includes a switch and a motor, so that when the switch is operated, the outer door opens or closes automatically.

On the floor of the fixed module there is a drain that communicates the compartment with the pool.

The interior door is provided with a small swing door that allows, once opened, the passage of water from the pool to the compartment. Said inner door can also include a buoyancy device that allows the automatic closing of the same once opened.

Both the outer and inner doors have rigid wings on their sides arranged orthogonally to the plane of the door, so that when the door is closed, the fins are housed internally to the fixed module and attached to the walls of said module.

The system has two side enclosures made of a folding material such as PVC and other resins. Each enclosure extends from the side flap of the outer door to the flap of the inner door through the wall of the fixed module. When any of the doors is opened, the enclosure of each of the sides unfolds, keeping the sides of the system closed, and when the doors are closed, the material is folded back inside the wall of the compartment.

The compartment is sealed, so that if it is filled with water, the water does not leak unless a pump is operated that allows the emptying of said compartment through the drain.

The system is provided with a safety device, latch type, pin, hitch .... that prevents the outer door from opening when there is water in the compartment, thus preventing the water contained in it from being able to go outside. The different parts of the system are made of a waterproof material. The doors can be covered by wooden boards, as well as the floor of the fixed module.

The procedure for access to water from the outside through this system includes the following steps, assuming that initially both the outer and inner doors are closed and the compartment between them is empty, without water:

- Opening the outer door, either manually or automatically

- User access to the waterproof compartment

External door closure, either manually or automatically

Pooling of the compartment, which consists of introducing water from the pool to the compartment up to a height similar to that of the pool water. The waterlogging is done manually by opening the small gate located on the inner door. It could also be done automatically by passing water from the pool to the compartment through a pipe and through a pump.

Once the water compartment is full, the inner door is opened simply by pushing it

- Individual's access to the pool

- Interior door closure

- Eviction of water from the compartment. This stage is performed automatically by activating a pump that drives water from the compartment to the pool.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description made, and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment will be made, based on a set of drawings that accompany this specification and in where, for illustrative purposes only and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a view of the water access system installed in a pool with both doors closed

Figure 2 shows a view of the water access system installed in a pool with the exterior door open and the interior closed. Figure 3 shows a view of the water access system installed in a pool with both doors closed and the gate open.

Figure 4 shows a view of the water access system installed in a pool with the inside door open and the outside door closed.

In the figures described the numerical references correspond to the following parts and elements:

1. -Pool

2. - Exterior door

3. - Interior door

4. - Fixed module

5. - Compartment

6. - Strapping

7. - Switch

8 - Drain

9. - Gate

10. -Side wings

1 1- Lateral enclosure

12. - Fixed module floor

13. - Side walls

Detailed description of the invention

To help better understand everything described above, a preferred embodiment of the invention is outlined below.

As shown in the figures, the water access system for the pool (1) comprises an exterior door (2) that opens thanks to a strap (6) operated by a switch (7). The system also includes an interior door (3), also hinged and a fixed module (4) which, located between the two doors, forms, together with them a sealed compartment (5). The fixed module (4) is formed by a floor (12) and two side walls (13), one in front of the other and orthogonal to said floor (12). Both doors (2, 3) have their axis of rotation on their lower side, so that when they open they rest on the floor.

The exterior door (2) communicates the exterior of the pool with the watertight compartment (5) between both doors (2 and 3). The inner door (3) communicates said compartment (5) with the pool water (1).

On the floor of the compartment there is a drain (8) that connects the compartment (5) with the pool (1). The inner door (3) is provided with a small hatch (9) also folding. The doors (2 and 3) have on their sides rigid wings (10) arranged orthogonally to the plane of the door, so that when the door (2, 3) is closed, the fins (10) are housed internally to the module fixed (4) and attached to the walls (13) of said module (4). In this preferred embodiment, the fins (10) have a triangular shape.

The system of the present invention also includes foldable and waterproof side walls (11) that keep the sides of the access system closed when any of the doors (2, 3) is open.

The system thus designed allows the user to access the water without going up and down steps or jumping over the pool vessel (1), but directly accesses the pool floor (1). To enter the compartment (5), first the user presses the switch (7) that causes the outer door (2) to open (Figure 2); once the individual has accessed said compartment (5), the outer door (2) is closed by pressing the switch (7) again. The user then opens the gate (9) (Figure 3) in such a way that the water passes from the pool to the compartment until the water pressures on one side and another of the inner door (3) are equalized. Under these conditions the user pushes the inner door (3), so that it opens (Figure 4) and the user accesses the pool water (1). Once the inner door is closed, a pump is activated that dislodges the water from the compartment (5) through the drain (8) by returning it to the pool (1).

Claims

Claims:

1.- Access system to a pool (1) or raised bathtub on the floor surface, characterized by comprising an exterior door (2) an interior door (3), folding side enclosures (1 1) and a fixed module ( 4) and where:

- the fixed module (4) is formed by a floor (12) provided with a drain (8) that communicates with the pool (1), and two side walls (13) arranged parallel to each other and orthogonal to said floor ( 12), said fixed module (4) being located between the two doors (2, 3) and forming with them a sealed compartment (5)

- the outer door (2) is hinged having its axis of rotation on its lower side and that communicates the outside of the pool (1) with a watertight compartment (5);

- the inner door (3) is hinged having its axis of rotation on its lower side and that communicates the watertight compartment (5) with the pool (1) and comprises a also folding gate (9) that allows, once opened, the passage of water from the pool (1) to the compartment (5); both the outer (2) and inner (3) doors have rigid wings (10) on their sides arranged orthogonally to the plane of the door (2, 3) arranged in such a way that when the door (2, 3) closes , the fins (10) are housed internally to the fixed module (4) and attached to the walls (13) of said module (4);

- each of the enclosures (11) extends from a lateral fin (10) of the outer door (2) to a lateral fin (10) of the inner door (3) through the wall (13) of the fixed module ( 4).

2. - Access system to a pool (1) or bathtub according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a strap or spring (6) for opening and closing the outer door (2), said strap or spring (6) being physically attached at one end with the outer door (2) and on the other end with the fixed module (4).

3. - Access system to a pool (1) or bathtub according to claim 2 characterized in that it comprises a switch (7) and an engine for automatic opening of the outer door (2).

4. - Access system to a swimming pool (1) or bathtub according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a pump to drive the water from the compartment (5) to the pool (1) through the drain (8).

5. - Access system to a pool (1) or bathtub according to claim 1 characterized in that it is provided with a safety device that prevents the outer door (2) from opening when there is water in the compartment (5).

6. - Access system to a swimming pool (1) or bathtub according to claim 1 characterized in that the inner door (3) is provided with a buoyancy device that allows its automatic closing once opened.

7. - Procedure for a user to access a swimming pool (1) or bathtub by means of the system described in the preceding claims, which comprises the following steps:

- Opening the outer door (2), either manually or automatically

- User access to the waterproof compartment (5)

External door closure (2), either manually or automatically

- Pooling of the compartment (5), which consists of introducing water from the pool (1) to the compartment (5) to a height similar to that of the pool water (1);

- Opening the inner door (3) once the compartment (5) has been punched by pushing it

- User access to the pool (1)

Interior door closure (3)

Water eviction from the compartment (5)

8. - Procedure for a user to access a swimming pool (1) or bathtub, according to claim 7, characterized in that the pooling of the compartment (5) is carried out manually by opening the gate (9) located in the inner door (3).

9. - Procedure for a user to access a swimming pool (1) or bathtub, according to claim 7, characterized in that the eviction of the water from the compartment (5) is carried out automatically by activating a pump that drives the water from the compartment ( 5) to the pool (1).