WO2018170529A1

WO2018170529A1 - Pool safety system

Info

Publication number: WO2018170529A1
Application number: PCT/AU2018/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Francis ALLSWORTH
Original assignee: Allsworth Brian Francis
Priority date: 2017-03-23
Filing date: 2018-03-21
Publication date: 2018-09-27

Abstract

The concept is designed to solve the problem of young children falling into swimming pools and there being no alarm for the responsible person or parents to take action. The idea is that the person falling into the pool will break the beam and trigger an electronic signal which is then converted into a suitable form of warning which could be an alarm sounding, a text, email or light alarm depending on the user's preferences. The design utilises infrared beams that are preferably built into a low-profile casing. There is a sender and receiver unit and these IR senders and receivers and electronics are preferably incorporated into a PCB which is screwed into the casing. A set of corner modules are preferably used to provide a blanket of area 1 m wide all around the edge of the pool. The system consists of four corner pieces each having a sender and receiver disposed at right angles.

Description

POOL SAFETY SYSTEM

This invention relates to a system for detecting and entry into a swimming pool and providing an alarm. Background to the invention

The idea of detecting water entry as a safety device has been proposed. Commercially available systems seem to use changes in water pressure or wave creation as the basis for such detection.

USA patent 5121104 discloses the use of a wave detector.

USA patent 6583724 is similar and also detects water movement.

USA patent 6157304 discloses the use of infrared motion detectors monitoring motion above the pool surface.

USA application 2008106422 discloses a pool light sensor unit using a combination of an optical, a seismic and a pressure sensor.

USA Patent 9183721 discloses a wearable device that acts as an alarm if a swimmer has difficulties.

USA application 2013/0269097 discloses a pool safety system with an underwater detection system and a raisable net to lift a body to the surface.

USA patent 9508242 discloses an alarm that uses an audio sensor and a water pressure sensor.

USA patent 9453827 discloses a system using robots with sensors that detect disturbances in the pool.

Brief description of the invention

To this end the present invention provides a pool entry detection system which includes

infra red light emitters and receivers arrayed on the peripheral inside edge of the pool to provide a plurality of infra red beams extending inwardly from the edges of the pool; a detector to detect a break in one or more of said beams as an indication of an unintended entry into the pool;

a computing device controller programmed to respond to a detection of a break in a beam by assessing the status of the pool and sending out puts to alarm devices. The concept is designed to solve the big problem of young children falling into swimming pools and there being no alarm for the responsible person or parents to take action. The idea is that the person falling into the pool will break the beam and trigger an electronic signal which is then converted into a suitable form of warning which could be an alarm sounding, a text, email or light alarm depending on the user's preferences. The design utilises infrared beams that are preferably built into a low-profile casing. There is a sender and receiver unit and these IR senders and receivers and

electronics are preferably incorporated into a PCB which is screwed into the casing. A set of corner modules are preferably used to provide a blanket of area 1 m wide all around the edge of the pool. The system consists of four corner pieces each having a sender and receiver disposed at right angles. The sender receivers are joined by a mounting/joining block in the corner. There is also a mounting block at the other ends the unit.

The unit is preferably powered by solar panels either on top of each unit or located adjacent each unit. However a hard wired mains unit may also be available or be necessary if solar provides insufficient power. The unit may include batteries to power the unit at night.

The control system may incorporate blue tooth and wireless communication to a suitable alarm system. This may be connected with the house security system and provide a visual and auditory alarm. The system is turned on when the pool is not attended by an adult and turned off when the pool is attended by an adult.

Detailed description of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which:

figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the system;

Figure 2 shows the detail of a corner unit of this invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a receiver unit of this invention;

Figure 4 is a crosssection of a receiver unit;

Figure 5 is a crossection of a sender unit;

Figure 6 illustrates the components of an alignment tool for use in installing the system of this invention. As shown in figure 1 the system comprises 4 corner units each having a solar panel 1 1 , an infrared transmitter 13 and a receiver 14 and a corner spacer 17. The beam generated by the transmitters and received by the receivers is preferably a metre wide as this is wide enough to detect any accidental entry into the swimming pool.

As shown in figure 2 the infrared receivers 14 and transmitters 13 are enclosed in a housing 12 with an opaque screen 16 covering the receivers and transmitters. Solar power panels 15 are positioned on the top of the transmitter and receiver housings. The housings are mounted tracks 20 which are aligned using the alignment tool. The receiver 14 and transmitter modules 13 snap into the tracks 21 using the snap lock 21 . The receiving unit 14 as illustrated in figure 3 incorporates receiver windows 31 . The unit 14 is secured to the track 20 and includes an end cap 18 to waterproof the module. The receiver electronics 30 are located in the receiver windows31 . A battery unit 33 is enclosed in the module 14.

The transmission module 13 includes a transmitter 37 and a transmitter lens 35. The electronic controls are mounted on the PCB 36 adjacent a battery unit 33. This module13 is also adapted to snap into tracks 20.

In order to align the units an alignment tool as shown in figure 6 is used to align the tracks and then the sender 13 and receiver 14 modules are snapped in place.

The alignment tool has a sender 41 and receiver 44.

The sender 41 has 2 laser beams that fire at the receiver 44 which has 2 mating detectors 45. The first mounting track 20 is laid down and temporarily fixed and the laser sender alignment tool is switched to on. The receiver track 20 and receiver are positioned at the opposite end and when the two laser beams align with the bullseye detectors, the positions are correct and the track may be secured.

The system includes a controller (not shown) in one of the four corner spacers 17, that is programmed to respond to a detection of a break in the infrared beam. A detection actuation system, as used with automatic doors, may be adapted for use with the system of this invention. The program can identify the number of individual LED beams broken and this can be used to determine if the breach is caused by a child falling in or some smaller object in order to eliminate false signals. When the beam is broken a signal is detected and this signal is converted into a number of customer selected warning options in the software. The warning systems may be an alarm inside the house, a text message sent to a phone or an email sent to the email address and customers may choose to have all or just one of the options selected. However, it is preferred that the alarm sounds regardless. The alarm system may have a flashing light or some other form of indicator warning, to cater for those who are partially deaf or hard of hearing.

The interface with home security and alarm systems may be achieved with hard wiring or with electronic transmission such as Bluetooth or infrared.

From the above, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a safety warning system for swimming pools. Those skilled in the art will realise that this invention may be implemented in embodiments other than those shown without departing from the core teachings of this invention.

Claims

1 . A pool entry detection system which includes

infra red light emitters and receivers arrayed on the peripheral inside edge of the pool to provide a plurality of infra red beams extending inwardly from the edges of the pool;

a detector to detect a break in one or more of said beams as an indication of an unintended entry into the pool;

a computing device controller programmed to respond to a detection of a break in a beam by assessing the status of the pool and sending out puts to alarm devices.

2. A detection system as claimed in claim 1 in which the width of the beams is about one metre.

3. A detection system for a rectangular pool consisting of four corner units each unit having a transmitter and a receiver disposed at right angles to each other.