WITHDRAWABLE COVER FOR A SWIMMING POOL
United States Patent 3864761
A withdrawable cover for a swimming pool is disclosed. The cover comprises a drum adapted to be rotatably mounted about an axis, a first elongate member extending substantially parallel to the axis, a plurality of mutually spaced parallel cables interconnecting the first elongate member and a peripheral portion of the drum, and a plurality of further elongate members each extending parallel to the first elongate member and each overlying the cables. Longitudinal edge portions of the respective further elongate members are disposed in edge-to-edge relationship and are so mutually intercoupled that the further elongate members are capable of being rolled-up around the periphery of the drum, one of the further elongate members is disposed next adjacent the first elongate member and is connected thereto, and the arrangement is such that the further elongate members - when unrolled from the drum - may be supported along a major portion of their lengths by the cables to provide a cover extending over a swimming pool.
US Patent References:
Safety cover for swimming pools
Karobonik et al. - July 1956 - 2754899
Swimming pool protector
Jones - July 1958 - 2844196
Swimming pool safety device
Shook et al. - November 1960 - 2958083
Retractable swimming pool cover
Karasiewicz - February 1962 - 3019450
Swimming pool cover
Meyer - August 1964 - 3144665
Safety cover for swimming pools
Karobonik et al. - July 1956 - 2754899
Swimming pool protector
Jones - July 1958 - 2844196
Swimming pool safety device
Shook et al. - November 1960 - 2958083
Retractable swimming pool cover
Karasiewicz - February 1962 - 3019450
Swimming pool cover
Meyer - August 1964 - 3144665
Application Number:
05/414692
Publication Date:
02/11/1975
Filing Date:
11/12/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
E04H4/08; E04H4/00; E04H3/16; E04H3/18
Field of Search:
4/172,172.11,172.12,172.13,172.14
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Artis, Henry K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Kleeman, Werner W.
Claims:
I claim
1. A withdrawable cover for a swimming pool, comprising in combination:
2. A cover as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said further elongate members is substantially T-shaped when viewed in section perpendicular to said longitudinal edge portions thereof.
3. A cover as defined in claim 2, wherein next adjacent longitudinal edge portions of said T-shaped further elongate members are provided with mutually co-operating profiles to pivotably interconnect next adjacent ones of said further elongate members.
4. A cover as defined in claim 2, wherein a plurality of openings are defined in each of said further elongate members, each of said cables passing through correspondingly positioned openings in said further elongate members.
5. A cover as defined in claim 4, wherein said openings are defined in the base webs of said T-shaped further elongate members.
6. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means arranged to urge said drum to rotate about said axis in such direction as to tend to cause said cables to be rolled-up thereon; whereby when said cover is extended said cables are maintained in tension by said spring means.
7. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stationary linear rack member, drive means mounted on said first elongate member, a rotatable gear drivingly coupled to said drive menas and engaging said stationary linear rack member; whereby on said gear being rotated by said drive means, said cover is displaced along a path extending parallel to said rack member.
8. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising two parallel guide means each adapted to be supported on a respective wall of a swimming pool to guide said first elongate member and said further elongate members along a path extending between said guide means.
1. A withdrawable cover for a swimming pool, comprising in combination:
2. A cover as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said further elongate members is substantially T-shaped when viewed in section perpendicular to said longitudinal edge portions thereof.
3. A cover as defined in claim 2, wherein next adjacent longitudinal edge portions of said T-shaped further elongate members are provided with mutually co-operating profiles to pivotably interconnect next adjacent ones of said further elongate members.
4. A cover as defined in claim 2, wherein a plurality of openings are defined in each of said further elongate members, each of said cables passing through correspondingly positioned openings in said further elongate members.
5. A cover as defined in claim 4, wherein said openings are defined in the base webs of said T-shaped further elongate members.
6. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means arranged to urge said drum to rotate about said axis in such direction as to tend to cause said cables to be rolled-up thereon; whereby when said cover is extended said cables are maintained in tension by said spring means.
7. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stationary linear rack member, drive means mounted on said first elongate member, a rotatable gear drivingly coupled to said drive menas and engaging said stationary linear rack member; whereby on said gear being rotated by said drive means, said cover is displaced along a path extending parallel to said rack member.
8. A cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising two parallel guide means each adapted to be supported on a respective wall of a swimming pool to guide said first elongate member and said further elongate members along a path extending between said guide means.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a withdrawable cover for a swimming pool.
A swimming pool covering, which may be rolled up, has already become known for example from USA Pat. Specification No. 2 958 083. However, such previously known coverings tended to be insufficiently firm. In order to improve the rigidity of such conventional coverings, it has been proposed that they be so constructed that they rest on the surface of the water in the swimming pool and are supported by the water over the entire surface of the pool. This however presupposes, that the swimming pool is always completely filled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a withdrawable cover for a swimming pool, comprising a drum adapted to be rotatably mounted about an axis, a first elongate member extending substantially parallel to the axis, a plurality of mutually spaced parallel cables interconnecting the first elongate member and a peripheral portion of the drum, a plurality of further elongate members each extending parallel to the first elongate member and each overlying the cables, longitudinal edge portions of the respective further elongate members being disposed in edge-to-edge relationship and being so mutually inter-coupled that the further elongate members are capable of being rolled-up around the periphery of the drum, one of the further elongate members being disposed next adjacent the first elongate member and being connected thereto, and the arrangement being such that the further elongate members - when unrolled from the drum - may be supported along a major portion of their lengths by the cables to provide a cover extending over a swimming pool.
Expediently, the further elongate members, which may be rolled-up or unrolled, consists of aluminium slats substantially T-shaped in cross-section. Advantageously, the tensionable carrying cables disposed below the further elongate members are guided loosely through openings in the vertical webs of the T-shaped slats. The carrying cables are secured at one end to a first elongate member - which is expediently more strongly constructed than the further elongate members - and at their respective other end are attached to a winding drum. In order to maintain the carrying cables under tension to facilitate the retraction and winding-up of the cover there is provided a spring, which acts on the winding drum and which is progressively tensioned as the cover is unrolled, and which progressively relaxes during the rolling-up of the cover.
Preferably, the movement of the first elongate member, and thus of the cover as a whole is carried out by means of one or more electric motors, which are mounted on the first elongate member and which drive pinions engaging racks disposed along the upper edges of the longitudinal walls of the pool. The drive means holds the first elongate member fast in such a position that the carrying cables supporting the covering are maintained under tension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a swimming pool provided with a withdrawable cover embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 shows an elevational view partly in section, of the swimming pool and parts of the mechanism associated with the withdrawable cover;
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of an end wall of the swimming pool showing parts of the mechanism of the withdrawable cover mounted thereon;
FIG. 4 shows an end view on an enlarged scale of the cover when rolled-up on a drum, but with carrying cables omitted;
FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the drum and rolled-up cover shown in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the upper portion of a longitudinal wall of the swimming pool, on which is mounted a drive motor for displacing the cover.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A rectangular swimming pool 1 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 1. The pool is defined between walls 2, which are arranged to form the sides of a rectangle, and which may consist of profiled aluminium members. The upper portions of the two longitudinal walls of the rectangular pool are provided with guide members 3. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a respective housing 4 is mounted on the upper portion of each of the end walls of the rectangular pool. Each housing 4 is adapted to accommodate a rotatably mounted drum having its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end wall. Each drum is adapted to receive a respective rollable cover 5. Each cover 5 may be rolled-up around the periphery of the respective drum, in which rolled-up state the cover is protected from the elements by the housing 4. Each cover may be unrolled from its respective drum to be extended over a portion of the pool to provide a cover therefor. The covering 5, which in the case of the represented exemplary embodiment is constructed in two parts, consists of elongate aluminium members 5a, which in cross-section are substantially T-shaped and which are provided with a vertical base web 5b to increase their stiffness. The members 5a are provided at their two longitudinal edges with complementary portions which co-operate to pivotably inter-couple next adjacent ones of the members 5a. In the base webs 5b of the members 5a, there are situated openings 5c, which are disposed at a spacing from one another and through which mutually spaced parallel supporting cables 6 pass. The cables 6 support the covering 5 from below.
An elongate member in the form of a stiff beam 7 is secured to one end of each of the cables 6. In the housing 4, a winding drum 9 is rotatably supported on bearing arms 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the drum 9 consists of an inner axle 10a and an outer hollow roller 10b, between which a helical spring 11 is disposed. One end of the helical spring 11 is connected to the axle 10a and the other end of the spring 11 is connected to the roller 10b. Upon rotation of the roller 10b relative to the axle 10a, the helical spring 11 is tensioned. As shown in FIG. 3, the ends of the cables 6 remote from the beam 7 are secured to a peripheral portion of the drum 9. The cables 6 pass round a deflector roller 13, which is rotatably mounted on support arms 12. Via this deflector roller 13, the cables 6 run to the winding roller 9, at the outer rotatable roller 10b of which they are secured.
During the rolling-up of the covering 5, its two parts move in opposite directions towards the respective housings 4. During the winding-in of each of the covers 5, the outer roller 10b rotates mainly under the influence of the helical spring 11 which is tensioned as the cables 6 are unwound from the respective drum 9. As the cables 6 are wound on to the respective drums, the elongate members 5a overlying the cables are also rolled-up around the respective drums.
At each end of the elongate beam 7 of each of the covers 5, there is mounted an electric motor 14. Each motor 14 is coupled via gearing 15 to a respective pinion gear 16. The pinions mesh with respective rack members 17, which are supported on the longitudinal walls 2 of the swimming pool. In order to cover the swimming pool, the electric motors 14 move the elongate beam 7 along the longitudinal walls to draw the covering 5 out of the housing 4. In its end position, the elongate beam 7 is arrested, and thus holds in tension the carrying cables 6 disposed under the further elongate members 5a. During the pulling out of the cover 5 from the housing 4, the spring 11 of the winding drum 9 is tensioned. This tension is also communicated to the carrying cables 6. The further elongate members 5a of the cover 5 must be supported loosely on the cables 6 to permit displacement of the further elongate members relative to one another during the displacement of the cover 5 and during the winding-up of the cover around the drum.
The further elongate members 5a each extend substantially parallel to the beam member 7 and each overlie the cables 6 to be supported thereby. Longitudinal edge portions of respective ones of the further elongate members are disposed in edge-to-edge relationship are so mutually inter-coupled as to permit the cover 5 formed by the further elongate members 5a to be rolled-up around the periphery of the drum 9. As indicated in FIG. 1, one of the further elongate members 5a is disposed next adjacent to the elongate beam member 7 and is connected thereto. The elongate beam member 7 is preferably connected to the longitudinal edge portion of the next adjacent one of the further elongate members 5a is by means of mutually co-operating profiled portions, which allow the elongate beam member 7 to be pivotably displaced relative to the next adjacent one of the further elongate members 5a.
The further elongate members need be disposed to overlap only that length of the cables 6 which - when the cover is extended - pass over the pool to be covered. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 3, it is not necessary to provide further elongate members to overlap the end portions of the cables next adjacent the drum.
The choice of a one- or two part construction of the cover is dependent principally on the size of the swimming pool to be covered.
The provision of a cover including supporting cables disposed under the edge-to-edge disposed elongate members renders the cover sufficiently strong to support the weight of a person, in particular a child, and thereby to prevent such person from falling into the swimming pool.
The provision of a cover including supporting cables enables the further elongate members to be of thinner construction than would otherwise be the case, thereby reducing the size of the rolled-up cover to acceptable proportions.
The present invention relates to a withdrawable cover for a swimming pool.
A swimming pool covering, which may be rolled up, has already become known for example from USA Pat. Specification No. 2 958 083. However, such previously known coverings tended to be insufficiently firm. In order to improve the rigidity of such conventional coverings, it has been proposed that they be so constructed that they rest on the surface of the water in the swimming pool and are supported by the water over the entire surface of the pool. This however presupposes, that the swimming pool is always completely filled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a withdrawable cover for a swimming pool, comprising a drum adapted to be rotatably mounted about an axis, a first elongate member extending substantially parallel to the axis, a plurality of mutually spaced parallel cables interconnecting the first elongate member and a peripheral portion of the drum, a plurality of further elongate members each extending parallel to the first elongate member and each overlying the cables, longitudinal edge portions of the respective further elongate members being disposed in edge-to-edge relationship and being so mutually inter-coupled that the further elongate members are capable of being rolled-up around the periphery of the drum, one of the further elongate members being disposed next adjacent the first elongate member and being connected thereto, and the arrangement being such that the further elongate members - when unrolled from the drum - may be supported along a major portion of their lengths by the cables to provide a cover extending over a swimming pool.
Expediently, the further elongate members, which may be rolled-up or unrolled, consists of aluminium slats substantially T-shaped in cross-section. Advantageously, the tensionable carrying cables disposed below the further elongate members are guided loosely through openings in the vertical webs of the T-shaped slats. The carrying cables are secured at one end to a first elongate member - which is expediently more strongly constructed than the further elongate members - and at their respective other end are attached to a winding drum. In order to maintain the carrying cables under tension to facilitate the retraction and winding-up of the cover there is provided a spring, which acts on the winding drum and which is progressively tensioned as the cover is unrolled, and which progressively relaxes during the rolling-up of the cover.
Preferably, the movement of the first elongate member, and thus of the cover as a whole is carried out by means of one or more electric motors, which are mounted on the first elongate member and which drive pinions engaging racks disposed along the upper edges of the longitudinal walls of the pool. The drive means holds the first elongate member fast in such a position that the carrying cables supporting the covering are maintained under tension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a swimming pool provided with a withdrawable cover embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 shows an elevational view partly in section, of the swimming pool and parts of the mechanism associated with the withdrawable cover;
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of an end wall of the swimming pool showing parts of the mechanism of the withdrawable cover mounted thereon;
FIG. 4 shows an end view on an enlarged scale of the cover when rolled-up on a drum, but with carrying cables omitted;
FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the drum and rolled-up cover shown in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the upper portion of a longitudinal wall of the swimming pool, on which is mounted a drive motor for displacing the cover.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A rectangular swimming pool 1 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 1. The pool is defined between walls 2, which are arranged to form the sides of a rectangle, and which may consist of profiled aluminium members. The upper portions of the two longitudinal walls of the rectangular pool are provided with guide members 3. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a respective housing 4 is mounted on the upper portion of each of the end walls of the rectangular pool. Each housing 4 is adapted to accommodate a rotatably mounted drum having its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end wall. Each drum is adapted to receive a respective rollable cover 5. Each cover 5 may be rolled-up around the periphery of the respective drum, in which rolled-up state the cover is protected from the elements by the housing 4. Each cover may be unrolled from its respective drum to be extended over a portion of the pool to provide a cover therefor. The covering 5, which in the case of the represented exemplary embodiment is constructed in two parts, consists of elongate aluminium members 5a, which in cross-section are substantially T-shaped and which are provided with a vertical base web 5b to increase their stiffness. The members 5a are provided at their two longitudinal edges with complementary portions which co-operate to pivotably inter-couple next adjacent ones of the members 5a. In the base webs 5b of the members 5a, there are situated openings 5c, which are disposed at a spacing from one another and through which mutually spaced parallel supporting cables 6 pass. The cables 6 support the covering 5 from below.
An elongate member in the form of a stiff beam 7 is secured to one end of each of the cables 6. In the housing 4, a winding drum 9 is rotatably supported on bearing arms 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the drum 9 consists of an inner axle 10a and an outer hollow roller 10b, between which a helical spring 11 is disposed. One end of the helical spring 11 is connected to the axle 10a and the other end of the spring 11 is connected to the roller 10b. Upon rotation of the roller 10b relative to the axle 10a, the helical spring 11 is tensioned. As shown in FIG. 3, the ends of the cables 6 remote from the beam 7 are secured to a peripheral portion of the drum 9. The cables 6 pass round a deflector roller 13, which is rotatably mounted on support arms 12. Via this deflector roller 13, the cables 6 run to the winding roller 9, at the outer rotatable roller 10b of which they are secured.
During the rolling-up of the covering 5, its two parts move in opposite directions towards the respective housings 4. During the winding-in of each of the covers 5, the outer roller 10b rotates mainly under the influence of the helical spring 11 which is tensioned as the cables 6 are unwound from the respective drum 9. As the cables 6 are wound on to the respective drums, the elongate members 5a overlying the cables are also rolled-up around the respective drums.
At each end of the elongate beam 7 of each of the covers 5, there is mounted an electric motor 14. Each motor 14 is coupled via gearing 15 to a respective pinion gear 16. The pinions mesh with respective rack members 17, which are supported on the longitudinal walls 2 of the swimming pool. In order to cover the swimming pool, the electric motors 14 move the elongate beam 7 along the longitudinal walls to draw the covering 5 out of the housing 4. In its end position, the elongate beam 7 is arrested, and thus holds in tension the carrying cables 6 disposed under the further elongate members 5a. During the pulling out of the cover 5 from the housing 4, the spring 11 of the winding drum 9 is tensioned. This tension is also communicated to the carrying cables 6. The further elongate members 5a of the cover 5 must be supported loosely on the cables 6 to permit displacement of the further elongate members relative to one another during the displacement of the cover 5 and during the winding-up of the cover around the drum.
The further elongate members 5a each extend substantially parallel to the beam member 7 and each overlie the cables 6 to be supported thereby. Longitudinal edge portions of respective ones of the further elongate members are disposed in edge-to-edge relationship are so mutually inter-coupled as to permit the cover 5 formed by the further elongate members 5a to be rolled-up around the periphery of the drum 9. As indicated in FIG. 1, one of the further elongate members 5a is disposed next adjacent to the elongate beam member 7 and is connected thereto. The elongate beam member 7 is preferably connected to the longitudinal edge portion of the next adjacent one of the further elongate members 5a is by means of mutually co-operating profiled portions, which allow the elongate beam member 7 to be pivotably displaced relative to the next adjacent one of the further elongate members 5a.
The further elongate members need be disposed to overlap only that length of the cables 6 which - when the cover is extended - pass over the pool to be covered. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 3, it is not necessary to provide further elongate members to overlap the end portions of the cables next adjacent the drum.
The choice of a one- or two part construction of the cover is dependent principally on the size of the swimming pool to be covered.
The provision of a cover including supporting cables disposed under the edge-to-edge disposed elongate members renders the cover sufficiently strong to support the weight of a person, in particular a child, and thereby to prevent such person from falling into the swimming pool.
The provision of a cover including supporting cables enables the further elongate members to be of thinner construction than would otherwise be the case, thereby reducing the size of the rolled-up cover to acceptable proportions.