GB2056851A - Swimming pool covers - Google Patents
Swimming pool covers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2056851A GB2056851A GB7928514A GB7928514A GB2056851A GB 2056851 A GB2056851 A GB 2056851A GB 7928514 A GB7928514 A GB 7928514A GB 7928514 A GB7928514 A GB 7928514A GB 2056851 A GB2056851 A GB 2056851A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- water
- equipment
- cover
- flexible
- sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000009182 swimming Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 7
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 56
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- -1 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000238634 Libellulidae Species 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/08—Coverings consisting of rigid elements, e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements
- E04H4/084—Coverings consisting of rigid elements, e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements with lifting mechanism
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
Abstract
Equipment for covering or exposing a body of water such as a swimming pool comprises a flexible cover 9, weighting means 3 for weighting down a peripheral region of the cover 9, means 5-8 for raising and lowering the cover 9, and means 10, 11 for supplying air to the underside of the cover 9 when lowered in position over a body of water 2 to space apart the underside of the cover 9 from the water 2. The equipment is light in weight, permits skimmers to operate on the water, and reduces heat loss. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Equipment for covering and exposing a body of water
This invention relates to equipment for covering and exposing a body of water.
It is known to provide a swimming pool with a rigid cover, which may, for instance, be on tracks to allow it to be moved to one side to expose the pool and which is of approximately the same size as the pool.
An alternative known arrangement is a flexible cover which is allowed to "sit" or float on top of the water in the pool, but this suffers from the disadvantage that the surface region of the water cannot be effectively cleaned by the so-called "skimmers" which should allow water to be introduced at one surface region of the pool and withdrawn at another surface region of the pool, to allow the surface zone to be removed and passed through a filter.
The flexible cover on the surface of the water impedes the efficient operation of the skimmers because of the direct contact between the surface region of the water and the underside of the flexible cover.
According to the present invention there is provided equipment for covering and exposing a body of water, which comprises : a flexible sheet larger than the body of water for covering the body of water, weighting means designed to serve or to assist in serving as weights in a peripheral region of the flexible sheet when a central region of the latter is on or slightly above the body of water, moving means for raising the flexible sheet from the body of water to a position away from the body of water and for moving the flexible sheet from that position to the body of water, and air supply means for supplying air to a region below the sheet when the central region of the sheet is on or slightly above the body of water, the arrangement being such that, with the flexible sheet on the body of water and with its peripheral region weighted and resting on a solid structure containing the body of water, the supply of air to a region below the sheet causes the sheet to adopt a position slightly above the body of water, and, with the supply of air discontinued, the flexible cover may be raised by the moving means to a position well above the body of water to permit a person to enter the body of water.
The weighting means may be constituted by a frame, which may be formed of wood, a metal or a plastics material. If desired, the weighting means can be hollow and can, at least whilst the cover is in its lower position, be filled with water to increase the weighting effect. The frame, when present, should have a good strength : weight ratio.
The cover may be formed of any suitable material, for example polyvinyl chloride, or polyethylene terephthalate sprayed with polyvinyl chloride.
Conveniently the weighting means is secured to the flexible cover, the moving means being linked to the weighting means and hence to the flexible cover.
The moving means may comprise a winch and tackle for raising and lowering the flexible cover between the body of water and a rigid structure above the body of water, for example the roof above an indoor swimming pool.
The cover can be made attractive on its underside, so that, when fully raised, it creates the impression of an attractive false ceiling, like the inner lining of some marquees.
The air supply means can comprise an air pump and one or more of (i) a duct leading to the body of water below the surface of the same, (ii) a duct leading to the body of water just above the surface of the same, and (iii) a flexible duct opening on the underside of the flexible cover.
In use, in association with an indoor swimming pool, the equipment of the present invention can provide a reduction in heat loss when the pool is not in use, by supplying air to the underside of the cover to maintain the latter spaced from the water. The cover itself, and the layer of air between cover and water, provide a degree of thermal insulation, and prevent evaporative losses. Also the cover, being clear of the water, does not interfere with the operation of the skimmers.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same is to be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which shows, as a cut-away, equipment in accordance with the present invention positioned over an indoor swimming pool.
The drawing shows the ground structure 1 which defines the pool, and the body of water 2 within the pool. Lying on the ground structure 1 around the edge of the pool is a foursided frame 3 (of which only three sides are shown) formed of a plastic tube (as used for domestic drainpipes) filled with water to give extra weight. Secured to anchoring points 4 along the frame 3 are ropes 5 which pass through pulleys 6 secured to the ceiling, and then pass through respective further pulleys 7 also secured to the ceiling, before passing to respective winches 8 located on the ground structure 1. Extending from side to side and from end to end of the frame 3 is a flexible cover 9 formed of PVC. Mounted in the region of the ceiling is an air pump 10 the outlet of which leads via a flexible duct 11 to the underside of the cover 9.
With the equipment in the position shown in the drawing, operation of the pump 10 causes air to be supplied to below the cover 9 which causes the cover to be raised slightly above the surface of the water 2. Only small amounts of air escape from below the frame 3 and therefore the pump 10 can be of small capacity or only work intermittently. To reduce air loss here, the frame 3 can lie in a trough of water.
When it is desired to raise the cover 9 to enable a person to swim in the pool, water is drained off from the interior of the frame 3, the pump 10 is switched off, and the winches 8 are operated to lift the frame 3 and hence the cover 9 well clear of the body of water 1.
To lower the cover, the winches 8 are reversed, and the pump 10 is started to maintain an adequate volume of air below the cover 9.
Claims (11)
1. Equipment for covering and exposing a body of water, which comprises: a flexible sheet larger than the body of water for covering the body of water, weighting means designed to serve or to assist in serving as weights in a peripheral region of the flexible sheet when a central region of the latter is on or slightly above the body of water, moving means for raising the flexible sheet from the body of water to a position away from the body of water and for moving the flexible sheet from that position to the body of water, and air supply means for supplying air to a region below the sheet when the central region of the sheet is on or slightly above the body of water, the arrangement being such that, with the flexible sheet on the body of water and with its peripheral region weighted and resting on a solid structure containing the body of water, the supply of air to a region below the sheet causes the sheet to adopt a position slightly above the body of water, and, with the supply of air discontinued, the flexible cover may be raised by the moving means to a position well above the body of water to permit a person to enter the body of water.
2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighting means is constituted by a frame.
3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame is formed of wood, a metal or a plastics material.
4. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, 2 and 3, wherein the weighting means is hollow and can be filled with water to increase the weighting effect.
5. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is formed of polyvinyl chloride.
6. Equipment as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover is formed of polyethylene terephthalate sprayed with polyvinyl chloride.
7. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the weighting means is secured to the flexible cover, the moving means being linked to the weighting means and hence to the flexible cover.
8. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the moving means comprises a winch and tackle for raising and lowering the flexible cover between the body of water and a rigid structure above the body of water.
9. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the air supply means comprises an air pump and one or more of (i) a duct leading to the body of water below the surface of the same, (ii) a duct leading to the body of water just above the surface of the same, and (iii) a flexible duct opening on the underside of the flexible cover.
1 0. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.
11. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in association with a swimming pool.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7928514A GB2056851B (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1979-08-16 | Swimming pool covers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7928514A GB2056851B (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1979-08-16 | Swimming pool covers |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2056851A true GB2056851A (en) | 1981-03-25 |
| GB2056851B GB2056851B (en) | 1983-10-26 |
Family
ID=10507237
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7928514A Expired GB2056851B (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1979-08-16 | Swimming pool covers |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2056851B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5267358A (en) * | 1992-02-14 | 1993-12-07 | Roy Mildred H | Swimming pool safety net apparatus |
-
1979
- 1979-08-16 GB GB7928514A patent/GB2056851B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5267358A (en) * | 1992-02-14 | 1993-12-07 | Roy Mildred H | Swimming pool safety net apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2056851B (en) | 1983-10-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |