WO2004007873A1 - Retractable protective barrier installed on the periphery of a pool area of a swimming pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a retractable protective barrier (3) installed on the periphery of a pool area (2) of a swimming pool (1) and designed to be retracted into the deck (4). It comprises a series of rails (5), associated with curtain-forming means (6), one such rail (5) being connected to the deck (4) via articulated stands (7, 7a) defining, in combination with said rail (5) and the deck (4), means forming a pantograph and enabling said rail (5) to be displaced parallel to the deck (4).

Description

RETRACTABLE PROTECTION BARRIER ARRANGED IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE POOL OF A POOL.

The present invention relates to a retractable protective barrier disposed at the periphery of the pool of a swimming pool and arranged to be retracted into the ground.

This invention relates to the field of manufacturing safety devices intended to equip a body of water, in particular a swimming pool, and aiming to prevent a child from accessing a basin in which he risks falling and drowning.

We already know, in particular through documents FR-2,712,333 and US-5,168,584, retractable safety barriers constituted by a juxtaposition of panels arranged inside at least one box surrounding the pool of a swimming pool. Such a box contains water, in particular coming from the swimming pool, on the surface of which floats float equipping the lower end of such a panel. By providing a supply of water in such a box, the level of this water rises, bringing with it the panel or panels which emerge from the box to constitute an obstacle preventing a child from approaching the basin. On the contrary, by suction of this water, these panels retract inside a box allowing access to the basin.

In fact, such devices have a certain number of drawbacks consisting, first of all, in that it is necessary to produce watertight boxes of substantial depth capable of allowing, on the one hand, a complete retraction of a panel of significant height and, on the other hand, a deployment of these panels while ensuring a certain stability of the latter. It is then necessary to provide a hydraulic system for the suction and discharge of water from the boxes, such a system proving to be expensive and impractical to implement. In document US Pat. No. 5,630,572, a retractable swimming pool barrier is described which is in the form of a horizontal beam supplemented by curtain-forming means, extending from this beam into a box formed in the ground, and in which the barrier can be retracted. This rail has two ends, each of which is made integral with the end of the piston of a vertical cylinder to be implanted deep in the ground. It is, precisely, under the impulse of these jacks that said beam is moved, vertically and parallel to the ground, this between a retracted position in the box and a deployed position of the barrier. The latter further comprises a series of intermediate bars, parallel to said rail, regularly arranged between the latter and the ground, to which said curtain is made integral, and each having two ends made integral with an articulated device implanted laterally with respect to the curtain. This articulated device is connected, on the one hand, to the ground and, on the other hand, to said beam on which said cylinder acts and is arranged to ensure a progressive and fractional folding of the curtain.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art.

To this end, the present invention relates to a retractable protective barrier disposed at the periphery of the pool of a swimming pool and designed capable of being retracted into the ground, characterized in that it comprises a succession of heddles, associated with means forming curtain, such a heald being connected to the ground by means of articulated legs defining, in combination with this heald and the ground, means forming a pantograph and allowing the displacement of such a heald parallel to the ground. To this end, the present invention relates to a retractable protective barrier, disposed at the periphery of the pool of a swimming pool, designed capable of being retracted into the ground, and comprising a succession of beams associated with curtain forming means extending between a such smooth and the ground, characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, articulated legs rendered, each one, integral with the ground by means of pivoting mounting means, designed capable of ensuring the connection of a smooth on the ground, defining in combination with this smooth and the ground means forming a pantograph and authorizing the displacement of such a smooth parallel to the ground and, on the other hand, control means, arranged to act on at least one articulated leg , to control the pivoting of this leg for the deployment and folding of such a barrier.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the articulated legs each have an end made integral with the ground by means of pivotally mounting means while the control means are arranged to act on the end, secured to the ground by said means for pivotally mounting, at least one such articulated leg, this to control the pivoting of this leg.

The advantages of the present invention consist in that the barrier comprises healds associated with articulated legs capable of folding up and having, in a folded position, a small size which makes it possible to envisage housing such a barrier, in position retracted, in a shallow receptacle encircling the pool of a swimming pool.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows, relating to embodiments which are given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting examples. The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawing in which:

- Figure 1 corresponds to a schematic view of a swimming pool surrounded by a protective barrier according to the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are schematic views corresponding to a detail of a barrier according to the invention, respectively, in the deployed and folded position, this according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 2 and 3 and correspond to a detail showing an articulated leg of a barrier according to another embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of the barrier shown in Figure 5.

The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing safety devices intended to equip a swimming pool 1 and designed capable of preventing a child from accessing the swimming pool 2 of such a swimming pool 1. As can be seen in the appended figures, the device safety barrier according to the invention is in the form of a protective barrier 3 disposed on the periphery of such a basin 2 and surrounding the latter 2.

This barrier 3 is of the retractable type and is capable of adopting, on the one hand, a deployed position in which this barrier 3 constitutes an active safety device preventing access to the basin 2 and, on the other hand, a folded position in which this barrier 3 is retracted into the ground 4 and allows access to this basin 2. According to the invention, this barrier 3 comprises a succession of heddles 5, abutted to each other and arranged so as to surround the pelvis 2. Such healds 5 are associated with curtain forming means 6, extending from such a heald 5 at least to the ground 4, and arranged to prevent a child from crossing the barrier 3.

As visible in the appended figures, such a heald 5 is connected to the ground by means of articulated legs 7 defining, in combination with this heald 5 and the ground 4, means forming a pantograph and allowing the movement of such a smooth 5 parallel to the ground 4.

In fact, such an articulated leg 7 has a first end 8 at which the latter 7 is made integral with the ground 4 by means of pivoting mounting means 9 authorizing a tilting of such a leg 7 around a substantially horizontal axis 10.

Such an articulated leg 7 has a second end 11 at which the latter 7 is made integral with a heald 5 by means of securing means 12.

In this regard, it should be observed that, according to a first embodiment not shown, such securing means 12 can be constituted by means of sliding assembly of such an end 11 relative to such a heald 5.

However and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention visible in the appended figures, these securing means 12 are constituted by pivoting mounting means 13 authorizing a tilting of the leg 7 relative to a heald 5, this around a substantially horizontal axis 14. In such a case, such an articulated leg 7 is constituted by two sections 15, 15 ′, hinged together by means of a toggle joint 16, and made integral, for one 15, with the ground 4 and, for the 'other 15', of a heddle 5, this by means of the pivoting mounting means 9; 13.

Another characteristic of the present invention consists in that said articulated legs 7 are arranged in pairs and are designed so that the legs 7, 7a of the same pair pivot, simultaneously, in an opposite direction during a deployment maneuver or folding the barrier 3.

Thus, the two legs 7, 7a of the same pair constitute, in combination with a heald 5 and the ground 4, means forming a pantograph as mentioned above.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the barrier 3 comprises means 17 for pivoting control of at least one articulated leg 7, this at least around the axis 10 of the pivot mounting means 9.

In fact, such control means 17 are arranged to act on at least one articulated leg 7, 7a, to control the pivoting of this leg 7, 7a. Through the control of such a pivoting, it is ensured a deployment or a folding of such a leg 7, 7a and, due to the connection of the latter 7, 7a to a heald 5, a deployment or a folding of said barrier 3.

According to a first embodiment not shown, the control means 17 can be designed capable of acting on such an articulated leg 7, 7a at any location of the latter 7, 7a.

However and according to a preferred embodiment, these control means 17 are arranged to act on the end 8, secured to the ground 4 by said means 9 for pivotally mounting, at least one such articulated leg 7, 7a, this to control the pivoting of this leg 7, 7a.

Such an embodiment allows the positioning of these control means 17 inside a receptacle 25 as will be described below.

According to a first embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, such means 17 for pivoting control are arranged to act simultaneously on the two legs 7, 7a of the same pair by communicating to the latter 7, 7a a movement of pivot in an opposite direction.

In such a case, such control means 17 can be constituted by at least one jack 18 (preferably of the electrical type) interposed between the two legs 7, 7a of the same pair and acting directly on the latter 7, 7a.

In this regard, it will be observed that such control means 17 can equip only part or all of the pairs of articulated legs 7, 7a that said barrier 3 comprises.

Another embodiment consists in that the means 17 for controlling the pivoting can include means 19 designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to at least part (or even all) of the articulated legs 7 arranged to pivot in a same direction during a maneuver, as the case may be, of deployment or folding of the barrier 3.

However and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, the means 17 for controlling the pivoting comprise, on the one hand, means 19 designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to at least one part (or even all) of the articulated legs 7 arranged to pivot in the same direction during a maneuver, as the case may be, deployment or folding of the barrier 3 and, on the other hand, means 19 ′ designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to at least part (or even all) of the articulated legs 7a arranged to pivot in the opposite direction during such a maneuver.

In fact, said means 19; 19 'able to communicate such a pivoting control can, according to a first embodiment not shown, be constituted by a jack or the like associated with each of the legs 7; 7a which should be driven in movement by means of these means 19; 19.

However and according to a preferred embodiment, such means of communication 19; 19 'are constituted by cable transmission means. Such transmission means are connected to the legs 7; 7a articulated which should be driven in tilting along an axis 10, as the case may be, in the same direction (legs 7) and / or in an opposite direction (legs 7a).

In this regard, a preferred embodiment consists in providing two cable transmission systems, one of which is designed capable of driving certain legs 7 in one direction while the other is designed capable of driving other legs 7a in the opposite.

It should be noted that, in the case of pleas 19; 19 'capable of communicating a pivoting movement and defined by cable transmission means, said means 17 for controlling the pivoting of at least one articulated leg 7; 7a further comprise at least one jack 18 (preferably of the electrical type) acting, directly or indirectly, on at least one articulated leg 7; 7a to drive it in pivoting.

Such an embodiment makes it possible, on the one hand, to control, directly and through such a jack 18, the pivoting of at least one articulated leg 7; 7a and, on the other hand, to communicate this pivoting movement to the other articulated legs 7; 7a which are connected to it by means of cable transmission means, this for deployment or folding of the barrier 3.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the means 9 for pivotally mounting an articulated leg 7 comprise a lever arm 20, pivotally integral with such a leg 7, and on which act the means 17 for controlling the pivoting defined, as the case may be, by means 19, 19 ′ for communicating a pivoting movement and / or by a jack 18.

Yet another characteristic consists in that said barrier 3 is completed, at at least one heald 5, by means 21 for returning an articulated leg 7; 7a in the deployed position. Such return means 21 are made integral, on the one hand, with such a heald 5 and, on the other hand, with such a leg 7; 7a, in particular by means of a lever 22 integral in pivoting thereof 7, 7a.

As mentioned above, the barrier 3 comprises means 6 forming a curtain extending, from a heald 5, at least to the ground 4. These means forming a curtain 6 are completed by means 23, arranged at ground level 4, and designed capable of ensuring their winding on a roller or the like. Thus, during the folding of the barrier 3, the curtain means 6 are wound by means of said winding means 23 while it is from these 23 that the curtain means 6 take place during deployment of the barrier 3.

According to another characteristic, the barrier 3 according to the invention is designed capable of retracting into the ground 4, preferably so that the upper face 24 of the heddles 5 are flush with the surface of the ground 4. In this regard, it will be observed that, in the ground 4 and at the periphery of the basin 2, a receptacle 25 is provided bordering said basin 2 and inside which said barrier 3 is designed capable of being retracted.

It is, more particularly, inside this receptacle 25 that the means 9 for pivoting mounting are arranged as well as the means 17 for controlling the pivoting and the winding means 23. It is also at inside this receptacle 25 that the healds 5, the curtain means 6 and the articulated legs 7, 7a are able to retract in the folded position of the barrier 3.

It will be noted that this receptacle 25 can be constituted by at least one box 26 having a rigid envelope (in particular metallic), integrating all of the abovementioned means, and placed inside an excavation made in the ground 4.

In this regard, it will be observed that a particular embodiment may consist in that the barrier 3 according to the invention is in the form of a kit consisting of a plurality of boxes 26, containing the aforementioned means, and intended for be butted inside such an excavation.

Claims

1) Barrier (3) retractable protection, disposed on the periphery of the basin (2) of a swimming pool (1), designed capable of being retracted into the ground (4), and comprising a succession of beams (5) associated with means (6) forming a curtain extending between such a heald (5) and the ground (4), characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, articulated legs (7, 7a) each made integral of the ground (4) by means (9) of pivoting mounting, designed capable of ensuring the connection of a heald (5) to the ground (4), defining in combination with this heald (5) and the ground (4) means forming a pantograph and allowing the movement of such a heald (5) parallel to the ground (4) and, on the other hand, control means (17), arranged to act on at least one articulated leg ( 7, 7a), to control the pivoting of this leg (7, 7a) for the deployment and folding of such a barrier (3). 2) barrier (3) retractable protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulated legs (7, 7a) each have an end (8) made integral with the ground (4) by means ( 9) for pivoting mounting and that the control means (17) are arranged to act on the end (8), secured to the ground (4) by said means (9) for pivoting mounting, of at least one such articulated leg (7, 7a), this to control the pivoting of this leg (7, 7a). 3) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated legs (7, 7a) are arranged in pairs and are designed so that the legs (7, 7a) of the same pair pivot simultaneously in an opposite direction during a deployment or folding of the barrier maneuver (3). 4) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (17) for controlling the pivoting are arranged to act simultaneously on the two legs (7, 7a) of the same pair. 5) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (17) for controlling the pivoting comprise means (19) designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to a at least part of the articulated legs (7) arranged to pivot in the same direction during a maneuver, as the case may be, of deployment or folding of the barrier. 6) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means (17) for controlling the pivoting comprise, on the one hand, means (19) designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to at least part of the articulated legs (7) arranged to pivot in the same direction during a maneuver, as the case may be, of deployment or folding of the barrier (3) and, on the other hand, means (19 ') designed capable of communicating a pivoting command to at least part of the articulated legs (7a) arranged to pivot in the opposite direction during such a maneuver. 7) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the means (19, 19 ') arranged to communicate a pivoting control consist of cable transmission means. 8) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (17) for controlling the pivoting of at least one articulated leg (7, 7a) comprise at least one jack ( 18) acting on at least one articulated leg (7, 7a). 9) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (9) for pivotally mounting an articulated leg (7, 7a) comprise a lever arm (20) , integral in pivoting of such a leg (7, 7a), and on which (20) act the means (17) for controlling the pivoting. 10) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is completed, at at least one smooth (5), by means (21) of recall an articulated leg (7, 7a) in the deployed position. 11) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an articulated leg (7, 7a) is constituted by two sections (15; 15 '), hinged together by the intermediate of a toggle joint (16), and made integral, for one (15), with the ground (4) and, for the other (15 '), with a heddle (5), this via means (9; 13) for pivotally mounting. 12) Barrier (3) retractable protection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (9) for pivotally mounting are arranged inside a receptacle (25), formed in the ground (4) and bordering the basin (2) on the periphery, inside which, on the one hand, are installed the means (17) for controlling the pivoting and, on the other hand, the articulated legs (7, 7a) are able to retract in the folded position of the barrier (3).