US3566420A - Swimming pool cover and submergible dressing room combination - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION PRESENTS AN ELEVATABLE, PREFERABLY RIGID, SWIMMING POOL COVER AND, PREFERABLY COMBINATION THEREWITH, A SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE. THE COVER IS DESIGNED TO OFFER SHADE TO THE POOL AREA AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION AGAINST ACCIDENTS WHEN THE POOL IS NOT IN USE. THE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE PROVIDED AND COOPERATIVELY MOUNTED TO THE COVER STRUCTURE AFFORDS A CONVENIENT CHANGE ENCLOSURE AT THE POOL AREA AND, ADDITIONALLY, PERMITS THE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE TO BE SUBMERGED IN THE POOL WHEN THE POOL IS NOT IN

USE. THIS AVOIDS THE NECESSITY OF PERMANENT STRUCTURES ERECTED SEPARATE FROM THE POOL.

Description

R0 MELL PETERSON EI'AL 3,566,420

March 2, 1971 SWIMMING POOL COVER AND SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOM COMBINATION Filed Aug. 26, 1968 m mm W \J 85/ R RR E N EE N F. TIT R V EE 0 N PP T I S. M Y 6 E0 H MR W OE RL United States Patent 3,566,420 SWIMMING POOL COVER AND SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOM COMBINATION Ro Mell Peterson and Le Roy S. Peterson, both of 875 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,044 Int. Cl. E04h 3/18 US. Cl. 4-172-11 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention presents an elevatable, preferably rigid, swimming pool cover and, preferably in combination therewith, a submergible dressing room structure. The cover is designed to offer shade to the pool area as well as provide substantial protection against accidents when the pool is not in use. The dressing room structure provided and cooperatively mounted to the cover structure affords a convenient change enclosure at the pool area and, additionally, permits the dressing room structure to be submerged in the pool when the pool is not in use. This avoids the necessity of permanent structures erected separate from the pool.

The present invention presents a novel cover for swimming pools and, more particularly, to a cover structure which can be elevated or lowered as desired over the pool area, provides shade therefor, offers protection for small children when the cover is closed over the pool, and optionally and preferably includes a dressing room structure which is submergible within the pool when the pool is not in use.

In the past'the swimming pool cover that has been commercially developed is a roll-type cover which, of necessity, must be flexible in order to permit the rolling withdrawal thereof at one end of the pool. Such covers, while admitting of complete unobstruction of the pool when the covers are withdrawn, are nonetheless believed to be deficient in certain respects. Among these deficiencies is the fact that the cover, in having to be flexible by its nature, is easily punctured and, when punctured or slit is not safe for children. Children will play on such covers and jump up and down on them. This is not safe for them since the covers oftentimes are easily punctured by play of this type.

An additional problem presented in connection with conventional swimming pool covers is that separate dressing room structures must be constructed either proximate the swimming pool area or, for residences having no such dressing room accommodation, children must come directly into the home for dressing with wet bathing suits and wet towels. This increases house work in the residence in keeping areas used by children clean and tidy.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cover for swimming pools.

A further object is to provide a swimming pool cover which is capable of elevation above and lowering upon the deck area of the pool.

An additional object is to provide a new and improved swimming pool cover which is rigid in construction.

A further object is to provide a swimming pool cover which may be lifted by fluid pressure as by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

An additional object is to provide a swimming pool cover for offering shade to a swimming pool area.

An additional object is to provide in a swimming pool construction a submergible dressing room structure, this so that when the cover is elevated above the pool the dressing room structure is elevated above the water level 'ice.

and is available for use, having, by its unique structure, been permitted to drain dry; when the pool is no longer in use, then the cover may be lowered and the dressing room submerged out of the way within the pool area.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool incor porating the cover and submergible dressing room structure of the present invention; in FIG. 1 the cover is elevated with its dressing room structure, the latter being for use by users of the dressing room structure and of the pool.

FIG. 2 is an elevation, principally in transverse section, of the swimming pool of FIG. 1 wherein the cover has been lowered and the dressing room structure submerged within the deep end of the pool.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a fluid pressure system which can be used to elevate and lower, alternatively,

' the structure which supports the swimming pool cover above the pool area.

In FIG. 1 swimming pool 10 is shown to include a swimming pool encasement 11 provided with deck 12 and having shallow portion 13 and deep portion 14. Disposed at the four corners of the pool are four cylinders 15, each having a lower end 16 and a flanged bushing 17 which threadedly engages at 18 the upper end 19 of the respective cylinders 15. Disposed within each of the cylinders is a piston rod 20 provided with annular grooves 21 accommodating respective O-rings 22. O-rings 22 serve as a seal against fluid pressure as may exist in cavity C. Respective valves 23 are interposed in respective lines 24, and the latter are interposed between reservoir 25 and the respective cylinders 15 as indicated. Correspondingly, respective valves 26 are interposed in respective lines 27 which lead from pump 28 to respective cylinders 15, in a manner indicated in FIG. 3. All of the valves 23 may be ganged together, as indicated by dotted line 29, so as to be actuated by a single handle 30. Correspondingly, all of the valves 26 may be ganged together, as indicated by dotted line 31, so as to be actuated by a single handle 32. Line 33 interconnects reservoir 25 to the input side of 28. Line 34 interconnects the output of all of the valves 23 to the input side of reservoir 25. Line 35 is a pressure line leading from pump 28 to the input side of all of the valves 26. Valves 23 and 26 may be of the selectively operable, one-way type, as desired.

In returning again to FIG. 1, it is seen that cover 35 is preferably a rigid, convexly shaped cover having top 36 and ends 37 and 38 continuous therewith. The cover 35 may be made of fiber glass or other desired material. It can be constructed to be translucent or opaque, as desired. Supporting cover 35 are a plurality of arcuate ribs 39 to which the former may !be secured as by suitable adhesive 40 or by conventional attachments such as rivets. The lower opposite ends of arcuate ribs 39 are secured by conventional means such as rivets to elongate stringers 41, and end angles 42 and 43 may be welded to the opposite stringers 41 to complete the structure. The upper ends of piston rods 20 are secured by gusset brackets G to the cover framing.

Of special importance is the provision of a dressing enclosure 44. The same may be made of metal, or have a metal framework and suitable panel structure, such that the same may be easily secured by attachments 45 to angle braces 46 spanning the opposite, mutually-parallel, elongate stringers 41. It will be noted that the bottom 47 of enclosure structure 44 includes a series of holes or apertures 48, and may comprise a grate. The enclosure may include door 49 which is hinged at 50 and 51 to the remainder of the structure and for the convenience of bathers.

In operation it is seen that at rest position the dressing room structure 44 is submerged into the deep portion 14 of the pool area. Furthermore, the cover 35 is completely withdrawn so as to rest upon or be closely proximate the deck 12 of swimming pool encasement 11. Holes 48 provide for the flow of water in the pool so that the dressing room enclosure 44 can be submerged, as desired, within the pool area.

When the users desire availability of the pool, then pump 28 is turned on by conventional means and valves 26 are opened by control 32. Valves 23 will be closed, or be of one-way type, so as to prevent the flow outwardly of fluid from chamber C.

Accordingly, pressured fluid, in being introduced by pump 28 into respective chamber C of cylinders 15, will exert an upper pressure against the lower end of each piston rods 20 so as to cause an elevation of these piston rods and an elevation, hence, of cover 35. The ascent of cover 35 under the pressure of pump 28 is, of course, accompaned by the progressive ascent of dressing room structure 44 from the pool. Holes 48 permit a draining out of water from the dressing room areas so that when the dressing room structure is completely withdrawn, it will be devoid of water therein. For certain types of materials such as metals, fiber glass, and so forth, it requires a very short time for the interior of the dressing room area to be completely dry. Where desired, seat areas such as at 44 in FIG. 2 may be provided for the convenience of the bather. Thus, when the interior of the dressing room area is sufiiciently dry, the bather will open the same for donning his swimming apparel. The structure enables the apparel simply to be retained in the dressing room area if the individual so elects. When bathers are finished using the pool, they simply return to the dressing-room structure 44 to re-dress into their street clothes, and when stepping out of the area will remove their towels and swimming suits. Accordingly, the cover is then ready for return of placement so as to completely cover the pool area and thus avoid accidents as regards customary dangers as to small children. By descent of the cover 35, the dressing room enclosure 44 will be returned to total or partial submergence within the pool area as indicated in FIG. 2. Return of the cover to its rest position, indicated in FIG. 2, is accomplished by the actuation of handle 30 to ganged valves 33 so as to open these valves and thereby permit the hydraulic fluid to be returned to reservoir 35. During this process, of course, the valves 26 will be closed either by handle 31, or will comprise simply one-way valves to prevent valve flow automatically. The same type of structure, so far as one-way function, may be used in connection with the design of valves 23. This is all conventional.

It will be understood that the invention comprehends all methods and means by which cover 35 is raised and lowered over the swimming pool. Thus, the hydraulic cylinders, if used, may be independently fed by respective pumps. Or a simple hand crank, wrench, and/or pulley arrangement may be used in lieu of the hydraulic means to raise and lower the cover structure over the swimming pool. Finally, the cover means 35 might even be hinged or pivoted to the pool structure, with its end being raised or lowered relative to the pool structure. Whatever type of cover and raising structure is employed, the present invention contemplates the use of the dressing-room structure depending from the cover structure, with the dressing-room structure being submergible in the swimming pool upon the lowering of the cover structure.

Accordingly, what is provided is a new and improved swimming pool cover and submergible dressing room combination which is easy and safe to use, avoids necessitating the erection of permanent dressing-r0om structures, and further, which renders the pool area a completely safe area when the dressing room is submerged within the pool and the cover returned to its rest position as indicated in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the invention also comprehends structure wherein the cover is, for example, of perforate form which may be disposed above, at, or slightly beneath the surface of the water of the pool, this for safety purposes.

We claim:

1. The combination of a swimming pool, cover means for providing shade when the same is raised above said swimming pool and for providing a protective closure when the same is lowered to the top of said swimming pool, and means independent of the water content of said swimming pool for so selectively raising and lowering said cover means with respect to said swimming pool, and wherein said cover means includes rigid structural means, said combination including dressing-room enclosure means depending from said rigid structural means and including aperture means for enabling the passage of water of said swimming pool into and out of said dressing-room enclosure means when the latter is submerged in said swimming pool.

2. The combination of a swimming pool, cover means for providing shade when the same is raised above said swimming pool and for providing a protective closure when the same is lowered to the top of said swimming pool, and means independent of the water content of said swimming pool for so selectively raising and lowering said cover means with respect to said swimming pool, and wherein said cover means includes dressing room enclosure structure, said raising and lowering means comprising means for raising and lowering said cover structure relative to said swimming pool, and means for suspending said dressing-room enclosure structure from said cover structure for selective submergence into said swimming pool.

3. In combination, a swimming pool, cover means, dressing-room enclosure structure depending from said cover means and provided with ingress and egress means and aperture means for permitting the passage of water of said swimming pool into and out of said dressing-room enclosure structure, and means for selectively lowering and raising said cover means and simultaneously sub merging and withdrawing from submergence said dressing-room enclosure structure relative to said swimming pool, said swimmingpool and enclosure structure being constructed and arranged such that said swimming pool provides an unobstructed swimming area when said enclosure structure is raised from submergence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,190 10/1897 Bond 50100 3,008,435 11/1961 Dupuy 1091 3,052,893 9/1962 McClure 4172.l3 3,092,844 6/1963 Brunson 4172.l3 3,212,105 10/1965 Baker et a1. 41 3,413,661 12/1968 Ross 4172.l3 3,443,265 5/1969 Hanck 4-l72.l2

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 4172.l2

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