Patent Application
20240279949
The invention relates to walkable covering, particularly pool covering, consisting of or comprising at least one planar, support structure provided on its top part with a cover forming a planar surface, arc or other shape, and on its underside with a slide enabling the covering to be moved outside the plan of the pool.
Various covering solutions are known from technical practice. When it comes to pool roofing, various films or slats placed on the surface are usually used. Their disadvantage is that they are not walkable and at the same time they are largely dangerous, for example, when a child or animal falls into a pool covered in such a way.
Covering in the form of roofing in various shapes located above the pool area is widely used. This can be a fixed roofing that has to be high enough for users to be able to move under it or a sliding roofing that slides away when using the pool. In some cases, its appearance is a disadvantage that disrupts the surroundings of the pool. A significant disadvantage is the inability to walk on such roofing. If the pool is covered, it is not possible to use the area in any way, and if the pool is exposed, the extended roof also occupies a part of the area that could be used more appropriately.
Another option is a sliding roofing in the form of covering consisting mainly of or comprising a flat cover or an arc or other shape that slides over the water surface and can be used, for example, for walking, placing garden furniture, for sports activities and the like. The disadvantage of existing sliding coverings is either their low static load capacity due to the light construction of the covering, or its high height due to the use of high beams, i.e. beams with higher static load capacity at the cost of increased cross-sectional height.
The disadvantages of existing solutions is that they are not walkable at all or that they are walkable only if the covering is flat—a cover. The limited load capacity of the walkable covering is due to the low profile of the beams used, as the use of higher beams, which would lead to higher stability and load capacity of the area of the covering, increases the total height of the walking area compared to the area surrounding the pool. This height, particularly of the walkable covering, limits its load capacity, but at the same time, locating the walkable surface at a higher position using higher and therefore stronger beams is not aesthetically pleasing in regards to the surroundings and it prevents comfortable access to the covering.
According to an aspect of the invention, a walkable covering, particularly pool covering, is provided consisting of or comprising at least one planar support structure provided with a cover on its top part and a slide on its underside, according to this technical solution. Its essence is that the support structure is provided with at least one foldable beam on its underside.
Preferably, at least one foldable beam is connected to the support structure by means of joints in the shape of individual hinges and/or at least one continuous hinge to enable rotation between the horizontal and vertical directions of their installation. When placed in a vertical direction, the load capacity increases, and when placed in a horizontal direction, which also includes diagonal position, movement, i.e. removal of the covering structure, is possible. Through their height, which is or may be higher than the total height of the covering visible on the surface, i.e. above the pool, the beams reinforce the structure of the entire covering beyond the actual structure that is above the top edge of the pool. Their use downwards, under the covering structure, allows them to be placed, for example, on hinges, through which the beams move from a vertical position to a diagonal or horizontal position, and this folding allows the covering to move over the pool so that these beams do not obstruct this movement.
The foldable beams can be arranged in one of the width, length or diagonal directions in the plan.
In a preferred embodiment, the beams are in the folded position placed partially over one another, i.e. diagonally as tiles on the roof. The folded position of the beams allows the covering to move outside the pool area to a parking position on the surface around the pool.
In another preferred embodiment, the beams in the folded, i.e. horizontal, position are placed behind one another, i.e. side by side, because sufficient space is created between the beams in the underside of the covering, so that they do not overlap when folded, not even partially, i.e. in this design they are not placed over one another, diagonally as tiles on the roof. The folded position of the beams, be it completely horizontal or only diagonal, allows the covering to move outside the pool area to a parking position on the surface around the pool.
Preferably, the beams have a shape selected from the group of truss, solid, and solid with a recess.
The beams can be made of different types of materials or even combinations thereof, including possible variability in thickness and shape, so that the production, material consumption, and load capacity are efficient based on the use. The shape can be that of a triangle, rectangle, square, rhomboid, arc, crescent, sector of a circle, circle, etc., or a combination of such or other shapes.
In order to be folded into a horizontal direction, including the diagonal position before or during the movement of the covering to the opened position uncovering the pool, the beams may be provided with a lifting mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the top part of the cover is at the level of the surrounding area, that is, as a rule, the walkable surface on the top of the covering is at the same height as the plane surrounding the pool.
In another situation, the covering is higher than the surrounding plane and thus forms a platform above the covered area. Foldable beams are positioned vertically under the covering, towards the water, thus forming the support structure of the covering and increasing its load capacity.
Preferably, the cover includes at least two parts that are located above one other in the opened position, i.e. a so-called telescopic embodiment.
The cover may contain one or more boards, straight, arched or in other shape based on the size of the covered area. In the opened state, the arrangement of the boards above one another can be in the form of a telescopic placement, the boards can be arranged behind one another or they can slide into different sides.
The beams can be folded to one or the other side or partly to one and partly to the other side.
The beams can be folded when approaching the edge of the pool, or they can be folded before the movement is initiated, or during the movement, by means of a lifting mechanism, which can have different embodiments, such as different lever mechanisms, gears, toothed belts, cables, etc.
Compared to a covering structure implemented to height by means of a higher beam structure or by means of an arc or other shape above the surrounding area, the use of folding beams, which can be structurally higher than the height of the covering itself, in this way reinforces the covering structure downwards, i.e. towards the surface of the pool, increasing its durability, stability and static load capacity. When using hinge beams, the reinforcement of the structure is not directed upwards, into the covering structure itself and above the upper edge of the pool and the surrounding plane, but it is instead directed downwards, under the covering structure and into the free space of the pool, even though they might be fully or partially submerged in water. Individual beams can be more subtle than the structure facing upwards, above the pool, and they reinforce the structure by their structural height realized downwards, i.e. towards the water level in the pool. Compared to the typical types of coverings, this solution thus enables the production of coverings with lower height, higher static load capacity and without any substantial economic costs associated with the used structural elements, which have so far been implemented above the level of the upper edges of the pool in the construction of coverings.
The entire solution is more compact than the existing solutions and allows for easier transport and storage of the structure, owing to the possibility to easily stack the coverings, making efficient use of storage or transport area during the transport of the covering.
Another transport and assembly advantage is that the folding beams are placed into the structure additionally, i.e. on the site of the assembly or implementation, so the total weight of the product on the site of assembly-installation is lower, and the installation process is thus easier. The beams can therefore be preferably fixed during or after the installation of the covering.
As it is possible to use beams of different shapes, in terms of weight, the present solution offers a significantly lighter construction compared to existing solutions.
The walkable covering according to the present invention will be described in more detail on specific exemplary embodiments using the accompanying drawings, where
5A shows a telescopic covering containing two parts, one above the other, in the opened position,
An exemplary walkable pool covering consists of or comprises two planar support structures provided with a cover on the top part and a slide on the underside. The supporting structure is provided on its underside with folding beams 1 connected by means of joints 2 in the shape of hinges to enable their rotational movement between the horizontal and vertical directions of their installation in the covering structure. The folding beams 1 are arranged across in the plan, wherein they fold to one side on one side of the structure and to the opposite side on the other side of the structure. The beams 1 are shaped as truss beams. The beams 1 are folded by means of a mechanism and/or by moving onto the edge of the pool 4, wherein the top part 3 of the covering is at or above the surrounding area 5 when extended. In the opened position, the two parts of the covering are located on different sides of the pool 4.
In another embodiment, the parts of the covering are located above one another, in the form of a telescopic embodiment, in the opened position. Before the movement is initiated or during the movement of the covering structure, the beams 1 are folded by means of a lifting mechanism in different embodiments, including various gears, toothed belts, cables, etc. The beams 1 are solid or recessed, wherein their shape can be different, e.g. trapezoid, triangle, rectangle, sector of a circle, etc. The beams 1 are positioned partially over one another in the folded position, similar to roof tiles, or horizontally behind one another without any contact. The folding beams 1 are arranged in the longitudinal direction in the plan.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the walkable pool 4 covering contains only one planar support structure which covers the entire pool 4. The folding beams 1 are arranged in across in the plan and fold only to one side. The beams 1 are folded by means of a mechanism and/or by moving onto the edge of the pool 4, wherein the top part 3 of the covering is at or above the surrounding area 5 when extended. The top part 3 of the covering is above the level of the surrounding area 5, but this level is not increased in order to provide the necessary height for the installation of the structural elements, as these elements in the form of beams 1 are directed vertically, down below the surface of the covering itself. The covering may be provided on its top part 3 with a walkable surface of various shapes, such as flat, arched or in any other shape which is aesthetically pleasing or increases the static resistance of the structure or, for example, drains rainwater and snow from the surface of the covering.
The beams can be made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, sandwich composites, etc.
Walkable covering according to the present invention can be used primarily for covering pools, but also for covering other areas such as playgrounds, handling pits, construction excavations, storage areas, etc.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV 2023-70 | Feb 2023 | CZ | national |
