The present invention relates to a wave-dissipating float for a swimming pool lane rope, and more particularly to a wave-dissipating float composed of two coupled casings.
Chinese Utility Model Publication No. CN2514065 relates to a wave-dissipating float for a swimming pool lane rope. The wave-dissipating float is integrally made of a plastic foam material by molding. The outer edge of the wave-dissipating float is provided with a predetermined number of wave-dissipating grooves. The wave-dissipating float has a perforation formed therein. The perforation is an elongate perforation extending along a lengthwise direction of the wave-dissipating float. The wave-dissipating float integrally made of a plastic foam material by molding provides a good touch with the human body, and will not scratch the human body, can provide a high degree of safety to swimmers, and can be rolled up, disassembled and assembled easily and quickly.
The above-mentioned wave-dissipating float can be used to divide the lanes of the swimming pool and able to dissipate the waves caused by the swimmers, but the installation of a lane rope is troublesome because the wave-dissipating float is integrally formed by molding. When installed, one end of a rope is inserted through the perforations of multiple wave-dissipating floats one by one to form a lane rope, and then both ends of the lane rope are fixed to the side of the swimming pool with buckles. Because the lane rope is immersed in the low-acid or low-alkali water containing bleach of the swimming pool for a long-term, and exposed to the sun and hit by swimmers, some of the wave-dissipating floats of the lane rope may be damaged. Once a wave-dissipating float needs replacing, it is necessary to remove one end of the lane rope first, and then remove the undamaged wave-dissipating floats one by one until the damaged wave-dissipating float is removed. Finally, a new one and the undamaged wave-dissipating floats are mounted to the rope one by one again to complete the replacement. This way is quite troublesome. In particular, the end of the rope may be deformed and forked subjected to the buckle, so it is difficult for the rope to be reinserted through the wave-dissipating floats. Therefore, the lane rope of the swimming pool is often repaired until a number of wave-dissipating floats are damaged in order to save time and cost. As a result, swimmers are accidentally scratched by the damaged wave-dissipating floats, increasing the risk of sports environment. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a wave-dissipating float for a swimming pool lane rope. The wave-dissipating float comprises a cylindrical body and at least one perforation. The cylindrical body includes a first casing and a second casing. The first casing is provided with at least one first coupling unit. The second casing is provided with at least one second coupling unit. The first coupling unit and the second coupling unit are coupled to each other for connecting the first casing with the second casing to form the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a fixing hole penetrating the cylindrical body. The at least one perforation is disposed on the cylindrical body.
Preferably, the cylindrical body has a side portion and opposing two end portions. Two ends of the side portion are connected to the end portions, respectively. The at least one perforation includes a wave-dissipating hole and a wave discharge groove. The wave-dissipating hole is disposed on the side portion. The wave discharge groove is disposed on the end portions.
Preferably, the first casing and the second casing are respectively provided with opposing two first semicircular fixing holes and two second semicircular fixing holes for jointly defining the fixing hole and penetrating the two end portions.
Preferably, the wave-dissipating hole has a circular or polygonal shape. The wave discharge groove has an elliptical or elongate shape radially arranged along the respective end portions.
Preferably, an outer surface of the side portion is axially provided with at least one rib.
Preferably, the first coupling unit includes a first engaging member and a first engaging groove. The second coupling unit includes a second engaging member and a second engaging groove. The first engaging member is engaged with the second engaging groove and the second engaging member is engaged with the first engaging groove for connecting the first casing with the second casing.
Preferably, the first coupling unit includes a first protrusion and a first recess. The second coupling unit includes a second protrusion and a second recess. The first protrusion is engaged with the second recess and the second protrusion is engaged with the first recess for connecting the first casing with the second casing.
Preferably, the first coupling unit is disposed at an edge of the first casing, and the second coupling unit is disposed at an edge of the second casing.
Preferably, an outside of the cylindrical body is provided with at least one disengaging portion. The disengaging portion corresponds to the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit after assembled for applying an external force to break the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit quickly.
Preferably, the disengaging portion is a depression.
According to the above technical features, the present invention can achieve the following effects:
1. The cylindrical body is composed of the first casing and the second casing which are coupled to each other. When installed, the rope of the lane rope is placed in the first semicircular fixing holes and the second semicircular fixing holes, and then the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit are coupled together so that the rope is located in the fixing hole and surrounded by the cylindrical body. In this way, a plurality of cylindrical bodies are disposed on the rope to complete the assembly of the lane rope, improving the shortcomings of the conventional floats to be inserted one by one from one end of the rope A1.
2. When the water of the swimming pool has waves created by swimmers, the waves will impact the ribs of the cylindrical bodies from both sides of the lane rope, the cylindrical bodies are rotated with the rope of the lane rope as an axis to weaken the force of the waves. The ribs of the cylindrical body serve as a support to prevent the cylindrical body from being deformed and damaged by the external force.
3. When the waves pass through the wave-dissipating holes from both sides of the cylindrical body, the waves are branched and dispersed. The waves in the cylindrical body are blocked by the side portion or impacted by the waves at both sides to flow out from the wave discharge grooves at the two ends of the cylindrical body. The waves are guided from a radial flow into an axial flow to eliminate the fluctuations of the swimming pool, to reduce the ups and downs of the water, to avoid other swimmers from being influenced by the waves, to prevent the water from being too turbulent, and to protect the safety of swimmers.
4. In order to prevent the cylindrical body from being hit by the swimmers to disengage from the rope of the lane rope, the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit cannot be separated once they are coupled. When the cylindrical body is to be replaced, it is necessary to use a tool to break the cylindrical body by applying an external force. The tool is placed on the disengaging portion, and the concave configuration of the disengaging portion allows the drill bit of the tool to be stably inserted. The disengaging portions are disposed on the ribs corresponding to the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit after assembled. Therefore, the tool is able to rapidly break the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit from the disengaging portions, so that the first casing of the cylindrical body is disengaged from the second casing in order to complete the replacement.
The cylindrical body is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is resistant to corrosion and radiation, without adding any recycled plastics, rock flour, so it is more safe and durable for use.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the cylindrical body (1) is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is resistant to corrosion and radiation. The cylindrical body (1) comprises a first casing (11) and a second casing (12). The first casing (11) is provided with a first coupling unit. The first coupling unit is disposed at an edge of the first casing (11). The first coupling unit of this embodiment includes two first engaging members (111), two first engaging grooves (112), two first protrusions (113), and two first recesses (114). The second casing (12) is provided with a second coupling unit. The second coupling unit is disposed at an edge of the second casing (12). The second coupling unit of this embodiment includes two second engaging members (121), two second engaging grooves (122), two second protrusions (123), and two second recesses (124). The first engaging members (111) are engaged with the second engaging grooves (122), respectively. The second engaging members (121) are engaged with the first engaging grooves (112), respectively. The first protrusions (113) are engaged with the second recesses (124), respectively. The second protrusions (123) are engaged with the first recesses (114), respectively. Thereby, the first casing (11) and the second casing (12) are connected together to form the cylindrical body (1). The first casing (11) and the second casing (12) are provided with opposing two first semicircular fixing holes (115) and two second semicircular fixing holes (125), respectively. The first semicircular fixing holes (115) and the second semicircular fixing holes (125) jointly define fixing holes (135) when the first casing (11) and the second casing (12) are connected together. After assembled, the cylindrical body (1) has a side portion (13) and opposing two end portions (14). Two ends of the side portion (13) are connected to the end portions (14), respectively. The fixing holes (135) penetrate through the end portions (14), respectively.
The perforations (15) include wave-dissipating holes (151) and wave discharge grooves (152). The wave-dissipating holes (151) are disposed on the side portion (13). The wave discharge grooves (152) are disposed on the end portions (14). The wave-dissipating holes (151) each have a hexagonal shape in this embodiment, but not limited thereto. The wave-dissipating holes (151) may have a circular or polygonal shape. The wave discharge grooves (152) each have an elliptical shape, but not limited thereto, and they may have an elongate shape. The wave discharge grooves (152) are radially arranged along the respective end portions (14). A plurality of ribs (16) is provided on an outer surface of the side portion (13). The wave-dissipating holes (151) are evenly distributed between every two of the ribs (16). A plurality of disengaging portions (17) is provided on the cylindrical body (1). The disengaging portions (17) are depressions formed on opposing two of the ribs (16) at the outside of the cylindrical body (1). The disengaging portions (17) are located on the ribs (16) corresponding to the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit after assembled.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The first engaging members (111′) are engaged with the second engaging grooves (122′), respectively. The second engaging members (121′) are engaged with the first engaging grooves (112′), respectively. The first protrusions (113′) are engaged with the second recesses (124′), respectively. The second protrusions (123′) are engaged with the first recesses (114′), respectively. Thereby, the first casing (11′) and the second casing (12′) are connected together to form the cylindrical body (1′).
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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2514065 | Oct 2002 | CN |