# US 5,347,773 A · Rigid cover assignment for swimming pool or basin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,347,773 A - Document ID: US5347773A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/995,994 - Filed: 1992-12-23 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1991-12-27 - Inventors: Albert J. Thil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347773A ## CPC - E04H 4/065: {Floors adjustable in height} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A cover arrangement together with a displacement mechanism for a swimming pool having a basin (1). The displacement mechanism moves the cover vertically inside the basin (1) of the swimming pool between two extreme positions. One position is a bottom (7) and the other position is a surface of the pool. The cover arrangement comprises sealing shutters which are movably supported on a support structure (9) in such a way that they can occupy an open position and a closed position. The support structure (9) is provided with plurality of partitions, each of which can be sealed by at least one shutter. The displacement mechanism is also suitable to position and maintain the supporting structure (9) in at least a third position situated between the extreme positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rigid cover arrangement for a swimming pool having a basin (1), said cover arrangement being movable vertically inside the basin (1) between two extreme positions, one of said extreme positions being a bottom (7) and the other of said extreme positions being the surface of the pool, said rigid cover arrangement comprising: sealing shutters (70) movably supported on a support structure (9) and means for providing for movement of said sealing shutters between an open position and a closed position; said support structure (9) being planar and rigid and forming a plurality of partitions, each of said partitions being sealable by at least one of said shutters (70); displacement means for positioning and maintaining the supporting structure (9) in at least a third position situated between said extreme positions; and means for placing said sealing shutters (70) in said closed position when said supporting structure (9) is in said third position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The movable cover arrangement according to claim 1, including vertical displacement means comprising a plurality of scissor elements (17), said scissor elements each having two articulated legs (19, 19') provided with upper ends slidable in said support structure (9) and supporting said articulated legs, said articulated legs each having a lower end or a base supported at the bottom (7) of the basin (1) on movable members (51, 53), respectively situated in the plane of said bottom (1) and for permitting said support structure (9) to be raised responsive to movement of said lower ends toward one another or lowered by moving said lower ends apart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cover arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said legs (19, 19') forming the scissor elements (17) include a rod (19b, 19b') and are formed by a main hollow body (19a, 19a') and said rod (19b, 19b') slides within said hollow body, said rod (19b, 19b') receives the rolling means arranged at the upper part of the legs (19, 19') and holding means (20, 20') being provided for securing the rod (19b, 19b') in the main hollow body (19a, 19a') at the desired height. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cover arrangement according to claim 2, including parallel carriages (98, 98'), said movable members including two opposite constructions (100, 100') disposed opposite and parallel to one another and extending in one of the longitudinal or transverse directions of the basin (1), said parallel carriages (98, 98') being fixed on and extending perpendicular to the constructions (100, 100') and alternate relative to each other so that two adjacent carriages (98, 98') are associated with said two opposite constructions (100, 100'), respective bases of the legs (19, 19') of one and the same scissor element (17) being supported in an articulated manner on said two adjacent carriages (98, 98') so that all relative parallel displacement (d) of the two constructions (100, 100') causes an identical displacement (d) of the bases of the legs (19, 19'). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cover arrangement according to claim 4, wherein each of said carriages (98, 98') include outer guide rollers (116) on vertical axes for support on the adjacent carriage of said carriages (98, 98'). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cover arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said carriages (98, 98') are each formed by a frame having two arms (103) integral with the constructions (100, 100') which extend toward the interior perpendicular to the latter and are joined by at least one crossbar (104). ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cover arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said legs of the outermost scissor elements (17') includes an outermost part, means for supporting one of said legs (19) at said outermost part in an articulated manner on a fixed element (20) fixed with respect to the bottom (7) of the basin (1), and means for supporting the base of the other leg (19) for slidable movement relative to the bottom (7), flexible connecting means (123) for connecting said base at a fixed point thereon relative to the basin (1) situated to the rear of said fixed element (120) with the intermediary of two pressure pulleys, one of said pressure pulleys being a first, outer pressure pulley (124) fixed relative to the basin (1) and the other of said pressure pulleys being a second pressure pulley (126) arranged at the front part of the construction (100, 100') so that every displacement (d) of the construction (100, 100') corresponds to a displacement (2d) of the base of the leg (19) of the outer scissor element (17') which is twice as great as the latter (d). ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The cover arrangement according to claim 4, including rollers (114) for supporting said carriages (98, 98') on the bottom (7) of the basis (1). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cover arrangement according to claim 8, including a crossbar (104) for supporting said rollers (114), one of the inner ends of said crossbar (104) supports the means of articulation of the base of each said leg (19, 19'). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cover arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said support structure (9) is formed by longitudinal members (11) and transverse members (13) having an apparent density close to 1, the lower part of the transverse members (13) having a hollow profiled member (25) forming a slide for receiving at least one roller (35, 35'; 37, 37'). ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The cover arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said support structure (9) is formed by longitudinal members (11) and transverse members (13) having an apparent density close to 1, the lower part of the longitudinal members (11) having a hollow profiled member (25) forming a slide for receiving at least one roller (35, 35'; 37, 37') arranged at the upper part of each said leg (19, 19'). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cover arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said shutters (70) are integral with axles (72) and said axles (72) being parallel to one another and coupled with rotational drive means (75). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cover arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said shutters (70) are shaped so that they overlap in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cover arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said legs (19, 19') forming the scissor elements (17) include a rod (19b, 19b') and a main hollow body (19a, 19a') and said rod (19b, 19b') being slidable within said hollow body, said rod (19b, 19b') receiving the rolling means located at an upper part of the legs (19, 19') and holding means (20, 20') for securing said rod (19b, 19b') in said main hollow body (19a, 19a') at a desired height. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cover arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said shutters (70) are formed from a material having an apparent density less than 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cover arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said shutters (70) are shaped so that they overlap in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse directions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The cover arrangement according to claim 15, wherein each of said legs of the outermost scissor elements (17') includes a base, the base of one of said legs (19') being supported in an articulated manner on a fixed element (20) fixed with respect to said bottom (7) of said basin (1), and the base of said other leg (19) being supported for slidable movement relative to said bottom (7), and flexible connecting means (123) for connecting said base of said other leg (19) at a fixed point relative to said basin (1) situated to the rear of a fixed element (120) with the intermediary of two outer pressure pulleys (124, 126), one of said outer pressure pulleys being a first pressure pulley (124) fixed relative to said basin (1) and the other of said outer pressure pulleys being a second pressure pulley (126) located at the front part of said construction (100, 100') so that every displacement (d) of said construction (100, 100') corresponds to a displacement (2d) of the base of said leg (19) of said outer scissor element (17') which is twice as great as the displacement (d) of said construction (100, 100'). ### Claim 18 A rigid cover arrangement for a swimming pool having a basin (1), said cover arrangement being movable vertically inside the basin (1) between two extreme positions, one of said extreme positions being a bottom (7) and the other of said extreme positions being the surface of the pool, said rigid cover arrangement comprising: sealing shutters (70) movably supported on a support structure (9) for movement between an open position and a closed position; said support structure (9) being planar and rigid and forming a plurality of partitions, each of said partitions being sealable by at least one of said shutters (70); and displacement means positioning and maintaining the supporting structure (9) in at least a third position situated between said extreme positions; said support structure (9) comprising a plurality of scissor elements (17), each of said scissor elements (17) having two articulated legs (19, 19'), said articulated legs each having a lower end or a base supported at the bottom (7) of said basin (1) on movable members (51, 53), respectively situated in the plane of said bottom (1); said movable members (51, 53) including two opposite constructions (100, 100') disposed opposite and parallel to one another and extending in one of the longitudinal or transverse directions of said basin (1); and parallel carriages (98, 98') fixed on and extending perpendicular to the constructions (100, 100') and alternate relative to each other so that two adjacent carriages (98, 98') are associated with said two opposite constructions (100, 100'), respective bases of said legs (19, 19') of one and the same scissor element (17) being supported in an articulated manner on said two adjacent carriages (98, 98') so that all relative parallel displacement (d) of the two constructions (100, 100') causes an identical displacement (d) of the bases of the legs (19, 19'). ### Claim 19 A rigid cover arrangement for a swimming pool having a basin (1), said cover arrangement being movable vertically inside the basin (1) between two extreme positions, one of said extreme positions being a bottom (7) and the other of said extreme positions being the surface of the pool, said rigid cover arrangement comprising: sealing shutters (70) movably supported on a support structure (9) for movement between an open position and a closed position; said support structure (9) being planar and rigid and forming a plurality of partitions, each of said partitions being sealable by at least one of said shutters (70), said shutters (70) being integral with axles (72) and said axles (72) being parallel to one another and coupled with rotational drive means (75); and displacement means positioning and maintaining said supporting structure (9) in at least a third position situated between said extreme positions.