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  Folding slatted barrier for a swimming poolUSPTO Application #: 20070067898Title: Folding slatted barrier for a swimming pool Abstract: The invention relates to a folding barrier which can be used as a fence around a body of water, such as a swimming pool (1). The inventive barrier essentially consists of at least one pair of articulated panels (2, 3) comprising a fencing panel (3) which is pivot fixed to a ground panel (2) which forms a walkway around the pool (1) when the barrier is deployed. Both of the aforementioned panels (2, 3) are slatted and comprise slats (5, 6) which are separated by means of open-work (7, 8). According to the invention, the slats (5, 6) of one panel (2, 3) are disposed opposite the open-work (7, 8) of the other panel (2, 3), such that, in the folded position, the slats (5, 6) of one panel (2, 3) are housed inside the open-work (7, 8) of the other panel (2, 3), thereby forming a deck around the pool (1). (end of abstract)
Agent: Hedman & Costigan P.C. - New York, NY, US Inventor: Gerard Orriere USPTO Applicaton #: 20070067898 - Class: 004498000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Pool Type, Accessory, Covering The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070067898. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of safety systems for bodies of water, especially swimming pools, and more particularly to the field of perimeter barriers for pools. It is directed to a folding barrier that can be maneuvered between a deployed position in which the barrier encloses the pool and a folded position in which the barrier is collapsed to provide access to the pool. PRIOR ART [0002] For safety reasons it is necessary to enclose bodies of water, such as swimming pools or the like, when they are not in use or have been left unsupervised. The purpose of such action is primarily to prevent drowning accidents, more particularly in children, by blocking access to the pool. It is therefore common for bodies of water to be equipped with perimeter barriers. [0003] One problem that presents itself is the unaesthetic nature of these barriers and the amount of space they take up. Moreover, when the pool is under supervision they are rendered superfluous. See, for example, the documents WO2004007873 (RAT), U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,572 (GUAY) and FR2809432 (GENTILE), which describe barriers of this kind. [0004] The solutions that are usually proposed involve heavy construction and major alterations to the environs of the pool in order to accommodate the collapsed barrier, including its operating equipment, if any. Furthermore, such barriers still take up considerable space, especially when equipped with motorized operating equipment. [0005] It will be noted that FR2809432 proposes more particularly to make use of the barrier to improve the pool environs by having it additionally serve as a deck when in the at least partially folded position. However, although this improvement makes it possible to utilize the barrier when it is in folded position, the barrier still takes up considerable space and its installation on site entails major alterations to the environs of the pool. SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION [0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a folding perimeter barrier for a body of water, such as a swimming pool, which has a simple and relatively compact structure, is preferably motor-operated, and is utilized in the folded position to improve the pool environs. [0007] More precisely, the invention proposes such a barrier that is easy and simple to install on site, including on an existing site, without greatly modifying the structure of the pool environs, and whose spatial extent is fully utilized to improve the pool when the latter is in use. [0008] The barrier of the present invention is a folding perimeter barrier for a body of water, particularly a swimming pool or the like. Said barrier is more particularly maneuverable between a deployed position in which the barrier encloses the pool and a folded position in which the barrier is collapsed to provide access to the pool. Said barrier is of the kind principally composed of a frame equipped with means of anchoring to a support bordering the pool, and a fencing panel that is pivotably articulated to the frame in order to be set upright in the deployed position and folded down toward the support in the folded position. [0009] According to the present invention, a barrier of the aforesaid kind is recognizable in that it is principally composed of at least one pair of panels articulated to each other. A first panel constitutes said fencing panel, which is pivotably articulated to a ground panel that constitutes the frame. Said ground panel rests flatly on the frame to form a walkway around the pool when the barrier is deployed. Both panels are of openwork construction and comprise slats separated by openings, the slats of the one panel being opposite the openings of the other panel. These measures are such that when the barrier is in folded position, the slats of the one panel are seated inside the openings of the other panel to form a deck around the pool. [0010] According to the measures of the invention, the frame is formed simply of the ground panel, which is capable of being placed atop an existing support bordering the pool, or of being seated inside a clearance left during the forming of the support, the depth of said clearance being just sufficient, on the order of the thickness of the ground panel, so that the latter lies flush. [0011] Also according to the measures of the invention, when the barrier is in deployed position the slats of the ground panel form a plane that the user can employ as a walkway around the pool, while the upright fencing panel forms a railing. When the barrier is in folded position, the ground panel and the fencing panel jointly form a substantially continuous plane that can be used as a deck. [0012] The barrier can be installed quickly and easily and requires no major modification of the pool environs, even when disposed on an existing support. It will be noted that the means for anchoring the frame to the support can advantageously be limited to bolt-type means or the like, serving to fix the ground panel to the support. [0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the ground panel is formed of a box constituted by strutted profiles bearing slats, said box forming a sole plate designed to support the fencing panel and to which the latter is articulated. Such an articulation is implemented in particular by means of bearings, each of which engages a respective profile of the ground panel and the slats of the fencing panel. [0014] The barrier preferably comprises at least one folding brace, each of whose ends is articulated to a respective one of the panels. The box (if present) of the ground panel advantageously houses the brace when the barrier is in folded position. [0015] The barrier is preferably equipped with locking means at least in the deployed position, if not in the folded position as well. Said locking means are constituted for example by strikers disposed at the ends of the barrier. [0016] It will be understood that the barrier as a whole can be composed of a plurality of abutted panels attached to one another by means of fastening devices, such as by keying, pinning or a similar mechanism, latches for example. [0017] According to a first variant, the barrier can be operated manually to change it back and forth between the folded and deployed positions. Preferred, however, is a variant embodiment in which the barrier can be operated by drive means to change it back and forth between the folded and deployed positions. [0018] The drive means are more particularly constituted by at least one power cylinder whose ends are in articulated engagement respectively with the ground panel and with the fencing panel. [0019] Said power cylinder is in particular drivable by a hydraulic unit whose operation is placed under the dependence of control means. It will be noted that this hydraulic unit is capable of being housed inside a box adjacent the barrier, said box being a decorative box or a box having a seating function. [0020] The brace is advantageously constituted by the power cylinder, which is particularly disposed in the middle region of the panel. It will be understood that when plural panels are abutted and assembled to one another, at least an arbitrary one of these panels is capable of being equipped with the power cylinder for the overall operation of the panels. [0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the panels are equipped with guide ramps for the power cylinder, which is for example articulated by its bottom end to the ground panel and by its head end to the fencing panel, or vice versa. The power cylinder is preferably oriented horizontally in the retracted position, corresponding to the folded position of the barrier, to limit its space consumption and in particular to enable it to be housed inside the box forming the ground panel without thereby substantially increasing the thickness of the box. The barrier is advantageously equipped with a first inclined ramp, provided on the ground panel. This first ramp is intended to cause the power cylinder to straighten up until it is stopped at the bottom of a second ramp carried by the fencing panel. As a result of these measures, the outward telescoping of the power cylinder causes it to straighten up and bear against the fencing panel, thereby raising the latter into the deployed-barrier position. Continue reading... Full patent description for Folding slatted barrier for a swimming pool Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Folding slatted barrier for a swimming pool patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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