Enclosures for pools and the like

[57] ABSTRACT

A plurality of support members for the pool enclosure extend upwardly from a foundation and then curve out over the pool and are fastened at their opposite ends to a steel gutter which in turn is secured to the eave of a house. Each support member, except the end two, includes a pair of tracks on either side such that a flexible, insulated panel can be slidably supported between a pair of adjacent support members in one of said tracks, while a second flexible, insulated panel can be supported between adjacent support members and the second track. Each end support member includes a pair of tracks only on one side, pointing inwardly.

Claims, 9 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED καϊ 16197?

3,662,410

SHEET 1 OF 4

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FIG. I

INVENTOR.

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PATENTED μη 16 igzz

3,662,410

SHEET 2 OE 4

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FIG. 2

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PATENTEDMAY 16197^

3,662,410

SHEET 3 OF 4

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PATENTEDMAY 1 6 1972

3,662,410

SHIET U OF 4

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3,662,410

ENCLOSURES FOR POOLS AND THE LIKE

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a pool enclosure which is convertible in nature such that the pool can serve both as an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.

One type of pool enclosure which is currently available for this purpose comprises an inflatable plastic dome. However, this structure does not facilitate ready conversion of the pool from an indoor to an outdoor pool. Rather, if the pool is to be converted, assembly or disassembly of the inflated dome is a major operation. Thus, these structures are useful only for converting the pool at the beginning and at the end of the summer. The inflated dome structures suffer additional defects, such as the fact that they deflate when punctured. Additionally, they cannot be secured directly to a house such that the pool is readily accessible without exposure to undesirable elements.

A second type of structure which is currently available utilizes movable roof panels such that the roof can be partially opened by sliding one section of panel on top of another. Unfortunately, the area covered by the roof of such a structure has to be much larger than the area of the pool in order for the roof to be completely opened above the pool. In the alternative, such an enclosure will have to be secured to the edge of a house and means will have to be provided whereby the roof panels can be slid out over the roof of the house.

An additional problem presented by such structures is the fact that water runs into the pool and pool area through spaces between the roof sections. This could be damaging to furniture which one would normally consider safe to be placed in an indoor pool. In the winter time when the source of the water is melting snow, the dripping water could prove to be quite uncomfortable to swimmers within the pool enclosure.

The present invention provides a pool enclosure in which a frame for a top portion and at least one side portion thereof comprises a plurality of support members disposed in parallel relationship to one another. At least two insulated, fiber glass panels are disposed between and supported at their sides by a pair of adjacent support members. One of the panels encloses generally the side portion and the other encloses generally the top portion of the pool enclosure. Means are provided whereby one of the panels can be moved past the other such that the enclosure can be opened to the air.

Thus, the present invention provides a readily convertible pool enclosure such that the pool can be converted from an indoor to an outdoor pool as frequently as might be desired. Because the enclosing panels are flexible, they can readily be slid from the top portion to the side portion or vice versa. Either the top or the side of the enclosure can be opened to the air.

Insulation is provided between the panel members and the support members to provide protection from the elements. Because the flexible panels themselves are insulated, warmer temperatures within the pool enclosure can be readily maintained. Further protection from the elements is provided by constructing the support members such that they act as water run-off gutters.

Finally, the enclosure of this invention can be connected directly to a house such that the pool area can be contiguous with a family room or the like. Thus, a person can move from the house to the pool area without being exposed to the elements.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a support member with various types of panels being shown supported thereby;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken along VI—VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows an alternative panel construction;

FIG. 8 shows an alternative panel construction; and FIG. 9 shows an alternative panel construction.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that this invention comprises generally a pool 1, a house 2 adjacent thereto, and an enclosure 10. Support members 30 of enclosure 10 are supported at their base on footing 11 and are secured to house 2 by means of gutter 20. Each end of enclosure 10 is closed by end assembly 40 and the top and sides are enclosed by panels

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that gutter 20 is generally U-shaped in cross section. It is of a heavy steel construction such that it will provide a rigid support for support members 30. On one side it is bolted into the eave of house 2 by means of bolts 21. Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that gutter 20 is sufficiently long that it extends the width of pool enclosure 10. In this case, this is also approximately the width of the house 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that each support member 30 extends upwardly from footing 11 and then has a curved portion 38 such that it extends out over the top of pool 1. Support member 30 is constructed such that one panel member 50 being supported thereby can be moved past the other panel member 50 being supported thereby as indicated by arrows A and B. The construction which facilitates this movement can be seen more clearly by reference to FIG. 5. Each support member 30 comprises vertical leg 32 capped by horizontal crosspiece 31, both being elongated such that they extend the length of support 30. Extending outwardly from each side of the middle of leg 32 is an elongated flange 33. Extending upwardly from the end of each flange 33 is an elongated lip 34 which is relatively short in height. Similarly, such a flange 33 and lip 34 arrangement extends outwardly from each side of the bottom of leg 32. Thus, each support member 30 comprises a pair of tracks on either side, one disposed above the other, for supporting panels 50,60 or 70. An exception to this is that the end support members 30 have a pair of tracks only on their insides.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a plurality of support members 30 are disposed in parallel relationship with their bases being secured to footing 11 and their top ends being secured to gutter member 20. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be i. seen that the upper end of each support member 30 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 35 to facilitate its connection to gutter 20. A bolt 37 is passed through flange 35, a weather shield 36 and the outer side of U-shaped gutter 20, and is then secured by a nut 39. Weather shield 36 helps prevent water from flowing from gutter 20 into the tracks formed by flanges 33 and lips 34.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that end assembly 40 comprises a conventional partition. Typically, it can include a plurality of panels 41 secured to studs 43. A pair of sliding glass doors 42 are also provided. Each of the two end assemblies 40 is secured to the outermost support member 30 located at either end of enclosure 10.

The panels 50 are each constructed from a pair of corrugated, flexible plastic sheets, preferably fiberglass. The basic panel 50 is shown in cross section in FIG. 6, being supported by a lip 34 of support assembly 30. As can be seen, the two corrugated sheets are joined such that one sheet forms a mirror image of the other. Thus, the corrugations 52 oppose the corrugations 54 such that air pockets and interfaces 55 are formed therebetween. The sheets are joined in the interface areas 55 by means of glue or the like.

The corrugations 52 and 54 provide lateral rigidity for the panels 50. The air pockets between corrugations 52 and 54 provide insulation for panel 50. Additionally, because each sheet is flexible, the non-joined corrugations 52 and 54 pro10

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of this invention can be seen by reference to the specification and to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the pool enclosure, pool and 70 a portion of an adjacent house;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the inside of the enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the enclosure secured to a house;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along IV—IV of FIG. 3;

3,662,410 vide sufficient longitudinal flexibility that each panel 50 will bend sufficiently to pass through the curved portions 38 of support members 30. This enables a top enclosing panel 50 to be slidably moved completely out of the top area and down to the side area, or vice versa.

ALTERNATIVE PANEL CONSTRUCTIONS

FIGS. 5 and 8 show slightly modified versions of panel 50. In FIG. 5, on the bottom right-hand track, it can be seen that an insulating strip 57 is secured to the top of panel 50 at the side edge thereof. Insulating strip 57 can be made of any suitable material such as rubber or a closed-cell urethane foam. The material is preferably flexible such that it too will allow panel 50 to bend and thereby pass through the curved portion 38 of support member 30.

Also in FIG. 5, and in FIG. 8, panel 50 is shown not only with an insulating strip 57, but also with reinforcing rods 56 being positioned within some of the air pockets between the corrugations 52 and 54. Each of these rods 56 extends the width of panel 50 such that it provides complete support between adjacent support members 30. This provides reinforcement for the panels 50 in the event of snow build-un or the like.

In FIG. 5 on the upper right-hand tracks, a wheel assembly ²⁵is positioned at the side edge of panel 50. A plug and axle assembly 59 is inserted into pipe 56, and a wheel 58 turns on said axle. Wheel 58 rides on flange 33 and is prevented from rolling off by lip 34. ___________________________

FIG. 7 shows an alternative panel construction 60. Bast- ³⁰ moved through the curved portions 38 of support members cally, this comprises a sheet of flexible material such as fiber ³⁰i glass or the like. It includes a plurality of non-planar surfaces 61 which act to rigidify panel 60 across its width, that is laterally. Additionally, panel 60 includes a plurality of tubular- ^I“'^v- '’“““'«mu icuuuivcuieui, shaped deviations 62 into which a reinforcing pipe 63 can be ⁵⁶&gt; ^{can be} provided as insurance against heavier inserted. This provides reinforcement comparable to pipes 56 ” „ of panel 50 of FIG. 8.

While panel 60 is rigid laterally, a flexible area 65 is provided between the non-planar irregularities in what would 40 otherwise be a flat sheet. Thus, panel 60 is free to flex and bend in these areas 65 such that panel 60 will pass through the curved portion of support members 30. In other words, it has longitudinal flexibility. ____________{r r}

Panel 60 shown in FIG. 7 is at least partially insulated by 45 vides a seal between the panel and the support member 30. sealing off the undersides of non-planar surfaces 61. This is ac- «η ----, ,.

complished by securing flat sealing members 66 to the underside of panel 60. Each sealing member 66 is just slightly larger in area than the area of the opening formed by non-planar surface 61 such that it will extend slightly beyond that opening so that an edge is provided whereby member 61 can be secured by means of glue or the like to the underside of panel 60.

Member 66 is preferably formed of the same material as panel 60. Finally, an insulating strip 64 is secured to the top side of j.. , --, ,. ------- — panel 60 at the side edge thereof. This serves the same func- ^{55 the d,sen}8^a8^ement of panel tion as insulating strip 57 shown on panel 50 in FIGS. 8 and 5.

FIG. 9 discloses panel assembly 70 which is another alternative to panel 50. As in panel 60, panel 70 comprises a plurality of non-planar surfaces 72 to provide lateral rigidity to panel 70. The planar area 74 between adjacent non-planar surfaces 72 extends the width of panel 70 such that panel 70 is flexible in planar areas 74 and can be bent around the curved portion of a support member 30. Thus, like panels 50 and 60, panel 70 also has lateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility. Panel 70 ¢5 also includes a sealing strip 76 which is comparable in function to sealing strips 64 and 57.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that panel 70 also includes a downwardly extending tab 75 which is secured to the bottom thereof and which is located at each side edge of panel 70. 70 Downwardly extending tabs 75 engage lip 34 should panel 70 begin to slide off of support member 30. Thus, positive engagement is provided between panel 70 and support member 30. Comparable tab means 75 could be provided on any of the other alternative panel assemblies.

OPERATION

In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that one of the panel members 50 has been moved from the top portion of enclosure 10 to the side portion thereof by sliding it past another panel 50. Because panel 50 is flexible where it is not joined together, i.e. at corrugations 52 and 54, it is free to flex and bend through its length and thereby pass through the curved portions of support members 30.

In a similar fashion, the entire top of pool enclosure 10 could be opened to the air. Furthermore, it will be seen that the sides of the pool are completely enclosed, thereby eliminating the necessity of an additional enclosing fence. The ends are enclosed by end assemblies 40, one side is enclosed 15 by the house 2, and the fourth side is enclosed by the panels

On the other hand, the side of enclosure 10 can be opened merely by sliding the side panels 50 upwardly into the top portions of support members 30. Thus, if the sun were low in the 20 sky as in the morning or evening, the side of enclosure 10 could be opened rather than the top to allow the sun to shine in. One might also find it desirable to open the side rather than the top if it were raining. This would provide protection from the rain while leaving the pool area exposed to fresh air.

&gt; This relative movement of enclosing panels can also be achieved with alternative panels 60 and 70. All of the alternative embodiment panels are provided with lateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility. The former provides the panels with necessary structural strength. The latter allows them to be

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The lateral rigidity of the panels prevents them from collapsing under their own weight and under the weight of light snows and the like. Additional reinforcement, such as pipes snows.

Because of the lip 34 on flange 33, any water which drips into support member 30 will run down flange 33 and out of support member 30 at footing 11. Thus, water is prevented from running off the top panels 50 and into the pool area.

In modified panel 50 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 and in alternative panels 60 and 70, an insulation strip, 57, 64 or 76, respectively, has been added to the side edge of the panel 50, 60 or 70. As can be seen in FIG. 5, this insulation strip proAdditionally, panel 50 itself is an insulated panel by means of the air pockets formed between corrugations 52 and 54. Panel 60 is at least partially insulated by the air pockets formed between non-planar surfaces 61 and sealing member

In alternative panel 70, a plurality of lip engaging tabs 75 are provided on the underside of the panel such that it is held in positive engagement with support member 30. Thus, if panel 70 begins to slide off of support member 30, tabs 75 will 70 from support member 30.

In FIG. 5, panel assembly 50 is provided with wheel means 58 such that it rolls much more easily on flange 33. Thus, enclosure 10 is made even more readily convertible.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides a unique pool enclosure which is readily convertible such that the pool can be made into an indoor pool or outdoor pool as frequently as this might be desirable. Flexible panels are provided such that they can be readily moved from the top portion of the enclosure to the side portion or vice versa. The panels can be insulated so as to provide further protection from the elements. The flanges which are provided on support members 30 act not only to support the panels 50, but also to drain water from panels 50 without allowing that water to fall into the pool area.

Finally, as is shown in the preferred embodiment, this pool enclosure 10 can readily be secured to a house. In the alternative, it will be appreciated that a completely separate pool enclosure could be constructed using the principles of this invention, as for example by providing support members which ex50

3,662,410 tend upwardly from the base, curve out over the top and then curve back downwardly to the base again. Additionally, it will be further appreciated by one skilled in the art that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that many alterations and changes can be made thereof without departing from the broader aspects and spirit of the invention.