Arrangement for covering and thermally insulating a basin, and cover for such an arrangement

Abstract

The invention provides an arrangement for covering and thermally insulating a basin ( 11 ), containing water, which comprises at least one jointed cover ( 16 ) consisting of an assembly of adjacent parallel slats ( 18 ) hinged together so that they can be wound up to expose the surface ( 22 ) of the water, and unwound horizontally to cover the basin, characterized in that each slat ( 18 ) is a length of hollow section made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic and filled with an injected or expanded plastic foam ( 25 ), and in that when the cover is in the unwound position there is a predetermined gap (J) between the approximately horizontal lower face ( 23 ) of the adjacent slats ( 18 ) of the cover ( 16 ) and the surface ( 22 ) of the water in order to define a thermally insulating cushion of air ( 24 ).

1 . Arrangement for covering and thermally insulating a basin ( 11 ), such as a basin of a spa, jacuzzi ( 10 ) or swimming pool, containing water, which comprises at least one jointed cover ( 16 ) consisting of an assembly of adjacent parallel slats ( 18 ) hinged together so that they can be wound up to expose the surface ( 22 ) of the water, and unwound horizontally to cover the basin, 
 characterized in that each slat ( 18 ) is a length of hollow section made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic and filled with an injected or expanded plastic foam ( 25 ),    and in that when the cover is in the unwound position there is a predetermined gap (J) between the approximately horizontal lower face ( 23 ) of the adjacent slats ( 18 ) of the cover ( 16 ) and the surface ( 22 ) of the water in order to define a thermally insulating cushion of air ( 24 ).    
     
     
         2 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each slat ( 18 ) is a length of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) section.  
     
     
         3 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each slat ( 18 ) is filled with polyurethane foam ( 25 ).  
     
     
         4 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each slat ( 18 ) is closed at each of its two opposite longitudinal ends by an added plug.  
     
     
         5 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least some of the slats ( 18 ) each have a longitudinal reinforcing element ( 34 ) which extends through the filling foam ( 25 ).  
     
     
         6 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the approximately flat lower face ( 23 ) of each slat ( 18 ) which, when the cover is in the deployed position, lies over the surface ( 22 ) of the water of the basin ( 11 ) is covered with a coating that reflects the heat radiation coming from the water and thus improves the thermal insulation.  
     
     
         7 . Arrangement according to the previous claim, characterized in that the said thermal coating is an aluminium alloy foil or a coat of paint containing an aluminium alloy.  
     
     
         8 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises an anti-drip brush ( 44 ) for acting on the lower face ( 23 ) of the slats to remove the drips formed by condensation on the said face ( 23 ).  
     
     
         9 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper edges ( 30 ) of the basin ( 11 ) are equipped with means ( 28 ,  26 ) for guiding the cover ( 16 ), in which the opposite longitudinal ends ( 17 ) of at least some of the slats ( 18 ) are received and slide, and which determine the said predetermined gap (J).  
     
     
         10 . Cover ( 16 ) of jointed slats ( 18 ) for an arrangement according to any one of the previous claims.