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 ).

1 . A folding perimeter barrier for a body of water, particularly a swimming pool ( 1 ), said barrier being maneuverable between a deployed position in which the barrier encloses the pool ( 1 ), and a folded position in which the barrier is collapsed to provide access to the pool ( 1 ), said barrier being principally composed of a frame equipped with means of anchoring to a support ( 4 ) bordering said pool ( 1 ) and a fencing panel ( 3 ) pivotably articulated to said frame in order to be set upright in the deployed position and folded down toward said support ( 4 ) in the folded position, wherein it is principally composed of at least one pair of panels ( 2 ,  3 ) articulated to each other, namely said fencing panel ( 3 ) pivotably articulated to a ground panel ( 2 ) that constitutes the frame and that rests flatty on said support ( 4 ) to form a walkway around said pool ( 1 ) when said barrier is in deployed position, both of said panels ( 2 ,  3 ) being of openwork construction comprising slats ( 5 ,  6 ) separated by openings ( 7 ,  8 ), the slats ( 5 ,  6 ) of one panel ( 2 , 3 ) being opposite the openings (&,  8 ) of the other panel ( 2 ,  3 ), such that when the barrier is in folded position, the slats ( 5 ,  6 ) of the one panel ( 2 ,  3 ) are seated inside the openings ( 7 ,  8 ) of the other panel ( 2 ,  3 ) to form a deck around said pool ( 1 ).  
   
   
       2 . The folding barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said ground panel ( 2 ) is formed of a box ( 9 ) constituted by strutted profiles bearing slats ( 6 ), said box ( 9 ) forming a sole plate for said fencing panel ( 3 ), to which the latter is articulated.  
   
   
       3 . The folding barrier of  claim 2 , wherein it comprises at least one folding brace ( 11 ) whose ends are respectively articulated to one and the other of said panels ( 2 ,  3 ), said box ( 9 ) of said ground panel ( 2 ) housing said strut ( 2 ) when said barrier is in folded position.  
   
   
       4 . The folding barrier of  claim 1  wherein it is equipped with locking means for locking it at least in the deployed position, if not the folded position as well.  
   
   
       5 . The folding barrier of  claim 4 , wherein said locking means are constituted by strikers disposed at the ends of said barrier.  
   
   
       6 . The folding barrier of  claim 1  wherein it is composed of a plurality of abutted panels ( 2 ,  3 ) attached to one another by fastening devices.  
   
   
       7 . The folding barrier  claim 1  wherein said barrier can be operated manually to change it back and forth between the folded and deployed positions.  
   
   
       8 . The folding barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said barrier can be operated by drive means to change it back and forth between the folded and deployed positions.  
   
   
       9 . The folding barrier of  claim 8 , wherein said drive means are constituted by at least one power cylinder ( 11 ) in articulated engagement at its ends respectively with said ground panel ( 2 ) and with said fencing panel ( 3 ), said power cylinder ( 11 ) being drivable by a hydraulic unit whose operation is placed under the dependence of control means.  
   
   
       10 . The folding barrier of  claim 3  wherein said brace is constituted by said power cylinder ( 11 ).  
   
   
       11 . The folding barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said panels ( 2 ,  3 ) are equipped with ramps ( 14 ,  16 ) for guiding said power cylinder ( 11 ).  
   
   
       12 . The folding barrier of  claim 11 , wherein said power cylinder ( 11 ) being oriented horizontally in the retracted position corresponding to the folded position of the barrier, a first inclined ramp ( 14 ) is provided on said ground panel ( 2 ) to cause the power cylinder ( 11 ) to straighten up until it is stopped at the bottom of a second ramp ( 16 ) carried by said fencing panel ( 3 ), such that the outward telescoping of said power cylinder ( 11 ) causes it to straighten up and bear against said fencing panel ( 3 ), thereby raising it into the deployed-barrier position.  
   
   
       13 . The folding barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said control means comprise switches that can be operated by the use to actuate the hydraulic unit, and sensors detecting the end of travel of the fencing panel.  
   
   
       14 . The folding barrier of  claim 13 , wherein said end-of-travel sensors comprise sensors detecting the transmission and reception of a signal, so as to interrupt the operation of the hydraulic unit if the signal is breached.  
   
   
       15 . The folding barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said sensors constitute safety sensors, so as to interrupt the operation of said power cylinder ( 11 ) if the signal is breached unexpectedly.  
   
   
       16 . The folding barrier of  claim 10 , wherein said power cylinder ( 11 ) is a double-acting power cylinder, so as to hold the barrier in any arbitrary position when the movement of said power cylinder ( 11 ) is interrupted.  
   
   
       17 . The folding barrier of  claim 4  wherein said locking means are constituted by motorized strikers, which are actuated concomitantly with the actuation of said power cylinder ( 11 ) by means of switches that can be operated by the user.  
   
   
       18 . The folding barrier of  claim 9  wherein said control means for said power cylinder ( 11 ) comprise dynanometric means so as to interrupt the movement of said power cylinder ( 11 ) should an obstacle be present in the path of said fencing panel ( 3 ) while it is in motion.  
   
   
       19 . The folding barrier of  claim 10  wherein the means of anchoring said frame to said support ( 4 ) are bolt-type means serving to fix said ground panel ( 2 ) to said support ( 4 ).