Elevator assembly for swimming pool

Abstract

An elevator assembly structured to regulate the accessible depth of a swimming pool including a platform selectively and automatically moveable between lowered, intermediate and raised positions thereby regulating the depth of the pool as well as providing a stable barrier and support area adjacent the open top of the pool when in a raised position. A support assembly and drive assembly are operatively associated to move and maintain the platform in any of the aforementioned positions. The platform includes a passage assembly comprising an apertured construction including a plurality of openings disposed and dimensioned to facilitate water flow therethrough as the platform moves within the pool. A sensor assembly is disposed to monitor predetermined vicinity adjacent the pool and functions to automatically dispose the platform in the raised position, thereby preventing drowning of individuals who cannot swim.

1 . An elevator assembly structured to regulate the accessible depth of a swimming pool, said assembly comprising:
 a platform disposed within an interior of the pool,   a support assembly disposed in supporting relation to said platform,   a drive assembly operatively associated with said support assembly,   said platform moveably connected to said support assembly and disposable between a raised position and a lowered position upon activation of said drive assembly, and   said raised and lowered positions respectively comprising said platform disposed adjacent and open top of the pool and a floor of the pool.   
   
   
       2 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said drive assembly and said support assembly are cooperatively structured to removably maintain said platform in at least one intermediate position between said raised and lowered positions. 
   
   
       3 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said drive assembly and said support assembly are cooperatively structured to dispose and maintain said platform in a plurality of intermediate positions between said raised and lowered and positions. 
   
   
       4 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a passage assembly disposed on said platform and structured to facilitate fluid flow between opposite sides of said platform during movement thereof within the swimming pool. 
   
   
       5 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said passage assembly comprises said platform including an apertured construction disposed, dimensioned and configured to facilitate fluid flow through said platform at least during movement thereof within the interior of the swimming pool. 
   
   
       6 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said apertured construction comprises a plurality of openings extending through said platform in communicating relation with said opposite sides thereof. 
   
   
       7 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said plurality of openings are disposed in space relation to one another and collectively extend over at least a majority of said platform. 
   
   
       8 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein at least some of said openings are closable. 
   
   
       9 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said platform is dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond to the open top of the pool. 
   
   
       10 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said platform is dimensioned and configured to restrict access to the interior of the pool when said platform is in said raised position. 
   
   
       11 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein said platform is dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond to the open top of the pool. 
   
   
       12 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein said raised position further comprises an exposed surface of said platform disposed above a water level within the pool. 
   
   
       13 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support assembly comprises a plurality of stanchions at least partially disposed within the interior of the pool and collectively, movably supporting said platform. 
   
   
       14 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said drive assembly is connected to at least one of said plurality of stanchions. 
   
   
       15 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a control assembly operatively connected to said drive assembly and structured to regulate activation of said drive assembly and said platform. 
   
   
       16 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein said control assembly comprises a sensor assembly structured to determine the presence of motion in predetermined vicinity at least partially adjacent the open top of the pool. 
   
   
       17 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a heater assembly disposed and structured to circulate heated fluid throughout at least a portion of the pool. 
   
   
       18 . An elevator assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said drive means is pneumatically controlled.