Swimming pool solar heating system

Abstract

A solar water heating system for a swimming pool is disclosed; the solar water heating system is either integrated to the ledge of a swimming pool or installed as an add-on onto the ledge of an existing swimming pool. The solar water heating system comprises at least one water channel extending along the perimeter of the ledge of the swimming pool through which water is circulated and heated by sun rays.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swimming pool comprising a wall, a ledge positioned on top of the wall and defining a perimeter of the swimming pool, and a solar water heating system integrated to the ledge, the ledge comprising a series of ledge sections, the solar water heating system extending along the perimeter of the swimming pool and comprising at least one water channel extending through the ledge sections wherein water from the swimming pool is circulated into the at least one water channel along the perimeter of the swimming pool, heated by sun rays and returned back to the swimming pool. 
     
     
         2 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the least one water channel includes a single spiralling water channel extending along the entire perimeter of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         3 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the least one water channel includes a plurality of parallel water channels extending along the perimeter of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         4 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 3  further comprising an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. 
     
     
         5 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the series of ledge sections include a solar collector having at least one water channel, a first solar collector connected to an adjacent solar collector of an adjacent ledge section or to a conduit to form the solar water heating system. 
     
     
         6 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 5  wherein the solar collector comprises a central wide section including the at least one water channel, an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port and the outlet port being connected to the at least one water channel through a manifold. 
     
     
         7 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 6  further comprising a flexible connector connecting the outlet port of a first solar collector to the inlet port of a second solar collector. 
     
     
         8 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of the series of ledge sections each includes a cover, the ledge section and the cover together defining a heating chamber in which the at least one water channel is housed. 
     
     
         9 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the series of ledge sections include a structural beam. 
     
     
         10 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 9  wherein the structural beam includes a first end and a second end, a central main portion, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall; the central main portion, the inner wall and the outer wall extending from the first end to the second end; the at least one water channel being supported by the central main portion of the structural beam. 
     
     
         11 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 10  wherein the first end and the second end of the structural beam include apertures adapted for mounting a first ledge section onto a post at varying angles relative to an adjacent ledge section. 
     
     
         12 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 9  wherein the structural beam includes a solar collector having at least one water channel, the structural beam and the solar collector together forming a one-piece structural collector having a first end and a second end, a first one-piece structural collector connected to an adjacent one-piece structural collector of an adjacent ledge section or to a conduit to form the solar water heating system. 
     
     
         13 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 12  wherein the first end and the second end of the one-piece structural collector include apertures adapted for mounting a first ledge section onto a post at varying angles relative to the adjacent ledge section. 
     
     
         14 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 12  wherein the one-piece structural collector further comprises a central main portion including the solar collector, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall; the central main portion, the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall extending from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         15 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 8  wherein the cover is transparent or semi-transparent. 
     
     
         16 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 8  wherein the cover is opaque. 
     
     
         17 . A swimming pool as defined in  claim 5  wherein the central wide section of the solar collector comprises a series of parallel water channels. 
     
     
         18 . A solar water heating system for a swimming pool having a wall and a ledge; the solar water heating system comprising a plurality of ledge sections each including a fastening device for securing each ledge section to the ledge of an existing swimming pool, and at least one water channel extending along a perimeter of the ledge of the swimming pool through which water is circulated and heated by sun rays. 
     
     
         19 . A solar water heating system as defined in  claim 18  wherein the fastening device includes a clamping device. 
     
     
         20 . A solar water heating system as defined in  claim 18  comprising a plurality of parallel water channels configured as solar collectors each comprising an inlet port and an outlet port connected to the parallel water channel through a manifold; a flexible connector connecting the outlet port of a first solar collector to the inlet port of a second solar collector. 
     
     
         21 . A solar water heating system as defined in  claim 18  wherein the least one water channel includes a single spiralling water channel extending along the entire perimeter of the swimming pool.