Moving bottom for swimming pool

Abstract

A moving floor ( 1 ) which is to be installed in a basin ( 3 ) of a swimming pool ( 2 ) in order to be placed either in a lower position in which swimming is possible, or in an upper position in which it covers the basin ( 3 ). The moving floor is provided with compartments ( 7, 8, 9 ) which on the one hand allow the moving floor ( 1 ) to be made to float horizontally on the water ( 6 ) when the compartments ( 7, 8, 9 ) are filled with air, and on the other hand allow the moving floor ( 1 ) to be made to sink when the compartments ( 7, 8, 9 ) are filled with water in order to place it at the bottom of the basin. Controlled elements for managing the quantity of air and water present in the compartments ( 7, 8, 9 ) are also provided.

1 . Moving floor ( 1 ) which is to be installed in a basin ( 3 ) of a swimming pool ( 2 ) to be placed either in a lower position in which it is in the region of the bottom of the basin ( 3 ) in order to allow people to swim, or in an upper position in which it covers the basin ( 3 ) in order to prevent people moving about in the area around the swimming pool ( 2 ) from drowning, characterised in that it comprises different compartments ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) spaced apart from one another, which compartments are independent and constitute Archimedes' bells, the compartments ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) allowing the moving floor ( 1 ) to be made to float horizontally on the water ( 6 ) when they are filled with air in order to place it in the upper position, and allowing the moving floor ( 1 ) to be made to sink when they are filled with water in order to place it in the lower position, as well as controlled means connected to a pressurised air source for independently managing the quantity of air and water in the different compartments ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) in order to tilt the moving floor ( 1 ) as it moves between the upper position and the lower position. 
     
     
         2 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , which comprises a structure with beams and/or girders ( 24 ,  26 ) and wherein the compartments ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) are formed in the beams and/or girders ( 24 ,  26 ) while being open to the bottom when the moving floor ( 1 ) is in place, in order to facilitate the filling and evacuation of water in each compartment ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ). 
     
     
         3 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , wherein each compartment ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) comprises at least one orifice for evacuating air which is situated in the upper part of the compartment ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ), when the moving floor ( 1 ) is in place. 
     
     
         4 . Moving floor according to  claim 2 , wherein the beams and/or girders ( 34 ,  36 ) constituting its structure are profiles made of pultruded glass fibre. 
     
     
         5 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , comprising, in the region of its periphery, members ( 17 ,  18 ) for locking it in the upper position, the locking members ( 17 ,  18 ) being movable telescopically in horizontal directions when the moving floor ( 1 ) is horizontal. 
     
     
         6 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , comprising members ( 32 ) for locking it in the upper position which are in the form of retractable feet ( 32 ) situated on the lower face of the body of the moving floor ( 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , comprising, in the region of its periphery, guide elements such as brushes and/or tubes which are fixed resiliently along the periphery. 
     
     
         8 . Moving floor according to  claim 1 , comprising a locking arm ( 11 ) which is to engage beneath an assembly of vertically movable steps ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) in order to keep the steps ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) locked in the top position when the moving floor ( 1 ) is in the upper position. 
     
     
         9 . Moving floor according to  claim 2 , wherein each compartment ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ) comprises at least one orifice for evacuating air which is situated in the upper part of the compartment ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ), when the moving floor ( 1 ) is in place.