Raisable Pool and Modular Spa Floor

Abstract

Described is a submersible floor or deck deployable in swimming pools and spas. The floor and seat panels are assembled and deployed in the basin or pool. The floor is mounted to a scaffolding and can be moved reversibly by a water pump or a hydraulic actuator between a lowered state substantially parallel to a floor of the pool and a raised state that is substantially flat and horizontal at a level substantially even with a top edge of the pool or spa. One version uses water flow from an existing or conventional water pump to circulate water that impinges on a paddlewheel that, in turn, drives one or more vertically mounted screws. The screws provide the vertical motive force to the floor.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pool system comprising:
 a basin forming a water-receiving recess, the recess having one or more walls including a bottom surface;   a movable floor disposed above the bottom surface in the basin, the movable floor mounted to a scaffolding, the movable floor stretching across at least a portion of the basin;   a water circulation pump plumbed to the basin so as to circulate water to and from the basin through a first pipe and a second pipe when the water circulation pump is activated; and   a lift in mechanical connection with the scaffolding, wherein the lift includes a rotatable screw that is in mechanical connection with the lift, wherein the screw is mounted in the basin, wherein the scaffolding is movably mounted to the screw thereby allowing the scaffolding and floor to move on the screw by operation of the lift in response to flow of water from either the first pipe or the second pipe at any one time.   
     
     
         2 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the water circulation pump resides external to the basin, and wherein the lift includes a paddlewheel in the path of a flow of water from the first pipe and the second pipe, wherein the paddlewheel turns in response to operation of the pump in either a first direction when water is flowing through the first pipe or a second direction when the water is flowing through the second pipe depending on which way the water circulation pump operates. 
     
     
         3 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffolding is a horizontally disposed scaffolding. 
     
     
         4 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable floor stretches horizontally across at least a portion of the basin. 
     
     
         5 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the screw is mounted vertically in the basin. 
     
     
         6 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffolding and floor move up and down on the screw by operation of the paddlewheel. 
     
     
         7 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the paddlewheel is mounted inside a protective enclosure and is mounted under the movable floor and the scaffolding. 
     
     
         8 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the basin includes semi-enclosed compartments for housing one or more elements of the lift and the rotatable screw. 
     
     
         9 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift includes a safety lock mechanism that prevents the scaffolding from lowering in the basin upon loss of power to the water circulation pump. 
     
     
         10 . The pool system of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is formed from a set of planar pieces, each piece individually affixed to the scaffolding and to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A pool system comprising:
 a basin forming a water-receiving recess, the recess having one or more walls including a bottom surface;   a movable floor disposed above the bottom surface in the basin, the movable floor mounted to a scaffolding, the movable floor stretching across at least a portion of the basin; and   a hydraulic actuator in mechanical connection with the scaffolding and configured to lift and lower the movable floor by way of operating against the scaffolding.   
     
     
         12 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a chain mechanically coupled to the scaffolding, the hydraulic actuator, and a gear, wherein operation of the hydraulic actuator causes movement of the movable floor by way of the chain.   
     
     
         13 . The pool system of  claim 12 , wherein the chain is mounted inside a protective enclosure portion of one or more walls of the basin. 
     
     
         14 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the scaffolding is a horizontally disposed scaffolding. 
     
     
         15 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the movable floor stretches horizontally across at least a portion of the basin. 
     
     
         16 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic actuator is mounted vertically in the basin. 
     
     
         17 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the basin includes a scupper that passes around at least a portion of the perimeter of the basin. 
     
     
         18 . The pool system of  claim 11 , wherein the basin includes a scupper that passes around an entirety of the perimeter of the basin. 
     
     
         19 . The pool system of  claim 18 , wherein a width of an opening into an interior of the scupper is one inch or less. 
     
     
         20 . The pool system of  claim 18 , wherein the scupper is set a distance at least 6 inches below a top plane of a perimeter of the basin.