Device for enhancing swimming pools by creating a bubbling and/or sparkling effect

The invention relates to a device for enhancing swimming pools by creating a bubbling and/or sparkling effect on a given surface. The invention relates to a device in the form of a mat for creating a diffusion of air bubbles rising on all or part of the surface of a swimming pool, making it possible to enhance an already-built swimming pool in a simple manner by adding bubbling and/or sparkling water effects. The device is made up of four major elements which are the multi-layer mat, of which the upper surface is perforated so as to provide the sought bubbling effect, the perforated edge strip attached to the appropriate side of the mat and to which a distribution cone is linked that, in turn, is connected to an air compressor. When the compressor is started up, the output flow is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the mat. The device according to the invention is especially intended for enhancing all types of swimming pools and leisure pools.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2018/060359, filed Dec. 19, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority of French Patent Application numbers FR 1771413 filed Dec. 21, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. The International Application was published on Jun. 27, 2019, as International Publication No. WO 2019/123325 A1.

The present invention relates to a device in the form of a mat for creating a uniform diffusion of air bubbles on all or part of the surface of a swimming pool.

Currently, no devices exist that make it possible to enhance an already-built swimming pool in a simple manner by adding bubbling and/or sparkling water effects.

Indeed, the current technologies that make it possible to achieve bubbling and/or sparkling water effects are generally costly and complex to install.

Moreover, these technologies do not make it possible to achieve a uniform bubbling and/or sparkling water effect over a large area to be covered, such as a swimming pool.

The device according to the invention serves to remedy this drawback.

The invention relates to a device for enhancing swimming pools by creating a bubbling and/or sparkling effect, characterised in that it comprises a surface for diffusion of air bubbles similar to a multilayer mat incorporating a metallic structure partly or completely matching (covering) the bottom of the swimming pool and connected by means of the edge strip by a distribution cone, which is itself connected to a compressor located in the immediate vicinity of the swimming pool or in the latter's technical room, wherein said device comprises a perforated upper layer fixed to the metallic structure.

The metallic structure is made of hollow bars serving both as ballast and as a network for distribution of the air injected by the edge to which the perforated flexible edge strip of said mat is fixed. The perforated flexible strip is adjusted such that each perforation lies opposite a space between the ballast bars or opposite a section of ballast bar.

The Device is characterised in that at least one U-shaped piece is fixed to the edge opposite that to which the perforated strip is fixed in order to direct the air injected into the bar towards the empty adjacent space between this bar and the next in order to create a closed air circuit in which the only exit is the upper perforated layer and in that the distribution cone is designed to be connected on one side, either to the suction point or to a compressor adjacent to the pool and on the other, to the entire length of the mat.

It indeed comprises, according to a first characteristic, a mat1consisting of at least 3 layers. The lower layer11made of flexible polymer, is solid and serves as a support for the intermediate layer12, which is nothing other than a hollow metallic structure17acting as ballast. Another so-called upper layer13is fixed to this structure and is perforated. It is therefore a mat1with a sandwich structure, having an empty space between the lower and upper layers of polymer. The mat1is formed of successive edges14, mounted parallel to each other. A flexible plastic strip, or edge strip15, will be fixed to the appropriate edge14of the mat1determined by its proximity in relation the suction point23or simply in relation to the air injection source21.

The air supply is provided by a compressor2dimensioned according to the size of the swimming pool and connected to this perforated flexible strip15along the edge14of the mat1by a conical-shaped part22, the base of which passes through the latter and acts as a distribution element.

The device is supplied with air via the distribution cone22connecting the mat1to the compressor2.

This distribution cone22is designed so as to distribute the air uniformly over the entire length of the edge14of the mat comprising the flexible strip15with an adequate flow rate to feed all the perforations31present along the perpendicular to this length which corresponds, in a standard application configuration, to the width of the swimming pool.

The mat1also features a cutout having the exact size of the bottom strip exactly at the position where the latter is located in the pool for which it has been created. According to particular embodiments:The geometry of the metallic structure17varies according to the shape of the swimming pool and according to the presence and shape of immerse access steps.The shape and dimensions of the mat1vary according to the dimensions of the swimming pool.The polymer-based material of which the mat1is made varies according to the customer's wishes, by varying its texture for a soft or hard feel.The density and diameter of the perforations31vary depending on the desired effect. A sparse network of large perforations31will yield the bubbling effect, whereas conversely, a dense network of microperforations will yield a sparkling effect. Addition of a microperforated layer incorporated in the upper layer13of the device can be considered in order to accentuate this effect.The location and size of the reservation for the bottom strip varies according to the swimming pool.The location of the compressor2may be either in the technical room of the swimming pool or next to the swimming pool itself. In the first case, it may therefore be connected to the distribution pipe and therefore to the mat1via the existing pipe system, using either the backflow vents or the suction point23if the latter exists and in the second case, directly via the distribution pipe connected to the mat.The shape of the distribution cone22varies depending on the layout of the pool in order to be able to capture the air flow at its tip and distribute it over the necessary length through its base.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the function of the distribution cone22is performed by a structure comprising2ducts (not illustrated) joined at a point, this point being connected to the suction point23, whereby the two ducts subsequently extend along a substantially vertical plane in the opposite direction to each other. The ends of these two ducts are subsequently both connected to a flexible perforated strip15.

A concrete application of the device can be described as follows for a 4 m*8 m conventional rectangular swimming pool with a constant depth of 1 m50, with a suction point23and access by simple ladder and to which one wishes to add a bubbling effect. This is one of the most common cases, which is why it is presented here.

The invention will comprise3main elements:The air compression system2, located in this case in the technical room, alongside the pump supplying the suction point, is connected to latter's outlet pipe with a Y-piece, each arm of which comprises a valve and the base of which is connected to the original pipe supplying the suction point23. Hence, the Y-piece has one arm connected to the water pump and one connected to the air compressor supplying the invention.The distribution cone22made of rigid plastic which, in this specific application, adopts the shape of an isosceles triangle, the apex of which is connected to the suction point and the base of which is slipped, before installation in the swimming pool, into the flexible perforated strip15described below. A Y-shaped double valve system integrated in the distribution cone22serves either to send air into this pipe or water into the pool cleaner by closing either of the arms of the Y-piece, the base of which is directly connected to the suction point. Hence, depending on whether one wishes to clean the swimming pool or use the invention, it will be sufficient to respectively close the valve of the arm of the Y-piece connected to the distribution cone22or that of the arm of the Y-piece connected to the pool cleaner hose. When using the invention, the air will spread through the cone22before being distributed along the perforated edge strip15and subsequently into the mat1and will be discharged in the form of bubbles via the perforated upper layer13of the mat1.The mat1which, in this case, will be a 4 m*8 m PVC foam rectangle 4 cm thick covering the bottom of the swimming pool will incorporate a metallic structure17of lead bars of hollow square section spaced 20 cm apart and parallel to each other placed perpendicularly to the side of the swimming pool on which the suction point23is located. The perforations31are parallel to the lead bars and are spaced equidistantly between 2 lead bars. Two rows of perforations31are therefore also spaced 20 cm apart. The distance between the perforations31of a same line is 10 cm. A flexible perforated strip15is welded to the edge of the mat1on the side nearest to the suction point23. This strip forms a U-shaped profile on its side with its back facing the edge of the mat and which will serve as a slide into which the above-mentioned distribution cone22will be inserted. On this strip, a perforation 3 cm in diameter will be present opposite each lead bar section and opposite each space between these bars and therefore, at the same time, opposite each row of perforations31present on the mat. U-shaped plastic parts are fixed on the edge opposite the edge to which the perforated strip is fixed. The aim of this U-shaped part is to direct the air injected into the lead bar towards the empty adjacent space between this bar and the next, thereby creating a closed air circuit, the only exit from which is the row of perforations31of the upper layer13of the mat1. The aim of this device is to ensure uniformity of air distribution in terms of flow rate passing through the upper layer of the mat.

The aim of the device according to the invention is to equip and enhance as many already-built swimming pools as possible.

The invention therefore relates to a device for enhancing swimming pools by creating a bubbling and/or sparkling effect, characterised in that it comprises a surface for diffusion of air bubbles similar to a multilayer mat partly or completely covering the bottom of the swimming pool and connected by means of the edge strip15by a distribution cone22, which is itself connected to a compressor2located in the immediate vicinity of the swimming pool or in the latter's technical room.

According to embodiments:the mat1comprises, on the appropriate edge14, a perforated flexible strip15, adjusted such that each perforation31lies opposite a space between the ballast bars or opposite a section of ballast bar according to the invention.the mat1comprises a metallic structure17made of hollow bars serving both as ballast and as a network for distribution of the air injected by the edge to which the perforated flexible edge strip15of said mat1is fixed.the mat1comprises, on the edge opposite the edge incorporating the perforated flexible strip15, a U-shaped part, one end of which is fixed to the hollow section of the ballast bar and the other end to the inter-layer space of the mat created between this same bar and the following bar.the distribution cone22is designed to be connected on one side, either to the suction point23or to a compressor2adjacent to the pool and on the other, to the entire length of the mat1.