Abstract:
A system helps a disabled person more fully utilize a swimming pool by transporting the person over the pool water and lowering the person toward the water for entry thereinto. The device uses a base that has a lift platform that is capable of being raised and lowered as well as rotated. The base is at least partially submerged within the pool and has a stairway abutting it. Three separate platforms extend outwardly from the base and rest on the pool deck. Each platform has a rail system thereon which is traversable by a chair that rides on the rail systems. Transition between out rail and another is accomplished at the lift platform which operates similar to a railway roundhouse turntable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a swimming pool usage system that allows physically challenged persons to be able to sit over a pool as well as to be positioned proximate an in-pool stairway system for easy entry into and exit out of the pool. 
   2. Background of the Prior Art 
   Swimming pools are a great source of fun and relaxation on a hot summer day. Lying around the deck and basking in the sun sure feel good and when its get too hot, a jump into the cool swimming pool water is truly refreshing. The swimming pool is a great source of fun and comfort especially during the long lazy days of summer. However, physically challenged people, especially those who have little or no control or ability of their lower extremities, may not be able to truly enjoy the marvels of the swimming pool. Such people, due to their inability to be able to easily get into and out of the pool, may only be able to enjoy the swimming pool from the sidelines, that is strictly on the swimming pool deck. While others are splashing and playing, such folks can only sit on the deck and look on. 
   To address such issues, various devices have been proposed that assist the physically challenged in getting into and out of swimming pools so that such persons can enjoy the soothing cool waters afforded by the pool. The problem with such devices is that many tend to only lift a person into and out of the pool at a particular spot and do not assist the person in traversing more than a small section of the pool. While such devices allow a person to enjoy the water, these devices tend to lock a person in place within the pool and prevent greater mobility about and enjoyment of the pool. Other devices have been proposed that allow a more robust usage of the swimming pool, however, such devices tend to be extremely complex in design and construction making them prohibitively expensive for all but a few potential users. 
   What is needed is a device that allows a physically challenged person to be able to use a swimming pool in more than just a very restricted fashion. Such a device must not only allow a person to enter and exit the water with relative ease, but must also allow the person to traverse at least a good portion of the swimming pool water area to give the person a sense of freedom and mobility. Such a device must not be unduly complex in design and construction so that the device is affordable to many potential users. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The disabled person swimming pool usage system of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The person swimming pool usage system is a device that allows a physically challenged person to be able to use a swimming pool in more than just a very limited fashion. The present invention allows a disabled person to enter and exit the water with relative ease while also allowing the person to traverse at least a good portion of the swimming pool water area thereby giving the person a sense of freedom and mobility about the pool. The disabled person swimming pool usage system is not unduly complex in design and construction making the device reasonably affordable to many potential users. 
   The disabled person swimming pool usage system of the present invention is comprised of a base member that has a top surface and an underside. A first platform extends outwardly from the base and has a first rail system thereon, while a second platform extends outwardly from the base and has a second rail system thereon, while a third platform extends outwardly from the base and has a third rail system thereon that is longitudinally aligned and spaced apart from the second rail system. A lift platform is attached to the base member and has a connector rail system thereon. The lift platform is capable of articulating between a lowered position resting on the top surface of the base and a raised position. The lift platform is also capable of rotating between a first position wherein the connector rail adjoins the first rail system whenever the lift platform is in the raised position and a second position wherein the connector rail railably adjoins either the second rail system or the third rail system whenever the lift platform is in a raised position allowing railable traverse between the various rail systems. A chair is capable of riding along the first rail system, the second rail system, the third rail system, and the connector rail system. A stairway platform abuts against a first side of the base member opposite the first platform. The stairway platform has an upper surface that is generally located on the same plane as the plane of the top surface of the base member. A pair of guide fins extends outwardly from the first side of the base member such that the stairway platform receives the guide fins for proper positioning of the stairway platform with respect to the base member. The articulation and the rotation of the lift platform are each controlled by a remote control device. The second platform is telescoping and has an adjustable stop attached to its underside. The third platform is also telescoping and also has a stop attached its underside. A first height adjustable leg is attached to a first underside of the first platform, a second height adjustable leg is attached to a second underside of the second platform, a third height adjustable leg attached to a third underside of the third platform, a fourth height adjustable leg attached to a fourth underside of the base member, and a fifth height adjustable leg attached to a fifth underside of the stairway platform. The base member is at least partially submerged under water such that the lift platform is raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder that operates with a working fluid. The hydraulic cylinder uses the water within which the base member is submerged as this working fluid. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective environmental view of the disabled person swimming pool usage system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the swimming pool entry subsystem of the disabled person swimming pool usage system. 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of the base member and lifting platform. 
   

   Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the disabled person swimming pool usage system of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a base member  12  that has a first side  14 , a second side  16  opposite the first side  14 , a third side  18  connecting the first side  14  and the second side  16 , and a fourth side  20 , also connecting first side  14  and the second side  16  and located opposite the third side  18 . The base member  12  also has a top surface  22  and an underside  24 . A series of height adjustable legs  26  extend downwardly from the underside  24  of the base member  12 . The legs  26  are height adjustable in any appropriate manner known in the art. A pair of guide fins  28  extends outwardly from the first side  14  of the base member  12 . Located within the interior of the base member  12  is a hydraulic cylinder  30 . The hydraulic cylinder  30  uses water W as its working fluid and has a ram  32  extending outwardly therefrom. The ram  32  protrudes through an opening  34  located on the top surface  22  of the base member  12 . An inlet port  36 , located on the first side  14  (or any of the other sides  16 ,  18 , or  20 , or even the underside  24 ) of the base member  12 , is provided as is an outlet port  38 . A pump  40  is disposed between the inlet port  36  and the outlet port  38  and draws water W through the inlet port  36  and provides the working fluid to the hydraulic cylinder  30  in order to control the raising and lowering of the ram  32 . A fluid flow control valve  42  is interposed between the inlet port  36  and the hydraulic cylinder  30  while a second fluid flow control valve  44  is interposed between the hydraulic cylinder  30  and the outlet port  38 , each of the valves  42  and  44 , helping control, in conjunction with the pump  40 , the fluid pressure within the hydraulic cylinder  30 . A swivel motor  46  is also disposed within the interior of the base member  12  and connects to the ram  32  via an appropriate rotation drive wheel  48  in order to rotate and counterrotate the ram  32 . A remote control receiver  50  is located within the interior chamber of the base member  12 , which remote control receiver  50  receives appropriate remote control signals to activate the hydraulic cylinder  30  and the swivel motor  46 . The receiver  50  receives power from an appropriate electrical source (none illustrated). This source may be a battery disposed within the interior chamber of the base member  12  or may be an external source, such as a 12 volt DC source, to which the system  10  is wired. Additionally, a solar collector can be used as the source of electrical power and/or as a source of trickle down electrical charging of the battery used. The base member  12  is appropriately sealed so that water W does not enter the interior chamber. A plurality of risers  52  extend upwardly from the top surface  22  of the base member  12  proximate the second side  16 , the third side  18 , and the fourth side  20 . 
   A lift platform  54  is located atop the distal end of the ram  32 . A connector rail system  56  is located on the lift platform  54 . The lift platform  54  is capable of articulating, via the raising and the lowering of the ram  32  by the hydraulic cylinder  30  respectively, between a raised position extended above the top surface  22  of the base member  12 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , and a lowered position wherein the lift platform  54  sits just atop the top surface  22  of the base member  12 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   A stairway platform  58  is positionable in abutting relationship with the first side  14  of the base member  12  such that appropriate receivers (not illustrated) are provided on the stairway platform  58  such that the receivers receive the guide fins  28  for proper positioning of the stairway platform  58  with respect to the base member  12 . The stairway platform  58  has an upper surface  60  and an underside  62 . When the stairway platform  58  is properly positioned with respect to the base member  12 , the upper surface  60  of the stairway platform is generally located on the same plane as the plane of the top surface  22  of the base member  12 . A series of height adjustable legs  64  extend downwardly from the underside  62  of the stairway platform  58 . These legs  64  are also height adjustable in any appropriate manner known in the art. 
   A first platform  66  has a first end  68  that sits atop the riser  52  proximate the second side  16  of the base member  12  and a second end  70 . As seen, the first platform  66  comprises a pair of I-beams  72  that are coextensive with one another and are connected by a series of cross members  74 . A first rail system  76  extends between the first end  68  and the second end  70  of the first platform  66  and sits atop the cross members  74 . A series of height adjustable legs  78  extend downwardly from the underside of the first platform  66 . These legs  78  are also height adjustable in any appropriate manner known in the art. 
   A second platform  80  has a third end  82  that sits atop the riser  52  proximate the third side  18  of the base member  12  and a fourth end  84 . As seen, the second platform  80  comprises a pair of I-beams  86  that are coextensive with one another and are connected by one or more cross members  88 . A second rail system  90  extends between the third end  82  and the fourth end  84  of the second platform  80  and sits atop the cross members  88 . Each I-beam  86  of the second platform  80  has a sleeve  92  that is slidably disposed on the respective I-beam  86 . A roller  94  extends between the sleeves  92  and allows for the slidable movement of the sleeves  92 . The sleeves  92  allow the second platform  80  to be telescopically extendable in length. Each sleeve  92  has an adjustable stop  96  that extends downwardly from and is positionable along the length of its respective sleeve  92 . A series of height adjustable legs  98  extend downwardly from the underside of the second platform  80 . These legs  98  are also height adjustable in any appropriate manner known in the art. 
   A third platform  100  has a fifth end  102  that sits atop the riser  52  proximate the fourth side  20  of the base member  12  and a sixth end  104 . As seen, the third platform  100  comprises a pair of I-beams  106  that are coextensive with one another and are connected by one or more cross members  108 . A third rail system  110  extends between the fifth end  102  and the sixth end  104  of the third platform  100  and sits atop the cross members  108 . The third rail system  110  is longitudinally aligned with and spaced apart from the second rail system  90 . Each I-beam  106  of the third platform  100  has a sleeve  112  that is slidably disposed on the respective I-beam  106 . A roller  114  extends between the sleeves  112  and allows for the slidable movement of the sleeves  112 . The sleeves  112  allow the third platform  100  to be telescopically extendable in length. Each sleeve  112  has an adjustable stop  116  that extends downwardly from and is positionable along the length of its respective sleeve  112 . A series of height adjustable legs  118  extend downwardly from the underside of the third platform  100 . These legs  118  are also height adjustable in any appropriate manner known in the art. 
   The first platform  66  may be telescoping in similar fashion to that of the second platform  80  and the third platform  100 . 
   One or more chairs  120  having appropriate wheels  122  are capable of riding along the various rail systems  56 ,  76 ,  90 , and  110 . The first platform  66  is positioned such that when the lift platform  54  is in the raised position and is appropriately rotated so that the rail connector system  56  is aligned with the first rail system  76 , the two rail systems  56  and  76  are railably connected allowing a chair  120  to smoothly transition between the two rail systems  56  and  76 . Similarly, the second platform  80  and the third platform  100  are each appropriately positioned so that when the lift platform  54  is in the raised position and is appropriately rotated so that the rail connector system  56  is aligned with the second rail system  90  or the third rail system  110  (the two rail systems  90  and  110  are longitudinally aligned) the connector rail  56  railably aligns with either the second rail system  90  or the third rail system  110  allowing railable traverse between the second rail system  90  or the third rail system  110  by rotating the lift platform  54  180 degrees or with the first rail system  76  by rotating the lift platform  54  90 degrees. A stop on the end of the rail connector system  56  prevents traversal between the second rail system  90  and the third rail system  110  without 180 degree rotation of the lift platform  54 . 
   A remote control transmitter  124  is provided for controlling the hydraulic cylinder  30  and the swivel motor  46 . The remote control transmitter  124  may be the illustrated fixed position transmitter or may be a handheld portable transmitter, or both. 
   In order to use the disabled person swimming pool usage system  10  of the present invention, the base member  12  is positioned within the water W of a typical swimming pool P. The base member  12  may be either partially or completely submerged within the water W. If needed, the various components within the base member  12 , the pump  40 , the first fluid control valve  42 , the second fluid control valve  44 , the swivel motor  46 , and the remote control receiver  50 , are connected to the source of electrical power. The stairway platform  58  is appropriately positioned against the first side  14  of the base member  12 . The height of the base member  12  is adjusted as needed by its legs  26  while the height of the stairway platform  58  is adjusted as needed by its legs  64 . The first end  68  of the first platform  66  is positioned on its respective riser  52  while the second end  70  of the first platform  66  is positioned on an end E of the swimming pool P and its height is adjusted as needed by its legs  78 . The third end  82  of the second platform  80  is positioned on its respective riser  52  while the fourth end  84  of the second platform  80  is positioned on a side S of the swimming pool P. If needed, the length of the second platform  80  is lengthened as needed by extending the sleeves  92  outwardly. The stops  96  are set so that they just abut a sidewall of the swimming pool P in order to prevent further extension of the sleeves  92 . The fourth end  84  of the second platform is height adjusted as needed by its legs  98 . The fifth end  102  of the third platform  100  is positioned on its respective riser  52  while the sixth end  104  of the third platform  100  is positioned on the opposing side S of the swimming pool P relative to the second platform  80 . If needed, the length of the third platform  100  is lengthened as needed by extending the sleeves  112  outwardly. The stops  116  are set so that they just abut a sidewall of the swimming pool P in order to prevent further extension of the sleeves  112 . The sixth end  104  of the third platform is height adjusted as needed by its legs  118 . One or more chairs  120  are positioned on one or more of the rail systems  56 ,  76 ,  90 , and/or  110 . One of the chairs  120  is brought to the second end  70  of the first platform  66 . A person gets into the chair, either alone or with assistance, and rides the chair  120  along the first rail system  76 . The chair  120  may be motorized for such traverse. The lift platform  54  is raised and rotated so that the connector rail system  56  is railably connected with the first rail system  76 . Once the person reaches the connector rail system  56 , the person goes upon the connector rail system  56  with the chair  120 . Once the chair  120  is on the connector rail system  56 , the lift platform  54  may be lowered so that the person can easily transfer from the chair  120  to the stairway platform  58  and get into and use the swimming pool P as desired. When the person is finished using the swimming pool P, the person goes back up the stairway platform  58  and gets back into the chair  120 . The lift platform  54  is raised until the rail connectors system  56  is railably connected with the first rail system  76  and the person rides the chair  120  back to the second end  70  of the first platform  66 . Alternately, when the person on the chair  120  first comes upon the rail connector system  56 , the lift platform  54  is either rotated or counterrotated so that the rail connector system  56  is railably connected with the second rail system  90  and the third rail system  110 , and the person rides the chair  120  along either the second rail system  90  and the third rail system  110 . Once finished, the person rides the chair  120  back to the rail connector system  56 , and the lift platform  54  is rotated so that the rail connector system  56  is railably connected with the first rail system  76  and the person rides the chair  120  back to the second end  70  of the first platform  66  for dismount. Several chairs  120  can operate on the system  10  at any given time. The use of I-beams for the various platforms allows a person to have as much underneath water exposure as possible while giving the device  10  sufficient strength. Operation of the various components, the hydraulic cylinder  30  for lifting and lowering the lift platform  54  as well as the swivel motor  46  for rotating the lift platform  54 , and the locomotion of the chair  120  if so provided with such capability, is all controlled by the remote control transmitter  124 . If the device  10  comes with both a handheld remote transmitter  124  and a fixed transmitter  124 , then the handheld transmitter  124  can be used by persons who have sufficient dexterity in one hand so as to be able to effectively operate the transmitter  124 , while the fixed transmitter is used by persons who so lack such dexterity, the fixed transmitter  124  being operated by a second person at the transmitter  124 . 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.