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EP 1 245 758 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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26.07.2006 Bulletin 2006/30 |
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Date of filing: 26.03.2002 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Grating for overflow edge of swimming pools
Rost für Schwallrand von Schwimmbecken
Grille pour bord de débordement de bassins de piscine
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL LT LV MK RO SI |
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Priority: |
30.03.2001 IT MI20010187 U
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Date of publication of application: |
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02.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/40 |
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Proprietor: A & T Europe S.p.A. |
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46043 Castiglione delle Stiviere (Mantova) (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- Colletto, Giorgio
26013 Crema (Cremona) (IT)
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Representative: Zanardo, Giovanni |
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Ing. Barzanò & Zanardo
Milano S.p.A.,
Via Borgonuovo 10 20121 Milan 20121 Milan (IT) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 611 858 DE-U- 7 732 925
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DE-A- 2 543 829 US-A- 5 650 066
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a grating for overflow edge of swimming pools.
[0002] As is well known to experts in the field, around their perimeter swimming pools have
a grating for overflow edge of swimming pools. In general these gratings may have
a series of problems as summarised and set forth below.
[0003] The grating has a series of slats and if water runs over the slats, it can flow beyond
the overflow edge, without dropping into this, to a zone that is usually required
to remain dry, around the swimming pool.
[0004] Moreover, as the overflow edge is generally prefabricated at least in lengths that
are placed around the pool, it has a fixed shape, generally straight, that cannot
thus take a different form. If, for example, a curved edge is required, specific pieces
of a grating must be moulded with adequate radii, with a considerable increase in
costs.
[0005] Moreover, at times it is not possible to easily produce a grating with spaces between
its component elements that comply to standards, that is to say spaces that do not
exceed 8 mm.
[0006] DE-A-25 43 829 discloses a grating which comprises all of the features of the preamble
of claim 1.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to produce a grating for overflow edge of
swimming pools that solves the aforesaid problems.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to produce a grating for overflow edge
of swimming pools that is simple and particularly functional.
A further object of the present invention is to produce a grating that is curvable
concavely or convexly, with a variable radius, that allows easy adaptation to the
form of the required overflow edge, without needing to have parts shaped differently
(for example fixed radius).
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to produce a grating of the aforesaid
kind that functions well and is easy to adapt to any type of swimming pool.
[0010] These objects according to the present invention are attained by producing a grating
for overflow edge of swimming pools as set forth in claim 1.
[0011] The other claims define the additional characteristics of the present invention.
[0012] The characteristics and advantages of a grating for overflow edge of swimming pools
according to the present invention shall become more apparent from the non-limiting
exemplificative description below, referring to the appended schematic drawings, in
which:
figure 1 is an axonometric front view of a length of a grating for overflow edge of
swimming pools according to the present invention,
figure 2 is an axonometric rear view of the grating shown in figure 1,
figure 3 is another axonometric view of the underside of the grating in figure 1,
figure 4 is a view of a corner of a swimming pool equipped with grating elements of
the invention.
[0013] With reference to the figures, these show a grating for overflow edge of swimming
pools which, according to the present invention, can be easily and optimally placed
at an edge 20 of a swimming pool, shown in walls 21.
[0014] The example shows a length of grating for overflow edge, indicated with 11, formed
of an element that is positioned perpendicularly to a wall 21 of a swimming pool.
[0015] The length of grating 11 comprises a base 10, which is amply provided with openings
or hollow zones, attached to which are a plurality of slats 12, arranged parallel
to the wall 21 of the swimming pool and distanced by spaces 13, between one slat and
the next, with a width not exceeding 8 mm.
[0016] Along the opposite longitudinal edges of this length or grating element 11 is an
arrangement of connecting elements 14 and 15 of the complementary type, arranged below
the slats 12. In the example shown these connecting elements are on the one side male
type 14, projecting from the base 10, and along the opposite side of the female type
15 obtained in the base 10, inside which the preceding male connecting elements 14
can be inserted.
[0017] In this way a series of elements or lengths of grating 11 can be attached to one
another to form a continual grating, with slats 12 parallel to the wall of the swimming
pool.
[0018] In this way it is possible to create a complete grating that provides a considerable
advantage over gratings used and present to date.
[0019] Moreover, the grating for overflow edge of the present invention has a further advantage
in that its male connecting elements 14 can be inserted to a greater or lesser depth
into the dedicated hollow female connecting elements 15. In fact, it is thus possible
to connect the elements 11 successive to one another so that they are not parallel,
or arranged on the same plane, so that they cover a channel with either a concave
or convex curve, that may have been provided to position the overflow edge. Moreover,
a male connecting element 14' which is longer than the others, positioned in the central
zone and suitable to be fitted into a female element 15', permits the elements to
tilt on a horizontal plane around the rotation point of said element thus composed.
In fact, this male element 14' is fully inserted into the relative female element
15' and determines rotation.
[0020] To prevent spaces with a dimension exceeding 8 mm from being created between the
elements 11 when connecting successive elements of the overflow edge 11 to adapt them
to the curved channel, each element 11 is equipped with further connecting elements
16 and 17. These connecting elements 16 and 17 are obtained immediately under the
surface produced by the plurality of slats 12. One of these elements for further connection
is formed of a wing 16, for example of the male type, on one side of the element 11
and integral under the slats 12, which inserts into a corresponding seat or cavity
17 of the female type, produced on the opposite side of the overflow edge element
11 between the base 10 and the slats 12.
[0021] This wing 16 is permanently inserted into the cavity 17, even when the successive
elements 11 are connected with maximum convergence to follow extremely small radii
of curvature, up to, for example, 1.000 mm. Therefore, each element 11 can be arranged
in relation to an adjacent element 11 aligned or inclined.
[0022] This horizontal wing 16, which is part of an element 11, is inserted into the specific
seat or cavity 17 present on the opposite side of the successive element 11, eliminating
empty spaces between these elements.
[0023] In this way, at no point of the grating obtained by connecting several successive
elements 11 to one another is there an empty space exceeding 8 mm.
[0024] The grating element for overflow edge 11 is normally produced in plastic, but may
also be in other suitable materials.
[0025] The width and length of the slats 12 is not important for the purposes of the present
invention and are produced to the measurement required for the different applications
possible.
[0026] By means of a grating for overflow edge of swimming pools according to the present
invention, a grating with slats parallel to the side of the swimming pool is thus
obtained, to prevent water from running over the grating and flowing beyond the overflow
channel, where this is positioned, instead of dropping into this channel.
[0027] Advantageously, an adaptable grating is obtained that can be used on overflow edges
of any form, such as with concave and convex curves.
[0028] Another advantage is to obtain a grating conforming to the standards that establish
a space between the slats not exceeding 8 mm.
[0029] It is natural that an expert in the field may identify numerous alternative arrangements
which nonetheless apply the same innovative concept of the present invention.
[0030] A grating for overflow edge of swimming pools thus conceived is susceptible to numerous
modifications and variants, all coming within the scope of the present invention as
defined by the appended claims.
1. Grating for overflow edge of swimming pools, said grating being formed of a series
of elements (11) connected to one another, in which each element (11) comprises a
base (10) with a plurality of distanced slats (12), in which each element (11) is
connected to a successive element (11) with male and female connecting elements (14,
14'; 15, 15'), characterised in that the male connecting element (14') a pair (14',15') of said connecting elements in
a central zone of the grating and longer than the other male connecting elements (14)
acts as an element of rotation on a horizontal plane.
2. Grating according to claim 1, characterized in that in use of said grating said slats (12) are parallel to an edge (20) of the swimming
pool.
3. Grating according to either of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said slats (12) are distanced with spaces between slats (12) not exceeding 8 mm.
4. Grating according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that said slats (12) are arranged on a base (10) that has openings and/or hollow zones.
5. Grating according to any of the claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said slats (12) have further connecting elements (16, 17) of the male-female type
provided along them.
6. Grating according to claim 5, characterized in that said further connecting elements comprise on each element (11) on one side a wing
(16) that extends from said slats (12) and on the other side an opening (17) obtained
between said slats (12) and said base (10).
7. Grating according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that each element (11) can be arranged in relation to an adjacent element (11) aligned
or inclined, thanks to the possibility of tilting around a male (14') or female (15')
connecting element longer than the other connecting elements (14, 15).
1. Rost für den Schwallrand von Schwimmbecken, wobei der Rost aus einer Reihe von miteinander
verbundenen Elementen (11) gebildet ist, wobei jedes Element (11) eine Basis (10)
mit mehreren beabstandeten Stäben (12) umfasst und jedes Element (11) mit einem nachfolgenden
Element (11) mit Zapfen- und Zapfenaufnahmeverbindungselementen (14, 14'; 15, 15')
verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Zapfenverbindungselement (14') eines Paares (14', 15') der Verbindungselemente,
das sich in einem zentralen Bereich (2) des Rostes befindet und länger ist als die
anderen Steckerverbindungselemente (14), als ein Drehelement in einer horizontalen
Ebene wirkt.
2. Rost nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stäbe (12) im Gebrauch des Rostes parallel zu einem Rand (20) des Schwimmbeckens
liegen.
3. Rost nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stäbe (12) beabstandet angeordnet sind, wobei die Zwischenräume zwischen Stäben
(12) 8 mm nicht übersteigen.
4. Rost nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stäbe (12) auf einer Basis (10) angeordnet sind, die Öffnungen und/oder hohle
Bereiche aufweist.
5. Rost nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stäbe (12) weitere Verbindungselemente (16, 17) des Zapfen-Zapfenaufnahme-Typs
aufweisen, die entlang derselben angeordnet sind.
6. Rost nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die weiteren Verbindungselemente an jedem Element (11) auf einer Seite einen Schenkel
(16) umfassen, der sich von den Stäben (12) erstreckt, und auf der anderen Seite eine
Öffnung (17), die zwischen den Stäben (12) und der Basis (10) vorgesehen ist.
7. Rost nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes Element (11) aufgrund der Möglichkeit einer Kippung um ein Zapfenverbindungselement
(14') oder ein Zapfenaufnahmeverbindungselement (15'), die länger sind als die anderen
Verbindungselemente (14, 15), in Relation zu einem benachbarten Element (11) ausgerichtet
oder geneigt angeordnet sein kann.
1. Grille pour bord de débordement de bassins de piscine, ladite grille étant formée
d'une série d'éléments (11) connectés les uns aux autres, dans laquelle chaque élément
(11) comprend une base (10) avec une pluralité de lamelles espacées (12), dans laquelle
chaque élément (11) est raccordé à un élément successif (11) à l'aide d'éléments mâles
et femelles de connexion (14, 14' ; 15, 15'), caractérisée en ce que l'élément de connexion mâle (14') d'une paire (14', 15') desdits éléments de connexion
dans une zone centrale de la grille et plus long que les autres éléments de connexion
mâles (14) sert d'élément de rotation dans un plan horizontal.
2. Grille selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, lors d'une utilisation de ladite grille, lesdites lamelles (12) sont parallèles
à un bord (20) du bassin de piscine.
3. Grille selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lamelles (12) sont écartées par des espaces séparant les lamelles (12) ne
dépassant pas 8 mm.
4. Grille selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lamelles (12) sont disposées sur une base (10) possédant des ouvertures
et/ou des zones creuses.
5. Grille selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lamelles (12) possèdent, de plus, des éléments de connexion (16, 17) du
type mâle/femelle prévus le long de ces dernières.
6. Grille selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que lesdits éléments supplémentaires de connexion comprennent sur chaque élément (11)
d'un coté une ailette (16) s'étendant à partir desdites lamelles (12) et de l'autre
coté, une ouverture (17) obtenue entre lesdites lamelles (12) et ladite base (10).
7. Grille selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que chaque élément (11) peut être agencé par rapport à un élément adjacent (11), de façon
alignée ou inclinée, grâce à la possibilité de basculement autour d'un élément de
connexion mâle (14') ou femelle (15') plus long que les autres éléments de connexion
(14, 15).