AU2006201308B2 - Shade - Google Patents

Abstract

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\12660601 Toming compltedoc-29/03/06 - 12 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shade assembly 5 suitable for use in shading a swimming pool, the shade assembly including a shade element movable between a shading or deployed position and a stowed or closed position; a support means operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element at selected position and orientation between the deployed and stowed positions.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S):: Brett William Torning ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 INVENTION TITLE: Shade The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5102 P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\2660601 Toming completedoc-2903/06 SHADE Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates generally to shading assemblies or structures. In one example application, the present invention shades swimming pools, however, it may also shade any area whether surrounding a body of water or merely to form a new design of gazebo, patio, pergola or the like. 10 Background to the Invention Pergolas are known, as are other kinds of structure which are open-walled and 15 provide shade from sunlight and a degree of protection from general adverse weather conditions. However, these structures are fixed, and thus generally are limited in their ability to provide an outdoor area with an open feel but with tailored protection for the movement of the sun, wind and rain throughout a given day or season, or for the whim of a user. 20 Also, in many jurisdictions, a fence around backyard swimming pools is mandatory to provide a barrier against children swimming in the pool unwatched or unaided. However, fences are sometimes undesirable because of a fence's high initial cost, maintenance, and/or intrusive design. 25 Finally, evaporation from a swimming pool may result in filters running dry, requiring constant refilling of water, with associated high maintenance, checking and repair costs. 30 The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\1266060I Toming compltedoc-29/03/06 -2 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shade assembly 5 suitable for use in shading a central area such as a swimming pool, the shade assembly including a shade element in the form of a reinforced flexible membrane movable between a shading or deployed position and a stowed or closed position; a support assembly operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element at a selected position and orientation at or between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the 10 support assembly includes a plurality of elongate, substantially straight support posts which when installed adjacent the central area are mounted to the ground or another fixed mounting point and angled towards the central area such that bases of the posts are spaced further from one another than upper regions of the posts. 15 Preferably in the stowed position, the shade element is disposed adjacent ground level, or adjacent an upper surface of a body of water such as a swimming pool, so as to restrict access to the closed area or body of water by unauthorised entrants. In one preferred form three posts are provided, however, the present invention is 20 entirely suited for use with four, five, six or seven or more posts. In one preferred embodiment the posts are straight and a longitudinal axis of each post subtends an angle at a post base of between 10 and 250 from a vertical axis towards the central area. Preferably the angle is between 30 and 100 from the vertical. 25 In one preferred form a transport means is provided for transporting the shade element relative to the support means. Preferably the transport means includes at least one car per post, which retains an edge or vertex of the shade element, the transport means further including a car-retaining track which extends along the post for substantially the 30 length of the post. Preferably the car includes wheels which engage with an underside of the track in order to roll relative to the track, while maintaining vertices or edges of the shade element adjacent respective posts.

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spcc\2660601 Toming completc.doc-2903/06 -3 Preferably locking means are provided so that the car may be stopped and held in a selected position along the track so as to deploy it in a desired position and orientation. In one form a discrete number of locking points are provided along the track, in the form of a 5 plurality of locking apertures formed perpendicular to the track. Preferably a key is provided in each car which may extend into the locking apertures for locking and may be retracted from the locking aperture so that the car may be moved along the track. In one form the cars are motorised or operatively connected to motorised belts or chains so as to facilitate their movement along the posts. 10 Preferably the reinforced flexible membrane includes reinforcing along its edges, the reinforcing being in the form of cables. This membrane will be referred to as a tension membrane, and may be constructed from fibre-reinforced plastic material. 15 Preferably vertices of the shade are operatively connected to the support means at the cars by hooking a shackle into the cable. The posts are preferably anchored to the ground by being set into concrete blocks or by having flanges affixed at their respective bases, the flanges being set at an 20 appropriate angle so as to tilt the posts toward the central region. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a support structure for a shade element, the support structure operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element at selected position and orientation between the 25 deployed and stowed positions, the support structure including a support assembly adapted to be operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element when in use at a selected position and orientation at or between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the support assembly includes a plurality of elongate, substantially straight support posts which when installed adjacent the central area are mounted to the ground or 30 another fixed mounting point and angled towards the central area such that bases of the posts are spaced further from one another than upper regions of the posts.

P\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\I 2660601 Toming complete.doc-29/03/06 -4 Preferably the support structure is as described within this specification. The support structure may be provided as an attachment to an existing shade element which may have been previously mounted on fixed posts. 5 Description of a Preferred Embodiment In order to enable a clearer understanding of the invention, drawings illustrating an example embodiment are attached, and in those drawings: 10 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shade assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a closed or stowed position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a shade assembly according to a preferred 15 embodiment of the present invention in a selected deployed or shading position so as to shade a swimming pool so that the pool may be used for sheltered swimming; Figure 3 is a plan view of a shade assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the closed position; 20 Figure 4 is a perspective aerial view of the shade assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a selected deployed position, with certain elements such as cars enlarged for clarity; 25 Figure 5 is a perspective aerial view of the shade assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in another selected deployed position above a swimming pool; Figure 6 is a perspective aerial view of the shade assembly according to a preferred 30 embodiment of the present invention in yet another selected deployed position above a swimming pool.

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spe\12660601 Toming complete.doc-29/03/06 -5 Referring to the drawings there is shown a shade assembly generally indicated at 10 which includes a shade element 12 which is movable between a shading or deployed position (shown in Figures 2 and 4 - 6) and a stowed or closed position (shown at Figure 1). Support means 14 are operatively connected to the shade element 12 for supporting the 5 shade element 12 at any one of various selected positions and orientations between the deployed and stowed positions. The support means 14 is in the form of a plurality of posts 16 - five posts 17 - 21 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and four posts 117 - 120 in the embodiment 10 shown in Figures 3 - 6. Each post 16 is angled, relative to a vertical axis, towards a central shaded or closed area 22 bounded by the posts 16. The post 16 angle in these preferred embodiments is between 1 and 250 from the vertical axis, however, testing has shown that typical post angles for effective use are between 30 and 10' from the vertical axis. 15 Transport means 24 are operatively connected between the support means 14 and the shade element 12. The transport means 24 are in the form of a car 26 and a retaining track 28. The car 26 includes a pair of track-engaging wheels 30 which in this embodiment are arranged on the car 26 so as to engage an underside flange 32 of the track section. This is so that the car is inhibited from being drawn towards the shaded area 22 by 20 the shading element 12. In some embodiments the cars 26 are motorised or attached to motorised chains or belts for ease of movement between the stowed and shaded positions. Locking means 34 are provided so that the shade element 12 may be stopped and held in a selected position along the retaining track 28 so as to deploy it in a desired 25 position and orientation. A plurality of locking points 36 are provided along the track, in the form of a plurality of locking apertures 38 drilled or otherwise formed in the track 28. A key 40 is provided in the car 26 so that the car 26 may be locked in a selected one of a number of discrete locking positions along the track 28. The key 40 is retractable by drawing it against a bias 42 in the form of a spring 44 which normally acts to extend the 30 key 40 into the aperture 38. The key 40 corresponds in section to the aperture 38 to provide a positive and snug fit, and stronger and more secure retention of the shade element 12 with little play.

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spe\l2660601 Toming complete.doc-29/03/06 -6 The shade element 12 is in the form of a flexible membrane 46 which is reinforced with reinforcing cables 48 sewn into its edges 50 - 54. This membrane 46 allows shading at various angles and dispositions relative to the ground and the shaded area. Convoluted 5 and more aesthetically-pleasing contours may be thus formed, as well as directing a shield in various directions for increased privacy or simply as a defence against adverse weather conditions. Vertices 56 or edges 50 - 54 may be retained by the cars by being operatively 10 connected thereto. The cables 48 form loops at vertices and they are then generally looped into a shackle 60 which itself is connected to the car 26. The posts 16 are generally anchored to the ground by being set in concrete blocks or by having concrete anchors such as Dynabolts passing through a flange 62 which is 15 welded or otherwise fixed at an appropriate angle to the longitudinal axis of the post 16. The shade element, when in a closed or stowed position shown in Figure 1, may be in contact with an upper surface of a swimming pool 69. An upper surface of the shade element 12 may be painted or otherwise coloured a suitable colour such as black in order 20 to heat the swimming pool water from radiant energy from the sun. Natural convection or forced convection from movement of water by the filter system may move the heat to other depths of the pool 69 water. Additional locking means (not shown) such as padlocks, solenoids or other child 25 proof locks may lock the car 26 to the track 28 when in the stowed or closed position so that children may not enter the water unsupervised. Moving the cars 26 to different relative vertical positions on the posts 16 not only allows for different angles and contours to be accommodated, it allows a user to increase 30 tension in the membrane 46 so that it does not flap during high wind loads.

P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\12660601 Toming comple.doc-29/03/06 -7 The tension membrane 46 is generally taut in the closed position, because the base of the posts 16 is disposed outwardly of the upper portions of the posts, and because of the accurate spacing of posts 16, so as to reduce intrusion by unauthorised entrants. 5 Advantageously, the shade assembly provides shade, privacy, etc when deployed, and provides additional or even stand-alone child entry protection to an area such as a swimming pool when stowed. Furthermore, differing colours also may also be utilised in the shade assembly, wherein an upper surface of the shade element may be black, so that, when in the closed or stowed position, the shading element may be in contact with an 10 upper surface of a pool or other body of water to heat the water with radiant energy from the sun. That is, the shade assembly may be used in combination with a water filtration and/or movement system so that an entire body of water is heated inexpensively from surface to base. On the other hand, the upper surface of the shade element may be painted or otherwise white so that, even if the shade element is in contact with the upper surface of 15 the pool in the stowed position, the pool does not heat up due to incident sunlight. The shade assembly 10 may be retrofitted to existing fixed shade structures. The shade element 12, when closed, minimises debris and leaves etc entering the water and filtration system. The shade element 12 may be easily cleaned by placing it in the stowed 20 position, and reduces evaporation when in that position. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. A shade assembly suitable for use in shading a central area such as a swimming 5 pool, the shade assembly including a shade element in the form of a reinforced flexible membrane movable between a shading or deployed position and a stowed or closed position; a support assembly operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element at a selected position and orientation at or between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the 10 support assembly includes a plurality of elongate, substantially straight support posts which when installed adjacent the central area are mounted to the ground or another fixed mounting point and angled towards the central area such that bases of the posts are spaced further from one another than upper regions of the posts. 15

2. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein in the stowed position, the shade element is disposed adjacent ground level, or adjacent an upper surface of a body of water such as a swimming pool, so as to restrict access to the closed area or body of water by unauthorised entrants. 20

3. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the support assembly includes between three and twelve posts.

4. A shade assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a 25 longitudinal axis of each post subtends an angle at the post base of between 1* and 25" from a vertical axis towards the central area.

5. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein the angle is between 30 and 100 from the vertical. 30

6. A shade assembly in accordance with any previous claim wherein a transport means is provided for transporting the shade element relative to the support P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spec\12660601 Tomingwcomplete.doc-29/03/06 -9 assembly.

7. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein the transport means includes at least one carriage per post, the carriage retaining an edge or vertex 5 of the shade element, the transport means further including a car-retaining track which extends along the post for substantially the length of the post.

8. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the carriage includes wheels which engage with an underside of the track in order to roll relative to 10 the track, while maintaining vertices or edges of the shade element adjacent respective posts.

9. A shade assembly in accordance with any one of claims 6 - 8 wherein locking means are provided so that the carriage may be stopped and held in a selected 15 position along the track so as to deploy a vertex of the flexible membrane in a desired position and orientation.

10. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein a discrete number of locking points are provided along the track, in the form of a plurality of locking 20 apertures formed perpendicular to the track.

11. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein a key is provided in each carriage which may extend into the locking apertures for locking and adapted to be retracted from the locking aperture so that the carriage may be 25 moved along the track.

12. A shade assembly in accordance with any one of claims 6 - 11 wherein the cars are motorised or operatively connected to motorised belts or chains so as to facilitate their movement along the posts. 30

13. A shade assembly in accordance with any previous claim wherein the reinforced flexible membrane includes reinforcing along its edges, the P\WPDOCS\LNM\Spc\I 2660601 Torning complcte.doc-29/03/06 - 10 reinforcing being in the form of cables.

14. A shade assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the membrane is a tension membrane, and is constructed from fibre-reinforced plastic material. 5

15. A shade assembly in accordance with any previous claim wherein the vertices of the shade are operatively connected to the support means at the carriages by hooking a shackle into the cable. 10

16. A shade assembly in accordance with any previous claim wherein the posts are anchored to the ground by being set into concrete blocks or by having flanges affixed at their respective bases, the flanges being set at an appropriate angle so as to tilt the posts toward the central region. 15

17. A support structure for a shade element, the support structure operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element at selected position and orientation between the deployed and stowed positions, the support structure including a support assembly adapted to be operatively connected to the shade element for supporting the shade element when in use at a selected 20 position and orientation at or between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the support assembly includes a plurality of elongate, substantially straight support posts which when installed adjacent the central area are mounted to the ground or another fixed mounting point and angled towards the central area such that bases of the posts are spaced further from one another 25 than upper regions of the posts.

18. A shade assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the attached drawings. 30

19. A support structure for a shade element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the attached drawings. P:\WPDOCS\LNM\Spe\2660601 Toming complete.doc-29/03/06 - 11 DATED this 2 9 th day of March, 2006 BRETT WILLIAM TORNING 5 By his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE