GB2201714A

GB2201714A - Swimming pool ladder

Info

Publication number: GB2201714A
Application number: GB08704667A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Raymond Davies
Original assignee: MIDTECH Ltd
Current assignee: MIDTECH Ltd
Priority date: 1987-02-27
Filing date: 1987-02-27
Publication date: 1988-09-07
Also published as: GB8704667D0

Abstract

The ladder comprises a first portion 11 for extending into a pool 12 alongside a pool wall 13 to facilitate entry to and exit from the pool, a second portion 14 for positioning outside the pool, and a bend portion 15 interconnecting the first and second portions. The second portion is provided at its free end with a pivotal type mounting 17 which can be securely anchored to a surround surface 18 around the pool. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the pivotal mounting in an operative position which holds the second portion in a generally upright position so that the first portion can extend downwardly into the pool. The pivotal mounting, when unlocked, permits the second portion to pivot to an inoperative position whereby the first portion is withdrawn from the pool. <IMAGE>

Description

Swimming Pool Ladder This invention relates to a swimming pool ladder of the type comprising a first portion for extending into a pool alongside a pool wall to facilitate entry to and exit from the pool, a second portion for positioning outside the pool and a bend portion interconnecting the first and second portions.

Most designs of swimming pool ladder are of generally inverted U-shape in which the first and second portions extend generally parallel to each other and usually substantially vertically. In the case of a permanent pool structure (usually made of concrete and set at least partly into the ground), normally the second portion is firmly anchored at its base and the first (and necessarily longer) portion is anchored to the side wall of the pool.

In the case of free-standing swimming pools of the type used in gardens, the ladder is usually free-standing and of inverted U or V formation, with each portion being of generally the same length and rigidly interconnected.

Both for indoor and outdoor pools, it is desirable to use pool covers, made of thermally insulating material, which are drawn over the surface of the pool at the end of the day in order to conserve as much as possible of the heat used for heating the pool.

However, with existing designs of swimming pool ladder, which are either anchored in position for permanent-type pools, or which have rigidly interconnected limbs for free-standing type pools and which are cumbersome to remove at the end of each day, it is impossible to fit the cover so as to completely cover the exposed surface of the pool, unless cut-outs are made in the cover around the ladder which is a source of early deterioration of the cover.

There has therefore developed a need to provide a swimming pool ladder which can be readily manipulated to an inoperative position in which.the pool cover can be positioned over the entire pool surface without any obstruction by the ladder.

According to the invention there is provided a swimming pool ladder which comprises a first portion for extending into a pool alongside a pool wall to facilitate entry to and exit from the pool, a second portion for positioning outside the pool, and a bend portion interconnecting the first and second portions, in which the second portion is provided at its free end with a pivotal type mounting which is capable of being securely anchored to a support surface outside a pool, and a locking arrangement is provided for locking the pivotal mounting in an operative position which holds the second portion in a generally upright position so that the first portion can extend downwardly into the pool, the pivotal mounting, when unlocked, permitting the second portion to pivot to an inoperative position whereby the first portion is withdrawn from the pool.

Thus, in use of a swimming pool ladder according to the invention, the first portion can be completely withdrawn from the pool at the end of a swimming session, and a thermally insulating cover can then be drawn over the entire pool surface in order to conserve heat.

A swimming pool ladder according to the invention is primarily intended for use with a permanent type of swimming pool structure, in which case the pivotal mounting can be readily anchored in a concrete or other permanent flat surface surrounding the pool. The second portion, when pivoted to its inoperative position, may then extend generally horizontally so as to be supported by the flat surface, and the first portion also will then extend also generally horizontally and above the second portion.

The present invention further comprises a tubular hinge suitable for use in the ladder according to the invention, which comprises a first tube slidably mounted in a second tube, the tubes being interconnected by a hinge pin, one of the tubes being provided with a slot which is slidable relative to said hinge pin, there being a further locking pin arranged to engage with complementary formations in one of said tubes to lock the tubes when the hinge pin and the slot are in a first relative position, and to permit hinged movement of the tubes when the hinge pin and the slot are in a second relative position.

The hinge, which is a locking hinge, may have the locking pin which is located through aligned holes in order to lock the hinge in the locking position so as to maintain the abovementioned second portion of the swimming pool ladder in an upright position.

Conveniently, the entire swimming pool ladder is fabricated in stainless steel, for ease of maintenance, although the tubular locking hinge may be of stainless steel or engineering plastics.

One embodiment of swimming pool ladder according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the swimming pool ladder fitted alongside the edge of a pool in a locked operative position, and an unlocked inoperative position; Figure 2 is a side view of a tubular locking hinge forming a pivotal mounting at one end of one portion of a ladder according to the invention, the hinge being shown in a locked position A and an unlocked position B in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the tubular locking hinge in the open or unlocked position; and Figure 4 is a side view ofthe tubular locking hinge in a half-open position. - Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, a stainless steel swimming pool ladder according to the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10, and comprises a first portion 11 for extending into a pool 12 alongside a pool wall 13 to facilitate entry to and exit from the pool, a second portion 14 for positioning outside the pool and a bend portion 15 interconnecting the first and second portions.

The illustrated embodiment of ladder 10 is intended for use with a permanent type of pool structure, and it can be seen that the second portion 14 is shorter than the first portion 11, and the bend portion 15 generally comprises an inverted V-shape. The portions 14 and 15 serve as hand-grips, while the portion 11 is provided with rungs 16.

As will be shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 4, the free end of the second portion 14 is provided with a pivotal mounting 17 which can be locked in the operative position, as shown in the left hand part of Figure 1, but upon unlocking can be pivoted to an inoperative position as shown in the right hand part of Figure 2. In the unlocked position, the first portion 11, and also the second portion 14, both extend generally horizontally, with the first portion 11 being withdrawn completely from the pool, so as not to present any obstruction to the drawing of a thermally insulating cover over the pool surface.

The pivotal coupling 17 is capable of being anchored securely in the concrete or other surround surface 18 alongside the pool, and takes the form of a tubular locking hinge which is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 4. The tubular locking hinge is made in two sections, with the lower section 20 being the same diameter as the outside of the hand rail section 40 formed by the second portion 14. The upper section 21 of the tubular locking hinge is machined-down to fit the internal diameter of the stainless steel vertical hand rail,and as a stop shoulder X. The top and bottom sections 21, 20 are connected by an upper stainless steel hinge pin 30 located in a slot 32, which permits the ladder to be pivoted to the unlocked position, and a lower locking pin 33.

As shown in Figure 2, a sleeve 22 is slidably mounted on the tubular locking hinge, for movement between a holding position, shown in the left hand part of Figure 1, which maintains the second portion 14 in an upright position, and a raised position, shown in the right hand part of Figure 1, which permits pivotting of the ladder to the inoperative position.

The disclosed embodiment of swimming pool ladder provides, in simple manner, a means whereby the ladder can be readily manipulated to an inoperative position so as to permit a pool cover to be drawn over the entire pool surface without any obstruction by the ladder.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A swimming pool ladder which comprises a first portion for extending into a pool alongside a pool wall to facilitate entry to and exit from the pool, a second portion for positioning outside the pool, and a bend portion interconnecting the first and second portions, in which the second portion is provided at its free end with a pivotal type mounting which is capable of being securely anchored to a surround surface alongside the pool, and a locking arrangement is provided for locking the pivotal mounting in an operative position which holds the second portion in a generally upright position so that the first portion can extend downwardly into the pool, the pivotal mounting, when unlocked, permitting the second portion to pivot to an inoperative position whereby the first portion is withdrawn from the pool.

2. A ladder according to claim 1, in which said pivotal mounting is anchored into a substantially flat surface surrounding said pool.

3. A ladder according to claim 1 or 2, in which said second portion, when pivoted to its inoperative position, extends generally horizontally so as to be supported by said flat surface.

4. A ladder according to claim 3, in which said first portion also extends generally horizontally and above said second portion.

5. A swimming pool ladder substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A tubular hinge suitable for use in a ladder according to any of claims 1 to 5, which comprises a first tube slidably mounted in a second tube, the tubes being interconnected by a hinge pin, one of the tubes being provided with a slot which is slidable relative to said hinge pin, there being a further, locking pin arranged to engage.with complementary formations in one of said tubes to lock said tubes when the hinge pin and the slot are in å first relative position, and to permit hinged movement of the tubes when said hinge pin and said slot are in a second relative position.

7. A hinge according to claim 6 substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A swimming pool ladder according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which said pivotal mounting and locking arrangement comprises a hinge according to claim 6 or 7.