Swimming pool safety net system
View Patent ↗A swimming pool safety net system includes a net having a first edge affixable to a side of a swimming pool and a second edge extendable toward a center of the swimming pool. A plurality of actuators are substantially regularly spacing around a periphery of a swimming pool wherein each actuator has an extendable end affixed to the second edge of the net. A controller selectively operates the actuators between a retracted position with the second end of the net proximal to the side of the swimming pool and an extended position with the second end of the net extended toward the center of the swimming pool.
1. A swimming pool safety net system, said system comprising:
a net having a first edge affixable to a side of the swimming pool and a second edge extendable toward a center of the swimming pool;
a plurality of actuators for substantially regularly spacing around a periphery of a swimming pool, each said actuator having an extendable end affixed to said second edge of said net; and
a controller connected to a water circulation system of the swimming pool for selective operation of said plurality of actuators between a retracted position with said second end of said net proximal to the side of the swimming pool and an extended position with said second end of said net extended toward a center of the swimming pool.
2. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 1 wherein said first edge of said net includes a retraction reel.
3. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 2 wherein said retraction reel is biased to maintain said net in a retracted about said retraction reel.
4. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 1 wherein said second edge of said net includes a flexible cable.
5. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 4 wherein said flexible cable includes at least one resilient member for maintaining tension in said cable when said net is in an extended position.
6. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 1 further including an alarm system for sensing and activating an alarm when an individual falls in the pool on said net.
7. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 6 wherein said net further includes a motion detector in communication with said alarm system for activating said alarm.
8. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 6 wherein said net further includes a weight detector in communication with said alarm system for activating said alarm.
9. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 1 wherein said actuators operate below the water surface of the swimming pool.
10. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 9 wherein said actuators are embeddable through a side of the swimming pool.
11. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 10 wherein said actuators are embeddable within an angle of fifteen degrees from horizontal.
12. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 1 wherein said actuators comprise:
a cylinder housing;
a piston within said cylinder housing and axially movable therein; and
an actuator rod affixed to said piston and extending exteriorly to said cylinder housing, said piston rod having a distal end opposite from said piston, said distal end having said second edge of said net affixed thereto.
13. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 12 wherein said actuators utilize water as an operating medium.
14. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 13 wherein said actuators are in fluid communication with said controller and further wherein said controller is selectively communicable with the positive and negative pressure ports of the swimming pool circulation pump.
15. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 14 wherein said controller operates to connect said positive pressure to said actuators to effect extension of said net toward the center of the swimming pool and operates to connect said negative pressure to said actuators to effect retraction of said net away from the center of the swimming pool.
16. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 12 wherein said actuators are vertically securable at regularly spaced intervals around an interior periphery of the swimming pool and wherein said actuator rod includes a pivot joint proximal to said piston, a proximal segment affixed to said piston and a distal segment pivotal with respect to said proximal segment.
17. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 16 wherein said distal segment of said actuator rod pivots from vertical to horizontal at full extension of said actuator.
18. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 17 wherein said cylinder housing includes a support bracket affixed thereto and wherein said distal segment of said actuator rod is supported by said support bracket at full extension of said actuator.
19. A swimming pool safety net system, said system comprising:
a net having a first edge affixed to a side of a swimming pool and a second opposite edge selectively extendable and retractable with respect to said first edge;
a plurality of linear actuators arranged along a length of said net, each said linear actuator including an actuator rod operable between a retracted position and an extended position, a distal end of each said actuator rod attached to said second edge of said net, each said linear actuator secured to an outer perimeter of a swimming pool;
a controller fluidically connected to a swimming pool circulation pump for selectively extending and retracting said net, said controller having a first control inlet connected to a positive pressure outlet of the swimming pool circulation pump for extending said net and a second control inlet connected to a negative pressure outlet of the swimming pool circulation pump for retracting said net, a net control outlet, and a selector for selectively interconnecting said net control outlet with one of said first and said second control inlets; and
a fluid line fluidically connecting said net control outlet with each of said plurality of linear actuators.
20. The safety net system according to claim 19 wherein said first edge of said net includes a retraction reel, said retraction reel biased to maintain said net retracted and about said retraction reel.
21. The safety net system according to claim 19 wherein said second edge of said net includes a flexible cable.
22. The safety net system according to claim 21 wherein said flexible cable includes at least one resilient member for maintaining tension in said cable when said net is in an extended position.
23. The safety net system according to claim 19 further including an alarm system for sensing and activating an alarm when an individual falls in the pool on said net.
24. The safety net system according to claim 23 wherein said net further includes a motion detector in communication with said alarm system for activating said alarm.
25. The safety net system according to claim 23 wherein said net further includes a weight detector in communication with said alarm system for activating said alarm.
26. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 19 wherein said actuators operate below the water surface of the swimming pool.
27. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 26 wherein said actuators are embeddable through a side of the swimming pool.
28. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 26 wherein said actuators are vertically secured at regularly spaced intervals around an interior periphery of the swimming pool and wherein said actuator rod includes a pivot joint, a proximal segment affixed to a piston, and a distal segment pivotal with respect to said proximal segment.
29. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 28 wherein said distal segment of said actuator rod pivots from vertical to horizontal at full extension of said actuator.
30. The swimming pool safety net system according to claim 29 wherein said actuator includes a support bracket affixed externally thereto and wherein said distal segment of said actuator rod is supported by said support bracket at full extension of said actuator.
31. A safety net system for installation in a swimming pool, said safety net system comprising:
a net having a first edge attached to a retraction reel affixed to a side of the swimming pool and a second opposite edge selectively extendable and retractable with respect to said retraction reel;
a plurality of actuators arranged along a length of said net, each said actuator secured to an outer perimeter of the swimming pool and operable between a retracted position and a vertically extended position, a distal end of each said actuator attached to said second edge of said net such that when said actuators are extended, said net vertically blocks entry into the swimming pool;
a net controller fluidically connected to the swimming pool circulation pump for selectively extending and retracting said net, said net controller having a first net control inlet connected to a positive pressure outlet of the swimming pool circulation pump for extending said net and a second net control inlet connected to a negative pressure outlet of the swimming pool circulation pump for retracting said net, a net control outlet, and a selector for selectively interconnecting said net control outlet with one of said first and said second net control inlets; and
a fluid line fluidically connecting said net control outlet with each of said plurality of actuators.