Abstract: A water pool with a cover that may be raised and lowered is presented herein. In one embodiment, the cover of the pool is a patio. In a further embodiment, the cover is raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism that is a hydraulic cylinder. A cover of a pool of the invention may be lowered to any point from the highest point to the lowest, providing a pool of variable depth at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides coding/decoding a digital signal, in particular using a transform with overlap employing weighting windows. In the invention, two consecutive and equal-size blocks of samples of the signal may be weighted by respective different successive windows. These two windows may be chosen independently of each other according to a criterion specific to the characteristics of the signal (entropy, data rate/distortion, etc.) that are determined for each of the two blocks.

Abstract: A modular occupant bench unit for use in a swimming pool formed from a plurality of contiguous modular wall panels joined end-to-end to define a pool enclosure having a vertical perimeter wall includes a vertical wall having opposite ends adapted to be joined with contiguous wall panels and being substantially coplanar with the vertical walls of the wall panels and an elongate bench protruding from the vertical wall between the top and bottom thereof into the pool substantially beyond the plane formed by the vertical wall of the pool, the upper side of the bench defining an occupant seating area and the underside being spaced from the floor of the pool. A plurality of hydrotherapy jets are spaced apart along the vertical wall above the upper side of said bench and below the water line of the swimming pool.

Abstract: Invented techniques and associated mechanisms are described for passively assuring that the spiraling layers of wound-up layers of a buoyant pool cover are, and will remain tightly wound around a rotatable cover drum completely submerged in a pool bottom tough.

Abstract: Invented techniques and associated mechanisms are described for eliminating bi-directional flexure properties of coupled buoyant-slats forming a pool cover while simultaneously increasing the buoyancy of a leading or front portion of the cover and for assuring that the spiraling layers of wound-up layers of a buoyant pool cover are, and remain tightly wound around a submerged, rotatable cover drum at all times.

Abstract: A prefabricated pad for a pool and its associated method of installation under the liner of an above-ground pool. The prefabricated pad is interposed between the ground surface and the pool liner, wherein the prefabricated pad cushions the pool liner, reduces contact stresses against the pool liner and prevents the pool liner from being punctured by any object present below the pool. The prefabricated pad also supports the pool liner as the pool liner turns from the vertical walls of the pool to the flat bottom of the pool.

Abstract: An accessory for use in construction includes a conduit (12) that has an inlet end (34) portion and an outlet end (18) portion. The outlet end (18) portion is mountable on a drainage pipe (22) so that the conduit (12) and the drainage pipe (22) are in fluid communication with each other. A removable closure member (40) is mounted on the inlet end (34) portion to close the conduit (12) when not in use or during building construction, so that ingress of material or detritus into the drainage pipe (22) is inhibited.

Abstract: A barrier device (1) and technique for use in the plumbing during construction of a swimming pool includes a tubular cylindrical section (2) having an open first end. A pop-out barrier (12) is integral with the cylindrical section, and is disposed to cover a second end of the cylindrical section. In one embodiment, an annular water barrier flange (3) is integral with the cylindrical section, and is disposed about a mid portion of the cylindrical section to prevent water leakage around an outer surface of the cylindrical section (2) when the barrier device is installed on the end of a water return pipe or drain pipe extending through the a wall surface of a swimming pool.

Abstract: A barrier device (1) and technique for use in the plumbing during construction of a swimming pool includes a tubular cylindrical section (2) having an open first end. A pop-out barrier (12) is integral with the cylindrical section, and is disposed to cover a second end of the cylindrical section. In one embodiment, an annular water barrier flange (3) is integral with the cylindrical section, and is disposed about a mid portion of the cylindrical section to prevent water leakage around an outer surface of the cylindrical section (2) when the barrier device is installed on the end of a water return pipe or drain pipe extending through the a wall surface of a swimming pool.

Abstract: Submersible panel (2) for pools, particularly swimming pools (1), consisting of hollow, elongated, modular parts (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h) assembled together. The parts comprise a water inlet at one end and a water outlet at the other. The openings of the panel are connected either directly or indirectly to means for distributing compressed gas. The edges of said panel (1) more or less match the walls of the pool to constitute a pool cover in the upper position and at least one bottom in the submerged position. The upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the panel are plane and free, the measurements of said upper horizontal surface being more or less equal to the length of the pool which is suitable for constituting the cover in the upper position and at least two bottom levels of the pool in the submerged position. Use of the panel (1) to constitute the bottom of the pool.

Abstract: A system (10) for raising and lowering a swimming pool liner (12) includes a plate (22) used to define a spill way (24) for providing fluid communication between an outside surface of the liner and an inside surface (16) of the pool (14). The liner is detached from the surface of the pool in the region behind the plate and reattached along an upper edge (28) of the plate. Conduit (30), having length (30′), extends along back face (32) of plate (22) and below the upper edge (28). Holes (34) cut in the plate provide communication with length (30′). Conduit (36) extends across the back face (32) near its lower edge (38) to provide air to the spill way (24). The length (36′) of conduit (36) is provided with a number of holes (40) for admitting air into the spill way. In order to lift the liner, air is directed through conduit (30) to the outside surface (26) of the liner.

Abstract: An improved floor-level adjusting device for a pool is particularly designed to be incorporated in an existing pool at low cost without the destruction thereof. The floor-level adjusting device for a pool has a movable floor disposed in a pool for vertical movement, and a plurality of lifting mechanisms disposed on and along the side walls of the pool and connected with the movable floor for moving the movable floor in the vertical direction so that the depth of water in the pool above the movable floor can be adjusted in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: This invention discloses a covering comprising a floating member shaped as a square loop, one pair of opposite portions of which are inflatable members, and a water-proof sheet having a nipple downwardly formed thereon, which is loosely stretched inside the square ring of the floating member and the peripheral edge of which is tightly connected with the same. The covering can float on the water and shield the water from scorching sunshine, killing frost, strong wind and acid rain. It is adaptable, therefore, to be used in nursery pool to protect the crops raised therein from damage by extraordinary weather.

Abstract: An improved floor-level adjusting device for a pool is particularly designed to be incorporated in an existing pool at low cost without the destruction thereof. The floor-level adjusting device for a pool has a movable floor disposed in a pool for vertical movement, and a plurality of lifting mechanisms disposed on and along the side walls of the pool and connected with the movable floor for moving the movable floor in the vertical direction so that the depth of water in the pool above the movable floor can be adjusted in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: The cover for a swimming pool has a side facing the water and an opposite side facing away. The cover defines an elongated cavity having a single flooding opening facing the water and arranged at one end of the cavity for flooding the pool, the cavity having a venting port at an end thereof opposite to the one end having the flooding opening. A vent valve in the port can close the port and a connection to a source of gas under pressure leads to the cavity for supplying the gas under pressure to the cavity to displace the water in the cavity. The mass of the cover exceeds that of the displaced water in case the cavity or cavities are flooded.

Abstract: A fermentation pond has a cover and gas-collection system that includes a gas-impermeable membrane resistant to the elements and resistant to chemical deterioration by both the contents of the pond and any biogas generated by fermentation in the pond. The membrane overlies the full surface of the pond. A biogas collection conduit is positioned at the surface of the pond and under the membrane, and weights are located so as to urge the membrane downwardly along lines separated from each other so as to define between the lines a plurality of channels along which biogas can pass to the collection conduit.

Abstract: A liquid reservoir, for example a swimming bath, a test tank or an aquaculture tank, comprises an open-topped container having at least one side wall, a first floor fixed relative to the side wall(s) and a second floor above the first floor which is able to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the side wall(s) in order to vary the height and/or inclination of the second floor in relation to the first floor. The reservoir comprises means for varying the specific gravity of the second floor between a value above and a value below the specific gravity of the liquid of the reservoir. Passageways between the side edge of the second floor and the side wall(s) of the container and/or through the second floor enable liquid to flow between the space between the two floors and another space above the second floor when the height of the second floor is varied.

Abstract: An adjustable flooring structure for swimming pools is formed by a series of large, flat, panel-like modules interconnected to form a floor. The structure includes ballasting means formed by serially connected pipes in the modules which pipes can be filled with water or air to alter the buoyancy of the structure as desired. The structure is supported from the pool floor on adjustable legs and without the legs has a low overall height so that it can be settled to the bottom of the pool when not required for use.