Stabilization Mechanism For Pool With Movable Cover

Abstract

A locking system for securing a cover that moves within a hole between a lowered position and a raised position is disclosed. The locking system includes one or more locking mechanisms. Each locking mechanism includes an upper leg and a lower leg, each upper leg and the lower leg having a proximal end and a distal end. Each locking mechanism further includes a first joint that joins the upper leg near the respective distal ends of the upper leg and the lower leg, the first joint allowing planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the lower leg between a minimum folded angle in the lowered position and a maximum unfolded angle in the raised position. Each locking mechanism further includes a second joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the upper leg on the bottom side of the cover to allow planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the cover, and a third joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the lower leg to an attachment disposed on the bottom of the hole.

1 . A locking system for a cover that is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position in a hole that comprises an upper rim, a bottom, and one or more sidewalls connecting the bottom and the upper rim, the locking system comprising:
 one or more locking mechanisms, each locking mechanism including:
 an upper leg and a lower leg, each upper leg and the lower leg having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a first joint that joins the upper leg near the respective distal ends of the upper leg and the lower leg, the first joint allowing planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the lower leg between a minimum folded angle in the lowered position and a maximum unfolded angle in the raised position; 
 a second joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the upper leg on the bottom side of the cover to allow planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the cover; and; and 
 a third joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the lower leg to an attachment disposed on the bottom of the hole. 
   
   
   
       2 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an extendable mechanism that provides a force on the lower leg that extends the first joint until the maximum unfolded angle is reached and the cover is elevated to the raised position. 
   
   
       3 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an extendable mechanism that provided a force on the upper leg that extends the first joint until the maximum unfolded angle is reached and the cover is elevated to the raised position. 
   
   
       4 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the maximum unfolded angle is greater than 180 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the extendable mechanism includes an actuator. 
   
   
       6 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the hole is a pool filled with water, and wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator that utilizes water from the pool. 
   
   
       7 . A pool, comprising:
 a hole having an upper rim, a bottom, and one or more sidewalls connecting the bottom and the upper rim;   a cover sized to fit within the upper rim and that is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position in the hole;   a locking system for securing the cover in the raised position, the locking system comprising one or more locking mechanisms, each locking mechanism including:
 an upper leg and a lower leg, each upper leg and the lower leg having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a first joint that joins the upper leg near the respective distal ends of the upper leg and the lower leg, the first joint allowing planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the lower leg between a minimum folded angle in the lowered position and a maximum unfolded angle in the raised position; 
 a second joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the upper leg on the bottom side of the cover to allow planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the cover; and; and 
 a third joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the lower leg to an attachment disposed on the bottom of the hole. 
   
   
   
       8 . The pool in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising an extendable mechanism that provides a force on the lower leg that extends the first joint until the maximum unfolded angle is reached and the cover is elevated to the raised position. 
   
   
       9 . The pool in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising an extendable mechanism that provided a force on the upper leg that extends the first joint until the maximum unfolded angle is reached and the cover is elevated to the raised position. 
   
   
       10 . The pool in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the maximum unfolded angle is greater than 180 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The pool in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the extendable mechanism includes an actuator. 
   
   
       12 . The pool in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the hole is a pool filled with water, and wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator that utilizes water from the pool. 
   
   
       13 . The pool in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the locking system includes three locking mechanisms equally spaced in the hole about the cover. 
   
   
       14 . A locking system for securing a cover in a raised position, where the cover moves from a lowered position to a raised position within a hole having an upper rim, a bottom, and one or more sidewalls connecting the bottom and the upper rim, the locking system comprising:
 three locking mechanisms equally spaced about a bottom side of the cover, each locking mechanism comprising
 an upper leg and a lower leg, each upper leg and the lower leg having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a first joint that joins the upper leg near the respective distal ends of the upper leg and the lower leg, the first joint allowing planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the lower leg between a minimum folded angle in the lowered position and a maximum unfolded angle of greater than 180 degrees in the raised position; 
 a second joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the upper leg on the bottom side of the cover to allow planar rotational motion of the upper leg relative to the cover; and; 
 a third joint to flexibly attach the distal end of the lower leg to an attachment disposed on the bottom of the hole; and 
 an extendable mechanism connected between the bottom and the lower leg that provides a force on the lower leg that extends the first joint until the maximum unfolded angle is reached and the cover is elevated to the raised position. 
   
   
   
       15 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the extendable mechanism includes an actuator. 
   
   
       16 . The locking system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the hole is a pool filled with water, and wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator that utilizes water from the pool.