Swimming pool safety device

Claim 2

An alarm system for a swimming pool comprising: a float, means for retaining the float for bobbing reaction to waves in the pool, an electrical circuit including an alarm, and mechanism buoyantly supported solely by said float for completing said circuit and including: first means having a determined inertial mass, resilient means disposed between the float and the first means for resiliently supporting the latter on the float, said determined inertial mass of the first means and the effective resiliency rate of the resilient means being related to allow determined relative movement between the first means and the float upon a determined magnitude of bobbing of the float, and electrical contact means connected to said electrical circuit for controlling the same and actuated in response to a determined relative movement between the float and said first means.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 characterized in that said circuit includes locking means for retaining said alarm operative in response to momentary energization of said circuit.

Claim 4

The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said means for retaining the float for bobbing reaction to waves in the pool includes a stationary vertical rod supported on the pool and extending from above to below the water level thereof and upon which the float freely slidably bobs.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 3 characterized in that latching means are provided on the frame for locking the float thereon in inoperative position above the surface of the pool.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 1 characterized in that the electrical contact means includes an actuating finger on the first means and a contact member on the float.

Claim 7

The invention defined by Claim 1 characterized in that said means for retaining the float includes a protective housing surrounding the float and having openings therethrough allowing waves to enter the housing and impinge on the float.

Claim 8

The invention defined by claim 6 characterized in that said housing includes an encircling wall surrounding the float and means is provided within the housing for holding the float in the housing in spaced relation from the encircling wall and for free vertical movement within the housing.

Claim 9

An alarm system for a swimming pool, comprising: a hollow float, a protective housing for the float open to the passage of wave action therethrough with the float disposed within the housing for free vertical movement in response to such wave action, an electric circuit including an alarm, mechanism wholly enclosed within and buoyantly supported by the float for completing said circuit, said mechanism including first means having a determined inertial mass, said mechanism further including spring means resiliently supporting the first means on and within the float, said determined inertial mass of the first means and the effective rate of said spring means being related to allow determined relative movement between the first means and the float upon a determined magnitude of bobbing of the float, and said mechanism further including electrical contact means connected to said electrical circuit for controlling the same and actuated in response to a determined relative movement between the float and said first means.

Claim 10

An alarm system for a swimming pool, comprising: a hollow float, a protective housing for the float open to the passage of wave action therethrough with the float disposed within the housing for free vertical movement in response to such wave action, an electric circuit including an alarm, mechanism wholly enclosed within and buoyantly supported by the float for completing said circuit, said mechanism including first means having a determined inertial mass, said mechanism further including spring means resiliently supporting the first means on and within the float, said determined inertial mass of the first means and the effective rate of said spring means being related to allow determined relative movement between the first means and the float upon a determined magnitude of bobbing of the float, and said mechanism further including electrical contact means connected to said electrical circuit for controlling the same and actuated in response to a determined relative movement between the float and said first means.

Claim 11

The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that said float is hollow and defines an hermetically sealed chamber, and said mechanism is enclosed in said chamber.

Claim 12

The invention defined by claim 9 characterized in that said float comprises A pair of cup-shaped members disposed in opposed rim interfitting sealed relation.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 10 characterized in that the cups are vertically arranged and the lower cup is shaped to provide an integral internal hollow stem projecting upwardly through the other cup and secured thereto, and a guide rod carried by the protective housing extending vertically slidably through said stem.

Claim 14

The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that a vertical guide rod is supported within the protective housing and extends freely slidably through said hollow float and retains the float for vertical movement within the housing.