US4280477A — Combination fence and solar heater for swimming p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 197 words

A combination fence and solar heater for swimming pools, comprising: a fence shaped for extending about the periphery of a swimming pool area and restricting ingress and egress therefrom; said fence comprising a plurality of interconnected pickets, and having heat exchanger means formed in at least a portion thereof; said heat exchanger means comprising a number of said pickets preselected in accordance with the climate in which said combination fence and solar heater is installed, and being arranged in said fence to face the direction of predominant sunlight; said preselected pickets having an exterior surface, a water carrying passageway extending therethrough with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the water in the swimming pool, and means for absorbing heat energy from sunlight impinging on the exterior surface of said selected pickets and conducting said heat to said water carrying passageway; means for flowing the water in said swimming pool through said preselected pickets during daylight hours, whereby solar energy absorbed by the exposed exterior surface portion of the preselected pickets is transferred to the water flowing therethrough, thereby simultaneously heating the water in the swimming pool, and providing a protective safety barrier about the swimming pool.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 197 words

A combination fence and solar heater for swimming pools, comprising: a fence shaped for extending about the periphery of a swimming pool area and restricting ingress and egress therefrom; said fence comprising a plurality of interconnected pickets, and having heat exchanger means formed in at least a portion thereof; said heat exchanger means comprising a number of said pickets preselected in accordance with the climate in which said combination fence and solar heater is installed, and being arranged in said fence to face the direction of predominant sunlight; said preselected pickets having an exterior surface, a water carrying passageway extending therethrough with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the water in the swimming pool, and means for absorbing heat energy from sunlight impinging on the exterior surface of said selected pickets and conducting said heat to said water carrying passageway; means for flowing the water in said swimming pool through said preselected pickets during daylight hours, whereby solar energy absorbed by the exposed exterior surface portion of the preselected pickets is transferred to the water flowing therethrough, thereby simultaneously heating the water in the swimming pool, and providing a protective safety barrier about the swimming pool.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 140 words

A combination fence and solar heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said preselected pickets comprises: an elongate body having a longitudinally extending cavity therein with two pairs of tubular members extending laterally from each end of the picket cavity and communicating therewith for flowing water therethrough; and wherein said body includes an outer surface with a coloration adapted to absorb solar energy, and a conductive medial portion adapted to transmit heat from the exterior surface of the body to the body cavity; said tubular members each having a union connected with the free end thereof shaped to mate with the union of an adjacently disposed picket for mechanically interconnecting adjacent pickets to form a rigid fence section, and communicating the body cavity of each of said preselected pickets in a parallel arrangement to form said passageway.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

A picket as set forth in claim 2, wherein: each union comprises a threaded coupling for easily varying the length of said fence heating portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

A picket as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said fence is supported by a plurality of posts spaced apart about the periphery of said fence, and having the lower ends thereof anchored in the ground.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

A combination fence and solar heater as set forth in claim 4, wherein: each picket cavity includes a plurality of alternately staggered fins projecting inwardly from the side wall thereof for directing the water along a tortuous path through said picket.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

A combination fence and solar heater as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said picket outer surface has a dark coloration adapted to readily absorb solar energy.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

A combination fence and solar heater as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said pickets each include a heat retaining material disposed between said picket cavity and said outer surface, for forming a heat sink therebetween.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

A combination fence and solar heater as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said heat retaining material comprises calcium chloride.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 174 words

A picket for a combination swimming pool fence and solar heater, comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinally extending cavity therein with two pairs of tubular members extending laterally from each end of the picket cavity and communicating therewith for flowing water therethrough; and wherein said body includes an exterior surface with a coloration adapted to absorb solar energy, and a conductive medial portion adapted to transmit heat from the exterior surface of the body to the body cavity; said tubular members each having a union connected with the free end thereof shaped to mate with the union of an adjacently disposed picket for mechanically interconnecting adjacent pickets to form a rigid fence section for positioning about a swimming pool to restrict ingress and egress therefrom, and communicating the body cavity of said picket with the water in the swimming pool, whereby the water in the pool is flowed through said picket, thereby simultaneously heating the water in the swimming pool, and forming a portion of a protective safety barrier about the swimming pool.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 174 words

A picket for a combination swimming pool fence and solar heater, comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinally extending cavity therein with two pairs of tubular members extending laterally from each end of the picket cavity and communicating therewith for flowing water therethrough; and wherein said body includes an exterior surface with a coloration adapted to absorb solar energy, and a conductive medial portion adapted to transmit heat from the exterior surface of the body to the body cavity; said tubular members each having a union connected with the free end thereof shaped to mate with the union of an adjacently disposed picket for mechanically interconnecting adjacent pickets to form a rigid fence section for positioning about a swimming pool to restrict ingress and egress therefrom, and communicating the body cavity of said picket with the water in the swimming pool, whereby the water in the pool is flowed through said picket, thereby simultaneously heating the water in the swimming pool, and forming a portion of a protective safety barrier about the swimming pool.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

A picket as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said body cavity includes a plurality of alternately staggered fins projecting inwardly from a side wall thereof for directing the water along a tortuous path through said picket.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

A picket as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said conductive medial portion is constructed of calcium chloride.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-07-27	1985-01-26	1985-07-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-07-27	1989-01-26	1989-07-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-07-27	1993-01-26	1993-07-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Combination fence and solar heater for swimming pools

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag