Changing area for spas, indoor swimming pools, outdoor swimming pools, fitness centers and the like

Abstract

The invention relates to a changing area for spas, indoor or outdoor swimming pools, fitness amenities but also changing areas of factories, wherein a storage box is automatically assigned to a user and the storage box is transported to the changing cubicle occupied by the user.

Claims

1. A changing area comprising several changing cubicles and at least one storage and retrieval system, wherein each changing cubicle comprises several walls and a door, wherein a shelf system for storage boxes is arranged on an outer side of a wall, wherein several storage locations for storage boxes are arranged side-by-side and one above the other in the shelf system and form a grid, wherein a wall of the changing cubicle has an opening, and wherein this opening exposes a storage location for a storage box.

2. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that m storage locations are arranged next to one another in the shelf system, and n storage locations are arranged one above the other.

3. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that the several changing cubicles are arranged next to each other in a circle or in the form of a circular arc.

4. The changing area according to claim 3, characterized in that the changing cubicles are arranged in the shape of a circle, and several circular arcs are arranged concentrically thereto.

5. The changing area according to claim 4, characterized in that the changing area comprises several changing cubicles arranged on an inner circle having an inner diameter and several changing cubicles arranged on a middle circle, in that a corridor is formed between the changing cubicles arranged on the inner circle and the changing cubicles arranged on the middle diameter, and in that the doors of these changing cubicles are located on this corridor.

6. The changing area according to claim 5, characterized in that the changing area comprises further changing cubicles which are arranged on an outer circle, and in that the doors of the further changing cubicles are arranged radially on the outside.

7. The changing area according to claim 4, characterized in that a first storage and retrieval system is provided in the interior of the changing cubicles arranged on the one inner circle.

8. The changing area according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one second storage and retrieval system is provided between the shelf systems of the changing cubicles arranged on the middle diameter and between the shelf systems of the further changing cubicles arranged on the outer circle.

9. The changing area according to claim 8, characterized in that the number of the second storage and retrieval systems is at least as large as the number of the circular arcs in which the changing cubicles are arranged on the middle circle and/or the outer circle.

10. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that several changing cubicles are arranged in a row next to each other.

11. The changing area according to claim 10, characterized in that two rows of changing cubicles are arranged parallel to one another, in that two shelf systems are arranged between the two rows of changing cubicles, and in that a storage and retrieval system is provided between the shelf systems.

12. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that a horizontal conveyor device is arranged above and concentrically to the second storage and retrieval systems, in that the horizontal conveyor device is movable on a closed track, and in that the horizontal conveyor device can accept a storage box from a second storage and retrieval system and can deliver a storage box to a second storage and retrieval system.

13. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one radial transport device, and in that each radial transport device can accept one or more storage boxes from a storage and retrieval system and/or from a horizontal conveyor device and can deliver one or more storage boxes to another storage and retrieval system and/or to another horizontal conveyor device.

14. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two or three changing areas, in that the two or three changing areas have one, two, or three radial transport devices, and in that storage boxes can be transported back and forth between the changing areas via the at least one radial transport device.

15. The changing area according to claim 1, characterized in that several changing areas are arranged one above the other on two or more levels, and at least one vertical conveying device is provided which connects the radial transport devices and/or the horizontal conveying devices of different levels with one another, so that storage boxes can be transported back and forth between different levels.

16. A method for operating a changing area comprising several changing cubicles and storage boxes, wherein each changing cubicle comprises several walls, wherein there is an opening in a wall of the changing cubicle, and wherein the dimensions of the opening and the dimensions of the storage boxes are matched to one another in such a way that a storage box located in the opening can be loaded and emptied from the changing cubicle, the method comprising the following method steps: selecting a changing cubicle by a user and transporting a storage box assigned to the user into the opening of the changing cubicle selected by the user.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the storage box assigned to the user is removed from the opening of the changing cubicle selected by the user and stored in a free storage location of a shelf system as soon as the user frees the changing cubicle selected by the user.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that a storage box is assigned to the user at the latest when the user selects a changing cubicle for the first time.

19. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the assignment of a storage box to a user continues until the user leaves the facility to which the changing area belongs.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, before the assignment of a storage box to a user is canceled, it is checked whether the storage box is empty, and in that a message is transmitted to an operator of the facility and/or to the user if the storage box is not empty.

21. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the assignments of a storage box to a user are stored after the assignment has been canceled.

Description

[0059] In the Drawings:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a view of the inside of a changing cubicle according to the invention;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows the exterior view of the wall of FIG. 1 with a shelf system arranged in front of it;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a side view of two changing cubicles, two shelf systems, and a corridor between them with a storage and retrieval system;

[0063] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a changing area with changing cubicles according to the invention;

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a further isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment;

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a cutout of two changing cubicles, shelf systems, a storage and retrieval system, and a horizontal conveyor device;

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a further cutout of a changing area with a shelf system, a storage and retrieval system, and the transfer to a horizontal conveyor device;

[0067] FIG. 8 shows an isometric view with additional radial transport devices;

[0068] FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of a further exemplary embodiment with three changing areas arranged one above the other, and

[0069] FIGS. 10 through 14 show isometric views of further exemplary embodiments of changing areas according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a wall 1 of a changing cubicle according to the invention. The side walls, floor, and ceiling of the changing cubicle are only partially shown and are not given reference signs. The wall in which there is an entrance door is not shown.

[0071] Wall 1 is the wall opposite the entrance door (not shown) of the changing cubicle. It can therefore also be referred to as the rear wall. There is an opening 3 in the wall 1. This opening 3 can be closed with a flap or a slide (not shown), or can be opened as needed.

[0072] In the changing cubicle according to the invention, behind the wall 1, i.e., outside the changing cubicle, there is arranged a shelf system as shown in FIG. 2.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows an external view of the wall 1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the wall 1 is largely concealed by the aforementioned shelf system. In this exemplary embodiment, this shelf system has four levels stacked vertically one over the other and five columns arranged next to each other. The rack storage system therefore has a total of twenty storage locations (the number of storage locations is the product of the number of columns (m=5) and the number of rows arranged one above the other (n=4)).

[0074] If the storage locations LP are numbered according to the running indices, then the storage location LP 4,2 is positioned so that it is behind the opening 3 (see FIG. 1). A flap (which does not have a reference sign) arranged in front of the opening 3 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0075] If there is a storage box (not shown) in storage location LP 4,2, the user of the changing cubicle can access the contents of the storage box located in storage location LP 4,2 through opening 3. The user can fill it or remove objects from it.

[0076] The other nineteen (19) storage locations are not accessible to the user inside the changing cubicle because wall 1 has only one opening 3, which provides access to exactly one storage location (here, LP 4,2) from inside the changing cubicle.

[0077] FIG. 2 also shows that the shelf system 5 behind the wall 1 of the changing cubicle is significantly higher than the changing cubicle. The height HUK of the changing cubicle and the height HLR of shelf system 5 are shown in FIG. 2.

[0078] An optional intermediate ceiling 7 is installed above the shelf system 5, which ensures that a transport level above the shelf system 5 is spatially separated from the user area. This reduces the risk of accidents and gives the changing area a more attractive appearance.

[0079] Above the intermediate ceiling 7 is a transport level with a horizontal conveyor device 9, which is only shown schematically. The horizontal conveyor device 9 is used to transport storage boxes 11, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a side view of two changing cubicles UK1 and UK2. The walls 1 with the openings 3 of the changing cubicles UK1 and UK2 are aligned facing each other, so that two shelving systems 5 are arranged between the walls 1 of the two changing cubicles. There is a (walking) aisle 13 between the shelf systems 5, which is dimensioned so that a storage and retrieval system (not shown) and a storage box 11 can travel back and forth in it.

[0081] The storage and retrieval system moves orthogonally to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 3 and can bring a storage box 11 from any storage location, e.g., the shelf system 5.1, to the storage location LP 4.2 of the changing cubicle UK2. FIG. 3 shows a flap 15, which can close or open the opening 3 in the wall 1.

[0082] A storage box 11 in the aisle 13 between the two storage areas 5.1 and 5.2 is shown as an example.

[0083] No persons are allowed to be in the aisle 13, since the storage and retrieval system and the storage boxes 11 are moved back and forth there. Maintenance personnel may enter aisle 13 only for maintenance or repair purposes, when the storage and retrieval system is out of operation.

[0084] FIG. 3 clearly shows that the intermediate ceiling 7 is interrupted above the aisle 13, so that it is possible to transport storage boxes 11 vertically upwards from the aisle 13 and transfer them to the horizontal conveyor device 9.

[0085] FIG. 3 does not show the details of the transfer of a storage box 11 from the storage and retrieval system to the horizontal conveyor device 9. Solutions familiar from goods logistics can be used for this purpose.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a first exemplary embodiment of a changing area 17. The changing cubicles are ultimately arranged on three different diameters. In the center of the changing area 17, a total of fourteen changing cubicles (without reference signs) are arranged in the shape of a circle. The changing cubicles have an approximately trapezoidal floor plan. The walls 1 with the openings 3 of these changing cubicles are arranged on the inside diameter of these changing cubicles. Accordingly, the shelf systems, which are each provided on the outside of wall 1, are arranged inside the circularly-arranged changing cubicles. A first storage and retrieval system 22, not visible in FIG. 4, is located inside these shelf systems 5.

[0087] The diameter on which the fourteen changing cubicles are arranged in a circle is referred to as the inner diameter.

[0088] The doors of these changing cubicles are arranged radially on the outside of these changing cubicles.

[0089] Visitors to a spa can reach the doors of the changing cubicles via a circular corridor 19 and radially-arranged corridors 21.

[0090] Outside of corridor 19, a total of four groups of changing cubicles are arranged in the shape of a circular arc. The diameter on which these changing cubicles are located is referred to as the middle diameter.

[0091] The doors of these cubicles open radially inwards towards the circular corridor 19. This means that the associated shelf systems are arranged radially on the outside of the changing cubicles arranged on the middle diameter. One of these shelf systems is labeled 5 m (m stands for middle diameter).

[0092] The changing cubicles arranged on the middle diameter m cannot be arranged as a closed circle, since otherwise access to the corridor 19 via the radially-running corridors 21 would not be possible.

[0093] Outside the circular arcs with changing cubicles arranged on the central diameter, there are further changing cubicles that are arranged on an outer diameter. These are arranged concentrically to the circular arcs arranged further inwards or the circularly-arranged changing cubicles inside the changing area.

[0094] Here, the doors of the changing cubicles arranged on the outer diameter are oriented radially outwards. The shelf systems 5A are accordingly aligned radially inwards, so that the shelf systems 5M and 5A delimit the aisle 13, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, there are a total of four curved aisles 13, each of which approximately covers an angle of 90?.

[0095] In this exemplary embodiment, in each aisle 13, there is arranged a second storage and retrieval system 23, not visible in FIG. 4. The storage and retrieval systems 23 can be moved in the aisle 13 within a segment and also in their height, so that they can reach every storage location of the storage and retrieval systems 5M and 5A. The second storage and retrieval systems 23 are not to cross the radial corridors 21 for reasons of user-friendliness, convenience, and to avoid accidents with the users of the changing area. This means that the travel path of the storage and retrieval systems 23 is limited to movements within the aisle 13.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows a horizontal conveyor device 9 as well as part of a radial transport device 25 and optional vertical conveyor device 27.

[0097] In FIG. 5, a further exemplary embodiment is now shown, also in an isometric view. In this exemplary embodiment, three changing areas as shown in FIG. 4 are arranged next to each other on one level. The changing areas 18 are connected to one another via radial transport devices 25. The radial transport devices 25 meet in a center. Vertical conveying devices 27 are optionally provided at the ends of the radial transport devices 25. In embodiments in which several changing areas are arranged one over the other (see, for example, FIG. 9), these vertical conveyor devices 27 connect them to one another.

[0098] The horizontal conveyor devices 9 can be seen in FIG. 5. They run via the aisles 13 and transport storage boxes 11 between the segments within a changing area. The horizontal conveyors 9 and the radial transport devices 25 are configured so that storage boxes 11 can be exchanged between them. This makes it possible, for example, to transport a storage box which is located in the storage area 51 inside a changing area into the aisle 13 between shelf systems 5M and 5A, and, there, to transport it to any free storage location in shelf systems 5M and 5A with the aid of a second storage and retrieval system.

[0099] FIG. 6 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a storage and retrieval system 23 in cooperation with a horizontal conveyor device 9. The second storage and retrieval system 23 is guided on rails 29 at the bottom and at the upper end of the shelf system (H=HLR). It can travel in the vertical direction (indicated by a vertically-oriented double arrow) and on a circular path (indicated by a curved double arrow) within a segment and can reach any storage location within a segment. The second storage and retrieval system 23 can remove a storage box 11 from a storage location or place it there. When the second storage and retrieval system 23 is moved all the way to the top, as shown in FIG. 6, it is then located above the intermediate ceiling 7 (see FIG. 3) and in the transport level. There, it can pick up a storage box 11 from the horizontal conveyor device 9, or deliver the box to this device. For this purpose, the second storage and retrieval system 23 makes, as required, a movement in the radial direction, as indicated by an arrow 31.

[0100] FIG. 7 shows the inner storage and retrieval system 22, which is provided in the center of a changing area 17 and transports the storage boxes 11 to the changing cubicles that form the inner circle.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 from a different perspective.

[0102] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which nine (three times three) changing areas are combined to form a three-story changing area. The storage boxes are transported between the different levels via vertical conveyor devices 27. The transfer of the storage boxes 11 between a vertical conveyor device 27 and a radial transport device 25 can take place in the same way as the transfer between a storage and retrieval system 22, 23 and a horizontal conveyor device 9.

[0103] FIGS. 10 through 14 show further exemplary embodiments of changing areas according to the invention. They are based upon the same changing cubicles as the first exemplary embodiment. The functions of the storage and retrieval systems 22, 23, the horizontal conveyor device 9, the optional radial transport device(s) 25, and the optional vertical conveyor device(s) 27 are also identical.

[0104] In FIG. 10, two rows of changing cubicles with the opening 3 according to the invention and on the shelf systems 5 arranged on the outer wall are arranged linearly next to each other. They form a changing area 1. A storage and retrieval system 23 is arranged between them. The shelf systems 5 of the changing cubicles arranged next to one another merge into one another; they form a continuous, very long shelf system 5.

[0105] The rails 29 of the storage and retrieval system are generally straight and run parallel to the shelf systems 5.

[0106] At the beginning and end of a row of changing cubicles according to the invention, in this exemplary embodiment, rooms are provided which are larger than the normal changing cubicles. These can be changing cubicles for people with disabilities or recreation rooms for employees.

[0107] In FIG. 11, four linear changing areas 17 are arranged next to each other. Between the changing areas 17, there are generously sized and furnished lounge areas. The storage boxes 11 are transported between the changing areas 17 by means of one or more horizontal conveyor devices 9 or a radial transport device 25. The designation, radial transport device, is somewhat surprising at first glance, given the linear arrangement of the changing cubicles; it is intended to make clear that it corresponds technically to the radial transport devices explained in connection with the first exemplary embodiment. As a rule, it is sufficient to install either one horizontal conveyor device 9 or one radial conveyor device 25. This simplifies the setup and shortens transport times.

[0108] FIGS. 12 and 13 show cutouts of a changing area 17.

[0109] FIG. 14 shows twelve (three times four) changing areas 17 distributed over three levels. FIG. 14 is the equivalent of FIG. 9, with changing cubicles arranged in a circle. FIG. 14 shows a horizontal conveyor device 9 in a simplified view.

[0110] The storage boxes are transported between the three levels by one or more vertical conveyor devices 27; a small part of a vertical conveyor device 27 is shown in FIG. 14.

[0111] The transfer of the storage boxes 11 between a vertical conveyor device 27 and a horizontal conveyor device 9, or a radial transport device 25, can take place in the same way as the transfer between a storage and retrieval system 22, 23 and a horizontal conveyor device 9.