Patent Application
20130139312
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to covers for water-filled outdoor swimming pools, and more particularly, a cover for above ground pools.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art
It has long been common practice to use pool covers to reduce the amount of leaves and debris entering the pool when the pool is not in use, such pool covers typically being in the form of a tarpaulin stretched over the pool or floating on the surface of the water. Another purpose of the pool cover is to assist in preventing persons, particularly unattended children or animals venturing onto the pool cover, from falling through the cover into the underlying water.
Problems are generally presented by the use of prior art pool covers; one problem being the accumulation of debris and water causing water pooling on the pool cover which presents drowning hazards, particularly to small children. One attempted resolution to water pooling on the pool cover is the use of drain filters that allow the water to drain directly into the pool through a filtered drain opening in the pool cover. The larger the openings through the pool cover, however, the greater is the loss of strength of the cover. Accordingly, additional strengthening means must then be provided which adds to the cost and complexity of the cover. Further, with drain filters, debris can also fall through the openings and into the underlying pool.
The present invention addresses the foregoing described problems of the prior art.
A swimming pool cover for covering the underlying water in an above ground swimming pool. The pool cover includes a main cover sized and shaped for covering the surface of the water in the swimming pool and, the main cover is sized larger than the pool size. The main cover includes an outer edge that defines a sleeve or pocket that extends the length of the outer edge. The pocket includes an interior, ends with openings to access the interior, a plurality of slits in communication with the interior, a plurality of drain openings spaced along the length of the pocket, and strap members spaced along the length of the pocket for securing the pool cover to a surface. The interior of said pocket is sized for receiving a weight such as a single water tube or a double water tube that is disposed in a horizontal position in the interior.
The swimming pool cover can further include an air pillow, such as an inflatable air pillow, for placement in the center of the swimming pool and sandwiched between the surface of the water in the swimming pool and the main cover in order to create a dome like effect over the surface of the water in the swimming pool. The pocket extending along the main cover's outer edge allows for a uniform weight to be placed around the outer edge in order to pull the main cover tight enough over the air pillow resulting in the dome like effect over the swimming pool.
The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a pool cover useful for above ground swimming pools.
The portion of the illustrated pool cover includes a main cover sheet 12 of known type which completely covers the underlying water and is impervious to water. In the preferred embodiment, the cover sheet 12 is made two feet larger all the way around the actual pool size. It should be understood, the size of the pool cover 10 varies depending upon the size of the swimming pool. However, in the preferred embodiment, the cover sheet 12 is made two feet larger all the way around than the actual pool size whether it be round or rectangle.
As illustrated, the pool cover 10 further includes a pocket portion 15 attached 14 to an outer edge 13 of the main cover sheet 12. In the preferred embodiment, the pocket portion 15 is approximately 14″ to 18″ deep, and is designed to hold a single or double water tube (not shown) that is disposed in a horizontal position in an interior portion 16 (See
The pocket portion 15 further includes openings 15A at each end to access the interior portion 16 and further defines a plurality of slits 20 in order to access the interior portion 16 of the pocket portion 15. In the preferred embodiment, each slit 20 is positioned every three or four feet along the length of the pocket portion 15 and each slit 20 is approximately eight to ten inches in length. Further, and as disclosed, each slit 20 is preferably vertically disposed on an outer surface 17 of the pocket portion 15.
The pocket portion 15 further defines a plurality of openings 22 spaced along the length of the pocket portion 15 for draining any water that enters the interior 16 of the pocket portion 15. In the preferred embodiment, the opening 22 has a diameter of three-quarter inches.
As illustrated, the pocket portion 15 is attached 14 to the outer edge 13 of the cover sheet 12. In the preferred embodiment, the means of attachment 14 is stitching.
Secure straps 25 are attached to the pocket portion 15 and are spaced evenly around the cover 10 for securing the cover 10 to a stake (not shown) in the ground surface. Conveniently, the secure straps 25 are designed to keep the cover 10 from sliding one way or the other due to differing weights of the water tubes or from strong winds. The secure straps 25 extend from the pocket portion 15 and provide means for rigidly securing the pool cover 10 to securing means, e.g. stakes in the ground.
The pool cover 10 can further include an inflatable air pillow (not shown), having either a round or rectangular configuration, that is placed in the center of the swimming pool. The air pillow includes a grommet (not shown) in each corner such that the air pillow can be tied to the pool, for example, in order to keep the air pillow centered while placing the main cover sheet 12 over the air pillow. The air pillow is inflated to a height of approximately three to four feet in the center portion of the pillow.
In application, the air pillow is placed in the center of the swimming pool as previously discussed, and the main cover sheet 12 is then pulled over the air pillow and the water tubes are placed evenly in the pocket portion 15. The weight of the water tubes pulling down the cover sheet 12 over the inflated pillow creates a dome like effect over the swimming pool. As a result, this dome like structure prevents water, snow or debris like leaves and tree branches from sitting on top of the pool cover 10 or entering the pool. It also provides a safety feature by not allowing an open area where anyone or any animal can gain access to the pool.
As should be understood, the pocket portion 15 allows for a uniform weight to be placed around the outer edge 13 of the main cover sheet 12 in order to pull the main cover sheet 12 tight enough over the inflatable pillow that results in a dome over the pool.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. As such, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims.
It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence, rather than by the examples given.
U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/335,980, filed Jan. 15, 2010, with title “Easy Dome Cover” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61335980 | Jan 2010 | US |
