Patent Application
20230039673
The present invention relates generally to the field of accessories for personal recreational facilities. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pool or spa cover that is inflatable and is comprised of an inflatable body that has a top surface, a side surface with an integrated elastic member, a valve and an integrated pump. The device can be positioned on top of or underneath an existing cover or other enclosure used to cover a pool, spa or hot tub, and can then be inflated to a raised, shaped, convex, dome-like or other shape to cover the pool, spa or hot tub. Once inflated, the shape of the device prevents debris, insects, animals or water from accumulating on the cover the device has been placed under or over top of, and instead allows debris, insects and water to simply slide off the cover or enclosure and onto the nearby area such as a patio, so that the debris can be easily swept away. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
Covers and enclosures are used to cover a pool, spa or hot tub when the pool, spa or hot tub is not in use. During colder months when pools, spas or hot tubs are not in use for months at a time, covers or enclosures protect a pool, spa or hot tub in order to prevent debris, insects and other clutter from accumulating and decomposing within the pool, spa or hot tub. However, as enclosures or covers are placed over pools, spas or hot tubs for months at a time during the off-season of a pool, spa or hot tub, water, insects and other debris can accumulate on the surface of the cover or enclosure itself. Water can also accumulate in puddles on a cover or enclosure and form depressions, such that bacteria and algae can form within the puddles or other damp recesses on the cover or enclosure. In addition, any debris such as leaves that land within the puddles will decompose. Insects and small animals such as mice can also get trapped in the puddles and die. As a result, a user must regularly clean the pool, spa or hot tub cover or enclosure to avoid damage to the cover or enclosure by water, algae growth and other debris accumulation and decomposition. However, this process is unnecessarily burdensome and is undesirable.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved pool, spa or hot tub cover or enclosure device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable cover or enclosure that prevents water and other debris from accumulating on the surface of an existing cover or enclosure. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable cover or enclosure that does not require a user to regularly clean an existing cover or enclosure. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable cover or protective enclosure that greatly reduces the amount of effort required when a user does decide to manually clean an existing cover or enclosure.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an inflatable cover or enclosure for a pool, spa, hot tub or similar outdoor recreational facility. The invention has an inflatable body that includes a top surface, a side surface with an integrated elastic member, a valve and an integrated pump. The cover or enclosure can be placed on top of or underneath an existing cover or other enclosure, and can then be inflated to form a raised shape such as a convex, dome-like shape or other configuration that will aid in the avoidance of the accumulation of debris. Once inflated, the shape of the device prevents debris or water from accumulating on the cover or enclosure that has been placed under or over top of an existing cover or enclosure, and instead allows debris and water to simply slide or drain off the side of the cover and onto the nearby area around the pool, spa, hot tub or other water-based recreational device.
In this manner, the inflatable cover or enclosure of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides an improved cover or enclosure for a pool, spa, hot tub or other similar recreational device. In doing so, the present invention prevents water, debris and other material from accumulating on the surface of an existing cover or enclosure. Further, the present invention eliminates the need for a user to regularly clean an existing cover or enclosure. Finally, the invention greatly reduces the amount of effort required when a user does decide to manually clean an existing cover or enclosure.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an inflatable cover or enclosure for use in protecting a pool, spa, hot tub or similar recreational facility. The invention has an inflatable body with a top surface, a side surface having an integrated elastic member and a valve and an integrated pump. The body is preferably appropriately sized, shaped and dimensioned, such that it can successfully fit over or under any existing pool, spa or hot tub cover or other protective enclosure. The inflatable component or body portion may also have a plurality of differing materials in various embodiments including, but not limited to, UV-stabilized polyethylene, polypropylene, or vinyl that may be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque, and that may be any color known in the art. The material may be treated with an antifungal, antibacterial or antimicrobial agent, so as to reduce the buildup of bacteria, fungus or microbes.
The central portion or body can further be inflated to form an enlarged area, such as a convex or dome-like shape, in order to create sloped edges so that material, water and other debris will flow off the edges. In order to inflate the central area or body, the top surface or side surface may have at least one valve that allows a user to manually inflate the central portion or body by blowing or otherwise forcing air into the body, or to allow any inflatable device, such as an air compressor, to inflate the central area, outside ring or body. In one embodiment, the invention may have an integrated pump that allows a user to inflate or deflate the central portion or body. The pump may be integrated into the top surface or side surface of the central area, peripheral area or body, and may be powered by at least one battery, by direct current or by at least one solar panel.
In differing embodiments, the device can be placed over top of or underneath any existing pool, spa or hot tub cover, or used on its own as a stand-alone pool, spa or hot tub cover. In an embodiment where the invention is placed underneath an existing cover and then inflated, the inflated configuration creates a shape such as a convex shape, that ensures that no debris or other material can accumulate on the cover or enclosure, and any debris, water or other material will simply run or fall off the cover onto the surrounding area of the pool. Alternatively, the cover or enclosure may have a gutter system that encircles the cover or enclosure, so that the water and other material can be channeled off to a particular area, such as a downspout. In an embodiment where the invention is placed over top of an existing cover or enclosure and the body is inflated, the inflated shape creates a raised area of the body that ensures that no debris, water or other material can accumulate on the top surface, and any debris will simply run off the top and side surfaces onto the surrounding area of the pool, spa or hot tub. The top surface or side surface may also have a transparent viewing window that allows a user to view the interior of the area under the enclosure, such as the water within a pool, spa or hot tub. In addition, the side surface may have an integrated elastic band that further aids in securing and retaining the invention around an above-ground pool, spa or hot tub.
Accordingly, the inflatable pool, hot tub or spa cover or enclosure of the present invention is particularly advantageous, as it prevents water, other material and debris from accumulating on the surface of the cover or enclosure. Further, the device does not require a user to regularly clean material and other debris from the top of the pool, spa or hot tub cover or enclosure. Finally, the invention greatly reduces the amount of effort required when a user does decide to manually clean an existing pool, spa or hot tub cover or enclosure. The shape of the invention itself substantially reduces the amount of debris and other material that can accumulate on the cover or enclosure.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable cover that prevents water, other material and debris from accumulating on the surface of an existing cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub, and that does not require a user to regularly clean an existing cover, as the invention creates an elevated region in the center of cover or enclosure. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable cover or enclosure that greatly reduces the amount of effort required when a user does decide to manually clean an existing cover.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an inflatable cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub that has an inflatable body with a top surface, a side surface having an integrated elastic member and a valve and an integrated pump. The body is preferably appropriately sized, shaped, and dimensioned such that it can successfully fit over or under any existing cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub as is known in the art, and may be comprised of a plurality of differing materials including but not limited to: UV-stabilized polyethylene, polypropylene or vinyl that may be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque and that may be any color or include any designs to improve the aesthetics of the cover or enclosure.
The cover or enclosure can further be inflated to form a raised area, extending upward from the surface of the water or edge of the pool, hot tub or spa. The raised area may have a shape such as a convex or dome-like shape, and can be inflated by using at least one valve that allows a user to manually inflate the body by blowing air into the body or to allow any inflating device known in the art, such as an air compressor, to inflate the body. The device may also have an integrated pump that allows a user to inflate or deflate the body of the cover or enclosure. Further, the pump may be integrated into the top surface or side surface of the body of the cover, and may be powered by at least one battery, by at least one solar panel or be connected to a conventional outlet or power source found in a home.
In differing embodiments, the device can be placed over top of or underneath any existing pool, spa or hot tub cover known in the art, thereby retrofitting the cover to include the present invention, or used on its own as a stand-alone pool cover. In an embodiment where the invention is placed underneath an existing cover or enclosure and then inflated, the cover has a raised area such as a convex shape, which ensures that the debris, other material and water which can accumulate on the cover will simply run or fall off the cover onto ground area or into a gutter to be channeled to a convenient area. In an alternative embodiment, the invention can be provided with a water-catchment system, thereby allowing the water to be collected and stored until needed, such as for watering a lawn or garden. The catchment system can be connected to the gutter, and filters or screens can be used to prevent unwanted debris from clogging up the catchment system. In an embodiment where the device is placed over top of an existing cover and the body is inflated, the shaped or convex configuration of the body ensures that no debris, material or water can accumulate on the top surface, and any debris or other material will simply run or fall off the top surface and side surface onto the surrounding area of the pool, into the gutter or catchment system. The top surface or side surface may also have a transparent viewing window that allows a user to view the interior area within a pool, spa or hot tub in an embodiment where the invention is used as a stand-alone cover or enclosure. In addition, the side surface may have an integrated elastic band, or hook and loop type fasteners that further aid in securing and retaining the device around the pool, spa or hot tub.
Accordingly, the inflatable cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it prevents water, other material and debris from accumulating on the surface of an existing cover. Further, the invention does require that a user must regularly clean an existing cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub. Finally, the invention greatly reduces the amount of effort required when a user does decide to manually clean an existing cover or enclosure for a pool, spa or hot tub. The raised shape of the cover or enclosure itself substantial reduces the amount of debris, material and water that can accumulate on the device.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The central portion 111 forms the raised area over the surface of the pool, hot tub or spa.
In should further be appreciated that the device 100 can be placed over top of or underneath any existing pool cover 14 known in the art.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “inflatable cover or enclosure” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the inflatable cover or enclosure 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/229,671, which was filed on Aug. 5, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63229671 | Aug 2021 | US |
