Inflatable Pool Cover

Abstract

A device for covering an above-ground pool having an inflatable interior volume. A first flexible planar member is sealed to a second flexible planar member along a peripheral edge portion. An interior volume is defined between the first and second flexible planar members. A one-way valve is disposed in the first flexible planar member, wherein the one-way valve is utilized to selectively inflate the interior volume with a compressed air pump. A securement band is disposed on the first flexible planar member, wherein the securement band runs along the peripheral edge thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pool covers. Specifically, pool covers that are inflatable to prevent the collection of debris thereon.

Closing and opening above-ground swimming pools can be difficult and strenuous, especially if excessive amounts of debris have piled up on the pool cover during the winter. Some pool owners may insert inflated air pillows in the center of a pool before applying the cover, but these pillows often drift out of place, as they are prone to float about the pool surface. Other pool owners may require help from at least one other person when opening or closing the pool, but this isn't always possible or practical. Thus, an easily removable pool cover that prevents debris from collecting thereon is desired.

Several devices have been proposed to remedy this difficulty. One such device provides an inflatable pool cover having a flexible top and a bottom layer, creating a bowl shape when inflated. This device is secured to a pool using straps threaded through reinforced loops along the periphery of the pool cover. However, these known devices fail to provide an inflatable pool cover secured to a pool using integral securement bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of inflatable pool covers now present in the known art, the present invention provides an inflatable pool cover wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when attempting to minimize the effort and time required for securing an inflatable pool cover to a pool. The present device comprises an inflatable pool cover having a first and second flexible planar members, wherein the first and second flexible planar members are sealed together along a peripheral edge portion thereof. An interior volume defined between the first and second flexible planar members is inflatable via a one-way valve disposed in the first flexible planar member. A securement band is disposed within the peripheral edge portion, wherein the securement band is configured to secure the inflatable pool cover over the top of a pool.

One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable pool cover having a securement band integral to a peripheral edge portion of the inflatable pool cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable pool cover that a can be quickly inflated through a one-way valve adapted for use by a compressed air pump.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the inflatable pool cover having a portion of a first flexible planar member cut away.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up side elevation view of an embodiment of the inflatable pool cover having a portion of the first flexible planar member cut away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the inflatable pool cover. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. Unless specifically limited to a single unit, “a” is intended to be equivalent to “one or more” throughout the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the inflatable pool cover having a portion of a first flexible planar member cut away. The inflatable pool cover 10 comprises a first flexible planar member 11 and a second flexible planar member 12, each having a peripheral edge portion 15. The first and second flexible planar members 11, 12 are sealed together along the peripheral edge portion 15. In the shown embodiment, both the first and second flexible planar members 11, 12 are circles. However, the first and second flexible planar members 11, 12 may be constructed in any shape to conform with a pool 16. When the inflatable pool cover 10 is dawned over the top of the pool 16 and inflated, the second flexible planar member 12 contacts the surface of the water within the pool 16 and the first flexible planar member 11 expands upward, forming a bowl shape over the surface of the water. In one embodiment, the second flexible planar member 11 prevents debris from entering the pool during the installation or during use thereof. The inflated pool cover 10 prevents leaves and other debris from accumulating on the surface thereof, thereby preventing the collapse of the pool cover 10.

An interior volume 13 is defined between the first 11 and second 12 flexible planar members. The interior volume 13 is inflated with air through a one-way valve 14 disposed in the first flexible planar member 11. In certain embodiments, the one-way valve 14 is a Boston valve. The one-way valve 14 is in fluid communication with the interior volume 14, thus allowing a user to inflate the inflatable pool cover 10 by attaching a compressed air pump 17 to the one-way valve 14. During inflation, air is pumped into the interior volume via the valve 14, which raises and allows the pool cover 10 to form the preselected bowl shape, as shown. Further, the pool cover 10 is secured to the exterior sides of an above ground pool 16 such that the air within the interior volume cannot escape therethrough.

Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a close-up side elevation view of an embodiment of the inflatable pool cover having a portion of the first flexible planar member cut away. To fasten the inflatable pool cover 10 over the top of the pool 16, a securement band 20 is disposed along the peripheral edge. In one embodiment, the securement band 20 is integral to the inflatable pool cover 10, such that the securement band 20 is disposed between the first 11 and second 12 flexible planar members. The securement band 20 wraps completely around the inflatable pool cover 10. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of securement bands 20 is disposed along the peripheral edge 15. In the shown embodiment, the securement band 20 is elastic and biased to bear against a received sidewall of a pool 16. In other embodiments, the securement band 20 is a draw-string. The plurality of securement bands 20 are arranged parallel each other and at an interval, such that each of the plurality of securement bands 20 engage the pool 16 along a varying height. As the pool cover 10 inflates, the plurality of securement bands 20 bear against the pool 16 sidewall. In this way, the plurality of securement bands 20 act individually and cooperatively to prevent air pressure from escaping from the interior volume of an inflated pool cover 10.

As seen in FIG. 2, the one-way valve 14 is disposed in the first flexible member 12 adjacent to the peripheral edge 15. In this embodiment the one-way valve 14 is positioned just above the securement band 20 when the pool cover 10 is dawned over the top of the pool 16. In some embodiments, the one-way valve 14 has a threaded outer surface, wherein an air pump hose has a complementary threading on an end thereof to fasten the two together when inflating the inflatable pool cover 10.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) An inflatable pool cover, comprising: a first flexible planar member and a second flexible planar member, wherein the first planar member and the second planar member are sealed together along a peripheral edge portion thereof, thereby defining an interior volume between the first flexible planar member and the second flexible planar member;a one-way valve disposed in the first planar member, wherein the one-way valve is in fluid communication with the interior volume;a securement band disposed on the peripheral edge portion of the first planar member and second flexible planar member, the securement band configured to secure to a sidewall of a pool;wherein the securement band is between the first flexible planar member and the second flexible planar member.

2) The inflatable pool cover of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is a Boston valve.

3) The inflatable pool cover of claim 1, wherein the securement band is an elastic band.

4) The inflatable pool cover of claim 1, wherein the securement band is a draw-string.

5) The inflatable pool cover of claim 1, wherein the securement band comprises a plurality of securement bands arranged parallel to each other and at fixed intervals therebetween.

6) The inflatable pool cover of claim 1, wherein the first flexible planar member and the second flexible planar member are circles.