Patent Application
20100199417
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to swimming pools, and, more particularly, to automatic pool cover assemblies for swimming pools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, to preserve chemical treatments in the water and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. An automatic pool cover provides convenience for a user by allowing the cover to be easily extended over the pool during periods of non-use, and retracted during periods of use. Typically, a pool cover box is placed in or on the decking surrounding the swimming pool at a location opposite from the walk-in steps (i.e., usually located at the deep end of the pool). The pool cover box extends across the width of the swimming pool, and within the box is mounted a reel to store the pool cover on, an electric (or hydraulic) motor and a mechanism to deploy and retract the pool cover.
A problem with a conventional automatic pool cover assembly is that the reel can be somewhat difficult to assemble on-site and/or modify in the event of a design change in the pool. A reel typically has a hollow tube which is cut to a specific length, based upon the expected width of the pool. A tube ring has an outside diameter which fits within the inside diameter of the tube. The tube is then screwed to the tube ring using radially extending metal screws. An end cap or end casting is then fastened to the tube ring, with the end cap having an integral stub shaft extending therefrom for use as either a drive shaft or idler shaft. Alternatively, an end cap may be configured with an outside diameter which fits directly within the tube, without the use of tube ring. The tube is again rigidly affixed to the end cap using screws or the like. These relatively complex mounting arrangements take time to assemble, are a relatively complex mounting arrangements, and do not allow easy retrofit modifications.
What is needed in the art is a pool cover assembly with a reel which is easy to assemble, disassemble, retrofit and rework.
The present invention provides a reel for a pool cover assembly with a tube and at least one end piece which are axially movable but rotationally immovable relative to each other.
The invention in one form is directed to a swimming pool, including a plurality of side walls and a pool cover assembly for covering the swimming pool. The pool cover assembly includes a cover, a pool cover box mounted along at least one of the side walls, and a reel positioned within the pool cover box and carrying the cover. The reel includes a tube and a drive end piece. The tube includes a drive end with at least one keying feature, and the drive end piece includes at least one mating keying feature. The keying feature and the mating keying feature coact to allow relative axial movement between the tube and the drive end piece, but not allow relative rotational movement between the tube and the drive end piece.
The invention in another form is directed to a pool cover assembly for covering a swimming pool. The pool cover assembly includes a cover, a pool cover box, and a reel positionable within the pool cover box and configured for carrying the cover. The reel includes a tube and an end piece. The tube includes an end with at least one keying feature and the end piece includes at least one mating keying feature. The keying feature and the mating keying feature coast to allow relative axial movement between the tube and the end piece, but not allow relative rotational movement between the tube and the end piece.
The invention in yet another form is directed to a reel for use with a pool cover assembly. The reel includes a tube and an end piece. The tube includes an end with at least one keying feature and the end piece includes at least one mating keying feature. The keying feature and the mating keying feature coact to allow relative axial movement between the tube and the end piece, but not allow relative rotational movement between the tube and the end piece.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Deck 12 is generally horizontal and is preferably constructed from concrete. Coping 14 connects to deck 12 in a substantially coplanar fashion along the edge of deck 12 facing the interior of swimming pool 10.
Coping 14 is connected to deck 12 and provides a track allowing leading edge bar 18 to slide therein. The general shape of the exposed portion of coping 14 is generally curved such that there are no exposed sharp corners.
Cover 16 is attached to leading edge bar 18 which pulls cover 16 from pool cover box 20, through an opening existing between pool cover box 20 and a top edge of swimming pool 10, and across the length of swimming pool 10. To prepare swimming pool 10 for use, cover 16 retracts into pool cover box 20 pulling leading edge bar 18 to the previously described opening.
Leading edge bar 18 is connected to cover 16 and provides support along the leading edge of cover 16. Each end of leading edge bar 18 is connected to at least one cable or rope (not shown) and is slidably connected to a track in coping 14. Leading edge bar 18 is shaped in a manner to be unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing when located at either end of swimming pool 10. Although coping 14 is shown as including an integral track for leading edge bar 18 and cover 16, it is also possible that a pair of top mounted tracks may be mounted to deck 12 along either side of swimming pool 10.
Pool cover 16, leading edge bar 18 and pool cover box 20 form part of a pool cover assembly 22, which also includes a reel 24 (
Now additionally referring to
Tube 26 includes a drive end 32 and idler end 34, each of which are substantially identically configured in the illustrated embodiment. Drive end 32 and idler end 34 each include one or more keying features 36. Similarly, drive end piece 28 and idler end piece 30 each include one or more mating keying features 38. Keying features 36 and mating keying features 38 coact to allow relative axial movement between tube 26 and end piece 28 or 30, but not allow relative rotational movement between tube 26 and end piece 28 or 30. Although each of drive end 32 and idler end 34 are shown as including mating keying features, it is also to be understood that only one of drive end 32 and idler end 34 may include mating keying features.
In the embodiment of reel 24 shown in
Although reel 24 is shown as including keying features 36 in the form of recesses and mating keying features 38 in the form of projections, it is also to be understood that this configuration may be reversed or mixed. That is, keying features 36 may be in the form of projections and mating keying features 38 may be in the form of recesses, or another combination thereof.
During assembly on-site, tube 26 is simply cut to length (if necessary), and each end piece 28 and 30 is assembled to tube 26 by inserting mating keying features 38 into keying features 36. Depending on the exact width of the pool, the axial length of reel 24 may be adjusted through the axial adjustment between keying features 38 into keying features 36.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
