Patent Application
20130340157
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a swimming pool cover support, a covered swimming pool, and to a method of covering a swimming pool. More particularly, the invention relates to a cover support for a swimming pool and to a method of covering such a pool.
2. Background of the Art
The usual winterizing procedure for a swimming pool involves cleaning the pool, applying chemicals to keep the water free from algae and bacteria, the chemicals also including an antifreezing agent to keep the water from freezing with the concomitant expansion of the ice which could burst the pool. A float, such as an inflated plastic balloon is then placed on the surface of the water and secured in place at the center of the pool. Then, a cover, such as is tarpaulin, is pulled over the inflated balloon. When the tarpaulin is filially manipulated into its final position, it is secured in place by tying or anchoring same to the side and/or the desk of the pool.
Various methods of combining a pool cover with as floatation means are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685234 to Terreri discloses a pool cover support comprising a balloon for placement in its uninflated condition on the surface of the water in a swimming pool, an air hose having one end attached to the balloon and provided at its other end with as valve. The hose is of sufficient length that when the balloon is secured in a predetermined position, the valve can be located outside the pool, whereby the balloon can be inflated or later deflated. A covered pool has an edge and is filled with water. A pool cover covers the pool and overlaps the pools edge, and a pool cover support comprises a balloon which is in a predetermined position on the water and underneath the cover, an air hose ha vg one said attached to the balloon and a valve at it other end. The hose is sufficiently long, that the valve is outside the pool, whereby the balloon can be inflated or later deflated with the cover in place. A method of covering a pool utilizes a cover support including a balloon and comprises the steps of placing a cover over the pool and the balloon and thereafter pumping an into the balloon to change same to its inflated condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,479 to Bonnenu discloses a sheet cover for a swimming pool adapted to become arched over the pool when air under pressure is projected under the cover. The cover has a pending skirt adapted to hang in the water adjacent the peripheral sidewall. The skirt is provided, with a series of holes at a distance from its lower edge. When the cover is arched, the skirt raises until the an leaks through the holes to maintain the cover at a desired height.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,239 to Gadsby discloses an inflatable swimming pool cover which, when installed and inflated, floats on the swimming pool water's surface and has a bulbous surface rising above the level of the swimming pool's perimeter. A small blower with its exhaust directed into the interior space of the cover initially inflates the cover and thereafter maintains the cover during its use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,704 to Genzel et al. discloses a pool cover utilizing multiple, laterally displaced air compartments which are fixed in location with respect to each other, and are integral portions of the cover. The air compartments may be interleaved by having laterally overlapping portions in order to minimize sagging which may result if any air compartment were to have an air leak. The cover can include a removable exterior portion which is exposed, and an interior portion containing the air compartments which are in contact with the pool surface.
Usually, a float is secured in a desired position by tethering it to the sides of the pool frame. The pool cover is then pulled over the float and also secured to the pool frame. This arrangement has several disadvantages.
First, once the float is in place, the pool cover must be lifted over the height of the float, which can be an additional three or four feet over the height of the water surface. Thus, deploying the pool cover can be an awkward process.
Secondly, rainwater accumulation adds weight to the pool cover, which then presses down on the float. But since the float is tethered to the sides of the pool, this added weight is transferred to the tethers, which puts stress on the Walls of the pool.
Moreover, floats can be punctured and become deflated. And a deflated float will sink in the water. Recovery of the deflated float is time consuming and inconvenient.
What is yet needed is a pool cover and float, arrangement which avoids these disadvantages.
A swimming pool cover is provided herein which has an underside with at least one tab secured to the underside. The tab has a grommet configured to receive a tether attached to a float. The float is positioned in the center of a swimming pool on the surface of the water and is secured in its position by being tethered to the pool cover, which is secured to the wall of the pool. By securing the float to the pool cover instead of the pool frame, the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome.
Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:
The present invention is directed to a swimming pool cover which has means for securing a float in a desired position on the surface of the water. The present invention is particularly suited for use with above ground swimming pools, although it can also be used for in-ground swimming pools. The peripheral edge regions of the pool cover are affixed to the perimeter of the swimming pool by a conventional manner. The invention is advantageously employed for winterizing the swimming pool or maintaining it during a period of inactivity after the swimming season. The pool cover prevents debris from entering the swimming pool and the float raises the pool cover so as to let rain water flow off and outside the pool.
Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially now to
Tabs 110 can he fabricated from any flexible polymeric material suitable for the purposes described herein, although said tabs 110 are preferably flexible members 111 fabricated from the same polymeric, material as the cover sheet 101. Each tab 110 can have a polygonal shape, which can be, for example, triangular or quadrangular. Alternatively, the tabs 110 can be hemispherical. A base edge 112 of each tab is attached to the underside of the swimming pool cover sheet 101 by, for example stitching, adhesive or thermal welding, or a combination of these attachment methods. Tabs 110 freely bend at their respective base edge 112. Tabs 110 typically range in size from about 1 to about 3 inches as measured from the base edge 112 to the opposite free edge or point of the tab.
The tabs each include a grommet 113 through which a cord or tether can be disposed as explained below. The grommets can be fabricated from any metal or high strength plastic suitable for use in wet environments and typically can range in size from about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch in diameter.
Referring also now to
In a preferred embodiment, an inflated float 20 is first secured to the swimming pool cover 110. The tethers 72 are each disposed through grommets 113 of the respective tabs 110. The swimming pool cover 110 is arranged over float 20 and then positioned over the water of the swimming pool such that the float is in the desired position. As the float is lightweight process of covering the swimming pool with the float already attached to the pool cover is straightforward and easily done. The edges of cover sheet 101 are then secured to the walls 11 of the swimming pool 10 at attachment areas 13. Alternatively, the float 20 can be inflated before or after being positioned on the surface of the pool water 12.
As can be readily appreciated, if the float for any reason deflates it can be easily recovered since it is tethered to the swimming pool cover. When the swimming pool cover is removed, the float automatically is removed with it.
Also, there is no stress transferred from the weight of the swimming pool cover, through the float tethers to the sides of the swimming pool since the float is tethered only to the pool cover.
While the above description contains many specifies, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/664,344 tiled Jun. 26, 2012, which is herein incorporated h reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61664344 | Jun 2012 | US |
