Patent Application
20060090254
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to swimming pools, and, more particularly, to an automatic pool cover box used to house a pool cover.
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 the 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 box is placed in the decking surrounding the pool at a location opposite from the walk-in steps (usually at the deep end of a pool). The box extends across the width of the pool and houses an electric motor and reel in which the cover is wound.
The most common technique for building a pool cover box is to build it onsite using treated wood. This requires skill in carpentry to cut, position and connect the individual pieces of wood. The wood is separately ordered and equipment for cutting the wood must be brought to the worksite and the scraps from the construction must be removed.
Some cover boxes are constructed of panels of galvanized steel that are assembled in place to form a box for the positioning of a pool cover retraction/extension mechanism therein. A problem with conventional automatic pool cover boxes is that individual panels are utilized for the box thereby requiring extended amounts of labor.
What is needed in the art is an automatic pool cover box that reduces the assembly required at the point of installation.
The present invention provides an automatic pool cover box assembly that is vacuum formed and easily installed beside a swimming pool.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a swimming pool installation including a swimming pool having an end with a deck surrounding at least a portion of the swimming pool. An auto cover box is recessed in the deck proximate to the end of the swimming pool. The auto cover box has a formed section with a U-shaped cross section and a low portion therein. A drain is provided in the low portion of the formed section.
An advantage of the present invention is that the formed section is vacuum formed having a U-shaped cross section ready for installation along the end of the pool.
Another advantage is that end sections may be provided thereby allowing for a customized fit of the auto cover box to the swimming pool.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that at least one section may be manually cut to length and still interface with an end section for customized installation proximate a pool.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that an upper portion of the formed section includes an inverted J cross section which interfaces with concrete to hold the assembly in position laterally.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that there are angled surfaces in the bottom of a section, which directs moisture collected therein to an opening, which is connected to a drain line for the removal of moisture therefrom.
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 illustrates one 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
Midsections 18, endcap 20 and endcap 22 are formed using a vacuum forming process in which a substantially flat piece of material is vacuum drawn into the shapes illustrated in the drawings. In one embodiment of the present invention the material utilized is a synthetic material which is heated in addition to having a vacuum applied to form the present invention as illustrated.
Now additionally, referring to
Now, additionally referring to
Section 18 as well as endcaps 20 and 22 each have a U-shaped cross section with oppositely faced inverted J-shaped portions along the top of sides of the respective sections. Inverted J-shaped upper edges 40 advantageously are utilized to strengthen auto cover assembly 16 and to provide a fastening element to other building structure, not shown.
Endcap 20 includes a first side 42 a second side 44 a third side 46, a bottom 48 and inverted J-shaped portions 50. In a like manner endcap 22 includes a first side 52, a second side 54, a third side 56, a bottom 58, inverted J-shaped portions 60 and additionally includes offset portion 62. Offset portion 62, which is substantially similar to offset portion 38 of section 18, is formed to interface with an end of section 18. Endcap 22 is connected to section 18 in a manner similar to endcap 20, which is coupled to the opposite end of section 18.
Advantageously, section 18 may be cut to length at the end opposite offset portion 38, to customize the overall length of auto cover assembly 16 to accomodate the dimension of swimming pool 12. Additionally, multiple sections 18 may be utilized to further customize the length of auto cover assembly 16. Endcaps 20 and 22 are illustrated as different lengths, but similar lengths may additionally be utilized. In one embodiment of the installation a motor section would be placed in endcap 22 while a support structure for a rotatable cover mechanism would be placed in endcap 20, with a rotating section, to receive a pool cover, being positioned through section 18.
Installation of section 18 includes leveling section 18 to be in alignment with deck 14. The leveling then positions angled surfaces 30 so that moisture collected in section 18 is directed to low portion 32 and from there into the drain.
Another advantage of the present invention is that formed U-shaped section 18 provides for the drainage of moisture from section 18 along angled surfaces 30 toward low portion/drain opening 32, which provides drainage by way of drain line 34 to the entire auto cover assembly 16. In any installations in which a waterproof interface between endcaps 20 and 22 with section 18 is not required, endcaps 20 and 22 may be simply positioned so that offset portions 38 and 62 appropriately interface with non-offset portions of endcap 20 and section 18, as illustrated in
Although auto cover assembly 16 has been illustrated as existing with multiple sections a complete integral unit composed of a single monolithic structure is likewise included as an embodiment of the present invention. Sections 18 and endcaps 20 and 22 are of a monolithic construct having no assembly mechanisms utilized to form the individual shapes described herein. This advantageously allows the delivery to a pool installation site completely dimensionally formed sections that can be easily positioned without the need of assembly of panels and hardware, thereby eliminating necessary joints.
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.
