Swimming pool cover assembly

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a swimming pool cover assembly useful to facilitate the installation of a cover having the tendency to sink when placed on the surface of the pool. The cover assembly comprises a plastic sheet and a flotation device. The sheet has a size and configuration generally adapted to cover the water surface of the pool, a top side, and a bottom side provided with one or more fasteners. The flotation device has one or more complimentary fasteners to permit assembly to and disassembly from the bottom side of the sheet. The floatation device also has sufficient buoyancy to maintain the sheet at or near the water surface when the sheet and attached floatation device are placed on the water during installation of the cover over the pool.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates, generally, to covers for use on outdoor swimming pools and, more particularly, to a cover assembly useful for covering a swimming pool with a relatively heavy material that tends to make the cover sink when placed on the water.

[0002] It is well known in the swimming pool trade that covers can be very useful in protecting the pool and reducing the amount of debris that otherwise would find its way into the pool water without the cover. This is particularly true when the pool will be out of service for extended periods of time, such as over the winter months. One category of pool cover that has been found advantageous is the PVC cover which is relatively opaque and reduces pool water contamination by reason of photosynthesis. While PVC pool covers have enjoyed significant success in the market, they nonetheless suffer from the disadvantage associated with the high density of the PVC. When first placed on the pool surface during installation they tend to sink below the water surface, making the remaining installation process more difficult.

[0003] It would be desirable if a PVC pool cover assembly were devised that would retain the advantages of PVC covers and yet facilitate the installation of these PVC covers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to a swimming pool cover assembly useful to facilitate the installation of a cover having the tendency to sink when placed on the surface of the pool. The cover assembly comprises a plastic sheet and a flotation device. The sheet has a size and configuration generally adapted to cover the water surface of the pool, a top side, and a bottom side provided with one or more fasteners. The flotation device has one or more complimentary fasteners to permit assembly to and disassembly from the bottom side of the sheet. The floatation device also has sufficient buoyancy to maintain the sheet at or near the water surface when the sheet and attached floatation device are placed on the water during installation of the cover over the pool.

[0005] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the floatation device takes the form of an elongated tube having a foam core and is fastened to the bottom side of the sheet by means of Velcro fasteners. The tube and core are most preferably pliable with little shape memory so that the tube may be easily folded or rolled up for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one preferred embodiment of the present invention as placed over a typical swimming pool during installation;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the disassembled components of the cover assembly, with the sheet and floatation device folded for convenient storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] With reference to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the pool cover assembly of the present invention is shown positioned over a typical in-ground swimming pool. The cover assembly includes a sheet of plastic material 10 and a floatation device 12.

[0011] The plastic sheet 10 may be made from a polyvinylchloride film and has a size and configuration adapted to fit over and fully cover the pool. A typical weight for sheet 10 is about 8 to 12 ounces per square yard or a film thickness in the range of 15-16 mils. While illustrated as rectangular in FIG. 1, sheet 10 can have any shape as necessary to completely cover the pool. Plastic sheet 10 has a top side 14 and a bottom side 16, with one or more fasteners 18 appropriately attached to the bottom side.

[0012] The floatation device is depicted here to comprise an elongated tube having a tube wall 20, with one or more complimentary fasteners 22 fixed to the tube wall and adapted to cooperate with fasteners 18, thereby permitting assembly of the tube to the underside of the sheet. The illustrated fasteners are Velcro patches, but any of a number of other fasteners such as snaps, buttons, hooks and so forth may also be used. The fasteners 18 and 22 permit the assembly and disassembly of the floatation device 12 to sheet 10. The elongated tube acts as a housing for a core 24 having a relatively low density so that the floatation device 12 has sufficient buoyancy to maintain the cover assembly at or near the surface of the pool when the cover assembly is first placed on the water during the initial steps of cover installation. A variety of materials may be used to form the core 24, including various foams, cork, or pellets. It is particularly preferred that the core 24 be made of a material that has little or no resilient or shape memory, such as loosely packed Styrofoam pellets, so that upon disassembly of the cover both the sheet 10 and the floatation device 12 may be compactly folded for storage, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0013] In FIG. 1, the floatation device 12 includes two tubes running down the longitudinal length of the sheet 10. However, a single tube placed along the centerline of the sheet 10 may be employed. The present invention also contemplates other floatation device configurations, such as square, rectangular, triangular or circular pillow shapes.

[0014] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a water filled swimming pool comprising: a plastic sheet having a size and configuration generally adapted to cover the water surface of the pool; the sheet also having a top side and a bottom side provided with one or more fasteners; a floatation device having one or more complimentary fasteners to permit assembly and disassembly of the floatation device to the bottom of the sheet; the floatation device having sufficient buoyancy to maintain the sheet at or near the water surface and to thereby facilitate installation of the cover over the pool.

2. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the plastic sheet is 8 to 12 ounces per square yard.

3. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the fasteners and complimentary fasteners are Velcro components.

4. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the floatation device comprises an elongated tube having the complimentary fasteners arranged along the length of the tube.

5. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein when the sheet and floatation device are disassembled both are capable of being folded into a relatively compact form to facilitate storage.

6. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the floatation device comprises a plurality of buoyant members each having at least one complimentary fastener.

7. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the plastic sheet is comprised of a plastic material having a specific gravity greater than 1.

8. The pool cover of claim 1 wherein the plastic sheet is a polyvinyl chloride file.

9. The pool cover of claim 4 wherein a plurality of elongated tubes comprise the floatation device.