U.S. patent application number 13/470012 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-14 for pool cover protector.
This patent application is currently assigned to Plastimayd Corp.. The applicant listed for this patent is Mike Preuit. Invention is credited to Mike Preuit.
Application Number | 20130298325 13/470012 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49547494 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130298325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Preuit; Mike |
November 14, 2013 |
POOL COVER PROTECTOR
Abstract
A protector for a pool cover comprising a pad of sturdy material
attached along the edge of the cover.
Inventors: |
Preuit; Mike; (Oregon City,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Preuit; Mike |
Oregon City |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Plastimayd Corp.
Oregon City
OR
|
Family ID: |
49547494 |
Appl. No.: |
13/470012 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/498 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/498 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/00 20060101
E04H004/00 |
Claims
1. A pool cover, comprising (a) a primary layer; and (b) a
secondary layer having an edge, said secondary layer being smaller
than said primary layer, wherein said secondary layer is positioned
below said primary layer and joined to said primary layer over only
a part of said edge.
2. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein the secondary layer is
attached to the primary layer by a clip.
3. The pool cover of claim 2, wherein the clip is permanently
attached to the secondary layer.
4. The pool cover of claim 2, wherein the clip is elongate and
extends over the entire part of said edge that is attached to said
primary layer.
5. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein the secondary layer does not
absorb water.
6. A protector for a pool cover, comprising: (a) A pad comprising
flexible material, said pad having an edge; (b) A clip located
along part of said edge;
7. The protector of claim 6, wherein said clip is elongate; and
8. The protector of claim 7, wherein said clip comprises an
extruded polymer.
9. The protector of claim 6, wherein the protector does not absorb
water.
10. A method of protecting a pool cover, comprising the steps of:
(a) Providing a pad comprising flexible material; and (b) Attaching
the pad to a pool cover in a position that prevents damage to the
pool cover.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pad is smaller than the
pool cover.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pad has an edge, and the
pad is attached to the pool cover only a part of said edge.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the flexible material does not
absorb water.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Modern owners of backyard pools are not satisfied with
old-fashioned pool construction, and frequently demand naturalistic
features designed to give the impression of a pond rather than a
pool. Thus plants, areas of gravel, and rocks both above and below
the surface are combined with irregular pool shapes in custom
installations. Because of their unique shapes, such pools require
covers cut specifically for each individual pool. As with any
one-of-a-kind item, such covers can be quite expensive. In
addition, modern pool covers are often made with a mesh designed to
permit rainwater to pass through rather than be trapped on the
surface, where it must be pumped off.
[0003] The combination of naturalistic features and a custom mesh
pool cover can cause an expensive problem. When the cover is pulled
over the pool before being secured, and as wind and rain cause it
to ripple while in place, the cover can come in contact with rocks
or other features in the pool. These can fray or tear the cover,
necessitating repair or replacement. To prevent damage, pool owners
have often resorted to placing carpet remnants over their rocks
before installing pool covers. This solution, while reasonably
effective, is neither convenient nor aesthetically pleasing,
especially when the time comes to open the pool and sodden carpet
strips must be removed, along with any microorganisms that have
bred in the congenial environment of their fibers.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] A protector for a pool cover comprises a strip or sheet of
sturdy, abrasion resistant material, which can be placed between
the pool cover and any object that might cause damage. The material
is attached along part of its edge to the edge of the pool cover,
and permitted to drape freely downward from the attachment,
covering the object. The protector may be attached before the cover
is placed over the pool and remains attached during removal,
eliminating the need to place or remove separate protective devices
such as carpet remnants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the pool cover protector.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment
attached to a pool cover, being pulled into place over an
obstruction.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a section along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showing the
shape of the preferred clip attached to the edge of the pool
cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a pool cover protector 5. The
protector comprises a pad 10 made of a sheet of an
abrasion-resistant, flexible material which does not absorb water,
for instance vinyl-coated fabric. The edge 12 of this pad may be
sealed or basted in a manner designed to prevent unraveling and to
provide an attractive edge. Along one part of the edge 12 a clip 14
is attached. The clip 14 is preferably formed from a strip of
extruded polymer, but may also comprise metal or cast or injection
molded polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the clip 14 is extruded
PVC. Preferably the clip 14 has an elongate shape allowing it to
grip along its entire length, and is slideably engaged with the
finished edge of the pool cover 16, allowing for easy adjustment.
However, it may also be made of several smaller sub-clips spaced
out along the edge 12, or clipped in such a way as to resist
movement. Additionally, the clip 14 may be replaced by a
hook-and-loop fabric attachment, grommets, or any other means of
attachment which can secure the protector in place. When an
elongate polymer clip is used, it is preferably attached by an RF
welding process, although other methods, such as gluing or
riveting, are also possible. In an alternate embodiment, the
protector 5 can also be permanently sewn onto the cover 16, so that
the cover has a primary layer shaped like the pool and a secondary
layer below the primary layer. This is not ideal because the cover
is more difficult to manufacture and the protector is more
difficult to replace when worn.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the pool cover protector 5
attached to a pool cover 16. The clip 14 is used to secure the pad
10 to the pool cover 16 along the edge 18 of the cover 16. The pad
10 then drapes downward under the influence of gravity. When the
cover 16 is moved over a pool at the end of the swimming season,
the pad 10 contacts any underwater obstruction 20 that might damage
the cover 16, as shown in FIG. 3. Any abrasion or damage caused by
the obstruction 20 is absorbed by the pad 10.
[0010] Pad 10 is preferably constructed of a sturdy material, so
the potential for damage is minimal. Pad 10 is much smaller than
the pool cover 16, made of relatively inexpensive material rather
than the expensive water-transmitting mesh which is common in cover
16, and can be mass-manufactured in standard sizes and shapes. Thus
the protector 5 can be replaced when worn much more cheaply than
the cover 16.
[0011] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description
and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such
terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features
shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that
the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *