U.S. patent application number 14/305654 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-18 for safety pool cover.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pete Blaschick. Invention is credited to Pete Blaschick.
Application Number | 20140366260 14/305654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52017931 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140366260 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blaschick; Pete |
December 18, 2014 |
Safety Pool Cover
Abstract
A pool cover that is adapted to rest directly on the surface of
the pool water is provided. The present pool cover consists of a
series of planar panels composed of transparent, durable plastic
material and a flotation portion disposed about the periphery of
the panels. The set of panels are preferably connected together by
straps with hook and loop fastener material or other such
connectors. When connected together, the plurality of panels form a
single contiguous unit that is adapted to cover the entire surface
area of a pool. The present pool cover is superior to conventional
pool covers because it is adapted to bear weight, preventing
children and pets from falling into the pool through the cover and
becoming entangled in the collapsed flexible material.
Inventors: |
Blaschick; Pete; (Henderson,
NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Blaschick; Pete |
Henderson |
NV |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52017931 |
Appl. No.: |
14/305654 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61835165 |
Jun 14, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/499 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/499 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/08 20060101
E04H004/08 |
Claims
1. A pool cover, comprising: a rigid and transparent planar panel
having a peripheral edge; a flotation member permanently disposed
about said peripheral edge; wherein said flotation member is
adapted to support said planar panel above a pool surface; wherein
said planar panel allows sunlight to pass therethrough and retain
heat within pool water; at least one connector disposed on said
planar panel; wherein a plurality of said planar panels are adapted
to be removably secured together via said at least one connector to
cover said pool surface.
2. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein said rigid panels are
composed of PMMA.
3. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein said flotation member is
closed cell foam material.
4. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises hook
and loop fastener material.
5. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein said flotation member
comprises a circular cross section with a diameter that is uniform
over the length thereof.
6. The pool cover of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises hook
and loop fastener material extending along said flotation member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/835,165 filed on Jun. 14, 2013, entitled "Solar
Safety System." The above identified patent application is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of
disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to pool covers. More
specifically, the present invention relates to pool covers that are
adapted to prevent drowning incidents.
[0004] Conventional pool covers are composed of flexible material
that collapses under the weight of pets, children, and other
individuals who step thereon. These individuals who unwittingly
step onto these flexible pool covers then become entangled in the
pool cover as it collapses into the pool, which restricts their
limbs and puts them in greater danger of drowning. The danger
associated with conventional pool covers is only increased by the
fact that after an individual has fallen into the pool, if the
individual is not completely entangled in the cover, then the cover
often returns to its resting position, concealing the drowning
victim from potential rescuers. Furthermore, because pool covers
are often opaque, children often do not realize that they cannot
step on the pool cover because the danger of the water is hidden
thereunder.
[0005] The present invention therefore provides a safety pool cover
that is composed of rigid, transparent material and is adapted to
support the weight of an individual standing thereon. The present
invention lessens the risk of drowning incidents because
individuals cannot fall through the present pool cover and the
present invention is also transparent, which allows individuals to
appreciate the fact that the present pool cover is resting on top
of a potentially dangerous pool. The transparent material of the
panels also allows sunlight to pass therethrough, passively and
continuously heating the pool water.
[0006] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0007] Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to
safety pool covers or floating pool solar heaters that are adapted
to passively heat the pool's water. These include devices that have
been patented and published in patent application publications.
Safety pool covers generally comprise flexible material that is
held in tension when disposed over a pool surface so that it does
not collapse when individuals step thereon. Floating pool solar
heaters generally comprise devices that are untethered or otherwise
restricted in their movement and are adapted to freely float along
the pool surface and passively store solar energy in order to heat
the pool water. The following is a list of devices deemed most
relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for
the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects
of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks
existing in the prior art.
[0008] Safety pool covers currently known in the prior art
generally comprise flexible material that is simply held in tension
when disposed across the surface of a pool so that it does not
collapse when an individual steps thereon. These devices are
nonetheless problematic because the tensioning means utilized by
these devices fails on occasion. These types of safety pool covers
are extremely dangerous if the tensioning means fails or is
otherwise incapable of supporting the weight of an individual
thereon because there is generally no way to determine if the
tensioning means has failed until the pool cover collapses
underneath an individual. The present invention, on the other hand,
is composed of rigid, durable material and does not rely upon a
separate mechanical means that can fail to keep the pool cover safe
and able to support an individual's weight.
[0009] Floating pool heaters generally comprises transparent
floating panels that are adapted to reflect solar energy into the
pool water or comprise a plurality of air-filled pockets that help
to trap thermal energy in order to passively heat the pool even
after the sun has set. These devices, however, are not adapted to
support the weight of an individual thereon and generally
untethered or connected in any way so that they freely float along
the pool's surface. Conversely, the present invention comprises a
plurality of connectable, rigid panels that are adapted to trap
heat thereunder and are further adapted to cover the entire area of
the pool surface, preventing evaporative heat loss. Furthermore,
the connected series of panels form a rigid pool cover that is
adapted to support the weight of individuals without
collapsing.
[0010] The present invention comprises a plurality of panels
composed of transparent, rigid material that have a flotation
member extending along their periphery and are adapted to be
connected to each other in order to cover the entire surface area
of a pool. The present invention both passively heats a pool by
allowing solar energy to pass therethrough and creates a rigid
surface that is adapted to support the weight of an individual
without collapsing and putting that individual at risk of drowning.
Furthermore, because the present invention is adapted to cover the
entire surface area of a pool, it also prevents evaporative heat
loss, which can account for 70% of the heat loss from a pool. The
present invention therefore provides a means to protect individuals
from drowning by falling into a covered pool, while simultaneously
passively heating and preventing heat loss from a pool. The present
invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior
art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art
for an improvement to existing safety pool cover devices and pool
solar heating devices. In this regard the instant invention
substantially fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of pool covers now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides a new safety pool cover wherein the same can be
utilized for providing the user with a means to cover his or her
pool in a safe manner that prevents drowning incidents, while
simultaneously passively allowing the pool to be heated via solar
energy.
[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved pool cover device that has all of the
advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
pool cover that is adapted to bear an individual's weight, thereby
preventing the cover from collapsing and entangling the individual
within the pool.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pool
cover that is composed of transparent material that allows solar
energy to pass therethrough to heat the pool water.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pool
cover that allows the pool water to freely circulate
thereunder.
[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
pool cover that is adapted to be arrangeable in a set of
connectable panels.
[0017] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a pool cover that prevents debris from entering the pool
water.
[0018] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
pool cover that may be readily fabricated from materials that
permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.
[0019] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and
manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood
after a review of the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are
provided throughout.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a plurality of panels of
the present invention connected together to cover the surface area
of a pool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like
reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like
or similar elements of the safety pool cover. For the purposes of
presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention,
the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing a
pool cover that is adapted to bear an individual's weight and
thereby reducing the occurrence of drowning incidents. The figures
are intended for representative purposes only and should not be
considered to be limiting in any respect.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention. The present invention comprises a rigid,
planar panel 11 having a flotation member 12 extending around the
peripheral edge of the panel 11. The panel 11 is composed of
durable, transparent material that is capable of supporting an
individual's weight, such as PMMA, or other suitable material. In
some embodiments, the panel 11 may be composed of buoyant material
that is transparent. The transparent nature of the panel 11 allows
the pool to receive direct sunlight. In this way, the heat from the
sun can raise the temperature of the pool water and retain heat,
thereby eliminating the need to utilize pool heaters. In the
exemplary embodiment, the panel 11 may be configured to cover a
portion of the pool surface. As such, the present invention may
comprise a plurality of panels 11 that may interlock with one
another, wherein each of the panels 11 is shaped differently in
order to cover different parts of the pool surface. Alternatively,
a single panel 11 may be configured to cover the entire pool
surface.
[0025] The flotation member 12 is preferably permanently affixed to
the peripheral edge of the panel 11, thereby creating a single
contiguous unit. The floatation member 12 may be affixed to the
panel 11 by means of strong adhesive, or the like. Alternatively,
the flotation member 12 may be press fitted to the peripheral edges
of the panel 11. The flotation member 12 is composed of any buoyant
lightweight material that is adapted to support the weight of the
panel 11 and a user afloat, such as polyethylene foam or another
closed-cell foam material. The flotation member 12 may be either a
single contiguous piece of material or may comprise a plurality of
pieces of material arranged together along the perimeter of the
planar panel 11. The flotation member 12 may comprise a
substantially circular cross section having a diameter that is
uniform over its length so that the edges of the device may be
rounded. The flotation member 12 is adapted to support the panel 11
portion of the present invention on the surface of the pool,
creating a barrier between the pool water and the surrounding
environment. Accordingly, the density of the flotation member 12 is
less than the density of the panel 11. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the density of the flotation member 12 is
6.5-8.5 pounds per cubic foot.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view
of a plurality of panels of the present invention connected
together to cover the surface area of a pool. Multiple panels 11
can be held together via a plurality of connectors 13 disposed
about the periphery of the panels 11. In some embodiments of the
present invention, the panels 11 are held together via a permanent
connection, such as adhesives. In other embodiments of the present
invention, the panels 11 are held together via semi-permanent
connections, such as zip ties. In still other embodiments of the
present invention, the panels 11 are removably held together via
removable connectors 13, such as hook and loop fastener material 14
extending along the flotation member 12 around the peripheral edge
of the panels 11, as depicted.
[0027] The panels 11 are designed such that each of the edges of
the planar panel 11 rests flush against either the edge of an
adjacent panel 11 or the interior edge of the pool. This ensures
that when the panels 11 are connected together, they form a single
contiguous barrier over the pool surface, preventing debris,
animals, and children from falling therethrough into the pool.
Additionally, because the panels 11 flush against the edge of an
adjacent panel 11 or the interior edge of the pool, the panels 11
are prevented from shifting or moving during use. Furthermore,
because the panels 11 cover the entire surface area of the pool
when in place, they prevent evaporative heat loss from the pool, in
addition to passively heating the pool by allowing solar energy
therethrough. The shape of the panels 11 is freely customizable as
they can be specifically cut and designed for pools of various
designs.
[0028] Because the individual panels 11 are configured to cover
only a portion of the pool, the panels 11 are convenient to store
and transport. Additionally, the present invention may be
reversible so that either side of the panel 11 may be positioned
adjacent to the pool water surface.
[0029] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has
been shown and described in what is considered to be the most
practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however,
that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and
that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the
art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *