Pool cover puller/extender

Abstract

A manual cover-extender comprises a tube, pipe, or plate attaching to a cover to evenly distribute tension caused by the force of pulling along a front edge of the cover. A pulling rope or chain is attached to the tube, pipe, or plate. The pulling rope or chain is attached to a second rope or chain longer than the length of a surface to be covered, and is manually pulled to extend the cover over the surface to be covered.

Description

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/339,194, filed on 1 Mar. 2010 and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to means for extending a cover over a surface, and more particularly, to means for extending a cover over a surface using an attachable cover-extender.

(2) Description of the Related Art

There are a number of instances in which it is desired to extend a cover over an area, especially where the cover is to be extended and removed several times. A common example of this type of cover is a swimming pool cover. Pool covers are commonly used to cover residential or commercial swimming pools. Pool covers can increase pool safety, reduce heat loss, and inhibit chlorine and water evaporation from the pool. Additionally, covers can prevent insects, dirt, and debris from entering the pool, as well as minimizing algae and calcium build-up within the pool.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,407 to Zook discloses a floatable pool cover having a tie line, attached to a center of one of two floatable rigid members, used to pull the cover over the pool. This cover is substantially rigid and used for rectangular pools only. User's Manual, Step-Saver® Manual Pool Cover, 2006, page 4, made by Cover Pools Incorporated, shows a pool cover accessory for one or two people to manually cover a pool using pull ropes attached to a leading edge yoke, though it also includes tracks and wheeled assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,900 to Lamb describes a pool cover with a raised leading edge and bowed tubular member to which a pool cover is attached.

It is desired to provide a pool cover-extender that can be utilized with all types of covers and can be removed and reused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a cover-extender that can be utilized with all types of covers and can be removed and reused.

In accordance with the objects of this invention a removable manual cover-extender is provided. The manual cover-extender comprises a tube, pipe, or plate attaching to a cover to evenly distribute tension caused by the force of pulling along a front edge of the cover. A pulling rope or chain is attached to the tube, pipe, or plate. The pulling rope or chain is attached to a second rope or chain longer than the length of a surface to be covered, and is manually pulled to extend the cover over the surface to be covered.

Also in accordance with the object of the invention, a method for extending a cover over a surface is achieved. A cover-extender is attached to a cover. A rope or chain longer than the length of the surface is attached to the cover-extender. The cover-extender is manually pulled to extend the cover over the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this description, there is shown:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically represents a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 schematically represents an enlarged view of a tube or pipe in the first or second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a manually powered cover-extender which includes a tube or pipe or plate that attaches to a cover by means of elastic cord or rope or chains, for example. The means of attaching a cover to the cover-extender of this invention may vary, depending upon the application. One form of attaching the cover to the elastic shock cord/rope/chain is by means of a clip secured to the elastic shock cord/rope/chain. Another form of attaching the elastic shock cord/rope/chain to the cover is by the use of a grommet secured to the cover and attaching the elastic shock cord/rope/chain to the grommet.

All applications of this invention utilize a tube or pipe or plate to evenly distribute the tension placed upon the cover by the pulling force along the front edge of the cover to reduce the likelihood of tearing the cover while extending it and to extend the cover in an orderly manner over the intended surface area. A rope or a chain is then attached to the tube or pipe or plate to form a pulling rope or chain. This pulling rope or chain is attached to the tube or pipe or plate in a manner that evenly distributes the tension of the pulling force along the length of the tube or pipe or plate. A second rope or chain slightly longer than the length of the area to be covered is then attached to the pulling rope by means of a quick release device (such as a carabineer or hook) to manually pull the cover to the extended position. Once the cover is in the extended position, the pulling rope is disconnected and stored until needed again.

For applications intended to be used over a liquid surface, the tension distribution tube or pipe 10 would be injected with closed cell marine foam 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This marine foam allows the tension distribution tube or pipe to remain buoyant while pulling the cover over a liquid surface.

This invention is intended to reduce the amount of manpower needed to extend a cover over a surface area. Application of this invention can be used wherever a surface area is needed to be covered and typically re-covered to maintain the integrity of the underlying area including, but not limited to, swimming pools, sports fields, construction areas, HAZMAT sites, police investigation sites, and green house construction. A frame may be installed around an intended area, whereby this invention is utilized to pull a cover over the frame.

In addition, this invention may be used as an anchoring device to hold a cover in place at one end while the cover is being pulled across or rolled out over a surface area.

Depending upon the type of usage, utilizing the clip or grommet methods of attachment and varying the pull bar material creates a multipurpose pull for both light duty and heavy duty purposes. This can be utilized in the fields of construction, agriculture, HAZMAT containment, sports fields, salvage, or wherever a large surface area material needs to be pulled.

The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing figures. FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the invention in which a tube or pipe 10 is provided. Preferably, the tube or pipe may be of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. Depending upon the application, the tube or pipe can be constructed out of any material that is lightweight and will sustain the pressure of the force applied by the cover being pulled. Also depending upon the application, the tube or pipe may be formed or bent to the leading edge of the cover being pulled.

If the tube or pipe 10 is to be used in a liquid environment, such as for a swimming pool cover, the pipe 10 should be injected with marine foam 11, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the pipe will float. There are holes in the pipe so that an injected foam which seals the pipe must be used. The pipe or tube 10 is attached to the cover 20 using cords 12. For example, these may be elastic cords such as tarp bungee cords, rope, or chains. The cords, ropes, or chains are attached to the cover 20 using a grommet 16 secured to the cover and attaching the cord, rope, or chain 12 to the grommet, as shown in FIG. 1. Another form of attaching the cover 20 to the cord, rope, or chain is by means of a clip 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where a skid plate 15 is used in place of the tube or pipe. Depending upon the application, the skid plate can be constructed out of any material that is lightweight and will sustain the pressure of the force applied by the cover being pulled. Also depending upon the application, the skid plate may be formed or bent to the leading edge of the cover being pulled. The skid plate 15 is attached to the cover 20 using cords 12. For example, these may be elastic cords such as tarp bungee cords, rope, or chains. The cords, ropes, or chains are attached to the cover 20 using a grommet 16 secured to the cover and attaching the cord, rope, or chain 12 to the grommet, as shown in FIG. 3. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cover 20 may be attached to the cord, rope, or chain by means of a clip 14.

The tube or pipe 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the plate 15 in FIG. 3 evenly distribute the tension placed upon the cover by the pulling force along the front edge of the cover. A rope or a chain 18 is attached to the tube or pipe or plate to form a pulling rope or chain. This pulling rope or chain is attached to the tube or pipe or plate in a manner that evenly distributes the tension of the pulling force along the length of the tube or pipe or plate.

A second rope or chain 22 slightly longer than the length of the area to be covered is then attached to the pulling rope 18 by means of a quick release device 21 (such as a carabineer or hook) to manually pull the cover to the extended position. Once the cover is in the extended position, the pulling rope is disconnected and stored until needed again.

The pool cover-extender of the present invention can be used for a pool cover or other type of cover of any size or shape. The extender can be used with existing covers of any kind. It is easy to attach the extender by inserting the cords into grommets or by clipping the cords to the cover. The pulling rope is attached by a quick release device. The extender of the invention is flexible. Flexing is useful especially for non-rectangular covers. The rope connection points 13 determine the degree of flex. Multiple attachment points 17 or 19 to the cover distribute force equally over the width of the cover.

For example, using the extender for a pool cover, the foam-filled tube 10 should be shorter than the width of the pool. The tube 10 will be in the water while the cover is being pulled over the swimming pool. The foam filling the tube will cause the tube to float on the surface of the water. The multiple attachment points 17 allows for conforming to the cover material for even distribution of the pulling force, allowing for oval-shaped covers, for example. The PVC tube does not have sharp edges, unlike metal tubes, so the danger of cutting the liner of the pool is avoided.

The extender of the invention can be utilized with all types of covers and can be removed and reused. Depending upon the type of usage, utilizing the clip or grommet methods of attachment and varying the pull bar material create a multipurpose pull for both light duty and heavy duty purposes. This can be utilized in the fields of construction, agriculture, HAZMAT containment, sports fields, salvage, or wherever a large surface area material needs to be pulled.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cover-extender comprising:

a tube, pipe, or plate attaching to a cover to evenly distribute tension caused by force of pulling along a front edge of said cover;

a pulling rope or chain attached to said tube, pipe, or plate; and

a second rope or chain longer than the length of a surface to be covered wherein said pulling rope or chain is attached to said second rope or chain and is manually pulled to extend said cover over said surface to be covered.

2. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said tube, pipe, or plate comprises a material that is both lightweight and able to sustain pressure of said force of said pulling.

3. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said tube, pipe, or plate is formed or bent to said front edge of said cover.

4. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said tube, pipe, or plate attaches to said cover by means of elastic cord, rope, or chains through grommets in said cover or by clipping to said cover, in one or more places along said front edge of said cover.

5. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said second rope or chain is attached to said pulling rope or chain using a quick-release device.

6. The cover-extender according to claim 5 wherein said quick-release device is a carabineer or hook.

7. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said surface is a liquid surface and wherein said tube or pipe is injected with a material to provide buoyancy to said tube or pipe on said liquid surface.

8. The cover-extender according to claim 7 wherein said material is closed cell marine foam.

9. The cover-extender according to claim 1 wherein said cover-extender is attached to any type of existing cover and wherein said cover-extender can be removed and reused.

10. A method for extending a cover over a surface comprising:

attaching a cover-extender to a cover;

attaching a rope or chain longer than the length of said surface to said cover-extender; and

manually pulling said cover-extender to extend said cover over said surface.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said cover-extender comprises a tube, pipe, or plate to evenly distribute tension caused by force of said pulling along a front edge of said cover.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said tube, pipe, or plate comprises a material that is both lightweight and able to sustain pressure of said force of said pulling.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said tube, pipe, or plate is formed or bent to said front edge of said cover.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein said cover-extender attaches to said cover by means of elastic cord, rope, or chains through grommets in said cover or by clipping to said cover, in one or more places along said front edge of said cover.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein said attaching said rope or chain longer than the length of said surface to said cover-extender comprises:

attaching a pulling rope or chain to said cover-extender; and

attaching said rope or chain longer than the length of said surface to said pulling rope or chain using a quick-release device.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said manually pulling said cover-extender to extend said cover over said surface comprises:

pulling said pulling rope or chain; and

thereafter detaching said pulling rope or chain by disengaging said quick-release device.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said quick-release device is a carabineer or hook.

18. The method according to claim 10 wherein:

said surface is a liquid surface;

said cover-extender comprises a tube or pipe to evenly distribute tension caused by force of said pulling along a front edge of said cover; and

said tube or pipe is injected with a material to provide buoyancy to said tube or pipe on said liquid surface.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said material is closed cell marine foam.

20. The method according to claim 10 wherein said cover-extender can be removed and reused.