SWIMMING POOL COVER WITH SECURED FLOAT

Abstract

A swimming pond cover has an underside with at least one tab secured to the underside. The tab has a grommet configured to receive it tether attached to a float. The float is positioned in the center of a swimming pool on the surface of the water and is secured in its position by being tethered to the pool cover, which is secured to the wall of the pool.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/664,344 tiled Jun. 26, 2012, which is herein incorporated h reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a swimming pool cover support, a covered swimming pool, and to a method of covering a swimming pool. More particularly, the invention relates to a cover support for a swimming pool and to a method of covering such a pool.

2. Background of the Art

The usual winterizing procedure for a swimming pool involves cleaning the pool, applying chemicals to keep the water free from algae and bacteria, the chemicals also including an antifreezing agent to keep the water from freezing with the concomitant expansion of the ice which could burst the pool. A float, such as an inflated plastic balloon is then placed on the surface of the water and secured in place at the center of the pool. Then, a cover, such as is tarpaulin, is pulled over the inflated balloon. When the tarpaulin is filially manipulated into its final position, it is secured in place by tying or anchoring same to the side and/or the desk of the pool.

Various methods of combining a pool cover with as floatation means are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685234 to Terreri discloses a pool cover support comprising a balloon for placement in its uninflated condition on the surface of the water in a swimming pool, an air hose having one end attached to the balloon and provided at its other end with as valve. The hose is of sufficient length that when the balloon is secured in a predetermined position, the valve can be located outside the pool, whereby the balloon can be inflated or later deflated. A covered pool has an edge and is filled with water. A pool cover covers the pool and overlaps the pools edge, and a pool cover support comprises a balloon which is in a predetermined position on the water and underneath the cover, an air hose ha vg one said attached to the balloon and a valve at it other end. The hose is sufficiently long, that the valve is outside the pool, whereby the balloon can be inflated or later deflated with the cover in place. A method of covering a pool utilizes a cover support including a balloon and comprises the steps of placing a cover over the pool and the balloon and thereafter pumping an into the balloon to change same to its inflated condition.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,479 to Bonnenu discloses a sheet cover for a swimming pool adapted to become arched over the pool when air under pressure is projected under the cover. The cover has a pending skirt adapted to hang in the water adjacent the peripheral sidewall. The skirt is provided, with a series of holes at a distance from its lower edge. When the cover is arched, the skirt raises until the an leaks through the holes to maintain the cover at a desired height.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,239 to Gadsby discloses an inflatable swimming pool cover which, when installed and inflated, floats on the swimming pool water's surface and has a bulbous surface rising above the level of the swimming pool's perimeter. A small blower with its exhaust directed into the interior space of the cover initially inflates the cover and thereafter maintains the cover during its use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,704 to Genzel et al. discloses a pool cover utilizing multiple, laterally displaced air compartments which are fixed in location with respect to each other, and are integral portions of the cover. The air compartments may be interleaved by having laterally overlapping portions in order to minimize sagging which may result if any air compartment were to have an air leak. The cover can include a removable exterior portion which is exposed, and an interior portion containing the air compartments which are in contact with the pool surface.

Usually, a float is secured in a desired position by tethering it to the sides of the pool frame. The pool cover is then pulled over the float and also secured to the pool frame. This arrangement has several disadvantages.

First, once the float is in place, the pool cover must be lifted over the height of the float, which can be an additional three or four feet over the height of the water surface. Thus, deploying the pool cover can be an awkward process.

Secondly, rainwater accumulation adds weight to the pool cover, which then presses down on the float. But since the float is tethered to the sides of the pool, this added weight is transferred to the tethers, which puts stress on the Walls of the pool.

Moreover, floats can be punctured and become deflated. And a deflated float will sink in the water. Recovery of the deflated float is time consuming and inconvenient.

What is yet needed is a pool cover and float, arrangement which avoids these disadvantages.

SUMMARY

A swimming pool cover is provided herein which has an underside with at least one tab secured to the underside. The tab has a grommet configured to receive a tether attached to a float. The float is positioned in the center of a swimming pool on the surface of the water and is secured in its position by being tethered to the pool cover, which is secured to the wall of the pool. By securing the float to the pool cover instead of the pool frame, the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the underside of the pool cover of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective. view of the attachment of the tab to the underside of the pool cover; and,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the pool cover securing a float in a swimming pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention is directed to a swimming pool cover which has means for securing a float in a desired position on the surface of the water. The present invention is particularly suited for use with above ground swimming pools, although it can also be used for in-ground swimming pools. The peripheral edge regions of the pool cover are affixed to the perimeter of the swimming pool by a conventional manner. The invention is advantageously employed for winterizing the swimming pool or maintaining it during a period of inactivity after the swimming season. The pool cover prevents debris from entering the swimming pool and the float raises the pool cover so as to let rain water flow off and outside the pool.

Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially now to FIGS. 1 and 2. the present invention 100 includes a swimming pool cover sheet 101 having at least one and preferably two or more tabs 110 secured to the underside of the swimming pool cover sheet 101. The swimming pool cover sheet 101 is fabricated from a flexible waterproof sheet of synthetic polymeric material. Preferred materials for the fabrication of the pool cover sheet 101 include vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) and polyethylene, although other flexible polymeric materials can also be used. The swimming pool cover sheet 101 can be circular in shape, oval or rectangular. The diameter of the swimming pool cover can typically range from 8 feet to 27 feet, in accordance with the size of the swimming pool.

Tabs 110 can he fabricated from any flexible polymeric material suitable for the purposes described herein, although said tabs 110 are preferably flexible members 111 fabricated from the same polymeric, material as the cover sheet 101. Each tab 110 can have a polygonal shape, which can be, for example, triangular or quadrangular. Alternatively, the tabs 110 can be hemispherical. A base edge 112 of each tab is attached to the underside of the swimming pool cover sheet 101 by, for example stitching, adhesive or thermal welding, or a combination of these attachment methods. Tabs 110 freely bend at their respective base edge 112. Tabs 110 typically range in size from about 1 to about 3 inches as measured from the base edge 112 to the opposite free edge or point of the tab.

The tabs each include a grommet 113 through which a cord or tether can be disposed as explained below. The grommets can be fabricated from any metal or high strength plastic suitable for use in wet environments and typically can range in size from about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch in diameter.

Referring also now to FIG. 3, a float 20 is secured in position in a swimming pool 10. The float 20 can be an inflatable float or it can comprise a buoyant polymeric foam or any other material having a density less than water. Suitable buoyant foams include closed cell foams such as e.g., Styrofoam® brand foam, and are typically enclosed within a cover sheet, for example, of polymeric, material. The float has tabs 21 to which tethers 22 are connected.

In a preferred embodiment, an inflated float 20 is first secured to the swimming pool cover 110. The tethers 72 are each disposed through grommets 113 of the respective tabs 110. The swimming pool cover 110 is arranged over float 20 and then positioned over the water of the swimming pool such that the float is in the desired position. As the float is lightweight process of covering the swimming pool with the float already attached to the pool cover is straightforward and easily done. The edges of cover sheet 101 are then secured to the walls 11 of the swimming pool 10 at attachment areas 13. Alternatively, the float 20 can be inflated before or after being positioned on the surface of the pool water 12.

As can be readily appreciated, if the float for any reason deflates it can be easily recovered since it is tethered to the swimming pool cover. When the swimming pool cover is removed, the float automatically is removed with it.

Also, there is no stress transferred from the weight of the swimming pool cover, through the float tethers to the sides of the swimming pool since the float is tethered only to the pool cover.

While the above description contains many specifies, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cover having an underside with at least one tab secured to the underside, said tab having a grommet configured to receive a tether attached to a float.

2. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein swimming pool cover is fabricated from a flexible, waterproof sheet.

3. The swimming pool cover of claim 2 wherein the flexible waterproof sheet comprises a synthetic polymer selected from polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene.

4. The swimming pool cover of claim 3 wherein the tab is fabricated from the same material as the swimming pool cover.

5. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein the tab has a polygonal shape wherein one edge of the tab is attached to the underside of the swimming pool cover by stitching.

6. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein the tab has a polygonal shape wherein one edge of the tab is attached to the underside of the swimming pool cover by adhesive or thermal welding.

7. The swimming pool cover of claim 5 wherein the tab is triangular in shape.

8. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein said swimming pool cover is circular in shape.

9. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein said swimming pool cover is oval in shape.

10. The swimming pool. cover of claim 1 wherein said swimming pool corer is rectangular in shape.

11. A system for covering a swimming pool comprising:

a) a float; and

b) a swimming pool cover having an underside with at least one tab secured to the underside, each said tab having a grommet configured to receive a tether attached to the float.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the float is an inflatable float.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the float comprises a buoyant polymeric foam.

14. The swimming pool cover of claim 11 wherein the tab and the swimming pool cover are fabricated from the same material.

15. The swimming pool cover of claim 11 wherein the tab has a polygonal shape and wherein one edge of the tab is attached to the underside of the swimming pool cover by stitching, adhesive or thermal welding.

16. The swimming pool cover of claim 15 wherein the tab is triangular in shape.

17. The swimming pool cover of claim 1 wherein said swimming pool cover is circular, oval or rectangular in shape.

18. A method for covering a swimming pool comprising:

a) providing a float;

b) providing a swimming pool cover having an underside with one or more tabs secured to the underside, said tab(s) each having a grommet configured to receive at respective tether attached to the float;

c) tying the tether attached to the float to the grommet in the at least one tab to attach the float to the swimming pool cover; and

d) positioning the swimming pool cover with attached float over the swimming pool cover.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the swimming pool cover includes two or more tabs.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the float is an inflatable float, and the method further includes the step of inflating the float.