Abstract: A vent assembly is adapted to be installed over an aperture in a roof to enable ventilation. The vent assembly has a roofing panel attachable to a roof and a vent cap with attaches over the roofing panel and prevents precipitation from entering the assembly. The roofing panel has a flat panel section, an aperture perforating the panel section, a fence bounding the aperture, and a runoff cricket formed by one corner of the triangularly-shaped fence. The vent cap has a chamfered triangular shape matching that of the fence. The vent cap includes a runoff cover and interior air passages to enable air to pass from an attic space through the roofing panel and out through the vent cap. The distinctive shape of the vent assembly provides advantages in easily installing the assembly to a variety of roofs, both metallic and non-metallic.

Abstract: The swimming pool gateway has a gate that is best operated by an adult and a banner demanding attention for the presence of a responsible adult near the pool when there are children in the pool. The gateway has a front panel and a back panel. The front panel comprising a gate, and the back panel being mounted between the pool and the ladder of the pool. The back panel has a recess in a top rail thereof for integrally enclosing the ladder. The gateway has fencing panels that are assembled using six bolts. The gate has an arch there-over, and an inverted U-shaped frame is pivoted to the arch. This U-shaped frame has a latch mechanism to lock the gate when the U-shaped frame is in a lower position, and the U-shaped frame displays the banner when it is rotated to its upper position.

Abstract: Liquid covering disks configured to float on the surface of a body of liquid, including a body with an aperture at a periphery of the body, the aperture configured to allow a liquid to pass through, a plurality of ribs projecting from the body, and a wall protruding at the periphery of the body. A portion of the body, a portion of the plurality of ribs, and a portion of the wall define a cavity allowing a volume of a gas to be trapped in the cavity when the disk is deployed on the surface of the body of liquid. In some examples, a system of floating disks covers the surface of a body of liquid. Each disk includes an interlocking element configured to interact with a complementary interlocking element at an adjacent disk to form a floating arrangement of disks.

Abstract: A system for heating a pool of water is provided. An inlet is provided for liquid to be delivered to the pool of water. The system includes an attachment apparatus having a body defining a fluid passageway from a first opening to a second opening. A third opening is disposed between the first and second opening. The attachment connects to the inlet for receiving the liquid. An adjustable diverging mechanism is mounted to the attachment operable to redirect flow out of the third opening. A tube having a flow channel and thermally conductive outer surface is coupled to the third opening and extends out of the pool to be exposed to environmental conditions and absorb thermal energy. The liquid passing through the flow channel of the tube returns to the pool of liquid and heated when passing through the tube prior to returning to the pool.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat collection system for a roof, the system including a roof deck, a membrane upwardly adjacent of the roof deck; a fluid channel disposed between the membrane and the roof deck, the fluid channel having a defined entry port and a defined exit port, the entry port and the exit port being disposed in fluid communication via the fluid channel.

Abstract: An insulating cover for floating on liquid, such as in a spa, has an area for covering an area of the surface of the liquid. The cover generally comprises a first rectangle for covering a first area and a plurality of successive rectangular tubes connected to either the first rectangle or to a larger rectangle formed by the addition of a prior successive tube so as to form another rectangle for covering additional area. The amount of coverage area can be adjusted by selectively detaching tubes, such as by cutting them off, and by changing the amount of inflation of tubes such that the cover is adaptable to spas of different sizes. In an exemplary embodiment, tubes adjust both the width and length of the cover, and the cover is adapted for folding substantially in half when inflated.

Abstract: A soft, flexible, floating temperature regulating and evaporation reducing cover for a pool generally comprises an independently inflatable outer ring and central portion. Holes through the central portion permit egress of air from under the central portion when the cover is placed on water. Valves for chamber and cavity are located near one edge such that the cover may be deflated by rolling from an edge opposite the valves. Top and bottom films are adapted to absorb or reflect solar radiation to heat or cool the pool as desired. Magnets on the ring condition water and attach to similar floating covers to form rafts. For holding the cover in a pool during winds, the ring can be inflated with water or in an alternate embodiment, water anchors fill with water.

Abstract: A soft, flexible, floating solar heater for floating on liquid generally comprises an inflatable central portion and an inflatable outer ring. The central portion is constructed of upper and lower film bonded together at a central peripheral bond such that, upon inflation, the central portion contracts. A vertical band in the outer ring prevents buckling of the ring from inward contraction of the central portion upon inflation of the central portion. A non-inflated spacer ring may be positioned between the central portion and outer ring to disperse contraction forces and reduce the tendency for the outer ring to buckle.

Abstract: A blanket of many floats of like configuration and each incorporating a polygonal parametrical rims housing a plurality of radial spokes configured to, in alternate axial relationship, form cells closed at the respective one ends and opening axially at their respective opposite ends. The system of the present of invention includes plumbing with a series of water jets for generating a current to flow fluid in a controlled fashion from and to a storage tank to selectively deploy and retrieve the floats.

Abstract: A heat retaining cover and a method for retaining heat in swimming pools is provided. In one embodiment, the cover includes a plurality of interlocking floatation panels, at least one pair of hinges attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, a second pair of hinges attached to the opposite edge of of the reverse face of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, a second hinge having an aperture formed therein, the second edge attached to attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, and a length of flexible material threaded through the aperture of each second hinge, thereby to allow the plurality of interlocked plurality of interlocking floatation panels to be extended and retracted.

Abstract: A floating spa cover generally comprises an inflatable insulating and soar heating central portion surrounded by one or more independently inflatable adjustable rings. The inflatable central portion comprises a center section and a peripheral ring. The center section covers most of the spa water surface and includes an upper film of substantially transparent plastic and a lower film of translucent plastic separated by a gas-filled space. The first adjustable ring, connected to the central portion so as to be selectively removable, encompasses the central portion and is independently inflatable to selectively adjust the area of the cover over a first range of areas. The second adjustable ring, connected to the first adjustable ring so as to be selectively removable, encompasses the first adjustable ring and is independently inflatable to selectively adjust the area of the cover over a second range of areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a burner tube. The burner tube has a proximal segment, a distal segment, a terminal end, and a plurality of fuel outlet ports. The proximal segment has a union region and is adapted to be connected to a fuel source. The terminal end of the burner tube is connected to the union region such that the terminal end is in fluid communication with the union region. The connection between the terminal end and union region forms a continuous burner tube, or a burner loop for the flow of fuel. An initial flow of fuel diverges in the union region into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion flows through the union region and downstream through the distal segment. The second portion of fuel from the fuel source flows through the union region and downstream through the terminal end.

Abstract: A solar pool heater system for efficiently heating a pool with solar energy. The solar pool heater system includes a buoyant support member, a distribution unit attached to the support member, a manifold fluidly connected to the distribution unit, a pump unit fluidly connected to the manifold, and a solar unit electrically connected to the pump unit. The pump unit draws colder water from the pool and provides the same to the manifold which distributes the water through distribution channels within the distribution unit. The water is heated via solar energy while passing through the distribution unit. The heated water is then returned to the body of pool water through an exhaust conduit.

Abstract: Presented is an improved insulation device which, in multiple numbers, forms a swimming pool cover, or cover for other types of liquid containers. A complete cover is formed of multiple independent floatation insulation devices that collectively cover the entire surface of the water or liquid on which they float, yet enable dispersion thereof as a safety feature from below the surface of the water or liquid by a person in the water so that the person may extend his or her head through the cover to breath air. Structurally, the insulation device is hexagonal so as to cooperatively abut adjacent insulation devices to form a complete cover. The insulation device is injection molded-from plastic in two mirror image half-shells each of which is formed with a circular recess centrally disposed within the hexagonal outer periphery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating an outdoor swimming pool. The apparatus includes a substantially buoyant web having a first end, a second end, a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface. A water distributor is attached to the first end of the web for flowing pool water longitudinally adjacent the first exterior surface of the web. A conduit in flow communication with the distributor provides a flow of water from a swimming pool pump to the water distributor. The water distributor is disposed to distribute the flow of water adjacent the first exterior surface of the web. The invention provides a pool heating device that is effective to heat pool water without using water flow conduits along the length of the web and is simply constructed for low cost, portability and case of manufacturing.

Abstract: The pool cover is made of multi-layer light weight construction having a transparent top layer to permit sunlight to pass through and an opaque bottom layer for absorbing sunlight passing through the transparent layer. In addition, a plurality of pockets are formed in the opaque layer having air encapsulated therein. When in use, the opaque layer becomes heated by sunlight thereby transferring heat by contact to the body of water in the pool. The heated trapped air also serves to conduct heat to the body of water while also acting as a thermal insulation barrier during non-daylight hours.

Abstract: A cover for withstanding stormy weather and increasing solar heating of a body of water is disposed over the surface of the water. The cover is more transparent to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation, and is anchored and sealed around its periphery over the surface of the body of water. Means are provided for reducing the pressure between the bottom of the cover and the top of the water to subatmospheric, and for flooding the top surface of the cover with a layer of water, and draining the layer of water from the top of the cover.

Abstract: The pool cover is made of multi-layer light weight construction having transparent top layers to permit sunlight to pass through, an opaque layer for absorbing sunlight passing through the transparent layers and a reflective layer to transfer heat from the opaque layer into a pool of water. In addition, a plurality of pockets are formed on one of the transparent layers to encapsulate air therein. In one embodiment, the opaque and reflective layers may be incorporated into a single layer with an opaque surface on one side and reflective surface on the other side. Also, the edges of the cover may be sealed so that the entire cover has an encapsulated air layer. The cover can be reversed to place the reflective layer topmost so as to reflect sunlight from the pool, e.g. for short term pool closure. The opaque layer and reflective layer reduce sunlight penetration and thus inhibit algae growth while the insulating layer reduces heat movement either in or out of the water.

Abstract: A floating pool cover arranged for flotation about the top surface of a swimming pool to provide for passive heating during periods of depressed temperatures and reflection of heat during periods of elevated temperatures is provided as a housing formed with an opaque darkened bottom floor and a convex transparent top, with ends defining a top wall of the housing wherein spaced first and second buoyant chambers are formed coextensively at opposed end walls of the organization. The invention is further arranged to include interlocking pegs received within accommodating apertures between adjacent panels to provide for a matrix of the housings for flotation and accommodation of variously configured pools. Further, the organization may be optionally provided with a releasing chamber to direct chemical into the underlying pool during periods of elevated temperature conditions.