Patents by Inventor Lanny R. Smith

Lanny R. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110061158
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated guide connector is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for connecting to a guide member for the pool cover, that includes a form member shaped to form the edging, and a form mating structure on the form member for removably mating the form member to the elongated guide connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: COVERSTAR, LLC
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7861471
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated guide connector is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for connecting to a guide member for the pool cover, that includes a form member shaped to form the edging, and a form mating structure on the form member for removably mating the form member to the elongated guide connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Coverstar, LLC
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7318243
    Abstract: A system is provided herein for supporting a lid for a pool cover box that includes (a) an elongated mounting element extending along substantially at least one wall of the pool cover box, and (b) a plurality of bracket assemblies, each adapted for connecting to the mounting element at multiple positions along the mounting element to support the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7152254
    Abstract: Mounting apparatus is provided for a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components disposed in a pool cover box and used to operate a pool cover for a swimming pool. The mounting apparatus comprises an elongated member adapted to be attached to the pool cover box, and a mounting member adapted to removably couple at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member. A method is provided for mounting a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components in a pool cover box for a swimming pool cover. The method comprises attaching an elongated member to the pool cover box, and removably coupling a mounting member supporting at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7093784
    Abstract: A universal shift apparatus and method for a swimming pool cover motor has a rotatable drive shaft and a rope attached to the end of the swimming pool cover. A reel element collects the rope, and a roll-up element collects the swimming pool cover. A gear drive assembly on the rotatable drive shaft drives the reel element in a first rotational direction as the shaft rotates in a first direction and drives the roll-up element in a second rotational direction as the shaft rotates in a second direction. A shift assembly is associated with the gear drive assembly to selectively reverse the first rotational direction of the wind-up reel element and to selectively reverse the second rotational direction of the roll-up element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Coverstar, Inc.
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7010817
    Abstract: Box apparatus is provided for containing a pool cover assembly to cover a swimming pool, comprising an elongated plastic box. The box apparatus comprises a plurality of sections of substantially identical unitary molded plastic members, a plurality of coupling elements to couple the sections together to form an elongated box with two sides, a bottom, an open top and at least one open end, and an end piece fastened to the box to close the open end. A method is provided for forming a pool cover box to contain a pool cover assembly for covering a swimming pool, comprising forming an elongated plastic box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7011782
    Abstract: A system includes a support for a pool cover box lid comprising an elongated mounting element extending along at least one wall of the pool cover box, and a plurality of bracket assemblies, each connecting to the mounting element at multiple positions along the mounting element to support the lid. A method is directed to supporting a lid on a pool cover box. A system also forms a pool cover box lid, comprising form support elements spaced apart from each other, a base sheet, lid forming elements, each being connected to one of the form support elements and extending upward, and wall elements disposed perpendicular to the lid forming elements for forming the lid. A method is directed to forming a lid for a pool cover box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6991700
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching an elongated webbing member to an edge of a pool cover, comprising positioning the edge of the pool cover so that a portion of the pool cover edge is in contact with a portion of the webbing, and heat sealing the webbing portion to the pool cover edge portion. An assembly is provided for coupling a pool cover to a connector mechanism attached to a pool, comprising a pool cover comprising at least one pool cover edge, and a webbing coupled to at least a portion of the pool cover edge by a heat seal between a portion of the webbing and a portion of the pool cover edge. An apparatus is also provided for forming a webbing attached to the edge of a pool cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6886188
    Abstract: A lid support bracket assembly for supporting a pool cover box lid includes a wall mount and a bracket angularly adjustably coupled to the wall mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Fort Wayne Pools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Epple, Lanny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6769141
    Abstract: An equipment mounting assembly for mounting equipment in a pool cover box is provided, including at least one positioning feature configured to engage at least two walls of the pool cover box and at least one mounting plate, the at least one positioning feature adjustably connected to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fort Wayne Pools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Epple, Lanny R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030097709
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching an elongated webbing member to an edge of a pool cover, comprising positioning the edge of the pool cover so that a portion of the pool cover edge is in contact with a portion of the webbing, and heat sealing the webbing portion to the pool cover edge portion. An assembly is provided for coupling a pool cover to a connector mechanism attached to a pool, comprising a pool cover comprising at least one pool cover edge, and a webbing coupled to at least a portion of the pool cover edge by a heat seal between a portion of the webbing and a portion of the pool cover edge. An apparatus is also provided for forming a webbing attached to the edge of a pool cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030084502
    Abstract: A lid support bracket assembly for supporting a pool cover box lid includes a wall mount and a bracket angularly adjustably coupled to the wall mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas A. Epple, Lanny R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030084501
    Abstract: An equipment mounting assembly for mounting equipment in a pool cover box is provided, including at least one positioning feature configured to engage at least two walls of the pool cover box and at least one mounting plate, the at least one positioning feature adjustably connected to the mounting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas A. Epple, Lanny R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030084619
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated guide connector is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for connecting to a guide member for the pool cover, that includes a form member shaped to form the edging, and a form mating structure on the form member for removably mating the form member to the elongated guide connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030084617
    Abstract: A lid support bracket assembly is provided for supporting a pool cover box lid that includes a wall mount, and a bracket connected to the wall mount that can be angularly adjusted relative to the wall mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Lanny R. Smith