Mesh screen swimming pool cover

Abstract

A swimming pool cover for covering the entire area of a water-filled swimming pool, constructed of an ultra-fine, lightweight mesh netting. Grommets are situated at predetermined distances along the reinforced periphery of the cover allowing use of elastic tie down straps or other fastening devices to keep the cover in a taut condition. In use, the swimming pool cover is designed to be placed over a swimming pool to prevent egress of insects and environmental debris over short periods of non-use. Because the screen is constructed of a mesh fabric, moisture will pass through the screen and insects and environmental debris will accumulate on the screen. In order to use the swimming pool, the swimming pool cover can be readily rolled or folded and lifted off the pool.

Description

2. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] 1 U.S. Pat. Documents 6,286,156 September 1999 Sullivan 4/498. 2,639,751 May 1953 Flaherty 160/DIG.  3,016,952 January 1962 Shero 160/DIG.  3,593,757 July 1971 Haynes 4/498. 3,683,428 August 1972 Morris 4/498. 3,711,873 January 1973 Katzman 4/503. 3,813.704 June 1974 Troiano 4/499. 5,067,182 November 1991 Koelsch 4/498. 5,740,562 April 1998 Nickalo 4/503.

[0002] 2 Foreign Patent Documents 2,132,213 January 1973 DE 4/498.

[0003] The present invention relates generally to swimming pool accessories and more particularly to a swimming pool cover intended to prevent the egress of insects and environmental debris into a swimming pool. The present invention is distinguishable from the above-referenced inventions as is set forth below.

[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,156, to Thelma Sullivan, there is disclosure of a swimming pool cover that consists of a lightweight mesh fabric mounted on a plastic or other rigid material frame consisting of a row of numerous easily foldable hinged panels. This swimming pool cover is designed only for rectangular underground swimming pools. Moreover the cover is constructed of a framed material that must span the width of the rectangular pool, which in some instances may be in excess of eighteen (18) feet, necessarily subjecting the frame and its hinges to pressure and bending that may in time result in a warping of the frame. As a consequence of the possible distortion, this type of swimming pool cover may become difficult to fold and possibly inoperable.

[0005] As distinguished from this patent, the proposed patent contemplates designs that would fit a variety of swimming pools inclusive of above ground circular and oval pools. Further, the material is not framed but a malleable mesh netting that is not subject to warping. The proposed invention has an additional attribute where requires the user to exert only minimal energy in the installation where the proposed netting may simply be spread over the pool and secured by preinstalled grommets and commercially available elastic tie down straps. Finally the proposed invention is intended to be a cover that may be used easily and temporarily between use of the pool as opposed to seasonally.

[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,182, to L. M. Koelsch, there is disclosed a modular floating swimming pool cover which includes a series of buoyant panels which are hinged together to form a row of panels. The cover can include several adjacent rows. The hinge includes spaced hinge links, which fit into slots in the panel ends allowing alternate direction or accordion folding for vertical stack storage and ease in swinging into use position floating on the liquid surface of the pool.

[0007] Likewise, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,428 to L. Morris, there are disclosed a rigid, buoyant, insulating and rapid folding swimming pool cover. Rigid, closed cell foam plastic sheets are joined by flexible hinges. A series of resulting strips are floated, side by side, to cover the pool. Overall dimensions are slightly smaller than the inner pool perimeter to allow for easy removal. There is attached to the outer perimeter and extending past the edge of the sheets and up the wall of the pool, a flexible lip, preferably porous, so that some pressure is exerted to keep individual sections together while sealing the open perimeter channel. This allows rainwater passage to the pool below without permitting dirt to follow. Flexible or elastomeric inserts are attached at corners and at necessary breaks in the lip selected for folding or closer fitting to further keep out contamination. The alternatively hinged, rigid foam sheets fold accordion like, into small space when not in use.

[0008] Swimming pool covers, which use rows of insulative, buoyant, foam panels, are lightweight and easy to manipulate. However, swimming pool covers of this type experience notable drawbacks. First, this type of swimming pool cover typically rests on the top surface of the water and is not securely fastened to a fixture structure, such as a pool edge or deck, by mechanical or weighted devices. As a consequence, this type of swimming pool cover could become partially or fully displaced off the swimming pool during a storm or other similar condition. Secondly, this type of swimming pool cover tends to allow the accumulation of some water thereon, thereby weighing down the cover. The proposed invention is primarily distinct from U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,182 and No. 3,683,428 because it does not contemplate the use of an insulative, buoyant foam panel material, but rather a lightweight flexible mesh netting.

[0009] Another alternative type of swimming pool cover employs the use of a thin, lightweight, flexible plastic sheet. It has been found that thin plastic sheets tend to become rapidly brittle by exposure to the sun and/or pool chemicals. As a result, the swimming pool cover is prone to tearing.

3. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Most conventional swimming pool covers are manufactured out of a sheet of plastic material. Although widely used in commerce, plastic pool covers of the type described experience the disadvantage of being heavy and bulky, thereby rendering the placement of the swimming pool cover over a swimming pool a time consuming and physically strenuous task. As a consequence, most swimming pool covers are designed to be disposed over a swimming pool for prolonged periods of time, such as an entire winter season, and are not used for frequent (i.e., daily) pool applications. Although widely used in commerce, plastic pool covers of the type described above experience numerous disadvantages rendering their use as a daily cover infeasible.

[0011] A second notable disadvantage, plastic swimming pool covers tend to collect large amounts of water and or debris over prolonged periods of time, such as an entire winter season. As a consequence, the collected water and debris tends to weigh down the swimming pool cover, thereby making removal of the cover increasingly difficult.

[0012] Accordingly, while alternative types of in ground swimming pool covers have been introduced to prevent insects and environmental debris from falling into the swimming pool water, no alternative no alternative covers are available for above ground swimming pools.

[0013] One alternative type of swimming pool cover employs the use of a thin, lightweight, flexible plastic sheet. It has been found that thin plastic sheets tend to become rapidly brittle by exposure to the sun and/or pool chemicals. As a result, the swimming pool cover is prone to tearing.

[0014] Another alternative type of swimming pool cover which is well known in the art employs rows of insulative, buoyant foam panels which are hinged together at their adjacent ends by hinge means.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is the object of this invention to provide a new, improved, and useful swimming pool cover.

[0016] The object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool cover which entails no intrigal mechanical or moving parts which may distort or malfunction, and which can be securely disposed over a round, rectangular or oval above ground or Inground swimming pool in order to prevent insects and/or environmental debris from obtaining egress into the water of the swimming pool.

[0017] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a swimming pool cover, which is highly portable and easily stored and easily installed.

[0018] Accordingly, the present invention provides a swimming pool cover comprised of a lightweight mesh netting that does not collect water and prevents access of insects and environmental debris, is lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1, Page 1, is a top view of a first embodiment of a swimming pool cover constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2, Page 1, is a side view of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3, Page 2 is an enlarged top view of the present invention's edging including grommet incorporation.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] The present overall invention may best be understood from FIG. 1. It is generally the present pool cover extending over the entire swimming pool. The embodiment shown of the present invention is intended as merely exemplary. Numerous variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cover for various shape and size above and in ground swimming pools, said swimming pool cover comprising an ultra-fine lightweight, mesh fabric, rollable or foldable screen such as tent screening.