Pool-cover apparatus and method

• US 4,407,027 A
• Filed: 08/10/1981
• Issued: 10/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Odyssey Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Odyssey Systems Limited
• Inventors: Colon, George M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US06/291,512
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 4/500, 4/502, 242/86.52, 414/778, 414/911, 280/43.24, 188/5, 188/382
• US Class Current: 4/502
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/101 wound-up on a fixed axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 242/919 Ground cover, e.g. tarp

Abstract

In the first embodiment of the apparatus, each end frame of the apparatus has one position at which wheels engage the decking surrounding the pool, and another position at which a braking region engages such deck. In accordance with the method, the operator rolls the apparatus to a desired location when each end frame is in the first-mentioned position, and then tilts each such end frame to the second-mentioned position. He then pulls the pool cover off of the now-stationary frame. In accordance with a second embodiment, each end frame is circular and operates as a wheel when it is desired to move the apparatus. To achieve braking, one edge region of each such wheel is pivoted to expose a chordal braking area. In accordance with the method relative to the second embodiment, the shifting from the rolling mode to the braking mode is effected when the indicated edge regions are at rotated positions such that they do not engage the decking.

Claims

1. A pool-cover apparatus which comprises:

(a) an elongated roller element adapted to have a flexible pool cover wrapper therearound,

(b) first and second end frames,

(c) means to rotatably connect the ends of said roller element to said respective end frames, and

(d) first and second wheels rotatably mounted on each of said end frames at regions spaced from the regions of connection of said roller-element ends to said end frames said wheels being located and mounted in one surface of each of said frames so that the entire pool-cover apparatus may be pushed along the decking from a storage area to a location adjacent the pool, with only said wheels contacting the decking and rolling therealong,

(e) each of said frames providing a second surface angularly spaced from said first surface whereby each of said frames may be manually tilted to a braking position at which said wheels are removed from engagement with the decking, and said second surface is engaged with said decking, said regions of connection of said roller-element ends to said end frames are so located that, when said frames are in their tilted braking positions, said roller element and pool cover may rotate freely so as to unwind said pool cover.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which crank means are connected to said roller element at at least one of said end frames, and are adapted to be manually rotated to roll up the pool cover on said roller element when said end frames are in their tilted braking positions.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said end frames are so shaped that said second surfaces comprise large braking areas.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said end frames is generally triangular, and lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said roller element, and in which said wheels on each frame are on said one surface which comprises only one side of the triangle, so that each frame may be tilted in either direction to provide said second surface placed into a braked relationship to the decking.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which each frame is a substantially solid equilateral triangle, and in which a flange is provided peripherally of the triangle, the wheels being mounted on the flange along one side of the triangle, providing said one surface, the flange portions along the remaining two sides of the triangle comprising each one said second surface.

6. A pool-cover apparatus which comprises:

(a) an elongated roller element adapted to have a flexible pool cover wrapped therearound,

(b) first and second end frames,

each of said end frames being a wheel connected coaxially and rotatably to one end of said roller element,

the diameter of each wheel being greater than that of the wound-up pool cover, so that said wheels will roll along the decking when the apparatus is pushed from a storage area to a region adjacent the pool, and

(c) brake means to prevent rotation of said wheels to thus hold the wheels and roller element in desired positions when the pool cover is being pulled out or wound up,

said brake means being a peripheral portion of each wheel which is removable therefrom so that a region of the wheel periphery becomes non-arcuate and rests on the decking.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said removable peripheral portion of each wheel is a segment thereof, and in which removal of the segment causes a large-area chordal wheel portion to rest on the decking.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which said wheel segment is hingedly connected to the wheel along one edge of the chord which in part defines said segment.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which crank means are connected to said roller element, being rotatably associated with at least one wheel at the axis thereof.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said wheels are molded of synthetic resin.

11. A method of transporting pool-cover apparatus, and of covering and uncovering a pool, which method comprises:

(a) providing a pool-cover apparatus comprising an elongated roller element on which a flexible pool cover is wound, said apparatus further comprising end frames connected to the ends of said roller element, said end frames including one surface which incorporates wheel means, and a braking surface,

(b) causing said wheel means to be fully operative and in engagement with the decking,

(c) shifting the pool-cover apparatus from a storage area to a location adjacent the pool, by rolling said operative wheel means along the decking,

(d) causing said wheel means to be inoperative by braking the same and locating said end frames in a position fixed with respect to the pool, said step (d) being effected by an operation which includes tilting of said end frames from said wheel means to said braking surface, and thus causing braking of said end frames against the decking,

(e) unrolling and later rolling-up said pool cover while said end frames are thus braked,

(f) again causing said wheel means to be fully operative, by an operation which includes tilting of said end frames, and

(g) shifting the pool-cover apparatus back to the storage area, by rolling said operative wheel means along the decking.

12. The invention of claim 11, in which said method comprises providing end frames which have said wheel means in the form of two wheels mounted along one side thereof, and effecting said braking by tilting said end frames until said wheels are not in engagement with the decking.

13. The invention of claim 11, in which said method comprises providing end frames which are also large-diameter wheels, and effecting said braking by removing peripheral portions of said wheels while said peripheral portions are not adjacent the decking, and then effecting said tilting of said end frames so that the frame regions from which said peripheral wheel portions were removed are in engagement with the decking.

14. The invention of claim 13, in which said method further comprises causing said peripheral wheel portions to be segments of said wheels.