Swimming pool cover

• US 5,426,899 A
• Filed: 02/28/1994
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Betty M.R. Jones
• Original Assignee: Betty M.R. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Betty M. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/203,267
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 4/498, 4/503, 52/63, 52/83, 52/222, 135/101, 135/907, 135/908, 47/17
• US Class Current: 52/63
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/14 Suspended roofs suspended tents or canopies in general E04H15/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2003/0806 the supporting section of the glazing bar consisting of one single extruded or rolled metal part
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2003/0868 Mutual connections and details of glazing bars
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/06 of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor fixing glass panes by means applicable to windows E06B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/642 with covers held by elongated fixing members locking in longitudinal recesses of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/16 for swimming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/908 Super tent or canopy

Abstract

A swimming pool cover (10) for enclosing a swimming pool or similar space. The cover (10) has a frame assembly (19), which generally is comprised of a plurality of opposed side support brackets (22) arranged in pairs on each side of pool (12), and a plurality of opposed end bracket assemblies (54) arranged in pairs along each end of pool. Support cables (64) extend across the pool, supported on each pair of side support bracket assemblies (22). A track assembly (20) is mounted on and supported by the support cables (64). A cover panel assembly (21) is mounted to the frame assembly (19) by the track assembly (20) and includes top cover panels (122), end cover panels (126), and corner panel assemblies (127), connected in series by the track assembly (20) for covering the top sides and ends of the pool.

Claims

1. Apparatus for enclosing a swimming pool, having generally parallel longitudinal side sections, and parallel end sections defining a pool with a peripheral border, comprising:

a series of spaced supports disposed about the periphery of the pool to be covered;

a plurality of spaced support cables fastened to said supports and extending across the pool to be covered, spanning the pool and supported thereover by said support;

means for covering the pool supported on said support cables and said supports above the pool for enclosing the pool, said means for covering comprising a series of cover panels of a size sufficient to overlap the spaces between said support cables; and

a series of substantially T-shaped track assemblies each comprising a substantially rigid body having a top member, a bottom member spaced from and opposed to said top member, a substantially centrally disposed web portion connecting said top and bottom members, a series of cross pieces disposed on each side of and spaced from said web portion and defining slots therebetween within which an edge portion of a respective cover panel is received for attaching said cover panel to said track assembly, and a pair of downwardly extending legs mounted to said bottom member opposite said top member and extending away therefrom to define a cable passage in which a respective support cable is received for mounting each of said track assemblies on said support cables;

whereby said cover panels are suspended over and enclose the pool, with said cover panels attached in series to form a substantially continuous cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supports each comprise:

a substantially U-shaped base member having a first and a second end;

a generally upright leg member having a first end mounted to said first end of said base member, and a second end spaced from said first end; and

foot brackets connected to said second end of each base member for connecting said track assemblies to said sports.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising:

connectors each having a lower portion adapted to engage and be received in an upright position within said second ends of said leg menders, and an upper portion having a pair of spaced co-planar surfaces extending perpendicular to said lower portion along a common longitudinal plane for receiving said track assemblies.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said support cables comprises:

a wire cable having one end attached to said second end of one of said base members on the first side of the pool, and an opposite end of said cable is attached to said second end of said base member on the second side of the pool, with said cable extending across the pool on said supports for supporting said means for covering the pool above the pool, and a turnbuckle connected to each of said cables for adjusting the rigidity of said support cables.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for covering the pool further comprises:

a plurality of top, side, and end cover panels having two elongated and generally parallel side portions and two end portions;

a plurality of corner cover panels of a generally triangular shape, wherein each of said corner panels has two edge portions and a bottom portion;

a plurality of elongated welting strips for sealing the periphery of said enclosure along the end portions of each of said side and end cover panels, and along the bottom portion of said corner cover panels, respectively;

whereby said top, side, end, and corner cover panels are fastened along their common side, end, and edge portions, respectively, by said track assemblies for forming substantially continuous cover of the size needed to cover and fully enclose the top, sides, and corners of the pool.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of said cover panels further includes:

elongated pockets formed about edge portions of said cover panels and elongated connecting members received within each of said pockets, wherein said connecting members of said cover panel are received by said track assemblies for attaching each of said cover panels to said support means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of said corner cover panels further comprises:

a substantially triangularly shaped screen and fastening means disposed along the edges of said screen for removably fastening said screen to said track assemblies.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein said corner cover panels each further comprise a rigid, translucent, window sized and shaped to be removably fastened to said track assemblies on the outside of said screen facing away from the pool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover panels each comprise a flexible breathable plastic sheet.

3. Apparatus for enclosing a space having a defined peripheral border, comprising:

a plurality of supports adapted to be mounted about the peripheral border of the space and including a plurality of side support brackets positioned in opposed, spaced pairs on opposite sides of the space, and a plurality of end brackets positioned in opposed spaced pairs on opposite sides of the space, perpendicular to said side support brackets;

a plurality of spaced support cables extending across the space to be covered, spanning the space and received on and supported over the space by said supports;

said side support brackets and said end brackets each including a base member having a first end and a second end an upstanding leg member having a first end mounted to said first end of said base member and a second end paced therefrom;

a plurality of substantially T-shaped sections each having a first end mounted to within said second end of each leg member of each side support bracket and a second end supported above said second end of each leg member;

a slot formed in each of said second ends of said T-shaped sections for receiving a respective support cable;

means for covering the space supported above the space for enclosing the space, said means for covering comprising a series of cover panels of a size sufficient to overlap the spaces between said support cables; and

track assemblies adapted to engage and rest upon said support cables for connecting said cover panels in series to form a substantially continuous cover supported above the surface on said support cables.

11. A swimming pool cover for covering a swimming pool having spaced and generally parallel longitudinal side sections, and spaced and generally parallel end sections, comprising:

a plurality of angle brackets and end brackets spaced in opposed pairs along the sides and ends of the swimming pool, respectively;

a plurality of support cables fastened one each to each of said pairs of angle brackets and extending across the swimming pool to be covered, wherein said support cables supported at an elevation spaced above the swimming pool to be enclosed by said angle brackets;

each of said angle brackets including a generally upright leg member having a first end and a Second end positioned above the pool, and a plurality of substantially T-shaped sections having a first section mounted to said second end of each leg member and a second section having a slot formed therein for receiving a respective support cable therethrough;

a plurality of cover panels forming a substantially continuous cover above and about the swimming pool to be enclosed; and

a plurality of track members adapted to receive said cover panels for attaching said cover panels to one another in series and for mounting said cover panes to said support cables and to said angle and end brackets, to form a substantially continuous enclosure.

12. The swimming pool cover of claim 11 and wherein said angle brackets and said end brackets each further comprise:

a substantially U-shaped base member having a channel within which said first end of said leg member is received and having a first end to which first end of said leg member is mounted and a second end spaced therefrom;

foot brackets connected to said second end of each base member for connecting said track means to said end and angle brackets.

13. The swimming pool cover of claim 11 and wherein said cover panels comprise:

a plurality of top, side, and end cover panels having two elongated and generally parallel side portions and two end portions;

a plurality of corner cover panels of a generally triangular shape, wherein each of said corner panels has two edge portions and a bottom portion;

a plurality of elongated welting strips for sealing the periphery of said enclosure along the end portions of each of said side and end cover panels, and along the bottom portion of said corner cover panels, respectively;

whereby said top, side, end, and corner cover panels are fastened along their common side, end, and edge portions, respectively, by said track members for forming one continuous cover of the size needed to cover and fully enclose the top, sides, and corners of the pool.

14. The swimming pool cover of claim 11 and wherein said cover panels each comprise a flexible breathable plastic sheet.