Track assembly for flexible enclosure covers

• US 5,950,253 A
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry J. Last
• Original Assignee: Harry J. Last
• Inventors: Last, Harry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/206,179
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 4/500, 4/502, 4/503, 160/272, 160/273.1
• US Class Current: 4/502
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/10 Coverings of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/101 wound-up on a fixed axis

Abstract

A track assembly for allowing movement of a flexible enclosure cover over an area to be enclosed as, for example, a body of water in a swimming pool. The assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart tracks mounted on opposite sides of the area to be enclosed with each being comprised of an elongate strip. Each track strip comprises a cable receiving channel with a gutter or debris trough located generally beneath the channel for collection of debris. Preferably, a slider can be located in the cable receiving channel for locking to the cable and for securement of the cover to the cable. The track can be constructed to also allow for lubrication of the cable receiving channel anabling a slider mechanism to freely move therein. When a slider is used, it extends into each channel at approximately a 45° angle with respect to a vertical direction. In accordance with this construction, debris which might otherwise collect in the cable receiving channel will drop into the gutter and will not interfere with movement of the slider mechanism or the leading edge of the cover. The slider may be adjustably secured to a rigid body which is, in turn, secured to the leading edge of the cover, and which allows side-to-side adjustment of the leading edge. Adjustment in the 45° angulated plane could reduce bending moment forces on the slider and track.

Claims

1. A track for moving a leading edge of a flexible cover over an area to be enclosed and allowing for withdrawing of the flexible cover from a position over the area to be enclosed, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongate track forming strip mounted adjacent an edge of the area to be enclosed;

b) a cable receiving channel in said elongate strip;

c) a cable slider extending into said cable receiving channel for sliding movement therein and having means to pull with it the leading edge of a flexible cover;

d) a recess located beneath said cable receiving channel in communication with said cable receiving channel and forming a gutter to collect debris and which is allowed to fall from the cable receiving channel into the gutter by force of gravity and by agitation through movement of the cable, and where the debris collected in the gutter is readily movable within the gutter to an open end of said gutter for removal therefrom; and

e) an opening between said channel and said gutter enabling debris which enters said channel to drop by force of gravity and agitation through movement of the cable into said gutter so that the debris will not interfere with movement of the cable in the cable receiving channel of the track.

2. The track of claim 1 further characterized in that said track has an elongate slit in communication with said cable receiving channel to receive the slider.

3. The track of claim 1 further characterized in that the flexible cover is a swimming pool cover and the area to be enclosed is a body of water in the swimming pool.

4. The track of claim 1 further characterized in that said cable receiving channel comprises a bulbous portion to receive a somewhat similarly shaped attachment tube on the slider, which tube allows for attachment of the cable to the slider.

5. The track of claim 4 further characterized in that the opening is offset to one side of said cable receiving channel, and that said slider has a slider neck extending into said cable receiving channel at an angle which is angularly offset from a vertical direction while moving in said cable receiving channel.

6. The track of claim 5 further characterized in that said track has a bearing surface leading into the cable receiving channel and the neck of the slider is adapted to bear against and move along said bearing surface.

7. A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with tracks of the assembly in a position where they would be generally flush with the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) a pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of the opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;

b) a cable receiving channel in each of said elongate tracks;

c) a separate slider extending into a separate cable receiving channel in each of said pair of tracks for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;

d) a separate rigid body mounted on and being movable with each said slider and operatively carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover; and

e) adjusting means to enable an adjustable sliding movement of the rigid body relative to the slider during movement of the slider at each track to reduce any twisting moment during pulling of the cover and thereby reduce any possibility of jamming.

8. The track and slider assembly of claim 7 further characterized in that each said track has an elongate slit in communication with said cable receiving channel of that track to receive the slider.

9. The track and slider assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that said each track is provided with mounting means for mounting the track in a position where it is essentially flush with a surface of the deck surrounding a body of water.

10. The track and slider assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that each said track comprises:

a) an elongate track-forming strip;

b) an upper plate on each elongate strip;

c) said cable receiving channel of each track is located beneath said upper plate of that track; and

d) a cable return channel is also associated with each said track to receive a return cable capable of moving the flexible cover.

11. The track and slider assembly of claim 7 further characterized in that said cable receiving channel comprises a bulbous portion to receive a somewhat similarly shaped tube on the slider.

12. The track and slider assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that the opening of each track is offset to one side of said cable receiving channel, and that said slider associated with that track extends into said cable receiving channel at an angle which is angularly offset from a vertical direction which moving in said cable receiving channel.

13. The track and slider assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that:

a) a recess is located beneath said cable receiving channel in each track and forms a gutter to collect debris which can be moved to one end of the track and removed; and

b) an opening extends between said channel and said gutter in each track enabling debris which enters said channel to drop into said gutter by the force of gravity and by movement of a cable in said cable receiving channel so that the debris will not interfere with movement of the slider in the track.

14. The track and slider assembly of claim 12 further characterized in that said slider extends at about a 45°

angle relative to a vertical direction and that a slit is on one side of said track and said opening is on another side of said track so that the slit and opening lie in a common plane which is located at about a 45°

angle relative to a vertical direction.

15. The track and slider assembly of claim 14 further characterized in that the adjusting means to enable an adjustable sliding movement comprises an elongate pin receiving slot in one of said rigid body or slider and a pin on the other to enable a slidable movement between the body and the slider.

16. The track and slider assembly of claim 15 further characterized in that wheel means is mounted on said body for riding on a flat surface and the adjusting means enables an adjustable sliding movement and also allows for adjustment of the relationship of the wheel means to the track.

17. A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with a pair of spaced apart tracks of the assembly in a position where they would be located at the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) mounting means for mounting each of the pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of a pair of opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;

b) a cable receiving channel in each of said elongate tracks;

c) a separate slider extending into a separate cable receiving channel in each of said tracks at approximately an acute angle therein for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;

d) a separate slider body mounted on and being movable with each said slider and carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;

e) A gutter in each said track located generally beneath the cable receiving channel of that track to receive and collect debris that may land in the cable receiving channel and which will fall into the gutter beneath the cable receiving channel by the force of gravity and agitation through movement of the cable; and

f) an opening existing between said gutter and said cable receiving channel with said opening lying in a plane extending through said slider so that the slider and opening are located relation to one another at about a 45°

angle relative to the vertical and to the track.

18. The track and slider assembly of claim 17 further characterized in that first attachment means are provided at each said track to enable an adjustable sliding movement of the slider body relative to the slider during movement of the slider at each track to reduce any twisting moment during pulling of the cover and thereby reduce a possibility of jamming.

19. The track and slider assembly of claim 18 further characterized in that second adjustment means are provided for adjusting the position of the slider relative to the deck.

20. A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with first and second spaced apart elongate tracks of the assembly located at the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) mounting means on each said first and second pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of the opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;

b) a cable receiving channel in said first track;

c) a slider extending into said cable receiving channel in said first track for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;

d) a rigid body mounted on and being movable with said slider and operatively carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover; and

e) first adjusting means to enable an adjustable sliding movement of the rigid body relative to the slider during movement of the slider at said first track to reduce any twisting moment during pulling of the cover and thereby reduce any possibility of jamming.

21. The track and slider assembly of claim 20 further characterized in that said each track is provided with mounting means for mounting the track in a position where it is essentially flush with a surface of the deck surrounding a body of water.

22. The track and slider assembly of claim 20 further characterized in that each said track comprises:

a) an elongate track-forming strip;

b) an upper plate on each elongate strip;

c) a cable receiving channel in each track which is located beneath said upper plate;

d) a cable return channel also associated with each said track to receive a return cable capable of moving the flexible cover; and

e) an elongate slit in each said track in communication with said cable receiving channel of that track to receive the slider.

23. The track and slider assembly of claim 20 further characterized in that second adjusting means enables a slidable movement of the rigid body relative to the deck.

24. The track and slider assembly of claim 20 further characterized in that a bracket is mounted at said deck and protrudes relative to the body of water, and said rigid body is mounted on and adjustably positionable on said bracket.

25. The track and slider assembly of claim 22 further characterized in that said second adjusting means enables a slidable movement of the rigid body relative to the deck.

26. The track and slider assembly of claim 20 further characterized in that roller means is mounted on said body and enables a rolling movement of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover.

29. The track of claim 20 further characterized in that gutter of said track is arcuately shaped.

27. A track for use with a flexible enclosure cover allowing movement of the flexible enclosure cover over an area to be enclosed and which track allows for collection of debris, said track comprising:

a) an elongate strip with means for mounting adjacent an edge of the area to be covered;

b) a cable receiving channel in said elongate strip and sized to receive a cable adapted to move the flexible cover as the cable is moved;

c) a somewhat cylindrically shaped bulbous portion in said cable receiving channel sized to receive a cable for shifting movement therein;

d) cover attaching means for connecting the cable to the cover;

e) an elongate slit at the upper end of said cable receiving channel to receive the cover attaching means and being offset to one side of the bulbous portion of the cable receiving channel;

f) a recess located beneath said cable receiving channel and forming a gutter to collect debris and which is allowed to fall from the cable receiving channel into the gutter by force of gravity and by agitation through movement of the cable, and where the debris collected in the gutter can be moved to one end of the track and readily removed; and

g) an opening between said channel and said gutter enabling debris which enters said channel to drop by force of gravity and agitation through movement of the cable into said gutter so that the debris will not interfere with movement of the cable in the cable receiving channel of the track.

28. The track of claim 27 further characterized in that the flexible cover is a swimming pool cover and the area to be enclosed is a body of water in the swimming pool.

30. A track for use with a flexible enclosure cover allowing movement of the flexible enclosure cover over an area to be enclosed and which track allows for collection of debris, said track comprising:

a) an elongate strip with means for mounting adjacent an edge of the area to be covered;

b) a cable receiving channel in said elongate strip and sized to receive a cable adapted to move the flexible cover as the cable is moved;

c) a recess located beneath said cable receiving channel and forming a gutter to collect debris and which can be moved to one end of the track and readily removed;

d) an opening between said channel and said gutter enabling debris which enters said channel to drop into said gutter so that the debris will not interfere with movement of the cable in the cable receiving channel of the track; and

e) a plurality of axially extending lubricating fluid receiving grooves in said cable receiving channel.