Inflatable enclosure for swimming pools and the like

Claim 2

An air-supported enclosure for liquid-carrying containers comprising: a roof and sidewall member composed of flexible air-impermeable plastic sheeting, said member having a surface area larger than the area to be enclosed; an air-impermeable tubular plastic member, attached to the periphery of said roof and sidewall member, generally following the periphery of, and of dimensions such that said tubular member abuts, the walls of the container to be enclosed; means for filling said tubular plastic member with liquid; and blower means for blowing air into said enclosure to thereby inflate said roof and sidewall member and cause said tubular member, when filled with liquid equal to or lighter in density than the liquid to be enclosed, to be forced outwardly to abut the walls of the container while floating on the surface of the liquid to be contained.

Claim 3

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein the roof and sidewall member is composed, substantially, of flexible plastic sheeting of 12 - 20 mils in thickness.

Claim 4

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein the tubular plastic member is welded to the periphery of said roof and sidewall member.

Claim 5

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein the length of the tubular plastic member is approximately the same as the length of the perimeter defined by the walls of said container.

Claim 6

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said liquid carrying container is a swimming pool, said liquid, adapted to fill said tubular plastic member is water, and said liquid in said container is water.

Claim 7

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said liquid carrying container is an above-the-ground swimming pool.

Claim 8

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said liquid carrying container is an in-the-ground swimming pool.

Claim 9

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said roof and sidewall member carries a plurality of spaced, non-stretchable, reinforcing straps attached to at least a portion of said roof and sidewall member, and each of the ends of said straps being in turn attached to a base adjacent said container.

Claim 10

An air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said roof and sidewall member carries a plurality of spaced, non-stretchable, reinforcing straps, each of the ends of said straps being tied to the underside of the walls of said container.

Claim 11

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein a portion of said roof and sidewall member is light transparent.

Claim 12

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said roof and sidewall member carries a flexible skirt adjacent the periphery thereof.

Claim 13

The air-supported enclosure of claim 11 wherein said skirt has attached thereto an auxilliary water tube for sealing engagement with the surface adjacent to said container.

Claim 14

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein a rigid frame member is adapted to be pivotally mounted between a wall of said container and a portion of said roof and sidewall member.

Claim 15

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of spaced, non-stretchable, reinforcing straps are affixed to at least a portion of said roof and sidewall member, each of said straps including nylon.

Claim 16

The air-supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said blower means includes an air sleeve within said enclosure and attached to said roof and sidewall member thereof, and of such length that when the blower is shut-off the free end thereof is adapted to drop below the normal liquid level carried in said liquid-carrying container.

Claim 17

An air-supported enclosure for use in combination with a liquid-carrying container, which comprises: a roof and sidewall member composeD of flexible air-impermeable plastic sheeting, said member having a surface area larger than the area to be enclosed; an air-impermeable tubular plastic member, attached to the periphery of said roof and sidewall member, generally following the periphery of, and of dimensions such that said tubular member abuts, the walls of the container to be enclosed; means for filling said tubular plastic member with liquid; and blower means for blowing air into said enclosure to thereby inflate said roof and sidewall member and cause said tubular member, when filled with liquid equal to or lighter in density than the liquid to be enclosed, to be forced outwardly to abut the walls of the container while floating on the surface of the liquid to be contained.

Claim 18

An air-supported enclosure for use in combination with a liquid-carrying container, which comprises: a roof and sidewall member composeD of flexible air-impermeable plastic sheeting, said member having a surface area larger than the area to be enclosed; an air-impermeable tubular plastic member, attached to the periphery of said roof and sidewall member, generally following the periphery of, and of dimensions such that said tubular member abuts, the walls of the container to be enclosed; means for filling said tubular plastic member with liquid; and blower means for blowing air into said enclosure to thereby inflate said roof and sidewall member and cause said tubular member, when filled with liquid equal to or lighter in density than the liquid to be enclosed, to be forced outwardly to abut the walls of the container while floating on the surface of the liquid to be contained.

Claim 19

The air supported enclosure of claim 1 wherein said roof and sidewall member is provided with a closeable vent.

Claim 20

The air supported enclosure of claim 17 wherein said closeable vent is placed diametrically across from said blower means.

Claim 21

The air supported enclosure of claim 13 wherein said rigid frame member is pivotally mounted to a ladder placed between said wall of said container and said portion of said roof and sidewall member.