US3927427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swimming pool cover
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-21
•
Granted: 1975-12-23
•
Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A thermally insulative buoyant swimming pool cover floats on the surface of the pool for covering the pool and for retaining the heat within the pool. Sinking means, such as weights or a mechanical pull-down structure, is secured to the pool cover along certain predetermined action lines such as fold lines. In one embodiment, an inflatable and deflatable bladder is coupled to the weights. The bladder is dimensioned relative to the weights such that when inflated it overcomes the negative buoyancy of the weights to retain the pool cover in the fully covered position. However, when the bladder is deflated, the weights overcome the positive buoyancy of the cover along the certain fold lines causing the cover to be at least partially pulled below the surface of the pool and folded while at the same time being retracted against one of the side walls of the pool. Pool water is circulated over or through channels of the pool cover to provide solar heating. Pool water is circulated over the top of the cover for cleaning thereof. The weights are preferably hollow to receive the inflatable bladders. Air permeable structures are contained within the bladders to obtain more uniform inflation thereof. The lip of the cover contains additional positive buoyancy for additional support at the lip.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Eugene Aine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:58
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/06; E04H4/08; E04H4/088; F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/10; F24S10/17; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means for floatation in a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable and having positive buoyancy relative to the pool water when in use for overlaying a region of the pool; sinking means operatively coupled to said cover means for selectively sinking within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means for floatation in a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable and having positive buoyancy relative to the pool water when in use for overlaying a region of the pool; sinking means operatively coupled to said cover means for selectively sinking within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, means for tethering only a portion of said cover means to said pool, and wherein said selectively sinkable portion of said cover means is spaced from said tethered portion of said cover, whereby actuation of said cover sinking means causes the untethered portion of said cover to move toward the tethered portion of said cover means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover means is elongated and wherein said sinking means is operatively coupled to said cover means along a line running lengthwise of said elongated cover means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sinking means is operatively coupled to said cover along a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally directed lines for folding said cover means toward a lateral side wall of the pool upon actuation of said sinking means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover means is elongated and parted along a part line running lengthwise of said elongated cover means, and wherein said sinking means is operatively coupled to said cover means along a sinking line running lengthwise of said elongated cover means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sinking line includes at least a portion running adjacent said part line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sinking line includes at least a portion lying generally midway between said part line and a marginal side edge of said cover means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sinking line is disposed intermediate said part line and a side edge portion of said cover means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sinking means includes, weight means having sufficient negative buoyancy to overcome the positive buoyancy of at least a portion of said buoyant cover means, said cover means including an inflatable bladder means coupled to said cover means for selective inflation and deflation to provide sufficient positive buoyancy when inflated and when added to the positive buoyancy of said cover means to override at least a substantial portion of the negative buoyancy of said weight means, whereby said cover means floats in the pool in a fully extended state when said bladder means is sufficiently inflated and when deflated will allow said weight means to at least partially sink said sinkable portion of said cover means to open a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including, means for selectively inflating and deflating said bladder means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said weight means includes a pliable weight structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a pair of transparent sheets having trapped air pockets contained therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a plurality of rigid plastic foam sheets hinged together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a sheet of flexible plastic foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for selectively inflating said bladder includes an air pump, and means for connecting said air pump in gas communication with said bladder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sinking means includes pulley means disposed below the surface of the pool, cable means operatively coupled to said cover means at selected locations and extending around said pulley means, and takeup means for taking up on said cable means to pull said cover means toward said submerged pulley means for selectively sinking said selectively sinkable portion of said cover means to produce folding of said cover means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, spacer means outwardly extending from the marginal side edge of the floating portion of said cover means and being connected to said cover means for engaging the side wall of the pool for spacing the floating marginal edge of said cover means from the inside wall of the pool by at least 10 inches too allow passage of a self-propelled cleaning buoy between the side wall of the pool and the marginal side edge of the floating portion of said pool cover means, whereby the pool may be cleaned while said cover is in the fully extended position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including elongated tubular inflatable and deflatable means coupled to said cover means to aid when inflated in extending said cover means over the surface of the pool.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means having positive buoyancy for covering a region of a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable; means for coupling a selectively applicable negative buoyancy effect to said cover means for selectively sinking, within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a net positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means having positive buoyancy for covering a region of a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable; means for coupling a selectively applicable negative buoyancy effect to said cover means for selectively sinking, within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a net positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 19 including means for generating the selectively applicable negative buoyancy effect, said negative buoyancy generating means including a selectively inflatable bladder means for generating, when inflated, a selectively applicable positive buoyancy effect to counteract a constantly applied negative buoyancy force to be coupled to said cover means in use.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for coupling a selectively applicable negative buoyancy effect to said cover means includes bridle means dependent from said cover means for transmitting a negative buoyancy force to said selectively sinkable portion of said cover means for selectively sinking same.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for generating the selectively applicable negative buoyancy effect includes a hollow weight means adapted to receive said selectively inflatable bladder means within the hollow interior of said weight means, and wherein the interior dimensions of said hollow portion of said weight means is dimensioned relative to the overall dimensions of said weight means so that when said hollow interior of said weight means is filled by said inflated bladder means the positive buoyancy of said bladder means counteracts a substantial portion of the negative buoyancy of said weight means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 22 including water permeable means disposed within the hollow interior of said weight means and external to said bladder means for displacing a portion of said inflatable bladder means for trimming the positive buoyancy of said bladder means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said hollow weight means is made of Cement and wherein said cement weight means is notched to facilitate cracking and removal of portions of said weight means for trimming the weight thereof in use.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bladder means includes therein a gas permeable bendable retaining structure to prevent total collapse of said bladder means on deflation thereof, whereby more uniform inflation and deflation of said bladder means is obtained in use.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said gas permeable retaining structure comprises a helical wire strand.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means for floatation upon the surface of a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable and having positive buoyancy relative to the pool water when in use for covering the pool; sinking means operatively coupled to said cover means for selectively sinking, within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a net positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a swimming pool cover: cover means for floatation upon the surface of a swimming pool, said cover means being bendable and having positive buoyancy relative to the pool water when in use for covering the pool; sinking means operatively coupled to said cover means for selectively sinking, within the pool liquid, when actuated, a selectively sinkable portion of said cover to a lower level than other portions of said cover means which have a net positive buoyancy to cause said cover means to bend and thus to be folded within the pool, thereby opening a region of the pool for swimming.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3000017A
Cited
US3072920A
Cited
US3074079A
Cited
US3423768A
Cited
US3541615A
Cited
US3501783A
Cited
US3613125A
Cited
US3683428A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |