CA1087065A - Cover for swimming pool - Google Patents

Cover for swimming pool

Info

Publication number
CA1087065A
CA1087065A CA 337934 CA337934A CA1087065A CA 1087065 A CA1087065 A CA 1087065A CA 337934 CA337934 CA 337934 CA 337934 A CA337934 A CA 337934A CA 1087065 A CA1087065 A CA 1087065A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
strips
flexible
cover
secured
thin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA 337934
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA1087065B (en
Inventor
Cornelius A. Hinsperger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1087065B publication Critical patent/CA1087065B/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 337934 priority Critical patent/CA1087065A/en
Publication of CA1087065A publication Critical patent/CA1087065A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04HBUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H4/00Swimming or splash baths or pools
    • E04H4/06Safety devices; Coverings for baths
    • E04H4/10Coverings of flexible material

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A thermal blanket or cover for a swimming pool. The blanket consists of a covering of flexible plastic sheet material to which are secured strips of foam-backed plastic sheet material to provide flotation and reinforcement.

Description

* ~

COVER FOR SWIMMING POOL

The present invention relates to a flexible blanket or cover for a swimming pool or other body of water which, with regular use, will maintain the temperature of the water in the pool warmer, cleaner, and more economical to maintain. The use of the blanket will save water, chemicals, and even fuel if the pool is heated.
The present blanket is manufactured of plastic sheet material which is provided with flotation and reinforcement strips `
enabling the blanket to float on the surface of the water and while ~ ;
one prime object of the invention is to provide for pool heat retention and pool heating as a result of solar heat, the pres-ence of the blanket minimizes water evaporation and also catches debris, leaves, and the like. Use of the blanket alsc mini- ;~
mizes water loss through evaporation and saves on the use of pool maintenance chemicals.
The blanket of the invention may be of any desired shape such as round, oval, or of any rectilinear configuration and may be manufactured in sizes to suit standard pool sizes or may be made to cover the water in pools of irregular configura-tion.
The principal covering is plastic sheet material pre-ferably of non-ripping plastic fabric sheeting, and flotation for the blanket is provided by strips of foam-backed plastic sheet material. The foam-backing on the strips is buoyant itself, and additional buoyancy is provided by pockets of air trapped within the foam structure. The blanket is preferably stabilized against ultraviolet light to ensure useful and long life.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Patent 3,872,522 granted March 25, 1975, to Robert Bennett etal relates to a Protective Cover for Pools consisting of a number of relatively inflexible molded panels adapted to together cover the surface of water in a swimming - . , :: . ,.. ~ . ,: " , pool to reduce water evaporation and to catch debris.
u.S~ Patent 3,940,809 granted to G. A. Hughes, on March 2, 1976, relates to a Swimming Pool Cover consisting of an air filled loop which peripherally encloses a plastic sheet and which is adapted to prevent evaporation and heat loss.
Although both of these U.S. Patents effectively satisfy their objectives, the difficulty with respect to the sennett proposal is the time and labour required to place and then to remove the individual panels, and the panels once removed from the pool do not lend themselves to easy storage.
The effectiveness of the proposal of Hughes is dependent upon the buoyancy factor of the peripheral ring. In use, the ring is subjected to numerous abrasion factors and any rupture of the air-filled ring may result in sufficient loss of buoyancy to render the structure ineffective. Storage is also a disadvantage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a thermal blan]cet for flotation on the surface of water in a swimming pool and which is of flexible, light one-piece manufacture which sim-plifies positioning and removal and which may be folded compactlyfor storage, and which is economical in manufacture and durable in use.
This object is achieved by the invention which provides a thermal cover.Lng consistin~ principally o~ Elexiblc pl~st:Lc sheet material provided with flexible flotation and reinforcing strips secured thereto. The strips are foam-backed flexible plastic sheet material with flotation being provided by the foam-backing which is not subject to loss of buoyancy as a result of hard usage. The flexible nature of the covering also simplifies positioning and removal and the covering may be compactly folded for storage.
These objects are specifically accomplished by the present invention which provides a lightweight thermal cover :~87C~65 or blanket for swimming pools which is compactly foldable for :~
storage and which comprises thin and flexible plastic sheeting having flexible strips of plastic sheet material secured thereto, at least one side of the flexible strips having a flexible layer o~ closed cell ~oam material provided thereon, the strips being positioned at least around the peripheral edges of the cover.
In one preferred construction, flexible strips having .
the closed cell foam material provided thereon are positioned .;
over the plastic sheeting at spaced intervals. `
The present invention is also specifically directed to a lightweight thermal cover for a swimming pool which is compact-ly foldable for storage and which comprises panels of thin and flexible plastic sheeting secured together by flexible strips of plastic sheet material, at least one side of the strips having a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, and with further of said strips secured around the peripheral edges of the cover, the strips providing reinforcement and flot-ation.
In a further preferred construction, the flexible strips of plastic sheet material have a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided on one side only, with the closed cell foam material facing the flexible plastic sheeting. ~his orien-tation protects the foam material from abrasion and against det-erioration by ultra-violet light. ~:
The present invention also specifically relates to a lightweight thermal cover for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage and which comprises panels of thin and flex-ible sheeting secured together in edgewise relationship by strips of plastic sheet material, the strips being provided on both sides of the panels and overlapping the edges of adjacent panels and sides of the strips facing the panels having a thin and flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, and further of said strips being secured around the peripheral edges of the ,: . ,.. .. . , ~

~371~65 1 cover on both sides thereof, the strips providing reinforcement and flotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS :~
The inventive concept will now be more specifically discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates in plan view one embodiment of the blanket or cover of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig-ure l;
,. .
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig-ure l; and Figure 4 is a perspective partially sectioned view showing the cover of the invention in position and floating on the water in a swimming pool.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DR~WINGS
Figure 1 shows the present cover or blanket shown generally at 2 in top view, and Figure 4 illustrates in perspect-ive view the cover in position floating on the water 4 in a swimming pool shown generally by numeral 6.
The blanket consists of plastic sheet material 8 hav-ing strips 10 of foam-backed plastic sheet secured thereto at least around the periphery oE the blanket to provide flotation.
The peripherAlly positioned strips 10 of foam-backed plastic sheet are preEerably stitchecl to the sheet mater:ial 8 in a m~nner as shown at 12 in Figure 3.
Preferably, and around the periphery of the blanket upper and lower strips 10 and 10' are provided as shown in Fig-ure 3. The foam-backing 14 of the upper strips 10 preferably faces the plastic sheet material 8 whereas the foam-backing 12' on the lower strips 10' also preferably faces the plastic sheet material 8 as shown. These strips 10 and 10' are preferably secured to the plastic sheet material 8 by parallel rows of stitch-ing as shown at 12.

o~
Securement could be by adhesives or by heat sealing along the edges of the strips but securement by stitching is preferred.
Depending upon the size of the pool, strips of foam- ; .
backe~ plastic material 16 may also be provided extending across :
the plastic from edge to edge as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
These strips 16, if the pool blanket is made from a single piece of plastic material may be simply stitched to the material or alternatively the strips 16 may be used to secure ...
longitudinal strips of material 8 together in a suitable manner.
Similarly, with the peripheral strips 10, upper and lower interior strips 16 and 16' are preferably provided and these latter strips ;~
are secured to the blanket sections by parallel rows of stitching .
as shown at 12 in Figure 2.
In addition to providing flotation to the blanket the strips 10, 10' of foam-backed material provide reinforcement to the blanket around the periphery thereof. The interior strips 16, 16' provide interior flotation and reinforcement and also act to secure adjacent blanket sections 8 together.
The sheet material 8 and the strips 10, 10' 16, 16' are preferably of tear resistant woven and laminated plastic sheet of the variety available under the registered trade mark RIP-STOP, ,.
and the material also pre~erably is stabilized against deteriora-tion by ultra-violet li~ht rays :Erom the sun. The preEcrred material is ultra-violet light stabilized woven and laminated polyethylene sheet.
It has been Eound that stri.ps 10 and 16, and in pref-erred manufacture, strips 10, 10' and 16 and 16', provide the necessary buoyancy. However, if additional buoyancy is desired 30- additional peripheral and interior strips can be added. By way of example, the periphery of the covering could have four thick-nesses of foam-backed peripheral strips and the interior strips could be of multiple thickness.

. . . . . . . .

~7a~
As inaicated above, the pool blanket can be of any size or shape. However, the manufacture of one blanket will now be described.
Sheets of tear resistant ultra-violet stabilized plas-tic sheet material of a size 12 feet long by 72 inches wide are positioned side by side in a manner as shown in Figure 1. Three -such sheets are used to provide a pool 12 feet long with a width of 18 feet. `
The sheet sections so positioned are then secured to-gether utilizing interior strips 16, 16' which may be attachedto the sheet sections by stitching 12 as clearly shown in Fig-ure 2.
Peripheral strips 10, 10' are then secured by stitching as shown at 12 in Figure 3 to complete the cover. The strips 10, 10', 16, 16' can conveniently be secured to the sections 8 using a two-needle machine.
It will be apprecited that the width of the reinforce-ment and flotation strips can be of any suitable size but it has been found that the use of two inch strips of foam-backed mater-ial arranged in the manner as shown in Figure 1 provides the re-quired flotation and reinforcement.
In use one or more buckets of water may be poured on the blanket to hold it down against the water of the pool sur-Eace, ancl prevent movement oE the pool blanket. ~s shown in Fig-ure 1, grommets 18 may be provided around the blanket so that the pool cover can be secured fastened if desired.
As suggested earlier, suitable plastic material for the pool blanket is woven and laminated polyethylene sheet material which is resistant to tearing. The panels 8 and the strips 10, ~,-10' 16, and 16' may suitably be made of this woven and laminated polyethylene material and in the case of the strips foam-backing ~ ;~
is provided thereon. It will be appreciated, however, that other plastic sheet material could be used in accordance with the pre-.: ~

sent invention. "~
To provide for greater length, the sheet sections may be laid end-to-end and secured together using interior flotation !;' strips 20 shown in broken lines in Figure 1.
The foam backing 14, 14' provided on the strips need only be a thin layering to provide the required flotation. In -this connection, it will be appreciated that the present cover : `
is not intended as a buoyancy device or a safety restraint and .
should not be used nor intended for use in any such capacity.
'' ~

Claims (15)

1. A lightweight thermal cover or blanket for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage comprising thin and flexible plastic sheeting having flexible strips of plastic sheeting secured thereto, at least one side of the strips having a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, the strips being positioned at least around the periph-eral edges of the cover.
2. A lightweight thermal cover or blanket for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage comprising thin and flexible plastic sheeting having flexible strips of plastic sheet material secured thereto, at least one side of the thin flexible strips having a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, the strips being positioned around the peripheral edges of the cover and over the plastic sheeting at spaced intervals.
3. Blanket or cover according to claim 1, or 2, wherein the strips are secured to the sheeting by stitching.
4. Blanket or cover according to claim 1, which is of circular or oval configuration, and a peripheral strip of thin and flexible plastic sheet material having a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon is secured around the border of the cover on one side thereof.
5. Blanket or cover according to claim 1, which is of rectilinear configuration, and peripheral strips of thin and flexible plastic sheet material having flexible layers of closed cell foam material provided thereon are secured to one side of the cover along the edges thereof.
6. Blanket or cover according to claim 5, wherein strips of the thin and flexible plastic sheet material extend across the cover from edge to edge on one side thereof.
7. Blanket or cover according to claim 5 or 6, wherein strips of the plastic sheet material are secured to the cover on the opposite side thereof.
8. Blanket or cover according to claim 4, wherein a strip of thin and flexible plastic sheet material is secured peripherally around the border of the cover on the other side thereof.
9. Blanket or cover according to claim 5, wherein strips of plastic material are secured to the cover around the edges thereof on the other side of the sheet.
10. A lightweight thermal cover for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage comprising panels of thin and flexible plastic sheeting secured together by flexible strips of plastic sheet material, the strips joining the edges of adjacent panels and at least one side of the strips having a flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, and further of said strips being secured around the peripheral edges of the cover, the strips providing reinforcement and flotation.
11. A lightweight thermal cover for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage comprising panels of thin and flexible plastic sheeting secured together by flexible strips of plastic sheet material, the strips being provided on both sides of the panels and joining the edges of adjacent panels, at least one side of the strips having a thin and flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, and further of said strips being secured around the peripheral edges of the cover on both sides thereof, the strips providing reinforcement and flotation.
12. A cover according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the strips are secured to the panels by stitching.
13. A cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one side of the flexible strips is provided with a layer of closed cell foam material, the foam material facing the flexible plastic sheeting.
14. A cover according to claim 10 or 11, wherein one side of the flexible strips is provided with a layer of closed cell foam material, the foam material facing the flexible plastic sheeting.
15. A lightweight thermal cover or blanket for a swimming pool which is compactly foldable for storage comprising thin and flexible plastic sheeting having thin flexible strips of plastic sheet material secured thereto, the sides of the thin flexible strips facing the plastic sheeting having a thin and flexible layer of closed cell foam material provided thereon, the strips being spaced over the surface of the plastic sheeting and around the peripheral edges thereof to provide reinforcement and flotation.
CA 337934 1979-10-18 1979-10-18 Cover for swimming pool Expired CA1087065A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 337934 CA1087065A (en) 1979-10-18 1979-10-18 Cover for swimming pool

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 337934 CA1087065A (en) 1979-10-18 1979-10-18 Cover for swimming pool

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1087065B CA1087065B (en) 1979-07-03
CA1087065A true CA1087065A (en) 1980-10-07

Family

ID=4115382

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 337934 Expired CA1087065A (en) 1979-10-18 1979-10-18 Cover for swimming pool

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1087065A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4628549A (en) * 1984-05-03 1986-12-16 Cantar Corporation Floatable sheet material and method of making

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4628549A (en) * 1984-05-03 1986-12-16 Cantar Corporation Floatable sheet material and method of making

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1087065B (en) 1979-07-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEC Expiry (correction)

Effective date: 20050708