GB2179627A - Pool cover roller assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A pool cover roller assembly (10), adjustable for use with pools of various widths (figure 1), comprises an outer reel (26) with telescopically mated inner reels (24) at each of its ends. The telescoping reels are supported between a pair of support brackets (12) to which the inner reels are rotatably mounted. When rotated, the outer ridges (36) of the inner reels (24) impinge upon the interior surface of the outer reel so that all three reels rotate as a unit. Set screws (44) are used to hold the reels in this position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pool cover roller assembly Background of the invention This invention relatesto rollersystemsfor swimming pool covers orthe like.

In orderto keep a swimming pool free of debris while the pool is not in use, it is customaryto cover the pool with a sheet of pliant material. The cover can also serve to retain the pool's heat.

Pool covers are typically single piece members that tend to be somewhat unwieldy. It is therefore desirableto employ mechanismsto aid in the removal, storage or replacement of the pool cover.

One prior art arrangement depicted in the patent issued to Kroeger (U.S. Patent No. 2,580,555) uses a rod, which isformedfrom a plurality of joined tubular sections, and is attached to one edge of a re ctangular cover (the oppositely disposed edge of the cover being anchored at the opposite edge ofthe pool). The rod extends across opposing edges ofthe pool and is rolled by hand along those edges in the appropriate direction to wind or unwind the cover aboutthe rod in orderto either expose or coverthe water surface.

The patent issued to Guard petal. (U.S. Patent No.

4,324,370) shows a stationary roller extending across one end ofthe pool and having one end ofthe cover attached thereto. When the roller is rotated, the cover is wrapped around (or unwrapped from) the roller.

The length ofthe roller of the Guard patent is adjustable to fit across pools of varying widths. To this end, the roller comprises tubular end sections that are in parttelescopically surrounded by a tubular center section. Oncethe roller is settothe proper length,the tubular end sections and tubular center section are secured to one another so thatthethree sectionswill act as a single unit when rotated. Specifically, circu mferentially spaced-apart longitudinal ribs are formed in the outerwall ofthe tubular end sections and on the inner walk ofthe center section.The ribs are dimensioned so that rotating a tubular end section with in the tubular center section brings the sur- face ofthe ribs into contact with one anotherwhen radially aligned, with the interference between the ribs securing the sections in their relative positions.

Ensuring that the interference between the ribs will secure the sections to one another obviously requires that the inside and outside diameters, the wall thicknesses, and the rib heights of each tubular section be preciselydimensioned.

Summary ofthe invention The pool cover roller assembly made in accordance with this invention is easily adjustable for use with pools of various widths, is easily produced, and can be constructed with a relatively wide tolerance in the specific dimensions of the essential elements.

The pool cover roller assembly formed in accordance with this invention comprises an elongate roller member having first and second ends. The roller member itself comprises two or more telescopically mating reels which are configured and arranged so that the periphery of the portion of any reel that is telescopically received within any other reel is polygonal in cross section. The intersection of any two sides ofthe periphery of anytelescopically received portion defines ridges on that portion ofthe reel. The interior surface portion of any reel that telescopically receives any other reel defines a polygonal cross section corresponding to the polygonal shapeofthe telescopically received reel portion.When any reel is rotated, at least one of the ridges of each telescopically received portion impinges upon the interior surface portion of the reel in which it is telescopically received. Support brackets are positioned atthefirst and second ends ofthe rollermember, each end of the roller member being rotatively mounted in its associated support bracket.

The preferred embodimentofthe invention also in cludeslocking mechanismsforsecuring the reels when they are in the winding position.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure l is an isometricview ofthe pool cover rol ler assembly formed in accordance with this invention in position at the edge of a swimming pool and having a swimming pool cover attached thereto; Figure2 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing thejunction ofthe inner reel, support bracket and handle; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the relative position ofthe inner reel with respect to the outer reel when the overall length of the roller member is to be adjusted;; Figure4is a cross-sectional view, similarto Figure 3, showing the relative position ofthe inner and outer reelswhen the assembly is in thewinding position; and Figure 4a is an isometric view of a wedge element used to secure inner and outer reels together.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment Illustrated in Figure 1 isthepoolcoverroller assembly 10formed in accordance with this invention. Generally, the elements of the assembly include support brackets 12 positionable on either side ofthe pool 14; a roller member 16, which is fixed between hubs 18, the hubs 18 being rotatably mounted in support brackets 12; and a handle 20 attached to one of the hubs 18 so that rotation ofthe handle 20 results in rotation of the roller member 16 thereby winding (or unwinding, depending upon the direction the handle isturned)the pliant pool cover22 aboutthe roller member 16.

Because of the large variation in the widths of swimming pools, the pool cover roller assembly made in accordance with this invention is constructed to be adaptable to fit a large range of pool widths ("W" in Figure 1). Specifically, roller member 16 is comprised ofthree elements: two inner reels 24 and one outer reel 26. The inner reels 24 are elongate, tube-like, axially aligned elements having a regular dodecagonal cross section. Both the inner reels 24 and the outer reel 26 are preferably formed of aluminum alloy orotherlightweight structural material. As shown in Figures 1 and 2,the outer ends28 ofthe inner reels 24 mate with the correspondingly- shaped annular extensions 32 ofthe hub 18.Outer ends 28 ofthe inner reels 24 are fixed to the hub extensions 32 by metal screws 30.

Outer reel 26 extends between the inner ends 34 of each inner reel 24 in axial alignment with those inner reels. The inner ends 34 ofthe inner reels 24 are telescopically received within the outer ends 35 of the outer reel 26. With reference to Figure 3, the interior surfaces of the sides 39 of outer reel 26 define a re gular dodecagonal shape in cross section; the dimensions of which are slightly largerthan the outside dimensions ofthe correspondingly-shaped inner reels 24. Ridges 36 are formed along the line of intersection between any two sides 38 of the inner reel 24.

Ridges 37 are likewise formed in outer reel 26.

In orderto set up and operate the pool cover roller assembly, the support brackets 12 are positioned alongside ofthe pool 14 atone end thereof. If desired, the support brackets 12 can be anchored by bolts or other conventional fasteners.

The telescoping inner and outer reels 24 and 26, respectively, while in the position shown in Figure 3 (that is, with all sides 38 and 39 of both the inner and outer reels being substantially parallel), are slid with respect to one another until the proper width W is established. The outer ends 28 of the inner reels 24 are then secured to the hubs 18 as earlier described.

With reference to Figure 2, it is pointed outthat rotation of one hub 18, which is rotatably mounted via bearing 42 in support bracket 12, is accomplished by movement of the handle 20, which is attached to an axially projecting portion 40 ofthe hub 18 that ex tends th rough support bracket 12. The junction ofthe hub, support bracket and inner reel is substantially the same on the other end except that no handle (or projecting portion 40) is included.

When handle 20 is rotated, the rotation oftheconnected inner reel 24 causes the ridges 36 of the rotated inner reel 24 to impinge upon the interior surfaces ofthe sides 39 ofthe outer reel 26. Likewise, the ridges 36 of the other inner reel (that is, the one located awayfromthe handle 20) then impinge upon the interior surfaces ofthe sides 39 ofthe outer reel 26.

When all the reels are so positioned (for convenience called the "winding" position') four set screws 44, which are installed in spaced-apartopeningsinthe sides 39 ofthe outer reel 26, are tightened to bear upon the sides 38 ofthe inside end 34 of each inner reel 24 in orderto secure the reels in the justdescribed winding position (see Figure 4). When so secured, the roller member 16 will rotate as a unit.

The edge ofthe pliant cover 22 is attached by suitable means to the roller member 16so that rotation ofthe roller member will cause the cover 22 to be wound (or unwound) around the roller member.

For proper performance of the pool cover roller assembly formed in accordance with this invention, the cross-sectional dimensions of the inner and outer reels play an important role. In this regard, the most significant dimension ofthe inner reels 24 can be noted as Rj, the distance between the cross-sectional center ofthe inner reel and the outermost point of any ridge36 on its cross section (see Figure 3). For the outer reel 26, R0 represents the distance between the cross-sectional center of the outer reel and any internal corner, and r0 represents the distance between the cross-sectional center ofthe outer reel and the midpoint of the interior surface of any of its sides 39.It is clearthatthe dimension r0 can also be described as the radius of a circle inscribed within the cross section of the outer reel.

The telescopically mated inner and outer reels 24 and 26, respectively, will effectively operate as long as the above-noted dimensions are such that Ri is greaterthan r0 and less than R,. It is clearthatthis design criteria will allow a relatively wide range of tolerance when constructing the reels and yet still produce a functional roller assembly. For example, if the outer reel 26 dimensions are R0 = 42.1 mm and r0 = 40.7 mm,the inner reels 24 will function properly as long as its critical dimension R is between those dimensions, i.e., within a range of 1.4 mm.

As an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the above-described set screws 44, one or more wedges 46,which aretriangular in cross section (see Figure 4(a)), may be inserted within correspondinglyshaped gaps 45 that are formed between the inner reels 24 and the interior surfaces of the sides 39 ofthe outer reel 26 when the ridges 36 of the inner reels impinge upon the interior surfaces of the outer reel. If needed, these wedges 46 can be secured by screws 48 threaded through the sides 39 of the outer reel 26 and into the wedge. The position of one wedge 46 is shown in Figure 4. It is noted that more wedges could be employed if necessary.

It is noted that although the preferred embodiment shown provides reels that are dodecagonal in cross section, any polygonal shape will suffice. Furthermore, any number oftelescoping reels can be employed when any portions of the reels that are telescopically received within other reels are dimensioned as the earlier-described inner reel 24, and when the interior surface portion of any reel thattelescopically receives another reel is dimensioned as the earlier-described outer reel 26.

Itwill be understood thatvarious changes inthe details, materials and configuration of the pool cover rollerassemblywhich has been herein described and illustrated in orderto explain the nature of the inven- tion, may be made bythose skilled in the art swithin the principle and scope ofthe invention that is expressed in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A pool cover roller assembly connectable to the end of a sheet of pliant material and operable for winding the material into a roli comprising: an elongate roller member having first and second ends, the roller member comprising: two or more telescopically mating reels, the reels being configured so that the periphery of the portion of any reel that is telescopically received within any other reel is polygonal in cross section with the intersection of anytwo sides ofthe periphery of anytelescopically received portion defining a ridge thereon, and wherein tbe interior surface portion of any reel thattelescopically receives any other reel defines a polygonal cross section, the reels being configured and arranged so that rotation of any reel causes at leastoneofthe ridges of each telescopically received portion to impinge upon the interior surface portion of the reel in which it is telescopically received, the arrangement ofthe reels when at least one of the ridges of each telescopically received portion im pingesupon the corresponding interiorsurfacepor- tion defining a winding position; and, support brackets positioned atthefirstand second ends of the roller member, each end of the roller member being rotatably mounted in its associated support bracket.

2. TheassemblyofClaim 1,furtherincluding locking means for securing the reels together when they are in the winding position.

3. TheassemblyofClaim 1,whereintheper- ipheryoftheportion ofanyreelthatistelescopically received within any other reel is formed as a regular polygon in cross section, and wherein the interior surface portion of any reel that telescopically re ceives any other reel has a plurality of interior surface components which define a regular polygon in cross section.

4. The assembly of Claim 3,wherein the distance Ri from the center of the cross section to the outermost point of any ridge ofthe portion of any reel that is telescopically received within any other reel is largerthan the distance r0 between the center ofthe cross section and the midpoint of any of the interior surface components of any reel which telescopically receives any other reel.

5. Theassembly of Claim Lfurtherincluding locking meansforsecuring the reels in thewinding position.

6. The assembly of Claim 2, wherein the locking means includes one or more threaded fasteners threaded through the portion of any reel which telescopically receives any other reel, the threaded fasteners bearing upon the portion of any reel that is telescopically received within any other reel.

7. The assembly of Claim 5, wherein the locking means includes one or more wedges inserted within correspondingly-shaped gaps between the tele scopicaliy mating reels that are formed when the reels are positioned in the winding position.