GB2437601A

GB2437601A - Swimming pool cover chamber

Info

Publication number: GB2437601A
Application number: GB0608449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Reid Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-28
Also published as: GB0608449D0; GB2437601B

Abstract

A swimming pool cover storage unit (10) has an open top housing (12) defining a void (14) adapted to receive a swimming pool cover (16). A housing lid (30) moveable between a first configuration in which the lid closes the open top housing (12) and a second configuration in which the lid (30) is arranged between the housing and a pool to be covered is also provided. The housing lid (30) has a first surface which, when the lid is in the second configuration, provides a low friction surface (38) over which a pool cover (16) can be manoeuvred.

Description

1 2437601 SWIMMING POOL COVER CH.M4BER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage unit suitable for storing a swimming pool cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of cover are available for swimming pools to prevent heat loss when the swimming pool is not being used. These covers, particularly covers for outdoor pools, also prevent debris, such as falling leaves, entering the pool and potentially blocking the pool's management systems such as filtration or saturation systems.

When not in use a pool cover is generally stored in a roller and, when required, can be payed out from the roller either manually or by an automated motor driven system.

While the manually operated cover is relatively cheap and effective a fully laden roller at one side of the pool is an unsightly object and the weight of the roller and the cover is such that it can be quite difficult to manoeuvre away from the pool. Furthermore, after a comparatively short period of time, the cover can become stained, for example, by the chemicals used to maintain the water quality and these stains can add to the unsightly appearance of the cover.

It is known to provide a recess in the edge of the pool for storing the cover and roller, however, manipulation of the cover from the recess to the pool can be difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the disadvantages associated with

the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a swimming pool cover storage unit comprising: an open top housing defining a void adapted to receive a swimming pool cover; and a housing lid having a first surface, the lid being moveable between a first configuration in which the lid closes the open top housing and a second configuration in which the lid is arranged, in use, between the housing and a pooi to be covered; wherein in the second configuration the first surface provides a low friction surface over which, in use, a pool cover can be manoeuvred.

The present invention provides a swimming pool cover storage unit which facilitates the removal of a stored cover from the storage unit to the pool. The provision of a low friction surface over which the cover can be manoeuvred minimises the drag experienced by the cover and eases the movement of the cover onto the pool surface.

Preferably, the open top housing is a channel.

Preferably, the open top housing is a channel with closed ends.

Preferably, the open top housing is at least partially made from fibreglass.

Preferably, the housing lid is attached to the open top housing.

Most preferably, the housing lid is hingedly attached to the open top housing.

Preferably, the housing lid is hingedly attached to an upper edge of a side of the housing channel.

Preferably, the housing lid has a second surface, opposite the first surface, the second surface, when the lid is in the first configuration, providing a load bearing surface.

Preferably, the load bearing surface is adapted to support the weight of a number of pool users.

Preferably, the lid is made from a low friction material which provides the low friction surface.

Preferably, the lid is metallic or moulded plastic.

Most preferably, the lid is stainless steel -or moulded plastic.

The low friction surface may be a skin attached to the lid.

Preferably, the low friction surface is a polished surface.

Alternatively, the low friction surface is a smooth surface.

Preferably, the low friction surface is metallic.

Alternatively, the low friction surface is polymeric.

In a further alternative, the low friction surface is provided by at least one roller.

Preferably, the at least one roller is mounted to the lid.

Preferably, the at least one roller extends the full length of the lid.

Alternatively, the at least one roller extends partially along the lid.

The at least one roller may be a plurality of needle rollers.

In a still further alternative, the low friction surface may be provided by a plurality of ball bearings rotatably mounted to the lid.

Preferably, the storage unit includes brackets for receiving a swimming pool cover roller.

Preferably, the storage unit is adapted to receive swimming pool cover roller actuation means.

Preferably, the storage unit is modular in construction.

Preferably, the open top housing comprises a plurality of housing sections.

Preferably, adjacent housing sections are releasably secured together.

Preferably, the housing lid comprises a plurality of lid sections.

Preferably, each lid section is independently movable between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Alternatively, the housing lid sections are connected such that the sections move as a single unit between the first configuration and the second configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid for a swimming pool cover storage chamber, the lid comprising a plate member having a low friction surface, the lid being adapted to be moved, in use, between a first configuration in which the lid closes a swimming pool cover storage chamber and a second configuration in which the lid is arranged between the storage chamber and a pool to be covered; wherein in the second configuration, the low friction surface is arranged to provide a surface over which, in use, a swimming pool cover can be manoeuvred.

Preferably, the lid is adapted to be hingedly mounted adjacent the swimming pool cover storage chamber.

Preferably, the lid has a second surface, opposite the low friction surface, the second surface adapted to bear the weight of one or more pool users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a swimming pool cover storage unit in an open configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section view of the storage unit of Figure 1 shown adjacent a swimming pool; Figure 3 is a section view of the storage unit of Figure 1 shown adjacent a swimming pool in a closed configuration; Figure 4 is a section view of a swimming pool cover storage unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a section view of a swimming pool cover storage unit in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a section view of a swimming pool cover storage unit in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown an exploded perspective view of a swimming pooi cover storage unit, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The storage unit 10 comprises an open top housing 12 in the form of a channel. The housing 12 defines a void 14 which contains a swimming pool cover 16 wrapped around a roller 18. The storage unit 10 further includes first and second end plates 20, 22 which, when assembled, are secured to first and second ends 24,26 of the channel housing 12 respectively.

The housing 12 is made up from three fibreglass housing sections 12a, 12b, 12c connected together by bolts and nuts 42.

The storage unit 10 further comprises a stainless steel housing lid 30 which is attached to a housing upper edge 32 by means of first and second hinges 34, 36. The lid 30 comprises a low friction first surface 38 and a load bearing second surface 40. In contrast to the housing 12, the lid 30 is unitary body.

The lid 30 is moveable between an open configuration (as shown in Figure 1), in which the low friction first surface 38 is upwardly facing uppermost and the housing 12 is open, and a closed configuration (shown and discussed in due course in connection with Figure 2) in which the load bearing second surface 40 is upwardly facing and the housing 12 is closed.

The purpose of the first and second surfaces 38, 40 can be further better understood from Figures 2 and 3, section views of the storage unit 10 of Figure 1 shown adjacent a swimming pool 50 in an open configuration (Figure 2) and a closed configuration (Figure 3) Referring firstly to Figure 2, the storage unit 10 is located adjacent a swimming pool 50. The swimming pool 50 has a tiled floor 52, tiled sides 54 and tiled edges 56. The storage unit 10 is secured in a trench 58 adjacent the pool 50 by concrete 60.

In the open configuration, the low friction lid surface 38 is uppermost and the load bearing lid surface is resting on the tiled edge 56 of the pool 50.

If it is required to cover the water 62 in the pool 50, perhaps to retain the heat in the water 60, the pool cover 16 is payed out from the roller 18 manually, (or by using a motor drive motor (not shown)) The provision of the low friction surface 38 eases the movement of the cover 16 to the position shown in Figure 2 in which the cover 16 is on top of the surface 64 of the water 62. The low friction surface 38 is prepared by polishing the steel from which the lid 30 is made.

Figure 3 shows the storage unit 10 in a closed configuration. In this configuration the lid 30 has been rotated about the hinges 34, 36 to cover and close the open top housing 12. The load bearing second side 40 is uppermost and is flush with the pool tiled edge 56. In this configuration the storage unit 12 can support the weight of a number of pool users (not shown) Alternative methods of providing a low friction surface are shown on Figures 4 to 6, section views of a swimming pool cover storage unit in accordance with second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention respectively.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, a low friction surface is provided by a skin 270 of low friction material attached to a first side 272 of a storage unit lid 230. In this case the skin 270 is a layer of acetal or other low friction material glued to the lid 230.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, a low friction surface is provided by a pair of rollers 380, 382, each roller located adjacent an edge of a storage unit lid 330.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, a low friction surface is provided in a similar fashion to Figure 5, except there are eight rollers 490, of which four are indicated, spread across the width of a first side 472 of a storage unit lid 430.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the swimming pool cover storage unit described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the lid 30 is shown as a unitary object, it could, like the housing 12, be modular. The lid modules could be joined together so the lid can be opened as a single unit, or each lid module could be separate from its neighbour with its own hinge arrangement.

It will be appreciated that the principal advantage of the above described embodiments is that a swimming pool cover removed from storage in a storage unit below ground level and moved into position covering at least part of a swimming pool more easily than is the case with conventional apparatus.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A swimming pool cover storage unit comprising: an open top housing defining a void adapted to receive a swimming pool cover; and a housing lid having a first surface, the lid being moveable between a first configuration in which the lid closes the open top housing and a second configuration in which the lid is arranged, in use, between the housing and a pool to be covered; wherein in the second configuration the first surface provides a low friction surface over which, in use, a pool cover can be manoeuvred.

2. A storage unit according to claim 1 wherein the open top housing is a channel.

3. A storage unit according to claim 1 wherein the open top housing is a channel with closed ends.

4. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the open top housing is at least partially made from fibreglass.

5. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the housing lid is attached to the open top housing.

6. A storage unit according to claim 5 wherein the housing lid is hingedly attached to the open top housing.

7. A storage unit according to claim 6 wherein the housing lid is hingedly attached to an upper edge of a side of the housing channel.

8. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the housing lid has a second surface, opposite the first surface, the second surface, when the lid is in the first configuration, providing a load bearing surface.

9. A storage unit according to claim 8 wherein the load bearing surface is adapted to support the weight of a number of pool users.

10. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the lid is metallic or moulded plastic 11. A storage unit according to claim 10 wherein the lid is of stainless steel.

12. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the lid is made from a low friction material which provides the low friction surface.

13. A storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the low friction surface is a skin attached to the lid.

14. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the low friction surface is a polished surface or a smooth surface.

15. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the low friction surface is metallic or polymeric.

16. A storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the low friction surface is provided by at least one roller.

17. A storage unit according to claim 16 wherein the at least one roller is mounted to the lid.

18. A storage unit according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the at least one roller extends the full length of the lid.

19. A storage unit according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the at least one roller extends partially along the length of the lid.

20. A storage unit according to any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the at least one roller is a plurality of needle rollers.

21. A storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the low friction surface is provided by a plurality of ball bearings rotatably mounted to the lid.

22. A storage unit according to any preceding claim including brackets for receiving a swimming pool cover roller.

23. A storage unit according to any preceding claim adapted to receive swimming pool cover roller actuation means.

24. A storage unit according to any preceding claim which is modular in construction.

25. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the open top housing comprises a plurality of housing sections.

26. A storage unit according to claim 25 wherein adjacent housing sections are releasably secured together.

27. A storage unit according to any preceding claim wherein the housing lid comprises a plurality of lid sections.

28. A storage unit according to claim 27 wherein each lid section is independently movable between the first configuration and the second configuration.

29. A storage unit according to claim 27 wherein the housing lid sections are connected such that the sections move as a single unit between the first configuration and the second configuration.

30. A lid for a swimming pool cover storage chamber, the lid comprising a plate member having a low friction surface, the lid being adapted to be moved, in use, between a first configuration in which the lid closes a swimming pool cover storage chamber and a second configuration in which the lid is arranged between the storage chamber and a pool to be covered; wherein in the second configuration, the low friction surface is arranged to provide a surface over which, in use, a swimming pool cover can be manoeuvred.

31. A lid according to claim 30 adapted to be hingedly mounted adjacent the swimming pool cover storage chamber.

32. A lid according to claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the lid has a second surface, opposite the low friction surface, the second surface being adapted to bear the weight of one or more pool users.