US20100199969A1

US20100199969A1 - Pool protection and solar heating cover

Info

Publication number: US20100199969A1
Application number: US12/378,147
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2010-08-12

Abstract

Pool protection and solar heating cover with a housing frame, a black plastic film roof covering, a central water spray manifold, a water pump, a pair of water directing channels, a thermostat and water conduit tubing. The plastic roof covering is stapled to the housing frame. The central water spray manifold is mounted under the peak of the roof covering. The pump is turned on by the thermostat when the temperature of the roof covering reaches a pre-determined level. The pump transfers water from a swimming pool to the manifold via the water conduit tubing. The manifold has a plurality of spray apertures that direct the water to the underside of the roof covering. The water slides down the underside of the roof covering until it reaches the water directing channels which direct the water back into the swimming pool.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of swimming pool accessories and more specifically to a pool protection and solar heating cover.
The use outdoor swimming pools for recreational swimming have become a popular way for people to exercise and play. The water temperature of a pool varies with the temperature of the ambient air. Many pools are heated by energy consuming water heaters to make the water a more comfortable temperature for swimming. Some designs have been developed to take advantage of the sun's far infrared heat rays to warm a solar hot water heating panel. The heated water is returned to the pool and mixed with the remaining water to heat it Other designs such as H. Meyers U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,163 and A. Salgado's U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,085 use a pump to spray water onto a roof panel to heat it and return it to the pool.
However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that none of the prior designs show a full pool enclosure with roof that people can stand under that has a peaked roof that directs the heated water, flowing down the underside of heated black plastic film back into a swimming pool via water directing channels mounted to the underside of the roof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pool protection cover and enclosure that protects and people and and pool.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pool protection cover that uses heat generated from the sun to help warm the pool water.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pool protection cover that uses strategically placed channels to direct the heated water into the pool.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a pool protection and solar heating cover comprising: a housing frame, a black plastic film roof covering, a central water spray manifold, a water pump, a pair of water directing channels, a thermostat, water conduit tubing, a plurality of roof to frame reinforcing tabs, said plastic roof covering stapled, with the aid of said reinforcing strips, to said housing frame, said central water spray manifold mounted longitudinally under the peak of said roof covering, said pump turned on by said thermostat when the temperature of said roof covering reaches a pre-determined level, said pump transferring water from a swimming pool to said manifold via said water conduit tubing, said water manifold having a plurality of spray apertures, said apertures directing said water to the underside of said roof covering, said water sliding down the underside of said roof covering until it reaches said water directing channels, and said channels directing said water down into said swimming pool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective cut away view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front partial front perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a partial perspective cut away view of the invention. A roof member 2 is made of black plastic sheeting and fastened to pool housing frame 8 by staples 6. Reinforcing strip 4 is constructed of one sixteenth of an inch thick polyethylene, which prevents the roof film 2 from tearing away from staple 6 during windy conditions. The frame 8 surrounds a standard swimming pool 18. A central manifold 10 is supported by bracket 30 and runs the length of the housing structure 8 under the roofs peak. A pump 16 causes water from the swimming pool 18 to travel through supply tube 14 and enter manifold 10. The manifold 10 includes a plurality of upwardly directed apertures 12 that allow water to spray 22 out and strike the underside of plastic roof 2. The water then slides down 40 the underside of the roof 2 until it reaches channel 20 which is fixedly attached to the underside of roof 2 by standard means. The channel 2 and a corresponding channel 21 are fixed longitudinally along the length of the roof 2. The channels 20, 21 force the water drops to drop 28 down into the pool 18. The water drops 40 absorb heat from the roof 2 so that when the drops 28 fall back into the pool 26, they help to heat the pool water 18.
FIG. 2 shows a partial front section view of the invention as defined by section line 50 shown in FIG. 3. Roof plastic film 2 covers frame 8 and is stapled to the frame through reinforcing strip 4. Thermostatic switch member 32 is fastened to the underside of roof 2. When the thermostatic switch member detects a predetermined temperature, it closes a normally open switch and completes a circuit via electrical cable 34 to pump 16 and additional cable 36 to an external power supply, not shown. In this way, the pump 16 turns on when the temperature of the roof 2 becomes hot and turns off again when the roof 2 temperature declines. FIG. 2 clearly shows how water drops are sprayed 22 out of manifold 10 through apertures 12 onto the underside of roof 2 and slide down 40 until they reach channel 20 which diverts water drops 28 down to the pool 18 below.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the roof 2. Dotted lines 18 show the outline of the pool below. Dotted lines 20, 21 show the location of the water diverting channels.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Pool protection and solar heating cover comprising:

a housing frame;

a black plastic film roof covering;

a central water spray manifold;

a water pump;

a pair of water directing channels;

a thermostat;

water conduit tubing;

a plurality of roof to frame reinforcing tabs;

said plastic roof covering stapled, with the aid of said reinforcing tabs, to said housing frame;

said central water spray manifold mounted longitudinally under the peak of said roof covering;

said pump turned on by said thermostat when the temperature of said roof covering reaches a pre-determined level;

said pump transferring water from a swimming pool to said manifold via said water conduit tubing;

said water manifold having a plurality of spray apertures;

said apertures directing said water to the underside of said roof covering;

said water sliding down the underside of said roof covering until it reaches said water directing channels; and

said channels directing said water back into said swimming pool.