US3512186A

US3512186A - Apparatus for covering swimming pools

Info

Publication number: US3512186A
Application number: US662056A
Authority: US
Inventors: George N Sanford
Original assignee: GEORGE N SANFORD
Current assignee: GEORGE N SANFORD
Priority date: 1967-08-21
Filing date: 1967-08-21
Publication date: 1970-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-19

Description

(3. N. SANFORD APPARATUS FOR COVERING SWIMMING POOLS May 19, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1967 eorye /V. 50/25/04 INVENTOR.

lf/orne May 19, 1970 I G. N. SANFORD APPARATUS FOR COVERING SWIMMING POOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1967 I eoye 4 SZM/rof l 94- f i 2 /Z4 INVENTOR.

I i BY United States Patent 3,512,186 APPARATUS FOR COVERING SWIMMING POOLS George N. Sanford, 4820 Faculty Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90808 Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 662,056

Int. Cl. E04h 3/18 US. Cl. 4172.12 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Swimming pool covering apparatus having a skeleton frame mountable over a swimming pool and a flexible plastic sheet for disposition over the frame. A peripheral portion of the cover is anchored, and another peripheral portion is weighted but adapted to be lifted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When swimming pools are uncovered and open even gentle breezes blow in dust and litter which must be removed frequently at the expense of at least considerable time. If this cleaning job is hired there is a labor charge that can bcome expensive.

Further, a great deal of heat is lost into the air from the surface of the water and when pools are heated by the usual heating means the cost of heating them is considerable.

Also, in cool weather, using the pool looses much of the pleasure usually derived therefrom, for even though the water is warm the air is chilly and when one exposes even a part of his or her body to the air after being in the warm water the chilly air is uncomfortable to many people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a swimming pool cover arrangement having a skeleton frame over the pool. The frame is readily set up and easily removed if desired. When the frame is anchored to the pool deck a plastic cover is disposed over the frame. A peripheral portion of the cover is anchored by means of weights such as sandbags so that this peripheral portion of the cover will be securely held against lifting. This portion of the cover extends along one side and at least a portion of one end.

There is an elongated tubular weight such as a plastic or metal pipe attached to a portion of the cover opposite the anchored portion. The tubular Weight is sufiiciently heavy to keep the edge portion of the cover weighted thereby on the deck under normal conditions but this portion of the cover will be raised by the wind to allow hot air to escape. Also this portion of the cover may be lifted by raising the tubular weight so that this part or portion of the cover may serve as a door for those wishing to enter or leave the pool.

The frame comprises a longitudinally extending member or ridge pole and a plurality of laterally extending members or rafters at the sides of said ridge pole. Both the ridge pole and the rafters curve upwardly from the pool deck so there is considerable space between the surface of the water and the cover or roof for the pool. More particularly at least at the central part of the covered area the cover is several feet above the surface of the Water thereby providing ample head room for those using the pool to swim or stand in the shallow portion of the pool.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide swimming pool cover apparatus that protects the pool from dust and litter being blown thereinto.

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Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character having a portion of the cover which will rise and permit some of the hot air to escape from beneath the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character having a portion of the cover that serves as a door so that those wishing to enter the pool may readily raise such portion and enter the pool. Likewise those wishing to leave the pool may do so by lifting this same door portion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that provides ample head room or space above the surface of the water so that the cover will not interfere with normal swimming, bathing or similar use of the pool.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that will retain in the space defined by the cover the air warmed by the water of the pool so that those using the pool will not be chilled when emerging from the Water and the ambient air is cool or cold.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent an embodiment of the invention and certain alternative elements. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made Without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a swimming pool with the present invention operably positioned thereover, a portion of the flexible cover being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged alternative arrangement for anchoring a peripheral edge portion of the cover;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a trough for sandbags.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a swimming pool, indicated generally at 10, and the covering means which includes a frame or skeleton, indicated generally at 12, and a cover therefor, indicated generally at 14.

The pool includes the usual bottom 16,

side walls

18 and 20 respectively, and end

Walls

22 and 24 respectively. There is the usual coping 26 and the deck 28 extending outwardly from the walls and the coping of the pool.

While the frame or skeleton 12 may be asymmetrical, it is shown as being symmetrical and as comprising a longitudinally extending tubular member or pipe termed herein the ridgepole 30 which has a substantially horizontal central portion 30a and downturned end portions 30b which are termed legs, the lower ends of which rest on or adjacent to the deck 28. There are a plurality of tubular members or pipes termed rafters 36 which extend laterally of the ridgepole and in opposite directions therefrom. These rafters are formed in bow shaped or arcuately shaped tubular pipes forming rafter units of two rafters extending in opposite directions from the center of the bow and each rafter terminates in a leg 36a.

The free lower end of the legs of the rafters are in substantially a common plane in which the free ends of the legs of the ridgepole terminate. All of the legs of the frame rest on or adjacent to the deck 28.

Attached to and spaced longitudinally of the ridge pole are what are termed fixtures each having a body 41 with a longitudinally extending groove 42 in the upper side, said groove being concave in cross section and adapted to receive a lower part of the ridgepole therein. Bore holes extend through the body adjacent the ends thereof for reception of screws 44 which are threadably disposed in tapped bores provided therefor in the ridgepole to thereby secure the fixtures to the ridgepole.

Each fixture has a depending boss 46 with a groove 48 therein normal to the groove 42. Groove 48 of a fixture is concave in cross section and snugly received in a central portion of a rafter unit. Depending within the groove 48 is a pin 50 which is received in a hole 52 provided therefor at the center of the bow of each rafter unit. Pins 50 retain the rafter units in position.

Wall 22 of the pool is rounded or arcuate shaped so that the end of the pool defined by well 22 is rounded accordingly. At this end of the pool there are two rafter units, indicated at 36b and 360. These rafters are secured to the ridge pole by means of brackets each having a body with a longitudinally extending groove for reception of the adjacent portion of the ridgepole, said brackets being secured to the ridgepole by means of screws 62 screwed into tapped bores, not shown, provide-cl therefor in the ridgepole. Each bracket has a depending flange 64 with a D-shaped opening 66 therein for reception and retention in place of the respective rafter units 36b and 360.

The legs of the ridgepole are secured to the deck by any suitable anchoring means. One such means is shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a pair of obtuse members, indicated generally at 70, each of said members 70 has a lower part 72 anchored in the deck 28 which is of concrete. Parts 72 diverge into the deck and each member 70 has a vertical part 74, parts 74 being adjacent each other. The legs of the ridgepole have lower free end portions disposed on the vertical parts of the anchoring means and a cross bolt 76 received in aligned openings in the legs and vertical parts 74, a nut 78 being tightened on the free end of the bolt.

An alternative anchoring means is shown in FIG. 8 and comprises a rod, indicated generally at 80, having a flange 82 intermediate its ends thereby providing a lower part 84 and an upper part 86. The lower part of the rod is set in the concrete of the deck with the flange 82 resting on the deck surface. The part 86 of the rod extends upwardly of the deck surface and is received in the hollow or tubular leg. The rod 80 may be permanently fixed in the deck or may be removable therefrom, the deck then having a socket in which the rod is removably disposed.

Rod 80 is shown as having a rafter leg disposed thereon but it may be used to anchor the legs of the ridgepole.

In FIG. 3 is shown another leg anchoring or securing means. In this arrangement a rafter leg is shown anchored to the deck but it is to be understood that the legs of the ridgepole could also be anchored with this arrangement.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a recess or slot 90 at the upper edge of the deck adjacent the expansion joint 92 of the pool. Slot 90 inclines downwardly and away from the pool. A somewhat backturned end part or hook 94 of a connecting rod 96 is removably disposed in the slot 90. At the opposite end of the rod 96 is a similar hook 98 but oppositely turned.

A bracket of sheet metal has a body 100 with an opening, not shown, adjacent one end in which the hook 98 is removably received. At the opposite end the bracket has an upturned part 102 which is received in the lower end portion of a rafter leg 36. Upturned part 102 is convex at its side adjacent the body 100 of the bracket the curvature of said side being the same as the curvature of the inside of'the leg. The rafters are somewhat resilient and by springing them toward each other and then placing the legs on the upturned parts 102 of the brackets an outward pressure or tension is placed on the brackets and links to thereby retain these parts in position and secure the legs and hence the frame to the deck.

The cover 14 comprises a sheet of any well known material such as a suitable plastic. Vinyl is one such material. The cover is somewhat longer and wider than the area encompassed by the frame so that there is a marginal or peripheral edge portion 106 that can rest on the deck. A part of this peripheral edge portion is anchored down by means of weights such as sand bags 108 although other suitable means may be used. The sand bags provide an effective means for anchoring a portion of the cover to the deck and permit quick and easy removal when it is desired to remove the cover.

The marginal edge portion anchored by the sand bags 108 extends along the side of the cover adjacent the wall 20 and to a location adjacent the respective legs of the ridgepole which extends along the longitudinal center of the frame and the pool. Additional bags could, of course, be placed along the peripheral edge portion of the cover at the end adjacent the wall 24.

There is an elongated weight shown as being a pipe 11-3 of plastic material although such pipe may be metal or other suitable material. The weight 110 could be solid if desired. Weight 110 extends from the end of the cover adjacent the wall 24, along the marginal or peripheral edge portion 106 adjacent the Wall 18 and at least part way along the marginal or peripheral edge portion 106 at the rounded end of the pool.

The marginal or peripheral edge portion of the cover along which the weight 110 extends is attached to said weight by means of a tubular clamp 112 that is generally C-shaped in cross section. A marginal edge part of the cover is wrapped about the weight 110 and the clamp 112 attached over the wrapped portion of the cover and the weight by opening up the clamp and pushing it into place. The clamp may be of any suitable resilient materiai such as a resilient plastic.

When the peripheral edge portion has been attached to the weight 110 the entire weight may be lifted or it may be lifted at either end. With raising of the weight an adjacent part of the cover is iifted. Thus a door is provided so that those wishing to enter the pool merely raise the weight 110 or one end thereof and open the door through which they may pass. Those wishing to leave the pool can do so by raising the weight from the inside.

While the pool is shown as being irregular in shape, it may be regular in shape. The present invention is readily adapted for use with either type of pool.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 there is shown an alternative arrangement for securing marginal edge portions of the cover. This means comprises a trough with supports, indicated generally at 122, adjacent the ends. Supports 122 are generally U-shaped and the upstanding walls 124 have arcuate upper edges for reception of the convex under side of the trough. The supports 122 are secured to the trough by any suitable means such as brazing, as at 123 spot welding or the like. The closed parts 125 of the U-shaped supports rest on the deck so that the trough opens upwardly.

A marginal or peripheral edge portion of the cover is disposed in the trough and a sandbag 108 is placed thereover so that the sandbag holds said marginal or peripheral edge portion in said trough. Strips of suitable material, such as flexible plastic, further secures the peripheral edge portion and sandbag in piace. One end of each strip 130 is secured to the under side of the cover by any suitable well known adhesive and said strip is passed beneath the trough and between the upstanding arms of a respective support 122, and thence over the sandbag. The outer ends of the strips are secured to the outer side of the cover.

With the trough arrangement ventilating air will pass through the space 136 beneath the troughs.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. Swimming pool covering apparatus, comprising:

(A) a frame having,

(a) a longitudinally extending ridgepole having a central generally horizontal portion and end portions curving downwardly to provide supporting legs,

(b) and rafters connected to and extending laterally from the ridge pole and curving downwardly therefrom to provide intermediate supporting legs terminating in substantially the same plane as the legs of the ridgepole, said rafters being spaced apart longitudinally of the ridgepole;

(B) a cover of flexible sheet material disposed on the frame;

(C) and means for holding down a marginal portion of the cover, and an elongated weight extending along a substantial marginal portion of the cover to which said marginal portion is secured, said marginal portion and adjacent portion of the cover being raised with raising of said weight and thereby serving as a door.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the rafters are in units having two oppositely extending rafters, each unit being arcuate in shape and having an opening at the longitudinal center; and a depending pin attached to the ridge pole for each of the rafter units, said pins being received in the openings in the pairs of rafters.

3. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein said weight is continuous along a substantial marginal portion of the cover, including that portion serving as a door; there being a resilient generally C-shaped clamp coexten sive with said weight throughout substantially its length and disposed thereon with an adjacent marginal portion of the cover clamped between said clamp and said weight.

4. The combination of the invention defined by claim 1, with a swimming pool having a deck, the legs of the frame resting on the deck, the first mentioned marginal portion and said weight marginally holding the cover down on the deck; and means for anchoring the legs to the deck.

5. The invention defined by claim 4, wherein the legs of the frame are releasably anchored to the deck.

6. The invention defined by claim 4, including pins having portions disposed in the deck and extending upwardly above the surface of the deck, and at least certain legs being tubular and disposed on said pins.

7. The invention defined by claim 4, wherein there are notches in the deck inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the pool, there being a notch for at least certain of the legs, said legs being tubular; a bracket for each of said legs, each of said brackets having a horizontal portion and an upstanding portion at the outer end, said upstanding portion being disposed in a leg and being arcuate to conform to the curvature of the inside of the leg; and a link for each bracket, each link having a hoop portion at one end received in one of the notches, and a part connected to the inner adjacent end of said bracket, the leg exerting an outward resilient force on the upstanding part of the bracket and hence on said bracket and link.

8. The invention defined by claim 4, including troughs disposed along a portion of the periphery of the cover, said cover having back turned marginal edge portions to provide at least one pocket disposed in the trough; the means for holding down the first mentioned marginal portion of the cover comprising at least one weight disposed in said pocket and holding the marginal edge portion of the cover in said trough.

9. The invention defined by claim 4, wherein the frame and the cover form a roof over the pool with the upper portion of the roof spaced upwardly of the top of the pool to permit users of the pool ample overhead room when emerging from the water of the pool.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,572 11/1951 Wickstrum l5 XR 2,646,057 7/1953 Blanchand 13514 XR 2,823,683 2/1958 Smith et al. 1353 XR 2,883,676 4/1959 Knake.

3,003,507 10/1961 Ferris 1351 3,077,610 2/1963 Gazdik.

3,158,161 11/1964 Knodel.

3,212,512 10/1965 Morris 135-15 XR 3,361,144 1/1968 Folkes 135-1 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner