US3871033A - Swimming pool covers - Google Patents
Swimming pool covers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3871033A US3871033A US335958A US33595873A US3871033A US 3871033 A US3871033 A US 3871033A US 335958 A US335958 A US 335958A US 33595873 A US33595873 A US 33595873A US 3871033 A US3871033 A US 3871033A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- membrane
- cover
- pool
- weighted
- line
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/065—Floors adjustable in height
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/10—Coverings of flexible material
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/10—Coverings of flexible material
- E04H4/103—Coverings of flexible material with inflatable chambers
Definitions
- a cover for a swimming pool comprises a flexible imperforate membrane weighted and shaped so that it will rest submerged on the bottom of the pool, loading means on a single line joining oppposite edges of the cover to define a weighted line across the membrane, means defining air pockets carried by the membrane which when filled with air cause the membrane to float freely and evenly on the surface of the water in the pool, and means for emptying the pockets of air to cause the membrane to sink firstly along the weighted line and the remainder of the membrane to bend upwardly to allow water to bypass the membrane.
- the cover may be provided with hoses connecting points on its periphery with contiguous anchorage points on the edge of the pool, each line being of a length to just reach the bottom of the pool when hanging vertically from its anchorage point.
- the invention thus provides a floating cover for the water in a swimming pool which cover is adapted to be rendered heavierthan water so as to sink to the bottom and give accses to the water and subsequently to be made buoyant and rise to the surface again.
- FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of a flexible inflatable cover illustrating a particular method of fabrication
- FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another method.
- FIG. 1 the outline of a swimming pool is indicated by the broken lines 1 and a cover 2, adapted to float on the surface of the water in a pool, consists of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) inflatable mattress divided transversely into four sections each connected and being capable of being inflated with air through a respective flexible hose 3.
- PVC polyvinylchloride
- the hoses 3 are each connected at one end to a corner of the cover and at the other end to an anchorage on the edge of the pool from whence by means of further piping 3b and manifolds 3c they are connected to an electrically driven reversible air pump 3d.
- the cover is shown inflated and floating on the surface of the water but by simply switching on the pump 3d in the direction to evacuate the air the cover ceases to be buoyant and sinks to the bottom.
- the PVC material may be loaded with a heavy filler and/or thin lead plates may be incorporated in pockets formed in the cover. It will be appreciated that when the cover sinks the whole of the water in the pool will be required to pass from below to above the cover and unless a very ample free surface is allowed around the edge of the cover it may be desirable to load the cover mainly along the smaller axis 4 and progressively less towards the ends. This will ensure that the center sinks first and the ends bend upwards to facilitate the transfer of water. Control of the movement of the cover may also be effected by differential pumping of the hoses 3 connected to the separate sections of the cover.
- each hose 3 is carefully adjusted so as to be taut when the cover is resting on the bottom so as to minimise skewing of the cover relatively to the pool.
- the flexible cover of FIG. 1 may be fabricated similarly to a conventional rubber or plastic air mattress but the methods shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are preferred.
- the cover comprises a sheet 24 of heavily loaded PVC such as is used for floor coverings to the underside of which an indented sheet 25 of thin plasticised PVC is welded at intervals quilt fashion to form blisters.
- the sheet 24 has a series of thin walled plasticised PVC tubes 26 located by flexible straps 27 to its under surface. This latter type of fabrication involves less welding and enables the buoyancy chambers (the tubes 26) to be renewed if necessary.
- whatever plastic material is used in any of the embodiments of the present invention it will be selected to have the maximum resistance to the chemicals normally used in swimming pools as is consistent with the necessary physical requirements.
- a cover for a swimming pool comprising:
- iii means defining air pockets carried by said membrane which when filled with air cause the membrane to float freely and evenly on the surface of the water in the pool and
- iv. means for emptying said pockets of air to cause the membrane to sink firstly along said line weighted and the remainder of the membrane to bend upwards to allow water to by-pass the membrane.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Aeration Devices For Treatment Of Activated Polluted Sludge (AREA)
Abstract
A cover for the surface of the water in a swimming pool comprises a membrane the buoyancy of which can be varied from positive to negative and vice versa so that it either floats on the surface or lies on the bottom. The membrane may be flexible and formed with deflatable air pockets or may be rigid and the pockets arranged to be flooded.
Description
United States Patent 1191 1111 3,871,033 Bartlett Mar. 18, 1975 SWIMMING POOL COVERS 3,000,017 9/1961 Skovira 4/172.13 [76] Inventor: Sidney Charles Leddra Bartlett, f; ;i' Lower Buckle Sidbury, Devon 31366977 2/1968 Koehler EXI R England 3,423,768 l/1969 Glenn 3,579,657 5/1971 Gurrieri [22] mm 1973 3,734,113 5/1973 Madden 4/172.13 x [21] Appl. No.: 335,958
Primary Examiner1-1enry K. Artis [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds Feb. 26, 1972 Unlted Kmgdom 8983/72 ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 4/172.13 A cover for the u a f h at r in a s mming [51] Int. Cl E0411 3/16, E04h 3/18 9 comprises a membrane the oyancy o ch [58] Field of Search 4/172 11, 172,12, 172,13, can be varied from positive to negative and vice versa 4/172 14 so that it either floats on the surface or lies on the bottom. The membrane may be flexible and formed with [56] 1 References Cit d deflatable air pockets or may be rigid and the pockets arranged to be flooded.
2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SWIMMING POOL COVERS This invention relates to swimming pools and is particularly concerned with covers for such pools.
According to the present invention, a cover for a swimming pool comprises a flexible imperforate membrane weighted and shaped so that it will rest submerged on the bottom of the pool, loading means on a single line joining oppposite edges of the cover to define a weighted line across the membrane, means defining air pockets carried by the membrane which when filled with air cause the membrane to float freely and evenly on the surface of the water in the pool, and means for emptying the pockets of air to cause the membrane to sink firstly along the weighted line and the remainder of the membrane to bend upwardly to allow water to bypass the membrane. The cover may be provided with hoses connecting points on its periphery with contiguous anchorage points on the edge of the pool, each line being of a length to just reach the bottom of the pool when hanging vertically from its anchorage point.
The invention thus provides a floating cover for the water in a swimming pool which cover is adapted to be rendered heavierthan water so as to sink to the bottom and give accses to the water and subsequently to be made buoyant and rise to the surface again.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating, by way of example only, several embodiments of the invention. In the drawings.-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible inflatable cover for a rectangular pool,
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of a flexible inflatable cover illustrating a particular method of fabrication FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another method.
In FIG. 1 the outline of a swimming pool is indicated by the broken lines 1 and a cover 2, adapted to float on the surface of the water in a pool, consists of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) inflatable mattress divided transversely into four sections each connected and being capable of being inflated with air through a respective flexible hose 3.
The hoses 3 are each connected at one end to a corner of the cover and at the other end to an anchorage on the edge of the pool from whence by means of further piping 3b and manifolds 3c they are connected to an electrically driven reversible air pump 3d. In the drawing the cover is shown inflated and floating on the surface of the water but by simply switching on the pump 3d in the direction to evacuate the air the cover ceases to be buoyant and sinks to the bottom.
To accelerate and control the sinking process the PVC material may be loaded with a heavy filler and/or thin lead plates may be incorporated in pockets formed in the cover. It will be appreciated that when the cover sinks the whole of the water in the pool will be required to pass from below to above the cover and unless a very ample free surface is allowed around the edge of the cover it may be desirable to load the cover mainly along the smaller axis 4 and progressively less towards the ends. This will ensure that the center sinks first and the ends bend upwards to facilitate the transfer of water. Control of the movement of the cover may also be effected by differential pumping of the hoses 3 connected to the separate sections of the cover.
The length of each hose 3 is carefully adjusted so as to be taut when the cover is resting on the bottom so as to minimise skewing of the cover relatively to the pool.
To raise the cover it is only necessary to press a switch to actuate the pump Sr! in the direction to inflate the cover and it will rise to the surface. Pressure sensi tive switches may be incorporated to stop the pump when the cover is fully inflated or fully deflated, respectively.
The flexible cover of FIG. 1 may be fabricated similarly to a conventional rubber or plastic air mattress but the methods shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are preferred. In FIG. 2 the cover comprises a sheet 24 of heavily loaded PVC such as is used for floor coverings to the underside of which an indented sheet 25 of thin plasticised PVC is welded at intervals quilt fashion to form blisters. In FIG. 3 the sheet 24 has a series of thin walled plasticised PVC tubes 26 located by flexible straps 27 to its under surface. This latter type of fabrication involves less welding and enables the buoyancy chambers (the tubes 26) to be renewed if necessary. In this connection it will be appreciated that whatever plastic material is used in any of the embodiments of the present invention it will be selected to have the maximum resistance to the chemicals normally used in swimming pools as is consistent with the necessary physical requirements.
What I claim is:
l. A cover for a swimming pool comprising:
i. a flexible imperforate membrane weighted and shaped such that it will rest submerged on the bottom of the pool,
ii. loading means on a single line joining opposite edges of the cover to define a weighted line across said membrane,
iii. means defining air pockets carried by said membrane which when filled with air cause the membrane to float freely and evenly on the surface of the water in the pool and,
iv. means for emptying said pockets of air to cause the membrane to sink firstly along said line weighted and the remainder of the membrane to bend upwards to allow water to by-pass the membrane.
2. A cover as claimed in claim I wherein the cover is provided with hoses connecting points on its periphery with contiguous anchorage points on the edge of the pool, each line being of a length to just reach the bottom of the pool when hanging vertically from its anchorage point.
Claims (2)
1. A cover for a swimming pool comprising: i. a flexible imperforate membrane weighted and shaped such that it will rest submerged on the bottom of the pool, ii. loading means on a single line joining opposite edges of the cover to define a weighted line across said membrane, iii. means defining air pockets carried by said membrane which when filled with air cause the membrane to float freely and evenly on the surface of the water in the pool and, iv. means for emptying said pockets of air to cause the membrane to sink firstly along said line weighted and the remainder of the membrane to bend upwards to allow water to by-pass the membrane.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is provided with hoses connecting points on its periphery with contiguous anchorage points on the edge of the pool, each line being of a length to just reach the bottom of the pool when hanging vertically from its anchorage point.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB898372 | 1972-02-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3871033A true US3871033A (en) | 1975-03-18 |
Family
ID=9863095
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US335958A Expired - Lifetime US3871033A (en) | 1972-02-26 | 1973-02-26 | Swimming pool covers |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3871033A (en) |
FR (1) | FR2173606A5 (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4000527A (en) * | 1975-08-26 | 1977-01-04 | Vinyl-Fab Industries, Inc. | Swimming pool cover floating support |
US4059095A (en) * | 1975-04-09 | 1977-11-22 | Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft | Device for utilizing the heat energy of solar radiation |
US4151617A (en) * | 1976-12-21 | 1979-05-01 | Kinzel Augustus B | Swimming pool cover |
US4229843A (en) * | 1978-07-18 | 1980-10-28 | Bombardier Limited | Pool floor |
US4284059A (en) * | 1976-09-03 | 1981-08-18 | Thomason Harry E | Heat storage and heat exchanger |
US4364131A (en) * | 1979-08-17 | 1982-12-21 | Clerk Robert C | Liquid reservoir |
US4422193A (en) * | 1982-04-05 | 1983-12-27 | Kravath Ricahrd E | Partitioning device and method for pools |
US5144704A (en) * | 1990-11-01 | 1992-09-08 | Genzel Charles C J | Swimming pool cover with multiple air compartments |
US5555877A (en) * | 1993-04-16 | 1996-09-17 | George S. Lockwood | Cover for pond used to collect solar radiation |
US20020073629A1 (en) * | 1998-12-09 | 2002-06-20 | John Finell | Tarpaulin |
US20070130680A1 (en) * | 2005-12-08 | 2007-06-14 | Ami Kolechstein | Floatable swimming pool cover |
US20100186271A1 (en) * | 2006-12-07 | 2010-07-29 | Qun Zheng | Lenticular image display |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
PT69990A (en) * | 1978-08-04 | 1979-08-01 | Rowney Michael Hugh | Swimming pool cover |
FR2434913A1 (en) * | 1978-08-30 | 1980-03-28 | Maupas Alain | Flexible PVC covers for swimming pools or water tanks - incorporating a rain drain with an integral filter to inhibit contamination |
WO1981000129A1 (en) * | 1979-07-03 | 1981-01-22 | Kirk C J Eng Ltd | Swimming pool cover |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1918437A (en) * | 1932-09-12 | 1933-07-18 | Carbondale Machine Co | Convertirle swimming pool and skating rimk |
US3000017A (en) * | 1959-07-10 | 1961-09-19 | Leonard A Skovira | Safety-net for swimming pools |
US3184764A (en) * | 1963-10-22 | 1965-05-25 | Cascade Ind Inc | Swimming pool cover |
US3313443A (en) * | 1964-06-26 | 1967-04-11 | Globe Linings Inc | Floating cover for a liquid storage reservoir |
US3366977A (en) * | 1967-03-23 | 1968-02-06 | Carl A. Koehler | Swimming pool cover |
US3423768A (en) * | 1965-10-22 | 1969-01-28 | Lee E Glenn | Safety platform for swimming pools |
US3579657A (en) * | 1969-09-04 | 1971-05-25 | Pilarski Anthony J | Swimming pool cover drain |
US3734113A (en) * | 1969-10-14 | 1973-05-22 | B Madden | Attitude controlled valve |
-
1973
- 1973-02-23 FR FR7306504A patent/FR2173606A5/fr not_active Expired
- 1973-02-26 US US335958A patent/US3871033A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1918437A (en) * | 1932-09-12 | 1933-07-18 | Carbondale Machine Co | Convertirle swimming pool and skating rimk |
US3000017A (en) * | 1959-07-10 | 1961-09-19 | Leonard A Skovira | Safety-net for swimming pools |
US3184764A (en) * | 1963-10-22 | 1965-05-25 | Cascade Ind Inc | Swimming pool cover |
US3313443A (en) * | 1964-06-26 | 1967-04-11 | Globe Linings Inc | Floating cover for a liquid storage reservoir |
US3423768A (en) * | 1965-10-22 | 1969-01-28 | Lee E Glenn | Safety platform for swimming pools |
US3366977A (en) * | 1967-03-23 | 1968-02-06 | Carl A. Koehler | Swimming pool cover |
US3579657A (en) * | 1969-09-04 | 1971-05-25 | Pilarski Anthony J | Swimming pool cover drain |
US3734113A (en) * | 1969-10-14 | 1973-05-22 | B Madden | Attitude controlled valve |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4059095A (en) * | 1975-04-09 | 1977-11-22 | Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft | Device for utilizing the heat energy of solar radiation |
US4000527A (en) * | 1975-08-26 | 1977-01-04 | Vinyl-Fab Industries, Inc. | Swimming pool cover floating support |
US4284059A (en) * | 1976-09-03 | 1981-08-18 | Thomason Harry E | Heat storage and heat exchanger |
US4151617A (en) * | 1976-12-21 | 1979-05-01 | Kinzel Augustus B | Swimming pool cover |
US4229843A (en) * | 1978-07-18 | 1980-10-28 | Bombardier Limited | Pool floor |
US4364131A (en) * | 1979-08-17 | 1982-12-21 | Clerk Robert C | Liquid reservoir |
US4422193A (en) * | 1982-04-05 | 1983-12-27 | Kravath Ricahrd E | Partitioning device and method for pools |
US5144704A (en) * | 1990-11-01 | 1992-09-08 | Genzel Charles C J | Swimming pool cover with multiple air compartments |
US5555877A (en) * | 1993-04-16 | 1996-09-17 | George S. Lockwood | Cover for pond used to collect solar radiation |
US20020073629A1 (en) * | 1998-12-09 | 2002-06-20 | John Finell | Tarpaulin |
US20070130680A1 (en) * | 2005-12-08 | 2007-06-14 | Ami Kolechstein | Floatable swimming pool cover |
US7845029B2 (en) | 2005-12-08 | 2010-12-07 | Ami Kolechstein | Floatable swimming pool cover |
US20100186271A1 (en) * | 2006-12-07 | 2010-07-29 | Qun Zheng | Lenticular image display |
US7971377B2 (en) * | 2006-12-07 | 2011-07-05 | Qun Zheng | Lenticular image display |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2173606A5 (en) | 1973-10-05 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3871033A (en) | Swimming pool covers | |
US3213628A (en) | Water filled plastic dam structure | |
US4047390A (en) | Sea tent | |
US3703811A (en) | Oil boom with continuous conduit therethrough | |
CA1120349A (en) | Apparatus for floating and sinking fish breeding netted tanks | |
US3021680A (en) | Submergible drilling barge with hull protective devices | |
US3078472A (en) | Swimming pool | |
SE7710476L (en) | DEVICE WITH LIFTING BUCKETS | |
US4109325A (en) | Inflatable swimming pool cover system | |
US3779020A (en) | Immersible oil fence assembly | |
US4280429A (en) | Floating boat storage dry dock | |
US4465399A (en) | Artificial reef assembly construction and a method | |
US3741391A (en) | Apparatus for eliminating oil slicks from large bodies of water | |
US3943724A (en) | Underwater stationary tank for storing large amounts of crude oil | |
US3766738A (en) | Apparatus | |
US9647149B2 (en) | Method and system for rapid and controlled elevation of a raisable floor for pools | |
US3710943A (en) | Variable displacement fence for oil spill containment and recovery | |
US3488782A (en) | Swimming pool construction and adjunct | |
US4877351A (en) | Apparatus for adjusting a water level of a lock | |
US3816859A (en) | Pool covers | |
US4081970A (en) | Underwater structure | |
US3701428A (en) | Sewage disposal systems | |
JP2008546934A (en) | Floating station for aqua exercise | |
CN210459490U (en) | Buffer system is kept apart to sewage temporarily | |
EP0031333A1 (en) | Method of producing a swimming pool cover |