WO2007082091A2

WO2007082091A2 - Roll top spa cover and system

Info

Publication number: WO2007082091A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/000966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wesley L. Mathis; David B. Dalton; Matthew D. Greeff; Jarrod E. Meyer; Troy D. Morris
Original assignee: Pool Cover Specialists National, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-01-11
Filing date: 2007-01-11
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: WO2007082091A3

Abstract

A cover device for a vessel containing liquid, which may be compactibly stored in a housing, is disclosed. A system for covering and uncovering the vessel containing liquid and for extending . and retracting the cover device from said vessel containing liquid, which can be easily used and operated by a user, is also disclosed. The system may include a vessel containing liquid, a housing, an automatic removal and replacement mechanism, and a cover that may be configured and dimensioned to be flexibly stored within the housing. The system may further comprise a bar top buffer cloth and cloth retraction mechanism.

Description

ROLL TOP SPA COVER AND SYSTEM BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention. • The present disclosure relates generally to spa and pool cover devices and ^• systems , and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to automatic spa and pool covers that provide insulative properties or value. and that can be stored in a housing, and systems for opening and closing said covers. 2. Description of Related Art.

There are many spa and pool covers known in the prior art. Spa and pool- covers may.be manufactured in a variety of different sizes and configurations, each of which may be adapted to conform to and cover an open portion of the spa or pool .

A typical spa may be heated and may comprise a spa housing that functions to support an insulated spa cover, which may be used to retain the heat of the spa water and to provide a safety device that prohibits young children and others from entering into the water during periods of non-use.

A conventional spa cover may comprise a thick, insulated foam pad covered with a protective, generally water-resistant casing or fabric, for example a vinyl casing. However, because many spas are located out of doors, and may not be completely covered by a surrounding structure, such spas may be constantly subjected to elements of the weather, for example sun exposure, rain and snow. Since spa covers are typically not completely impermeable to water and since spa covers may be constantly subjected to elements of the weather, spa covers may become permeated with water or liquid over time. For example, as a spa cover ages, the casing may develop a small hole, crack or other blemish where water may leak and seep into the insulated foam pad. The insulated foam pad of the cover may eventually become permeated with water, causing the cover to become heavy, which in turn makes the spa cover even more unwieldy than normal . Typical spa covers are large and can be awkward to open and close because of their size. Attempts have been made to provide a mechanism to ease the onerous task of removing and replacing the spa cover from the top of the spa. For example, the modern spa cover may comprise at least one fold along a predetermined location of the cover to allow the cover to fold at least in half to facilitate removal and replacement of said cover. To further facilitate removal and replacement of the spa cover, the folding feature of modern spa covers may be used in conjunction with a spa cover lifting device. Using such a spa cover lifting device is intended to ease the burden of removing and replacing the spa cover by use, for example, of a pivoting lifting frame that is connected to the spa structure. For example, a folding spa cover with integral lifting sockets and a lifting device having a pair of first ends piyotally connectable to a spa housing, and second ends having engagement shafts keyed to the lifting sockets, such that a folded spa cover is easily lifted and displaced to one side of the spa structure by pivot of the lifting device and transport of the folded spa cover. However, such a lifting device and spa cover may still be difficult to use and require a user to labor to manually remove and replace the cover, which may be difficult to accomplish due to the relative size and weight of the cover.

^■ Others have attempted to automate the removal and replacement of the spa cover. However, such automatic devices have been unable to provide a workable solution that provides a mechanism for compact storage and removal of a sufficiently insulated spa cover that comprises sufficient insulative properties and values to maintain the temperature of the water in the spa. For example, a drive device, such as a garage door opener-type chain drive, that is operatively connected to a rigid spa cover structure has been attempted without success. As the chain drive is operated the rigid spa cover structure rolls along a rail track moving said rigid spa cover structure on the rail track structure between a spa covering position, which is over and above the spa, and a spa open position, which is adjacent to, but not covering the spa. However, such a device may be disadvantageous because the spa covering structure is very large and takes up a lot of space, and is therefore not practical for many spas. Further, such a spa cover structure does not provide compact storage, rather the device is disadvantageously large and bulky.

It is noteworthy that none of the prior art devices known to applicants provides a spa cover that may be automatically removed and replaced from the bar top of the spa, and that may be compactibly stored in a spa housing. There is a long felt, but unmet, need for such a spa cover, and spa cover removal and replacement device and system for extending and retracting the spa cover, which allows for compact storage of the spa cover, and that is relatively inexpensive to make, and simple in operation.

The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that may be addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes/ and in some aspects may eliminate, the above-mentioned disadvantages or failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.

The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, schematic side view of a cover, for example a spa cover, housing device, and removal and replacement mechanism, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, schematic side view of the cover, housing device, and removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 1, illustrating the cover partially removed;

FIG. 3 is a detailed, cross-sectional view of Detail A of FIG. 1 illustrating a portion of the cover, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a detailed, cross-sectional view of Detail B of FIG. 3 illustrating a portion of the cover, wherein each segment of the cover is illustrated in an extended or outstretched manner; FIG. 4A is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cover of the present disclosure illustrated with a structural support member, made in accordance with the principles ' of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view of the housing taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is schematic front view of another embodiment of the cover of the present disclosure illustrated in an extended state, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a schematic front view of the cover of FIG. 6 illustrated in a contracted state, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a bottom, perspective view of another embodiment of a cover, and removal and replacement mechanism, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a side view of the cover, and removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 7 incorporated into a housing, which is illustrated in a cross-sectional view, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 7B is a back view of the cover, and removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 7 incorporated into the housing, which is shown in a cross-sectional view, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is side view of the cover, and the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 7, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion of the cover, and illustrating the details of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 7, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure,-

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 7, illustrating a cloth retraction mechanism located at one end thereof, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 10, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism with its outer covering removed;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism with its end caps removed and a bar top buffer cloth attached to said cloth retraction mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG.

12, illustrating a slot formed in the cloth retraction mechanism for attachment to the bar top buffer cloth,-

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG.

13, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism with a covering removed exposing the details of the cloth retraction mechanism comprising a spring located on a shaft, and a plurality of collars and bearings ;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG.

14, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism, particularly the spring and shaft with a collar attached thereto for biasing the spring; FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG.

15, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism with the spring removed, more clearly exposing the bearings and the shaft ,-

FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 16, illustrating the cloth retraction mechanism with the shaft removed, and particularly illustrating the bearings;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, cross-sectional side view of the cover of FIG. 8, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a detailed, cross-sectional side view of the cover of FIG. 18, illustrating the details of the connection of individual cover segments to each other;

FIG. 20 is side view of the cover, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the connection between individual cover segments to each other, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a detailed, cross-sectional side view of the cover of FIG. 20, illustrating the details of the connection of individual cover segments to each other;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a cover, illustrating the details of the connection of individual cover segments to each other;

FIG. 22A is an enlarged, detail view of the cover of Detail A in FIG. 22;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cover, a housing, and a removal and replacement mechanism, made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a front, perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is an opposite perspective view of that portion of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a front view illustrating additional features of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23; FIG. 27 is a front view illustrating the opposite side of the additional features of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view illustrating additional features of the cover and the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23;

FIG. 29 is a representational perspective view illustrating additional features of an embodiment of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23; FIG. 30 is a top perspective view illustrating additional features of the removal and replacement mechanism of FIG. 23 being used in conjunction with a single cover segment;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged, front view of the additional- features of the removal and replacement mechanism being used in conjunction with a single cover segment of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a front view of an embodiment of a drive gear made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure ;

FIG. 33 is a side view of the drive gear of FIG. 32; FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of the cover made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 35 is a bottom perspective view of an end cap of a cover segment made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 36 is an opposite perspective view of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cover, for example a spa cover, a housing device, a removal and replacement mechanism, and an awning structure made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 38 is a break away perspective, top view of a buffer cloth made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and spa cover illustrating a side skirt attached to the cover; FIG. 40 is a break-away, perspective view of the side skirt of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a schematic, side view of a housing device and a spa with a spa cover being partially located within the housing device and illustrates a front skirt attached to the cover; and

FIG. 42 is a schematic front view of the housing device of FIG. 41, made ±n accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

Before the present device and system for automatically covering and uncovering a spa are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such configurations, process steps, and materials may vary somewhat . It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the present disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a, " "an, " and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise . In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterized by, " and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.'

As used herein, the term "spa" may generally and broadly refer to and describe a spa, a hot tub, a pool, or any other bathing vessel or tank with, or without, a whirlpool, or any vessel containing liquid that may be customarily used at home or at an apartment or condominium complex or a gym or a workout facility or other location for which spas may be found. As used herein, the term "bar top" may generally refer to and describe an upper, outer surface of the spa, or in other words the rim of the spa .

As used herein the term "preload" refers to an amount a spring is biased, either compressed or tensed, from its natural, unbiased state.

As used herein the phrase "substantially friction free" refers to a state in which the forces of friction, defined as the resistance to the movement of one body or element in relation to another body or element with which it is in contact, are substantially reduced to the point of being negligible with respect to the two bodies or elements. Thus, in actuality there may be small amounts of friction present between two bodies or elements in a substantially friction free state, but the amount of friction present has been substantially decreased. In other words, the coefficient of friction in a substantially friction free state may be reduced to the point of being negligible with respect to the two bodies or elements that move with respect to each other.

It will be appreciated that, in general, the volume of water contained in the spa may be maintained in a heated manner for an extended period of time, and therefore, it may be desirable to blanket said spa with a cover that may provide thermal insulation, such that the temperature of the heated water may be maintained. Additionally, such a cover may allow the water to be kept in the vessel without the need to continually heat the water, thereby potentially reducing the overall cost of maintaining the temperature of the heated water. In addition, the insulated cover may further protect the spa and the water contained in the vessel from contamination. Applicants have conceived of a cover device that may be compactibly stored in a housing, and a spa covering and uncovering system for extending and retracting the cover over the spa, which may be easily used and operated by a user. A useful design concept may include a spa, a housing, an automatic removal and replacement mechanism, a cover configured to move into the housing and that may be stored in at least a partially rolled up position, and may or may not comprise a tracking system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, wherein a schematic side view of a spa 10 or a vessel containing liquid, a housing 100, and a cover 200 are illustrated. It will be appreciated that the spa 10 may be any shape or size vessel configured and dimensioned for containing liquid, such that any type of spa that is known, or that may become known in the future, in the art may be utilized by the present disclosure. The spa 10 may include a top surface 12 where the cover 200 may partially rest, an outer surface and an inner surface that together form the shape and size of the spa 10, and function to contain the water within said spa 10. The cover 200 of the present disclosure may be utilized to protect and insulate the water or liquid contained within a vessel. It will be appreciated that as used herein, the term cover 200 may refer to a type of cover used in conjunction with any size or shape of vessel containing liquid, including spas, swim spas, swimming pools or otherwise . It will be appreciated that the cover 200 of the present disclosure, whether used for a spa or other vessel containing liquid, may be configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the spa or other vessel containing liquid. As used herein the phrase "to rest on" does not necessitate that the cover 200 directly contact the spa or other vessel containing liquid, although the cover 200 may indeed directly contact the spa or other, vessel containing liquid, and does not exclude other things, items, members or structural pieces from being located between the cover 200 and the vessel containing liquid.

It will be appreciated that the housing 100 of the present disclosure may be a free standing structure, with respect to the spa 10 or vessel, and may be releasably attached to the spa 10 or vessel, but it is not required that the housing 100 be attached to the spa. It will be appreciated that the attachment of the housing 100 to the spa 10 or vessel may be done through various means and methods known in the art. The free standing housing 100 may include, in addition to other structural features disclosed herein, a top surface 110 that may overhang an outer side surface 129 and may further overhang a back side or backing 130 of .the housing 100 to form a counter top of a bar (illustrated best in FIG. 37) . Thus, the housing 100 may- include a front side surface 128 opposite the back surface 130 and two side surfaces 129 located opposite each other (illustrated best in FIG. 42) . It will be appreciated that the overhang of the top surface 110 may extend for a distance "D" for about four to about twelve inches, and more particularly about six to seven inches (illustrated best in FIG. 41) . Referring briefly to FIG. 37, the housing 100 may also comprise an overhead cover

132 for extending over or covering the top surface 110 that may overhang the outer side surface or backing 130 of the housing 100. The overhead cover 132 may be an awning structure having a roof 134 and supporting structure 136, such as support beams or poles, to accommodate and secure the overhead cover 132. Further, the awning structure may include decor 138 that may be suspended from the roof or otherwise attached to some portion of the awning structure. For example, the decor 138 may include items that may be found in tropical resort locations (e.g., the Carribean, Hawaii, Polynesia, Indonesia, among others) , such as dried grass attached to the awning structure as depicted in FIG. 37, or Tiki statues or idols, talismans, palm trees, sea shells, coconuts, bamboo accessories or other well known tropical decor. However, it will be appreciated that other types of decor 138 beside tropical decor may also be implemented without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

As depicted in FIGS. 5 and 37, in addition to the top surface 110 and the side surface or backing 130, the housing 100 may include two side support structures 120 that form and define the housing 100. It should be noted that the housing 100 may be formed to include structure to support the spa, and as such may be considered integral with respect to the spa, instead of free standing. In other words, the housing 100 may further comprise structural supports 102 that may house and support the spa 10 and that may help support the cover 200, and may also comprise stairs 104. However, it will be appreciated that such integral structure is not necessary.

It will be appreciated that the housing 100, whether a free standing structure or a structure that may be integral with the spa, may be made from any suitable material that may be used to house the cover 200, the accessories and mechanical components for automatically extending and retracting the cover 200, and potentially even support the spa 10. For example, the housing 100 may be made or manufactured from materials such as wood, cement, concrete, metal, vinyl or any other structural material .

Referring now to FIG. 42, the front side of the housing

100, i.e., the side closest to the spa 10 and located opposite the back side 130, may comprise an opening 133 that may allow the cover to move freely in and out of the housing 100 without substantial interference from the housing 100. The opening 133 in the housing 100 may comprise at least one slot 135 near each side 129 of the housing that may be angled with respect to an axis extending along a height Hl of the housing 100, wherein the angle Δ may be between a range of about ten degrees to about forty degrees. More specifically, the angle may be between a range of about twenty degrees to about thirty degrees, wherein twenty degrees has been found to be a workable, advantageous angle. The slot 135 may allow the side skirt 1008 (illustrated best in FIGS. 39 and 40) to move freely in and out of the housing 100 without substantial interference from the housing 100, thereby preventing the skirt 1008 from interfering with the drive gear, i.e., 520, 1520 etc., which could potentially cause damage to said skirt 1008 and even potentially to the drive gear.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, the accessories and mechanical components, which may be located within the housing 100, may include a motor 140, a first shaft 150, which may be driven by the motor 140, and a second shaft 160, all of which may be interconnected or intercoupled by a series of belts or other devices known in the art to be attached and driven by the motor 140. The layout of the mechanical components of the present embodiment within the housing 100 may be best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The motor 140 may comprise a drive member 141 (illustrated best in FIG. 5) that together with the motor 140 provide the power to drive the removal and replacement mechanism such that the cover 200 may be removed and replaced from the spa 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first shaft 150 may be substantially located in a central position within the housing

100, with respect to a length "Ll" of said housing 100. It will be appreciated that the length Ll of the housing 100 may be between a range of about sixteen (16) inches to about twenty-eight (28) inches, and more specifically between a range of about twenty (20) inches to about twenty-four (24) inches. It will be appreciated that the housing 100 may also comprise a height ^ΛΛH1" that may be at least thirty-six (36) inches from ground or floor level . In other words the height Hl of the housing 100 may be measured essentially from the same level as a base of the spa 10, whether that level is above ground, below ground, floor level or otherwise. The housing 100 may further comprise a width "Wl" that may be wide enough to allow the cover 200 to enter thereinto. The. width Wl may be at least as wide as the spa 10 or spa cover 200 to allow the cover 200 to enter thereinto. The first shaft 150 may also be located above the second shaft 160 within the housing 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The second shaft 160 may also be located essentially in a central position within the housing 100, with respect to the length Ll of said housing 100. The second shaft 160 may be located^" within the housing 100 at a distance from the ground or floor, such that a portion of the cover 200 may be rolled onto the second shaft 160 without interfering with or touching the ground or floor, as described below in greater detail . The motor 140 may be coupled to the first shaft 150 by a first belt 142, which may be a belt, band, chain, cable, or any other mechanical device known in the art to drive the first shaft 150 and couple the first shaft to the drive member 141 of the motor 140. The first belt 142 may be coupled to the first shaft 150 at one end of said first shaft 150, such that the main portion of the first shaft 150 may be essentially free of mechanical components that may obstruct the cover 200 as the cover 200 enters into the housing 100. As the motor 140 provides power to the drive member 141, the drive member 141 may rotate causing the first belt 142 to circulate, which in turn drives the first shaft 150 causing said first shaft 150 to rotate.

The first shaft 150 in turn may be coupled to the second shaft 160 by a second belt 144, which may be a belt, band, chain, cable, or any other mechanical device known in the art to drive the second shaft 160 and couple said second shaft 160 to the first shaft 150. The second belt 144 may couple the first shaft 150 to the second shaft 160 at the opposite end of the first shaft 150 with respect to the location where the first belt 142 couples the motor 140 and said first shaft 150. The second belt 144 may operate to provide power, from the motor 140 and the first shaft 150, to the second shaft 160 causing the second shaft 160 to rotate.

As illustrated best in FIG. 1, an inner surface of the structural supports 102 may comprise a tracking system 170, including a track 172 that may run parallel to, and along, a length of the top surface 12 of the spa 10. A third belt 146 may extend through a channel of the track 172 and may be coupled to the first shaft 150, which coupling may occur at the same end, but potentially _.at a different part, of the first shaft 150 where the first belt 142 couples the drive member 141 to the first shaft 150. The third belt 146 may run substantially along the entire length of the track 172 and may be coupled to the cover 202 at one end 202 of said cover 200. The cover 200 may comprise a leading end 201 and a trailing end 202, where the leading end 201 of the cover 200 is the end closest to the housing 100 when the cover 200 is fully extended onto the spa 10, and is the first portion of the cover 200 to enter said housing 100 during the retraction process. The third belt 146 may be coupled to the trailing end 202 of the cover 200, which is opposite the leading end 201, and may operate to move the cover 200 in and out of the housing 100 as the first shaft 150 drives the third belt 146. It will be appreciated that the third belt 146 may be a belt, band, chain, cable, or any other mechanical device known in the art to move the cover 200 in and out of the housing 100.

The cover 200 may further comprise an attachment member

180 that may attach to the trailing end 202 of said cover 200 and to the third belt 146, to thereby drive said cover 200, such that the cover 200 may be retracted and extended over the top surface 12 of the spa 10 across a length L2 of. said spa 10. It- will be appreciated that the third belt 146 may be driven as the drive member 141 of the motor 140 provides power to the first belt 142, thereby rotating or turning the first shaft 150. As the first shaft 150 rotates or turns, the third belt 146 may be provided or supplied with power, thereby moving said third belt 146. Since the attachment member 180 may be attached to both the trailing end 202 of the cover 200 and the third belt 146, the attachment member 180 and third belt 146 may operate in conjunction with each other to move the cover 200 from the closed position to the open position, or vice-versa.

During operation, the third belt 146 may not, or in another embodiment it may, make a complete revolution or loop around the track 172 of the tracking system 170. In other words, when the cover 200 is in a closed position, such that the cover 200 is extended completely over the spa 10, the attachment member 180, which may be connected to the trailing end 202 of the cover 200 and to the third belt 146, may be in a definite position with respect to those two components. As the cover 200 retracts to the open position, the third belt 146 and the attachment member 180 may move through a partial revolution or partial loop around the track 172 of the tracking system 172 and no further, since the cover 200 has moved as far as necessary for the cover 200 to be in the open position. Additionally, the attachment member 180 may also operate to stop the third belt 146 from moving too far in any given direction and may therefore provide a stopping mechanism to signify to the motor 140 that the cover 200 has been moved to its appropriate destination.

It will be appreciated that since the attachment member 180 may be connected to the trailing end 202 of the cover 200, and since the cover 200 may not be directly attached to the third belt 146, as the third belt 146 moves to retract said cover 200, the third belt 146 may essentially dump,^' or allow the cover 200 to essentially fall into the housing 100. The retracting and extending mechanism of the present disclosure may also comprise a webbing, or strap 190 that may be located within the housing 100. The webbing or strap 190 may act as a secondary system to aid in compactibly storing the cover 200 in the housing 100. It will be appreciated that the webbing or strap 190 may be manufactured from any suitable material that is known, or that may become know in the future, in the art that, is strong enough to move or pull the cover 200 as detailed below.

The webbing 190 may be attached at one end to the leading end 201 of the cover 200, and at the other end to the second shaft 160. It should be noted that in one embodiment of the webbing 190 it may be advantageous to provide slack, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in said webbing 190 between the leading end 201 of the cover 200 and the second shaft 160, such that when the cover 200 enters into the housing 100 the webbing 190 does not immediately cause the cover 200 to begin wrapping around the second shaft 160. Due to the thickness of the cover 200, if the cover 200 were directly wrapped around the second shaft 160, a diameter of the second shaft 160 would become increasingly large as said cover 200 continued to wind around said second shaft 160. The result would be the second shaft 160 binding the system as the second shaft 160 would continually demand more and more of the cover 200, i.e., the demand would be larger than the pace the cover 200 is being moved by the motor 140. Thus, the length of the webbing 190 may comprise the following relationship with respect to the housing 100, the cover 200, and the second shaft 160, expressed in equation form as:

(1) H = 36 in. x (cover length in inches/96 in.)

(2) X = H - (L/2) + 6 in. (3) S = 3X where:

H = the height (Hl) of the housing 100 from the ground or floor (minimum of thirty-six (36) inches) ,-

L = the length (Ll) of the housing 100; S = the webbing or strap length 190_/ and X = the height of the second shaft 160 from the ground or floor.

The above relationship can also be expressed as follows by substituting the equation for X into S = 3X to obtain: S = 3 [H - CL/2) + 6 in.] .

As a demonstration of how the above equations relate to one another, consider the following example. Suppose that a user owns a cover 200 that is eight feet long to cover his eight foot square spa 10 with said cover 200. To determine the height (H in the equations) of the housing 100 needed to house and store an eight foot cover, 36 inches is multiplied by the cover length (in inches) , in this case 96 inches, divided by 96 inches. In the above scenario the height H of the housing 100 is 36 inches. Inputting the above numbers into the housing 100 height equation, it can be seen that: H = 36 inches x (96 inches/96 inches) , which when solved: H = 36 inches.

In a majority of circumstances, the length Ll of the housing 100 may be between a range of about twenty inches to about twenty-four inches depending upon the size of the cover 10 used. The larger the cover 10 used, the longer the housing 100 may be. In this example, because a relatively large cover 10 is to be stored and housed in- the housing 100, the housing 100 may be about twenty-four inches long. Thus, L = 24 inches .

Next, the height X that the second shaft 160 sits in the housing 100 may be determined by subtracting the quotient of the length L (Ll) divided by 2 from the height H of the housing 100, and then adding six inches. Inputting the above numbers for H and L into the equation it can be seen that: X = 36 inches - (24 inches/2) + 6 inches, which when solved: X = 30 inches.

Last, the length of the webbing 190 may be determined by multiplying the height X of the second shaft 160 by 3. Inputting the above number for X into the equation it can be seen that: S = 3(30 inches), which when solved: S = 90 inches. Accordingly, for an eight foot cover 10, the dimensions of the housing may be as follows: H = 36 inches,- L = 24 inches; while the location of the second shaft 160 may be located within the housing 100 may be as follows: X = 30 inches; and the length of the webbing 190 may be as follows: S = 90 inches.

In FIG. 1 the cover 200 is illustrated as being in the closed position on top of the spa 10, and the webbing 190 is illustrated as having an amount of slack. It . will be appreciated that if the webbing 190 is too long, the cover 200 will bind up on itself at the bottom or floor of the housing 100. Conversely, if the webbing 190 is too short, the system will bind itself as described above. The above equations have been found to be beneficial in determining the proper dimensions for the components enumerated above. In FIG. 2 the cover 200 is illustrated during the retraction process, and is specifically shown as said cover 200 is essentially in the process of falling, or in the process of being dumped, into the housing 100 with the leading end 201 nearly touching the floor, and the slack in the webbing 190 being taken up onto the second shaft 160.

As the leading end 201 of the cover 200, is essentially being dumped into the housing 100 the webbing 190 may begin to wind up around the second shaft 160, and as more of the cover 200 enters into the housing 100, the slack in the webbing 190 may be taken out and removed as the webbing 190 continually winds around the second shaft 160. When the leading end 201 of the cover 200 begins to contact, or just prior to contact with, the floor, the slack in webbing 190 may be completely taken up and the webbing 190 may begin to move, lift and pull the cover 200 onto the second shaft 160, such that a portion of the cover 200 may essentially roll up onto said second shaft 160. It will be appreciated that only a portion of the cover 200 may be stored on the second shaft 160, such that binding of the system may not occur. It will further be appreciated that a large portion of the cover 20-0 will be stored in the housing 100 along the length Ll of the top surface 110 and along the height Hl of the housing 100. Thus, the housing 100 and each of the components housed therein may be configured and dimensioned to utilize and maximize the smallest amount of space possible. Therefore, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism for compactibly storing the cover 200.

It will be appreciated that the motor 140 may be a bidirectional motor such that the motor 140 can, indirectly, move the third belt 146 in a forward and reverse direction to thereby move the cover 200 in a forward or reverse direction depending upon whether the user desires to move the cover 200 into an open position or a closed position. It will be appreciated that when the motor 140 is reversed the attachment member 180 may pull the cover 200 toward the closed position, such that the cover 200 may be extended over the spa 10.

It will be appreciated that in order for the cover 200 to controllably fall into the housing 100 and in order for a portion of the cover 200 to roll up onto the second shaft 160 as described above, the cover 200 may be segmented, and made in accordance with the principles described herein. Referring specifically to the cover 200 of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4A, it will be appreciated that the cover 200 may be segmented. The cover 200 may comprise a plurality of foam segments 210. It will be appreciated that each of the plurality of segments 210 may be manufactured from a foam material that may be a closed cell foam. A closed cell foam, as opposed to an open celled foam, may be substantially impermeable to water or liquid and may reduce the intake of water or liquid that may seep inside of the segmented cover 200. It will, however, be appreciated that the segments 210 may be manufactured from any foam that is known, or that may become known in the future, in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Each of the segments 210 may be substantially uniform in size and dimension relative to each other, including length, width, and thickness. However, it will be appreciated that slight variations in size and dimension may be present in each segment 210, and yet each segment 210 may still be substantially uniform with respect to the other segments 210. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the size and dimension of the segments 210 may vary and no matter what the dimensions of the segments are, the segments 210 should be thick enough to provide insulative properties and values that are desirable for covers 200, including spa covers. Applicants have found that a useful dimension for the segments 210 may be approximately two inches thick by four inches wide, or may be approximately two inches by three and one-half inches, and may be as long as necessary to cover the spa 10.

Additionally, the cover 200 may comprise an outer surface 206 that may be manufactured from a fabric 220 that may be essentially the same as a pool cover fabric, and may be substantially impermeable to water or liquid. The result may be a cover 200 that is essentially impermeable to water or liquid.

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of the cover 200 where each segment 210 may be supported on its top surface 212 by a support member 225. The structural support member 225 may have at least one leg 227 that may extend into the segment 210. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the support member 225 comprises two legs 227. However, it will be appreciated that the support member 225 may comprise more or less than two legs

227 as illustrated, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The structural member 225 may provide extra support for the cover and may function to evenly distribute stresses placed on the cover. The structural member 225 may be a U-shaped structural member, and may be, for example, manufactured from metal or other structural materials know in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the support member 225 may be a steel or metal 2"x4" (which may have actual dimensions of 1.5"x3.5") . However, it should be noted that any structural member that may function the same as or similar to a metal 2x4 may be utilized by the present disclosure, without regard to the material used as the structural member 225.

It will be appreciated that the fabric 220 may operate to cover and substantially surround each of the plurality of segments 210, whether the segments 210 are used in conjunction with the support member 225 or not. Specifically, the segments 210 may be located on the fabric 220, and the fabric 220 may be wrapped around each individual segment 210 as illustrated best by the arrows in FIG. 4. After the fabric 220 has been wrapped around an individual segment 210, a weld 230 may be utilized to seal the fabric 220 to itself, to thereby completely enclose the segment 210. It will be appreciated that a sonic weld, or any other weld, or any system or method known to join fabric 220 together may be utilized by the present disclosure.

The sonic weld may be accomplished using a bar having an anvil at the end thereof (not illustrated in the Figures) that may be used to press the fabric 220 between the segments 210 allowing the fabric 220 to be pressed against itself. Thereafter the bar and anvil may send a radio signal through the fabric 220 to form the weld 230. The bar and anvil may comprise an edge that may be approximately three sixteenths inch -by four feet in dimension. However, it will be appreciated that any number of bar and anvil systems may be used to form the weld, and each may have varying dimensions depending upon the desired weld size.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 6A, wherein another embodiment of a cover 300 comprising foam segments 310 is illustrated. It will be appreciated that the cover 300 and the segments 610 may comprise all of the same features and components as the cover 200 disclosed above, and may be housed in the same housing 100 as disclosed above, with the following exceptions. The cover 300 of the present embodiment may be folded into the housing 100 instead of being wound or rolled onto the second shaft 160. Each of the plurality^' of segments 310 may be connected to another of the segments 310 by way of a hinge joint 315, which, together form a folding mechanism. The configuration and dimension of the plurality of segments 310 and the hinge joint 315 may allow the cover 300 to become flexible, movable and adaptable such that the cover 300 may change its shape, thereby allowing for easy storage. It will be appreciated that the hinge joints 315 may be any suitable device that may be used to- fold the cover 300 on top of itself as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The folding mechanism of the present embodiment may allow the cover 300 to be compactibly stored in the housing 100.

Another useful design concept for a spa housing and spa cover, including a removal and replacement mechanism, of the present disclosure is illustrated in PIGS. 7-21. The present embodiment may include any spa 10 known, or which may become known in the future, in the art,- a housing 100 similar to the housing described previously herein; an automatic removal and replacement mechanism 500; a cloth retraction mechanism 600; and a cover 700 configured and dimensioned to roll up into the housing 100 for easy storage. The details of the present embodiment will be discussed below.

PIGS. 7-9 illustrate the details of the cover 700 and the cover removal and replacement mechanism 500 of the present disclosure. ^%The cover removal and replacement mechanism 500 may be located within the housing 100. The removal and replacement mechanism 500 may comprise on one side of the mechanism 500 a motor 510, a drive gear 520, a plurality of sprockets 530, 532 connected by a first driving member 550, such as a belt or chain, and a plurality of drive shafts 540, 542. As illustrated best in FIG. 7, the motor 510 may be located within the housing 100 and beneath the cover 700 and may be connected to the drive gear 520, which may be located near, and to the side of, the motor 510. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the motor 510 may be located within, e.g., inside of, a shaft (540, 542) of the housing 100 as disclosed in other embodiments of the disclosure (illustrated best in FIGS. 29-31) . The drive gear- 520 may be connected to a first sprocket 530 (hidden from view in FIG. 7) , both of which may be substantially housed in, and supported by, a support member 525. The motor 510 may be attached to, and may be located adjacent to, the support member 525, while the support member 525 may be attached to the spa cover housing

100, thereby supporting the motor 510- and the drive gear 520.

The first sprocket 530 may be connected to a second sprocket 532 by the first driving member 550. It will be appreciated that the second sprocket 532 may be located beneath the motor 510, the drive gear 520 and the first sprocket 530. The motor 510 may operate to cause movement in the drive gear 520 and the first sprocket 530, thereby turning the first driving member 550. In turn, the first driving member 550 may drive the second sprocket 532. The second sprocket 532 may be connected to a second shaft 542, which may extend laterally for substantially the entire length of the housing 100. The first driving member 550 may drive the second sprocket -532, such that the second sprocket 532 may then drive the second shaft 542.

It will be appreciated that the opposite side, from where the motor 510 and drive gear 520 of the removal and replacement mechanism 500 may be located, may essentially comprise the same structure as described above. For example, the second shaft 542 may be connected to a third sprocket 534, such that when the second shaft 542 is driven, the third sprocket 534 may also be driven. The third sprocket 534 may in turn be connected to a fourth sprocket 536 by a second driving member 552. The fourth sprocket 536 may be attached to a second gear 560 similar to the drive gear 520. The fourth sprocket 536 and the second gear 560 may both be essentially housed in a second support member 527 (illustrated best in FIG. 7B), and located above the third sprocket 534. The fourth sprocket 536 and the second gear 560 may be located at essentially the same height and opposite the drive gear 520 and first sprocket 530. Thus, the drive gear 520, the first and second sprockets 530, 532, the second shaft 542, the third and fourth sprockets 534, 536 and the second gear 560 may be connected to each other and may be positioned relative to each other such that each of the above structural members may turn in unison to provide the spa cover removal and replacement mechanism 500.

As illustrated best in FIG. 9, it will be appreciated that the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 (illustrated best in FIG. 7) may both operate in conjunction with each other to propel and move the cover 700. As explained below in more detail, the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 may both comprise teeth 522 and 562 that may be configured and dimensioned for inserting into a series of recesses 710 formed within the cover 700 itself (illustrated best in FIG. 7C) - As the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 turn, the teeth 522 and 562 may be inserted into the recesses 710, thereby gripping and driving the cover 700. It will be appreciated that the removal and replacement mechanism 500 may, therefore, be a gear driven mechanism. Similar to motor 140 detailed above, it will be appreciated that the motor 510 may be a bi-directional motor such that the motor 510 may move the cover 700 in a forward or reverse direction depending upon whether the user desires to move the cover 700 into an open position or a closed position. It will be appreciated that when the motor 510 is operated in a first direction, the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 may move in unison such that the teeth 522 and 562 may engage the recesses 710 of the cover 700, thereby pulling the cover 700 into an open position. When the motor 510 is operated in a second, opposite direction, the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 may move in unison in an opposite direction, such that the cover 700 may be pushed into a closed position, thereby extending the cover 700 across the spa 10. It will be appreciated that a first shaft 540 may be used to support the cover 700 as the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 move the cover 700 from a closed position to an open position, with respect to the spa, such that the cover 700 maybe moved and stored within the housing 100. It will be appreciated that the first shaft 540 may extend substantially across the entire length of the housing 100, similar to the second shaft 542. Further, the first shaft 540 may or may not rotate as the cover 700 may slide across the top of the first shaft 540.

As illustrated best in FIG. 7, the cover 700 may be used in conjunction with a _.bar top buffer cloth 650 and the cloth retraction mechanism 600. It should be noted that the bar top buffer cloth 650 may be used in conjunction with any of the various embodiments of the cover disclosed herein, but such a bar top buffer cloth 650 is not necessary for the cover to function. Referring now ^"to FIG. 7C, the cover 700 may comprise a plurality of segments 720, wherein each segment 720 may comprise a top surface 722 and a bottom surface 724. The top surfaces 722 of each segment 720 may collectively form a top surface 726 of the cover 700, and the bottom surfaces 724 of each segment 720 may collectively form a bottom surface 728 of the cover 700.

It will be appreciated that each segment 720 of the cover 700 may be made from a high strength extruded thermo-plastic, such as a polyvinyl chloride material. However, it will be appreciated that each segment 720 may be made from other materials known, or that may become known in the future, in the art that provide and exhibit similar high strength and durability properties, while possessing relatively maintenance free properties. Further, each segment 720 may be substantially hollow and may have a substantially hollow interior, such that an insulative foam, or other insulative material, may substantially fill the hollow interior, or may be introduced therein, to provide the cover 700 with the insulative properties and values that are desirable for covers 700, for example to maintain water temperature in the spa 10. As used herein, the term "substantially hollow interior" may refer to a segment 720 having a cavity, gap, or space formed therein, whether or not such a cavity, gap, or space is also accompanied by a brace member, rib, support structure, or any other structural member .

It will be appreciated that there may be various materials, including various foam materials, that may be utilized by the present disclosure, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The insulative material utilized by the present disclosure may be manufactured from any material, including any foam material (whether an open cell foam or a closed cell foam) that is known, or that may become known in the future, in the art to provide insulative properties to help maintain water temperature in the spa 10, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It will be appreciated that each of the segments 720 may be connected together to create a substantially complete cover 700, and wherein the segments 720 may act in concert one with another as if a unitary cover 700. It will be appreciated that the plurality of segments 720 may be enclosed or encased by a material covering, such that the segments 720 appear as a single, unitary cover 700 having a finished appearance. A substantially unitary cover may be a plurality of individual segments 720 connected together in such a manner, as disclosed herein, and acting in concert one with another so as to provide a substantially undivided cover 700. There may be various methods and systems for connecting individual segments 720 to each other to form a substantially unitary cover 700, a sampling of which will be described herein more fully below. The configuration and dimension of the plurality of segments 720 and the connection mechanism therebetween may allow the cover 700 to be flexible, movable and adaptable such that the cover 700 may change its shape, thereby allowing for easy storage within the housing 100. The bar top buffer cloth 650 may lay down upon the bar top 13 of- the spa 10, and may function to protect said bar top 13. The bar top buffer cloth 650 may be comprised of a low friction material on one side and a high friction material on the opposite side. For example, a single sided vinyl material with a mesh on the opposite side of the vinyl has been found to be beneficial for^' use as the bar top bufrfer cloth 650 to protect the bar top of the spa 10. It will be appreciated that any material may be used as the bar top buffer cloth 650 so long as the material comprises a low friction side, such as a mesh or any other material, and a high friction side, such as a vinyl or any other material, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It will be appreciated that the high friction side of the bar top buffer cloth 650 may be used to engage the bar top of the spa 10. Conversely, the low friction side of the bar top buffer ^'cloth 650 may be used to engage the bottom surface 728 of the cover 700. It will be appreciated that the buffer cloth 650 may provide a substantially friction free medium between the vessel, e.g., a spa, and the cover 700, such that the buffer cloth 650 may allow the cover 700 to move across the bar top 13 or top surface of the vessel 10 substantially free of friction. The bar top buffer cloth 650 may therefore seal the vessel or spa 10 without the use of any tracking assembly, and may further protect the bar top 13 and prevent scratching and scuffing as the cover 700 may be moved into position to cover and uncover the spa 10.

Additionally, the buffer cloth 650 may comprise at least one grommet 656 (best illustrated in FIG. 38) , and alternatively may comprise a plurality of grommets 656, at the end of the buffer cloth 650 nearest the housing 100 for attachment of the buffer cloth 650 to the housing 100. Further, the buffer cloth 650 may comprise at least one hole 658 (best illustrated in FIG. 38) , and alternatively may comprise a plurality of holes 658 in which case the holes 658 may be even spaced apart, in the buffer cloth 650 itself to permit drainage of any water that may have built up on the buffer cloth 650, which if the water was allowed to stand may- prevent the buffer cloth 650 from moving efficiently.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, it can be seen that the removal and replacement mechanism 500 may comprise a webbing or strap 590 that may be located within the housing 100. The webbing or strap 590 may be the same as or similar to the webbing or strap 190, and may aid in compactibly storing the cover 700 within the housing 100. It will be appreciated that the webbing or strap 590 may be manufactured from any suitable material that is known, or that may become know in the future, in the art that is strong enough to move, lift or pull the cover 700 as detailed herein.

It will be appreciated that the webbing 590 may be attached at one end to a leading end 701 of the cover 700, and at the other end to the second shaft 542. It should be noted that in one embodiment, it may be advantageous to provide slack in the webbing 590 the same as the webbing 190 illustrated in FIG. 1 and discussed above. The slack may assist in the storage of the cover 700 in that when the cover 700 enters into the housing 100 the webbing 590 does not immediately cause the cover 700 to begin wrapping around the second shaft 542.

It will be appreciated that if the cover 700 were directly wrapped around the second shaft 542 as the cover 700 is dumped into the housing 100 after passing by the first shaft 540, the system would bind, or the motor 510 could be disrupted, such that the ability of the motor 510 to operate could be impeded or interrupted. The reason for the binding may be due, at least in part, to the diameter of the second shaft 542 with respect to the thickness of the cover 700, as the cover 700 may be rolled up around the second shaft 542 the second shaft 542 would become increasingly large. The result would be the second shaft 542 binding the system as the second shaft 542 would continually demand more and more of the cover 700, i.e., the demand would be larger than the pace the cover 700 is being moved by the motor 510. Thus, the length of the webbing 590 may be determined using the following relationship with respect to the housing 100, the cover 700, and the second shaft 542, expressed in equation form as:

(1) H = 36 in. x (cover length in inches/96 in.) (2) X = H - (L/2) + 6 in.

(3) S = 3X where :

H = the height (Hl) of the housing 100 from the ground or floor (minimum of thirty-six (36) inches) ; L = the length (Ll) of the housing 100; S = the webbing or strap length 590; and

X = the height of the second shaft 542 from the ground or floor.

The above relationship can also be expressed as follows ^~~ by substituting the equation for X into S = 3X to obtain:

S = 3 [H - (L/2) + 6 in.] .

It will be understood that the above equations are similar to the equations previously discussed herein and have essentially the same relationship. Accordingly, no example has been presented with respect to the present webbing 590 embodiment, but the previous demonstration of the webbing 190 embodiment may be considered exemplary to the present webbing 590 embodiment.

As discussed previously herein, if the webbing 590 is too long, the cover 700 will bind up on itself at the bottom or floor of the housing 100. Conversely, if the webbing 590 is too short, the system will bind itself as described above.

The above equations have been found to be beneficial in determining the proper dimensions for the components enumerated above. However, it will be appreciated that in each case some minor amount of fine tuning and adjustment by a trained installer may be necessary before the cover 700 and the webbing 590 may work in a precise, harmonic manner. In

FIG. 7A the cover 700 is illustrated during the retraction process, and is specifically shown as said cover 700 is essentially in the process of falling, or in the process of being dumped, into the housing 100 with the leading end 701 nearly touching the floor, and the slack in the webbing 590 being taken up onto the second shaft 542.

As the leading end 701 of the cover 700 is essentially being dumped into the housing 100 the webbing 590 may begin to wind up around the second shaft 542, and as more of the cover 700 enters into the housing 100, the slack in the webbing 590 may be taken out and removed as the webbing 590 continually winds around the second shaft 542. When the leading end 701 of the cover 700 begins to contact, or just prior to contact with, the floor, the slack in the webbing 590 may be completely taken up and the webbing 590 may begin to move, lift and pull the cover 700 onto the second shaft 542, such that a portion of the cover 700 may begin to roll up onto said second shaft 542.

It will be appreciated that only a portion of the cover 700 may be stored on the second shaft 542, such that binding of the system may not occur. It will further be appreciated that a large portion of the cover 700 will be stored in the housing 100 along the length Ll of the top surface 110 and along the height Hl of the housing 100. Thus, the housing 100 and each of the components housed therein may be configured and dimensioned to utilize' and maximize the smallest amount of space possible. Therefore, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism for compactibly storing the cover 700.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-17, which illustrate the details of the cloth retraction mechanism 600. It should be noted that each figure (FIGS. 10-17) is ordered essentially in a sequential series beginning with FIG. 10, where the cloth retraction mechanism 600 is illustrated in its fully assembled form. Then, each subsequent figure after FIG. 10 (i.e., FIGS. 11-17) essentially peels an outer layer away from the cloth retraction mechanism 600, thereby exposing the next inner layer and the details of the cloth retraction mechanism 600. The cloth retraction mechanism 600 may be provided as part of the cover 700 and may be connected to the trailing end 702 of the cover 700 with respect to the housing 100 when the cover 700 is being located and stored within said housing 100, and may comprise several individual components . The cloth retraction mechanism 600 may provide a system and method for rolling-up, storing, releasing and laying down of the bar top buffer cloth 650 in an efficient and effective manner. The cloth retraction mechanism 600 may provide a mechanism for efficiently rolling-up and laying down the bar top buffer cloth 650 as the cover 700 may be extended, i.e., from an open position to a closed position, and retracted from the spa 10 countless times over an extended period without substantially scratching or scuffing the bar top of the spa 10.

Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be appreciated that the cloth retraction mechanism 600 may comprise an outer covering 610 to protect the inner components of the cloth retraction mechanism 600, and to further provide an attractive, clean appearance to the cover 700. The outer covering 610 may be any suitable shape without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The cloth retraction mechanism 600 may be secured and connected to the cover 700, and may be extended and retracted along with the cover 700.

It will be appreciated that the cloth retraction mechanism 600 may generally work in the following manner. As the cover 700 is being extended across the bar top of the spa 10, to thereby enclose the spa 10 in a closed position, the cloth retraction mechanism 600 may bias a cloth retraction spring 640 (illustrated best in FIG. 14) located internally within the cloth retraction mechanism 600, therebycausing the bar top buffer cloth 650 to lay-down across the bar top of the spa 10. Conversely, as the cover 700 is retracted from the bar top of the spa 10 into an open position, to thereby expose the spa 10 for enjoyment by a user, the cloth retraction mechanism 600 may release the cloth retraction spring 640 from a biased state or position to a more relaxed state or position, thereby causing the bar top buffer cloth 650 to roll-up into the cloth retraction mechanism 600 for temporary storage .

It will be appreciated that when the buffer cloth 650 is in the retracted position, there may still be some amount of biasing, on the spring 640. In other words, the spring 640 may be preloaded onto a shaft 660, such that the spring 640 may be in a biased state, even when the cover 700 may be in its retracted position, e.g. in an open position where a user may enjoy the spa 10. For example, the spring 640 may be preloaded within a range of about ten to about thirty times it natural, unbiased state, and more particularly the spring 640 may be preloaded to about twenty times its natural, unbiased state even when the buffer cloth may be in a retracted position within the cloth retraction mechanism 600. Further, the preloading of the spring 640 may be biased in compression or, alternatively, the spring 640 may be biased in tension without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 11, the outer covering 610 of the cloth retraction mechanism 600 has been removed exposing two end caps 620, which may be attached to bearings 630, and the bar top buffer cloth 650, which has been partially rolled onto a

^• spring roller tube 632 located just beneath the buffer cloth

650. FIG. 12 illustrates the cloth retraction mechanism 600 with the end caps 620 being removed therefrom exposing the bearing 630, which may be located on each side of the spring roller tube 632.

In FIG. 13, the bar top buffer cloth 650 has been completely removed, exposing the spring roller tube 632 comprising a slot 635 therein. The slot 635 may function to attach the bar top buffer cloth 650 to the spring roller tube 632, to thereby permit said buffer cloth 650 to roll up onto the cloth retraction mechanism 600, and specifically the spring roller tube 632. In FIG. 14, the spring roller tube 632 has been removed from the cloth retraction mechanism 600 exposing a first collar 622 and a second collar 624 and further exposing the cloth retraction spring 640. It will be appreciated that the cloth retraction spring 640 may be attached to the shaft 660

(illustrated best in FIG. 15) . Further, in FIG. 15 the first collar 622 has been removed exposing a portion of the shaft

660 on that particular side. Also in FIG. 15, the bearing 630 has been removed from the side containing the second collar

624 exposing a pin 662. In FIGS. 16-17, the cloth retraction spring 640 has been removed exposing the shaft 660, and illustrating the relationship of the shaft 660 with respect to the pin 662.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-17 in reverse order beginning with FIG. 17, it will be appreciated that in operation the shaft 660 may not rotate, but may be a stationary object. The pins 662 may be attached to the shaft 660 at each end. The cloth retraction spring 640 may be attached to the shaft 660 and may be fastened at one end by the first collar 622, such that the spring 640 may be secured at that end. It will be appreciated that the second collar 624 may be attached to the spring 640 and may operate to bias the spring 640 by winding in the direction toward the first collar 622. The bearings 630 at each end may be attached to the pins 662 and may also be attached to the spring roller tube 632, which the buffer cloth 650 may be attached and rolled onto. Thus, the spring roller tube 632 may rotate causing the buffer cloth 650 to either wind up on or release from the spring roller tube 632.

It will be appreciated that as the spring 640 is biased the buffer cloth 650 may be simultaneously laid down on the bar top of the spa 10. Conversely, as the spring 640 is released from its biased state the spring roller tube 632 may be caused to rotate or spin thereby causing the bar cloth 650 to roll up onto the tube 632.

It is to be understood that the cloth retraction mechanism 600 may be attached to the cover 700 and as such may move in conjunction with the cover 700, as the cover 700 is extended and retracted. FIGS. 18-21 illustrate alternative embodiments of the cover 700 and' methods and systems for connecting individual segments 720 to each other to form a substantially unitary cover 700. FIGS. 18-19 illustrate one such embodiment of the cover 700 and connection between segments 720 of the cover

700, while FIGS. 20-21 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the connection between the segments 720 of the cover 700.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-19, it will be appreciated that each segment 720 of the cover 700 may comprise a top surface 722, a bottom surface 724, and opposing walls 730 and 732 that may connect the top surface 722 to the bottom surface 724. Each segment 720 of the present cover 700 embodiment may further comprise a recess 734 formed within one of the opposing walls 730 or 732, and a flap or seal 736 formed on the opposite wall 730 or 732. It will be appreciated that the flap or seal 736 may be made from silicone or rubber, or from any other material known, or that may become known in the_ future, in the art to provide a seal, such that escape of moisture and heat from the spa 10 may be limited and such that moisture does not flow between segments 720 from above the flap or seal 736. The flap or seal 736 may comprise a length sufficient to cause a sealing connection .with the recess 734 of another adjacent segment 720. It will be appreciated that the recess 734 is not required to be present in the segment 720. If such a recess 734 is not present, then the flap or seal 736 may engage or contact the opposite opposing wall 730 or 732, thereby forming a seal.

Each segment 720 may also include a barrier 737 used to create a seal with the flap 736, wherein the barrier 737 may be made of a polymeric material, such as silicone or rubber, or from any other material known, or that may become known in the future, in the art to provide a seal. The barrier 737 may be located on the opposite side of the flap 736 on each of the segments 720 (illustrated best in FIGS. 18 and 19) . Specifically, the barrier 737 may run along the entire height of one of the sides 730 or 732 of the segment 720, or the barrier 737 may run along a portion of the height of one of the sides 730 or 732 and that may be between a range of about fifty to about one-hundred percent of the height of one of the sides 730 or 732. Further, the barrier 737 and the flap 736 may both extend across the entire length "L3" of each segment 720 (L3 is illustrated best in FIG. 11) . Alternatively, the barrier 737 and the flap 736 may extend across only a substantial portion of the entire length "L3" of each segment 720. It is to be understood that the flap 736 may engage the barrier 737 and together may form a substantial seal . The seal formed between the flap 736 and the barrier 737 may prevent or reduce the introduction of water, dirt or debris from entering into the joint between two adjacent segments 720 and may also reduce heat loss from the spa through evaporation.

It will be appreciated that each segment 720 may further comprise a brace member 738 as best illustrated in FIGS. 18- 19, such as a rib which may be located centrally within the segment 720 and may function to help support the weight of the cover 700 as a whole. Further, each segment 720 may comprise a male connector 740 and a female connector 742, wherein the male connector 740 of one segment 720 may join together with the female connector 742 of another adjacent segment 720 to provide a hinge connection.

The hinge connection may be sufficient to permit the bottom surface 724 of a first segment 720 to bend at an angle θ relative to the bottom surface 724 of a second, adjacent segment 720, as illustrated in FIG. 18. Further, the hinge connection may also allow the bottom surface 724 of the first segment 720 to move through a range of angles relative to the bottom surface 724 of the second, adjacent segment. More specifically, the male and female connectors 740 and 742 of the present embodiment may permit the bottom surface 724 of the first segment 720 to bend at an angle θ with respect to a horizontal axis A-A (which may be formed by the bottom surface 724 of the second, adjacent segment 720), such that the first segment 720 may move through a range of angles between a range of about 0° to about 120° and all angles therebetween. It will be appreciated that the bottom surface 724 of the first segment 720 may also align substantially with the bottom surface 724 of the second, adjacent segment 720 to thereby form a substantially linear surface, which may be interrupted by a slight gap between the first and second adjacent segments 720. The ability of the bottom surface 724 of one segment 720 to form an angle θ with the bottom surface 724 of another segment 720, relative to the horizontal axis A-A, may be due, at least in part, to the length of the male connector 740 and the ability of the male connector 740 to engage and grasp the female connector 742 during bending at angles that may be nearly 90° or greater. For example, the male connector 740 may be as illustrated in FIGS. 18-19, and may comprise a curve 744 that may extend to form a full, complete hook.

On the other hand, the female connector 742 may also comprise a corresponding catch hook 746 that may catch the complete hook 744 of the male connector 740. The corresponding shapes of the complete hook 744 and the catch hook 746 may permit the male connector 740 to continuously engage and grasp the female connector 742 as one segment 720 moves in a wide range of angles relative to another corresponding segment 720. The result is a hinge connection that will not permit separation of one segment 720 from another segment 720 as one segment 720 moves through a wide range of angles, many of which a shorter hook could not grasp which could result in the segments 720 releasing from each other. Therefore, the hinge connection illustrated in FIGS. 18-19 may permit one segment 720 to bend at, and move through, a wider range of angles relative to an adjacent segment 720, than a shorter hook would otherwise permit. Thus, the segments 720 and the hinge connection between each segment may allow the cover 700 to be flexible, movable and adaptable. It will be appreciated that each segment 720 may comprise two opposing ends 721a and 721b (illustrated best in FIG. 7C) . Each end 721a and 721b may comprise at least one recess 710. It will be appreciated that there may be a relationship between a width/ "W", of each segment 720, and the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560, such that at least one of the teeth of the drive gear 520 and second gear 560 may engage the at least one recess 710 of each segment 720. The width "W" of one segment 720 may be sufficient to provide at least one recess 710 therein, and perhaps a plurality of recesses 710 therein, such that at least one tooth 522 and 562 of the drive gear 520 or the second gear 560 may engage the at least one recess 710 of each segment 720, thereby providing a temporary connection to move the cover 700. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18-19, the width "W" of the segment 720 may be sufficient to accommodate two recesses 710. The recesses 710 of one end 721a of segment 720A may be illustrated in a cross-sectional view, as shown in FIG. 18. In this example, two teeth 522 and 562 from the drive gear 520 and the second gear 560 could engage the walls 710a of the two recesses 710 on each side 721a and 721b of a single segment 720; or the two teeth 522 and 562 may engage the walls 710a of one recess 710 in two different segments 720 on each side 721a and 721b, to thereby move the cover 700. However, it will be appreciated that as the size of the gears 520 and 560, and hence the size of the teeth 522 and 562, change the relative size of the recesses 710 may also change to accommodate the size difference of the teeth 522 and 562, whether larger or smaller. Referring now to FIGS. 20-21, where an alternative embodiment of a method and system for connecting individual segments 820 to each other to form a substantially unitary cover 800 is illustrated. It will be appreciated that the present' embodiment of a cover 800 may comprise the same or similar structural features disclosed previously in connection with cover 700 or any other cover disclosed herein, and like reference numerals will be used to designate like features.

For example, the flap or seal 736 of PIGS. 18-19 corresponds directly with a flap or seal 836 of FIGS. 20-21. Accordingly, only the differences between those two embodiments will be discussed for purposes of streamlining the disclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates the general nature of the • cover 800. Referring specifically to FIG. 21, the details of the segments 820 can be viewed and the differences between segments 720 and 820 can more easily be understood by reference thereto. The main difference in the two cover segment embodiments 720 and 820 is with respect to the hinge connection. The segments 820 may be attached or connected together using a male connector 840 and a female connector 842, similar to the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 18-19. However, the difference between the two embodiments is demonstrated with respect to the length of a curve 844 of the male connector 840, and the presence of a blob 846 on the female connector 842.

It will be appreciated that the length of curve 844 may be shorter than described above in connection with male connector 740, and the blob 846 may be used to attach the female connector 842 to the male connector 840, and thereafter hold the curve 844 of the male connector 840 within a recessed area 848. The length of the curve 844 of the male connector 840 may have a corresponding relationship to the size of the blob 846. It will be appreciated that the blob 846 and the curve 844 may both be increased or decreased in size, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 22-22A, wherein a third embodiment of a method and system for connecting individual segments 920 to each other to form a substantially unitary cover 900 is illustrated. In the present embodiment, each segment 920 may be connected to the other segments 920 via an adhesive 950 and a fabric strip 9.55. It will be appreciated that any adhesive may be utilized as long as the adhesive may be fairly resistant to water and moisture, and such that the adhesive may provide a strong enough connection to maintain the connection of segments 920 together and to further withstand the numerous extensions and retractions of the cover 900. It will likewise be appreciated that any fabric may be utilized to provide a mechanism to attach the various segments 920 together as illustrated in FIGS. 22-22A.

It will be appreciated that any embodiment of the removal and replacement mechanism disclosed herein, whether 500 or 1500 or any other embodiment of a removal and replacement mechanism disclosed herein, may further comprise a magnetic system providing an automatic stop feature. The magnetic system may be used in conjunction with the motor 140, 510 or 1540 to provide the automatic stop feature as any one of the embodiments of the cover 200, 300, 700, 800, 900, or 1000 may be extended and retracted over the vessel containing liquid. It will be appreciated that the magnetic system may be utilized with any embodiment disclosed herein, despite the simplified method of disclosing the same in conjunction with a certain embodiment .

With specific reference to FIG. 22, a leading end 921 and a trailing end 922 of the cover 1000 may each include a magnet

1400 that may be attached to an end of the leading end segment

921 and a magnet 1400 may also be attached to an end of the

^• trailing end segment 922. It will be appreciated that the placement of the magnet 1400 with respect to the leading end 921 and the trailing end 922 may be modified by those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the magnet 1400 may be placed inside of the segment or outside of the segment, and may be placed on the top, bottom, side or any other location on the segment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure .

Further, a sensor 1410 may be located on the same side of the cover as the magnets 1400 and may be attached to any part of the housing 100, or on a portion of the removal and replacement mechanism, or other structural member not associated with any of the above elements, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It will further be appreciated that an alternative embodiment may place one sensor 1410 on one side of the housing 100, for example to stop the motor when opening the cover, and another sensor on the opposite side of the housing 100, for example to stop the motor when closing the cover. In such an embodiment, one magnet 1400a may be located on the leading end 701 and the another magnet 1400b may be located on the opposite side of the trailing end 702, such that the two magnets 1400a and 1400b may be diagonally located with respect to each other. The diagonal relationship of the magnets 1400 is illustrated in FIG. 1C. Thus, one sensor 1410 may be used to stop the motor as the cover is being retracted into an open position and when the magnet 1400b passes by or near the sensor 1410, while the other sensor 1410 may be used to stop the motor as the cover is being extended across the spa 10 and when the magnet 1400a passes by or near the sensor 1410. In either embodiment, the sensor 1410 may be electronically connected to the motor such that when one of the magnets 1400 passes by or near the sensor 1410 the motor will be turned off or stopped, thereby providing the overall system with an automatic stop feature.

In practice whether extending or retracting the cover, the motor may be turned on permitting movement of the cover in a direction. It will be appreciated that the principles of the following example are applicable to both extension and retraction of the cover. For example, when retracting the cover from the vessel containing liquid, the motor may be turned on by a switch providing movement from the motor to the cover. The motor and cover will continue to operate in conjunction with each other until the magnet 1400 attached to the trailing end 922 may pass by or near the sensor 1410. When the magnet passes or comes near the sensor 1410, the magnet 1400 may communicate with the sensor 1410 of its presence. When the sensor 1410 becomes aware of the presence of the magnet 1400, a communication from the sensor 1410 may be sent to the motor signifying to the motor .to stop or turn off, thereby automatically stopping the extension or retraction of the cover.

Those familiar with spas and vessels containing liquid will appreciate that there may be safety concerns for children or others who may be potentially trapped inside of a spa when the cover is being extended into a closed position. To avoid such potential accidents, the present disclosure may utilize a safety release button located inside of the spa. The safety release button may be pushed or • depressed by a potentially trapped user to signal to the motor to retract the cover. It will be appreciated that the signal to the motor may be accomplished in a variety of ways by different mechanisms and such mechanisms may be incorporated by those of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation. The safety release button may be a lit button or may be a fluorescent button to allow a potentially trapped user to quickly and easily identify the safety release button.

It will be appreciated that another useful design concept for a roll top cover system 10, including a removal and replacement mechanism 1500, of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 23-36. The present embodiment for an automatic cover system 10 may include: (i) any spa or vessel containing liquid 10 known, or which may become known in the future, in the art; (ii) a housing 100 similar to the housing described previously herein; (iii) an automatic removal and replacement mechanism 1500 similar to, but not necessarily the same as, the various embodiments of a removal and replacement mechanism 500 previously described herein; (iv) a cloth retraction mechanism 1600 similar to, but not necessarily the same as, the various embodiments of a cloth retraction mechanism 600 previously described herein; and (v) a cover 1000 similar to, but not necessarily the same as, the various embodiments of a cover 700, 800, and 900 previously described herein, which may be configured and dimensioned to be flexible enough to be rolled up into and stored within the housing 100 for easy storage as well removal and replacement. The details of the present embodiment will be discussed below, with particular attention to the differences between embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 23-36 illustrate the details of another embodiment of both a removal and replacement mechanism 1500 and a cover 1000 made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. Specifically, the cover 1000 of the automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid 10 may comprise a plurality of segment portions 1020 that may be connected together to form a substantially unitary cover 1000. The configuration and dimension of the plurality of segment portions 1020 and the connection mechanism therebetween may allow the cover 1000 to be flexible, movable and adaptable such that the cover 1000 may change its shape, thereby allowing for easy storage within the housing 100.

Each segment portion 1020 may comprise at least one recess 1010 that may be defined by a wall 1012 formed in the segment portion 1020. The plurality of segment portions 1020 may- be made from a polymeric material, such as a polyvinylchloride material, which may be resistant to corrosion from air and moisture. However, it is to be understood that other materials may be utilized by the present disclosure, such as other polymeric materials, metal, wood and other materials, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and without regard to that material's characteristics regarding corrosion resistance, due in part to a covering that may be placed around the segment portions 1020. Each of the plurality of segment portions 1020 may comprise at least one end cap 1122. Each end cap 1122 may be connected to an end 1021a or 1021b of each of the plurality of segment portions 1020. As best illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 36, and as an alternative to forming the at least one recess 1010 directly in the segment portion 1020 itself, the end cap 1122 may include at least one recess 1123, and may alternatively include two or more recesses 1123, each of which may be defined by a wall 1124. The recesses 1010 and 1123 may both function in cooperation with a drive gear 1520 to move the cover 1000 across the vessel containing liquid 10. Referring now to FIG. 34, each segment portion 1020 may comprise a male connector 1740 and a female connector 1742, which may be configured and dimensioned to engage and articulate with one another, as previously described in relation to other embodiments of the male and female connectors. The male connector 1740 may include a curve that may form a first hook 1744 and the female connector may include a corresponding catch or second hook 1746 having a recessed area 1747, also referred to herein as a hook receiving space, for receiving at least a portion of the first hook 1744 of the male connector 1740. The hook receiving space 1747 may be defined by a curvate surface for receiving the male hook 1744 therein thereby allowing the bottom surface 1024 of a first segment portion 1020 to move through a range of angles with respect to the bottom surface 1024 of a second, adjacent segment portion 1020 including a substantially ninety degree angle .

The bottom surface 1024 of the first segment portion 1020 may move through a range of angles relative to the bottom surface 1024 of the second segment portion 1020, wherein the range of angles, represented by β in FIG. 18, may between about ninety degrees and about one-hundred and eighty degrees. More specifically, the range of angles through which the first segment portion 1020 may move with respect to the second segment portion 1020 may be between a range of about ninety- five degrees and about one-hundred and eighty degrees. The ability of the segment portions 1020 to move through a range of angles may allow the cover 1000 to be wound up onto a portion of the removal and replacement mechanism 1500 and otherwise stored in a relatively small housing 100. Specifically, the cover 1000 may be wound up onto a second shaft member 1560 located in the housing 100. The male hook 1744 and the female hook 1746 may each include an inner hook surface 1744a and 1746a and an outer hook surface 1744b and 1746b, wherein the outer hook surface 1746b of the female hook 1746 may engage the inner hook surface 1744a of the male hook 1744 when the male connector 1744 may engage the female connector 1746 thereby providing an area of articulation therebetween.

As illustrated best in FIG. 34, it will be appreciated that the male connector 1740 of one segment portion 1020a and the female connector 1742 of another adjacent segment portion 1020b may engage each other at a joint or junction ^wJ" , such that the segment portion 1020a having the male connector 1740 may articulate at the joint or junction "J" with the segment portion 1020b having the female connector 1742. The engagement between the male connector 1740 and the female connector 1742 may form a hinge joint therebetween and the engagement may also connect one segment portion 1020 (first segment) to another adjacent segment portion 1020 (second segment) , such that the first segment portion 1020 can move through a range of angles with respect to the second segment portion 1020.

It will be appreciated that the male hook 1744 may be larger than the female hook 1746 in order to allow a greater range of motion between the hinge joint. The male connector 1740 may extend outwardly from and may form part of the bottom surface 1024 of the segment portion 1020 and the female connector 1742 may be slightly recessed within the bottom surface 1024 of the segment portion 1020, such that when the male connector from one segment engages the female connector of another segment the junction provides a substantially continuous, flat bottom surface 1024 of the cover 1000 when the two bottom surfaces 1024 of adjacent segments may be in substantially the same plane. It will be appreciated that the structure provided herein is one example of a means for connecting the male connector 1740 to the female connector 1742. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 34 each of the plurality of segment portions 1020 may include a top surface 1022, a bottom surface 1024 and at least two opposing walls 1026 and 1028. Each segment portion 1020 may also include a flap 1030 formed on one of the opposing walls 1026 and 1028 and a barrier 1037, and each segment portion 1020 may also include a recessed surface 1032 formed within one of the opposing walls 1026 and 1028. The barrier 1037 and flap 1030 may be essentially the same as the barrier 737 and the flap 736 previously disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the flap 1030 from one segment portion 1020a may be engageable with one of the opposing walls 1026 or 1028 (in this case opposing wall 1028) of another adjacent segment portion 1020b or with the barrier 1037, in either case to provide a seal between adjacent segment portions 1020, thereby substantially sealing the cover to decrease the amount of debris and other contaminants into the joint "J" of the cover and to further reduce evaporation and heat loss. In another embodiment, the flap 1030 from one segment portion 1020a may be engageable with the recessed surface 1032 of- another adjacent segment portion 1020b to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segment portions 1020 (similar to the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 19-21) . It will be appreciated that the creation of a seal may substantially prevent or limit the escape or influx of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid. It is to be understood that other seals may be utilized by the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure . As illustrated best in FIG. 34, it will be appreciated that each segment portion 1020 may comprise a junction where one of the opposing walls 1026 or 1028 and the bottom surface 1024 come together, thereby forming a first corner 1024a from which the male connector 1740 may extend. It will be appreciated that the hinge formed between adjacent segment portion 1020 may have an axis of rotation that is located away from the first corner 1024a due to the extension of the male connector 1740 away from the first corner 1024a. The axis of rotation may be located a distance away from the first corner 1024. The distance may be between a range of about one quarter inch to about one half inch. However, it will be appreciated that other dimensions may also be determined by those of skill in the art, and such other dimensions that may be workable are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Each of the plurality of segment portions 1020 may be manufactured having a substantially hollow interior 1034 and may be a length sufficient to span across a width of the vessel containing liquid (illustrated best in FIG. 23) . It will be appreciated that the length of the segment portions 1020 may not be wider than the width Wl of the housing 100, otherwise the segment portions 1020 may not be housed within the housing 100. Referring back to FIG. 34, the substantially hollow interior 1034 of each segment portion 102.0 may be substantially filled with an insulative material . Such an insulative material may be any type of material having desirable insulative properties and such materials are known in the art. The insertion of an insulative material within the substantially hollow interior 1034 may form an insulation layer that may be part of the cover 1000, thereby providing desirable insulative properties to the cover 1000. Specifically, the insulative material may be made from a foam material . The foam material may be an open cell foam, or alternatively, the foam material may be a closed cell foam. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that a polymeric material possesses characteristics that allows the material to readily expand and contract. For example, during seasonal temperature changes, for example during winter, the bottom surface 1024 or one side of the cover segment 1020 made from a polymeric material may be placed near very warm temperatures, such as near the liquid in a vessel (e.g. a hot tub or spa) , which may be nearly one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit, while the top surface 1022 or other side of the cover segment 1020 may be exposed to cooler temperatures from the surrounding cool air. The difference in temperature between the liquid and the surrounding air may at times be as great as ninety to one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus, depending upon the time of year and climate. Such a temperature difference may cause the cover segment or segments 1020 to sag.

To help reduce the occurrence of sag, each of the plurality of segments 1020 may comprise a brace member 1042 and may also include at least one tab 1044, or alternatively a plurality of tabs 1044, formed within an interior portion of the segment 1020 forming a slideway 1040 between the brace member 1042 and the at least one tab 1044 (illustrated best in FIG. 34) . More than one tab 1044 may be present to form the slideway 1040 without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure .

The brace member 1042 may include a length and the at least one tab 1044 (first tab) and any other tab 1044 (second tab) may each include a length,- wherein the length of the first tab 1044 and the second tab 1044 may be within a range between about twelve percent (12%) to about twenty-five percent (25%) of the length of the brace member 1042. It will be appreciated that the length of the first tab 1044 and the second tab 1044 may be within a range between about sixteen percent (16%) to about twenty percent (20%) of the length of the brace member.

It will be appreciated that the slideway 1040 may be located in a substantially central position "C" of the segment 1020. However, it is to be understood that the location of the slideway 1040 may be anywhere within the interior portion of the segment 1020, and the segment 1020 may be modified to include other locations for the slideway 1040 that may not be a substantially central position "C" , but may be offset or located off center without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. To further help prevent the occurrence of sag, an insert member 1050 (illustrated best in FIG. 34) may be removably insertable within the slideway 1040 of at least one of the plurality of segments 1020. The insert member 1050 may be a structural support member used to provide support to the at least one of the plurality of segments 1020 and to the cover 1000 as a whole. The insert member 1050 may include a length that is at least twenty-five percent of the length of at least one of the plurality of segments 1020. The insert member 1050 may be substantially as long as, but may not be longer than, the length of one of the plurality of segments 1020, otherwise the insert member 1050 may stick out beyond the segment 1020 and potentially interfering with the extension and retraction of the cover 1000 in and out of the housing 100. The insert member 1050 may be made or manufactured from a rigid material. For example, the insert member 1050 may made or manufactured from a .metallic material, such as galvanized steel, that may comprise properties making the insert member 1050 less likely to be affected by the temperature difference between the warm/hot liquid and the colder surrounding air to which the insert member 1050 may be exposed. However, it will be appreciated that the insert member 1050 may be made from other materials beside metal without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the insert member 1050 may be located within every segment 1020 of the cover or, alternatively, the insert member 1050 may be located in every other segment 1020, or every third segment 1020, or in some other suitable arrangement . The cover 1000 may also comprise a front skirt 1007 and a side skirt 1008 that both may extend outwardly from the cover 1000 as illustrated in FIGS. 39-41. The side skirt 1008 may be about two to eight inches long and more specifically may be about four to six inches long and may be attached to the side of the cover 1000. The side skirt 1008 and may comprise a stiffener or a webbing 1009. The webbing 1009 may be made of a fairly rigid material to stiffen the skirt 1008. The webbing 1009 provides a means for outwardly extending the skirt 1008 to help ensure the skirt 1008 will not get caught in the drive gear 1520 or any other part of the removal and replacement -mechanism 1500 as the cover 1000 may be opened and shut. It has been found that locating the webbing 1009 inside the side skirt 1008 and about 1/4 inch to about 1 inch below an unfinished, top side 1008a (opposed to the finished, bottom side 1008b) of the skirt 1008 may be advantageous. More particularly, it has been found that placing the webbing 1009 about % inch below the unfinished, top side 1008a may be advantageous. The webbing 1009 may itself be about % inch to about two inches in length, and more particularly about one inch in length. The skirt in general, whether the side skirt 1008 or the front skirt 1007, may be utilized to cover the top of the spa, i.e., the bar top of the spa, to create an aesthetic appearance. The skirts 1007 and 1008 may also function and aid in the prevention of the bar top of the spa from fading or otherwise being exposed to weather or the elements and thus may serve as a protection.

As illustrated in FIG- 41, the cover 1000 may also include the front skirt 1007 that may be biased in an outward direction from the cover 1000. The front skirt 1007 may also comprise a living hinge that allows the front skirt 1007 to move and adjust depending upon the surface over which it may run. The front skirt 1007 may contain a length that may be within a range of about four inches to about eight inches in length, and more particularly may be about six inches in length.

The front skirt 1007 may include an insert and may extend outwardly from an end of the cover 1000, for example the trailing end 1220 of the cover 1000 and more specifically from a cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600. The front skirt 1007 may extend outwardly due to the presence of an insert , such that the insert provides a means for ensuring that the skirt 1007 continually flows outwardly from the cover 1000 to avoid tearing of the skirt 1007.

Alternatively, the front skirt 1007 may be attached to any portion of the trailing end 1220 of the cover 1000 and does not have to be attached to the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600. In any event, it will be appreciated that the front skirt 1007 may be extend beyond the cover, i.e., beyond the trailing end 1220 of the cover 1000, and may contact the bar top 13 of the spa 10. The front skirt 1007 may essentially drag along the top of the bar top 13 of the spa itself.

The insert of the front skirt 1007 may be encapsulated by the cover material so that no scratching of the bar top 13 may occur. The insert may also comprise a bend 1007a (illustrated best in FIG. 41) that may extend outwardly from the insert, thereby potentially causing the insert to resist sagging into or catching a portion of the spa or vessel containing liquid, which could cause damage to the spa or to the cover as the motor continues to operate and move the cover across the bar top 13. The insert may be made of aluminum or any other stiffening material without departing from^' the scope of the present disclosure. The front skirt 1007 may be between about four to about eight inches long and may extend over the entire width of the cover 1000. Referring now to FIGS. 23-33, the removal and replacement mechanism 1500 may comprise the drive gear 1520 (illustrated best in FIGS. 32 and 33) . The drive gear 1520 may include a plurality of teeth 1522, wherein the teeth 1522 of the drive gear 1520 may engage the corresponding wall 1012 or 1124 of the recess 1010 or 1123 or walls of the recesses, thereby moving the cover 1000 across the vessel containing liquid 10

(illustrated best in FIG. 28 and with respect to a single segment 1020 in FIG. 30) . It will be appreciated that at least one of the teeth 1522 of the drive gear 1520 may engage the wall 1012 or 1124 of at least one recess 1010 or 1123 to directly move the cover 1000 across the vessel containing liquid 10 to either extend or retract the cover 1000 across the vessel containing liquid 10.

The drive gear 1520 may comprise a plurality of sides 1524 forming a polygonally shaped gear 1520. For example the drive gear 1520 in FIGS. 32 and 33 is shaped as an octagon, which has been found to be a useful shape, but other shapes may also suffice. Each side 1524 of the polygon may comprise at least one tooth 1522, or alternatively at least two teeth 1522, or more than two teeth 1522. Referring specifically to FIG. 32, the tooth or teeth 1522 of each side 1524 may be offset with respect to a central axis A-A and with respect to the tooth or teeth 1522 formed on an opposing side 1524 of the polygon. For example, tooth 1522a on a first side 1524a of the drive gear 1520 may be offset with respect to the central axis A-A and with respect to a tooth 1522b of a second side 1524b located opposite the first side 1524a.

The plurality of teeth 1522 may be substantially trapezoidal in shape and every other tooth 1522, e.g. every second tooth 1522, of the drive gear 1520 may comprise an undercut of a surface 1523 forming the substantially trapezoidal shape of the teeth 1522. The result may be a smooth gear articulation between the teeth 1522 and the at least one recess 1010 or 1123 formed within the cover 1000 and to cause adjacent segments 1020 to articulate one with another away from the drive gear 1520.

As noted previously, the automatic cover system may also include a housing 100 configured and dimensioned to protect and store the various embodiments of a cover when the cover may be retracted from the vessel containing liquid. The housing 100 itself and its dimensions may be made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure as described previously, such that no further description is necessary. The automatic cover system may further comprise a webbing 1590 that may be connected to a shaft member located within the housing 100. The webbing 1590 may be made in accordance with, the principles of the present disclosure as discussed previously in relation to other embodiments of the cover system. The removal and replacement mechanism 1500 may comprise the webbing 1590 and the drive gear 1520 and a second gear 1520a.

The webbing 1590 may be attached to at least one of the plurality of segments 1020 and may also be attached to either the first shaft member 1550 or the second shaft member 1560.

As illustrated best in FIGS. 24-27, the removal and replacement mechanism 1500 for removal and replacement of the cover 1000 from the vessel containing liquid may be located within the housing 100 and the mechanism 1500 may include a first shaft member 1550 and a second shaft member 1560. The first shaft member 1550 may be located above, and in upward alignment with, the second shaft member 1560. The upward alignment may allow a portion of the cover 1000 to be rolled onto and stored on the second shaft member 1560, while another portion of the cover 1000 may be stored in a substantially vertical manner within the housing 100, while still another portion of the cover 1000 may be stored horizontally below a top surface 110 of the housing 100. The result of such storage may that the housing 100 can be built in a small space because the cover 1000 may utilize and maximize that small amount of space for storage purposes . Referring now to FIGS. 24-31, the removal and replacement mechanism 1500 may further comprise a motor 1540, a drive shaft 1542, the drive gear 1520, at least a first sprocket 1544 and second sprocket 1546, and a driving member 1548. Referring specifically to FIGS. 29-31, the drive shaft 1542 may be connected to the motor 1540 and also to the drive gear

1520, such that the when the motor 1540 is operable the drive shaft 1520 may move the drive gear 1520.

Referring generally to FIGS. 24-31, the first shaft member 1550 may be upwardly aligned with respect to the second shaft member 1560 and the first shaft member 1550 may be connected to the drive gear 1520, such that when the motor 1540 is operable the drive gear 1520 and the first shaft member 1550 may move in concert with each other.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 25 and 27, the first sprocket 1544 may be connected to the first shaft member 1550 and the second sprocket 1546 may be connected to the second shaft member 1560. The first sprocket 1544 may be coupled to the second sprocket 1546 by the driving member 1548, such that when the motor 1540 is operable the drive shaft 1542 may cause movement of the drive gear 1520 and the first shaft member 1550, which in turn may cause the first sprocket 1544 to move thereby moving the driving member 1548. The driving member 1548 may in turn cause the second sprocket 1546 to move thereby causing the second shaft member 1560 to move. All of the above may act in concert to remove and replace the cover 1000 from the vessel containing liquid.

During operation of the motor 1540 to retract the cover 1000 from the vessel containing licjuid the webbing 1590 may be rolled up onto either the first shaft member 1550 or the second shaft member 1560 to which the webbing 1590 may be attached. The result may be that as a portion of the plurality of segments 1020 may be introduced into the housing 100 the motor 1540 may continue to operate at a constant speed without disrupting or bogging down the motor 1540 thereby retracting the cover 1000 at a constant speed. The motor 1540 of the removal and replacement mechanism 1500 may be a bi-directional motor. The motor 1540 may be located inside of, and attached to, the housing 100. Alternatively, the motor 1540 may be located inside of the first shaft member 1550 or the second shaft member 1560. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 29-31, the motor 1540 is illustrated as being located within the first shaft member 1550, but the first shaft member 1550 may be large enough and roomy enough to allow motor 1540 to operate without interference from any portion of the first shaft member 1550. Thus, the motor's 1540 performance may not be affected by its location within the first shaft member 1550 or the second shaft member 1560.

The automatic cover system may further comprise the buffer cloth 650, which has been previously described herein, and a cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600. The buffer cloth 650 may be attached at one end to the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600 and may be attached at the other end to the housing 100, vessel containing liquid, bracket, support or other structural member without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A casing 1610 may be attached to one of the plurality of segments 1020 located at the trailing end 1220 of the cover 1000 for housing at least a portion of the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600, such that the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600 may be attached to the trailing end 1220 of the cover 1000.

Similar to the description in relation to FIGS. 10-17, the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600 may comprise a shaft 1660 and a spring 1640 surrounding the shaft 1660. The spring 1640 may be affixed to one end of the shaft 1660, such that when a force is applied to the mechanism 1600, for example due to the cover 1000 being moved across the vessel containing liquid, a collar may be caused to bias the spring 1640 which causes a spring roller tube 1632 to rotate thereby causing the buffer cloth 650 to be movable, e.g., laid down, across the top of said vessel containing liquid. Conversely, when the buffer cloth 650 is to be housed in the mechanism 1600 on the spring roller tube 1632, the tension on the spring may be released causing the spring roller tube 1632 to rotate and wind the buffer cloth 650 thereon, as described previously in connection with FIGS. 10-17.

It will be appreciated that when the buffer cloth 650 is in the retracted position, there may still be some amount of biasing on the spring 1640. In other words, the spring 1640 may be preloaded onto the shaft 1660, such that the spring 1640 may be in a biased state, even when the cover 1000 may be in its retracted position, e.g. in an open position where a user may enjoy the spa 10. For example, the spring 1640 may be preloaded to about twenty times its natural, unbiased state even when the buffer cloth 650 may be in a retracted position within the cloth retraction mechanism 1600. Further, the preloading of the spring 1640 may be biased in compression or, alternatively, the spring 1640 may be biased in tension without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The spring 1640 may be further biased as the buffer cloth 650 may be extended and laid down directly on the top surface (bar top) of the vessel containing liquid. It will be appreciated that the buffer cloth 650 may be extended and laid down substantially simultaneous with, but prior to, the cover 1000 being extended over said vessel containing liquid, such that the buffer cloth 650 may act to protect the bar top of the vessel containing liquid from the cover 1000 being extended and retracted on a recurring basis.

When the .cover 1000 may be retracted from the vessel containing liquid the spring 1640 may be relaxed from its biased state, which may cause the spring roller tube 1632 to rotate in an opposite direction allowing the buffer cloth 650 to roll up onto the spring roller tube 1632 of the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600. It will be appreciated that the buffer cloth 650 may^" be retracted substantially simultaneous with, but after, the cover 1000 being retracted from said vessel containing liquid. Thus, the buffer cloth 650 may be removably engageable with the top (bar top) of the vessel containing liquid, and may be extended and retracted by the cloth extension and retraction mechanism 1600.

It will be appreciated that the structure disclosed herein is an example of a means for extending and retracting the buffer cloth 650 across the top of the vessel containing liquid for sealing and protecting said vessel containing liquid. It will; be appreciated that the buffer cloth 650 may include a first side 652 and a second side 654, wherein the first side 652 may include a low friction material and the second side 654 may include a high friction material. The second, high friction side 654 of the buffer cloth 650 may be made from a vinyl material and the first, low friction side 652 of the buffer cloth 650 may be made from a mesh material. The first, low friction side 652 of the buffer cloth 650 may be removably engageable with a bottom surface 1024 of the plurality of segments 1020 of the cover 1000, and the second, high friction side 654- .of the buffer cloth 650 may be removably engageable with the bar top of the vessel containing liquid, such that when the cover 1000 is fully extended across said vessel containing liquid the buffer cloth 650 may seal and protect the vessel containing liquid without the use of a tracking assembly. It will be appreciated that the buffer cloth 650 may provide a substantially friction free medium between the vessel, e.g. a spa, and the cover 1000, such that the buffer cloth 650 may allow the cover 1000 to move across the bar top or top surface of the vessel 10 substantially free of friction. The buffer cloth 650 may protect the bar top and may prevent scratching and scuffing as the cover 1000 is moved into position to cover and uncover the spa 10 due, at least in part, to the substantially friction free medium. The buffer cloth 650 may be made from a single sided vinyl material having a mesh or other materials known in the art having a low friction side and a relatively higher friction side, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure . . In accordance with the features and combinations described above, a useful method of extending and retracting a cover includes the steps of :

(a) connecting a webbing to a cover and to a shaft member located within a housing, and connecting an attachment member to the cover and to a belt member,- (b) driving the belt member using a motor, thereby moving the attachment member and cover toward the housing; and

(c) rolling the webbing onto the shaft member, such that the webbing guides the cover onto the shaft member, thereby storing at least a portion of the cover on said shaft member. In accordance with the features and combinations described above, another useful method of extending and retracting a cover includes the steps of:

(a) providing a cover comprising a plurality of segments, wherein each segment comprises at least one recess defined by a wall formed therein;

(b) connecting a webbing to the cover and to a shaft member located within a housing;

(c) supplying power to a drive gear comprising a plurality of teeth and a driving member using a motor, such that the teeth of the drive gear engage the wall of the recess thereby moving the cover; and

(d) rolling the webbing onto the shaft member, such that the webbing guides the cover onto the shaft member, thereby storing at least a portion of the cover on said shaft member.

Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate the advantages provided by the features of the present disclosure. For example, it is a potential feature of the present disclosure to provide a cover device that may be compactibly stored in a housing. It is another potential feature to provide an automatic spa covering and uncovering system for extending and retracting the cover from the spa that may be easily used and operated by a user. It is yet another potential feature of the present disclosure to provide a cover that may be rolled or folded into the housing, and that may comprise sufficient insulative properties to maintain a desired water temperature in a spa.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.

This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each potential claim. Rather, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims, if any, are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims, if any, are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover comprising a plurality of segments, wherein each segment comprises at least one recess defined by a wall of said segment; and a drive gear comprising a plurality of teeth; wherein at least one of the teeth of the drive gear engages the wall of the at least one recess to thereby directly move the cover.

2. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a webbing connected to a shaft member located within a housing.

3. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein an end cap is connected to an end of each of the plurality of segments, the end cap having two recesses that are each defined by a wall, wherein the teeth of the drive gear engage the walls of the recesses to thereby move the cover across the vessel containing liquid.

4. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein each segment comprises a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a recessed area for receiving at least a portion of the hook of said male connector, and wherein said female connector further comprises a hook that engages the corresponding hook of said male connector when said male and said female connectors are engaged.

5. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a flap formed on one of the opposing walls, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with one of the opposing walls of another adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments thereby substantially sealing the cover such that escape of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid is limited.

6. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a recessed surface formed within one of the opposing walls and a flap formed on the opposite opposing wall, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with the recessed surface of another adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments substantially sealing the cover such that escape of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid is limited.

7. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a brace member and at least one tab formed within an interior portion of said segment forming a slideway therebetween.

8. The automatic cover system of claim 7, wherein the slideway is located in a substantially central position of the segment .

9. The automatic cover system of claim 7, wherein the system further comprises an insert member that is removably insertable within the slideway of at least one of the plurality of segments to thereby provide support to the at least one of the plurality of segments and the cover.

10. The automatic cover system of claim 9, wherein the insert member is made from a metallic material.

11. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a buffer cloth and a cloth extension and retraction mechanism.

12. The automatic cover system of claim 11, wherein the buffer cloth is attached to the cloth extension and retraction mechanism, and wherein a casing is attached to one of the plurality of segments located at an end of the cover for housing the cloth extension and retraction mechanism, such that said cloth extension and retraction mechanism is also attached to the end of said cover.

13. The automatic cover system of claim 12, wherein the cloth extension and retraction mechanism comprises a shaft, a roller tube and a spring surrounding the shaft, wherein the spring is affixed to one end of said shaft, such that when a force is applied said spring is biased causing the roller tube to rotate such that said buffer cloth is movable over the top of the vessel containing liquid.

14. The automatic cover system of claim 13, wherein the spring is biased as the buffer cloth is extended and laid down directly onto the top surface of the vessel containing liquid substantially simultaneous with, but prior to, the cover being extended over said vessel containing liquid.

15. The automatic cover system of claim 14, wherein when the cover is retracted from the vessel containing liquid the spring is relaxed from a biased state thereby causing the roller tube to rotate in an opposite direction and rolling the buffer cloth onto the cloth extension and retraction mechanism substantially simultaneous with, but after, the cover is retracted from said vessel containing liquid.

16. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a buffer cloth removably engageable with the top of the vessel containing liquid.

17. The automatic cover system⁷ of claim 16, wherein the buffer cloth comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a low friction material . and the second side comprises a high friction material .

18. The automatic cover system of claim 17, wherein the first, low friction side of the buffer cloth is removably engageable with a bottom surface of the cover, and the second, high friction side of the buffer cloth is removably engageable with said top of said vessel containing liquid, such that when the cover is fully extended across said vessel containing liquid said buffer cloth seals and protects said vessel containing liquid without the use of a tracking assembly.

19. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a housing that protects and stores the cover when retracted from the vessel containing liquid.

20. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover from the vessel containing liquid and a housing, wherein the mechanism is located within the housing and said mechanism comprises a first shaft member and a second shaft member .

21. The automatic cover system of claim 20, wherein the first shaft member is located above and in upward alignment with the second shaft member such that a portion of the cover is rolled onto and stored on the second shaft member and another portion of the cover is stored in a substantially vertical manner within the housing, while still another portion of the cover is stored horizontally below a top surface of said housing, such that said housing utilizes and maximizes a small amount of space.

22. The automatic cover system of claim 20, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover further comprises a motor, a drive shaft, the drive gear, at least a first and second sprocket, and a driving member.

23. The automatic cover system of claim 22, wherein the drive shaft is connected to the motor and to the drive gear, such that the when the motor is operable the drive shaft moves the drive gear.

24. The automatic cover system of claim 23, wherein the first shaft member is upwardly aligned with the second shaft member and the first shaft member is connected to the drive gear, such that when the motor is operable the drive gear and the first shaft member move in concert with each other.

25. The automatic cover system of claim 24, wherein the first sprocket is connected to the first shaft member and the second sprocket is connected to the second shaft member, and wherein the first sprocket is coupled to the second sprocket by the driving member, such that when the motor is operable the drive shaft causes movement of the drive gear and the first shaft member, which in turn causes the first sprocket to move thereby moving the driving member, which in turn causes the second sprocket to move thereby causing the second shaft member to move, all of which act in concert to remove and replace the cover from the vessel containing liquid.

26. The automatic cover system of claim 20, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover comprises a bi-directional motor located inside one of the first shaft member and second shaft member.

27. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the drive gear comprises a plurality of sides forming a polygonalIy shaped gear, wherein each side of the polygon comprises at least two teeth, and wherein the teeth of each side are offset with respect to the teeth formed on an opposing side of the polygon.

28. The automatic cover system of claim 27, wherein each segment comprises a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector of one segment engages the female connector of another adjacent segment at a joint, such that the segment having the male connector articulates at the joint with the segment having the female connector; and wherein the plurality of teeth are substantially trapezoidal in shape and every other^' tooth of the drive gear comprises an undercut of a surface forming the substantially trapezoidal shape to thereby cause smooth gear articulation between the teeth and the at least one recess formed within the cover and to cause adjacent segments to articulate one with another away from the drive gear.

29. The automatic cover system of claim 2, wherein the system further domprises a mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover from the vessel containing liquid, wherein the webbing and the drive gear form part of the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover.

30. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments; wherein each segment further comprises a substantially 5 hollow interior; and wherein the substantially hollow interior of each segment is substantially filled with an insulative material forming an insulation layer that is part of the cover, thereby providing desirable insulative properties to said cover. 10.

31. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein each segment comprises at least one recess defined by a wall formed therein, and wherein the system further comprises a drive gear comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of the teeth of the drive gear engages the wall of the at least one 15 recess, thereby moving the cover when the drive gear is in operation.

32. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a brace member and at least one tab formed within an interior portion of said

20 segment forming a slideway therebetween.

33. The automatic cover system of claim 32, wherein the slideway is located in a substantially central position of the segment .

34. The automatic cover system of claim 32, wherein the 25 system further comprises an insert member that is removably insertable within the slideway of at least one of the plurality of segments to thereby provide support to the at least one of the plurality of segments and the cover.

35. The automatic cover system of claim 34, wherein the 30 insert member is made from a metallic material.

36. The automatic cover system of claim 35, wherein the insert member is made from galvanized steel.

37. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein the insulative material is made from a foam material. 5

38. The automatic cover system of claim 37, wherein the foam material is an open cell foam.

39. The automatic cover system of claim 37, wherein the foam material is a closed cell foam.

40. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a male connector and a female connector.

41. The automatic cover system of claim 40, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a recessed area for receiving at least a portion of the hook of said male connector, and wherein said female connector further comprises a hook that engages the corresponding hook of said male connector when said male and said female connectors are engaged.

42. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a flap formed on one of the opposing walls, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with one of the opposing walls of another adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments thereby substantially sealing the cover such that escape of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid is limited.

43. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a recessed surface formed within one of the opposing walls and a flap formed on the opposite opposing wall, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with the recessed surface of another adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments substantially sealing the cover such that escape of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid is limited.

44. The automatic cover system of claim 30, wherein the system further comprises a cloth extension and retraction mechanism, and wherein a casing is attached to a segment located at one end of the cover for housing the cloth extension and retraction mechanism.

45. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments, wherein .each segment comprises a substantially hollow interior and a length sufficient to span across a width of the vessel containing liquid; and an insert member that is removably insertable within the hollow interior of at least one of the plurality of segments to thereby provide support to the at least one of the plurality of segments.

46. The automatic cover system of claim 45, wherein the insert member is manufactured from a rigid material.

47. The automatic cover system of claim 46, wherein the rigid material from which the insert member is manufactured is a metallic material .

48. The automatic cover system of claim 47, wherein the insert member is manufactured from galvanized steel.

49. The automatic cover system of claim 45, wherein at least one of the plurality of segments comprises a brace member and at least one tab formed within an interior portion of said segment forming a slideway therebetween.

50. The automatic cover system of claim 49, wherein the slideway is located in a substantially central position of the segment .

51. The automatic cover system of claim 49, wherein the insert member is removably insertable within the slideway of the at least one of the plurality of segments to thereby provide support to said at least one of the plurality of segments and to the cover.

52. The automatic cover system of claim 49, wherein the at least one tab comprises a first tab and a second tab, and wherein the slideway is defined by the brace member, the first tab, and the second tab.

53. The automatic cover system of claim 52, wherein the brace member, the first tab and the second tab each comprise a length, wherein the length of the first tab and the second tab is within a range of about twelve percent to about twenty- five percent of the length of the brace member.

54. The automatic cover system of claim 53, wherein the length of the first tab and the second tab is about sixteen percent to about twenty percent of the length of the brace member .

55. The automatic cover system of claim 45, wherein a length of the insert member is substantially the same as the length of the at least one of the plurality of segments.

56. The automatic cover system of claim 45, wherein the insert member is inserted into alternating segments, such that every other segment comprises an insert member.

57. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments ; wherein at least a first segment of the plurality of segments comprises a male connector and at least a second segment -of the plurality of segments comprises a female connector,- wherein the male connector engages the female connector forming a hinge and connecting the first segment to the second segment, such.- that said first segment moves through a range of angles with respect to said second segment.

58. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein the male connector comprises a male hook and the female connector comprises a recessed area for receiving at least a portion of the hook of said male connector.

59. The automatic cover system of claim 58, wherein the female connector further comprises a female hook that engages the corresponding male hook of the male connector when said male connector engages said female connector.

60. The automatic cover system of claim 59, wherein the male hook and the female hook each comprise an inner hook surface and an outer hook surface, wherein the outer hook surface of the female hook engages the inner hook surface of the male hook when said male connector engages said female connector thereby providing an area of articulation therebetween.

61. The automatic cover system of claim 59, wherein the male hook is larger than the female hook.

62. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a male connector and a female connector.

63. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein the first segment and the second segment each comprise a bottom surface, wherein the male connector extends from and forms part of the bottom surface of said first segment and the female connector is recessed within the bottom surface of the second segment .

64. The automatic cover system of claim 63, wherein the male connector comprises a male hook and the female connector comprises a female hook for engaging at least a portion of the male hook, wherein the female connector further comprises a hook receiving space that is defined by a curvate surface for receiving the male hook therein thereby allowing the bottom surface of the first segment to move through a range of angles with respect to the bottom surface of the second segment ■ including a substantially ninety degree angle.

65. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein the cover further comprises a means for connecting the male connector to the female connector to thereby permit the first segment to move through a range of angles with respect to the second segment including a substantial ninety degree angle.

66. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the first segment moves through a range of angles relative to the bottom surface of the second segment, wherein the range of angles is between about ninety degrees to about one-hundred and eighty degrees.

67. The automatic cover system of claim 66, wherein the range of angles through which the first segment moves with respect to the second segment is between a range of about ninety-five degrees to about one-hundred and eighty degrees.

68. The automatic cover system of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and two opposing walls, wherein a junction of one of the opposing walls and the bottom surface forms a first corner from which the male connector extends, and wherein the hinge formed between adjacent segments has an axis of rotation that is located away from the first corner.

69. The automatic cover system of claim 68, wherein the axis of rotation is located a distance away from the first corner, wherein the distance is between a range of about one quarter inch to about one half inch.

70. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, the cover comprising a top surface and a bottom surface,- and a buffer cloth removably engageable with the top of the vessel containing liquid, the buffer cloth comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a low friction material and the second side comprises a high friction material.

71. The automatic cover system of claim 70, wherein the first, low friction side of the buffer cloth is removably engageable with the bottom surface of the cover, and the second, high friction side of the buffer cloth is removably engageable with the top of the vessel containing liquid, such that when said cover is fully extended across said vessel containing liquid said buffer cloth seals and protects said vessel containing liquid without the use of a tracking assembly.

72. The automatic cover system of claim 70, wherein the second, high friction side of the buffer cloth is made from a vinyl material and - the first, low friction side of the buffer cloth is made from a mesh material.

73. The automatic cover system of claim 70, wherein the system further comprises a cloth extension and retraction mechanism to which the buffer cloth is attached.

74. The automatic cover system of claim 73, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein a casing is attached to one of the plurality of segments located at an end of said cover for housing the cloth extension and retraction mechanism, such that said cloth extension and retraction mechanism is also attached to the end of said cover .

75. The automatic cover system of claim 73, wherein the cloth extension and retraction mechanism comprises a shaft, a roller tube and a spring surrounding the shaft, wherein the spring is affixed to one end of said shaft, such that when a force is applied said spring is biased causing the roller tube to rotate such that said buffer cloth is movable over the top of the vessel containing liquid.

76. The automatic cover system of claim 75, wherein the spring is biased as the buffer cloth is extended and laid down directly onto the top surface of the vessel containing liquid substantially simultaneous with, but prior to, the cover being extended over said vessel containing liquid.

77. The automatic cover system of claim 76, wherein when the cover is retracted from the vessel containing liquid the spring is relaxed from a biased state thereby causing the roller tube to rotate in an opposite direction and rolling the buffer cloth onto the cloth extension and retraction mechanism substantially simultaneous with, but after, the cover is retracted from said vessel containing liquid.

78. The automatic cover system of claim 70, wherein the system further comprises a means for extending and retracting the buffer cloth across the top of the vessel containing liquid for sealing and protecting said vessel containing liquid.

79. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, the cover comprising a plurality of segments ; ~^*~ a buffer cloth removably engageable with the top of the vessel containing liquid for sealing and protecting said vessel containing liquid when the cover is resting on top of said vessel containing liquid; a cloth extension and retraction mechanism comprising a shaft, a roller tube and a spring, wherein the buffer cloth is attached to the cloth extension and retraction mechanism; wherein the spring surrounds the shaft and is affixed to one end of said shaft, such that when a force is applied said spring is biased causing the roller tube to rotate such that said buffer cloth is movable over the top of the vessel containing liquid.

80. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, wherein the cover comprises a length; a housing having a height and a length that are proportionally related to the length of the cover; a mechanism for removal and replacement of said cover from the vessel containing liquid, wherein the mechanism is located within the housing and said mechanism comprises a first shaft member and a second shaft member; wherein the first shaft member is upwardly aligned with the second shaft member thereby decreasing the length of said housing.

81. The automatic cover system of claim 80, wherein when the cover is retracted from the vessel containing liquid at least a portion of said cover is rolled onto one of the first shaft member and the second shaft member while another portion of said cover is vertically stored within said housing, thereby decreasing the length of said housing.

82. The automatic cover system of claim 81, wherein another portion of the cover is stored horizontally below a top surface of the housing, such that said housing utilizes and maximizes a small amount of space.

83. The automatic cover system of claim 80, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover further comprises a motor, a drive shaft, a drive gear, at least a first and second sprocket, and a driving member.

84. The automatic cover system of claim 83, wherein the drive shaft is connected to the motor and to the drive gear, such that the when the motor is operable' the drive shaft moves the drive gear .

85. The automatic cover system of claim 84, wherein the first shaft member is connected to the drive gear, such that when the motor is operable the drive gear and the first shaft member move in concert with each other.

86. The automatic cover system of claim 85, wherein the first sprocket is connected to the first shaft member and the second sprocket is connected to the second shaft member, and wherein the first sprocket is coupled to the second sprocket by the driving member, such that when the motor is operable the drive shaft causes movement of the drive gear and the first shaft member, which in turn causes the first sprocket to move thereby moving the driving member, which in turn causes the second sprocket to move thereby causing the second shaft member to move, all of which act in concert to remove and replace the cover from the vessel containing liquid.

87. The automatic cover system of claim 80, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover comprises a bi-directional motor located inside one of the first shaft member and second shaft member.

88. ' The automatic cover system of claim 80, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover comprises a drive gear, wherein the drive gear comprises a plurality of sides forming a polygonally shaped gear having a plurality of teeth.

89. The automatic cover system of claim 88, wherein each side of the polygon comprises at least two teeth.

90. The automatic cover system of claim 89, wherein the teeth of each side of the polygon are offset with respect to the teeth formed on an opposing side of said polygon.

91. The automatic cover system of claim 88, wherein the plurality of teeth are substantially trapezoidal in shape and every other tooth of the drive gear comprises an undercut of a surface forming the substantially trapezoidal shape.

92. The automatic cover system of claim 80, wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover from the vessel containing liquid comprises a webbing connected to at least one of the first shaft member" and the second shaft member.

93. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a plurality of individual segments _.connected together to form a substantially unitary cover,- a mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover from the vessel containing liquid, wherein the mechanism is located within a housing and said mechanism comprises a motor, a first shaft member and a second shaft member; a webbing attached to at least one of said plurality of segments and to one of the first shaft member and the second shaft member; wherein during operation of the motor to retract said cover from said vessel containing liquid the webbing is at least partially rolled up onto one of the first shaft member and the second shaft member to which said webbing is attached, such that as a portion of said plurality of segments are introduced into the housing the motor continues to operate at a substantially constant speed thereby retracting said cover at a substantially constant speed.

94. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the webbing is attached to the first shaft member.

95. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the webbing is attached to the second shaft member.

96. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the webbing comprises a length and the second shaft comprises a height measured from one of ground level and floor level to a lowermost portion of said second shaft, wherein the webbing length is three times the height of the second shaft.

97. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the housing has a relationship with a cover length to be housed in said housing expressed in equation form as follows :

H = 36 inches x the cover length in inches/96 inches where : H is a height of said housing measured from one of ground level and floor level to a top of said housing, where H is a minimum of thirty-six inches.

98. The automatic cover system of claim 97, wherein the webbing comprises a length having a relationship expressed in equation form as follows:

S = 3 [H - (L/2) + 6 in.] where :

S is the length of the webbing; H is the height of the housing; and L is a length of said housing.

99. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the cover comprises a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the webbing is attached to the leading end of said cover and to the second shaft member.

100. The automatic cover system of claim 99, wherein the webbing is entirely rolled up onto the second shaft member before any portion of the cover is rolled up onto said second shaft member, thereby avoiding binding the motor .

101. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein a portion of the cover is stored vertically within the housing.

102. The automatic cover system of claim 101, wherein another portion of the cover is wound up and stored on the second shaft member.

103. The automatic cover system of claim 93, wherein the cover is simultaneously retracted from the vessel containing liquid as the webbing is wound up directly onto one of the first shaft member and second shaft member.

104. An automatic cover system comprising: a cover comprising a plurality of segments; and means for automatically extending and retracting the cover from a vessel containing liquid; wherein at least a portion of the cover is storable within a housing.

105. An automatic cover system for a vessel containing liquid comprising: a cover configured and dimensioned to rest on a top of the vessel containing liquid, the cover comprising a plurality of segments, wherein each segment comprises an end cap including at least one recess defined by a wall formed therein; a housing for storing and protecting the cover when said cover is retracted from the vessel containing liquid; and a mechanism for removal and replacement of said cover from said vessel containing liquid, wherein the mechanism comprises a drive gear, which comprises a plurality of teeth; wherein at least one of the teeth of the drive gear engages the wall of the at least one recess to thereby directly move the cover; wherein each segment comprises a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a recessed area for receiving at least a portion of the hook of said male connector, and wherein said female connector further comprises a hook that engages the corresponding hook of said male connector when said male and said female connectors are- engaged; wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a flap formed on one of the opposing walls, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with one of the opposing walls of another adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments thereby substantially sealing the cover such that escape of moisture and heat from the vessel containing liquid is limited; wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a brace member and at least one tab formed within an interior portion of said segment forming a slideway therebetween; wherein the system further comprises an insert member that is removably insertable within the slideway of at least one of the plurality of segments to thereby provide support to the at least one of the plurality of segments and the cover; wherein the system further comprises a buffer cloth and a cloth extension and retraction mechanism,- wherein the buffer cloth is attached to the cloth extension and retraction mechanism, and the cloth extension and retraction mechanism is attached to an end of the cover; wherein the cloth extension and retraction mechanism comprises a shaft, a roller tube and a spring surrounding the shaft, wherein the spring is affixed to one end of said shaft, such that when a force is applied said spring is biased causing the roller tube to rotate such that said buffer cloth is movable over the top of the vessel containing liquid; wherein the buffer cloth is removably engageable with the top of the vessel containing liquid, and the buffer cloth comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a low friction material and the second side comprises a high friction material; wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover from the vessel containing liquid is located within the housing and comprises a first shaft member and a second shaft member; wherein the first shaft member is located in above and in upward alignment with the second shaft member such that a portion of the cover is rolled onto and stored on the second shaft member and another portion of the coyer is stored in a substantially vertical manner within the housing, while still another portion of the cover is stored horizontally below a top surface of said housing, such that said housing utilizes and maximizes a small amount of space ; wherein the mechanism for removal and replacement of the cover further comprises a motor, a drive shaft, the drive gear, at least a first and second sprocket, and a driving member; wherein the motor is a bi-directional motor; wherein the drive gear comprises a plurality of sides forming a polygonally shaped gear, wherein the teeth are located around the plurality of sides, wherein said teeth formed on each side of the polygon are offset with respect to the teeth formed on an opposing side of the polygon; and wherein the removal and replacement mechanism comprises a webbing connected to one of the first shaft member and the second shaft member located within the housing .

106. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein • the system further comprises a magnetic system for automatically shutting off a motor that extends and retracts the cover with respect to the vessel containing liquid, wherein the magnetic system comprises a first magnet and a second magnet and a sensor .

107. The automatic cover system of claim 106, wherein one of the plurality of segments is a leading end and another one of the plurality of segments is a trailing end, wherein the first magnet is attached to the leading end and the second magnet is attached to the trailing end, and wherein the presence of one of the first magnet and the second magnet near the sensor turns the motor off.

108. The automatic cover system of claim 11, wherein the buffer cloth provides a substantially friction free medium between the vessel and the cover, such that the buffer cloth allows the cover to move across a surface of the vessel substantially free of friction.

109. The automatic cover system of claim 13, wherein the spring is preloaded on the shaft in a biased state.

110. The automatic cover system of claim 109, wherein the spring is preloaded about twenty times its natural, unbiased state .

111. The automatic cover system of claim 109, wherein the spring is biased in compression.

112. The automatic cover system of claim 109, wherein the spring is biased in tension.

113. The automatic cover system of claim 19, wherein the housing is a free standing structure with respect to the vessel and is releasably attachable to said vessel.

114. An automatic cover system comprising: a plurality of segments attached together by a hinge connection between each segment and forming a cover that is reconfigurable for use and storage; and a vessel configured and dimensioned for containing liquid; wherein the cover is extendable and retractable over the vessel .

115. An automatic cover system comprising: a plurality of segments attached together to form a cover,- a vessel configured and dimensioned for containing liquid; and

5 a housing configured and dimensioned to store at -least a majority of the plurality of segments therein; wherein the housing is a free standing structure with respect to the vessel.

116. The automatic cover system of claim 115, wherein 10 the housing comprises a top surface that overhangs an outer surface of said housing forming a counter.

117. The automatic cover system of claim 116, wherein the housing comprises an overhead cover for covering the top surface that overhangs the outer surface of said

1.5 housing.

118. The automatic cover system of claim 116, wherein the top surface of said housing overhangs and extends beyond the outer surface of said housing by about four inches to about twelve inches .

20 119. The automatic cover system of claim 117, wherein the overhead cover is an awning having a roof and decor ' suspended from the roof .

120. The automatic cover system of claim 115, wherein the housing is releasably attachable to said vessel . 25 121. An automatic cover system comprising: a vessel configured and dimensioned for containing liquid,- a plurality of segments flexibly attached together forming a cover for the vessel; and

30 a buffer cloth removably engageable with the vessel containing liquid and with the cover; wherein the buffer cloth provides a substantially friction free medium between the vessel and the cover.

122. -The automatic cover system of claim 45, wherein 5 the insert member comprises a length that is at least twenty-five percent of the length of said at least one of the plurality of segments .

123. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a skirt that extends outwardly from at least one end of the cover.

124. The automatic cover system of claim 123, wherein the skirt comprises a side skirt including a stiffener located on an inner surface of the side skirt that forces the side skirt to extend outwardly at an angle relative to at least one side end of the cover.

125. The automatic cover system of claim 123, wherein the skirt comprises a front skirt that extends outwardly from an end of said cover that is located farthest away from the drive gear.

126. The automatic cover system of claim 125, wherein the front skirt comprises a rigid insert causing the cover to extend outwardly from the end of the cover.

127. The automatic cover system of claim 126, wherein the insert comprises a bend that extends outwardly from said insert and that causes said insert to resist sagging into and catching a portion of the vessel containing liquid.

128. The automatic cover system of claim 125, wherein the front skirt is between a range of about four inches to about eight inches in length.

129. The automatic cover system of claim 128, wherein the front skirt is six inches in length.

130. The automatic cover system of claim 19, wherein the housing comprises a front side and a back side, wherein the front side comprises an opening for the cover to move in and out of said housing.

131. The automatic cover system of claim 130, wherein the opening in the housing comprises a slot that is angled with respect to an axis extending along a height of said housing.

132. The automatic cover system of claim 131, wherein the angle is between a range of about ten degrees to about forty, degrees .

133. The automatic cover system of claim 132, wherein the angle is between a range of about twenty degrees to about thirty degrees .

134. The automatic cover system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing walls, wherein each segment further comprises a flap formed on one of the opposing walls and a barrier formed on the other of the opposing walls, wherein the flap from one segment is engageable with the barrier of the other of the opposing walls of an adjacent segment to thereby provide a seal between adjacent segments.