US2883676A - Swimming pool cover - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1959 J. P. KWAKE SWIMMING POOL COVER Filed Sept. 50, 1957 JOHN P. K WA KE,'- 1NVENT0R.

WHANN a Mc MA N/aAL A/IOrneys fbr Applicunf United States Patent SWIMMING POOL COVER John P. Kwake, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 30, 1957, Serial No. 687,212

5 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates generally to covers for containers and relates more particularly to improvements in covers for swimming pools and the like.

While the invention has particularly utility in connecdown and this operation takes time. Further, such covers' do not have means for preventing dust and dirt from blowing beneath them and into the pool.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the above difficulties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool cover that gives effective protection against drowning of a person falling into the pool, the cover being adequate to provide a safe support for any such person.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that will cover the pool and effectively keep dust and dirt therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having means about the margin thereof which will form a substantial marginal orborder seal which will prevent dust from getting beneath said cover.

The invention is still further characterized by the in-v clusion of a flexible sheet of material adapted to cover the pool and rest on the water therein and which has a tubular portion about the periphery or border thereof which is' filled with water and provides a peripheral seal which prevents dust and dirt from blowing beneath said cover and into the pool. This water filled peripheral tube is also heavy enough so that a child would not be able to lift an edge portion of said cover and get into the water of the pool.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein the tubular portion may be readily filled with water. i v I Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is relatively quick and easy to install on a pool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings with respect to one arrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and any structures, arrangements or modes of f2 operation that are properly within the scope of the "appended claims are contemplated.

Referring to the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a swimming pool cover em -j bodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.v Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a swimming pool including upstanding walls 10. There are, of course, walls or wall portions not shown. At the top of the walls defining the pool, indicated generally at 11, and filled with water 12, is a curbing 14 which slopes outwardly from a high point 15 at the upper margin flexible material of suitable plastic or the like including a? central area or portion 21. A marginal portion of the:

of said pool, said curbing forming a substantially horizon-,

tal top edge portion or surface about the pool.

A pool cover embodying the present invention'is indicated generally at 20 and comprises a sheet of tough,

sheet extends upwardly across the edge of curbing 14 with the peripheral edge of the sheet center portion '21 having a. border tubing or tubular portion 22 which is formed by, turning the edge portion of the sheet and securing the'free edge portion 23 to the adjacent portion of the sheet by a seam 24 formed by any suitable means such as, for ex-.

ample, a heat method. It is to be understood, of course,

thatthe free edge portion 23 may be secured to the ad-- 1 jacent'portion of the sheet by any other suitable means: such as an adhesive effective with the material of'the,

sheet.

Atone endof the cover, the border tubing or tubular portion 22 is provided with an externally threadeddou pling'or filling member 26 having a flange 27 within the. tube 22, said flange being suitably secured to the inner, surface of the adjacent portion of the tube22 by means of '1 an adhesive or any other suitable means. The coupling 26 is adapted for threadable connection with a complemen-.

rtary part of a water hose or the like so that the tube 22.

may be filled with water. At the opposite end of the tube 22 there is an air vent, indicated generally at 28, which.

may be of any suitable character but may have a threaded member 26a which may be the same as the member 26v The member 26a is also provided with a flange 27a, which is located within the tube 22 and is secured to the adjacent portion of the inner side of said tube in the same manner as the flange 27 is secured to the adjacent portion of said.

tube.

28 is open, the cap 31 of said vent being then removed.

When the tube 22 is being filled with water 30, the vent Asthe water enters the tube through the member 26, air is forced from the tube through the member 26a. When the tube has been filled with water, the cap 31 is attached-- structed differently from the filling member, both the fillto the vent member 26a and a similar cap 32 is screwed; onto the member 26. While the vent 28 may be coning member 26 and the vent member 26a may be the same,

so that the tube 22 may be filled from either end. As 1 showmthe members 26 and 26a are constructed the same.

The diameter of the filled tube 22 may be of any suit-NJ, able size. It has been found, however, that a diameter of from 3 to 5 inches is satisfactory for this border tube.

When the device is installed on the pool, the sheet central portion 21, while being marginally secured to and supported by the border tubing 22 is slack so that at least a substantial portion of the central .area 21 lies on the surface of the water, as best shown in Fig. 2. The border tube is set back from the edge 15 of the pool approximately 12 inches and said tube follows or conforms to the shape of the pool whether the configuration of said pool is rectangular, curved or irregular. It is to be understood, of course, that the tube may be spaced any other suitable distance from the edge of the pool, the weight of the water being suflicient to securely hold aeaaers the cover in place. It will be obvious that the cover is marginally sealed against the entrance of dirt by the weight of the water filled tube which will conform to any irregularities in the surface upon which it rests. Also, the weight of the water filled tube will be sufficient to prevent children from lifting the cover and getting into the pool where they might readily drown.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without de parting from the scope and spirit thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool cover for cooperative sealing engagement with the curbing encircling a swimming pool to position the cover overlying the surface of the water within such pool comprising a sheet of flexible liquid impervious material having a central portion to overlie the surface of water within the pool to be covered, said sheet having a predetermined peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of the pool to be covered with a marginal portion surrounding said central portion to extend outwardly from said central portion and across the pool curbing, a continuous flexible hollow border tubing providing a liquid receiving chamber to overlie the pool curbing and forming in the liquid filled state an outline conforming in shape to said predetermined configuration, said sheet having an area greater than the area defined by said outline, said border tubing being connected to the peripheral edge of said sheet so as to encircle said marginal and central portions thereof with such portions being slack within the outline defined by said tubing, and filling means on said tubing for introducing liquid fill into said tubing to press it into firm continuous sealing engagement with the curbing encircling the pool.

2. A swimming pool cover for cooperative sealing engagement with the curbing encircling a swimming pool to position the cover overlying the surface of the water within such pool comprising a sheet of flexible liquid impervious material having a central portion to overlie the surface of water within the pool to be covered, said sheet having a predetermined peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of the pool to be covered with a marginal portion surrounding said central portion to extend outwardly from said central portion and across the pool curbing, a continuou flexible hollow border tubing providing a liquid receiving chamber to overlie the pool curbing and forming in the liquid filled state an outline conforming in shape to said predetermined configuration, said sheet having an area greater than the area defined by said outline, said border tubing being connected to the peripheral edge of said sheet so as to encircle said marginal and central portions thereof with such portions being slack Within the outline defined by said tubing, filling means on said tubing for introducing liquid fill into said tubing to press it into firm continuous sealing engagement with the curbing encircling the pool, and air vent means on said tubing for venting air therefrom While said tubing is being filled with liquid.

3. A swimming pool cover as recited in claim 2 wherein said filling means and said air vent means are disposed at opposite ends of said cover.

4. A swimming pool cover for cooperative engagement with the curbing encircling a swimming pool and with the surface of the water within such pool to exclude foreign matter from the pool during its non-use comprising a sheet of flexible liquid impervious material having a central portion to be buoyantly supported on the surface of water within the pool to be covered, said sheet having a predetermined peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of the pool to be covered but greater in area than the area of such pool with a marginal portion surrounding said central portion to extend upwardly from the surface of water within such pool and across the edge of the pool curbing, a hollow flexible border tubing formed into a continuous loop to provide a liquid receiving chamber, said loop of tubing having an outline conforming to said predetermined configuration in the liquid filled state to sealingly engage the pool curbing along a continuous line in retaining the cover in place, said sheet having the peripheral edge thereof connected to said loop of tubing to be encircled thereby, and filling means on said tubing for introducing liquid fill into said tubing to press it into firm continuous sealing engagement with the curbing encircling the pool.

5. The combination of a swimming pool defined by upstanding side walls and a curbing encircling the upper edges of said walls, with a cover, said cover includ ng a sheet of flexible liquid impervious material having a central portion to overlie the surface of water within said pool, said sheet having a predetermined peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of said pool but greater in area than the area of said pool with a marginal portion surrounding said central portion to extend outwardly from said central portion and across the pool curbing, a continuous flexible hollow border tubing providing a liquid receiving chamber to overlie said curbing and forming in the liquid filled state an outline conforming in shape to said predetermined configuration, said sheet having an area greater than the area defined by said outline, said border tubing being connected to the peripheral edge of said sheet so as to encircle said marginal and central portions thereof with such portions being slack within the outline defined by said tubing, and filling means on said tubing for introducing liquid fill into .said tubing to press it into firm continuous sealing engagement with the curbing encircling the pool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,236 Babb June 15, 1937 2,095,974 Finch Oct. 19, 1937 2,580,555 Kroeger Jan. 1, 1952 2,616,096 Hasselquist Nov. 4, 1952 2,815,809 Jacobs et a1 Dec. 10, 1957 2,840,828 Furnberg -V July 1, 1958

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