US2980921A - Swimming pool cover - Google Patents

Description

A ril 25, 1961 E. BARTOLUCCI SWIMMING, POOL COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR EDGAR BARTOLUCCI ATTORNEYS.

Filed May 26, 1959 April 25, 1961 E. BARTOLUCGI SWIMMING POOL COVER 2 SlI1eets-Sheet 2 R" Q a po n a a b Filed May 26, 1959 we n an O 2% o a 0 4 a Q n age o INVENTOR EDGAR BARTOLUCCI BY O77 AT TORN EYS.

United States Pate I swnwMmGrooL-covnn Edgar Bartolucci, 16 E. 96th.St.,fiNew York, N31.

FiledMay 26, 1959, Ser. No. 815,842"

4 Claims. n1 -n1a This invention relates generally 'toswimming pool apparatus, and is especially'concerned' with a unique and advantageous cover for a swimming pool.

It is one objectof the present invention to provide a swimming pool cover which is extremely simple in construction, entirely safe under all conditions of use, and whichis capable of quick and easy operation, either under power or manually, in the latter case being a simple one hand operation by a single individual to effect immediate conversion of the device between its pool covering and uncovering conditions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel pool cover of the type described which is admirably well adapted to serve as a cabana and provide dressing and shower rooms when the cover is in its uncovering condition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool cover having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is entirely reliable under all types of conditions, extremely durable and long lasting in use, and which can be economically manufactured, installed and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

.In the drawings:

Fig. -1 is a perspective, view showing apool cover of. the present invention in operative association with a swimmingpool, with the cover in its open or uncovering ;condition, and illustrating formation or conversion of the cover .into a cabana;

Fig. 2 is a partial, transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. l, but illustrating the cover in its closed or covering relation, and omitting the cabana forming partitions for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing in solid lines an intermediate position of the cover between its open'and closed conditions, and showing the cover in phantom in its fully opened or uncovering condition; and

'Fig. 5 is a sectional view sirnilar to Fig. 4, but showing a slightly modified embodiment of the present invention and illustrating in phantom, alternative positions of the cover there illustrated.

Referring now-more particularly to the drawings, and

specifically to Fig. 1 thereof, a swimming pool is there generally designated 10, and provided with an apron 11 which extends circumferentially aboutthe upper edge of the pool. The apron may consist of a concrete walk about the pool, or other suitable structure. On one side of the pool, illustrated in its open or uncovering condition, is a 'cover of the present invention, generally designated 12.

On the cover 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1, includes a pair of upstanding panels 15 disposed in facing spaced relation with respect to each other and extending longitudinally along one side of the pool 10 over the apron 1'11 The upper edge regions of the panels 15 and 16 are connected together by hinge means 17, which may assume the form of an additional panel .18 extending longitudinally of the panels 15 and '16 and laterally between the upper regions thereof having its opposite sides hingedly connected to respective panels. That is, the panel 18 is hingedly connected along one longitudinal edge to the upper edge region of the panel 15 by hinges 19, and has its other longitudinal edge connected to the upper edge region of the panel 16 by hinges 20.

It will be appreciated. that the upstanding panel 15 is outward or remote from the pool 10, while the panel 16 is inward or adjacent to the pool, and that the hinge means 17, and more particularly its panel 18, extends laterally between the outer and inner panels 15 and 16.

Journal means, generally designated 25, is provided at the lower edge region of the outer panel 15, and includes one or more pedestal journals 26, 27 and 28 arranged in alignment with each other longitudinally of the pool 10 and anchored to the apron 11 by any suitable securing means. Of the row of pedestal journals 26, 27 and 28, the end or outer journals are designated 26 and 28, respectively, while the intermediate journals are designated 27. A generally horizontal, longitudinal disposed shaft 29 extends through and is supported by the journals 26, 27 and 28. A pair of hinge elements 30 and 31 are rotatably carried by the shaft 29, adjacent to the end journals 26 and 28, respectively, and each is fixedly secured by any suitable means to the adjacent lower edge region of the outer panel 15 to mount the latter for swinging movement about the axis of shaft 29 between its upstanding position and a lowered position overlying the pool and apron.

Fixedly secured to the lower region of the inner panel 16, adjacent to opposite ends thereof, are roller means 34 which include a pair of journal bearings 35 and 36. The bearings 35 and 36 are in alignment with eachother longitudinally of the panel 16, and carry a longitudinally extending shaft 37 in substantial parallelism with the shaft 29. On opposite ends of the shaft 37, outward of the bearings 35 and 36, are carried wheels or rollers 38 and 39 respectively adjacent to the bearings 37 and 36 and rotatable about the axis of shaft 37. The rollers 38 and 39 are beyond' opposite ends of the pool 10 for rolling engagement with the ground orapron 11 adjacent to opposite pool ends toward and away from the journal supports 26 and 28.

It will now be appreciated that the outer panel 15 is mounted for swinging movement about the axis of shaft 29 between its upstanding position of Fig. l and a generally horizontal position of Fig. 3,wherein it partially overlies the pool 10. Also, the pair of cover panels 15 and 16 are swingable relative to each other between the upstanding, facing spaced relationship of Fig. l, and generally horizontal, coplanar relationship of Fig. 3. In simultaneous swinging movement of the cover panels '15 and 16 between the positions of Figs. 1 and 3, the latter panel obviously rolls on its rollers 38 away from the journal means 25, to the opposite side of the pool 10, while the upper edge region of the panel 16, swings downward,

so that the panel in its generally horizontal condition overiies the pool and combines with the panel 15 and the hinge means 17 to completely cover the pool.

Depending from the intermediate panel 18 of the hinged means 17 area pair of laterally spaced abutments:43, each constituted of an elongate rigid. element .or tube fixedlysecured to the panel 18, as at its opposite ends and by intermediate hanger elements 42, and extending longitudinally along the panel 18 in spaced relation therebelow.

If desired, a plurality of partitions or walls 45 may be carried by one of the panels 15 and 16, say by the hinges 46 connected to the panel 15 so that each adjacent pair of partitions 45 combines withthe pair of panels 15 and 16 to define in the space therebetween a cubicle for the privacy of dressing or showering as with shower heads 47. .The partitions 45 are thus collapsible flat against one of the panels 15 and 16 when not in use, and swingable into their transverse condition illustrated in Fig. 1 when it is desired to employ the cover as a cabana.

In order to effect conversion or transformation of the cover from its closed, covering relation, to its open, uncovering condition, an operating mechanism isprovided at 50. I The operating mechanism includes a housing 51 containing suitable gearing and winding means, which unit may be mounted on the panel 15, if desired. A manually actuable crank 52 may be connected to the winding mechanism of the housing 51 for actuating the latter. A flexible cable or line 53 is connected at one end to the winding mechanism of the housing 51 and continues therefrom over a pulley 54 mounted on the panel 15 adjacent to the lower region thereof, and thence over a pulley 55 .disposed' generally horizontally and rotatably mounted on one of the journal members 27. Additional horizontally disposed pulleys 56 and 57 are rotatably mounted on journal members 58 and 59 fixed to the inner panel 16 and carrying the shaft 37. An additional pair of horizontally disposed pulleys 60 and 61 are rotatably mounted on the remaining journal members 27. The flexible line or cable 53 extends from beneath the pulley 54, partially about the outer pulley 55, and thence inward successively over the pulleys 56 and 57, from which the cable extends outward successively over the pulleys 60 and 61. From the pulley 61 the cable again extends inward to the shaft 37, to which it is anchored by an eye 62 or other suitable securing means.

In the cabana forming, open condition of the pool cover .12, as shown in Fig. 1, the partitions 45, or any one of the partitions, may serve as an abutment or spacer retain-- ing the panels 15 and 16 apart from each other, the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position, it is apparent that the center of gravity ofthe panels 15 and 16, and the hinge means 17 is located along a plane between the axes of shafts 29 and 37, thus tending to urge the panels toward their closed condition overlying the pool. However, the cable 53, having been retracted by the winding mechanism'of the housing 51, prevents movement of the cover panels toward their pool covering relation. course, suitable stop means other than the partitions 45 may be employed to limit movement of the panels 15 and 16 toward each other to the cabana forming position. Also, the mechanism 50 may be powered and provided with suitable locking means, if desired.

When it is desired to close the cover 12, it is only necessary to permit extension of the cable 53, as by unwinding or extending of the cable through operation of the crank 52. By gravitational action, this unwinding or extending of the cable 53 permits rolling of the wheels 38 to move the panels 15, 16 and 18 to their coveringrelation of Fig. 3. In this condition, it will be noted that the depending abutment members 43 engage with the extended cable 53, particularly with those cable portions between the pulleys 55 and 56, the pulleys 60 and 57, and the pulley 61 and anchor 62, to depress the engaged cable portions from their straight line condition. That is, the portions of cable 53 extending between the lower edge regions of the panels'15 and 16, the distal edge regions thereof in the coplanar panel relation, are deflected downward by the abutment elements 43. This may be the normal closed or covering condition.

When it is desired to open the cover 12, the winding mechanism of housing 51 is actuated to retract the cable 53. This retraction of the cable, which is deflected downward by the abutments 43, serves to raise or elevate the abutments, and together with the abutments to raise the entire hinge means 17 and the portions of panels 15 and 16 adjacent to the hinge meansa Of course, continued retraction of the cable 53 returns the cover 12 through its solid line condition of Fig. 4, to thephantom position thereof, as discussed in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 is shown a slightly modified embodiment of pool cover, generally designated 12a, wherein a pair of panels lSa and 16a, corresponding to the above described panels '15 and 16 have their upper edge regions directly connected together by a hingev 17a, without the interposition between thehinged panel edges of an intermediate panel. That is, the hingedly connected ,edge regions of the panels 15:; and 16a are in proximate 01' contiguous relation with each other. At the edges of panels 15a and 16a remote from the hinged connection 17a, is journal means 25a swingably mounting the panel 15a on the apron 11a, which journal means may be substantially identical to the journal means 25; and, the roller means 34a at the lower edge region of the panel 116a may be substantially identical to the roller means 34.

In place of the abutment means 43 depending from the hinge means 17 of the first described embodiment, the embodiment of Fig. 5 includes abutment means 43a, each constituted of an elongate element or tube fixedly secured to a respective panel 15a or 16a and extending longitudinally thereof in spaced relation therebelow when the panels are in their substantially coplanar relation overlying the pool 10a. The abutment elements 43a operate in the same manner as the abutment elements 43 to effect upward movement of the adjacent regions of panels 15a and 16a upon retraction of the cable 53a.

In addition, at least one of the abutment elements 43a fixed to one of the panels 15a and 16a may be abuttingly engageable with the other of the panels when the-panels are in their upstanding, open condition to limit swinging movement of the panels toward each other in their facing relation, the condition illustrated in 'dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 5. The dashed outline position of Fig. 5 is an intermediate position of operation between the solid line closed or covering condition, and the dot-and-dash outline open or uncovering condition.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. I

:What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a swimming pool having a surrounding apron, said cover comprising a pair of upstanding panels disposed in facing spaced relation and adapted to extend along the apron on one side of a pool, one of said panels being an outer panel remote from the pool and the other panel being an inner panel interposed between the outer panel and pool, an additional panel connecting together the upper edge regions of said panels for relative swinging movement between their facing spaced relation and a substantially coplanar relation, said additional panel combining with said upstanding panels to define a cabana, journal means on the lower region of the outer panel remote from the swimming pool to mount said outer panel on the apron for swinging movement between itsupstanding position and a generally horizontal position overlying the pool, and rolling means carried on the lower region of the inner panel adjacent to the pool and adapted for rolling engagement with the apron toward and away from said journal means, whereby said inner and outer panels are movable simultaneously between their upstanding facing relation on one side of the pool and their generally coplanar relation overlying the pool with said additional panel interposed between and in generally coplanar relation with said pair of panels.

2. A cover according to claim 1, in combination with abutment means carried on the facing side of at least one of said pair of panels and engageable with the other of said pair of panels to limit movement of said pair of panels toward each other into said facing spaced relation to a position wherein both said connecting edge regions being spaced within the vertical confines of said rolling and journal means so that the center of gravity of said panels is located between said journal and roller means to urge said panels toward their generally ooplanar relation, said abutment means comprising spaced partitions extending generally normal to said panels and adapted to combine with said panels to define in the space therebetween an enclosed dressing room when said pair of panels are in their upstanding relation.

3. A cover according to claim 2, in combination with extensile and retractile cable means connected to said inner panel for permitting gravitational movement of said pair of panels to their coplanar relation and effecting panel movement toward their upstanding position against the force of gravity.

4. A cover according to claim 3, said cable means being connected between the lower regions of said inner and outer panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,947 Aarvold Jan. 5, 1954 2,753,828 Mege July 10, 1956 2,788,849 Lingard Apr. 16, 1957 2,838,767 Matlock June 17, 1958

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