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[0001] This application is a continuing application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/049,588, filed on Mar. 27, 1998, entitled “Drive Mechanism for Pool Cover,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,561, filed on Nov. 30, 2000, entitled “Pool Cover Drive Mechanism,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/168,173, filed on Nov. 30, 1999, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] Not Applicable.
[0003] 1. The Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to extendable and retractable cover systems, and more particularly, but not entirely, to a drive mechanism for flexible pool covers.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] Swimming pools and related structures are extremely popular. Commercial and residential swimming pools typically consist of a water containment vessel that may reside below ground or above ground, including water-impermeable walls and bottom surface.
[0007] In many circumstances, it is desirable for the user to place a protective barrier or pool cover over the pool when the pool is not in use. Such a pool cover serves many functions: it helps to conserve water normally lost through evaporation, it can prevent water contamination resulting from outside debris, it saves water treatment costs by reducing chemical loss, and it saves energy loss by retaining heat energy in the water. Perhaps most importantly, a properly installed pool cover that provides a safety feature can prevent accidental drowning of persons falling into the pool area.
[0008] While many pool cover devices have been developed, most are awkward and difficult to install and remove, thereby discouraging their use and inhibiting their benefits. Such devices require a high-torsion power source, or a manually-operable crank arm, and are therefore cumbersome and laborious to operate.
[0009] Some pool cover devices known in the prior art are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,613 (granted Jun. 22, 1999 to Ragsdale, et al.), in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,433 (granted Mar. 14, 1989 to MacDonald, et al.), in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,711 (granted Jul. 17, 1984 to Sartain, et al.), and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,240 (granted Apr. 6, 1999 to Graham), among others. The Ragsdale and Macdonald references disclose devices that require major modification to an existing pool prior to installation. An enclosure must be constructed to hold a pool cover system including multiple spools, shafts and a permanent electric motor. These systems require that electric lines which encumber the enclosure, and a separate control that must be placed elsewhere. As a result, such devices can be expensive to manufacture and install. Installation of such a device is often too complex for a pool owner to attempt alone. Additionally, should the electricity go out, the pool cover may not be able to be opened or closed, until power is restored.
[0010] The types of devices disclosed in Sartain and Graham constitute attempts to resolve some of the problems discussed above. The device such as the one shown in Graham, has resulted in a pool cover system in which the drum moves along the pool or pool deck to roll up the cover. Since the cover is not fixedly attached to the pool deck, the Graham device fails to provide a cover having a high degree of safety. Similarly, Sartain fails to provide a safety cover and allows the pool to be unsafe even when covered.
[0011] Further, Sartain teaches the use of a hand crank located at one end of the pool for the purpose of both covering and uncovering the pool. The amount of force needed to turn the crank prevents many users from covering and uncovering the pool without assistance when using such a device.
[0012] It is noteworthy that none of the prior art known to applicant provides a pool cover system with a safety cover that may be easily activated by a single user, or that utilizes a low voltage portable power source and is relatively inexpensive to make, simple in operation and simple to install.
[0013] The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pool cover system that is relatively easy to operate.
[0015] It is also an object of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a pool cover system that provides a safety cover that may be operated by a single user.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a pool cover system that provides a safety cover, but does not require major modification of the pool deck.
[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a pool cover system that is operable with only a low-torsion, low-voltage power source for operation.
[0018] The above objects and others not specifically recited are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment of an apparatus for retracting a pool cover from over a pool, or extending a pool cover over a pool. The apparatus includes a pool cover collecting drum supported for rotation on its ends, and a drive gear connected to the drum. A power gear for engaging the drive gear is operably connected to a portable, battery operated electric drill by a power shaft. When the drill is activated, the drive gear rotates the pool cover collecting drum to collect and retract the pool cover from over the pool. The pool cover is placed back over the pool by operation of a complementary apparatus on the opposite side of the pool, such as a rope spool collecting apparatus having an engageable drive gear. The gear-driven spool pulls on a rope attached to a rigid end or carrier of the pool cover. As the pool cover is extended and retracted it slides in a track, allowing the cover to serve as a safety cover. The gears may be located in a sealed housing filled with lubricant. The drive shaft may include a universal joint, and the drill may be designed to engage the power shaft with a flexible socket adapter.
[0019] Additional objects and advantages of the invention 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 invention without undue experimentation. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the invention, 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 invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention 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 invention claimed.
[0030] 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.
[0031] In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.
[0032] As used herein, “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.
[0033] Referring now to
[0034] In the
[0035]
[0036] While any gear reduction ratio that enables a battery powered or other hand drill to operate the drum
[0037] It is to be understood that the gear reduction means may instead be included as a structural feature or extension of the portable low voltage power source
[0038]
[0039] In the
[0040] It will be appreciated that embodiment of the power gear
[0041] Confining the power gear
[0042] It is preferred that the housing
[0043]
[0044] The track
[0045] The track
[0046]
[0047]
[0048]
[0049] It will be appreciated that as shown in
[0050] Referring now to
[0051] It will be appreciated that incorporation of the universal joint
[0052] The universal joint
[0053] Another improvement is the use of a flexible socket adapter
[0054] Rendering pinion gear
[0055] The present invention further includes a method of uncovering a pool using a portable low voltage power source. This method comprises the steps of:
[0056] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0057] a pool cover,
[0058] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool, the retracting means fixedly attached to a pool deck,
[0059] a portable low voltage power source, and
[0060] connecting means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the retracting means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position;
[0061] (b) connecting the low voltage power source to the connecting means;
[0062] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0063] Th present invention also includes a method of covering a pool using a portable low voltage power source. This method comprises the steps of:
[0064] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0065] a pool cover,
[0066] extending means for extending the pool cover from a retracted position pool cover to an extended position covering the pool, the extending means fixedly attached to a pool deck,
[0067] a portable low voltage power source, and
[0068] connecting means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the extending means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the extending means to extend the pool cover from a retracted position;
[0069] (b) connecting the low voltage power source to the connecting means;
[0070] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be extended from the retracted position.
[0071] The present invention additionally includes a method of uncovering a pool using a fixed pool cover system adapted for using a portable low voltage power source. This method comprises the steps of:
[0072] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0073] a pool cover,
[0074] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool, the retracting means fixedly attached to a pool deck, the means configured and adapted to be activated by use of a portable low voltage power source,
[0075] coupling means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the retracting means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position;
[0076] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0077] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0078] The present invention further includes a method of uncovering a pool using a pool cover system with perimeter securing means activated by a portable low voltage power source. The method comprises the steps of:
[0079] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0080] a pool cover,
[0081] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool,
[0082] perimeter securing means for securing the pool cover to the perimeter of the pool along at least two edges of the pool when the pool cover is in an extended position covering the pool,
[0083] a portable low voltage power source,
[0084] coupling means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the retracting means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position;
[0085] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0086] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0087] A method of covering and uncovering a pool using a pool cover system with retracting and extending means at opposite ends of the pool, and activated by a portable low voltage power source is also included in the present invention. This method comprises the steps of:
[0088] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0089] a pool cover,
[0090] a portable low voltage power source,
[0091] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool,
[0092] first coupling means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the retracting means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position,
[0093] extending means for extending the pool cover from a retracted position to an extended position covering the pool, the means fixedly attached to the pool deck at a second end opposite the first end of the pool,
[0094] second coupling means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the extending means such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the extending means to extend the pool cover to on extended position over the pool;
[0095] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the first coupling means;
[0096] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0097] In a preferred embodiment, this method further comprises the steps of:
[0098] (d) coupling the low voltage power source to the second coupling means;
[0099] (e) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be extended to the extended position.
[0100] The present invention additionally includes a method of uncovering a pool using a pool cover system including gear reduction means activated by a portable low voltage power source. This method comprises the steps of :
[0101] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0102] a pool cover,
[0103] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool, the retracting means fixedly attached to a pool deck,
[0104] a portable low voltage power source,
[0105] gear reduction means attached to the retracting means the pool cover, the gear reduction means adapted for temporarily and releasably coupling with the portable low voltage power source, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position, the means including a gear reduction mechanism;
[0106] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0107] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0108] A method of uncovering a pool using a pool cover system including a sealed gear reduction box activated by a portable low voltage power source is also included in the present invention. This method comprises the steps of:
[0109] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0110] a pool cover,
[0111] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool, the retracting means fixedly attached to a pool deck,
[0112] a portable low voltage power source,
[0113] gear reduction unit comprising
[0114] a housing,
[0115] at least one retraction shaft attached to the retracting means,
[0116] a power shaft adapted to temporarily and releasably attaching to the portable low voltage power source, and
[0117] gear reduction means disposed inside a sealed housing, the gear reduction means operably connected to the at least one retraction shaft and the power shaft, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position by activating the retracting means through the rotating the at least one retraction shaft through action of the gear reduction means,
[0118] restriction means for restricting the pool cover from extending from the retracted position when the pool cover is in the retracted position;
[0119] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0120] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0121] The present invention further includes a method of uncovering a pool using a pool cover system including a flexible socket shaft activated by a portable low voltage power source. This method includes the steps of:
[0122] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0123] a pool cover,
[0124] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool,
[0125] a portable low voltage power source, and
[0126] coupling means adapted for temporarily and releasably coupling with the portable low voltage power source, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position, the coupling means comprising a flexible socket shaft, such that the low voltage portable power source may be coupled and used from a plurality of positions;
[0127] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0128] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0129] A method of uncovering a pool using a pool cover system where a flexible cover is wound on a fixed shaft when the system is activated by a portable low voltage power source is also included within the scope of the present invention. This method includes the steps comprising:
[0130] (a) installing a pool cover system, comprising
[0131] a flexible pool cover,
[0132] retracting means for retracting the pool cover from an extended position covering the pool, the retracting means comprising a cover collection shaft on which the pool cover is wound,
[0133] a portable low voltage power source,
[0134] coupling means for temporarily and releasably coupling the portable low voltage power source to the retracting means the pool cover, such that the low voltage power source may be activated to cause the retracting means to retract the pool cover from an extended position;
[0135] (b) coupling the low voltage power source to the coupling means;
[0136] (c) activating the low voltage power source to cause the pool cover to be retracted from the extended position.
[0137] It will be appreciated that the present invention thus provides a pool cover system that is relatively easy to operate, may provide a safety cover that may be operated by a single user, and does not require major modification of the pool deck for installation. This system is operable with only a low-torsion, low-voltage power source for operation.
[0138] It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, 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.