Inflatable Pool Cover for an Aboveground Swimming Pool

Abstract

A pool cover for an aboveground swimming pool, the cover formed with an integrated inflatable and deflatable pocket centrally positioned on the cover. The cover is made of waterproof and durable vinyl PVC knife-coated material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Reference is made to and priority claimed from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 742,535, filed on Oct. 8, 2018, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]NANAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]NAINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE EFS WEB SYSTEM[0004]NASTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR[0005]NAFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0006]The present invention relates to swimming pool covers for aboveground swimming pools. More specifically, the present invention is an inflatable swimming pool cover designed to safely cover an aboveground swimming pool during winter and prevent ice formation on the water surface that could damage the pool itself.BACKGROUND ART[0007]Swimming pools in many parts of the United States are used only during the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an inflatable swimming pool cover designed to safely cover an aboveground swimming pool during winter and prevent ice formation on the water surface that could damage the pool itself. The cover has a single integrated inflatable pillow that speeds up cover installation and removal while ensuring optimal pillow placement on the pool. The adjustable air valve allows for quick inflating and deflating of the integrated pocket using a motorized air pump. The technical effects of the invention are improved safety and protection of swimming pools during winter, reduced damage to pool walls and cover, and improved ease of use and durability of the inflatable pool cover.

Problems solved by technology

Management of ice formation in the pool is another significant winter challenge for pool owners.

When temperatures stay below freezing, ice forming in the pool outwardly exerts force on the walls of the pool and against the cover, potentially damaging both.

A known problem with the floating pool pillow is that it must be inflated prior to installation of the cover, positioned in the center of the pool, and the position maintained by anchors attached to the pool pillow as the pool cover is pulled over the pillow and secured.

The anchors, however, fail to maintain the pool pillow's ideal position in the center of the pool when the cover is installed.

Pool covers are large and bulky and installing the cover over the floating pillow invariably repositions the pool pillow away from the ideal central location.

The puffy pillow also makes cover installation and removal difficult, because the large, bulky cover must be pulled over a large, floating hump in the pool, rather than be allowed to slide or unfold over a flat surface.

There is also no way to position an uninflated pool pillow in the pool and then inflate it after cover installation, and no way to similarly deflate the pool pillow prior to cover removal.

Rather, a pool owner pre-inflates the pool pillow, positions it in the pool, and then struggles during cover installation to not tug the cover so much that it repositions the pool pillow too far from the optimal position.

Pool owners may use one pool pillow or multiple pillows, and some pool pillow manufacturers recommend using multiple pillows, despite that more pillows often means more difficulty maintaining pillow position and further complicates pulling the large cover over more floating obstacles.

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