Inflatable Pool Cover with Weighted Skirt for Heat Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pool covers are ineffective in keeping outdoor pools clean, allowing debris and small animals to enter, leading to bacterial growth and heat loss, thus requiring additional heating costs.
Innovation Solution
A modified pool cover device with an inflatable flexible member and weighted skirt that securely fits over the pool, preventing debris and animals from entering while trapping heat, constructed from lightweight, weatherproof materials like rip-stop nylon or PVC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional thin pool covers are used, then the pool can be covered with simple structure, but debris and animals can enter through gaps and sides
Solution Approach 1:
The pool cover is divided into multiple independent floating pillows arranged in rows across the pool surface. Each pillow is a separate inflatable unit that can be independently positioned and secured, creating a segmented barrier that effectively blocks debris and animals from entering the pool while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The cover system transitions from a two-dimensional flat cover to a three-dimensional structure by inflating pillows vertically between 6-18 inches. This adds height dimension that prevents debris and animals from passing underneath, while the pillows can still be laid flat when deflated for storage
2Loss of energy
If traditional thin pool covers are used, then installation is simple, but heat retention is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The pool surface is segmented into multiple zones by arranging floating pillows in parallel rows, creating multiple air pockets and insulating layers. This segmented approach enhances heat retention by trapping warm air between pillows and preventing direct contact between water and ambient air, while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic inflation of pillows to create air-filled insulating barriers. The inflated pillows trap air pockets that provide thermal insulation, reducing heat loss from the pool water to the ambient environment, while the air pressure maintains the three-dimensional structure necessary for effective heat retention
3Reliability
If the flexible member is inflated to cover the pool surface, then debris is prevented from entering, but the device becomes harder to store
Solution Approach 1:
The pool cover system is designed with dynamic states - the pillows can be inflated to an upright three-dimensional position for active pool coverage and debris prevention, then deflated to a flat two-dimensional state for compact storage. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to excel at both protection and storage
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows easy deflation and removal of pillows from the pool surface when not in use or for storage. The pillows can be completely deflated and folded flat, effectively discarding their three-dimensional form during storage while recovering the protective function when inflated and deployed on the pool
4Reliability
If weighted skirt is added to secure the cover, then animals cannot enter through sides, but installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The weighted skirt is merged with the floating pillow structure, where the skirt extends from the base of the pillows and weights are integrated into the skirt design. This combination creates a unified component that secures both the top surface and side edges of the pool, preventing animal entry while avoiding the need for separate complex securing mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures clean water by keeping debris and animals out, reduces heat loss, and acts as a natural insulator, saving the cost of a pool heater and enhancing pool hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible member can be inflated via a pump valve located on the exterior surface of the flexible member that is in communication with the interior cavity
Implementation Method 2
The weighted skirt and flexible member also act as a natural insulator for the pool, trapping heat underneath the cover device which retains existing heat in the pool water
Data Source
AI summary
A cover device for a swimming pool is disclosed that effectively keeps out debris including leaves, branches, or even small animals, and helps trap heat underneath the cover saving users the cost of a pool heater. The cover device comprises a flexible member that can be folded up for storage when deflated. Once the flexible member is substantially inflated, the exterior surface forms a generally convex shape which allows the flexible member to float on and cover substantially an entire surface of the swimming pool. The cover device further comprises a plurality of handles secured around a perimeter of the flexible member, and a skirt secured below the plurality of handles. The skirt is inflated and weighted, such that the skirt retains the flexible member on the surface of the swimming pool, sealing the swimming pool.