Protective pool cover assembly

Abstract

A protective pool assembly for protecting a pool from external debris or contamination. The protective pool assembly comprises a flexible cover and a bladder. The flexible cover comprises a top layer configured to resist weather. The flexible cover is attached to or rests on and protects the bladder. The bladder rests on a bottom layer of the flexible cover, or directly on the surface of the water. The bladder is inflatable via an air valve to expand the bladder in a dome-like shape. The flexible cover is pushed upward into the dome-like shape so that external debris, rain, snow, and ice shed off of the flexible cover. A skirt extends from a perimeter of the flexible cover to further direct the debris or contaminates over the side of the pool. A plurality of securing elements are used to secure the protective pool assembly in place over the pool.

Claims

1. A protective cover assembly for protecting a pool comprising: a flexible cover configured to expand and contract comprising a weighted skirt portion and a weighted member embedded within and extending around a perimeter of the flexible cover; a bladder completely positional beneath the flexible cover; and a plurality of securing hook and loop fasteners attached to a perimeter of the flexible cover configured to engage a sidewall of the pool; and wherein the bladder is adapted to cover a surface of the pool when inflated and the flexible cover extends beyond a perimeter of the pool; and wherein the perimeter of the flexible cover is configured to interlock underneath a pool railing of the pool to further secure the protective cover to the pool.

2. The protective cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the bladder is dome-shaped when inflated.

3. The protective cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising an inflating component for inflating the bladder.

4. The protective cover assembly of claim 3, wherein the inflating component is a compressed gas cylinder.

5. A dome-shaped protective cover assembly removably positional across a top surface of a pool, the protective pool cover comprising: a flexible cover configured to expand and contract comprising a skirt portion that is heavier than a rest of the flexible cover and a weighted member embedded within and extending around a perimeter of the flexible cover; a bladder comprising a base and a domed top extending from the base, the bladder completely positional beneath the flexible cover and attached to a center of an inner surface of the flexible cover via a cover attachment point; and a plurality of securing elements attached to a perimeter of the flexible cover; a shop vacuum; and wherein the base of the bladder is adapted to cover the top surface of the pool when inflated and the skirt portion of the flexible cover extends beyond a perimeter of the pool; and wherein an outer surface of the flexible cover is coated with a weatherproof reflective coating; and wherein the plurality of securing elements are hook and loop fasteners configured to engage a sidewall of the pool; and wherein the bladder is inflatable using the shop vacuum configured as a blower; and wherein the perimeter of the flexible cover is configured to interlock underneath a pool railing of the pool to further secure the protective cover to the pool.

6. The protective cover assembly of claim 5, wherein the bladder comprises a one-way valve.

7. The protective cover assembly of claim 5, wherein the skirt portion of the flexible cover is not attached to the bladder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a protective cover assembly of the present invention covering a pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a side cutaway view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention covering a pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a side cutaway view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a closeup perspective view of a flexible cover of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a side cutaway view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention covering the pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates an overhead view of a bladder of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the bladder and an inflating component the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a side cutaway view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates an overhead view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a side cutaway view of one embodiment of a protective cover assembly of the present invention covering a pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates an overhead view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates an overhead perspective view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention covering the pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of the protective cover assembly of the present invention covering and preventing debris from entering the pool in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They do not intend as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

(16) The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a protective cover for a pool or hot tub. The pool cover utilizes a bladder to inflate a cover creating a dome like structure over the water surface. The dome-style cover is attachable to in ground or above ground pools. The cover is inflatable creating the dome shape which prevents debris from accumulating on the cover or dirtying the protected water. The cover is attachable to a perimeter of the pool via several clasp mechanisms or other fasteners. The bladder can be connected to the center of the cover, delivering air under the cover and inflating it over the water surface. Debris is director or diverted off of the cover onto the ground and away from the pool. Users can maintain a clean pool with ease, prevented from having to skim the water surface or use a pool vacuum.

(17) Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a protective cover assembly 100. The protective cover assembly 100 is configured to protect a pool from external debris or contamination. The protective cover assembly 100 is adaptable to protect above ground or in ground pools, hot tubs, manufactured garden ponds, or the like. The protective cover assembly 100 is typically circular for protecting round pools but may be constructed in a rectangular or oval configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 8, to protect differently shaped pools.

(18) As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the protective cover assembly 100 comprises a flexible cover 110 and a bladder 150. The bladder 150 is positional beneath the flexible cover 110 and may be attached to a center 114 of the flexible cover 110 or anywhere else along the flexible cover 110. The flexible cover 110 is constructed from a durable, flexible, and weather resistant material and is configured to expand and contract. For example, the flexible cover 110 may be manufactured from a rubber innertube material with a waterproof material on top. The flexible cover 110 comprises an inner surface 116 and an outer surface 118. The outer surface 118 may be coated with a weatherproofing coating and may be colored to reflect or absorb heat.

(19) As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the flexible cover 110 further comprises a skirt portion 122. The skirt portion 122 rings or encircles the flexible cover 110 and is configured to extend beyond a perimeter of the pool when the protective cover assembly 100 is inflated in place over the pool. The skirt portion 122 terminates in a perimeter 124 of the flexible cover 110 and is not attached to the bladder 150. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the flexible cover 110 may further comprise a weighted member 128. The weighted member 128 may be attached to or embedded within the flexible cover 110. The weighted member 128 extends around the perimeter 124 of the flexible cover 110 to keep it in place over the pool. The skirt portion 122 itself may be weighted or heavier than the rest of the flexible cover 110.

(20) As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5-7, the bladder 150 comprises a base 152 and a domed top 154 extending from the base 152. The base 152 and domed top 154 define an expandable interior volume 158. The bladder 150 is dome-shaped once inflated. The base 152 is adapted to cover a surface of the pool with a perimeter 156 of the bladder 150 fitting within a sidewall of the pool when the bladder 150 is inflated. The domed top 154 then extends upward to create a curved surface for shedding debris. A cover attachment point 160 may attach to the center 114 of the flexible cover 110. The bladder 150 further comprises a valve 162 for inflating and deflating the bladder 150. The valve 162 may be a one-way air valve that penetrates the flexible cover 110 near the skirt portion 122 for easy access.

(21) As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protective cover assembly 100 further comprises a plurality of securing elements 140. The plurality of securing elements 140 are attached to the perimeter 124 of the flexible cover 110. The plurality of securing elements 140 are configured to engage the sidewall of the pool to keep the protective cover assembly 100 in place. The plurality of securing elements 140 may be clasps, ties, hook and loop fasteners, loops, or any other type of mechanical attachment as is known in the art. For example, a foot 111 attached to the perimeter 124 could be configured to interlock underneath a pool railing 113 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Alternatively, a weight attached to a cord may be used to keep the protective cover 100 in place.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 7, the protective cover assembly 100 may further comprise an inflating component 170. The inflating component 170 is adapted to engage the valve 162 and to inflate the bladder 150. The inflating component 170 may be an air compressor 170A, a hand pump 170B, or a compressed gas cylinder 170C. Alternatively, a shop vacuum configured as a blower may be used as well.

(23) The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in another embodiment thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, comprises a protective cover assembly 200. The protective cover assembly 200 is configured to protect a pool and is removably positional across a top surface of the pool. The protective cover assembly 200 is dome-shaped when inflated. The protective cover assembly 200 comprises a flexible cover 210 and a bladder 250. The bladder 250 is positional within the flexible cover 210. The flexible cover 210 comprises a top layer 212 and a bottom layer 220. The top 212 and bottom 220 layers are attached along a perimeter 224. The top layer 212 comprises an inner surface 216 and an outer surface 218. The outer surface 218 may be coated with a weatherproofing coating and may be colored to reflect or absorb heat.

(24) The protective cover assembly 200 further comprises a skirt 230. The skirt 230 rings the flexible cover 210 and is configured to extend beyond a perimeter of the pool when the protective cover assembly 200 is in place over the pool. A cover attachment edge 232 of the skirt 230 attaches to and extends from the top layer 212 of the flexible cover 210 along a skirt attachment perimeter 226. The skirt attachment perimeter 226 is smaller in diameter than the perimeter of the flexible cover 224. The skirt 230 may comprise a weighted element 236. The weighted element 236 may be attached to or embedded within the skirt 230 along an outer edge 234 of the skirt 230. Alternatively, the skirt 230 itself may be weighted or heavier than the rest of the flexible cover 210.

(25) The bladder 250 comprises a base 252 and a domed top 254 extending from the base 252. The base 252 and domed top 254 define an expandable interior volume 258. The bladder 250 is dome-shaped once inflated. The base 252 is adapted to cover a surface of the pool with a perimeter 256 of the bladder 250 fitting within a sidewall of the pool when the bladder 250 is inflated. The domed top 254 then extends upward to create a curved surface for shedding debris as illustrated in FIG. 13. A cover attachment point 260 may attach to the center 214 of the top layer 212 of the flexible cover 210. The bladder 250 further comprises a valve 262 for inflating and deflating the bladder 230. The valve 262 may be a one-way air valve that penetrates the flexible cover 210 near the skirt 230 for easy access.

(26) The protective cover assembly 200 further comprises a plurality of securing elements 240. The plurality of securing elements 240 are attached to the perimeter 224 of the flexible cover 210. The plurality of securing elements 240 are configured to engage the sidewall of the pool to keep the protective cover assembly 200 in place. The plurality of securing elements 240 may be clasps, ties, hook and loop fasteners, loops, or any other type of mechanical attachment as is known in the art. Alternatively, a weight attached to a cord 244 may be used to keep the protective cover 200 in place as illustrated in FIG. 12.

(27) The protective cover assembly 200 may further comprise an inflating component 270. The inflating component 270 is adapted to engage the valve 262 and to inflate the bladder 250. The inflating component 270 may be an air compressor (similar to 170A), a hand pump (similar to 170B), or a compressed gas cylinder (similar to 170C).

(28) Notwithstanding the forgoing, the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 can by any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape and size of the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 and its various components, as show in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although dimensions of the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 and its components (i.e., length, width, and height) are important design parameters for good performance, the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 and its various components may be any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference. As such, the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 may be comprised of sizing/shaping that is appropriate and specific in regard to whatever shaped pools the protective pool assemblies 100 and 200 are designed to be applied.

(29) What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.