INFLATABLE DOME COVER FOR ABOVE-GROUND POOLS

Abstract

The present invention relates inflatable dome covers for above-ground recreational swimming pools. In particular, the present invention relates to mechanically pumping air into an inflatable dome cover for an above-ground recreational swimming pool. The air remains inside the dome cover, thus allowing the dome cover to maintain its shape and protect both the recreational swimming pool and the recreational swimmers. The inflatable dome cover can be either circular, square, or oval-shaped to fit the respective shape of the pools.

Claims

1. A cover for an above-ground pool comprising, an inflatable dome cover, wherein said dome cover contains at least one air sac, at least one dome cover attachment clamp, at least one mechanical air pump, at least one mechanical air pump attachment, wherein the at least one mechanical air pump inflates said dome cover by pressuring air through the mechanical air pump attachment and into said dome cover, wherein said at least one air sac is inflated by the pressuring air from the mechanical air pump, at least one air valve that is located at the juncture between said mechanical air pump attachment and said dome cover, which can prevent the release of air from said dome cover, and that upon inflation of the dome cover, the dome cover has an apex that has a height above of a pool water surface, such that no portion of the apex is in contact with the pool water surface.

2. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover is circular in shape.

3. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover is ovular in shape.

4. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover is square in shape.

5. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one detachable segment that contains a top hook and strap connector, a bottom hook and strap connector, and a zipper line, wherein unzipping the zipper line will separate the at least one detachable segment from the rest of the inflatable dome cover.

6. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one mesh-screen that is attached directly behind the at least one detachable segment.

7. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 1 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one string of LED lights.

8. A cover for an above-ground pool through using an inflatable dome comprising, covering an above-ground pool with an inflatable dome cover, wherein said dome cover contains at least one air sac, attaching said inflatable dome cover to the above-ground pool with at least one dome cover attachment clamp, pumping air into said inflatable dome cover with at least one mechanical air pump that pressures air through at least one mechanical air pump attachment, wherein the at least one mechanical air pump inflates said dome cover by pressuring air through the mechanical air pump attachment and into said a dome cover, wherein said at least one air sac is inflated by the pressuring air from the mechanical air pump, and preventing the release of air from the inflatable dome cover by closing at least one air valve that is located at the juncture between said mechanical air pump attachment and said dome cover, which can prevent the release of air from said dome cover.

9. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover is circular in shape.

10. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover is ovular in shape.

11. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover is square in shape.

12. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one detachable segment that contains a top hook and strap connector, a bottom hook and strap connector, and a zipper line, wherein unzipping the zipper line will separate the at least one detachable segment from the rest of the inflatable dome cover.

13. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one mesh-screen that is attached directly behind the at least one detachable segment.

14. The cover for an above-ground pool of claim 8 wherein the inflatable dome cover has at least one string of LED lights.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present invention is understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an above-left side view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a horizontal-left side view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a horizontal-right side view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a forward-view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a vertical view of the invention employed with a circular above-ground pool.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows an above-left side view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows a horizontal-left side view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0056] FIG. 9 shows a horizontal-right side view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0057] FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0058] FIG. 11 shows a forward-view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0059] FIG. 12 shows a vertical view of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

[0060] FIG. 13 shows a front side view of the invention employed with a square-shaped above-ground pool.

[0061] FIG. 14 shows a horizontal-left side view of the invention employed with a square-shaped above-ground pool.

[0062] FIG. 15 shows a horizontal-right side view of the invention employed with a square-shaped above-ground pool.

[0063] FIG. 16 shows a rear-side view of the invention employed with a square-shaped above-ground pool.

[0064] FIG. 17 shows an above view of the invention employed with a square-shaped above-ground pool.

[0065] FIG. 18 shows a close-up view of a detachable window of the invention employed with an above-ground pool.

[0066] FIG. 19. shows shows the location of various detachable windows of the invention employed with an oval-shaped above-ground pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] The present invention comprises an inflatable dome to cover above-ground pools. The inflatable dome is secured to the top rail of the pool structure via metal clips. The inflatable dome is inflated with an air compressor device. The air compressor device may or may not be permanently attached to the inflatable dome.

[0068] Reference is made to FIGS. 1-19. A common numbering system is used for all figures. A comprehensive list of the structures identified in the figures is provided below. [0069] 101mechanical air pump [0070] 101mechanical air pump (external) [0071] 102mechanical air pump attachment (external) [0072] 103air valve [0073] 201dome cover (apex) [0074] 202dome cover (pool rim) [0075] 203dome cover flap [0076] 204dome cover attachment clamp [0077] 205pool rim [0078] 301pool wall [0079] 302pool support [0080] 303pool platform [0081] 401top hook and strap connector [0082] 402bottom hook and strap connector [0083] 403zipper line (connected) [0084] 404zipper puller [0085] 405detachable dome cover segment

[0086] The dome is inflated to keep debris out of the pool and to maintain the pool at a warm temperature.

[0087] The inflatable dome is preferably made of such durable materials as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), textile-reinforced urethane plastic, thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, vulcanized rubber, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome is made of a translucent or transparent material to allow the users of the pool to see through the inflatable dome.

[0088] The inflatable dome is comprised of at least two layers of material, a top layer and a bottom layer, with a space in between the layers to allow for an air pocket when the dome is inflated. While inflated, this air space is encased by the durable material.

[0089] The inflatable dome may contain a series of interconnected chambers which provide pockets of air. As the chambers are interconnected, the air can flow between them to provide a uniform level of inflation throughout the dome when inflated. The air chambers can be any shape that is standard in the industry of inflatable support materials.

[0090] In one embodiment, the air chambers inflate to become structural pillars of material when filled with air, thus providing vertical support to the dome between the bottom and top layers of material.

[0091] In another embodiment, the air chambers are spherical sacs.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the segmented air chambers are completely interconnected such that the inflation is uniform throughout the inflatable dome.

[0093] In another embodiment, the inflatable dome has a single air pocket which is not divided into smaller air spaces. In such an embodiment, it is preferred that the dome covering has vertical material bands within the air space which connect the bottom and top layers, and which function to maintain the shape of the dome when inflated.

Air Pump

[0094] In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome is inflated with the use a mechanical air pump (Item No. 101). The pump can be manual or electric. In a preferred embodiment, the air pump is electric. In a preferred embodiment, the pump is detachable and not permanently attached to the dome,

[0095] In FIGS. 1-3, 6-10, and 12, this is demonstrated as an external air pump with an external mechanical air pump attachment (Item No. 102), which is a tube connects the mechanical air pump with the dome that provides the air flow into the inflatable dome. The inflatable dome is inflated by blowing compressed air through a valve (Item No. 103) that connects with the mechanical air pump attachment.

[0096] The valve is closed upon completion of the inflation, which prevents the backflow release of the air and maintaining the level of inflation. The valve can be secured shut if the pump is removed. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is a one-way valve that allows air into the dome, but prevents it's escape. Opening the valve releases the air from the dome covering, which allows it deflate. In a preferred embodiment, deflating the inflatable dome makes it compact for storage.

[0097] In another embodiment, the mechanical air pump is attached inside of the dome to allow the dome to be inflated regardless of the environment outside of the dome (i.e., rain or ice). This built-in air mechanical air pump inflates and deflates the dome for convenient set up and take down process.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the dome covering maintains its inflation after removal of the air pump. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical air pump is detachable and stored away to protect it from inclement weather, especially rain, which damage electric devices.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome has an air pressure gauge so that the operator can monitor the inflation of the inflatable dome. This pressure gauge can either be directly attached to the air pump, or be a separate instrument.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome, once inflated, has a vertical height of approximately four feet (1.22 meters) from its apex (Item No. 201) to the pool rim (Item No. 202). In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome, once inflated, has the same length and width of the pool that it covers.

Dome Cover Flap and Attachment Clamps

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable dome has an extension of material (i.e., dome cover flap) around the border, which is designated as Item No. 203. This serves to connect the inflatable dome via the cover flap attachment clamps, which are designated as Item No. 204. In a preferred embodiment, the dome cover flap does not contain any air pocket nor is inflated, but rather is a single layer of tough fabric. In the series of figures, Item No. 301 designates the wall of the pool. Item No. 302 designates the vertical supports of the pool, and Item No. 303 designates the foundation of the pool.

[0102] The attachment of the dome cover flaps by the the dome cover attachment clamps help secure the dome cover ends to the top rail of the pool by folding the dome cover ends around rail, then using the clamp or cover clip to secure it in place. This is identified in the Figures as Item No. 203. Preferably, this remains un-inflated so it can be secured to the top rail of the pool structure. In a preferred embodiment, clamps (Item 204) secure the flaps to the top rail of the pool structure.

[0103] In a preferred embodiment, the dome cover attachment clamps or clips are made from a study material that can withstand cold temperatures and hold the cover in heavy wind and rain. Such materials include stainless steel metal or hard molded plastic, and the like.

[0104] Commercially available clamps or clips are acceptable to attach the cover to the pool structure. One such example are the stainless steel pool clips that are sold by HONEYDAK In a preferred embodiment, the dome is secured to a pool with steel walls with the 5 inch Above Ground Pool Cover Clips that are sold on Amazon.com by Youyole, available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BVQG5L8?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_GG7VGW5EYYQCZEKAHV6A), last accessed Sep. 21, 2023.

[0105] In a preferred embodiment, the dome cover never touches the water of the pool, but only touches the rim of the pool. This way the pool stays clean and clear. The dome can be easily be removed by removing the clamps.

Detachable Segments for Doors and Openings of the Dome

[0106] In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable cover dome has detachable segments, which can be used as doors to enable patrons to enter and exit the inflatable dome, once it is inflated and installed on a pool.

[0107] These segments are shown in detail in FIGS. 18 and 19. Item 403 designates a zipper portion which can be opened with the zipper (Item No. 404) to detach the segment (Item No. 405) from the rest of the cover dome. Item No. 401 and 402 represent the top and bottom hook and strap connector portions, respectively, which are commonly known as Velcro . Item No. 205 is the pool rim itself. In a preferred embodiment, these form the entrances and exits, so that swimmers can enter and exit the pool through these openings.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, these portions can be folded up and held in place by the hook and strap connector portions.

[0109] The placement of these detachable portions is shown for an oval-shaped pool in FIG. 19, which shows a placement of four different detachable portions.

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, the detachable portions are also to be used to vacuum the pool.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment, a mesh screen is used in conjunction with the zippers to create a entry door, which to prevent insects or debris from getting into the pool inside the cover dome. In a preferred embodiment, a flap portion is used in conjunction with the zippers to create a barrier to protect the pool from rain or debris

[0112] In a preferred embodiment, LED lights are installed on dome cover to enable recreational night swimming.

[0113] While several possible embodiments of the invention have been described above and illustrated in some cases, it should be interpreted and understood as to have been presented only by way of illustration and example, but not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0114] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope of the invention. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary, with the true scope of the invention being indicated by the claims.