Patent ID: 9284741
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: E04H

Claim Text:
1. A cover apparatus for covering a pool, comprising: a frame; a cover assembly at least partially supported by the frame, the cover assembly comprising a generally planar main portion having at least one side edge, and at least one edge portion adjoining the at least one side edge of the main portion; and a drive mechanism coupled to the frame, the drive mechanism configured to engage the at least one edge portion and move the cover assembly relative to the frame for advancing or retracting the cover assembly to cover or uncover the pool, respectively, wherein the drive mechanism comprises first engagement elements, and the edge portion comprises second engagement elements that interengage with the first engagement elements, wherein the first engagement elements comprise protrusions, and the second engagement elements comprise apertures that are sized and shaped to receive the protrusions, wherein the edge portion comprises an integral strip attached along the at least one side edge of the main portion, and the strip comprises the apertures and an enlarged outer lip that is adjacent to the apertures and extends continuously along a longitudinal extent of the edge portion, and wherein the drive mechanism further comprises at least one guide element, the at least one guide element for slidingly receiving the outer lip of the edge portion, so that the outer lip is guided by the drive mechanism when the cover assembly is advanced out of the drive mechanism.