Swimming pool cover assembly

A swimming pool cover assembly is provided which can easily be installed and removed, and which is adapted to be supported above the surface of the pool without bulky reinforcing or structural members. The swimming pool cover assembly includes an air impervious cover member having dimensions greater than the dimensions of the pool so as to span the pool, an anchor assembly disposed about the perimeter of the pool for securing the cover member over the pool and forming fluid-tight seal therebetween, and a blower assembly for supplying a sufficient volume of air so that a cushion of air is formed between the cover member and the water in the pool for maintaining the cover member in an elevated positioned relative to the surface of the water in the pool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to swimming pool cover assemblies, and more 
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a swimming pool cover 
assembly positionable over a pool such that a cushion of air is formed 
therebetween for supporting the cover assembly in an elevated position 
relative to water in the pool. 
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
In recent years the number of swimming pools installed in residential areas 
has substantially increased. Preventive maintenance on such pools, 
especially during winter-time or when the pool is not in use, is often a 
time-consuming and burdensome chore for the homeowner. Swimming pool 
covers to winterize or prevent trash and debris from entering the pool 
have heretofore been proposed by the prior art. However, such covers are 
typically bulky, difficult to install and remove, as well as unsightly in 
appearance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention a swimming pool cover assembly is 
provided which can be readily installed and removed; and which is 
supported above the surface of the water in the pool without bulky 
reinforcing or structural members. Broadly, the swimming pool cover 
assembly of the present invention comprises: an air impervious cover 
member having dimensions greater than the dimensions of the pool so as to 
span the pool; an anchor assembly disposed about the perimeter of the pool 
for securing the cover member over the pool; and a blower assembly for 
supplying a sufficient volume of air to provide a cushion of air between 
the water in the pool and the cover member. The cover member is provided 
with an inlet opening in one end thereof so that air from the blower 
assembly can be effectively directed under the cover member and between 
the surface of the water so that the cover member is elevated relative to 
the surface of the water in the pool. 
An object of the present invention is to provide a light weight, durable 
cover assembly for a swimming pool. 
Another object of the present invention, while achieving the before-stated 
object, is to provide a cover assembly for a swimming pool which can be 
easily assembled in a spanning position or removed when the pool is in 
use. 
Another object of the present invention, while achieving the before-stated 
objects, is to provide a durable swimming pool cover assembly which is 
economical to manufacture, attractive in appearance, and which is 
effective in preventing debris and trash from entering the pool. 
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become 
clear when the following descriptions is read in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, shown 
therein is a swimming pool cover assembly 10 of the present invention 
positioned to span and cover a swimming pool 12. The swimming pool 12 is 
of conventional construction and includes a deck 14 extending about a 
peripheral edge 16 of the pool 12. The pool 12 is filled with water 18 in 
the customary manner for use of the pool 12. 
The cover assembly 10 comprises an air impervious cover member 20, an 
anchor assembly 22 for securing the cover member 20 over the pool 12, and 
a blower assembly 24 for providing a cushion of air between the surface of 
the water 18 of the pool 12 and the cover member 20. The cover member 20 
is fabricated of any suitable air impermeable material which is flexible, 
light in weight, durable and resistant to solar heat and the sun's rays. 
Typical of such materials which are commercially available are polymeric 
materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polymeric coated 
textile materials. 
The cover member 20, which is adapted to span the pool 12, has dimensions 
greater than the dimensions of the pool 12 so such that when the cover 
member 20 is secured to the anchor assembly 22, and a supply of air is 
provided between the surface of the water 18 in the pool 12 and the cover 
member 20, the cushion of air causes the cover member 20 to be elevated 
relative to the surface of the water 18 in the pool 12 (substantially as 
shown in FIG. 1 ). In order to form the cushion of air between the cover 
member 20 and the surface of the water 18 in the pool 12, the cover member 
20 is provided with an inlet opening 26 in one end portion 28 thereof. 
Thus, upon attachment of a hose connector member 30 to the cover member 20 
a fluid flow passageway is defined through the cover member 20 by the hose 
connector member 30 and the inlet opening 26. That is, the inlet opening 
26 and the hose connector 30 cooperate to establish fluid communication 
between the blower assembly 24 and the air space between the cover member 
20 and the surface of the water 18 in the pool 12. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the hose connector member 30 comprises a 
cylindrically-shaped body member 32 and a base member 34. The base member 
34 is connected to one end 36 of the body member 32 such that the body 
member 32 extends substantially normal to the plane of the base member 34. 
Thus, the base member 34 can be secured to the portion of the cover member 
20 defining the inlet opening 26. Because of stress that may be applied to 
the portion of the cover member 20 adjacent the inlet opening 26 as a 
result of connection of the hose connector member 30 and the blower 
assembly 24, the cover assembly further comprises reinforcing members 38 
and 40. 
The reinforcing members 38 and 40 may be fabricated of the same material as 
the cover member 20; or the reinforcing members 38 and 40 may be 
fabricated of different materials provided that the combination of 
materials employed in the fabrication of the cover member 20 and the 
reinforcing members 38 and 40 have sufficient strength to reinforce the 
cover member 20 about the inlet opening 26. Further, the reinforcing 
members 38 and 40 can be connected to cover member 20, and if desired, the 
base member 34 of the hose connector member 30, by any suitable means such 
as adhesives, sewing and the like. 
In order to form the cushion of air between the cover member 20 and the 
surface of the water 18 of the pool 12 (when the cover member 20 is 
disposed in a covering relationship with the pool 12 and secured in place 
by the anchor assembly 22) the blower assembly 24 is operably connected to 
the body member 32 of the hose connector member 30. The blower assembly 24 
comprises a blower 42 and a flexible hose 44. The blower assembly 42 is 
connected to a power source (not shown) by electrical lead 48. The blower 
42 is of conventional construction and includes a discharge nozzle 50. 
Such blowers are commercially available items. The only requirement in the 
selection of the blower 42 is that the blower 42 has sufficient capacity 
to deliver the required volume of air to form the air cushion between the 
surface of the water 18 of the pool 12 and the cover member 20 so that the 
cover member 20 can be elevated above the surface of the water in the pool 
12 substantially as shown in FIG. 1. 
The flexible hose 44, which is also a commercially available item, is 
characterized as having a first end 52 and an opposed second end 54. The 
first end 52 of the hose 44 is disposed over and connected to the 
discharge nozzle 50 of the blower 42; and the second end 54 of the hose 44 
is disposed over and connected to the body member 32 of the hose connector 
30 via a second end 56 of the body member 32 such that fluid tight seals 
are formed therebetween. Thus, in an assembled position, fluid 
communication is established between the blower 42 and the inlet opening 
26 in the cover member 20 via the hose 44 and the hose connector 30. If 
desired a pair of conventional clamp members (not shown) can be employed 
to secure the first end 52 of the hose to the discharge nozzle 50 of the 
blower 42, and to secure the second end 54 of the hose 44 to body member 
32 of the hose connector member 30. 
To secure the blower 42 in a stable position on the deck 14 at a 
predetermined location relative to the inlet opening 26 in the cover 
member 20, the blower assembly 24 further comprises a blower housing or 
support 60. Any suitable structure can be employed as the blower housing 
60 provided such structure secures the blower 42 in a stable position, 
permits connection of the first end 52 of the hose 44 to the discharge 
nozzle 50 of the blower 42, and desirably protects the blower 42 from the 
elements. In addition, the blower housing 60 can be fabricated so as to be 
a stationary structure; or the blower housing 60 can be fabricated as a 
portable structure so as to permit removal of the blower housing 60 from 
the pool area when not in use. 
The anchor assembly 22 of the pool cover assembly 10 is disposed about the 
perimeter of the pool 12 and secured to deck 14. The anchor is constructed 
so as to engage an edge portion of the cover member 20 so that a 
fluid-tight seal can be formed therebetween when the cover member 20 is 
positioned in a covering position relative to the pool 12. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the anchor assembly 22 comprises a stationary 
backup element 62 and a cover locking element 64. The backup element 62 is 
fabricated generally as segments which are abutted to form a continuous 
strip about the perimeter of the swimming pool 12 (see FIG. 1). The backup 
element 62, which is secured to the deck 14, comprises a securement plate 
66, and a pair of spatially disposed tab engaging members 68, 70 extending 
therefrom substantially as shown. The securement plate 66 is provided with 
a plurality of spatially disposed apertures, such as aperture 72, adapted 
to receive a fastening or connecting element, such as a screw 74, for 
securing the backup element 62 to the deck 14 at the desired position 
about the peripheral edge 16 of the swimming pool 12. 
The securement plate 66 and the tab engaging members 68, 70 cooperate to 
form a locking cavity 76 adapted to receive the cover locking element 64. 
That is, when the cover locking element 64 is disposed in the locking 
cavity 76, the cover locking element 64 is secured in locking engagement 
with the backup element 62 via the tab engaging members 68, 70. 
Thus, when an edge portion of the cover member 20 is positioned across the 
locking cavity 76 of the backup element 62 and the cover locking element 
64 is connected to the backup element 62, the cover member 20 is secured 
to the anchor assembly 22 such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is 
formed therebetween. 
The cover locking element 64, which is connectable to the backup element 62 
so as to secure the cover member 20, comprises a cover plate 78 having a 
pair of spatially disposed locking tabs 80 and 82 extending therefrom. The 
locking tabs 80 and 82 are angularly disposed from one another in a 
diverging direction so as to be positionable within the locking cavity 76 
of the backup element 62 for locking engagement with the tab engaging 
members 68 and 70. Desirably, a third locking or stabilizing tab 84 is 
spatially disposed from the locking tab 82 such that the distal ends of 
the locking tabs 82 and 84 converge and define a tab receiving cavity 86 
adapted to receive the tab engaging element 70 of the backup element 62 
substantially as shown. The edge or distal ends of the tab engaging 
members 68, 70 of the backup element 62 and the edges or distal ends of 
the locking tabs 80, 82 and 84 of the cover locking element 64 are rounded 
to avoid sharp edges that would tear or weaken the cover member 20 when 
secured to the anchor assembly 22. Further, when the cover locking element 
64 is connected to the backup element 62, the cover plate 78 of the cover 
locking element 64 forms a top surface for the anchor assembly 22. The 
design and construction of the backup element 62 and the cover locking 
element 64 are such that ,it in an assembled position the cover plate 78 
functions as a supporting surface when one steps on the anchor assembly 
22. 
While one embodiment of the anchor assembly 22 for connecting the cover 
member 20 to the deck 14 surrounding the swimming pool 12 has been 
illustrated with reference to FIG. 5, it should be understood that similar 
type anchor assemblies can be employed. For example, one such anchor 
assembly which can be employed to secure the cover member 20 in a spanning 
position over the swimming pool 12 is a commercially available item 
marketed by Agra Tech Inc. of Pittsburg, Calif. under the trademark "Agra 
Lock", and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,236. 
In order to assemble the swimming pool cover assembly 10 of the present 
invention the backup elements 62 of the anchor assembly 22 are positioned 
about the peripheral edge 16 of the swimming pool 12 and secured to the 
deck 14 by a plurality of screws, such as the screw 74. The blower 
assembly 24, including the blower housing or support 60 and the blower 42, 
is assembled and secured near one end of the swimming pool 12. The cover 
member 20, which has desirably been fabricated with the hose connector 
member 30 reinforced about the inlet opening 26 in the cover member 20, is 
attached to the second end 54 of the flexible hose 44. After connection of 
the flexible hose 44 to the hose connector member 30 the cover member 20 
is positioned over the pool and the edges thereof connected to the anchor 
assembly 22. Once the cover member 20 has been supposed over the swimming 
pool 12 and secured to the anchor assembly 22, the first end 52 of the 
flexible hose is connected to the discharge nozzle 50 of the blower 42. 
Thereafter, upon activation of the blower 42 air is directed through the 
flexible hose 44, the hose connector member 30 and the inlet opening 26 so 
that a sufficient volume of air is delivered between the surface of the 
water in the swimming pool 12 and the cover member 20 to provide a cushion 
of air between the water in the pool 12 and the cover member 20. The air 
cushion supports the cover member 20 in an elevated position relative to 
the surface of the water 18 of the pool 12, while at the same time the 
cover member 20 spans the pool to prevent debris and trash from entering 
the swimming pool 12. 
In order to disassemble the cover assembly 10 the flexible hose 44 is 
disconnected from the discharge nozzle 50 of the blower 42, and if 
desired, from the hose connector member 30. Thereafter, the cover locking 
element 64 is disengaged from the backup element 62 so that the cover 
member 20 can be removed therefrom. The cover member 20 is then removed 
from its covering relationship with the swimming pool 12 for storage and 
the like. If desired, the blower housing or support 60 and the blower 42 
can likewise be removed from the pool area for storing. 
It is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the 
objects and to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those 
inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been 
described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made 
which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and 
which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as 
defined in the appended claims.