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FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates to swimming pool covers, and more particularly to mounting apparatus for a pool cover assembly.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Swimming pool covers are often used for keeping the water free of trash, to shield the water from sunlight that could degrade protective chemicals in the water and for other purposes. Automatic pool covers are often preferable over manually-operated covers, because the cover can be easily extended when the pool is not in use and retracted during use. In most cases, a pool cover box is located at one end of the pool to hold the cover, motor, winding reel and cable.  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  shows a generalized schematic of a swimming pool  10  having a pool deck  12  and coping walls  14  surrounding the pool  10 . A pool cover  16  extends from a pool cover assembly  18  in a cover assembly box  20  disposed at one end of the pool  10 . A leading edge bar  22  and/or the front edge of the pool cover  16  rides in a track encapsulation  24  along the interior walls of the pool  10 . When the pool is not in use, pool cover assembly  18  activates a mechanism (not shown) to pull leading edge bar  22  and cover  16  across the length of swimming pool  10 . To make the swimming pool  10  available for use, the cover  16  is retracted by pool cover assembly  18  into the cover assembly box  20  causing leading edge bar  22  to also retract.  
         [0004]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an abstract view of pool cover assembly  18  is shown. Assembly  18  includes a motor  30 , a drive shaft  32  extending from motor  30 , a wind-up reel  34  for collecting a rope  36 , a gear box  38 , and a roll-up tube  40  on which to wind the pool cover  16 . Rope  36  extends to a remote pulley system (not shown) and then back to a leading edge of the pool cover  16 . Reel  34  and roll-up tube  40  are usually mounted in a free-wheeling fashion on drive shaft  32  to turn independently therefrom. Gear box  38  includes mechanisms to engage either the reel  34  or the roll-up tube  40 , depending on whether the pool cover  16  is to be extended or retracted.  
         [0005]     The pool cover system  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is referred to as a right-hand system, since the pool cover motor is located on the right side in the pool cover box. Sometimes the layout of the pool and its surroundings dictate that the pool cover motor be located on the left-hand side of the pool cover box (not shown), referred to as a left-hand system, since the pool cover motor  30  is situated on the left side of the pool cover box. A left-hand system has the same components as the right-hand system shown in  FIG. 2 , arranged in a mirror-image from that shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0006]     Prior art pool cover assemblies were typically permanently mounted with bolts to brackets on the walls and/or to supports on the floor of a pool cover box. To service or replace a component of the pool cover assembly, such as a motor or gear-box, the component had to be unbolted and detached from the brackets and supports, as well as from the other components. To clean leaves and debris from a pool cover box, it was preferable to remove the entire pool cover assembly. However, because of the difficulty in doing so, such cleaning was limited to what could be done without removal of the pool cover assembly.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     A mounting apparatus is provided for a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components disposed in a pool cover box and used to operate a pool cover for a swimming pool. The mounting apparatus comprises an elongated member adapted to be attached to the pool cover box, and a mounting member adapted to removably couple at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member.  
         [0008]     In another implementation, a method is provided for mounting a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components in a pool cover box for a swimming pool cover. The method comprises attaching an elongated member to the pool cover box, and removably coupling a mounting member supporting at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The above-mentioned features and other features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of an exemplary implementation taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a generalized schematic view of a pool showing the location of a pool cover assembly and pool cover box;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the pool cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the rail-mounted apparatus and pool cover assembly, according to one implementation of the present disclosure;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rail-mounted apparatus and pool cover assembly, shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a first perspective view of the apparatus and assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a second perspective view of the apparatus and assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a slide member according to the apparatus and assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a rail member according to the apparatus and assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view of the slide member of  FIG. 6A  engaged with the rail member of  FIG. 6B , according to the apparatus and assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bracket member shown in  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the distal end of the wind-up tube of the pool cover assembly of one implementation of the present disclosure. 
     
    
       [0021]     Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers may designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The examples herein illustrate selected implementations of the disclosure in certain forms, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     In the present description, components of the pool cover assembly are each mounted on a plurality of slides that engage elongated rails on either side of a pool cover box. The slides enable the components of the pool cover assembly to slide in channels longitudinally with respect to the pool cover box. Any of the components of the pool cover assembly can be quickly dismounted from the channels by moving the respective slides to slots strategically cut in the channels and lifting the component out. Conversely, each component can be quickly mounted on the elongated rails by placing the respective slides in slots in the channels and then sliding that component into engagement with an adjacent component. In this manner, a selected component that must be serviced or replaced can quickly be removed from the pool cover assembly and reassembled. In addition, in the same manner described above, the entire pool cover assembly may be easily removed in order to clean or replace the pool cover box.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary rail-mounted pool cover assembly  50  is shown. Rail-mounted apparatus  52  and  53  are mounted on opposing sides  55  and  56  of a pool cover box  54 . A pool cover motor  57  is disposed in box  54  and is coupled to a reel assembly  60  and a wind-up tube connector  62  by a drive shaft  58 . A gear-box unit  64  is disposed between reel assembly  60  and tube connector  62  and rotates with drive shaft  58 . Gear box  64  may include a universal shift mechanism  66  that connects drive shaft  58  with either reel assembly  60  or wind-up tube connector  62 , depending on whether the pool cover (not shown) is to be retracted or extended. A more detailed description of the universal shift mechanism is given in co-pending patent application entitled “Universal Shift Apparatus and Method For Swimming Pool Cover Assembly,” U.S. Ser. No. 10/686,111. Alternately, suitable gear mechanisms other than universal shift mechanism  66  may be employed within the scope of the present disclosure.  
         [0024]     Reel assembly  60  may include two co-axial reels  68  and  69 , one for retracting and extending each rope  70  and  71 , respectively, on either side of the pool cover. Other suitable forms of reel assemblies may be used within the scope of the present disclosure. Wind-up tube connector  62  extends to a wind-up tube (not shown) on which the pool cover is wound or unwound.  
         [0025]     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , rail-mounted apparatus  52  includes an elongated rail-mounting structure  74  that is coupled to the pool cover box  54 . Structure  74  includes an elongated support member  76  and an elongated channel member  78 . Support member  76  is adapted to be attached by suitable fasteners to a ledge  95  on the pool cover box  54 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . Elongated channel member  78  may also be attached to pool cover box  54  by suitable means. Channel member  78  includes guide members  83  having slots  80 ,  81  and  82  at selected positions along the length of member  78  between adjacent guide members  83 .  
         [0026]     Looking at  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a box-shaped bracket  84  is slidably coupled to channel member  78  by slide members  110  and  111 , shown in  FIG. 3 , coupled to corner pieces  85  and  86  on one side of the bracket  84 . The reel assembly  60  is supported within bracket  84 . Likewise, a substantially identical box-shaped bracket  90  supports motor  57  therein, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Bracket  90  is slidably coupled to channel member  78  by slide members  114  and  115  coupled to corners  91  and  92 , respectively, on one side of bracket  90  as best shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]     Another rail-mounted apparatus  53  is coupled to the side  56  of pool cover box  54  opposite to rail-mounted apparatus  52 . Rail-mounted apparatus  53  also includes an elongated support member  96  and an elongated channel member  98  having slots  100  and  101  therein. Bracket  84  is slidably coupled to channel member  98  by corner pieces  87  and  88  that are substantially the same as corner pieces  85  and  86  and are coupled to a slide members  112  and  113 , respectively. Likewise, opposing corner pieces  93  and  94  of bracket  90  connect bracket  90  to slide members  116  and  117 , respectively, in channel member  98 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , two pulleys  106  and  108  are coupled to channel member  98  for directing ropes  70  and  71  to and from reels  68  and  69 . Guide members  89  are positioned along channel member  98 , with slots  100  and  101  defined between adjacent guide members  89 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of the assembly discussed with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in which the quick mount and demount features of the present disclosure are shown. Rail-mount apparatus  52  is shown with support member  76  and channel member  78  having slots  80 ,  81  and  82  defined therein. Slide members  110  and  111  are coupled to corner pieces  85  and  86  of bracket  84 . Similar slide members  112  and  113  are coupled to the opposite side of bracket  84 , better seen in  FIG. 3 . To connect bracket  84  and hence reel assembly  60  to the rest of the pool cover assembly  50 , slide members  110 - 113  are positioned over the respective slots in channel members  78  and  98  and dropped into the slots, as better seen in  FIG. 5B . The slide members  110 - 113 , and hence bracket  84 , are then slide longitudinally along the channel members  78  and  98  to engage with an appropriate component in the pool cover assembly, such as gear box  64 , shown in  FIG. 6C .  
         [0029]      FIG. 6A  shows one of the slide members  110  in greater detail. Slide member  110  may be an elongated member having a generally H-shaped cross-section with one leg  122  being longer than the other leg  124 . The shorter leg  124  may have two openings  126  and  127  for connecting slide member  110  to corner piece  86  of bracket  84 , as shown in  FIGS. 6B and 6C . The longer leg  122  is dimensioned to slide within an elongated channel (not shown) in channel member  78 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . A trough  128  is disposed between legs  122  and  124  to also engage a portion of channel member  78 , as described below. The other slide members  111 - 113  may be substantially the same shape as shown for slide member  110 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 6B  shows the elongated rail mounting structure  74  in more detail. Support member  76  extends the length of the structure  74  and forms a C-shaped cavity  77 . Elongated channel member  78  comprises a flat slide surface  75  and a wall portion  79 , and a plurality of guide members  83 , each coupled to and spaced along the wall portion  79  to form slots  80 ,  81  and  82 . Guide members  83  are raised above flat slide portion  75  to provide clearance for the longer leg  122  and the trough  128  of slide member  110 . Attachment member  72  extends below channel member  78  and has screw holes  73  therein for coupling the rail-mounted apparatus to the pool cover box  54 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 6C  shows a cross-section of the slide member  110  and the elongated channel member  78 , illustrating the manner in which members  110  and  78  engage. As shown, leg  122  fits into a corresponding groove  129  in guide member  83  and slides along flat slide portion  75 . Similarly, a leg  130  in guide member  83  extends into trough  128  of slide member  110 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates bracket  84  in more detail. As previously mentioned, bracket  84  is roughly box-shaped and configured to contain reel assembly  60 , as seen in  FIGS. 3-5 . On one side of bracket  84 , corner pieces  85  and  86  are coupled to slide members  110  and  111 , respectively. Likewise corner members  87  and  88  are coupled to slide members  112  and  113 , respectively. Opposing side members  140  and  142  have deep U-shaped troughs  144  and  146  cut therein to enable engagement with adjacent pool cover assembly components. A plurality of guide members  148  are mounted within bracket  84  to guide the movement of reel assembly  60 . Bracket  84  may be sized to stand on the floor of the pool cover box (not shown) or may be supported by conventional support members (not shown) disposed on the floor and/or the walls of the pool cover box. Bracket  90  is essentially identical to bracket  84 , except that bracket  90  may be formed without guide members  148 . Bracket  90  supports motor  56 , which is mounted thereon by suitable means.  
         [0033]     Looking now at  FIG. 8 , the distal end  160  of the wind-up tube  163  is shown. Rail-mounting structures  164  and  166  are attached to opposing sides  167  and  168  of pool cover box  54 . Rail-mounting structures  164  and  166  have an inverted L-shape, which includes support members  170  and  180  mounted to opposing sides  167  and  168  of the box  54 . Channel members  172  and  182  extend at right angles to support members  170  and  180  toward the wind-up tube  163 . A bracket member  190  supports the yoke  192  of circular end  194  in a trough  196 .  
         [0034]     Bracket member  190  has corner members  197  and  198  that are coupled by slide members (not shown) to the elongated channel members  172  and  182 , respectively. Slots  200  and  202  are formed in channel members  172  and  182 , respectively, to enable the slide members to exit the channel members  172  and  182  so that the distal end  160  of the wind-up tube  163  can be readily removed from the pool cover box  54 . A pulley  204  is attached to a support  206  extending from support member  170 . Pulley  170  works in cooperation with pulleys  106  and  108  shown in  FIG. 4  to direct the ropes that are used to extend and retract the pool cover.  
         [0035]     It should be noted that the right-handed pool cover assembly  50  shown in  FIGS. 3-8  may be readily switched to a left-handed pool cover assembly, as needed, using the same components described above, but flipped in a mirror image of the assembly shown in Figures.  
         [0036]     The motor is mounted on the left side of the pool cover box and its drive shaft is coupled to the gear-box. As described above, the gear-box is coupled to the wind-up tube or the reel assembly, depending on the orientation of the gear box. The universal shift mechanism  66  described with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4  is rotated 90 degrees, so it will shift opposite to a right-handed system. Finally, the pulleys  106  and  108  shown in  FIG. 4  must be flipped over so that the ropes run through the pulleys at the back of the left-hand assembly.  
         [0037]     As can be seen from the foregoing disclosure, the pool cover assembly, or any of its components, can easily be attached and detached from the rail-mounting apparatus coupled to the sides of the pool cover box. Thus servicing or replacing any of the pool cover assembly components is a relatively easy task. Likewise, the entire pool cover assembly can be easily removed to clean out the pool cover box. In addition, the modular nature of the mounting brackets, mounting rails and slide members reduce the number of parts that must be manufactured or stored in inventory. The universal shift mechanism enables the pool cover assembly to be used in either a right-hand or left-hand orientation.  
         [0038]     While this disclosure has been described as having a preferred design, the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Summary:
Mounting apparatus is provided for a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components disposed in a pool cover box and used to operate a pool cover for a swimming pool. The mounting apparatus comprises an elongated member adapted to be attached to the pool cover box, and a mounting member adapted to removably couple at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member. A method is provided for mounting a pool cover assembly having a plurality of pool cover components in a pool cover box for a swimming pool cover. The method comprises attaching an elongated member to the pool cover box, and removably coupling a mounting member supporting at least one of the pool cover components to the elongated member.