Abstract:
A pool cover for above ground swimming pools includes a cover with an elevated central area, a plurality of rods to support the cover, and a plurality of clip assemblies to couple the rods to the swimming pool. The cover is a waterproof textile having a plurality of sleeve members allowing for insertion of the support rods to secure and support the cover. Each clip assembly includes hook which removably attaches to an upper perimeter edge of the pool and a pocket to receive an end of the support rod. When assembled, the support rods form a dome-like structure circularly arranged about the edge of the pool.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Apr. 29, 2010, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to pool covers, and in particular, to a domed swimming pool cover and support frame for above ground pools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Swimming pool owners who live in areas that require that they leave them covered during the winter months know all too well of the burdens and hassles associated with pool cover maintenance. Typically, these covers are anchored around the pool perimeter and supported in the pool itself by balloon-like floats. The floating supports tend to either deflate or move about resulting in sagging portions that collect leaves, branches and water. As a result, the pool owner must constantly adjust the cover, reposition and inflate the floats, and tighten the perimeter anchoring. Furthermore, the cover can become damaged and torn due to the excessive stress created by the collected water and debris. Ultimately, the cover needs to be replaced prematurely and at a considerable cost. 
     While there have been attempts to provide alternate pool covers for both in ground and above ground pools, each suffers from one or more disadvantage or deficiency related to design or utilization. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has therefore recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device for covering a pool that solves the problems associated with conventional float-type support pool covers. In accordance with the invention, it is an object of the present disclosure to solve these problems. 
     The inventor recognized these problems and has addressed this need by developing a domed swimming pool cover that allows pool owners to keep rain, snow, leaves, and other debris out of their swimming pool over the winter months in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient as well as long lasting and cost effective as well. The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing the domed cover for above ground swimming pools which has a plurality of support rods having opposing ends spanning a diameter of the swimming pool. A cover assembly is supported by the plurality of support rods to cover the swimming pool. A plurality of clip assemblies is removably connected around an upper perimeter edge of the swimming pool. The opposing ends of the support rods are removably coupled between opposing pairs of clip assemblies. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, a central portion of each of the plurality of support rods is elevated relative to the opposing ends and the clip assemblies mounted to the swimming pool upper perimeter edge. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, the cover includes an anchoring strap to wrap around the side walls of swimming pool to secure the cover assembly to said sidewalls. The cover assembly has a plurality of strap loops disposed around a lower portion and the anchoring strap is routed through the plurality of strap loops. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, the cover assembly further comprises a durable waterproof textile having shape and dimensions larger than said swimming pool to overlap said upper perimeter edge to prevent debris from entering said swimming pool. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, the cover includes three (3) support rods and three (3) clip assemblies. A central portion of the support rods intersect and are elevated relative to the upper perimeter edge of the swimming pool. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, the cover includes four (4) support rods and eight (8) clip assemblies. A central portion of the support rods intersect and are elevated relative to the upper perimeter edge of the swimming pool. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, the cover includes five (5) support rods and ten (10) clip assemblies. A central portion of the support rods intersect and are elevated relative to the upper perimeter edge of the swimming pool. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure can be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental cut-away view of a domed swimming pool cover, according to a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a plurality of support rods depicted as attached to a swimming pool, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a top perspective view of the plurality of support rods depicted as attached to the swimming pool, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a top perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of a domed swimming pool cover, according to an alternate embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2   d  is a top perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a domed swimming pool cover, according to an alternate embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a single support rod portion, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a bottom view of a cover assembly, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a bottom view of a first alternate cover assembly of the first alternate embodiment, according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 4   c  is a bottom view of a second alternate cover assembly of the second alternate embodiment, according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up perspective view of a clip assembly, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  domed swimming pool cover 
               20  cover assembly 
               22  top surface 
               23  bottom surface 
               24  sleeve 
               26  anchoring strap 
               27  strap loop 
               28  ratcheting device 
               29  handle 
               50  support rod 
               70  clip assembly 
               72  clip 
               74  aperture 
               76  hook feature 
               80  support rod strap 
               82  loop 
               85  stitching 
               86  pocket 
               100  above-ground pool 
               105  upper perimeter edge 
               110  vertical support 
               200  first alternate embodiment 
               220  first alternate cover assembly 
               224  first alternate sleeve 
               250  first alternate support rod 
               300  second alternate embodiment 
               320  second alternate cover assembly 
               324  second alternate sleeve 
               350  second alternate support rod 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 ,  2   a ,  2   b ,  3 ,  4   a , and  5  and in terms of alternate embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 2   c ,  2   d ,  4   b , and  4   c . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , depicting a domed swimming pool cover (herein described as an “apparatus”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes an elevated pool cover for above-ground swimming pools  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an environmental cut-away view the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  includes a cover assembly  20 , a plurality of support rods  50 , and a plurality of attaching clip assemblies  70 . The apparatus  10  also includes a flexible domed cover  20  supported by preferably three (3) fiberglass rods  50  similar to a camping tent support structure (see  FIG. 3 ). The cover assembly  20  is a waterproof textile assembly having an overall diameter which exceeds a diameter of the swimming pool  100 , so as to suitably drape partway down the side walls of the swimming pool  100 . 
     The cover assembly  20  extends over an upper perimeter edge and downward over the side walls of the swimming pool  100  and secured by an anchoring strap  26  arranged circumferentially around a bottom edge of the cover assembly  20  and lower end portion of the side walls. The anchoring strap  26  is routed through and supported by a plurality of equally-spaced strap loops  27  formed within the cover assembly  20 . The anchoring strap  26  is positioned adjacent to a bottom perimeter edge of the cover assembly  20  to provide a tighten circumferentially around the pool  100  by an in-line ratcheting device  28  which cinches opposing ends of the strap  26  and tightens by repeated motioning of a handle  29  of the ratcheting device  28  in a conventional manner to secure the cover assembly  20  around the swimming pool  100 . Each loop  27  includes a pair of vertical slits in the textile cover assembly  20  approximately two (2) inches apart, through which the anchor strap  26  is routed. Preferably the cover assembly  20  includes various decorative colors and patterns. 
     In an assembled state, the apparatus  10  allows rain water to run off of edge portions of an top surface  22  of the cover assembly  20  as well as keep leaves, twigs and other debris from collecting on the top surface  22 . Use of the apparatus  10  allows a pool owner to keep rain, snow, leaves, and other debris out of their swimming pool  100  during winter months in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show the support rods  50  of the apparatus  10  as attached to the perimeter edge  105  of the pool  100 . Each of the plurality of reinforced fiberglass support rods  50  are approximately one-half (½) to one (1) inch in diameter and engage and support the cover assembly  20 . The support rods  50  are inserted into narrow sewn-in sleeves  24  on the bottom surface  23  of the cover assembly  20  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4   a ). The support rods  50  extend across opposing points along the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100  in an arcuate manner so as to cross over each other at a center area, much like a domed camping tent. Both outer ends of each support rod  50  are connected to a respective clip assembly  70  which are securely anchored to the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100  by a hook feature  76  (see  FIG. 5 ). The support rods  50  are illustrated here as elongated unitary fiberglass rods which extend the entire diameter of the swimming pool  100 ; however, it is can be appreciated that the support rods  50  can be made of multiple interlocking sections which form a single support rod assembly providing equal benefit and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
       FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d  show top perspective views of a first alternate embodiment  200  and a second alternate embodiment  300  of the domed swimming pool cover, respectively. The apparatus  10  is depicted here as being sized and configured to compensate for increased loading scenarios. The first alternate embodiment  200  includes a first alternate cover assembly  220  and four (4) first alternate support rods  250  which include an increased diameter or length based upon anticipated additional loading conditions. The first alternate support rods  250  work in conjunction with the first alternate cover assembly  220  (see  FIG. 4   b ) in a substantially similar manner as in the preferred embodiment. 
     The second alternate embodiment  300  includes a second alternate cover assembly  320  and five (5) second alternate support rods  350  which include an increased diameter or length based upon anticipated additional loading conditions. The second alternate support rods  350  work in conjunction with the second alternate cover assembly  320  (see  FIG. 4   c ) in a substantially similar manner as in the preferred embodiment. 
     The first alternate embodiment  200  and second alternate embodiment  300  are sized and configured to compensate for increased loading scenarios based upon various factors such as, but not limited to: the above-ground pool  100  having a greater diameter, greater regional snow loading, and other anticipated loads. 
       FIG. 3  shows a close-up view of a single support rod  50 . Each support rod  50  includes a generally elongated, cylindrical shaped structure having a round cross-section and preferably made of fiberglass or equivalent material similar to supporting framing members used in camping tent structural frames. Each support rod  50  includes arcuate profile having an end to end linear overall length slightly greater than the diameter of the swimming pool  100 . The support rods  50  are arranged at equally-spaced radial positions and attached to the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100  to form a center-elevated crossing pattern. Each support rod  50  is insertingly attached to the cover assembly  20  through a particular one of the plurality of sewn-in sleeves  24  disposed along a bottom surface  23  of the cover assembly  20  (see  FIG. 4   a ). 
       FIG. 4   a  shows a bottom view of the cover assembly portion  20 . The number and prescribed position of the sleeves  24  corresponds to a number and arrangement of the plurality of support rods  50 , as illustrated in the first alternate embodiment  200  and second alternate embodiment  300 . The sleeves  24  are integrally sewn to the cover assembly  20 . The sleeves  24  are slightly recessed from outer edges and a center region of the cover assembly  20  to allowing the support rods  50  to be inserted into and completely through the sleeves  24  and freely cross over each other at the center region of the cover assembly  20 . The sleeves  24  provide for the support rods  50  to be easily inserted into the clip assemblies  70  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  show bottom views of the first alternate cover assembly  220  and the second alternate cover assembly  320 , respectively. The alternate cover assemblies  220 ,  320  are specifically sized and configured with a respective plurality of first alternate sleeves  224  and second alternate sleeves  324 . The first alternate sleeves  224  and second alternate sleeves  324  are sized and arranged to work in conjunction with the first alternate support rods  250  and second alternate support rods  350 , respectively (see  FIGS. 2   c , and  2   d ). 
       FIG. 5  shows a close-up perspective view of a single clip assembly  70 . The apparatus  10  includes a plurality of clip assemblies  70  which insertingly receive opposing ends of each support rod  50 . The clip assemblies  70  supportingly attach to the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100 . Each clip assembly  70  includes a strong formed metal clip  72  having a generally “U”-shaped hook feature  76  to entrap an inward-facing edge of the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100 . The clip  72  includes an oval-shaped aperture  74  along a top surface through which a proximal end of a support rod strap  80  is affixed. The support rod strap  80  is preferably made of nylon strapping material approximately two (2) to three (3) inches in width and one (1) foot in length. The support rod strap  80  is looped through the aperture  74  and stitched  85  securely along a bottom surface, thereby forming a strong looped connection to the clip  72 . A distal end of the support rod strap  80  includes an integral pocket  86  formed by folding the distal end of the support rod strap  80  back onto itself and then stitched  85  along side edges to form the pocket  86 . Each pocket  86  receives an end portion of the support rod  50  to secure the support rod  50  in an arcuate upwardly domed position (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only one particular configuration has been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     In accordance with the invention, the preferred embodiment can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  can be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus  10  which corresponds to a particular swimming pool  100  diameter, having a sufficient number of support rods  50  based upon a regional loading scenario, and having a desired color or pattern; sliding an end portion of each support rod  50  through corresponding aligned pairs of sleeves  24  in order to secure the cover assembly  20  to the support rods  50 ; pre-positioning the clip assemblies  70  to the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100  in an equally-spaced manner so as to correspond to the respective support rod  50  positions; placing the cover assembly  20 , containing the inserted support rods  50 , onto the upper perimeter edge  105  of the swimming pool  100  such that the outer end portions of each support rod  50  are aligned with the pre-installed clip assemblies  70 ; inserting each end portion of the support rods  50  into the pockets  86  of the clip assemblies  70 ; draping the cover assembly  20  downwardly over side portions of the swimming pool  100 ; routing the anchor strap  26  through the strap loops  27  of the cover assembly  20 , if not previously installed; tightening the anchoring strap  26  swimming pool  100  by actuating the handle  29  of the ratcheting device  28  in a reciprocating manner until tight; and, benefiting from easy assembly and effective removal of rain water and debris from top surfaces of a swimming pool  100  afforded a user of the present apparatus  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.