Abstract:
Detachable rope apparatus is provided for extending a pool cover over a swimming pool having a guide track on a side of the pool, using a rope coupled to a pool cover motor. A bracket member is coupled to a front edge of the pool cover. An attachment device detachably couples an end of the rope to the bracket member to pull the pool cover. A bonding wire may replace a bead rope section embedded in the edge of the pool cover to form an elongated guide bead. A method is provided for forming a pool cover to enable the cover to be pulled over a swimming pool having a guide track on a side of the pool, using a rope coupled to a pool cover motor. A bracket member is coupled to a front edge of the pool cover, and an end of the rope is detachably coupled to the bracket member to pull the pool cover.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates to swimming pool covers, and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for detachable rope and bonding wire attachment for pool covers.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, to preserve chemical treatments in the water and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. Typically, a pool cover will extend over the entire surface of the pool during periods of non-use and then be retracted during periods of use. The cover may be extended and retracted by mechanical or automatic means. In either case, a track assembly is usually coupled to or built into the walls for guiding the edges of the cover as it traverses the pool. The pool cover typically has some means coupled along the edge of the cover interacting with the track assembly to facilitate movement of the pool cover.  
         [0003]     Pool covers are often fabricated from some type of dacron material coated with vinyl. Such covers may include a webbing along the cover edge, made of a durable material such as canvas, to withstand the stress applied as the cover is moved along the pool. Many prior art pool covers have a rope sewn into the lining or webbing along both longitudinal edges of the cover. The ropes are pulled by a motor through a system of pulleys to enable the cover to be extended over the swimming pool. The ropes sewn into the pool cover lining form beads that fit into tracks or guides along the sides of the pool, thereby guiding the pool cover as it extends and retracts. The pool cover may be retracted by a rotating tube or cylinder. The ropes are released by the pulley system as the cover is retracted.  
         [0004]     Prior art swimming pool covers usually include a leading edge bar that connects to the front of the pool cover. The leading edge bar provides a means for keeping the cover out of the water and guiding the cover as it extends and retracts. Some prior art systems include a slider attached between the leading edge bar and the rope sewn into the cover lining which can also slide in tracks along the side of the pool. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,798 granted to Last on Jul. 10, 1990.  
         [0005]     One problem with such systems is that the ropes cause a strain on the front corners of the pool cover. If the rope system jams or becomes twisted, the force of the motor pulling the ropes could tear the front corners of the cover, necessitating costly repairs on the cover.  
         [0006]     It is also common for the ropes pulling the cover to wear out or break due to exposure and/or mechanical strain. Because the rope is sewn into the cover lining, it is difficult and expensive to make the necessary rope repairs. The lining must be unstitched, a new rope inserted and then the lining must be sewn back.  
         [0007]     Some repair kits provide for the new rope to be sewn into the front of the cover or to be fastened with screws into a slider. These repairs do not alleviate the problems of undue strain and tearing of the front edge of the cover or wear and tear on the rope. Moreover, the screws holding new rope sections to the slider tend to wear through and damage the slider or the associated track.  
         [0008]     Another problem arises with respect to static electricity that may build up in the leading edge bar, which is usually made of some type of metal, such as aluminum. National codes require that the bar be bonded, i.e. grounded, to prevent shock and damage to person or property. Prior art systems have often attached braided flat cable to the leading edge bar, which is then sewn into an edge of the pool cover to extend along the cover to the equipment pad. Although flat, the bonding cable tends to add substantial bulk to one side of the pool cover. This additional bulk tends to cause the cover to wind unevenly on the roll-up cylinder, resulting in stresses and problems with the system. Moreover, braided flat cable on the edge of a pool cover tends to wear out or catch on objects as the pool cover is retracted or extended.  
         [0009]     Attempts at correcting the bonding wire bulk problem have been unsatisfactory. In some cases, cable has been strung along both sides of the cover to even up the bulk, resulting in increased costs and overall increased bulk in the rolled up cover. Compensator brackets have also been used to adjust the effective diameter of portions of the roll-up cylinder. Again, such brackets add to the cost and complexity of the pool cover system.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     In one implementation of the present disclosure, apparatus is provided for extending a pool cover over a swimming pool having a guide track on a side of the pool, using a rope coupled to a pool cover motor. A bracket member is coupled to a front edge of the pool cover. An attachment device detachably couples an end of the rope to the bracket member to pull the pool cover.  
         [0011]     In another implementation of the present disclosure, a method is provided for extending a pool cover over a swimming pool having a guide track on a side of the pool, using a rope coupled to a pool cover motor. A bracket member is coupled to a front edge of the pool cover, and an end of the rope is detachably coupled to the bracket member to pull the pool cover.  
         [0012]     In another implementation, apparatus is provided for forming a pool cover to enable the cover to be pulled over a swimming pool having a guide track on a side of the pool, using a pulling rope coupled to a pool cover motor. The apparatus includes an elongated bead section separate from the pulling rope and integral with the pool cover to guide the cover along the track, wherein the bead section is formed by a bonding wire.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of an example taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a pool showing a pool cover guided by a tracking assembly in the pool walls, wherein the cover is pulled by a rope and pulley system;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views showing the detachable rope implementation of the present disclosure;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4-6  are perspective views showing the detachable rope implementation of  FIGS. 2 and 3  utilizing an elongated guide track; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing another detachable rope implementation together with a bonding wire according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
       [0018]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one example, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a generalized schematic view of a pool cover system  10  for a rectangular swimming pool  12 . An automatic pool cover  14  extends over a portion of pool  12  from a pool cover wind-up reel  16  in a cover assembly box (not shown) disposed at one end of the pool  12 . A leading edge bar  18  at the front edge of the pool cover  14  rides in a track assembly  20  along the interior walls of the pool  12 .  
         [0020]     A left-hand pool cover motor system  22  is used to retract and extend the pool cover  14 . Motor system  22  includes a motor  23 , having a drive shaft  25  extending through a gear box  24  and dual side-by-side reels  26 ,  27  to wind-up reel  16 . Reels  26 ,  27  collect ropes thereon from each of the two sides of the pool cover  14 . As used herein, the term “rope” includes rope, cable, line, lead, twine, thread, wire, and other material that is sufficiently strong to exert a pulling force from a pool cover motor to pull a pool cover over a swimming pool.  
         [0021]     Reel  26  collects rope from rope sections  30   a ,  30   b  and  30   c . Rope section  30   a  extends from reel  26  over an end pulley  28  to a pulley  32  near the motor system then to a pulley  34  at the far front side of the pool  12 . Rope section  30   b  then extends along the right side  36  of pool cover  14  and pool  12  to a pulley  38  at the far back right corner of pool  12 . From there, rope section  30   c  extends back along the inside of right side  36  of the pool  12  to the front of pool cover  14 . Rope section  30   c  then transitions to a rope section  31  which is sewn into the lining or webbing (not shown) of pool cover  14 . As rope section  31  is pulled toward pulley  38  at the back part of pool  12 , it pulls cover  14  to extend further across pool  12 .  
         [0022]     Reel  27  collects rope from rope sections  40   a ,  40   b  and  40   c . Rope section  40   a  extends from reel  27  over an end pulley  29  to pulleys  42  and  44  near the motor system  22 . Rope section  40   b  then extends along the left side  46  of pool  12  to a pulley  48  at the far back left corner of pool  12 . Then section  40   c  then extends back along the inside of left side  46  of pool  12  to the front of pool cover  14 . Rope section  40   c  then transitions to a rope section  41  which is sewn into the lining or webbing (not shown) of pool cover  14 . As rope section  41  is pulled toward pulley  48  at the back part of pool  12 , in concert with rope section  31 , it pulls cover  14  to extend further across pool  12 .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show an implementation of the present disclosure in the form of a detachable rope assembly  50  coupled to a front portion  52  of a pool cover  54 . A webbing or lining  56  runs along the side of pool cover  54 , wrapping around a rope section  58  to form an elongated bead  60 . Bead  60  is formed to slide in a track running along the side of a swimming pool (not shown) to guide the pool cover  54  as it is extended and retracted. Bead  60  ends at rope end cap  62  at the front portion  52  of pool cover  54 .  
         [0024]     Pool cover  54  ends in a loop  64  around a leading edge bar  66  running along the front of pool cover  54 . Loop  64  is coupled back to cover  54  in a secure manner, such as by being sewn or bonded. Detachable rope assembly  50  includes a rope section  70  that runs back to a reel that is driven by a pool cover motor (not shown). Rope section  70  is coupled to a flexible tab  74  that is wrapped around the end  72  of rope section  70  to form a bead  76 . Flexible tab  74  includes a flat portion  78  extending from bead  76  to couple to a mounting plate  80 . A plurality of screws  82  extend through mounting plate  80  to fasten plate  80  and flat portion  78  to a slider bracket  84 . A keeper plate  86  includes two screws  88  that couple the slider bracket  84  to the front portion  52  of the pool cover  54 .  
         [0025]     In  FIG. 3 , portions of detachable rope assembly  50  are shown in an exploded perspective view. Mounting plate  80  is shown above holes  81  therein for accepting screws  82 , as shown. Corresponding holes  79  are shown in the flat portion  78  of flexible tab  74 . Corresponding holes  85  are shown in slider bracket  84 . Leading edge bar  66  is fastened to an L-shaped bracket  90  which extends adjacent to slider bracket  84 . A screw  92  at the base of L-shaped bracket  90  fastens bracket  90  to slider bracket  84 .  
         [0026]     In prior art systems, the rope portion  70  would have extended to and been an integral part of the rope portion  58  forming the bead  60 . Thus, a pulling force on rope portion  70  would have translated to a pulling force on rope portion  58  and therefore onto the bead  60 . Continued pulling force and stress on bead  60  often resulted in broken ropes and tearing of the corner of pool cover  54  near front portion  52 .  
         [0027]     With the detachable rope assembly  50  of the present disclosure, rope portion  70  translates the pulling force and stress from the motor reel (not shown) to the entire front portion  52  of pool cover  54  by means of slider bracket  84  and leading edge bar  66 . The detachable rope assembly  50  is coupled to slider bracket  84 , which in turn is secured to the front portion  52  of pool cover  54 . Slider bracket  84  is also secured to leading edge bar  66  by means of L-shaped bracket  90 . Thus, as rope portion  70  is pulled by the reel from the pool cover motor (not shown) the pulling force is translated directly to the front  52  of the pool cover  54  by means of the keeper plate  86  and the leading edge bar  66 .  
         [0028]     In addition, the detachable rope assembly  50  enables rapid repair and replacement of broken ropes in rope section  70 . If such a break occurs, the rope section  70 , together with the flexible tab  74  are disassembled from slider bracket  84 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . A new rope section  70  with a flexible tab  74  coupled thereto is attached to slider bracket  84  and the repair is quickly completed.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6  show the detachable rope assembly  50  in conjunction with a track  100  running along the edge of a swimming pool (not shown). As discussed in connection with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , pool cover  54  includes a bead  60  running along the edge of a lining  56  in cover  54 , the bead  60  being formed from a rope section  58  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) secured to lining  56 , such as by sewing. The swimming pool (not shown) includes an elongated track  100  along the sides of the pool for guiding the pool cover  54 . As the pool cover  54  is retracted and extended over a swimming pool, bead  60  slides along an elongated channel  102  in elongated track  100 .  
         [0030]     Also, as previously discussed, separate rope section  70  is coupled to flexible tab  74  to form a bead  76 . Flexible tab  74  is coupled by flat portion  78  to a slider bracket  84  by a mounting plate  80 . As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , as rope section  70  is pulled by a reel attached to a pool cover motor (not shown), the bead  76  also slides along channel  102 . Flexible tab  76  is preferably made of a strong, yet flexible material, such as nylon, so that the bead  76  will not bind or wear out as it slides in channel  102 .  
         [0031]     Accordingly, the detachable rope implementation of the present disclosure provides several advantages. The detachable rope assembly  50  is attached to pool cover  54  by way of slider bracket  84  and keeper plate  86  directly to the front portion  52  of pool cover  84 . Detachable rope assembly  50  is also attached to the leading edge bar  66  by means of the L-shaped bracket  90  which is coupled to slider bracket  84 . As a result, the pulling force from the rope section is applied across the entire front portion  52  of pool cover  54 , thereby distributing the pulling force evenly and minimizing shearing and tearing at the corner of cover  54 . Moreover, in the event that the rope in section  70  is broken and must be replaced, such repair can be accomplished by easily removing the flexible tab  74  from the slider bracket  84  and replacing it. In addition, the rope section  58  that is embedded in the lining  56  on pool cover  54  is not likely to be broken, since rope section  70  to which the pulling force is applied, is separate and apart from rope section  58 .  
         [0032]     As discussed in connection with the prior art, there is a need for attaching a bonding (grounding) wire to the leading edge bar in order to provide a ground path from the bar to the swimming pool equipment pad (not shown). As discussed with respect to  FIGS. 2-6 , the rope section  58  embedded in pool cover  54  is not subject to the pulling force applied to rope section  70 . The sole function of rope section  58  is to provide bulk to form bead  60  to serve as a guide in track  102 .  
         [0033]     Looking now at  FIG. 7 , a partial cut-away perspective view is provided, in which a further improvement is shown. The rope section  58  in  FIGS. 2-6  is replaced by a bonding wire section  110  embedded in the lining  56   a  of pool cover  54   a  to form a bead  60   a . Detachable rope assembly  50   a  and leading edge bar  66   a  are similar to assembly  50  and leading edge bar  66 , shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . Bonding wire section  110  ends in a bonding wire coupler  112  adjacent to, but not coupled to, bead  76   a  of assembly  50   a . A solid bonding wire  114  is coupled between bonding wire coupler  112  and a fastener  116  attached to leading edge bar  66   a . The end  118  of bonding wire section  110  is extended back to the swimming pool equipment pad, where it can be properly grounded.  
         [0034]     Bonding wire section  110 , embedded in liner  56   a  is preferably flexible so that it can be rolled up on a wind-up reel, such as reel  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . Solid bonding wire  114  may be stiff to provide a solid connection between bonding wire coupler  112  and fastener  116 . As used herein, the term “bonding wire” means any type of wire that provides suitable electrical conductance. Typically bonding wire is not strong enough to support a substantial pulling force sufficient to pull a pool cover, and no such function is needed here. Both bonding wire section  110  and bonding wire  114  may be made of copper or other suitably electrical conducting material.  
         [0035]     Accordingly, the bonding wire implementation shown in  FIG. 7  provides several advantages. The bonding wire implementation provides an effective grounding path from the lead bar to the equipment pad. More importantly, since the bonding wire section replaces the rope section to form the guide bead along one side of the pool cover, the bulk of the bonding wire section is essentially the same as the bulk of a rope section forming a guide bead on the opposite edge of the pool cover (not shown).  
         [0036]     Accordingly, a pool cover having the bonding wire implementation shown herein may be wound evenly onto a pool cover reel or cylinder without encountering binding or skewing of the cover. In addition, since the bonding wire section replaces a rope section previously embedded in the pool cover lining, there is a savings in the cost of the replaced rope section.  
         [0037]     While this disclosure has been described as having selected implementations, 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.