Abstract:
An apparatus and method used in conjunction with a swimming pool cover for covering and uncovering a swimming pool to reduce or prevent standing water, dirt or debris from entering the pool when uncovering the pool. The apparatus includes a buoyant support member, and inflatable/deflatable bladder attached to the support member and a conduit for providing a fluid used to inflate and deflate the bladder. In operation, inflation of the bladder raises the pool cover above the pool deck, railing or peripheral edge whereby standing water, dirt or debris can be removed or washed from the cover prior to removing the cover from the pool.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention is related to an apparatus for use with a swimming pool; and more specifically, to a pool pillow or bladder for raising or lifting and supporting a pool cover. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    In northern climates, during the winter months of the year when swimming pools are not in use, many pool owners use a cover. The cover helps to keep debris out of the pool making spring cleaning easier. Conventional swimming pool covers are typically a flexible and impervious plastic sheet or tarp placed over the pool. Depending upon the type of pool or pool configuration, the cover is adhered to the ground or in the case of pools with decks water tubes or bags are often placed on the surrounding deck on top of the cover to hold the cover in place. 
         [0008]    Usually the cover rests below the peripheral edge or deck of the pool and on the surface of the pool water. Accordingly, leaves, sticks and other debris along with standing water collects on the cover during the course of the winter and must be removed in early spring prior to taking the cover off and opening the pool. Typically, great care needs to be taken when removing the cover to avoid dirty water and debris collected on top of the cover from draining into the pool. Removal often includes using a small pump to pump any standing water off the cover and then removing the cover with the debris located thereon. In many cases, leaves or other debris mixes with the water on the cover and clogs the pump making cleanup and uncovering the pool much more difficult. 
         [0009]    Many different designs and systems have been employed in an attempt to prevent water and debris from collecting on the cover. One example of such a pool cover is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,721 to Pusey. Pusey discloses a cover formed of a sheet of impervious material supported on its periphery by a raised inflatable tubular segment. The cover is free-floating and unattached to the pool sides but fits snugly against the pool sides to provide protection against dirt and debris entering the pool. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,254 to Terreri discloses a swimming pool cover support and method of covering a pool using an inflatable balloon to elevate the center of the cover to prevent accumulation of debris on the cover. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,479 to Bonneau discloses an inflatable swimming pool cover. The cover is impervious to air and has a skirt that extends into the water. Air pumped into the space between the cover and the surface of the water inflates and raises the cover to an arched configuration such that the cover floats on a cushion of air. A plurality of elastic cables secure the cover to the swimming pool. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,559 to Creech et al. discloses an anti-litter float or balloon for a swimming pool. The balloon continuously abuts the containing wall and prevents litter from being dispersed into the pool water. Flaps or other element resistant covers can be used for mooring the balloon to batten down the pool. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,539 to Kordell et al. discloses a pool cover that has a centrally located bubble and a series of inflatable branches connected to the centrally located bubble. The bubble is inflatable as well as the branches, which serve as a framework. A series of cover sections are located between the series of branches. The branches also serve as a means to removably tie down or attach the pool cover to the pool structure or adjacent securing objects. 
         [0014]    A problem with using the prior art is that an air gap exists below the cover and above the water surface. Such a gap allows the cover to flap or vibrate on windy days. One way to reduce such vibration is to keep the cover taut; however, this results in additional problems in attempts and methods to anchor or hold the cover in place. Such systems often result in the use of heavier and stronger covers needed to support the anchor. Further, depending upon the geographic location, snowfall in colder climates can cause the cover to collapse as the weight may cause the balloon to burst or compress. Accordingly, to address these issues, the pool cover is typically arranged such that it lies on the surface of the water and located below the peripheral edge of the poolside whereby dirt and debris collect on the pool cover. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover. The apparatus includes a support member, a bladder attached to the support member and a conduit connected to and extending from the bladder with the conduit configured for bidirectional fluid flow used to inflate and deflate the bladder. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of the invention, the support member is buoyant and floats or rests on the surface of the water located in the swimming pool. The support member further operates to hold the bladder in position. 
         [0017]    An additional embodiment of the invention includes a method for covering and uncovering a swimming pool. The method including placing an apparatus having a buoyant support member and an inflatable bladder underneath a swimming pool cover with the bladder in a deflated position. The bladder is inflated to raise the swimming pool cover to a level above an upper edge of the pool periphery whereby any debris located on the pool cover falls or can be rinsed off or removed prior to removing the cover. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method enabling removal of a pool cover without allowing water and debris located on top of the cover from entering the pool. 
         [0019]    These objects and other features, aspects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of an apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover according to the present invention illustrated in a deflated condition in a swimming pool. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of an apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover according to the present invention illustrated in an inflated condition in a swimming pool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3  there is shown one embodiment of an apparatus for use with a swimming pool cover, seen generally at  10 , according to the present invention. The apparatus  10  includes a support member, illustrated as an outer tube or ring  12  and an inflatable and deflatable bladder  14 . A plurality of clips  16  attach the bladder  14  to the outer tube or ring  12 . An air line  18  connects to the bladder  14  and is used to inflate or deflate the bladder  14 . 
         [0026]    The support member  12  is buoyant and both supports and locates the bladder  14  on the water surface. Accordingly, the support member  12  has a construction or design enabling it to float on the water surface. For example, in one embodiment the support member  12  includes a hollow elongated portion. In other embodiments, the support member  12  may be an inflatable tube, a solid tube made of an expanded polystyrene material, or any other material or construction that retains its shape and floats on the surface of the water. 
         [0027]    The bladder  14  is capable of being inflated and deflated and as such is made of a sufficiently resilient and impervious material such as rubber or vinyl. The air line  18  is connected to the bladder  14  and provides a conduit for air flow when inflating or deflating the bladder  14 . As illustrated a plurality of clips  16  are used to attach the bladder  14  to the support member  12 . In one embodiment, the clips  16  are secured to the support member  12  and engage a portion of the bladder  14  such as an ear or tab  20 . In this manner, the bladder  14  can be removed or replaced as needed. Further, while shown separate from the support member  12 , and attached by clips  16 , the bladder  14  can be made integral with the support member  12 . For example, a circumferential bead or welt could divide a single member into two sections with one being the support member  12  and the other section being the bladder  14 . 
         [0028]    In keeping with the present invention, the support member  12  while shown in the instant embodiment as a circular, closed shape, annular member the support member  12  can be shaped depending upon the pool design. For example, the support member  12  may include a plurality of its spaced apart sections joined by connecting members. As illustrated, the support member  12  defines an interior opening in which the bladder  14  is located. Depending upon the design, the bladder  14  may also be located outside the support member  12  as opposed to positioned in the interior opening. With the size of the support member  12  being such that it is typically spaced two to three feet from the peripheral edge of the pool. Accordingly, for a rectangular pool, the support member  12  will typically have a rectangular shape wherein the bladder  14  has a similar rectangular shape or it may have a different shape. 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIGS. 4-5 , there is shown a schematic representation of an apparatus  10  in use with a swimming pool cover  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the apparatus  10 , with the bladder  14  in the deflated condition is placed in the pool  22  with the support member  12 . The bladder  14 , in a deflated condition, floats on the water which is typically below the top surface of the deck or railing  26 . The outer top periphery of the support member  12 , when floating on the water is above the deck or railing  26 . The apparatus  10  is typically located on the water surface  24  such that it is equally spaced from the inner peripheral edge  28  of the pool  22 . Spacers or support lines, cables or other members can be used for this purpose. Once the apparatus  10  is located in the pool  22 , the pool cover  30  is placed over the pool  22  and secured to the pool  22 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pool cover  30  may (if it has accumulated water on the top surface of the pool cover  30 ) rest on the water surface  24  and will contact the upper most periphery of the support member  12  of the apparatus  10  which extends above the deck or railing  26 . In this manner gaps between the pool cover  30  and the water surface  24  are minimized, thereby minimizing lifting, vibration and flapping of the pool cover  30 . In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 4 , over time water, snow, dirt and debris may accumulate on the pool cover  30 . During installation it may be desired to inflate the bladder  14  to help place the pool cover  30  on the pool  22  and center the apparatus  10 . Once the pool cover  30  is in place, the bladder  14  can then be deflated. 
         [0030]    When it is desired to remove the pool cover  30  from the pool  22 , the bladder  14  is inflated to the position shown in  FIG. 5 . To inflate the bladder  14 , air from a suitable source such as a portable air pump (not shown) is supplied through the air line  18  to the bladder  14 . Inflation of the bladder  14  continues until it lifts the pool cover  30  to a height above the deck or railing  26  of the pool  22  whereby any water, dirt or debris remaining on the pool cover  30  either runs off or may be washed off with a garden hose. Further, to the extent a large amount of water remains on the pool cover  30  inflation of the bladder  14  causes the water to congregate near the inner peripheral edge  28  adjacent the deck or railing  26  where it can easily be pumped off. Once a suitable amount of water located on the pool cover  30  is removed, the entire pool cover  30  can be raised above the deck or railing  26  of the pool  22  and sprayed off with a garden hose, after which the pool cover  30  can be removed without dirt or debris falling from the pool cover  30  into the pool  22 . 
         [0031]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus  10  that is disposed under the pool cover  30  and operates to lift the pool cover  30  prior to removal thereof to assist in the removal of any dirt and debris or standing water left on the pool cover  30 . While shown with a standard pool cover  30 , typically a sheet of a polypropylene, polyester or vinyl material, especially those that are impervious and require that any standing water be pumped off the pool cover  30 , the apparatus  10  can be used with any type of pool cover  30 . 
         [0032]    It should be understood that in some instances the bladder  14  may be fully or partially inflated to support the pool cover  30  during the entire time the pool cover  30  is located on the pool  22 . In these instances, the apparatus  10  self centers and raises the pool cover  30  thereby reducing any accumulation of dirt, debris or standing water on the pool cover  30 . 
         [0033]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.