Patent Publication Number: US-9885191-B2

Title: Pool cover support system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/388,178, filed Sep. 30, 2010, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the winter months, pool covers are used to cover above-ground pools. Conventionally, one or more air pillows formed of a rubber material filled with air have been used to hold up the pool cover. The air pillows have the disadvantage of deflating. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0076428 describes a device for supporting a pool cover including a plurality of tubs coupled to one another. The tubs float on the surface of the water of the pool. The tubs can be attached to one another and attached to the outside of the pool. The tubs have the disadvantage of not holding the pool cover at a height that will enable rain or other debris to run off. It is desirable to provide an improved pool cover support system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pool cover support system for installing a pool cover without touching the water in the pool. The present invention eliminates the possibility of water and debris from collecting around the inside diameter of the pool cover and eliminates standing water which can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The system can be expeditiously installed for reducing the time and effort required to install and remove the pool cover. In addition, the present invention increases the life of the pool cover. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a flotation device including a frame extending upwardly from a base of the flotation device. The perimeter of the frame can be attached with a plurality of attachment cords to the outside ledge of the pool. Clips at one end of the attachment cords can be used for expeditiously attaching the frame to the ledge of the pool. The attachment cords and the frame can be used to support a light weight pool cover. 
     The attachment cords of the present invention can add additional inward pressure to support the pool walls when freezing occurs and it will not force outward pressure to the walls of the pool when installed. All pool configurations can be accommodated without the use of hardware. For example, in an oval-shaped pool, the flotation devices can be used with a center support that can snap in place between to span the straight sides of the oval-shaped pool. The center support that is used to support the attachment cords can include a spring loaded device, which can keep upward pressure on the center hub in the event that water should evaporate in the pool causing the flotation device to lower inside the pool. This will keep adequate pressure on the attachment cords to support the pool cover. 
     The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view a pool cover support system attached to a pool, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 2  B is a front elevational view of the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 2C  is a top plan view of the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an attachment coupling member attached to a frame used in the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an attachment coupling member attached to a pool. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the pool cover support system upon attachment to a pool. 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the pool cover support system upon attachment to a pool. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the pool cover support system upon attachment to a pool. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the pool cover support system upon attachment to a pool and receipt of a pool cover over the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the pool cover support system shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view of the pool cover support system shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the pool cover support system shown in  FIG. 9  upon attachment to a pool and receipt of a pool cover over the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of the use of two pool cover support systems shown in  FIG. 9  and a center section upon attachment to a pool. 
         FIG. 13B  is an end view of the adjustable center support section. 
         FIG. 13C  is a side view of the adjustable center support section. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the use of two pool cover support systems shown in  FIG. 9  and an adjustable center support section upon attachment to a pool and receipt of a pool cover over the pool cover support system. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram of the pool cover support system in combination with an umbrella. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the pool cover support system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of pool cover support system  10  in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Flotation device  12  includes base  14  and frame  16  attached thereto, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C . In one embodiment, flotation device  12  has a disc shape. Suitable materials for flotation device  12  are floatable materials, including foam or Styrofoam. The diameter of flotation device  12  is selected based on the size of the pool and can be in the range of about two feet to about four feet. The thickness of flotation device  12  is selected to provide adequate support and flotation of frame  16 . For example, flotation device  12  can be about a four foot diameter by eight inch thick Styrofoam disc. 
     Frame  16  extends upwardly from base  14 . Frame  16  can include a plurality of support ribs  17  extending from bottom frame  18  and top frame  19 . Top frame  19  can include a plurality of attachment members  20 . Attachment members  20  can be, for example, a C-hook or eyebolt. Suitable materials for frame  16 , are light weight durable materials, including aluminum and plastic. Frame  16  can have a height to support a received pool cover over the height of the walls of the pool. For example, frame  16  can have a height in the range of about three feet to about five feet. Support pad  22  can be coupled to top surface  24  of frame  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , attachment cord  30  attaches frame  16  to wall  40  of pool  39 . Attachment cord  30  can be formed of an elastic material. For example, attachment cord  30  can be formed of a fabric covered latex rubber cord, such as a bungee cord. Attachment coupling member  32  is coupled to end  31  of attachment cord  30 . Attachment coupling member  32  attaches attachment cord  30  to frame  16 . Attachment coupling member  32  can be a sling hook  33  including a latch  35 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Attachment coupling member  42  is coupled to end  41  of attachment cord  30 . Attachment coupling member  42  attaches attachment cord  30  to wall  40 . Attachment coupling member  42  can be a hook  43  without a latch, as shown in  FIG. 4 . End  44  of hook  43  can hook around ledge  45  extending from wall  40 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  illustrate an alternative embodiment of pool cover support system  60 . Frame  66  extends upwardly from base  64 . Frame  66  includes a plurality of support ribs  67  extending from base supports  68 . Base supports  68  can be removably attached to base  64 . Upon removal of base supports  68 , apertures  69  in base  64  can used to receive a drink cup or can. Upon removal of frame  16 , an umbrella can be attached to base  64 . Support ribs  67  are coupled or integral with top frame  71 . Top frame  69  can include a plurality of attachment members  70 . Attachment members  70  can be, for example, a C-hook or eyebolt. Suitable materials for frame  66  are light weight durable materials including aluminum and plastic. Frame  66  can have a height to support a received pool cover over the height of the walls of the pool. For example, frame  66  can have a height in the range of about three feet to about five feet. Support pad  72  can be coupled to top surface  74  of frame  66 . Support pad  72  can be formed of a cushion or plastic material for contacting an attached pool cover. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates attachment of pool cover support system  60  to pool  39 . A plurality of attachment cords  30  are attached between frame  66  and ledge  45  of pool  39 . For example, attachment cords  30  can be spaced approximately six inches to about 36 inches apart around the perimeter of pool  39 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates attachment of pool cover  80  over pool cover support system  60 . The tension on attachment cords  30  is used to support pool cover  80 . Pool cover support systems  10  and  60  can be designed to fit on any size above ground pool, which includes, and is not limited to oval-shaped pools. The length of attachment cords  30  can be selected to provide desired tension at a predetermined size of the pool. 
       FIGS. 9-11  illustrate an alternative embodiment of pool cover support system  100 . Flotation device  101  includes frame  102  and base  104  attached thereto. Frame  102  extends upwardly from base  104 . Base  104  can be formed of a floatable material. A suitable material for base  104  is foam or Styrofoam. Frame  102  includes bottom plate  105  and upper support  107  removably attached to support pole  106 . Upper support  107  can have a diameter to support a pool cover. For example, upper support  107  can have a diameter of thirty-six inches. Base  104  can have a thickness to provide support of a received support pole  106  and upper support  107 . For example, base  104  can have a thickness of six to ten inches, preferably eight inches. Support pole  106  can be received in support pole aperture  108  in base  104  to extend to base  104 . 
     Bottom plate  105  can be attached to base  104 . In one embodiment bottom plate  105  is circular and has a diameter of eighteen inches, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , support pole  106  can include coupling member  110  at top end  111  and coupling member  112  at bottom end  113 . Coupling member  110  can be used to couple support pole  106  to upper support  107 . Coupling member  112  can be used to couple support pole  106  to bottom plate  105 . In one embodiment, coupling members  110  and  112  are spring loaded clip locks. 
     Top  116  of upper support  107  can be rounded. Top  116  can be formed of a cushion or plastic material for contacting an attached pool cover. Upper support frame  118  can extend around upper support  107 . Upper support frame  118  can be used to attach attachment cords  30 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Upper support frame  118  can include a plurality of attachment members  122 . Attachment members  119  can be, for example, a C-hook or eyebolt. Suitable materials for upper support frame  118  are light weight durable materials including, metal, aluminum and plastic. 
     Upper support frame  118  attached to support pole  106  can have a height to support a received pool cover over the height of the walls of the pool. For example, upper support frame  118  attached to support pole  106  frame can have a height in the range of about three feet to about five feet. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , groove  120  within base  104  can be used to receive ice to keep beverages cool when base  104  has support pole  106  and upper support  107  removed. Apertures  122  in base  104  can used to receive a beverage cup or receptacle. For example, beverage receptacle can be a beverage can or beverage bottle. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a method of attaching pool cover support system to pool  200 . Support pole  106  is attached to base  104  and upper support  107 . Base  104  is put on top of water within pool  200 . Attachment cords  30  are attached to sides  202  of pool  200 . Pool cover  204  is placed over upper support  107  and attachment cords  30 . Upper support  107  and attachment cords  30  support pool cover  204 . Bottom edge  205  of pool cover  204  can include a plurality of cover apertures  206 . Cable  208  can threaded through cover apertures  206  and tightened around pool  200  to support pool cover  204 . Attachment support strip  210  can extend over cable  208 . Attachment support strip  210  can attach pool legs  215  with fastener  216 . Attachment support strip  210  can be formed of plastic. 
       FIGS. 13A-13C  is a schematic diagram of a method of attaching pool cover support system to pool  300 . Pool cover support system  100   a ,  100   b  are placed in pool  300 . Pool  300  can have an oval shape. Adjustable center section support  305  can be positioned or snap fit in between pool cover support system  100   a  and pool cover support system  100   b . Adjustable center section support  305  can be formed of a cushion or plastic material. Adjustable center section support  305  can include frame  307  including attachment members  119 . Adjustable center section support  305  can be formed of upper support portion  310  and upper support section  312 . Upper support section  310  and upper support section  312  can be attached at a desired location with fastener  314 . Upper support section  310  and upper support section  312  can slide over one another. Attachment cords  30  attach cover support system  100   a ,  100   b  and adjustable center section  305  to sides  302  of pool  300 . Pool cover  304  is placed over pool cover support system  100   a  and attachment cords  30 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . Pool cover support system  100   a ,  100   b  and attachment cords  30  support pool cover  304 . 
     Upon removal of frame support pole  107 , umbrella  130  can be attached to base  104  and received in support pole aperture  108  in base  104  using coupling member  112 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrate an alternative embodiment of pool cover support system  400 . Support rod  406  is formed of first support rod  408  received in second support rod  410 . Bias member  412  is positioned between first support rod  408  and second support rod  410 . For examples, bias member  412  an be a spring. Pool cover support system  400  can be used to absorb the weight of snow received on an attached pool cover. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.