Patent Publication Number: US-7712160-B2

Title: Obstacle avoidance method for pool covers using zipper elements

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to securing pool covers around protruding obstacles, and to gain access to covered relaxation spas. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Pool covers for in-ground pools are attached by taut straps at the periphery of the cover which are attached to anchors in the decking around the pool. The flexible cover is to lay taut over the edge of the pool roughly in a plane parallel to the water surface. 
   Unfortunately, obstructions which extend vertically over the level of the pool edge often interfere with the pool cover. These may be poles or columns supporting canopies or roofs close to the edge of the pool; other obstructions such as a handrail adjacent steps leading to the pool bottom may actually extend into the pool water region. 
   In these areas, the pool cover must be split to permit the cover to go around the obstacle so that it can again lay horizontally at the level of the decking or pool edge. The split area must be again attached to maintain the integrity of the pool cover. 
   Currently, a series of straps and buckles are used to re-join the edges of the split regions of the pool cover. These straps and buckles add weight to the pool cover in localized areas making installation and removal more cumbersome. They also aesthetically detract from an otherwise streamlined appearance. Extra personnel are sometimes required to handle the cover in the obstacle areas and also to detach and re-attach straps which are rather labor intensive. 
   The prior art shows the use of zippers attached to pool covers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,325 of Shuff describes an inflatable pool cover with integral weighted skirts which are usually submerged. By introducing pressurized air under the pool cover, it can be made to rise above the edge of the pool. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,926 of La Madeleine describes a swimming pool cover system wherein the pool cover is attached to the periphery of the pool, but the center is raised by a cable on a boom to form a type of tent canopy over the pool. 
   In both of these patents of Shuff &#39;325 and La Madeleine &#39;926, zippers in the pool cover are used to permit a sealable opening to admit swimmers to use the pool with the pool cover attached, to take advantage of the space provided between the pool surface and the pool cover. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,098 of Stern describes a pool cover with drainage and filter means, wherein the filter and drain region is attached to the central region of a pool cover by some mechanism, among which is a zipper. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,334 of St-Hilaire describes a swimming pool covering structure in two parts. In St-Hilaire &#39;334, the zipper is an integral part of the actual covering of the pool. A flexible central section extends over the water area of the pool. A flexible anchoring section is attached to the edge of an above-ground pool or to the deck surface around an in-ground pool much like a frame. The central section is then attached to the anchoring section using a long zipper extending all the way around the edge of the pool. 
   None of the cited prior art patents make use of one or more sliding zipper elements to permit a pool cover to be fitted around vertical obstacles over the water or deck areas. None of the cited patents uses a zipper to make a certain part of the covered areas removable to gain access to an adjacent feature, such as a spa area. 
   Also, the prior art does not relate to safety pool covers which must comply with ASTM specifications. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pool cover which is fitted tightly and securely around vertically extending obstacles and/or auxiliary structures such as spas. 
   Other objects which become apparent from the following description of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The QUIK-LOC™ zipper system of the present invention is a heavy duty sliding zipper element rated at 600 pounds per inch, which is the same rating as the rest of a pool cover. This maintains the flexible cover taut to meet ASTM standards for safety. The QUIK-LOC™ zipper system provides a convenient method of navigating around any vertical obstacles that may be within the pool cover area. 
   Currently, when a vertically extending obstacle, such as an entrance stair hand rail extends above the surface of a swimming pool cover, the swimming pool cover is split in the area of the obstacle, but numerous straps and buckles need to be joined together along the length of the open area to rejoin the two edges together to maintain the integrity of the pool cover. 
   Gaps are left between the two edges which permit debris such as leaves and twigs to enter the pool area between the straps. The buckles and straps add weight to the pool cover and require additional time to secure each strap. 
   The use of the QUIK-LOC™ zipper, instead of the conventional array of straps, closes the split area around the obstacle quickly and neatly, improving the aesthetic appearance, by substituting the clean uniform look of a zipped section for the ragged appearance of numerous straps with free hanging ends. 
   The sliding zipper also prevents the entrance of debris into the pool around the split area. 
   To secure the QUIK-LOC™ zipper in place and prevent a child or other unauthorized person from opening it, a fastener, such as a flexible cable (preferably stainless steel), is passed through the handle area of the slide or latching mechanism of the QUIK-LOC™ zipper (it is noted that the slide is about two inches long). 
   The cable is then looped through two “D” rings sewn at the end of each side of the looped area. A locking fastener, such as a padlock hasp is then passed through the loops which are at both ends of the cable. 
   A second application for QUIK-LOC™ is for ease in removal to access a particular area of a pool, such as a spa area. The area when not in use can be zipped and covered, still maintaining the safety cover feature, but when entry is needed, only a quick unzippering and removal of certain springs with straps need be removed to access to the desired area. 
   The process still will require the unlocking of the lock by an authorized person, but the time and effort involved after will be greatly reduced. 
   Once the area is no longer needed, it just need be re-zipped and locked via cable and padlock and attachment of the springs and straps. It should be noted that during the uncover of any section, the pool cover is not considered safe again until the area removed is replaced, the QUIK-LOC™ is re-zipped, and cable is again installed and locked to meet ASTM standards. 
   In use, the swimming pool is covered by navigating around any vertical obstacles, such as access handrails, that may be within the pool cover area. The pool cover is split into one or more laterally extending cuts, each having a pair of joinable edges from a peripheral edge to an open area of a vertically extending obstacle extending above the pool cover. The joinable edges are joined by a heavy duty zipper, thereby capturing the obstacle along the length of the split laterally extending cut open area to rejoin the two edges together. The zipper closes respective gaps left between the two edges of the zipper and prevents debris such as leaves and twigs to enter the pool area between the joinable zipper edges. 
   The heavy duty sliding zipper is secured in place to prevent a child or other unauthorized person from opening it by a lock. In one embodiment, a cable having closed loops at opposite ends thereof is provided. The cable is passed through a handle area of the heavy duty sliding zipper and then through one or more rings attached at an end of each respective side of the looped area of said cable. A lock, such as a padlock, is passed through the pair of loops at the respective opposite ends of the cable. 
   The present invention can also be used to allow access to a pool spa located in a region adjacent to the main swimming pool, independent of the swimming pool being covered. An extension flap to the pool cover extending from one or more edges of the pool cover while covering the spa. The flap is zippered to allow entry into said spa area without removal of the main pool cover from the swimming pool. The pool cover extension flap is split into a pair of laterally extending cuts, each having a pair of joinable zipper edges. The cuts extend from an outer distal peripheral edge thereof to an open area between a spaced apart edge of the spa closest to the pool. The two splits extend beyond the outer lateral edges of the spa. When not in use, the spa can be covered and secured by a similar locking means as provided for the splits in the main pool cover, such as by also providing a cable having closed loops at opposite ends thereof and passing the cable through a handle area of said heavy duty sliding zipper and passing the cable through a plurality of rings attached at an end of each respective side of the looped area of the cable. A padlock hasp is then passed through the pair of loops at the opposite ends of the cable. 
   The zipper closes the split area around the main swimming pool obstacle or adjacent spa area quickly and neatly. The zipper also prevents the entrance of debris into the pool around the split area. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pool with safety pool cover showing obstacles and a separate end area covering a spa section; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective detail of the prior art method of using multiple straps and buckles to close a split area under a handrail shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3 . Is a top view detail of the same area as in  FIG. 2  as it appears with the QUIK-LOC™ zipper of this invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective detail of an edge region of pool cover split apart to accommodate a support pole obstacle while using a QUIK-LOC™ zipper; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective detail of the cable locking system used with the QUIK-LOC™ zipper of this invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view detail showing two parallel QUIK-LOC® zippers used to cover a rectangular spa area adjacent to a pool with an extension of the main safety pool cover; 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the same detail as that in  FIG. 6  with the movable flap opened to gain access to the spa; and 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an angular shaped pool with a spa area adjacent one end covered by an extension of the main pool safety cover and using two QUIK-LOC® zippers at right angles to each other. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The general method of accommodating vertical obstacles protruding through safety pool covers is shown in  FIG. 1 . Pool cover  1  with taut attachment straps  2  attached to the deck area is penetrated by pole  3  and handrail  5 . In both cases, the edge is split (at  4  and  6  respectively) to navigate around the obstacle. In both cases the splits are re-closed to maintain the safety integrity of pool cover  1 . Pool cover extension  8  covers a separate spa area adjacent to the main pool. It is attached to the main section of pool cover by a removable closure system at line  7  to permit use of the spa area without the need to detach tension straps  2 . The attachment technique is regulated by ASTM to insure the safety integrity of pool cover  1 . 
   The method used for removable closure of obstacle splits or removable pool cover extensions of this invention is to use a sliding QUIK-LOC™ heavy duty zipper to replace the prior art array of straps. The differences between the appearance of the two methods is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . These are enlarged details of the area indicated under the handrail of  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 2  shows prior art straps  13  engaged with buckles  12  closing a split between two edges of pool cover  1  as lined with reinforcing ribbons  15 . Open regions  14  are visible between straps and buckles. Regulations specify the strap spacing “X” to be 3″ over water and every 6″ over decking to maintain the pool cover strength integrity. The time to engage or disengage such an array of straps is quite long and tedious. 
   As a contrast, the neat appearance of QUIK-LOC™ zipper  20  closing split  6  is shown in  FIG. 3 . It is noted that no open spaces comparable to regions  14  are evident since QUIK-LOC™ zipper  20  prevents entry of debris into the pool through the split area. The time to engage or disengage zipper  20  is negligible as compared to multiple straps  13  and buckles  12 . QUIK-LOC™ zipper  20  can also be used as the attachment method of cover extension  8  to main cover  1  along line  7  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Although illustrated as a straight line in  FIG. 1 , attachment junction using sliding zipper  20  can be curved as well. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the placement of an open split using sliding zipper  20  around the obstacle of pole  3  at the edge  25  of pool cover  1 . Slide  21  is engaged with one side of the open sliding zipper  20 .  FIG. 5  shows the locking method. The locking system of QUIK-LOC™ zipper  20  involves the use of cable  26  which has loops at each end. This is guided under the handle of slide  21  as shown which has a slot to accommodate the loops at the ends of cable  26 . Cable  26  is also looped through closed rings, such as “D” rings  27 , which are sewn to each side of the split. A padlock (not shown) hasp is then conveniently engaged through both cable  26  loops and snapped locked. 
   Multiple QUIK-LOC® zippers are sometimes used on extensions of pool safety covers to cover adjacent features such as a spa.  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the use of two parallel zippers to cover a rectangular spa, while  FIG. 8  shows a plan for using two zippers at right angles to each other to cover a 7-sided angular spa. Obviously two or more QUIK-LOC® zippers at various angles can be used to accommodate other custom installations. 
     FIG. 6  shows safety pool cover extension  30  which is part of main pool cover  32  used to cover spa  37  which is adjacent to the edge  31  of the pool. Movable flap  39  is shown zipped in place by QUIK-LOC® zippers  40  thereby covering spa  37 . Tension deck straps  34  attach the main pool cover  32  as well as extension  30  to the deck surface. 
   Central straps  35 ,  34   a  and  34   b  are the only ones that needs to be undone to permit use of the spa area as shown in the accessible configuration in  FIG. 7 . Strap end  41 ,  34   a  and  34   b  are detached from anchors prior to unzipping zippers  40 , then flap  39  is simply folded over main cover  32 . 
     FIG. 8  shows main safety pool cover  50  with an extension  51  covering an adjacent angular spa area. Here two QUIK-LOC® zippers  52  at right angles to each other are used to gain access to the spa area by unzipping and folding the entire extension  51  over main cover  50  creating a fold at a line intersecting the close ends of zippers  52  (indicated by item number  53 ). Only the deck straps around the periphery of the spa area need be undone. 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
   It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.