Patent Publication Number: US-2022213707-A1

Title: Pool cover hinged sliding assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/133676, filed Jan. 4, 2021, entitled “Pool Cover Hinged Sliding Assembly,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates generally to pool cover assemblies, and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to pool cover assemblies that include hinged sliding assemblies used to assist in moving a pool cover along a track. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pool cover assemblies, including automated pool cover assemblies, can be installed on various types of pools, including fiberglass pools, gunite or concrete pools, and vinyl liner pools. An automated pool cover assembly may use a motor to cause the pool cover to extend and retract over the pool to cover and uncover the pool. The pool cover assembly may include a track that runs the full length of the pool on both sides along which the pool cover extends and retracts. The pool cover assembly may also include a sliding assembly that attaches to the pool cover and is retained in the track. The sliding assembly may assist in moving the pool cover along the track as the pool cover is extended and retracted. Conventionally, the sliding assembly may permit movement of the pool cover or between components of the sliding assembly itself. This movement may cause excessive wear on the pool cover and/or the sliding assembly. 
     SUMMARY 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. 
     Certain embodiments and features of the present disclosure relate to pool cover assemblies, including pool cover assemblies that may provide for less wear and potential for damage to the various elements of the pool cover assemblies as the pool cover extends and retracts, which may in some cases negatively affect the functionality of the pool cover system. In some embodiments, the pool cover assembly includes a track, a pool cover that includes a rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover, and a hinged sliding assembly that includes a slider member and a hinged rope lock member coupled to the slider member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A further understanding of the nature and advantages of various embodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pool and a pool cover assembly according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is an upper perspective view of a hinged rope lock member according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a lower perspective view of the hinged rope lock member of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view of the hinged rope lock member of  FIG. 2A  along line CC. 
         FIG. 3A  is an upper perspective view of a hinged rope lock member according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a lower perspective view of the hinged rope lock member of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the hinged rope lock member of  FIG. 3A  along line CC. 
         FIG. 4A  is an upper perspective view of a hinged sliding assembly with a hinged rope lock member coupled to a slider member according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is a lower perspective view of the hinged sliding assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of the hinged sliding assembly of  FIG. 4A  along line CC. 
         FIG. 4D  is a bottom view of the hinged sliding assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a lower perspective view of a hinged sliding assembly with a hinged rope lock member coupled to a slider member according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the hinged sliding assembly of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is an upper perspective view of a hinged sliding assembly coupled with a pool cover and partially retained within a track according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a front view of the hinged sliding assembly coupled with the pool cover and partially retained within the track of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view along line CC of the hinged sliding assembly coupled with the pool cover and partially retained within the track of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6D  is a bottom view of the hinged sliding assembly coupled with the pool cover and partially retained within the track of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7A  is an upper perspective view of a hinged sliding assembly coupled with a pool cover and partially retained within a track according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the hinged sliding assembly coupled with the pool cover and partially retained within the track of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “top,” “left,” “right,” “bottom,” among others, are not intended to be limiting and are instead intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing. 
     Certain embodiments and features of the present disclosure relate to pool cover assemblies, including pool cover assemblies that may provide for less wear and potential for damage to the various elements of the pool cover assemblies as the pool cover extends and retracts. In some embodiments, the pool cover assembly includes a track, a pool cover that includes a rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover, and a hinged sliding assembly that includes a slider member and a hinged rope lock member coupled to the slider member. 
     The hinged rope lock member and the slider member may be coupled to one another by snap-fitting the hinged rope lock member to a rod member that extends across an opening in the slider member. Thus an entire longitudinal length of the hinged rope lock member may be secured relative to the slider member. The hinged rope lock member may slide along and rotate around the rod as necessary, but is constrained to reduce pivoting or twisting in an undesirable manner. The rope may extend through a rope opening of the hinged rope lock member and may be coupled to the hinged rope lock member using any suitable fasteners, e.g., screws. The pool cover may be coupled to the slider member. Due to the coupling of the rope to the hinged sliding assembly and the coupling of the hinged sliding assembly to the pool cover, pulling on the rope causes the pool cover to extend along the track. 
     As previously mentioned, the coupling of the hinged rope lock member to the slider member reduces undesirable pivoting and twisting of the hinged rope lock member while still allowing for some rotation and movement of the hinged rope lock member around and along the rod member. Undesirable pivoting and twisting of the hinged rope lock member could occur if the hinged rope lock member were not coupled to the slider member due to the forces acting on the hinged rope lock member as the pool cover is being extended and retracted. For example, a free floating hinged rope lock member relative to the slider member may pivot and twist along the horizontal plane extending through the slider member. This can result in unnecessary and excessive wear and damage to the slider member, the hinged rope lock member, and/or the track. Hingedly coupling the hinged rope lock member to the slider member reduces this undesirable pivoting and twisting while still allowing for some movement of the hinged rope lock member. Additionally, by coupling the hinged rope lock member to the slider member using a snap-fit connection, the hinged rope lock member and/or the slider member may be individually replaced or removed for repair if needed. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a pool  100  may include a plurality of wall panels  102 , a plurality of corner panels  104 , and a pool cover assembly  108 . The pool cover assembly  108  may include at least one track  106  that runs substantially along an edge of the pool  100  and may include a pool cover  109 . Though the pool  100  is shown having four wall panels  102  and four corner panels  104 , more or fewer wall panels  102  and corner panels  104  may define the pool  100 , in some aspects the pool  100  may be a vinyl liner pool, a fiberglass pool, a concrete pool, or a gunite pool and may be formed in-ground or above-ground. 
     The various elements of the pool  100  described below may be formed of materials including but not limited to aluminum, steel, stainless steel, concrete, stone, plastic, ceramic, fiberglass, aramid fibers, polymer, polycarbonate, polypropylene, other metallic materials, composite materials, or other similar materials. Additionally, each element of the pool  100  may be formed of the same materials or of different materials. 
     The plurality of wall panels  102  may be joined together along with the plurality of corner panels  104  to form the outer structure and sides of the pool  100 . The pool  100  is formed up at an upper edge of the plurality of wall panels  102  and the plurality of corner panels  104  to allow for concrete or a deck to be formed around the pool  100 . A plurality of encapsulation members may be coupled to the upper edge of the plurality of wall panels  102  and the plurality of corner panels  104  to form up the pool  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the pool cover assembly  108  may be automated and is at least partially housed in a housing  110  at a first end  115  of the pool  100 . The housing may also include a roller tube  112 , which the pool cover  109  is rolled up on and rolled off of inside the housing  110 . The pool cover  109  may be in a stored position when the pool cover  109  is rolled up on the roller tube  112  and may be in a deployed position when the pool cover  109  has been at least partially rolled off the roller tube  112  at least to partially cover the pool  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the track  106  extends around two or more edges of the pool  100 . For example, in some embodiments, the track  106  may extend around three sides of the pool  100  excluding the first end  115 . In some embodiments, only a third edge  118  and a fourth edge  120  each include a track  106  that extends the full length of the pool  100 . Thus, the pool cover  109  may travel within the track  106  as the pool cover  109  is extended and retracted. In some embodiments, the pool cover  109  may include a rope, a bead, or other suitable feature extending along the length of the pool cover  109  that may engage with the track  106  to retain the pool cover  109  within the track  106  and above the water of the pool  100 . The rope may have any suitable cross-section, e.g., circular, square, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, etc., and may be formed from any suitable material where the length of the material is substantially larger than the diameter, e.g., fibers twisted together, a single extruded material, metal material, etc. 
     When the pool cover assembly  108  is automated, a motor (not shown) may be used to extend the pool cover  109  along the at least one track  106  across the pool  100 . For example, the at least one track  106  may receive at least a portion of the pool cover  109 , and the motor may cause the pool cover  109  to move from the first end  115  of the pool  100  proximate to the housing  110  to extend in a direction towards a second end  116  of the pool  100  and may cause the pool cover to at least partially roll off the roller tube  112 . The second end  116  of the pool  100  is positioned at an opposite end of the pool  100  from the first end  115 . When the pool cover  109  extends to the second end  116 , the pool  100  is covered or enclosed by the pool cover  109 . However, for clarity purposes, this is not shown in  FIG. 1 . The motor may also be used to retract the pool cover  109  when the pool cover is in a deployed position by causing the pool cover  109  to move from the second end  116  to the first end  115  and at least partially roll up on the roller tube  112 . In other embodiments, the pool cover  109  may be moved manually from the first end  115  of the pool  100  towards the second end  116  of the pool  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the roller tube  112  may act as a winch and rolls the rope onto the roller tube  112 . The rope may extend through a set of pulleys positioned at the second end  116 . Thus the rope may be moved by the motor through the set of pulleys to cause the pool cover  109  at least to partially roll on or off of the roller tube  112 . The rope may be a Dyneema® or an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) rope or any other suitable type of rope or other suitable material. 
     In some embodiments, the pool cover assembly  108  also includes a hinged sliding assembly  400  (as shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B ) that may include a hinged rope lock member  200  as shown in  FIGS. 2A-3C  and a slider member  300  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B ). The hinged rope lock member  200  may have a body  202  having a longitudinal length  204 . The body  202  may define a groove  206  and an attachment opening  208  each extending at least partially along the longitudinal length  204  of the body  202 . The body  202  may have any suitable shape, e.g., rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, etc. 
     Additionally, the hinged rope lock member  200  may include a sleeve  210   a  integrally formed with or coupled to the body  202 . The sleeve  210  may define a rope opening  212  extending along the longitudinal length  204  of the body  202  and at least one fastener opening  214 , which may extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length  204  of the body  202 . In some embodiments, as may be seen in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the sleeve  210   a  may completely encircle the rope opening  212  except for the at least one fastener opening  214 . In further embodiments, as may be seen in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the hinged rope lock member  200  may instead include a sleeve  210   b  that may not be fully closed so as to define a snap-fit opening  216  that provides access to the rope opening  212 . The remaining features of the hinged rope lock member  200  may be the same as those shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
     The attachment opening  208  may be positioned proximate to a first end region  218  of the body  202  and the sleeve  210   a  may be positioned proximate to, extend from, or be coupled to a second end region  220  of the body  202 . It is understood that the first end region  218  and the second end region  220  are not meant to be limiting and may be switched so that the attachment opening  208  may be positioned proximate to the second end region  220  and the sleeve  210   a  may be positioned proximate to, extend from, or be coupled to the first end region  218 . Further, the body  202  may have a leading edge  222  and a trailing edge  224 . 
     The hinged rope lock member  200  may be coupled to the slider member  300  to form the hinged sliding assembly  400 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B . As shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B , the slider member  300  defines an opening  302  that may be sized and shaped to receive the hinged rope lock member  200 . The slider member  300  has a longitudinal length  306 . The groove  304  may extend at least partially along the longitudinal length of the slider member  300 . The slider member  300  may have any suitable shape, e.g., rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, etc. In some embodiments, the slider member  300  may define a plurality of openings extending through the slider member  300 . The plurality of openings may assist with or permit the coupling of the pool cover  109  to the slider member  300 . 
     The slider member  300  may include a rod member  308  that may extend at least partially along the longitudinal length  306  of the slider member  300 . In some embodiments, the rod member  308  extends along the entire longitudinal length  306  of the slider member  300 . The rod member  308  extends through the slider member  300  such that at least a portion of the rod member  308  extends across the opening  302 . 
     In certain embodiments, the opening  302  is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the hinged rope lock member  200 . The hinged rope lock member  200  may be positioned within the opening  302  and may be hingedly coupleable to the slider member  300 . For example, the hinged rope lock member  200  may be snap-fit to the rod member  308  via the attachment opening  208 . Additionally, the hinged rope lock member  200  may be coupled to the rod member  308  of the slider member  300  along the entire longitudinal length  204  of the hinged rope lock member  200 . 
     The snap-fit engagement between the hinged rope lock member  200  an the rod member  308  permits lateral movement of the hinged rope lock member  200  along the rod member  308  as well as rotational movement of the hinged rope lock member  200  about the rod member  308 . As the hinged rope lock member  200  slides along the rod member  308 , the leading edge  222  of the hinged rope lock member  200  may contact or abut a leading edge  322  of the opening  302  of the slider member  300 . Furthermore, as the hinged rope lock member  200  slides along the rod member  308 , the trailing edge  224  of the hinged rope lock member  200  may contact or abut a trailing edge  324  of the opening  302  of the slider member  300 . 
     The coupling of the hinged rope lock member  200  to the slider member  300  reduces undesirable pivoting and twisting of the hinged rope lock member while still allowing for some rotation and movement of the hinged rope lock member  200  around and along the rod member  308 . Undesirable pivoting and twisting of the hinged rope lock member  200  may occur if the hinged rope lock member  200  is not coupled to the slider member  300  due to the forces acting on the hinged rope lock member  200  as the pool cover is being extended and retracted. For example, a free floating hinged rope lock member relative to the slider member  300  may pivot and twist along the horizontal plane extending through the slider member  300 . This can result in unnecessary and excessive wear and damage to the slider member  300 , the hinged rope lock member  200 , and/or the track. 
       FIG. 6A-6D  depicts the hinged sliding assembly  400  with the hinged rope lock member  200  coupled to the slider member  300 , the pool cover  109 , and the track  106  of the pool cover assembly  108 . The hinged sliding assembly  400  may be coupled to the pool cover  109 , which may include the rope  604 , and may be at least partially arranged within the track  106  of the pool cover assembly  108 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A-7B . The pool cover  109 , rope  604 , and track  106  may be the same or include the same or similar elements as the pool cover  109 , the rope  604 , and the track  106 , respectively, discussed in relation to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows a front view of the hinged sliding assembly  400  coupled with the pool cover  109  and partially retained within the track  106  of  FIG. 6A , and  FIG. 6C  shows a cross-sectional view along line CC of the hinged sliding assembly  400  coupled with the pool cover  109  and partially retained within the track  106  of  FIG. 6A . 
     In some embodiments, the pool cover  109  may be coupled to the hinged sliding assembly  400  via the slider member  300 . For example, one or more screws or any other suitable fastener (e.g., screws, nuts and bolts, snap-fit buttons, adhesive, etc.) may extend through the pool cover  109  and the plurality of openings in the slider member  300  to couple the pool cover  109  to the slider member  300 . However, any other suitable form of attachment may be used to couple the pool cover  109  to the slider member  300 . Additionally, the pool cover  109  may be coupled to the hinged sliding assembly  400  via the hinged rope lock member  200  by having the rope  604  positioned within the rope opening  212  of the sleeve  210   a  (or sleeve  210   b  as shown and discussed below in relation to  FIGS. 7A-7B ). The rope  604  may be further secured to the sleeve  210   a  (or sleeve  210   b ), for example via one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, nuts and bolts, snap-fit buttons, adhesive, etc.) which in some embodiments may pass through the at least one fastener opening  214  in the sleeve  210   a  (or  210   b ). 
     In some embodiments, the pool cover  109  may define an opening  602 . The opening  602  may substantially align with the hinged rope lock member  200  when the pool cover  109  is coupled to the hinged sliding assembly  400  so that the pool cover  109  does not cover the hinged rope lock member  200 . Thus, the pool cover  109  does not obstruct any movement of the hinged rope lock member  200  relative to the slider member  300 . Additionally, the opening  602  may extend along a length of the pool cover  109  so that the hinged rope lock member  200  and at least a portion of the slider member  300  is not covered by the pool cover  109 . 
     For example, at a front end of the hinged sliding assembly  400 , the pool cover  109  may extend substantially continuously from the rope  604  across the slider member  300  as is shown in  FIG. 6B . After the opening  602 , the pool cover  109  may extend only partially across the slider member  300  as is shown in  FIG. 6C . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C  the pool cover assembly  108  may be assembled such that the hinged sliding assembly  400  is positioned such that at least a portion of the hinged rope lock member  200  and at least a portion of the slider member  300  are positioned within at least one channel  608   a ,  608   b  of the track  106 . For example, the sleeve  210   a  of the hinged rope lock member  200  and the rope  604  may be positioned within the channel  608   a , and at least a portion of the body  202 , e.g., the second end region  220  of the body  202 , may be positioned within the channel  608   b . In some embodiments, the groove  206  of the hinged rope lock member  200  and the groove  304  of the slider member  300  may engage with a lip  610  of the track  106  when the portions of the hinged rope lock member  200  and the slider member  300  are positioned within the at least one channel  608  of the track  106 . 
       FIG. 6D  shows a bottom view of the hinged sliding assembly  400  coupled with the pool cover  109  and partially retained within the track  106  of  FIG. 6A . 
       FIGS. 7A-7B  show the pool cover assembly  108  where the hinged rope lock member  200  of the hinged sliding assembly  400  includes the sleeve  210   b  that may not be fully closed. 
     In some embodiments, the longitudinal length  204  of the hinged rope lock member  200  and the longitudinal length  306  of the slider member  300  may be substantially parallel to the track  106  when the hinged sliding assembly  400  is arranged within the at least one channel  608  of the track  106 . When a tension force is applied to the rope  604  on either side of the hinged rope lock member  200 , the tension force will cause the hinged sliding assembly  400  to move along the at least one channel  608  of the track  106 . 
     For example, as the hinged rope lock member  200  slides along the rod member  308  due to the tension force applied to a leading side of the rope  604 , the leading edge  222  of the hinged rope lock member  200  may contact or abut a leading edge  322  of the opening  302  of the slider member  300 . This contact will cause the slider member  300  and the attached pool cover  109  to move along with the hinged rope lock member  200  and thus extend the pool cover  109  over the pool. Furthermore, as the hinged rope lock member  200  slides along the rod member  308  due to the tension force applied to a trailing side of the rope  604 , which is an opposite direction to the tension force applied to the leading side of the rope  604 , the trailing edge  224  of the hinged rope lock member  200  may contact or abut a trailing edge  324  of the opening  302  of the slider member  300 . This contact will cause the slider member  300  and the attached pool cover  109  to move along with the hinged rope lock member  200  and thus retract the pool cover  109  over the pool. 
     Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Examples of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative examples will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the examples described above or depicted in the drawings, and various examples and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. 
     It should be noted that the systems and devices discussed above are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed that various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention. 
     As used below, any reference to a series of examples is to be understood as a reference to each of those examples disjunctively (e.g., “Examples 1-4” is to be understood as “Examples 1, 2, 3, or 4”). In the following, further examples are described to facilitate the understanding of the invention: 
     Example 1 is a hinged sliding assembly (which may incorporate features of any of the subsequent examples) for a pool cover assembly comprising: a slider member comprising a rod member and defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupleable to a pool cover; and a hinged rope lock member coupled to the rod member and positioned at least partially within the opening, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupleable to a rope of the pool cover. 
     Example 2 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the rod member extends at least partially across the opening. 
     Example 3 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the rod member extends substantially along a longitudinal length of the slider member. 
     Example 4 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupled to the rod member along an entire longitudinal length of the hinged rope lock member. 
     Example 5 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is slidable along and rotatable about the rod member. 
     Example 6 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge of the hinged rope lock member contact a leading edge and a trailing edge of the opening as the hinged rope lock member slides along the rod member. 
     Example 7 is the hinged sliding assembly of example(s) 1 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupled to the rod member via a snap-fit engagement. 
     Example 8 is a pool cover assembly (which may incorporate features of any of the preceding or subsequent examples) comprising: a track; a pool cover comprising a rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover; and a hinged sliding assembly moveable along the track, the hinged sliding assembly comprising: a slider member comprising a rod member and defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupled to the pool cover; and a hinged rope lock member coupled to the rod member proximate a first end of the hinged rope lock member, coupled to the rope proximate a second end of the hinged rope lock member, and positioned at least partially within the opening. 
     Example 9 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the slider member and the hinged rope lock member are arranged at least partially within a channel of the track. 
     Example 10 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the rod member extends at least partially across the opening. 
     Example 11 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the rod member extends substantially along a longitudinal length of the slider member. 
     Example 12 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupled to the rod member along an entire longitudinal length of the hinged rope lock member. 
     Example 13 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is slidable along and rotatable about the rod member. 
     Example 14 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge of the hinged rope lock member contacts a leading edge and a trailing edge of the opening as the hinged rope lock member slides along the rod member. 
     Example 15 is the pool cover assembly of example(s) 8 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupled to the rod member via a snap-fit engagement. 
     16. A method (which may incorporate features of any of the preceding or subsequent examples) of extending or retracting a pool cover, the method comprising: applying a force to a rope, wherein the rope extends along at least one edge of the pool cover and is coupled to a hinged rope lock member of a pool cover assembly, wherein the pool cover assembly comprises: a track; the pool cover comprising the rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover; and a hinged sliding assembly moveable along the track, the hinged sliding assembly comprising: a slider member comprising a rod member and defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupled to the pool cover; and the hinged rope lock member coupled to the rod member proximate a first end of the hinged rope lock member, coupled to the rope proximate a second end of the hinged rope lock member, and positioned at least partially within the opening; first sliding, in response to the applying a force step, the hinged rope lock member along the rod member in a first direction; and second sliding, in response to the first sliding step, the slider member along the track to extend the pool cover. 
     Example 17 is the method of example(s) 16 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising: applying an opposite force to the rope; third sliding, in response to the applying the opposite force step, the hinged rope lock member along the rod member in a second direction; and fourth sliding, in response to the third sliding step, the slider member along the track to retract the pool cover. 
     Example 18 is the method of example(s) 17 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a leading edge of the hinged rope lock member contacts a leading edge of the opening during the second sliding, and a trailing edge of the hinged rope lock member contacts a trailing edge of the opening during the fourth sliding. 
     Example 19 is the method of example(s) 16 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupled to the rod member along an entire longitudinal length of the hinged rope lock member. 
     Example 20 is the method of example(s) 16 or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the hinged rope lock member is slidable along and rotatable about the rod member.