Patent Publication Number: US-2023146987-A1

Title: Inflatable pool cover

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present general inventive concept relates generally to pool covers, and particularly, to an inflatable pool cover. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional pool cover is often used to cover a pool while the pool is not in use. Moreover, the pool cover provides other additional benefits. For example, the pool cover minimizes evaporation from the pool, which minimizes heating costs. Additionally, the pool cover prevents debris, people, and/or animals from falling the pool, as well as, regulate a temperature level of the pool. 
     Currently, installing the pool cover requires not only multiple components, but several steps involved to complete. Initially, a pool pillow is inflated with air and then placed at a particular location in the pool, which is usually at a center of the pool. Also, the pool pillow is often tied to different edges of the pool to keep it stable. Subsequently, the pool cover is placed over the pool pillow, such that the pool pillow elevates a portion of the pool cover above the pool. 
     Unfortunately, the conventional method of installing the pool cover makes it difficult to access the pool pillow because the pool cover covers it. As such, reinflating the pool pillow due to air loss requires removing the pool cover and retrieving the pool pillow. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an inflatable pool cover that integrates the pool pillow into the pool cover and facilitates reinflating the pool pillow. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present general inventive concept provides an inflatable pool cover. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing an inflatable pool cover, including a main body to cover a pool, an inflatable bladder disposed on at least a portion of the main body to store air therein, such that the main body floats on water in the pool in response to the inflatable bladder being inflated with the air to a predetermined air level, and an air transfer unit, including an air channel connected at a first end to at least a portion of the inflatable bladder to direct movement of the air to or from the inflatable bladder, and a cap connected to at least a portion of a second end of the air channel to prevent the air from escaping the inflatable bladder in a closed position, and facilitate movement of the air through the inflatable bladder and the air channel in an opened position. 
     The main body may include a first surface disposed on a first side of the main body, and a second surface disposed on a second side of the main body opposite with respect to the first side and connected to at least a portion of the first surface. 
     The inflatable bladder may be disposed between the first surface and the second surface. 
     The main body may be suspended above a surface of the water while the inflatable bladder is at least partially inflated with the air. 
     The main body may be coated with a slippery liquid-infused porous surface to repel at least one of water, oil, bacteria, any other pathogen, dust, and people. 
     The air channel may be extendable to at least a portion of a diameter of the pool. 
     The inflatable pool cover may further include an air pump disposed on at least a portion of the cap to draw air from an external environment into the air channel toward the inflatable bladder to inflate the inflatable bladder in response to detecting a detected number of air molecules moving away from the inflatable bladder exceeds a predetermined number of air molecules indicating the inflatable bladder is no longer buoyant. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a plan view of an inflatable pool cover, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
     
         
         
           
             Inflatable Pool Cover  100   
             Main Body  110   
             First Surface  111   
             Second Surface  112   
             Pool Connectors  113   
             Inflatable Bladder  120   
             Air Receiving Port  121   
             Air Transfer Unit  130   
             Air Channel  131   
             Cap  132   
             Air Pump  140   
           
         
       
    
       FIG.  1    illustrates a plan view of an inflatable pool cover  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     The inflatable pool cover  100  may be constructed from at least one of plastic, polyethylene, vinyl, metal, wood, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto. 
     The inflatable pool cover  100  may include a main body  110 , an inflatable bladder  120 , an air transfer unit  130 , and an air pump  140 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the main body  110  is illustrated to have a circular shape. However, the main body  110  may be a rectangular prism, spherical, conical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto. 
     The main body  110  may be rigid on at least a first portion thereof, and flexible on at least a second portion thereof. In other words, the main body  110  may at least partially deform (i.e., bend, stretch, expand) in response to an application of force thereto. The main body  110  may be removably connected to at least a portion of a pool  10 , such that the main body  110  may cover an interior of the pool  10  including water disposed therein. Also, the main body  110  may be coated by a slippery material that is omniphobic, such as a slippery liquid-infused porous surface that repels water, oil, bacteria, any other pathogen, dust, and/or even people. In other words, the main body  110  may prevent a buildup of material that would cause the main body  110  to sink into the pool  10 . 
     The main body  110  may include a first surface  111 , a second surface  112 , and a plurality of pool connectors  113 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the first surface  111  may have a same shape, diameter, and/or circumference as the main body  110 . 
     The second surface  112  may be disposed on at least a portion of the first surface  111 . Specifically, the first surface  111  may be considered a first side and/or a top surface  111  of the main body  110 , and the second surface  112  may be considered a second side and/or a bottom surface  112  opposite with respect to the first side. 
     Each of the plurality of pool connectors  113  may include a cord, a rope, a wire, a string, a clamp, a clasp, an adhesive (e.g., tape, glue), a magnet, and/or any combination thereof, but is not limited thereto. 
     The plurality of pool connectors  113  may be disposed on at least a portion of the first surface  111  and/or the second surface  112 . Moreover, each of the plurality of pool connectors  113  may be equally distanced from each other to maximize coverage to connect to the pool  10 . The plurality of pool connectors  113  may removably connect the first surface  111  and/or the second surface  112  to the pool  10 . In other words, the plurality of pool connectors  113  may prevent the main body  110  from moving away from the pool  10  while at least one of the plurality of pool connectors  113  remains connected to the pool  10 . 
     The inflatable bladder  120  may be disposed on at least a portion of the first surface  111  and/or the second surface  112 . Alternatively, the inflatable bladder  120  may be disposed between the first surface  111  and/or the second surface  112 , such that the inflatable bladder  120  may be disposed within at least a portion of an interior of the main body  110 . The inflatable bladder  120  may receive and/or store air therein. As such, the inflatable bladder  120  may suspend the main body  110  on and/or above a surface of water in the pool  10  while the inflatable bladder  120  is at least partially inflated with the air. In other words, the main body  110  may float on the water in the pool  10  in response to the inflatable bladder  120  being at least partially inflated with the air to a predetermined air level. Furthermore, the inflatable bladder  120  may cause the main body  110  to be at a greater elevation at a center portion where the inflatable bladder  120  is disposed, such that each surface around the inflatable bladder  120  is beveled with respect to the center portion. Accordingly, the main body  110  may cause debris, people, and/or animals to fall off the main body  110  due to the beveled surface. 
     The inflatable bladder  120  may include an air receiving port  121 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The air receiving port  121  may be disposed on at least a portion of the inflatable bladder  120 . The air receiving port  121  may be an aperture to facilitate movement of the air into the inflatable bladder  120 . 
     The air transfer unit  130  may include an air channel  131  and a cap  132 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The air channel  131  may have an elongate shape  131 . Moreover, the air channel  131  may be rigid and/or flexible. Also, the air channel  131  may extend at least a portion of a distance, diameter, length, and/or size of the pool  10 . In other words, the air channel  131  may at least partially deform (e.g., bend, stretch, expand) in response to an application of force thereto. For example, the air channel  131  may extend in length in response to moving a first end and/or a second end of the air channel  131  laterally away from each other in opposite directions. Conversely, the air channel may retract in length in response to moving the first end and/or the second end of the air channel  131  laterally toward each other. 
     Additionally, the air channel  131  may be connected at the first end to at least a portion of the air receiving port  121 . As such, the air channel  131  may facilitate and/or direct movement of the air to and/or from the inflatable bladder  120 . 
     The cap  132  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the second end of the air channel  131 . The cap  132  may be screwed on and/or pivotally connected (e.g., via a hinge) to the air channel  131 . The cap  132  may cover the second end of the air channel and prevent the air from escaping the inflatable bladder  120  through the air channel  131 . Accordingly, the cap  132  may prevent the air from escaping the inflatable bladder  120  in a closed position, and facilitate movement of the air through the inflatable bladder  120  and/or the air channel  131  in an opened position. Also, the cap  132  may be airtight, such that the cap  132  may seal the air within the air channel  131  and/or the inflatable bladder  120 . 
     It is important to note that while the cap  132  is opened, the air may be blown into the inflatable bladder  120  through the air channel  131  by any external air source, such as a user blowing into the air channel  131  and/or using a pump. 
     The air pump  140  may include a sensor and a power source (e.g., a power inlet, a battery, a solar cell, etc.), but is not limited thereto. 
     The air pump  140  may be disposed on at least a portion of the cap  132  and/or directly connected to the air channel  131  instead of the cap  132 , such that the air pump  140  may replace the cap  132 . The air pump  140  may blow the air into the air channel  131  to inflate the inflatable bladder  120 . In other words, the inflatable bladder  120  may inflate in response to receiving the air from the air pump  140  through the air channel  131 . 
     Also, the sensor of the air pump  140  may detect movement of a predetermined number of air molecules through the air channel  140  and away from the inflatable bladder  120 . In other words, the sensor of the air pump  140  may determine escape of the air from the inflatable bladder  120  in response to detecting a detected number of air molecules moving away from the inflatable bladder  120  exceeds a predetermined number of air molecules indicating the inflatable bladder  120  is no longer buoyant, such that the main body  110  may no longer float. Moreover, the sensor of the air pump  140  may be configured to detect certain air molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, and/or any combination thereof. For example, the sensor of the air pump  140  may determine loss of nitrogen as corresponding to a greater loss in volume of the air due to nitrogen molecules being greater in size with respect to oxygen molecules. As such, the air pump  140  may draw air from an external environment into the air channel  131  toward the inflatable bladder  120  to inflate the inflatable bladder  120  to a predetermined size, pressure, volume, and/or number of air molecules moving into the inflatable bladder  120  as detected by the sensor of the air pump  140 . 
     Therefore, the inflatable pool cover  100  may facilitate installation on the pool  10  by minimizing a number of components required. Also, the inflatable pool cover  100  may provide easy access to reinflate using the air transfer unit  130 . 
     The present general inventive concept may include an inflatable pool cover  100 , including a main body  110  to cover a pool  10 , an inflatable bladder  120  disposed on at least a portion of the main body  110  to store air therein, such that the main body  110  floats on water in the pool  10  in response to the inflatable bladder  120  being inflated with the air to a predetermined air level, and an air transfer unit  130 , including an air channel  131  connected at a first end to at least a portion of the inflatable bladder  120  to direct movement of the air to or from the inflatable bladder  120 , and a cap  132  connected to at least a portion of a second end of the air channel  131  to prevent the air from escaping the inflatable bladder  120  in a closed position, and facilitate movement of the air through the inflatable bladder  120  and the air channel  131  in an opened position. 
     The main body  110  may include a first surface  111  disposed on a first side of the main body  110 , and a second surface  112  disposed on a second side of the main body  110  opposite with respect to the first side and connected to at least a portion of the first surface  111 . 
     The inflatable bladder  120  may be disposed between the first surface  111  and the second surface  112 . 
     The main body  110  may be suspended above a surface of the water while the inflatable bladder  120  is at least partially inflated with the air. 
     The main body  110  may be coated with a slippery liquid-infused porous surface to repel at least one of water, oil, bacteria, any other pathogen, dust, and people. 
     The air channel  131  may be extendable to at least a portion of a diameter of the pool  10 . 
     The inflatable pool cover  100  may further include an air pump  140  disposed on at least a portion of the cap  132  to draw air from an external environment into the air channel  131  toward the inflatable bladder  120  to inflate the inflatable bladder  120  in response to detecting a detected number of air molecules moving away from the inflatable bladder  120  exceeds a predetermined number of air molecules indicating the inflatable bladder  120  is no longer buoyant. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.