| Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarpUSPTO Application #: 20060236446Title: Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp Abstract: An apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp comprises a drum, a tarp, a plurality of slats wherein the tarp has a plurality of pockets. The slats are slid in the pockets through entry points situated at the ends of the pockets. The slats are mechanically fastened to the drum. At least one floating end is located at the end of the tarp distal from the drum so as to avoid any tendency of the tarp from extending underwater. (end of abstract)
Agent: Inventarium - Montreal, QC, CA Inventor: Julie Pelchat USPTO Applicaton #: 20060236446 - Class: 004498000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Pool Type, Accessory, Covering The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060236446. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional application 60/672,947 filed Apr. 20, 2006 FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to swimming pool accessories but more particularly to a system for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Inventors are quite creative when it comes to developing tools for rolling tarps and many methods have been developped which mostly consist in rolling a tarp around a drum. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,809 has a hollow air filled flexible horizontal endless plastic waterproof loop that floats on top of the water in a swimming pool and is shaped to conform with the inner periphery of the pool. The loop has an open central region. A thin flat flexible horizontal plastic waterproof sheet is disposed across the air filled loop. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,025 has a thermal blanket for a swimming pool consisting of a covering of flexible plastic sheet material to which are secured strips of foam-backed plastic sheet material to provide flotation and reinforcement. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,889 shows a swimming pool cover having a sheet of transparent, flexible, pliant plastic with an overhang of a several inches permitting folding back all edges, a foamed plastic cylinder in the fold around the pool periphery and a plurality of tubular clamps maintain the folded edge around the foamed plastic cylinder. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,078 discloses a swimming pool cover for covering the entire area of a water-filled pool so as to prevent egress of silt and debris into the pool during periods of non-use comprises a water-impervious sheet material configured to extend across the entire area of the pool. A securing strap is attached at spaced-apart positions near edges of the sheet material for securing the sheet material in a taut condition to pool outer portions. A resilient attachment, such as a spring, attaches the securing strap to the anchor so as to ensure the maintenance of the taut condition. A filter is attached along and near peripheral edges of the aperture and the filter has pore sizes sufficient to be impervious to silt and debris but pervious to water. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,749 has a swimming pool cover and roll-up device combination comprising a flexible shaft extending intermediate of the swimming pool cover from one edge to an opposite edge, with the flexible shaft being connected at least intermittently along its length to the swimming pool cover. A crank arm or other wind-up device is provided to be connected at least to one end of the flexible shaft for applying torque to the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft and swimming pool cover are adapted to float on the surface of the water, and when it is necessary to store the rolled-up swimming pool cover, it is removed completely from the swimming pool and stored remotely. [0009] The drawback in some of the prior art is that when comes time to unroll the tarp, it may not spread easily and evenly across the surface of the pool. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] In view of the foregoing disadvantage inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to have the main advantage of having a tarp which can be rolled as well as unrolled evenly across the surface of a pool. [0011] It is a second advantage of this invention to require faster rolling and unrolling of the tarp. [0012] To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises a drum, a tarp, a plurality of slats wherein the tarp has a plurality of pockets. The slats are slid in the pockets through entry points situated at the ends of the pockets. The slats are mechanically fastened to the drum. [0013] In most embodiments, it is preferable, although not absolutely necessary, to have at least one floating end located at the end of the tarp distal from the drum so as to avoid any tendency of the tarp from extending underwater. [0014] Preferably, the slats are rigid yet flexible so that they can be rolled along with the tarp. These slats allow for unrolling the tarp across the surface of a pool so as to provide for an even spread. Also, in some embodiments, the drum rolls the tarp in two direction simultaneously so as to speed up the rolling and unrolling process. [0015] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. [0016] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. [0017] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [0018] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. [0019] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] FIG. 1 Exploded perspective view of a round tarp with its components. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Cleaning and aromatizing apparatus for urinal Next Patent Application: Swimming pool steps having integrated spa Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus for rolling and unrolling a swimming pool tarp patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 10.79982 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
