FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a frame for a pool cover. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a frame for a pool cover which is universally adaptable to fit to different sized and shaped pools.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Floating pool covers are well known to cover the body of water in a pool. Use of a pool cover can reduce the amount of pool chemicals required to maintain the pool. Pool covers also limit water evaporation, thereby conserving water. Pool covers are designed to stop debris from entering the pool, thereby minimizing the use of a pool pump to clean the pool. Less use of the pool pump equates to savings in electricity. A pool cover which effectively blocks out almost all light to the pool may negate any use of the pool pump while the pool is covered. Debris kept out of the pool by a floating pool cover may, however, accumulate on the cover, which is unsightly. Floating pool covers have a limited life as they are attacked by the chemicals in the water they float on.

To overcome some of these problems, various frame and cover combinations have been suggested. The frames generally span the area above the surface of the pools and the covers are releasably fixed to the frames or the coping surrounding the pools.

US Patent 5970531 (Demby) teaches an A-frame like wooden structure which can be wheeled over a pool. With a pool cover placed over the structure, a tent-like shape is achieved that allows debris and water to run off the pool cover. The structure of Demby is not collapsible and would thus be unsightly when stored. The structure of Demby is also primarily adapted for use with rectangular-shaped pools.

US Patent 3855643 (Sanford) teaches a skeleton frame mounted over a swimming pool. The frame comprises a number of pipe sections connected by fittings. The frame has to be assembled by connecting all the pipe section to the fittings. The frame is not readily collapsible and has to be dismantled in order to be neatly stowed away. The frame of Sanford is similar to the structure of Demby as both are primarily adapted for use with rectangular-shaped pools only.

US Patent 4257132 (Kerby) is for a collapsible pool cover assembly comprising a number of individual support members which arch between opposite sides of a pool. In order to install the pool cover assembly of Kerby, each support member must be individually placed between the opposite sides of the pool. The support members are spaced and free standing relative to one another. It will thus be cumbersome and time consuming to install all of the support members of Kerby.

In this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system and/or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved frame for a pool cover, which addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved frame for a pool cover, which is easily installed and collapsed to be stowed away.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest aspect, the present invention resides in a frame for a pool cover, the frame comprising: a first leg having opposite ends;

a second leg having opposite ends, the second leg pivotally connected to the first leg about a pivot axis intermediate the opposite ends of the first leg in an arrangement wherein the legs can be splayed open relative to each other; and

feet at the opposite ends of each leg, the feet operable to engage a rim region of a pool when the legs are splayed open.

Preferably, the legs are centrally connected to one another in a scissor arrangement.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pool cover assembly comprising the frame as defined and described hereinabove and a pool cover fitted over the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like features have like reference numerals, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed side view of part of one of the legs of the frame of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of part of the frame where the legs are pivotally connected;

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 1 installed over a rectangular pool to support a pool cover;

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a pool cover supported by the frame of FIG. 1 ;

. FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 1 installed over a kidney-shaped pool; and

FIG. 8 shows s perspective view of a frame according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG's 1 to 4, a frame 10 provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The frame 10 is operable to be located at a pool as a support structure for a pool cover. The frame 10 comprises first and second legs 12 and four feet 14 connected to the legs 12 at opposite ends of the legs 12.

The legs 12 are pivotally connect to each other by a pivot bolt 18 which extends through centrally located holes in each of the legs 12. The holes are centrally located as they are midway between opposite ends 20 of the legs 12. The midway point is intermediate the opposite ends of the legs 12. The bolt 18 has a pivot axis 24 about which the legs 12 are pivotable. The legs 2 can be splayed open and closed in a scissor arrangement. A splay angle a is defined between the legs 12. The frame 10 includes constraints in the form of a pair of opposite tension lines 22 which extend between end regions of the legs 12. The tension lines 22 have hooks 23 fixed at their opposite ends to releasably connect the tension lines to rings 25 at the end regions of the legs 12. The tension lines 22 include a buckle 27 whereby the lengths of the tension lines 22 are adjusted. The tension lines 22 keep the legs 12 splayed open and prevents a decrease in the splay angle a whilst connected between the legs 12. The constraints may alternatively be a helical spring located about the pivot bolt 18 and urging the legs 12 open.

The legs 12 each comprise main parts 28 and telescopic sliding parts 30. The main parts 28 and the sliding parts 30 are of marine grade stainless steel, but may similarly be of any suitable material, including plastics material. The main parts 28 and the sliding parts 30 are cylindrical, but may be of any geometric shape in cross-section. The sliding parts 30 are slidably received in the main parts 28 at opposite ends of the main parts 28. As such, the sliding parts 30 have an external diameter which is slightly less than the internal diameter of the main parts 28. The legs 12 are thus longitudinally extendible by telescoping the sliding parts 30 into and out of the main parts 28. The rings 25 may be fixed to either the sliding parts 30 or of the main parts 28 (as shown in the drawings).

The frame 10 includes locking mechanisms in the form of winged bolts 32 which screw into the main parts 28 where the sliding parts 30 overlap the main parts 28. Nuts are welded onto the outside of the main parts 28, into which the bolts 32 screw. The bolts 32 are screwed into the main parts 28 so that ends of the bolts 32 press against the sliding parts 30, thereby releasably friction locking the sliding parts 30 in position relative to the main parts 28.

The main parts 28 are substantially bow-shaped having a flat apex section 34 where the bolt 18 skewers the legs 12, and sloping sections 36 angled downward from the apex section 34.

The sliding parts 30 are bent to have a first section 40 which is generally parallel to the flat apex section 34 and a second section 38 which is at the same angle as the sloping sections 36. The second sections 38 of the sliding parts 30 are received in the sloping sections 36 of the main parts 28. The connection between the sliding parts 30 and the main parts 28 are particularly illustrated in FIG. 3.

The feet 14 are pivotally connected to the legs 12 by a swivel mechanism 42. Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the swivel mechanism 42 comprises a bolt 44 extending through a hole in the first section 40 of the sliding part 30. The bolt 44 is fixed to the foot 14 at one end and the head of the bolt 44 abuts the sliding part 30 at the other end. The bolt 44 has a pivot axis 48 about which the foot 14 swivels. The pivot axis 48 is generally parallel to the pivot axis 24 of the bolt 18 about which the legs 12 are pivotable. The feet 14 are generally L-shaped in cross-section having a horizontal plate 50 and a vertical plate 52 which are square to each other. The bolt 44 is fixed to the horizontal plate 50. The feet 14 include non-slip padding 53 adhered to the operative inside of the feet 14.

FIG. 5 shows the frame 10 installed at a pool 54, in use. The pool 54 has peripheral coping 56 forming a rim region with a rim 58 of the pool 54. The pool 54 has no-trip dome hooks 60 set in the coping 56. The hooks 60 are spaced along the coping 56 about the rim 58 of the pool 54. The frame 10 is splayed open so that the feet 14 engage the rim 58 of the pool 54, effectively locating the frame 10 relative to the pool 54. The tension lines 22 keep the legs 12 splayed open and so that the feet 14 are kept in engagement with the rim 58. The pool 54 is rectangular having a length "L" and a width "W". The frame 10 may be adjusted in a number of ways to fit the pool 54. For wider pools, the frame 10 may be splayed open further by increasing the splay angle a, and the legs 12 extended by telescoping the sliding parts 30 out of the main parts 28. This ensures that the frame 10 sits over most of the pool 54, irrespective of the aspect ratio (length versus width) of the pool 54. For narrower pools, the legs 12 may be splayed open less by decreasing the splay angle a and depending on the length of the pool, the legs 12 may be extended. The frame 10 is thus readily adjustable to pools of different aspect ratios. The feet 14 swivel to engage the rim 58, irrespective of the angle at which the legs 12 are to the rim 58.

FIG. 6 shows a pool cover assembly 100 comprising the frame 10 and a pool cover 102 supported by the frame 10. The pool cover 102 is dimensioned and configured to be positioned over the frame 10 and have its periphery fixed to the coping 56 of the pool 54. The frame 10 elevates the pool cover about 500mm above the coping 54, at the highest point of the frame 10. The pool cover 102 has holes 104 along its periphery formed in a hem of the pool cover 102. The pool cover 102 is fixed in position by shock cords 206 which extend through the holes 04 and are hooked onto the hooks 60 fixed to the coping 56. The pool cover 102 may be of any suitable material, but is preferably of rip-stop material and of a weight of 680 g/m ² . One example of such a material is Protex Tarpaulin ETS available from Paskal Australia. This is a tarpaulin fabric which is acrylic lacquered on both sides. The pool cover 102 provides almost complete blackout to the body of water in the pool 54.

FIG. 7 shows the frame 10 mounted to a kidney-shaped pool 200.

The adjustability of the frame 10 is demonstrated particularly well in FIG. 6. The sliding parts 30 of each member 12 is individually adjusted to protrude a distance from the main parts 28 to adapt to the shape and size of the pool 200. Specifically, a sliding part 30.1 is shown being extended out further than the other three sliding parts 30. Similarly, the angle a is selected so that the frame 10 fits the shape and size of the pool 200.

FIG. 8 shows a frame 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The frame 300 is similar to the frame 10, with the main difference being that feet 340 of the frame 300 are adapted to engage a rim region 302 of the pool 54 by standing on the coping 56 of the pool 54. Features of the frame 300 which are the same/similar as the features of the frame 10 are designated by the same reference numerals in FIG 8. The feet 340 are downwardly bent end regions of sliding parts 330 of the legs 12. The feet 340 have rubber boots 342 which engage the coping 56. The frame 300 includes two tension lines 322, 324 which work against each other. The tension lines 322,324 are square relative to each other. Tension line 322 operates to splay the legs 12 open. Tension line 324 operates to splay the legs 12 closed. By adjusting the tension in the tension lines 322,324 the splay angle a may be changed so that the frame is configured to fit the pool 54.

The frames 10, 300 are readily adjustable and configurable to fit many pool shapes and sizes. Each foot 14, 340 is displaceable relative to the otherfeet 14, 340 for universal adaptability of the frame 10 to different sized and shaped pools. The frames 10, 300 are easily collapsed and may be conveniently stowed away. To collapse the frame 10, 300, the hooks 23 of the tension lines 22 are unhooked from the rings 25 and the frame 10, 300 is then collapsed by folding the legs 12 so they overlap each other in an arrangement wherein the splay angle a is 0 degrees. Supporting a pool cover above a pool has a number of benefits, including:

• minimizing the required use of the pool pump, and thus saving electricity;

· minimize the evaporation of water from the pool, and thus conserving water;

• a safety feature to prevent accidental pool drownings; • aesthetically pleasing;

• rain water is shed off the pool cover; and

• debris such as leaves and dust do not accumulate on the pool cover and is blown off the cover.

Throughout the specification, the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.