Garden pond cover apparatus

The invention relates to garden pond cover apparatus.

Many homes have a wildlife pond in the garden to attract wildlife such as frogs into the garden, or a fish pond in the garden or conservatory in which to keep larger specimen fish. While ponds can form an attractive focal point to a garden, they can also form a hazard, particularly for children and pets. Rather than filling in the pond, many parents or grandparents prefer to install a cover across the pond.

There are various known designs of garden pond covers, including those which comprise a grid arrangement designed to be mounted within the pond and to sit underneath the surface of the water, such as those described in GB2368789 and WO 02/14629. These types of pond cover suffer from the problem that if a child or pet falls into the pond, and onto the cover, they will still get wet and suffer a nasty shock. In addition, the support structure of these types of pond cover must be provided in the pond, and can be both difficult to install and disruptive of the ecosystem of the pond.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided garden pond cover apparatus comprising: a plurality of first cover elements, each being generally quadrant shaped in plan and comprising a rigid open mesh and a corner connector socket element provided at the apex of each cover element; corner connector means adapted to lockingly engage with a corner connector socket formed by the co-location of four corner connector socket elements, such that in use each corner connector means acts to lock four first cover elements together at their adjacently located corners, to thereby lock together the first cover elements to form a self-supporting garden pond cover.

The modular nature of the garden pond cover apparatus enables easy transportation and storage of the garden pond cover. The use of a rigid open mesh in the cover elements results in each cover element, and the resulting pond cover, being self supporting, so no supporting members are required to be placed in or across a pond to be covered.

The garden pond cover apparatus preferably further comprises a plurality of second cover elements, each being generally rectangular shaped in plan and comprising a rigid open mesh and first and second corner connector socket elements respectively provided at the corners of one end of the cover element, such that in use each corner connector means acts to lock four first and second cover elements together at their adjacently located corners, to thereby lock together the first cover elements and the second cover elements to form a self- supporting garden pond cover.

The different shapes of the first cover elements and the second cover elements enables the size of the pond cover to be formed to be easily varied to match the size of the pond to be covered. The shapes of the first and second cover elements enables this to be achieved using just two types of cover element, thereby minimising the number of different parts to be manufactured and supplied.

The first and second cover elements preferably have a curved profile, such that a garden pond cover formed from them is slightly domed in shape. The slight domed shape acts to encourage an object or person laying on the cover to roll off, thereby minimizing the time period for which the object or person is on the pond cover and the exposure of the pond cover to a load.

The first cover elements are preferably provided with a foot member which extends around at least part of their curved edges, the foot member being adapted to rest on ground surrounding the pond. The second cover elements are preferably each provided with a foot member which extends along at least part of its opposite end, the foot member being adapted to rest on ground surrounding the pond. In addition to forming a stable footing for the pond cover, the foot members act to reduce the amount of grass cuttings which fall into the pond when the surrounding grass is being cut. The foot members further act as a tactile warning marker which when stepped on can be felt by a child or animal's foot, thereby alerting them to the presence of the pond and the pond cover.

Each corner connector socket element is preferably generally quadrant shaped in plan. Preferably, each corner connector socket element comprises a generally quadrant shaped base having a connector aperture cut-out at the apex of the base, such that four collocated corner connector socket elements form a corner

connector socket which is generally circular in plan with a centrally located connector aperture. Each corner connector socket element may additionally comprise a plug aperture provided in the base. Each corner connector socket element may additionally an upstanding wall member provided around its curved edge.

Preferably, each corner connector means comprises a plug and socket connector means adapted to engage through the connector aperture of a respective corner connector socket. The plug and socket connector means preferably comprises a plug member carrying an eternally threaded plug element and a socket member carrying a correspondingly internally threaded socket element adapted to receive the plug element and to be located through a connector aperture, such that in use the base of a corner connector socket is sandwiched between the plug member and the socket member. The socket member may further comprise locating plugs adapted to engage with the plug apertures of a corner connector socket. The socket member may further comprise engagement means adapted to engage with one or more wall members of a corner connector socket.

The pond cover apparatus preferably further comprises a side connector socket element provided on each straight side of the first cover elements and on each side of the second cover elements, and a plurality of side connector members adapted to be received in and lockingly engage with a side connector socket formed by the co-location of two side connector socket elements.

Each side connector socket element is preferably generally semi-circular shaped in plan, such that two collocated side connector socket elements form a side connector socket which is generally circular in plan. Preferably, each side connector socket comprises a generally semi-circular shaped base having a pin aperture provided therein and having an upstanding wall member provided around its curved edge.

Preferably, each side connector member comprises a generally circular plug member having two plug pins extending outwardly from one side, the plug pins being adapted for locking engagement with the pin apertures. Preferably, the plug pins are adapted for push and twist locking engagement with the pin apertures.

The side connectors and sockets provide further connective strength between the cover elements of a pond cover, and ensure that the cover elements do not move up/down relative to each other when a load is present on the pond cover.

The pond cover apparatus may further comprise a plurality of third cover elements each being generally square shaped in plan and comprising a rigid open mesh and four corner connector socket elements respectively provided at each of the corners of the cover element. The third cover elements allow a pond cover that is wider than twice the maximum length of a second cover element to be formed.

Preferably, the connector socket elements are provided on the in-use underside of the respective cover elements, such that on a complete pond cover the operating part of the connectors are located on the underside of the pond cover and are thereby not accessible and cannot be released while the pond cover is located over a pond.

Preferably, the rigid open mesh comprises a spaced plurality of rigid elongate ribs and a spaced plurality of rigid cross-ribs. The ribs and cross-ribs are preferably formed from plastic, but may additionally comprise metal reinforcement elements provided therethrough.

The pond cover apparatus may further comprise fixing means adapted to fix one or more foot members of a pond cover to the surrounding ground, to thereby secure a pond cover in position over a pond.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation in perspective of part of a pond cover according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a first cover member of the pond cover of Figure 1 , shown (a) in perspective, and (b) from one side;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a second cover member of the pond cover of Figure 1 , shown (a) in perspective, and (b) from one side;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the socket element of the corner connector means of the pond cover of Figure 1 , shown (a) in perspective, (b) in plan, and (c) in cross-section;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the plug element of the corner connector means of the pond cover of Figure 1 , shown (a) in perspective, (b) in plan, and (c) in cross-section;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view along line K-K through the corner connector socket and connection means of the cover member of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a side connector of the pond cover of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation in part-exploded perspective of a pond cover according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention provides a pond cover 10 comprising a plurality of first cover elements 12, a plurality of second cover elements 14, a plurality of corner connectors 16 and a plurality of side connector members 18.

The first cover elements 12 are quadrant shaped in plan and curved in profile, as shown in Figure 2. The first cover elements 12 therefore have the general form of one quarter of a shallow circular dome. The first cover elements 12 comprise a rigid open mesh having the form of a plurality of, in this example nine, elongate ribs 20 and a second plurality of, in this example ten, cross ribs 22. The elongate ribs 20 are generally straight and are arranged in a substantially equally spaced relationship, in a fanned array. The outermost elongate rib 22 on each side of the first cover elements 12 form the straight edges of the first cover elements 12. The cross-ribs 22 are curved, each having substantially the same radius of curvature, and are arranged in a substantially equally spaced relationship along the length of the elongate ribs 20. Each first cover element 12 is also provided with a curved foot member 24 which extends around the curved edge of the first cover element 12 and connects the elongate ribs 20 at their ends opposite the apex of the first cover element 12.

Each first cover element 12 is provided with a corner connector socket element 26 at its apex and two side connector socket elements 28, one approximately at the mid-point of each elongate edge.

The second cover elements 14 are rectangular shaped in plan and curved in profile, as shown in Figure 3. In this example, the second cover elements are oblong rectangular shaped in plan but one or more may alternatively be square rectangular shaped in plan. The second cover elements 14 comprise a rigid open mesh having the form of a plurality of, in this example nine, elongate ribs 30 and a second plurality of, in this example eleven, cross ribs 32. The elongate ribs 30 are straight and are arranged in a substantially equally spaced relationship. The outermost elongate ribs 30 on each side of the second cover elements 14 form the straight edges of the second cover elements 14. The cross ribs 32 are also straight and arranged in a substantially equally spaced relationship across the elongate ribs 30. The cross ribs 32 of the second cover elements 14 are spaced by the same distance as the cross ribs 22 of the first cover members 12, as can be seen in Figure 1.

Each second cover element 14 is provided with two corner connector socket element 26, at the corners of one of its short sides, and with two side connector socket elements 28, located approximately at the mid-point of each of its long sides. Each second cover element 14 is also provided with a foot member 34 which extends along its other short side, connecting the elongate ribs 30. In this example, the first and second cover elements 12, 14 are made of rigid thermoplastic. However, where further strength is required, metal reinforcing elements may be provided through one or more of the elongate ribs 20, 30 and the cross ribs 22, 32.

The corner connector socket elements 26 each comprise a generally quadrant shaped base, the apex of the base being cut away to form a connector aperture, a pin aperture provided in the base, an upstanding wall member provided around the curved edge of the base, and an engagement aperture provided in the base, between the pin aperture and the wall. Each corner connector socket element 26 thereby defines one quarter of a corner connector socket - a complete corner connector socket of circular plan, having a central, circular connector aperture,

four pin apertures, and four engagement apertures, being formed by the collocation of four corner connector socket elements 26, as shown in Figure 1.

The corner connectors 16, shown in Figures 4 to 6, take the form of plug and socket connectors, each comprising a socket member 50 and a plug member 60. The socket member 50 comprises a socket plate 52 which carries a centrally located internally threaded socket 54, locating pins 56 and engagement arms 58. The engagement arms 58 are provided with engagement barbs 58a at their distal ends. The plug member 60 comprises a handle member 62 which carries a centrally located complementarily externally threaded plug 64 and a concentrically located wall member 66. The plug 64 extends beyond the distal end of the wall member 62. The handle member 62 is provided with finger engaging projections 62a, by which a user may securely grasp the handle member 62.

In use, a socket member 50 is located in a corner connector socket, from the in- use top of the pond cover 10, such that the socket 54 extends through the connector aperture and the locating pins 56 at least partially extend through the pin apertures. The engagement barbs 58a are located through their corresponding engagement apertures and brought into engagement with the walls of the corner connector socket (as shown in Figure 6). A plug member 60 is then located, from the in-use underside of the pond cover 10, into the socket member 50, the threaded plug 64 being screwed into the threaded socket 54 until the distal end of the wall member 66 abuts the base of the corner connector socket. The four cover elements 12, 14 are thereby locked together via their collocated corners. During use, the plug members 60 are inaccessible and so cannot be tampered with or accidentally released while the pond cover 10 is located over a pond.

The side connector socket element 28 each comprise a generally semi-circular shaped base having a pin aperture provided therein and an upstanding wall member provided around their curved edge. Each side connector socket element 28 thereby defines one half of a corner connector socket - a complete side connector socket of circular plan being formed by the collocation of two side connector socket elements 28, as shown in Figure 1.

The side connectors 18, as shown in Figure 7, comprise a generally circular plug member 42 which carries two plug pins 44 on one side. A manual operating handle 46 is provided on the other side of the plug member 42. The plug pins 44 are of a complementary cross-section to an insertion part of their corresponding pin apertures, such that the plug pins 42 may be push located through the insertion part of the corresponding pin apertures. The side connector 18 is inserted and rotated in a side connector socket in the same manner as the corner connector 16. Two adjacent cover elements 12, 14 are thereby additionally locked together via their collocated sides.

Figure 1 shows only part of a pond cover 10 formed from the pond cover apparatus, as the number of first cover elements 12, second cover elements 14 and connectors 16, 18 required to form a pond cover 10 will vary according to the size of the pond to be covered. For example, a relatively small pond cover 10 may be formed by attaching two further first cover elements 12 to the other side of the second cover elements 14 of Figure 1. A longer pond cover 10 may be formed by attaching further pairs of second cover elements 14 between the pairs of first cover elements 12.

A wider pond cover 10 may be formed by attaching one or more second pond cover elements 12 between the first cover elements 12 in each pair. In this case, the width of the pond cover 10 would then be wider than the maximum length of a pair of second cover elements 14. To fill this gap, the pond cover apparatus can additionally comprise one or more third cover elements (not shown) which are square and flat, their sides being the same length as the length of the short sides of the second cover elements 14. A corner connector socket element is provided at each corner of the third cover elements.

A pond cover 70 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 8. The pond cover 70 is substantially the same as the pond cover 10 of Figure 1 , with the following modifications.

In this embodiment the pond cover 70 is constructed from four first cover elements 12, to form a circular pond cover. The corner connector socket 72 formed by the collocation of the four corner connector socket elements 26 is shown in Figure 7.

The pond cover apparatus may therefore be used to build a pond cover 10 of a wide range of sizes, from just one, two or three different sized and shaped cover elements, connected together using the corner connectors and side connectors.