[Para 1 ] The invention pertains to a safety pool cover for upper grou nd foldable swimming pools. More particu larly the invention pertains to a cheap, portable, storable and reusable swimming pool cover, easily spread over the pool for daily use, accumulating water and debris while the pool cover is deployed du ring periods of non-use and provides safety for children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[Para 2] Pool owners who own an above ground relatively cheap folding swimming pool also encou nter the problem of safety, when leaving the pool unattended even during short periods of non-use (overnight etc.). This kind of pools are temporarily installed and relatively cheap, therefore the existing covering solutions are unpractical for use in dismantling pools. For usually being more expensive than the pool itself and quite a hassle to assemble and disassemble.

[Para 3] Due to the increase of accidents to small children at home or in vacation resorts, safety regulation requires that swimming pools be inaccessible when in non-use. For a dismantling swimming pool, building fences around it is unpractical and expensive. Consequently there is a recognized need in the art for a cheap, portable, storable and reusable swimming pool cover, which is easily spread and folded for daily use, and still provides the necessary safety requ irement in an affordable price.

[Para 4] In the related art, several patents disclose improved su pport mechanisms for swimming pool covers including floatation devices, in- pool support devices and support frames that span the area above the pool. Most of such prior art gives the solution for, either in grou nd or above ground built pools.

[Para 5] A search of the prior art disclosed no patents that introduce directly the claims of the present invention. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which overcomes the problems referred to above.

[Para 6] The present invention is a cheap solution, affordable to all pool owners, where the cover may be logistically based on the pool structure, being part of the pool itself, or a separate add-on unit. In both cases it is easy to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Para 7] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a protective rigid pool cover.

[Para 8] Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention is, a flexible fabric enclosed in a rigid frame pool cover

(hereinafter referred to as "a rigid frame pool cover"), designed to replace conventional floating su pports with a protective cover that spans the area above the pool. The present invention is comprised of a flexible fabric fastened to a rigid (e.g. metal) pipe frame structure accurately fitted to the outer pool frame, covering the entire pool area, and easy to handle clamps that capture the pool pipe frame.

[Para 9] The fabric's shape depends upon the size and shape of the pool.

The fabric is cut in such a shape that equally spaced all around it are vaultings where the clamps are to be hooked.

[Para 1 0] The fabric is firmly fastened around the rigid pipe frame, in any known manner and has to accurately fit the outer pool frame.

[Para 1 1 ] The clamp has two entering spaces one for the pool frame and the other for the cover frame, closed with a stopper rod , which is infiltrated into the clamp, having on one side a screw head, and on the other, a hole for firmly locking the rod. On the lower side of the clamp is a unit for fastening the protective cover to the pool frame.

[Para 1 2] The clamps may be pinned onto the pool frame (or the cover frame). When the protective cover is placed on the pool, the cover pipe frame is pinned onto the clamps and firmly locked.

[Para 1 3] In order to remove the cover, the clamps are opened and the cover pipe frame is released from the clamp.

[Para 1 4] It is envisioned that the present invention is constructed of a flexible fabric selected from the group comprised of PVC.

[Para 1 5] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that does not need adjustment once in position. [Para 1 6] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device made from flexible but strong fabric, thereby giving the present invention high strength, durability, cost effectiveness, and ease of manufacture from readily available materials.

[Para 1 7] Another embodiment of the present invention is a rigid fixed pool cover. The rigid fixed pool cover comprising same material and clamps but on one side, the clamps are fixed by a lock and irremovable. When the pool is in-use, the cover is opened like a book at the opposite side to the side where the locks are installed. When using this embodiment, the spreading of the cover is quicker, easier and may be performed single handed.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a rigid pool cover comprising same material but the clamps comprise locks for fu rther safety, so that it is complicated for children to u nhook.

[Para 1 8] An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions.

The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any su itable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. [Para 1 9] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "some embodiments" or "other embodiments" means that a particu lar feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Para 20] Fig. 1 shows the components and shape of the fabric.

[Para 21 ] Fig. 2 shows the clamp and its functionality.

[Para 22] Fig. 3 shows the connection between the pipe of the frame

protective cover and the pipe of the pool frame.

[Para 23] Fig. 4 shows the method of fitting the cover to the pool

[Para 24] Fig. 5 shows the recommended points for fastening the protective cover to the pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[Para 25] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a flexible fabric enclosed in a rigid frame pool cover [1 01 ] that spans the area above the pool [1 08] (Fig.5), preferably connected to the outer pool frame at predetermined points, (e.g. [1 1 2]). The present invention is comprised of a flexible fabric[l 01 ) fastened to a rigid pipe frame[1 02] structu re accurately fitted to the outer pool frame, covering the entire pool area, and clamps[1 04] that captu re the pool pipe frame and the cover frame (Fig. 2).

[Para 26] The fabric's shape depends upon the size and shape of the pool.

The fabric is selected from the group comprised of PVC and cut in such a shape that, equally spaced across it, are vaultings [1 01 a] where clamps [1 04] are to be hooked (Fig. 1 ).

[Para 27] The fabric [1 01 ] is fastened arou nd the metal pipe frame [1 02] (Fig.

1 ) and has to accurately fit the outer pool frame (Fig. 4).

[Para 28] Clamp [1 04] has two entering spaces one [1 03] for the pool frame and the other [1 1 0] for the cover frame, closed with a stopper rod [1 05] which is infiltrated into clamp [1 04], having on one side, a screw head,[l 1 1 ] and on the other, hole [1 06] for firmly locking the rod. On the lower side of the clamp is u nit [1 07] for fastening the protective cover to pool frame [1 03] .

[Para 29] Clamps [1 04] are pinned onto pool frame [1 03] (or to cover frame

[1 02]). When protective cover [1 01 ] is placed on the pool [1 08] , cover pipe frame [1 02] is pinned onto the clamps and firmly locked (Fig 2).

[Para 30] In order to remove the cover, the clamps are opened by removing stopper rod [1 05] and the cover pipe frame is released from clamp [1 04].

[Para 31 ] Another embodiment of the present invention is a flexible fixed pool cover. The fixed pool cover [1 01 ] comprising same material and clamps [1 04] but on one side, the clamps are fixed by a lock and irremovable. When the pool is in-use, the cover is opened like a book at the opposite side to the side where the locks are installed. When using this embodiment, the spreading of the cover is qu icker, easier and may be performed single handed.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a pool cover comprising same material but the clamps comprise locks for fu rther safety, so that it is complicated for children to unhook.