Covered swimming pool and frame

Abstract

A covered swimming pool is comprised of an aboveground swimming pool, two spine brackets, a plurality of pairs of rib brackets, a flexible spine, a plurality of flexible rib pairs and a cover. The spine brackets are mounted to opposing ends of the rail of the pool. The rib bracket pairs are each mounted to opposing ends of the rail. The flexible spine is attached to the spine brackets such that the spine is bowed above the pool. Each flexible rib pair is transversely attached to the spine and a pair of rib brackets. The cover is draped over the spine, ribs and rail. The cover is secured to the rail with cover clips. Each cover clip is comprised of a tubular body having a lengthwise slit defining a pair of clamping surfaces. A flexible protective membrane is inserted between the clamping surfaces.

1 . A covered swimming pool comprising: 
 an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, said pool having a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls;    two spine brackets mounted to opposing ends of the rail;    a plurality of pairs of rib brackets, wherein the brackets of each respective rib pair are mounted to opposing ends of the rail;    a flexible spine attached to the spine brackets, the length of the flexible spine being greater than the distance between the spine brackets such that the spine is bowed above the pool;    a plurality of flexible rib pairs, each rib of each rib pair being transversely attached at one end to the spine and at the other end to a rib bracket, such that each of the ribs forming a rib pair is linearly aligned with each other, wherein the combined length of each rib pair is greater than the distance between the pair of opposing rib brackets to which the rib pair is attached such that the rib pair is bowed above the pool; and    a cover draped over the spine, ribs and rail.    
   
   
       2 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cover clips, each said cover clip comprising: 
 a tubular body having a lengthwise slit defining a pair of clamping surfaces; and    a flexible protective membrane fixed to the clamping surfaces, wherein the cover is secured to the rail between the clamping surfaces.    
   
   
       3 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein the spine and the ribs are comprised of plastic pipe.  
   
   
       4 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , comprising five rib pairs.  
   
   
       5 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the length of a centrally positioned inner rib pair and the distance between the rib brackets attaching that rib pair to the rail is greater than the differences between the respective lengths of the other rib pairs and the distances between the rib brackets to which they are attached, whereby a centrally positioned high point of the rib and spine assembly results therefrom along said centrally positioned inner rib pair.  
   
   
       6 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a rib receptacle attached to the spine for receiving a rib and attaching that rib to the spine, said rib receptacle comprising: 
 a semi cylindrical shell formed to mate with the spine; and    a socket adapted to receive the rib, the socket projecting from the semi cylindrical shell;    wherein the rib is attached to a rib bracket on the rail and the socket of the rib receptacle.    
   
   
       7 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the rib spine assembly is smooth.  
   
   
       8 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a screen for preventing insects and debris from contacting swimmers within the pool.  
   
   
       9 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 2 , wherein the pool walls and the rail are supported by vertically oriented pillars and wherein the length of each cover clip is approximately the distance between two adjoining pillars between which the clip is positioned.  
   
   
       10 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 9 , wherein each bracket is positioned over a pillar.  
   
   
       11 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brackets is comprised of: 
 a hook member adapted to be secured to an inner aspect of the rail; and    a head member extending from the hook member, said head member being adapted to fit to and secure a pool cover assembly structural member;    wherein the hook member is secured to the rail and the head member is attached to a pool cover assembly structural member.    
   
   
       12 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brackets is comprised of: 
 a horizontal bracket member adapted to be secured to a top surface of the rail; and    a vertical bracket member forming an acute angle with the horizontal bracket member, said vertical bracket member being adapted to fit to and secure a pool cover assembly structural member;    wherein the horizontal bracket member is mounted to the top surface of the rail and wherein the vertical bracket member is attached to a pool cover assembly structural member.    
   
   
       13 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brackets is comprised of: 
 a flexible strap adapted to be secured to the rail; and    a socketed elbow attached to the flexible strap, said socketed elbow being adapted to fit to and secure a pool cover assembly structural member;    wherein the flexible strap is mounted to the rail and wherein the socketed elbow is attached to a pool cover assembly structural member.    
   
   
       14 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the cover clips are fabricated from plastic pipe;    the cover clips each have a length approximately equal to the distance between two rail supporting pillars between which that cover is secured to the rail;    the spine is fabricated from plastic pipes joined together by a socketed connector;    the ribs are fabricated from plastic pipe;    the upper surfaces of the spine, ribs and connecting joints are smooth; and    the spine and ribs each terminate with a plastic pipe elbow connected to a bracket.    
   
   
       15 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 14 , wherein the brackets are common rain gutter brackets used to secure rain gutters to buildings.  
   
   
       16 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 14 , comprising five rib pairs and wherein the difference between the length of a centrally positioned inner rib pair and the distance between the rib brackets attaching that rib pair to the rail is greater than the differences between the respective lengths of the other rib pairs and the distances between the rib brackets to which they are attached, whereby a centrally positioned high point of the rib and spine assembly results therefrom along said centrally positioned inner rib pair.  
   
   
       17 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 15 , comprising five rib pairs and wherein the difference between the length of a centrally positioned inner rib pair and the distance between the rib brackets attaching that rib pair to the rail is greater than the differences between the respective lengths of the other rib pairs and the distances between the rib brackets to which they are attached, whereby a centrally positioned high point of the rib and spine assembly results therefrom along said centrally positioned inner rib pair.  
   
   
       18 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 14 , wherein the cover is a screen for preventing insects and debris from contacting swimmers within the pool.  
   
   
       19 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is a screen for preventing insects and debris from contacting swimmers within the pool.  
   
   
       20 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 16 , wherein the cover is a screen for preventing insects and debris from contacting swimmers within the pool.  
   
   
       21 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 17 , wherein the cover is a screen for preventing insects and debris from contacting swimmers within the pool.  
   
   
       22 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 14 , further comprising a rib receptacle attached to the spine for receiving a rib and attaching that rib to the spine, said rib receptacle comprising: 
 a semi cylindrical shell formed to mate with the spine; and    a socket adapted to receive the rib, the socket projecting from the semi cylindrical shell;    wherein the rib is attached to a rib bracket on the rail and the socket of the rib receptacle.    
   
   
       23 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 6 , wherein the rib receptacle is a plastic four-way socketed pipe connector cut in half along a longitudinal axis of the connector.  
   
   
       24 . The covered swimming pool of  claim 22 , wherein the rib receptacle is a plastic four-way socketed pipe connector cut in half along a longitudinal axis of the connector.  
   
   
       25 . A method for covering an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, wherein the pool has a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls, said method comprising: 
 mounting two spine brackets to opposing ends of the rail;    mounting a plurality of pairs of rib brackets to the rail such that the brackets of each respective rib pair are mounted to opposing ends of the rail;    attaching a flexible spine fabricated from plastic pipes joined together by a socketed connector, the length of said flexible spine being greater than the distance between the spine brackets, to the spine brackets such that the spine is bowed above the pool;    transversely attaching a plurality of flexible rib pairs fabricated from plastic pipe at one end to the spine and at the other end to a rib bracket, wherein the combined length of each rib pair is greater than the distance between the pair of opposing rib brackets to which the rib pair is attached, and wherein each of the ribs forming a rib pair is linearly aligned with each other, such that the rib pair is bowed above the pool; and    draping a cover over the spine, ribs and rail.    
   
   
       26 . The method for covering an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, wherein the pool has a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls of  claim 25 , comprising: 
 selecting a plurality of cover clips, each said cover clip comprising: 
 a tubular body having a lengthwise slit defining a pair of clamping surfaces; and  
 a flexible protective membrane fixed to the clamping surfaces; and  
   securing the cover to the rail between the clamping surfaces of the cover clips.    
   
   
       27 . The method for covering an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, wherein the pool has a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls of  claim 25 , wherein the brackets are common rain gutter brackets used to secure rain gutters to buildings.  
   
   
       28 . The method for covering an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, wherein the pool has a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls of  claim 26 , wherein the brackets are common rain gutter brackets used to secure rain gutters to buildings.  
   
   
       29 . A swimming pool cover frame for use on an aboveground swimming pool defined by one or more walls, said pool having a rail fixed to the upper periphery of the one or more walls, said frame comprising: 
 two spine brackets for mounting to opposing ends of the rail;    a plurality of pairs of rib brackets, wherein the brackets of each respective rib pair are for mounting to opposing ends of the rail;    a flexible spine attached to the spine brackets, said spine being fabricated from plastic pipes joined together by a socketed connector, the length of the flexible spine being greater than the distance between the spine brackets such that the spine is bowed above the pool when the spine brackets are mounted to the rail;    a plurality of flexible rib pairs, each rib being fabricated from plastic pipe, each rib of each rib pair being transversely attached at one end to the spine and at the other end to a rib bracket, such that each of the ribs forming a rib pair is linearly aligned with each other, wherein the combined length of each rib pair is greater than the distance between the pair of opposing rib brackets to which the rib pair is attached such that the rib pair is bowed above the pool when the rib brackets are mounted to the rail;    wherein the upper surfaces of the spine, ribs and connecting joints are smooth; and    wherein the spine and ribs each terminate with a plastic pipe elbow connected to a bracket.    
   
   
       30 . The swimming pool cover frame of  claim 29 , wherein the brackets are common rain gutter brackets used to secure rain gutters to buildings.  
   
   
       31 . The swimming pool cover frame of  claim 29 , comprising five rib pairs and wherein the difference between the length of a centrally positioned inner rib pair and the distance between the rib brackets attaching that rib pair to the rail, when the brackets are attached to the rail, is greater than the differences between the respective lengths of the other rib pairs and the distances between the rib brackets to which they are attached when those brackets are attached to the rail, whereby a centrally positioned high point of the rib and spine assembly results therefrom along said centrally positioned inner rib pair.  
   
   
       32 . The swimming pool cover frame of  claim 30 , comprising five rib pairs and wherein the difference between the length of a centrally positioned inner rib pair and the distance between the rib brackets attaching that rib pair to the rail, when the brackets are attached to the rail, is greater than the differences between the respective lengths of the other rib pairs and the distances between the rib brackets to which they are attached when those brackets are attached to the rail, whereby a centrally positioned high point of the rib and spine assembly results therefrom along said centrally positioned inner rib pair.