Container cover

Abstract

A cover suitable for use on a liquid containing reservoir. The cover is composed of an envelope of porous material. The envelope is subdivided into discrete independent compartments. The compartments each have access to the internal volume for purposes of receiving a charge of hollow spheres. A centrally disposed collection member is positioned at the intersection of the independent compartments. This position is effectively the centre of mass of the cover once charged with spheres and permits expedited positioning and adjustment of the cover on the surface of the liquid container. The independent compartments facilitate controlled consolidation of the spheres therein and allow for simple positioning and removal of the cover which was challenging with prior art arrangements. The latter typically had to be folded or rolled causing manipulation difficulties and causing potentially hazardous situations during manipulation. Advantageously, the present invention provides all of the benefits typically associated with spherical geometry in terms of precipitation run off and further provides for significant insulation capacity for the cover.

1 . A cover for a container, comprising:
 a first layer and a second layer of porous flexible material in overlying relation and joined about the periphery and therebetween to define a plurality of discrete compartments, said compartments adapted for retaining hollow spheres to provide insulative capacity for said cover; and   independent access means in each compartment to provide access thereto; and   hollow spheres disposed within each compartment to provide insulative capacity to said cover, said porous flexible material and said spheres having a specific gravity less than water to enable flotation in a container of water.   
     
     
         2 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , including buoyant independent members disposed within said compartments. 
     
     
         3 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said buoyant members comprise hollow spheres. 
     
     
         4 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material comprises net material. 
     
     
         5 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the layers are joined discontinuously while retaining said spheres. 
     
     
         6 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the layers are joined continuously about the periphery. 
     
     
         7 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said access means comprises a reclosable opening in each compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , further including connection means at an intersection of said compartments for facilitating positioning and removal of said cover. 
     
     
         9 . The cover as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said net material comprises HDPE. 
     
     
         10 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said spheres comprise HDPE. 
     
     
         11 . The cover as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said spheres have a similar diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The cover as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said spheres have a dissimilar diameter for the maximum filling of interstitial volume between spheres. 
     
     
         13 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises a quartet of compartments. 
     
     
         14 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said cover and spheres are composed of a material having a specific gravity of less than water. 
     
     
         15 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , in combination with a container containing water. 
     
     
         16 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , in combination with a pond containing water. 
     
     
         17 . The cover as set forth in  claim 2 , in combination with a pool containing water 
     
     
         18 . A surface cover for covering a surface of contained liquid, comprising:
 a first layer and a second layer of porous flexible material in overlying relation and joined about the periphery and therebetween to define a plurality of discrete compartments, said compartments adapted for retaining hollow spheres to provide insulative capacity for said cover;   independent access means in each compartment to provide access thereto; and   hollow spheres disposed within each compartment to provide insulative capacity to said cover, said porous flexible material and said spheres having a specific gravity less than water to enable flotation in a container of water.   
     
     
         19 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said cover includes a quartet of compartments. 
     
     
         20 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said compartments are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         21 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said compartments are substantially square. 
     
     
         22 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said compartments are generally sectors of an arc. 
     
     
         23 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , in combination with a container for containing water. 
     
     
         24 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , in combination with a pond containing water. 
     
     
         25 . The cover as set forth in  claim 18 , in combination with a pool.