Pool cover hinged sliding assembly

Abstract

Described is a hinged sliding assembly for a pool cover assembly including a slider member having a rod member and defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupleable to a pool cover, and a hinged rope lock member coupled to the rod member and positioned at least partially within the opening, wherein the hinged rope lock member is coupleable to a rope of the pool cover.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sliding assembly for a pool cover assembly comprising:
 a slider member defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupleable to a pool cover; and   a rope lock member coupled to the slider member and positioned at least partially within the opening, wherein:   the rope lock member is rotatable relative to the slider member; and   the rope lock member is coupleable to a rope of the pool cover.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slider member includes a rod member. 
     
     
         3 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rod member extends at least partially across the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rod member extends along an entire longitudinal length of the slider member. 
     
     
         5 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rope lock member is coupled to the rod member. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the rope lock member is snap-fit to the rod member. 
     
     
         7 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rod member extends along an entire longitudinal length of the rope lock member. 
     
     
         8 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rope lock member is laterally movable along a length of the rod member. 
     
     
         9 . The sliding assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the rope lock member is rotatable about the rod member. 
     
     
         10 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rope lock member is hingedly coupled to the slider member. 
     
     
         11 . A pool cover assembly comprising:
 a track;   a pool cover comprising a rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover; and   a sliding assembly moveable along the track, wherein the sliding assembly comprises:
 a slider member defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupled to the pool cover; and 
 a rope lock member coupled to the slider member proximate a first end of the rope lock member and coupled to the rope proximate a second end of the rope lock member, wherein;
 the rope lock member is positioned at least partially within the opening; and 
 the rope lock member is rotatable relative to the slider member. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the rope lock member is slidably coupled to the slide member such that the rope lock member is slideable between a first surface of the slide member and a second surface of the slide member. 
     
     
         13 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface and the second surface defines the opening therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the rope lock member is snap-fit to the rope. 
     
     
         15 . A method of extending or retracting a pool cover, the method comprising:
 applying a force to a rope, wherein the rope extends along at least one edge of the pool cover and is coupled to a hinged rope lock member of a pool cover assembly, wherein the pool cover assembly comprises:
 a track; 
 the pool cover comprising the rope extending along at least one edge of the pool cover; and 
 a sliding assembly moveable along the track, wherein the sliding assembly comprises:
 a slider member defining an opening, wherein the slider member is coupled to the pool cover; and 
 a rope lock member coupled to the slider member proximate a first end of the rope lock member and coupled to the rope proximate a second end of the rope lock member, wherein:
 the rope lock member is positioned at least partially within the opening; and 
 the rope lock member is rotatable relative to the slider member; 
 
 
   first moving, in response to the applying a force step, the rope lock member relative to the slider member in a first direction; and   second moving, in response to the first moving step, the slider member relative to the track to extend the pool cover.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein first moving the rope lock member includes sliding the rope lock member relative to the slider member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising rotating the rope lock member relative to the slider member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the slider member includes a rod member, and wherein the method further comprises:
 rotating the rope lock member about the rod member, and   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rod member extends at least partially across the opening.