A device for covering (1) a surface (3) encompassed in a rectangle, having lengths extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) and having widths extending parallel to a transverse axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), the device comprising:
- (a) a substantially rectangular cover (10) having dimensions equal to those of the rectangle and having first and second longitudinal edges opposing one another and first and second transverse edges opposing one another, each longitudinal edge being provided with a protruding element (12) extending along said each longitudinal edge in which the protruding element of each longitudinal edge defines a profile in section, perpendicular to the corresponding longitudinal edge, having a minimum diameter (d),
- (b) two rails (6) placed on either side of said surface (3) parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), each rail consisting of a profile having an opening (14) on one of its faces and orientated away from the surface to be covered, the opening providing access to a space (14e) in the rail, defining with the opening a groove extending along the length of each rail,
- (c) a drum (2) having a radius (R) mounted in rotation so as to be capable of winding up and unwinding the cover (10) which is fixed to the drum by its first transverse edge, said drum (2) being mounted on a mechanism for longitudinal translation, permitting the longitudinal translation of the drum along the two rails in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) bringing about the unwinding of the cover and its deployment over the surface (3) to be covered, and in a second direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) bringing about the winding up of the cover and its removal from said surface (3),
- (d) a deflection pulley (13) provided on each side of the surface to be covered, making it possible to guide and position said protruding element (12) of each longitudinal edge of the cover relative to the opening (14) of the corresponding rail (6) during the translation in the first direction of the drum bringing about the unwinding of the cover,
- (e) a system (16) for the continuous insertion of the protruding element (12) of the longitudinal edges of the cover (10) through the opening (14) and into the space (14e) of said rails (6),
- characterized in that
- in a section perpendicular to each longitudinal edge of the cover, the corresponding protruding element (12) defines a convex geometry, wherein a convex geometry is defined as a planar geometry defined by a closed perimeter which any straight line may not pass through more than twice,
- in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), the opening (14) of the groove has a maximum width (Lo) and the space (14e) has a maximum width (Le) greater than the maximum width (Lo) of the opening (14) (Lo<Le), where the maximum widths (Lo, Le) are measured parallel to the transverse axis (Y) and in that
- the protruding element (12) of each longitudinal edge and the groove of the corresponding rail are configured such that, once inserted into the space (14e) by the insertion system, the protruding element occupying the space (14e) alone cannot be removed solely by the action of a force (F) applied parallel to the transverse axis (Y) in the direction of the surface to be covered.