Spool
AssigneeNeumann Steel PTY, Ltd.
InventorsRobert Niven Walton, Lawrence John Walton, Duncan B Gilmore, Nicholas D Agnew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spool (1) for use with a swimming pool cover or with a shade cover. The spool (1) has a roller assembly (4), and a cover (not shown) may be wound onto the roller assembly (4) or unwound from the assembly (4). The roller assembly (4) has a pre-tensioned rubber strip (22) that when viewed in transverse cross-section is substantially rectangular in shape and two opposing sides of the rectangle are notched. This strip (22) is tensioned when the cover is unwound from the spool (1) and a locking mechanism retains the cover in a desired unwound position against the tension of the rubber strip (22).
Claims18
A spool for covers, the spool having a roller assembly, at least one cover attached to the roller assembly and adapted to be wound onto the roller assembly and unwound from the assembly, the roller assembly including a rubber member that when viewed in transverse cross-section is substantially rectangular in shape and two opposing sides of the rectangle are notched, which member may be tensioned when the cover is unwound from the spool.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rubber member may be pre-tensioned such that when the cover is fully retracted the rubber member is still under tension.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rubber member comprises natural rubber having a Shore hardness of 50.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roller assembly includes a sleeve about which the cover may be wound, and the rubber member is located within the sleeve.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roller assembly includes at least one handwheel.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spool has a releasable locking mechanism operable for retaining the cover in a desired unwound position against the tension of the rubber member.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spool is carried by a stand consisting of two spaced stand members.
The spool of any one of the preceding claims when used with a pool cover.
A shade cover assembly having:
- a roller assembly, at least one cover attached to the roller assembly and adapted to be wound onto the roller assembly and unwound from the assembly, the roller assembly including a rubber member that when viewed in transverse cross-section is substantially rectangular in shape and two opposing sides of the rectangle are notched, which member may be tensioned when the cover is unwound from the spool;
- and
- a plurality of substantially vertical stand members, wherein the spool is adjustably mounted to two of the members, and when the cover is extended, a free end of the cover may be adjustably mounted to at least one other member, wherein the spool and the free end of the cover may be raised or lowered relative to the members independently of one another.
A spool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of FIGS. 1 and 2, or FIGS. 3 and 4, or FIGS. 6 and 7, or FIG. 9.
A shade cover assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 3-5 and 9, or FIGS. 6-9.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.