# US 5,701,613 A · Swimming pool cover assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,613 A - Document ID: US5701613A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/577,702 - Filed: 1995-12-22 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-22 - Inventors: Cedric D. Richardson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701613A ## CPC - E04H 4/082: {composed of flexibly or hingedly-connected slat-like elements, which may or may not be wound-up on a fixed axis (E04H4/088 takes precedence)} - E04H 4/101: {wound-up on a fixed axis} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A roll-up cover for a swimming pool comprises a continuous sheet of flexible reinforced plastic firmly attached to an aluminum roller with a number of reinforced loops at the free end of the plastic. The roller can be turned by a crank or wheel to roll the cover up, and a pull with a hooked end is used to unroll the cover by inserting it into one of the reinforced loops and pulling the cover off of the roller. The loop straps on the free end of the cover can be hooked at the end of the pull to keep the cover tight. The entire cover assembly is mounted on wheels so that it is of a portable construction, and it includes a debris removal and collection apparatus. The cover can be made of a plurality of interleaved pivotally connected members which is movable along the edges of a swimming pool by a plurality of rollers, and the cover is strong enough to support an adult or child in the event that they accidentally fall into the pool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A new and improved combined swimming pool cover and rollup apparatus comprising: a flexible cover for substantially covering a water surface of said swimming pool, said flexible cover comprising: a plurality of hinge rods; and a plurality of flexible sections, each said section having a plurality of integral conduits centrally distributed along opposing edges to matably interleave with an opposing section to form a single elongated hinge sleeve, each said hinge sleeve for receiving one of said plurality of hinge rods for pivotally attaching said flexible sections together to form said flexible cover; a rotatable elongated roller having an end of said flexible cover attached thereto; portable support means for selectively supporting said elongated roller proximate an edge of said swimming pool; a debris collection means for cleaning debris off of said flexible cover during a rolling thereof about said elongated roller and for collecting said debris for later disposal after said cover has been cleaned, said debris collection means further including a debris collection pan removably positionable beneath said elongated roller; a debris deflector positioned in a juxtaposed relationship to said elongated roller, whereby a surface of said flexible cover to be cleaned will be continuously drawn over said debris deflector during a rolling of said flexible cover about said elongated roller, thereby to removably deflect debris from said flexible cover during said rolling; and handle means attached to said elongated roller and being operable to effect a rotational movement of said elongated roller to roll and unroll said flexible cover thereabout, whereby debris deflected from said flexible cover by said debris deflector is collected in said debris collection pan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said debris deflector comprises an elongated brush positioned in a juxtaposed relationship to said elongated roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said portable support means comprises a first base attached to one end of said elongated roller and a second base attached to a second end of said elongated roller, said elongated roller be rotatably movable relative to said first and second bases. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first and second bases are provided with ground engaging wheels, thereby to facilitate a selective portable movement of said elongated roller and said flexible cover to and from a location proximate said swimming pool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said wheels on said first and second bases are selectively lockable against rotation, thereby to provide a means of securing said elongated roller and said flexible cover in a fixed location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 1 and further including rollers positioned on opposed ends of said plurality of hinge rods, said rollers being rotatably engageable with opposed sides of said swimming pool so as to support a rolling movement of said flexible cover over said swimming pool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 6 and further including debris collection means for cleaning debris off of said flexible cover during a rolling thereof about said elongated roller and for collecting said debris for later disposal after said cover has been cleaned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said debris collection means includes a debris deflector positioned in a juxtaposed relationship to said elongated roller, whereby a surface of said flexible cover to be cleaned will be continuously drawn over said debris deflector during a rolling of said flexible cover about said elongated roller, thereby removably deflecting debris from said flexible cover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said debris collection means further includes a debris collection pan removably positionable beneath said elongated roller, whereby debris deflected from said flexible cover by said debris deflector is collected in said debris collection pan. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said debris deflector comprises an elongated brush positioned in a juxtaposed relationship to said elongated roller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said portable support means comprises a first base attached to one end of said elongated roller and a second base attached to a second end of said elongated roller, said elongated roller be rotatably movable relative to said first and second bases. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said first and second bases are provided with ground engaging wheels, thereby to facilitate a selective portable movement of said elongated roller and said flexible cover to and from a location proximate said swimming pool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The new and improved combined swimming pool cover and roll-up apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said wheels on said first and second bases are selectively lockable against rotation, thereby to provide a means of securing said elongated roller and said flexible cover in a fixed location.