US 5,950,253 A · Track assembly for flexible enclosure covers

Abstract

A track assembly for allowing movement of a flexible enclosure cover over an area to be enclosed as, for example, a body of water in a swimming pool. The assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart tracks mounted on opposite sides of the area to be enclosed with each being comprised of an elongate strip. Each track strip comprises a cable receiving channel with a gutter or debris trough located generally beneath the channel for collection of debris. Preferably, a slider can be located in the cable receiving channel for locking to the cable and for securement of the cover to the cable. The track can be constructed to also allow for lubrication of the cable receiving channel anabling a slider mechanism to freely move therein. When a slider is used, it extends into each channel at approximately a 45.degree. angle with respect to a vertical direction. In accordance with this construction, debris which might otherwise collect in the cable receiving channel will drop into the gutter and will not interfere with movement of the slider mechanism or the leading edge of the cover. The slider may be adjustably secured to a rigid body which is, in turn, secured to the leading edge of the cover, and which allows side-to-side adjustment of the leading edge. Adjustment in the 45.degree. angulated plane could reduce bending moment forces on the slider and track.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A track for moving a leading edge of a flexible cover over an area to be enclosed and allowing for withdrawing of the flexible cover from a position over the area to be enclosed, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongate track forming strip mounted adjacent an edge of the area to be enclosed;
b) a cable receiving channel in said elongate strip;
c) a cable slider extending into said cable receiving channel for sliding movement therein and having means to pull with it the leading edge of a flexible cover;
d) a recess located beneath said cable receiving channel in communication with said cable receiving channel and forming a gutter to collect debris and which is allowed to fall from the cable receiving channel into the gutter by force of gravity and by agitation through movement of the cable, and where the debris collected in the gutter is readily movable within the gutter to an open end of said gutter for removal therefrom;
and
e) an opening between said channel and said gutter enabling debris which enters said channel to drop by force of gravity and agitation through movement of the cable into said gutter so that the debris will not interfere with movement of the cable in the cable receiving channel of the track.

3 more elements

A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with tracks of the assembly in a position where they would be generally flush with the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) a pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of the opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;
b) a cable receiving channel in each of said elongate tracks;
c) a separate slider extending into a separate cable receiving channel in each of said pair of tracks for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
d) a separate rigid body mounted on and being movable with each said slider and operatively carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
and
e) adjusting means to enable an adjustable sliding movement of the rigid body relative to the slider during movement of the slider at each track to reduce any twisting moment during pulling of the cover and thereby reduce any possibility of jamming.

3 more elements

A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with a pair of spaced apart tracks of the assembly in a position where they would be located at the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) mounting means for mounting each of the pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of a pair of opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;
b) a cable receiving channel in each of said elongate tracks;
c) a separate slider extending into a separate cable receiving channel in each of said tracks at approximately an acute angle therein for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
d) a separate slider body mounted on and being movable with each said slider and carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
e) A gutter in each said track located generally beneath the cable receiving channel of that track to receive and collect debris that may land in the cable receiving channel and which will fall into the gutter beneath the cable receiving channel by the force of gravity and agitation through movement of the cable;
and
f) an opening existing between said gutter and said cable receiving channel with said opening lying in a plane extending through said slider so that the slider and opening are located relation to one another at about a 45.degree. angle relative to the vertical and to the track.

4 more elements

A track and slider assembly for allowing sliding movement of a leading edge of a swimming pool cover over a body of water in a swimming pool with first and second spaced apart elongate tracks of the assembly located at the deck of the swimming pool, said assembly comprising:

a) mounting means on each said first and second pair of spaced apart elongate tracks with each track adapted for mounting to one of the opposite sides of the swimming pool in generally parallel relationship;
b) a cable receiving channel in said first track;
c) a slider extending into said cable receiving channel in said first track for sliding movement therein and adapted to cause a pulling of the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
d) a rigid body mounted on and being movable with said slider and operatively carrying with it the leading edge of the swimming pool cover;
and
e) first adjusting means to enable an adjustable sliding movement of the rigid body relative to the slider during movement of the slider at said first track to reduce any twisting moment during pulling of the cover and thereby reduce any possibility of jamming.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Track assembly for flexible enclosure covers

Life of this patent

Track assembly for flexible enclosure covers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30