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US 8,069,504 B1Granted
Bladder for winterizing a swimming pool
OwnerWilliam C. Greenfield, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable domed pool bladder for use when winterizing swimming pools is herein disclosed, comprising a large inflatable bladder which covers the entire pool surface wherein a center of the dome is higher than the sides. In this manner when a conventional pool cover is installed over the bladder, it is kept above the level of the side walls of the swimming pool and any rain, snow, leaves or other debris are unable to accumulate. The bladder prevents water from pooling on the cover, reducing the risk of drowning by young children or pets. Also, a potential cost savings results from improved water retention efficiency within the swimming pool.
Claims17
A winterizing system for placement thereon a swimming pool comprises:
- an inflatable bladder body, comprising a plurality of air chambers separated by a plurality of dividing inner walls;
- an attachment means for attaching said bladder body thereto a support structure;
- and,
- an inflating means in fluid communication therewith said plurality of air chambers;
- wherein said inflatable bladder body comprises an outer diameter conforming to said swimming pool;
- wherein a pool cover is placed over said inflatable bladder body;
- wherein said inflatable bladder prevents rainwater, snow, ice or other debris from collecting thereon said pool cover;
- wherein said inflatable bladder provides an improved retention of water therein said swimming pool;
- wherein said inflating means provides a selectable means therefor an inflation or a deflation thereto said plurality of air chambers;
- wherein said inflatable bladder body once inflated further comprises a dome-shaped structure further comprising
- a cylindrical outer wall;
- a planar floor portion sealed thereto a bottom periphery thereof said outer wall with a lower seam;
- a dome portion sealed thereto an upper periphery thereof said outer wall with an upper seam;
- and,
- said plurality of dividing inner walls each sealed thereto opposing inner surfaces thereof said outer wall, said floor portion, and said dome portion with an inner seam, thereby defining said plurality of air chambers therewithin;
- wherein said plurality of inner walls provide a shaping means to maintain a dome-shape thereof said inflatable bladder body;
- and,
- wherein said plurality of inner walls provide an isolation means in an event of a leak or puncture thereof an individual air chamber;
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has axially opposed ends connected to said opposing inner surfaces of said outer wall;
- and,
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has a linear bottom-most edge directly attached to said floor portion and further has a linear top-most edge directly attached to said dome portion.
18 more elements
A winterizing system for placement thereon a swimming pool comprises:
- an inflatable bladder body, once inflated further comprising:
- a cylindrical outer wall;
- a planar floor portion sealed thereto a bottom periphery thereof said outer wall with a lower seam;
- a dome portion sealed thereto an upper periphery thereof said outer wall with an upper seam;
- a plurality of dividing inner walls each sealed thereto opposing inner surfaces thereof said outer wall, said floor portion, and said dome portion with an inner seam, thereby defining a plurality of air chambers therewithin;
- and,
- a plurality of tie-down loops equidistantly spaced thereabout said upper seam and each comprising a semi-circular sewn-in appendage thereof said upper seam;
- a plurality of tie-downs each comprising a hooking means at a first end removably attachable thereto an individual tie-down loop and an anchoring means at a second end thereto secure said system thereto a support structure;
- and,
- an inflating means, further comprising:
- an air compressor, comprising an air inlet nozzle and an air outlet nozzle;
- an air hose in fluid communication therewith and removably attached thereto said air compressor at a proximal end;
- a bladder fill nozzle attached thereto and in fluid communication therewith a distal end thereof said air hose;
- a power supply cord in electrical communication therewith a power source;
- and,
- a power switch in electrical communication therewith said air compressor, providing a selectable switching means to supply power therefrom said power source thereto said air compressor;
- wherein said inflatable bladder body comprises an outer diameter conforming to said swimming pool;
- wherein said plurality of inner walls provide a shaping means thereto said inflatable bladder body and an isolation means in an event of a leak or puncture thereof an individual air chamber;
- wherein a pool cover is placed over said inflatable bladder body;
- wherein said inflatable bladder prevents rainwater, snow, ice or other debris from collecting thereon said pool cover;
- wherein said inflatable bladder provides an improved retention of water therein said swimming pool;
- wherein said inflating means provides a selectable means therefor an inflation or a deflation thereto said plurality of air chambers;
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has axially opposed ends connected to said opposing inner surfaces of said outer wall;
- and,
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has a linear bottom-most edge directly attached to said floor portion and further has a linear top-most edge directly attached to said dome portion.
22 more elements
A method of installing a winterizing system for a swimming pool with a dome-shaped inflatable bladder comprising the following steps:
- providing said inflatable bladder, once inflated further comprising:
- a cylindrical outer wall;
- a planar floor portion sealed thereto a bottom periphery thereof said outer wall with a lower seam;
- a dome portion sealed thereto an upper periphery thereof said outer wall with an upper seam;
- a plurality of dividing inner walls each sealed thereto opposing inner surfaces thereof said outer wall, said floor portion, and said dome portion with an inner seam, thereby defining a plurality of air chambers therewithin;
- said plurality of air chambers each further comprising:
- an air valve located thereon an outer surface thereof said dome portion;
- and,
- an air valve seal cap removably attached thereto said air valve, said air valve seal cap is tethered thereto an outer surface thereof said air valve;
- and,
- a plurality of tie-down loops equidistantly spaced thereabout said upper seam and each comprising a semi-circular sewn-in appendage thereof said upper seam and a corrosion-resistant eyelet;
- draining a volume of water therefrom said swimming pool to provide room for said inflatable bladder to rest thereupon a water surface and to correctly position in a vertical position;
- placing said inflatable bladder thereupon said water surface such that said each air valve thereof said plurality of air chambers is positioned slightly above a wall thereof said swimming pool;
- attaching a hooking means thereof a plurality of tie-downs thereto an eyelet thereof an individual tie-down loop;
- anchoring said plurality of tie-downs thereto a support structure therewith an anchoring means;
- and,
- selectively choosing an inflation process or a deflation process thereto said inflatable bladder;
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has axially opposed ends connected to said opposing inner surfaces of said outer wall;
- and,
- wherein each of said dividing inner walls has a linear bottom-most edge directly attached to said floor portion and further has a linear top-most edge directly attached to said dome portion.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.