Cover apparatus including a cover assembly and at least one drive mechanism

A cover apparatus for covering a pool, comprising:

• a frame;
• a cover assembly at least partially supported by the frame, the cover assembly comprising a generally planar main portion having a side edge, and an edge portion adjoining the side edge of the main portion, the edge portion comprising an integral strip extending along a length of the edge portion, the strip comprising a plurality of apertures spaced apart along the length of the edge portion, and an enlarged outer lip having a generally circular cross section and extending continuously along the length of the edge portion adjacent to the plurality of apertures;
• and
• a drive mechanism coupled to the frame, the drive mechanism comprising a feed wheel comprising a plurality of protrusions spaced apart about an outer circumference of the feed wheel, and at least one guide element adjacent to the feed wheel,
• wherein the apertures receive the protrusions, so that the feed wheel engages the edge portion, and rotation of the feed wheel causes the cover assembly to move relative to the frame for advancing or retracting the cover assembly to cover or uncover the pool, respectively, and
• wherein the at least one guide element slidingly receives the outer lip of the edge portion, so that lateral movement of the outer lip is restricted, and the outer lip is guided by the drive mechanism when the cover assembly is advanced out of the drive mechanism so that the cover assembly is presented in a generally horizontal position to cover the pool.

A cover apparatus for covering a pool, comprising:

• a frame;
• a cover assembly at least partially supported by the frame, the cover assembly comprising a generally planar main portion having first and second side edges, and respective first and second edge portions adjoining the first and second side edges of the main portion, the first and second edge portions comprising first and second integral strips extending along a respective longitudinal extent thereof, each of the first and second strips comprising first engagement elements spaced apart along the respective longitudinal extent, and an enlarged outer lip extending continuously along the respective longitudinal extent adjacent to the respective first engagement elements, each of the first engagement elements being selected from one of protrusions and apertures that are sized and shaped to receive the protrusions;
• and
• first and second drive mechanisms coupled to the frame, the first and second drive mechanisms configured to respectively engage the first and second edge portions and move the cover assembly relative to the frame for advancing or retracting the cover assembly to cover or uncover the pool, respectively, each of the first and second drive mechanisms comprising a feed wheel, and second engagement elements spaced apart about an outer circumference of the feed wheel, each of the second engagement elements being selected from the other of the protrusions and the apertures, the second engagement elements interengaging with the first engagement elements so that rotation of the feed wheel causes the cover assembly to move relative to the frame, each of the first and second drive mechanisms further comprising at least one guide element adjacent to the respective feed wheel for slidingly receiving the outer lip of the respective edge portion, so that lateral movement of the outer lips are restricted, and the outer lips are guided by the first and second drive mechanisms when the cover assembly is advanced out of the first and second drive mechanisms so that the cover assembly is presented in a generally horizontal position to cover the pool.