Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – Accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-05
2001-05-01
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
Accessory
C473S466000, C248S157000, C248S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223358
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a convertible pool cover support and more particularly pertains to supporting an above-ground pool cover in an elevated position on a pool and converting into volleyball net for use in the pool.
Typical swimming pool covers effectively cover swimming pools, but tend to allow water and debris to accumulate thereon which tends to stretch out the cover or otherwise cause irreparable damage thereto. Improvements have been made to pool covers in the form of support structures that serve to elevate the pool cover, while at the same time covering the swimming pool, so as to prevent any water or debris from accumulating on the pool cover. When not in use, these support structures typically have no other use. Since the use of games and the like are commonplace with swimming pools, making an effort to convert these support structures into a useful game would seem like a sensible idea.
The present invention attempts to solve the abovementioned problem by providing a pool cover support that can also easily convert into a volleyball net for use in the swimming pool.
The use of pool covers is known in the prior art. More specifically, pool covers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of covering swimming pools are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,907 to Horvath discloses a pool cover support for supporting a pool cover above a pool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,889 to Lof discloses a swimming pool cover that overhangs several inches over the pool for securement of foamed plastic cylinders therein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,132 to Kerby discloses a collapsible pool cover assembly including a plurality of slidably extendable support members. U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,503 to Dalene et al. discloses a swimming pool dome comprised of a plurality of inflatable sections.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a convertible pool cover support for supporting an above-ground pool cover in an elevated position on a pool and converting into volleyball net for use in the pool.
In this respect, the convertible pool cover support according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting an above-ground pool cover in an elevated position on a pool and converting into volleyball net for use in the pool.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved convertible pool cover support which can be used for supporting an above-ground pool cover in an elevated position on a pool and converting into volleyball net for use in the pool. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of pool covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved convertible pool cover support. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved convertible pool cover support which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a fixed support portion comprised of a pair of inverted T-shaped members. Each of the inverted T-shaped members include a lower horizontal portion and an upper vertical portion. The lower horizontal portions each have a pair of anchor holes therethrough. The upper vertical portions each have a plurality of vertically aligned apertures therethrough. A pool cover supporting portion is provided that is comprised of a third inverted T-shaped support positionable between the pair of inverted T-shaped members of the fixed support portion. The third inverted T-shaped support includes a lower horizontal portion and an upper vertical portion. The upper vertical portion has a plurality of vertically aligned apertures therethrough. The pool cover supporting portion includes a pair of L-shaped members each having lower vertical portions and upper horizontal portions. The lower vertical portions and the upper horizontal portions each have linearly aligned apertures therethrough. The lower vertical portions each have open lower ends for coupling with the upper vertical portions of the inverted T-shaped members of the fixed support member with aligned apertures thereof receiving cotter pins. The upper horizontal portions each have open inner ends. The pool cover supporting portion includes a central T-shaped member comprised of an upper horizontal portion and a lower vertical portion. The upper horizontal portion of the central T-shaped member has linearly aligned apertures therethrough and opposed ends. The opposed ends are receivable within the open inner ends of the upper horizontal portions of the L-shaped members with the apertures thereof aligning for receiving cotter pins. A pair of corner pads are provided that are positionable on the pair of L-shaped members of the pool cover supporting portion. The corner pads have a plurality of securement straps extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of securement straps are provided that are extendable over the pool cover supporting portion for securement thereof within an interior of a swimming pool. A plurality of securement clamps are provided that are adapted for securing a pool cover to the swimming pool. A volleyball net portion is provided that is adapted for coupling with the fixed support portion. The volleyball net portion includes a pair of vertical poles each having open lower ends for receiving the upper vertical portions of the fixed support portion.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved convertible pool cover support which has all the advantages of the prior art pool covers and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved convertible pool cover support which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved convertible pool cover support which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved convertible poo
Braun Leslie A.
Goldstein & Canino
Marsh Steven
LandOfFree
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