Pool heating apparatus

Surgery – Container for blood or body treating material – or means used... – Having hollow needle or spike for piercing container or...

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C004S493000, C126S565000, C126S566000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06503241

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a pool heating device and more particularly to an floating apparatus adaptable for heating pools which is lightweight and easily storable.
BACKGROUND
Swimming pools are heated for two reasons, (1) to extend the swimming season to earlier in the spring and later in the fall and (2) to provide more comfortable water temperatures throughout the swimming season. Pool heating is typically conducted with several types of heating systems. One type of heating system circulates pool water through an electric or gas-fired water heating system. A second type of heating system uses solar panels through which the pool water is circulated. A third type of heating system uses floating panels through which water is circulated, the panels being heated by the sun. Another type of pool cover for heating pools consists of a floating structure containing channels for flow of water therethrough. The floating structure is heated by the sun which in turn heats the water flowing through the channels.
Despite the variety of pool heating devices available, there continues to be a need for a simple economical pool heating device which is easily adaptable to various size pools and which does not rely on a channeled web for maintaining water contact with the heating surface of the web. There is also a need for a pool heating device that does not consume precious natural resources or that adds pollutants to the environment. Such a device should be relatively inexpensive to own and operate yet be effective to sufficiently heat swimming pool water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With regard to the above and other needs and advantages, the invention provides an outdoor swimming pool heating apparatus. The apparatus includes a substantially buoyant web having a first end, a second end, a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, the second exterior surface being positionable to face away from a water surface of the swimming pool and the first exterior surface being positionable adjacent and facing the water surface. A water distributor is attached to the first end of the web adjacent the first exterior surface of the web for flowing pool water longitudinally adjacent the first exterior surface of the web. A conduit in flow communication with the distributor provides a flow of water from a swimming pool pump to the water distributor. The water distributor is disposed to distribute the flow of water adjacent the first exterior surface of the web.
In another aspect the invention provides a method for heating a swimming pool. The method includes providing a swimming pool heating apparatus including, a substantially flexible elongate web having a first end and a second end and a first surface and a second surface, a water distribution device attached to a first end of the flexible elongate web adjacent the first surface of the web for flowing pool water longitudinally adjacent the first surface of the web, and a flexible tubular conduit connected to the water distribution device for providing water from a swimming pool pump to the water distribution conduit. The web is configured to float on pool water and the web does not contain water flow conduits therein for flow of water from the water distribution device along the first or second surface of the web. The web is floated on a surface of the swimming pool water. The flexible tubular conduit is connected to a swimming pool jet for flow of water from the swimming pool pump to the water distribution device for water flow along the first surface of the web. Water is flowed along the first surface of the web while exposing the web to sunlight thereby heating the water adjacent the first surface of the web.
As set forth in more detail below, the invention provides a relatively light-weight, easily manufactured pool heating device which does not rely on flow of water through channels adjacent the pool water surface. Accordingly, the device according to the invention lends itself to simpler more cost effective manufacturing techniques as compared to the formation of channelled web. The apparatus of the invention is also more reliable with regard to operation since there are no water flow channels to fail and cause loss of water circulation adjacent the web.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3072920 (1963-01-01), Yellott
patent: 3411163 (1968-11-01), Myers, Jr.
patent: 3598104 (1971-08-01), Trostler
patent: 3927427 (1975-12-01), Aine
patent: 3949095 (1976-04-01), Pelehach et al.
patent: 4082081 (1978-04-01), McColgan et al.
patent: 4085732 (1978-04-01), Hysom
patent: 4103368 (1978-08-01), Lockshaw
patent: 4146015 (1979-03-01), Acker
patent: 4197595 (1980-04-01), Dearing
patent: 4222366 (1980-09-01), Acker
patent: 4256087 (1981-03-01), Sowers
patent: 4284060 (1981-08-01), McCluskey
patent: 4366806 (1983-01-01), Acker
patent: 4601072 (1986-07-01), Aine
patent: 4660545 (1987-04-01), Ely
patent: 4698109 (1987-10-01), Lazar
patent: 5347984 (1994-09-01), Klaren
patent: 5511536 (1996-04-01), Bussey, Jr. et al.
patent: 5516386 (1996-05-01), Savarese
patent: 5586548 (1996-12-01), Hsia
patent: 5860413 (1999-01-01), Bussey, Jr. et al.
patent: 2 633 581 (1978-02-01), None

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Pool heating apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Pool heating apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pool heating apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3034425

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.