Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to flexible foldable swimming pool solar
blankets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Swimming pool solar blankets are primarily used for covering the
surface of the water in the swimming pool to trap the heat eneryy absorbed
by the water and protect the pool from fallen debris. The result--a saving
of, heating and maintenance costs, water lost through evaporation, and a
lengthened swimming period.
One blanket on the market comprises a laminated composite sheet,
one layer being polyethylene coated woven fabric material, and the other,
closed cell polyethylene material. I~hile the blanket functions satis-
factorily, it is costly, not easily folded-bulky when folded-and of heavy
weight. Another blanket marketed (See Canadian Letters Patent 1,057,620)
comprises panels of plastic joined by thin plastic strips (supporting a
layer of closed cell foamed thermoplastic material) overlying edge portions
of the panels, and sewn thereto both above and below the panel with the
foamed thermoplastic nlaterial sandwiched therebetween. These same thin
plastic strips with the foamed thermoplastic backing are also sewn around
the periphery of the blanket to be on.the edge portions of the panels with
the foamed thermoplastic backing material sandwiched between the strips and
panels.
: While the said blanket is foldable and lightweight, because the
panels are in contact for the most part witll the water, their heat retention
and floatation characteristics are reduced.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a foldable,
lightweight solar pool blanket of reasonable cost, which has increased
; insulation and floatation characteristics.
Further and other objects of the invention will be realized by
those skilled in the art from the following summary of the invention and
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1 detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a lightweight foldable
swimming pool solar blanket is provided comprising plastic panels, and re-
latively wide plastic strips, for example, between about 5" to 17", backed byclosed cell Foamed thermoplastic material secured, to the periphery of the
panels, and, between adjacent panels for securing adjacent panels together,
wherein peripheral edge portions of the panels are folded under the panel to
provide folded edge portions, the folded edge portions being secured to the
foamed thermoplastic material backed plastic strips with the plastic strips
engaging the folded edge portions remote the remainder of the panel and the
foamed thermoplast;c material spaced from the sides of each folded edge portion
by the plastic strips to provide a pool blanket for sitting on the water with
the foam backed plastic strips engaging the water for trapping air between the
panels and water.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of manu-
facturing a swimming pool solar blanket is provided comprising the steps of
folding edge portions of plastic panels and securing the folded edge portions
to relatively wide plastic strips, for example, between about 5" and about 17"
backed by closed cell foamed thermoplastic material, preferably, adjacent a
longitudinal edge of the plastic strip with the plastic strips abutting the
side of each folded edge portion remote the remainder of the panel to which the
plastic strip is secured. It is to be understood that once the plastic strips
are secured to folded edge portions this combination may be folded under at the
periphery thereof and secured to other plastic strips backed by the foamed
thermoplastic material as if the combination were a panel.
According to another aspect of the invention, another method of
manufacturing a swimming pool solar hlanket is provided including the steps of:
(a) positioning a relatively wide plastic strip backed by closed
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1 cell foamed thermoplastic material to overlie an edge portion of
a plastic panel, with the plastic strip abutting the panel;
.~ (b) securing the two together adjacent the outer edge of the
panel, and outer edge of the strip (as ~or example, by sewing)
and
(c) rotating the free edge of the plastic strip with respect to the
panel, or the panel with respect to the free edge of the plastic
strip, to a position 180 from their abutting original position
- to provide a folded edge portion on the edge of the panel
secured to the plastic strip.
According to another aspect of the invention, panels may be joined as
above to the other relatively wide plastic strips, and plastic strips in turn
. joined to preconnected panel--plastic str;p combinations as if they were panels.
Preferably, the panels and plastic strips are sewn together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be illustrated having reference to the
following drawings of preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a swimming pool covered by a
swimming pool blanket according to a first embodiment of the invention;
~:~ Figure 2 is a perspective top view of a pool blanket according to
another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of
Figure 2;
: 25 Figure 4 is a top plan view of a pool blanket according to another
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a close-up partially cut away view of part of the blanket
shown ;n Figure 4;
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the secured components of Figure
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Figure 7 illustrates one oF the steps in the Manufacture of a pool
blanket;
Figure 8 illustrates another of the manufacturing steps used in
5 manufacturing a pool blanket;
Figure 9 illustrates one portion of the pool blanket of Figure 1
2 or 4 positioned on the water;
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF PREFERRED E~l~ODIMENTS
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Each of pool solar blan~ets 10 (See Figure 1) 12 (See Figure 2)
and~13 (See Figure 4) comprise plastic panels 14 of woven polyethylene coated
with 1 mm. of blue polyethylene (Fabrene t.m.)secured adjacent edges 15 to
foam backed relatively wide plastic strips 16 (8 to 12" in width depending
on the size of the pool cover) comprising polyethylene plastic upper strips
18 supporting closed cell foamed thermoplastic foam material 20 (1/8 in
thickness).
With reference to Figures 3 5, 7, and 8 and particularly to
Figure 7, strips 16 are sewn to panels 14 by placing strip 16 with upper
strip 18 abutting edge portions 15A at edges 15 of panel 14 with foamed
material facing away from panel 14 and sewing outer longitudinal edge
portions together as at 22 with a 1000 denier polypropylene thread. There-
after (and with reference to Figure 8) strip 16 is rotated 180 with
~ respect to panel 14 about the sewn joint at 22 to provide a folded edge
:~ portion 24 under panel 14 to position foam layer 20 of strip 16 below panel
14 for riding on the water (See Figure 9). In joints employing strips 16
to secure adjacent panels 14 where a panel 14 is already secured to strip
16 and strip 16 is to be secured to another panel the second panel 14
~` overlies strip 16 touching upper strip 18 and overlies the first panel 14 . ~ :
previously secured to strip 16 the two sewn together on what is to be an
inner edge 26 of strip 16 and panel 14 is rotated 180 away from the first
panel 14 and strip 16 to provide folded edge 24 under panel 14. llhere
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1 strips 16 must be joined (as ~Ihen panels 14 are already secured to strips16) they are joined in the same manner as if part of panel 14. In this
regard, adjacent panels 14 (See Figure 4) are first joined to intermediate
strip 16A then secured to strips 16B and finally strips IkC are joined to
the combination as if the combination was a separate panel 14.
With references to Figures 5 and 6, to reiterate, strips 16B are
secured to panel 14 as above. Then strips 16C are laid over the edges of
panel 14 and strips 16C with strips 18 abutting panels 14 are secured to the
combination adjacent an outer edge. Thereafter, panels 14 and strips 16 are
rotated 180 relative to strips 16C to provide folded edge portions 24.
~ Ihere a round pool blanket is to be manufactured, it is preferable
that radial strips are sewn to adjacent sector panels to form the circular
pool blanket and smaller foam strips to be sewn around the circumference
: of the pool blanket, are first joined as one long strip and then the long
foam strip secured to the circumference.
As rilany changes could be made to the preferred embodiments without
departing from the scope of the invention; it is intended that all matter
contained herein be interpreted as illustrative of the invention, and not in
a limiting sense.
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