Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02798200 2012-12-06
File No. 1899CA00
POOL COVER WITH HEATER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of US provisional patent application
No. 61567708 filed on December 7, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
(a) Field
[0002] The subject matter disclosed generally relates to pool covers. More
particularly the subject matter relates to a pool cover having a heater
embedded
therein.
(b) Related Prior Art
[0003] Outdoor swimming pools may only be used when the temperature
of the water is high, typically in the range of 20 C to 35 C. Therefore, when
the
temperatures are low the swimming pool remains unused and the user does not
obtain a good return on their investment.
[0004] Commonly used methods for heating swimming pools involve
running the water through a heater and feeding the heated water back to the
swimming pool for warming it. These methods are expansive both from the
energy consumption perspective and from the perspective of costs involved in
buying and maintaining the necessary heating equipment.
[0005] Other methods involve the use of covers having dark colors in order
to absorb as much solar energy as possible and diffuse this energy in the
water
as the sun is rising. However, these covers do not prolong the heating process
when the sun light disappears in the evening, nor do they heat the swimming
pool in the presence of light and absence of direct sun-rays. Furthermore, the
ambient temperature plays a big factor in the heating process of these covers.
In
particular, even in the presence of direct sun light on these covers, if the
ambient
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temperature is low the covers do not heat the water of the pool because a
major
portion of the heat is dissipated back into the atmosphere rather than being
diffused in the water.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a system for heating the swimming
pool which is inexpensive and at the same time environment friendly.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to an aspect, there is provided a pool cover comprising a
solar panel provided at a first surface of the cover; a battery operatively
connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing an electric current
generated by the solar panel; a heating element provided at a second surface
of
the cover opposite the first surface, the heating element being operatively
connected to the battery for transforming the electric current into a heating
energy; a floater provided at an edge of the cover, the floater being sized
and
positioned to keep the pool cover afloat with the solar panel positioned above
the
water and the heating element in contact with the water for heating the water
using the electric current generated by the solar panel.
[0008] In an embodiment, the pool cover may include a layer of heat
insulating material within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the
atmosphere.
[0009] In another embodiment, the pool cover may include a layer of heat
insulating material between the battery and the heating element to avoid
overheating of the battery and for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere.
[0010] In another embodiment, the pool cover may include a plurality of
pieces, each piece comprising a different solar panel, a different battery,
and a
different heating element, the pieces being separated by at least one floater.
In
an embodiment, the pieces may be provided in a matrix having at least one row
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and at least one column. In another embodiment, the pieces may have different
shapes.
[0011] In an embodiment, the heating element protrudes from the lower
surface of the pool cover to submerge in the water when the pool cover in
installed in the pool.
[0012] In another embodiment, the heating elements may be provided
within the cover to heat the water though the second surface of the cover.
[0013] In an embodiment, the battery may be provided within the cover
and positioned between the element and the solar panel.
[0014] According to another aspect, there is provided a pool cover piece
for building a pool cover; said piece comprising: a solar panel provided at a
first
surface of the piece; a battery operatively connected to the solar panel for
receiving and storing an electric current generated by the solar panel; a
heating
element provided at a second surface of the piece opposite the first surface,
the
heating element being operatively connected to the battery for transforming
the
electric current into a heating energy; a floater provided at opposite edges
of the
cover for keeping the cover on top of the water, whereby when the cover is
laid
on the water the heating element heats an upper surface of the water using the
electric current generated by the solar panel; a first attachment provided at
an
edge of the piece, said first attachment being adapted to mate with a second
attachment of a another piece for releasably attaching two or more pieces
together to build a pool cover.
[0015] In an embodiment, the attachment comprises a male member
adapted to mate with a female member of the other piece.
[0016] In another embodiment, the attachment comprises a female
member adapted to mate with a male member of the other piece.
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[0017] In a further embodiment, each pool cover piece includes at least
one female member and at least one male member adapted to mate with a male
member and a female member of other pieces, respectively.
[0018] In another embodiment, the edge comprises at least two
opposite sides, one side defining a male member, and the other side defining a
female member, the male member and the female member being adapted to
mate with a female member and a male member of another piece.
[0019] In an embodiment, the heating element protrudes from the second
surface of the piece to submerge in the water when the pool cover in installed
in
the pool.
[0020] In another embodiment, the heating elements are provided within
the cover to heat the water through the second surface of the cover.
[0021] In an embodiment, the floaters are sized and dimensioned to
submerge the first surface of the cover in the water and keep the second
surface
above the water when the pool cover in installed.
[0022] In an embodiment, the battery is provided within the cover and
positioned between the element and the solar panel.
[0023] In an embodiment, a layer of heat insulating material may be
provided within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere.
[0024] According to a further aspect, there is provided a pool cover
comprising: a solar panel provided at a first surface of the cover; a battery
operatively connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing an electric
current generated by the solar panel; a heating element provided at a second
surface of the cover opposite the first surface, the heating element being
operatively connected to the battery for transforming the electric current
into a
heating energy; a layer of heat insulating material provided within the pool
cover
for preventing heat losses with the ambient air; and a floater provided at an
edge
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of the cover, the floater being sized and positioned to keep the pool cover
afloat
when the pool cover is on the water.
[0025] Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become
more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected
embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized,
the
subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various
respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and
not
as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination
with the appended drawings, in which:
[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary pool cover in
accordance with an embodiment; and
[0028] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pool cover 10 of Figure 1
as seen across the line A-A.
[0029] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate different embodiments for
interconnecting the solar panels, with the battery and the heating elements
(coils);
[0030] Figure 4a and 4b illustrate an embodiment of how the floaters allow
the cover to float on the water while submerging the heating elements in the
water;
[0031] Figure 5a illustrates a pool cover piece comprising an attachment
for connecting to another piece;
[0032] Figure 5b illustrates a pool cover comprising a plurality of pool
cover pieces interconnected together using the attachment shown in Figure 5a;
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[0033] Figure 6a and 6b illustrate a cross-sectional view of two pool cover
pieces comprising mating edges that snap on each other when pushed together
for releasably connecting the two pieces together; and
[0034] Figure 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of a pool cover in which
the electric power is directly fed into the coil, in accordance with another
embodiment.
[0035] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take
the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. The phrase "in one embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily
refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Furthermore, the phrase "in
another embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different
embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments of
the invention may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or
spirit
of the invention.
[0037] In addition, as used herein, the term "or" is an inclusive "or"
operator, and is equivalent to the term "and/or," unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. The term "based on" is not exclusive and allows for being
based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0038] The embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which
show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments by which the embodiments
may be practiced. The embodiments are also described so that the disclosure
conveys the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The
embodiments
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may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
[0039] Briefly stated, the present embodiments describe a pool cover
having solar panels provided on one side thereof for absorbing solar energy.
The
cover defines a layer of plastic, nylon, tissue, or any combination of these
or
other materials etc. The cover is preferably waterproof. The solar panel
charges
a battery embedded within the cover. A heating element is provided on the
other
side of the cover opposite to the solar panel side. The heating element heats
the
water using electric power received from the batteries and/or solar panels.
The
cover comprises a plurality of floaters provided around the edges of the cover
and on the side of the heating elements of the cover for preventing the cover
from sinking in the water.
[0040] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary pool cover in
accordance with an embodiment. The pool cover 10 illustrated in Figure 1
comprises a plurality of solar panels 12 provided on the upper surface 14 to
face
the sun. The panels 12 may be provided in the form of islands 13 separated by
floaters 16 for facilitating the folding/unfolding and storage of the cover
10. In an
embodiment, each island 13 may include a matrix defining one or more rows
and/or one or more columns of solar panels 12. The solar panels 12 may be
provided in different sizes as shown in Figure 1 and may also have the same
size.
[0041] In an embodiment, the cover comprises a number of batteries and
coils. The batteries may be connected to the solar panels to receive and store
the electric current generated by the solar panels. The batteries may be
provided
within the cover to protect them from the water. The coils may also be
connected
to the batteries for receiving an electric current and heating the water. An
exemplary arrangement is shown in Figure 2.
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[0042] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pool cover 10 of Figure 1
as seen across the line A-A. As shown in Figure 1, one or more batteries 20
are
provided within the cover 10 adjacent to the solar panels 12. The batteries 20
receive the electric power from the solar panels 12 and discharge their power
into one or more heating elements 22 provided at the lower side 18 of the
cover
10. The elements 22 may be provided within the cover 10 as exemplified in
Figure 2 and may also protrude from the lower surface 18 of the cover 10 as
exemplified in Figures 4a&4b.
[0043] The release of electric current in the coils may be done in a variety
of ways. In one embodiment, the panels may be connected to the battery 20 and
the battery 20 connected to the coils 22 as exemplified in Figure 3a. The
connection in Figure 3a may be configured using a logic gate or otherwise such
that the battery starts to release power in the coils only after it is
charged.
Whereby, when no more current is received from the solar panels the current
may be provided by the battery to the coils 22 to prolong the heating process.
[0044] In another embodiment, the connection may be configured so that a
portion of the current is fed in the battery to charge it while the remaining
portion
of the current is fed in the coils (aka heating elements). This may be
performed
using a current regulator 15 or the like as shown in Figure 3b. When no more
current is received through solar panels/regulator 15 the battery 20 may start
to
diffuse its current into the coils either directly as shown in Figure 3a, or
through
the regulator as shown in Figure 3b. Other methods are also possible without
departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0045] In another embodiment, the cover 10 may be provided with a light
sensor (not shown) for controlling the battery powered heating process. In a
further embodiment, the cover may include a timer (not shown) for starting the
battery powered heating process at a specified time.
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[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the floaters 16 may be provided
between the islands 13 of solar panels 12 and/or on the edges of the cover 10.
Although illustrated as being rectangular, the floaters 16 may have different
shapes and may be made of different materials such as Styrofoam or the like.
The floaters 16 may be sized and shaped to submerge the elements 22 in the
water for heating the water while keeping the upper surface 14 above the water
as shown in Figure 4b for a better capturing of the solar power.
[0047] In another embodiment (not shown) the floaters 16 may be
provided on the lower side 18 of the cover 10.
[0048] The cover 10 may be waterproof for inhibiting the infiltration of
water to the interior thereof. For instance, an insulating material/film may
be
provided at the exterior of the cover for protecting the electric circuitry
from
humidity and water.
[0049] Referring back to Figure 2, a layer 21 of heating insulating material
may be provided in the cover for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere,
especially when the ambient temperature is low. Preferably, the layer 21 is
provided between the element 22 and the battery 20 for preventing the heating
of
the batteries, in an embodiment. In another embodiment, the layer of
insulating
material 21 may be provided over and under the battery 20.
[0050] Different types of batteries may be used in the cover 10 e.g. lithium
batteries. The strength of the solar panels 12, the voltage of the batteries
20 and
the power of the elements 22 may be selected in accordance with the desired
heating needs and the consumer safety codes as governed by the
provincial/territorial laws of each country.
[0051] While Figure 1 illustrates the pool cover 10 as being provided in a
single piece that may be folded for storage, other embodiments are also
possible
which allow the user to build their own cover using releasably attachable pool
cover pieces/islands. Figure 5 illustrate an embodiment of pool cover piece 13
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(hereinafter piece 13). Each piece 13 includes essentially the same elements
discussed above with respect to the pool cover 10. Namely, one or more solar
panels 12, a battery 20, a heating element 22, and an insulating layer 21
between the heating element 22 and the battery 20.
[0052] In the present embodiment, each piece 13 may include at the edge
thereof an attachment 30 adapted to mate with the attachment of another piece
13 for releasably attaching a plurality of pieces together to build pool
covers of
different shapes, as exemplified in Figure 5b.
[0053] In another example, each piece 13 may have an edge defining a
male member 32 and another edge defining a female member 34 as shown in
Figure 6a, whereby it is possible to releasably attach two pieces 13 by
pushing
the male member 32 and the female member 34 toward each other to snap the
female member 34 on the male member 32, thereby attaching the two pieces 13
together as exemplified in Figure 6b.
[0054] Other forms of attachment are also possible including clips, zippers,
press and snap attachments, etc.
[0055] The embodiment of Figures 5a to 6b is particularly useful for
covering pools having irregular shapes. It is also to be noted that the pieces
may
be provided in different shapes including triangular, semi circular, arc,
rectangular etc. and also in many sizes.
[0056] While Figures 1 to 6b illustrate the cover as including a battery 20,
it is also contemplated that the cover may be provided without a battery
whereby
the power generated by the solar panel may be directly fed into the
coils/heating
elements without being storing. Optionally, the power may be fed into a power
regulator for adjusting the power generated by the solar panels 13 in
accordance
with the requirements of the coils 22. An example is illustrated in Figure 7
which
illustrates a cross sectional view of a pool cover 38 in which the electric
power is
directly fed into the coil, in accordance with another embodiment. This
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embodiment does not prolong the heating process but it is particularly useful
for
heating the water in the presence of light and when the ambient air is cold.
Another advantage is that the cover exemplified in Figure 7 is cheaper to
manufacture since it saves the costs associated with providing and installing
the
battery.
[0057] While preferred embodiments have been described above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled
in the
art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure.
Such
modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of
the
disclosure.
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