Swimming pool joint cover system

Abstract

A joint cover system, for covering a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body, has a cover strip and a receiver strip. The cover strip had a first attachment portion and is adapted for spanning the joint. The receiver strip has a second attachment portion and an anchor portion. The second attachment portion is adapted to lockingly engage the first attachment portion of the cover strip, thereby mechanically coupling the cover strip to the receiver strip. The anchor portion extends from the receiver strip and is adapted for anchoring in the first body.

1 . A joint cover system, comprising: 
 a cover strip adapted for spanning a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body and comprising an attachment rib; and    a receiver strip, comprising: 
 a substantially hollow body having a slit for receiving the attachment rib of the cover strip; and  
 an anchor rib attached to the body and adapted for anchoring in the first body; and  
   wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.    
   
   
       2 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment rib of the cover strip includes a barb protruding outwardly from the attachment rib.  
   
   
       3 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the substantially hollow body of the receiver strip has a groove in an interior surface adapted to receive the barb of the attachment rib of the cover strip.  
   
   
       4 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip and the barb of the attachment rib enters the groove in the interior surface of the body of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.  
   
   
       5 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver strip and the cover strip are formed from a flexible material impervious to water.  
   
   
       6 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver strip and the cover strip are formed from polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or polyethylene.  
   
   
       7 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver strip is formed from a flexible material impervious to water.  
   
   
       8 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver strip is formed from polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or polyethylene.  
   
   
       9 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a protective strip having an attachment rib, wherein when the attachment rib of the protective strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip the protective strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip and substantially covers the slit, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the slit.  
   
   
       10 . A system, comprising: 
 a first body and a second body meeting at a joint;    a joint cover system positioned at the joint and comprising a cover strip mechanically coupled to a receiver strip, wherein the receiver strip is anchored in the first body, and wherein the cover strip spans a gap between the first body and the second body at the joint; and    wherein the joint cover system covers the joint despite dimensional changes in the gap between the first body and the second body at the joint.    
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first body is a coping or deck layer formed over an upper surface of a bond beam of a swimming pool liner.  
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second body is a pebble finish layer formed on an interior surface of the swimming pool liner.  
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the dimensional changes in the gap between the first body and the second body at the joint are caused by expansion of soil in contact with the first body or the second body during wet weather.  
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the cover strip is in continuous contact with the second body.  
   
   
       15 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the receiver strip comprises a substantially hollow body having a slit for receiving an attachment rib of the cover strip.  
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the receiver strip further comprises an anchor rib attached to the body, and wherein the anchor rib is anchored in the first body.  
   
   
       17 . A joint cover system for covering a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body, the joint cover system comprising: 
 a cover strip having a first attachment portion, the cover strip being adapted for spanning the joint;    a receiver strip having a second attachment portion adapted to lockingly engage the first attachment portion of the cover strip; and    an anchor portion extending from the receiver strip and adapted for anchoring in the first body,    wherein when the first attachment portion lockingly engages the second attachment portion, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.    
   
   
       18 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first attachment portion is an attachment rib; wherein the second attachment portion is a substantially hollow body that defines a slit shaped to receive the attachment rib of the cover strip; and wherein the anchor portion is an anchor rib.  
   
   
       19 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the substantially hollow body of the receiver strip has a groove in an interior surface adapted to receive the barb of the attachment rib of the cover strip.  
   
   
       20 . The joint cover system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip and the barb of the attachment rib enters the groove in the interior surface of the body of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.