Heat sealed webbing method and apparatus for pool covers

Abstract

A method is provided for attaching an elongated webbing member to an edge of a pool cover, comprising positioning the edge of the pool cover so that a portion of the pool cover edge is in contact with a portion of the webbing, and heat sealing the webbing portion to the pool cover edge portion. An assembly is provided for coupling a pool cover to a connector mechanism attached to a pool, comprising a pool cover comprising at least one pool cover edge, and a webbing coupled to at least a portion of the pool cover edge by a heat seal between a portion of the webbing and a portion of the pool cover edge. An apparatus is also provided for forming a webbing attached to the edge of a pool cover.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . An assembly for coupling a pool cover to a connector mechanism attached to a pool, comprising: 
 a pool cover comprising at least one pool cover edge; and    a webbing coupled to at least a portion of the pool cover edge by a heat seal between a portion of the webbing and a portion of the pool cover edge.    
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the portion of the webbing is made of a thermoactive material to form the heat seal.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the portion of the pool cover edge further comprises a thermoactive material to form the heat seal.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the portion of the webbing and the portion of the pool cover edge are vinyl.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the webbing is wrapped around an elongated filler element to form top and bottom flaps, and the portion of the pool cover edge is heat sealed between the first and second flaps.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising an elongated filler element connected to the webbing to form an elongated bead.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the webbing is wrapped around the filler element to form at least one flap.  
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the flap is heat sealed to the pool cover edge.  
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the elongated bead is formed of such a material that will slide in a track for guiding the pool cover.  
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the filler element is formed of a material that will substantially maintain its shape under mechanical stress.  
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the portion of the webbing is coupled to the portion of the pool cover edge by a heat seal between one side of the webbing portion and one side of the pool cover edge portion.  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus for forming a webbing attached to the edge of a pool cover, comprising: 
 a positioning element for disposing a portion of the webbing in contact with a portion of the pool cover edge; and    a heating element for applying heat to form a heat seal between the webbing portion and the pool cover edge portion.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a pressing element for consolidating the heat seal between the webbing portion and the pool cover edge portion.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the positioning element provides a flap extending from the webbing to overlap the portion of the pool cover edge and form the heat seal therewith.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the heating element is a hot air unit for applying hot air to the webbing portion and/or the pool cover edge portion.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the hot air unit includes a heating element for heating the webbing portion and/or the pool cover edge portion and a pressure element for applying pressure to the webbing portion and/or the pool cover portion.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the webbing portion is folded over the pool cover edge portion and the heat element is disposed to apply heat to the webbing portion and/or the pool cover edge portion.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the heat element comprises a first heater for applying heat to an upper portion of the webbing portion adjacent to an upper surface of the pool cover edge portion, and a second heater for applying heat to a lower portion of the webbing portion adjacent to a lower surface of the pool cover edge portion.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the first heater is disposed to apply heat to said upper portion of the webbing and the second heater is disposed to apply heat to said lower portion of the webbing at substantially the same time, so as to form an upper and lower heat weld between the webbing portion and the pool cover edge portion in one pass along the pool cover.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the pressing element comprises a pressure roller to apply pressure to the webbing portion immediately after heat is applied thereto.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the first heater is disposed to apply heat to said upper portion of the webbing and the second heater is disposed to apply heat to said lower portion of the webbing at different times.