Cover for a swimming pool main drain

Abstract

A main drain of a swimming pool has a housing, a removable cover, and one elongated opening formed therein. In one embodiment, the housing is oval in shape with the elongated opening running parallel to the major dimension of the housing to provide a single extended opening that would be difficult for a swimmer to obstruct. In an alternative embodiment, the elongated opening extends over a round cover and is H-shaped. Each elongated opening is formed to have an internally curved flange to provide a smooth edge and structural stiffness for the cover. The single extended opening with its smooth, rounded edges reduces the likelihood of entrapment and entanglement and allows large debris, such as leaves, to pass more easily into the main drain.

1 . A main drain for a swimming pool, said main drain comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom suction port;    a cover removably attached to said housing, said main drain having a single extended opening formed therein to allow a flow of water to pass into said housing and through said bottom suction port, said single extended opening having an inwardly curved flange running the length of said single extended opening.    
   
   
       2 . The main drain as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a major dimension and a minor dimension and said single extended opening runs parallel to said major dimension.  
   
   
       3 . The main drain as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said major dimension is approximately twice the size of said minor dimension  
   
   
       4 . The main drain as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said housing is oval in shape.  
   
   
       5 . The main drain as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said single extended opening is H-shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The main drain as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes an entrapment relief port.  
   
   
       7 . A main drain for use with a swimming pool, said main drain comprising: 
 a housing with a suction port and an entrapment relief port;    a cover for covering said housing, said covering having a single, H-shaped opening formed therein.    
   
   
       8 . The main drain as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said covering is smooth, rounded and curved along said H-shaped opening.  
   
   
       9 . The main drain as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said cover has an internally curved surface.