Swimming pool cover air pocket removal roller-tool AKA pool cover assistant

Abstract

The tool is “T” shaped with interior shafts upon which slightly larger tubular rollers rotate; two rollers on each side of the “T” shaft and two shorter terminal ends that are backward angled and adjustable. Interior shafts are made of tubular BSF-GP22, ABS sections and the outer rollers are made of ABS-SANTOPREME. The bottom of the “T” shaft is easily attached to any standard pool maintenance pole providing nearly frictionless removal of air pockets from beneath flexible pool covers designed to float flush upon the surface of pool water insuring optimum heating efficiency and avoidance of premature damage to the pool cover that may result from ultraviolet sun rays when pockets of air are allowed to remain between the bottom of the pool cover and the surface of the water.

1 . A “pool cover assistant” tool that provides a quick and easy means to effectively remove pockets of air and/or air bubbles from beneath flexible floating pool covers and may be constructed in the overall size and dimensions depicted in the drawings or be modified to be larger or smaller, depending upon unique usage requirements and size of the operator. However, the initial model depicted herein is applicable to home and small commercial pools and may be used by most any moderately able-bodied person comprising:
 A plurality of light weight inner tubular structures upon which slightly larger light weight tubular structures ride to create a rolling action that provides a means of effectively and nearly effortlessly removing air pockets and bubbles trapped beneath said kinds of pool covers.   
   
   
       2 . A plurality of inner and outer connecting structures that form the top of the “T” of the “Pool Cover Assistant” tool, hold the rollers in place without protruding beyond the surface of the rollers so as to not scratch or otherwise damage the pool cover and makes it possible for the “end roller mounts” to be swiveled and held in place at whatever angle best maintains flush contact of all the rollers to the top surface of the pool cover with a minimum of friction exerted upon the pool cover surface. 
   
   
       3 . The “Pool Cover Assistant” tool provides a quick and easy universal means of connecting the “pool cover assistant” tool to standard pool maintenance poles. 
   
   
       4 . The “Pool Cover Assistant” tool provides a means to assure the most effective performance and longer life of flexible floating pool covers. 
   
   
       5 . Relative to paragraph 0004, “Quick, easy, and effective” is realized through the overall effectiveness of the tool to do its intended task in relationship to the previously improvised methods including but not limited to using the backside of a pool cleaning brush to smooth the pool cover out and/or by attempting to pull, wave, or in some other way, at the risk of damaging the pool cover, manipulate the cover to avert the formation of air pockets and bubbles or remove them once formed. “Moderately able bodied person” means any person able to perform routine house, garden, and pool cleaning tasks taking into consideration that the “Pool Cover Assistant” tool is user friendly by its properties including, but not limited to its light weight, the way the rollers facilitate easy movement across the surface of the pool cover, and its design. 
   
   
       6 . Relative to paragraph 005, “Light weight” is claimed in contrast to heavy materials including, but not limited to metal, some high density plastics, and combinations thereof. “Nearly Effortless Removal of Air Pockets” is claimed relative to the ease at which the “Pool Cover Assistant” tool captures, contains, and rolls air pockets and bubbles trapped beneath the pool cover in contrast with improvised methods listed in paragraph 0009 that is made possible by the corralling effect of the three sided shape of the top “T”, the rolling action of the rollers, and the outer surface of the SANTOPREME tubular section rollers that provides optimum traction with minimum friction 
   
   
       7 . Relative to paragraph 0006, “a minimum of friction” is accomplished by the rolling action of the rollers Vs the action of dragging and scraping a non-rolling strait edge across the top surface of the pool cover. 
   
   
       8 . Relative to paragraph 0007, “universal means” and “standard pool maintenance poles” refers to the most often used means of securing most pool tools to standard telescopic or fixed pool poles using a “V” spring clip. 
   
   
       9 . Relative to paragraphs 0008 “most effective performance” is accomplished by the use of the “Pool Cover Assistant” via all the properties and mechanisms it entails and its advantages over commonly improvised methods as described herein. “Longer life of flexible floating pool covers” is accomplished by the end result of using the “Pool Cover Assistant” to remove air pockets and bubbles trapped under the pool cover because by doing so, the pool cover is less susceptible to deterioration caused by lack of even distribution of solar heat, failure of solar heat to be quickly passed to the water beneath the pool cover, and the harmful effects of ultra-violet rays. 
   
   
       10 . It is further claimed that the “Pool Cover Assistant” in accordance with the claims of paragraphs 0008 and 0013 provides a means of averting premature deterioration of flexible air-filled quilted pool covers often described in precautionary instructions issued by most pool cover manufacturers and/or distributors that include a warning not to subject flexible air-filled quilted pool covers to sunlight when they are not being used to cover a pool.