Covered pool structure

Abstract

According to some examples, a coverable pool structure having a membrane for containing a liquid, the membrane having a bottom wall, a peripheral wall extending from the bottom wall, and a top edge on the peripheral wall, a rim connected to the peripheral wall proximate the top edge, a flexible covering member being positionable so as to extend between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid, an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member to the rim, and a support member positionable between a top surface of the liquid and the flexible covering member and configured to bias at least a portion of the flexible covering member away from the liquid.

1 . A coverable pool structure comprising:
 a. a membrane for containing a liquid, the membrane having a bottom wall, a peripheral wall extending from the bottom wall, and a top edge on the peripheral wall;   b. a rim connected to the peripheral wall proximate the top edge;   c. a flexible covering member being positionable so as to extend between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid;   d. an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member to the rim; and   e. a support member positionable between a top surface of the liquid and the flexible covering member and configured to bias at least a portion of the flexible covering member away from the liquid.   
   
   
       2 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to dispose the portion of the flexible covering member above the rim. 
   
   
       3 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is positionable generally concentric to the rim of the pool and away from the rim of the pool. 
   
   
       4 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is releasably securable to the flexible covering member. 
   
   
       5 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises at least one inflatable member. 
   
   
       6 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one inflatable member comprises a plurality toroidal inflatable members configured in an ordered arrangement. 
   
   
       7 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 5 , wherein the inflatable member comprises an air bladder. 
   
   
       8 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a foam portion. 
   
   
       9 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to dispose the portion of the flexible covering member at least 5 cm above the rim. 
   
   
       10 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to dispose the portion of the flexible covering member at least 15 cm above the rim. 
   
   
       11 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to bias the flexible covering member away from the top surface of the liquid while supporting a predetermined weight on the flexible covering member of at least 100 lbs. 
   
   
       12 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined weight is at least 500 lbs. 
   
   
       13 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture defined in the flexible covering structure to allow fluid communication between an outer surface of the flexible covering member and the liquid within the pool. 
   
   
       14 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture is positioned intermediate the rim of the pool and the support member. 
   
   
       15 . A covering structure for a pool, the pool having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall for receiving a liquid in the pool, the covering structure comprising:
 a. a flexible covering member being positionable so as to extend between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid in the pool;   b. an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member to the pool; and   c. a support member positionable between a top surface of the liquid in the pool and the flexible covering member and configured to bias at least a portion of the flexible covering member away from the liquid.   
   
   
       16 . A covering structure for a pool, the pool having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall for receiving a liquid in the pool, the covering structure comprising:
 a. a flexible covering member having a light-transmitting portion, and being positionable so as to extend between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid in the pool;   b. an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member to the pool; and   c. a heating member positionable below the flexible covering member, and configured for using light passing through the light-transmitting portion to heat the liquid.   
   
   
       17 . The coverable pool structure of  claim 16 , wherein the light-transmitting portion comprises an open mesh material, and the solar heating member comprises a solar blanket positionable proximate a top surface of the liquid. 
   
   
       18 . A coverable pool structure comprising:
 a. a membrane for containing a liquid, the membrane having a bottom wall, a peripheral wall extending from the bottom wall, and a top edge on the peripheral wall;   b. a rim connected to the peripheral wall proximate the top edge;   c. a flexible covering member; and   d. an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member to the membrane, the attachment apparatus having a releasable portion secured to the rim and configured to allow the flexible covering member to move between a closed position wherein the flexible covering member extends between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid and an open position wherein access to the liquid is uninhibited, and a connecting member securing the flexible covering member to the membrane to inhibit the flexible covering from being moved a predetermined distance away from the membrane.   
   
   
       19 . A covering structure for a pool, the pool having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall for receiving a liquid in the pool, the covering structure comprising:
 a. a flexible covering member being positionable so as to extend between the peripheral wall to inhibit access to the liquid in the pool;   b. an attachment apparatus for securing the flexible covering member; and   c. a securing apparatus positionable on an exterior surface of the peripheral wall and configured to releasably secure the attachment apparatus to the pool to secure the flexible covering member to the pool.   
   
   
       20 . The covering structure of  claim 19 , wherein the pool comprises a membrane defining the peripheral wall and the bottom wall and further includes a rim connected to the peripheral wall proximate a top edge thereof, and the securing apparatus comprises a belt member positionable below the rim of the pool and a locking member for locking the belt in a position below the rim.