Heat retaining cover for swimming pools

Abstract

A heat retaining cover and a method for retaining heat in swimming pools is provided. In one embodiment, the cover includes a plurality of interlocking floatation panels, at least one pair of hinges attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, a second pair of hinges attached to the opposite edge of of the reverse face of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, a second hinge having an aperture formed therein, the second edge attached to attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel, and a length of flexible material threaded through the aperture of each second hinge, thereby to allow the plurality of interlocked plurality of interlocking floatation panels to be extended and retracted.

1 . A heat retaining cover for swimming pools comprising:
 a plurality of interlocking floatation panels;   at least one pair of hinges attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel;   at least one pair of hinges attached to the opposite edge of of the reverse face of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel;   at least one aperture formed in each of said plurality of interlocking floatation panels; and   a length of flexible material threaded through each of said apertures, thereby to allow the plurality of interlocked plurality of interlocking floatation panels to be extended and retracted.   
     
     
         2 . The heat retaining cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a second hinge having a second aperture formed therein, wherein said length of flexible material is threaded through each of said second apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The heat retaining cover of  claim 1 , wherein each panel is a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, and a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The heat retaining cover of  claim 1 , wherein plurality of interlocking floatation panels are shaped to accommodate the contours of the pool being covered. 
     
     
         5 . A heat retaining cover for swimming pools comprising:
 a plurality of interlocking floatation panels;   at least one pair of hinges attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel;   at least one pair of hinges attached to the opposite edge of of the reverse face of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel;   a second hinge having an aperture formed therein, said second edge attached to attached to one edge of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel; and   a length of flexible material threaded through the aperture of each second hinge, thereby to allow the plurality of interlocked plurality of interlocking floatation panels to be extended and retracted.   
     
     
         6 . The heat retaining cover of  claim 5 , wherein each panel is a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, and a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The heat retaining cover of  claim 5 , wherein plurality of interlocking floatation panels are shaped to accommodate the contours of the pool being covered. 
     
     
         8 . A method for retaining heat in swimming pools comprising:
 interlocking a plurality of floatation panels, each of said plurality of interlocking floatation panels having at least one aperture formed therein; and   threading a length of flexible material through each of said apertures, thereby to allow the plurality of interlocked plurality of interlocking floatation panels to be extended and retracted;   wherein each adjacent interlocking floatation panel having at least one pair of hinges attached to one edge thereof; and   wherein the reverse face of each adjacent interlocking floatation panel having at least one pair of hinges attached to the opposite edge thereof.