Buoyant Pool Leading Edge Member and Means of Deployment

Abstract

Disclosed is a floating pool cover extender having a rigid, buoyant end connector that is adapted to connect to the leading edge of a pool cover and provide a uniform means of drawing the cover across a pool surface from a single point around the pool perimeter. The device comprises a buoyant, tubular attachment that clamps onto a pool cover leading edge that connects to a series of straps to create a rigging, which forms into a single pool cover tether for the user to pull when deploying the cover. The tether is an elongated section of material that is pulled by a single user, wherein the rigging and tubular attachment distributes tension uniformly along the pool cover leading edge. The trailing edge of the cover may be unfurled from a roll or alternatively deployed from a stacked configuration, wherein the trailing edge may also include a buoyant tubular attachment.

1 . A manual pool cover deployment device, comprising:
 an end member attaching to a leading edge of said pool cover;   a rigging system attaching to said end member and adapted to evenly distribute load along said end member length;   an elongated user tether attaching to said rigging such that a single user can apply tension to said rigging and to said end member from anywhere along said pool perimeter;   said end member comprising a plurality of buoyant segments that are fastened to said pool cover leading edge and to each other to form a uniform structure across said pool leading edge width.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said segments are further connected to one another using a lap joint member that spans between abutting end member segments. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said rigging comprises:
 a plurality of intermediate straps that connect along the end member length in a plurality of locations;   said intermediate straps connecting to an outer exterior strap;   said tether attaching to said exterior strap.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said end member segments further comprise a pair of segments that sandwich said cover leading edge. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said end member segments further comprise a pair of open interior segments that sandwich said cover leading edge, said open interior being filled with a buoyant material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said pool trailing edge further comprises a second buoyant end member along its length.