Pool cover with heater

Abstract

A pool cover for heating swimming pools using sun rays. The pool cover comprises a solar panel provided at an upper surface of the cover facing the sun, a battery connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing the electric current generated by the solar panel, and a heating element provided at the lower surface of the cover for heating the water using the current received from the battery. The pool cover also includes a floater provided at an edge of the cover, the floater being sized and positioned to keep the pool cover afloat when the pool cover is on the water. A layer of heat insulating material may also be provided within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the ambient air. In another embodiment, the cover may be provided without a battery whereby the solar panel may be directly connected to the heating element.

1 . A pool cover comprising:
 a solar panel provided at a first surface of the pool cover;   a battery operatively connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing an electric current generated by the solar panel;   a heating element provided at a second surface of the pool cover opposite the first surface, the heating element being operatively connected to the battery for transforming the electric current into a heating energy; and   a floater provided at an edge of the pool cover, the floater being sized and positioned to keep the pool cover afloat when the pool cover is on the water with the solar panel positioned above the water and the heating element in contact with the water for heating the water using the electric current generated by the solar panel.   
     
     
         2 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of heat insulating material within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of heat insulating material between the battery and the heating element to avoid overheating of the battery and for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pool cover comprises a plurality of pieces, each piece comprising a different solar panel, a different battery, and a different heating element, the pieces being separated by at least one floater. 
     
     
         5 . The pool cover of  claim 4 , wherein the pieces are provided in a matrix having at least one row and at least one column. 
     
     
         6 . The pool cover of  claim 4 , wherein the pieces have different shapes. 
     
     
         7 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element protrudes from the second surface of the pool cover to submerge in the water when the pool cover in on the water. 
     
     
         8 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element are provided within the pool cover to heat the water though the second surface of the pool cover. 
     
     
         9 . The pool cover of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is provided within the pool cover and positioned between the heating element and the solar panel. 
     
     
         10 . A pool cover piece (piece) for building a pool cover; said piece comprising:
 a solar panel provided at a first surface of the piece;   a battery operatively connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing an electric current generated by the solar panel;   a heating element provided at a second surface of the piece opposite the first surface, the heating element being operatively connected to the battery for transforming the electric current into a heating energy;   a floater provided at opposite edges of the piece for keeping the piece on top of the water, whereby when the piece is laid on the water the heating element heats the water using the electric current generated by the solar panel; and   a first attachment provided at an edge of the piece, said first attachment being adapted to mate with a second attachment of a another piece for releasably attaching two or more pieces together to build the pool cover.   
     
     
         11 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the first attachment comprises a male member adapted to mate with a female member of the second attachment. 
     
     
         12 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the first attachment comprises a female member adapted to mate with a male member of the second attachment. 
     
     
         13 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein each piece includes at least one female member and at least one male member adapted to mate with a male member and a female member of other pieces, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the edge comprises at least two opposite sides, one side defining a male member, and the other side defining a female member, the male member and the female member being adapted to mate with a female member and a male member of another piece. 
     
     
         15 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the heating element protrudes from the second surface of the piece to submerge in the water when the piece is in on the water. 
     
     
         16 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the heating element is provided within the piece to heat the water though second surface of the piece. 
     
     
         17 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the floater is sized and dimensioned to submerge the second surface of the piece in the water and keep the first surface above the water when the piece in installed. 
     
     
         18 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , wherein the battery is provided within the piece and positioned between the heating element and the solar panel. 
     
     
         19 . The pool cover piece of  claim 10 , further comprising a layer of heat insulating material within the piece for preventing heat losses with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         20 . A pool cover comprising:
 a solar panel provided at a first surface of the pool cover;   a heating element provided at a second surface of the pool cover opposite the first surface, the heating element being operatively connected to the solar panel for transforming the electric current into a heating energy;   a layer of heat insulating material provided within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the ambient air; and   a floater provided at an edge of the pool cover, the floater being sized and positioned to keep the pool cover afloat when the pool cover is on the water.