Inflatable cover and control system

Abstract

An inflatable cover assembly includes a tarp body having an integral bladder with an air chamber. A tube is coupled to the bladder. An air pump is coupled to the tube. The air pump inflates and deflates the bladder via air pumped through the tube. A water sensor is coupled to the tarp body. The water sensor detects the presence of water on the tarp body and generates an electrical signal indicating the presence of water on the tarp body. A controller is in communication with the water sensor and the air pump. In response to receiving the electrical signal from the water sensor, the controller causes the air pump to inflate the bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable cover assembly comprising:
 a tarp body having a first surface and a second surface;   a bladder coupled to the second surface of the tarp body, the bladder having an air chamber;   a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the bladder, the tube in fluid communication with the air chamber;   an air pump coupled to the second end of the tube, the air pump operable to inflate and deflate the bladder via air pumped through the tube;   a water sensor coupled to the tarp body, the water sensor operable to detect the presence of water on the tarp body and generate a first electrical signal indicating the presence of water on the tarp body; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the water sensor and the air pump, the controller configured to receive the first signal from the water sensor and in response to receiving the first signal, cause the air pump to inflate the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water sensor is mounted to the first surface of the tarp body. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflation sensor coupled to the bladder for detecting inflation of the bladder, the inflation sensor adapted to generate a second electrical signal indicating that the bladder has been inflated and to transmit the second electrical signal to the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising the controller communicatively coupled to the inflation sensor and configured to receive the second signal. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the second signal, the controller indicating on the display that the bladder has been inflated. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the first signal, the controller signaling a remote device that the water sensor has detected the presence of water on the tarp body. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a control panel communicatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising tie down means coupled to a peripheral edge of the tarp body. 
     
     
         9 . An inflatable cover assembly comprising:
 a tarp body having a first surface, a second surface and a peripheral edge;   a bladder disposed adjacent to the second surface of the tarp body, the bladder having an air chamber;   a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the bladder, the tube in fluid communication with the air chamber;   an air pump coupled to the second end of the tube, the air pump operable to inflate and deflate the bladder via air pumped through the tube;   a controller communicatively coupled to the air pump, the controller operable to turn the air pump on an off; and   a water sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the water sensor operable to detect the presence of water on the tarp body and generate a first electrical signal indicating the presence of water on the tarp body and in response to receiving the first signal, the controller turns on the air pump causing the bladder to inflate.   
     
     
         10 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the water sensor is mounted to the first surface of the tarp body. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising an inflation sensor coupled to the bladder for detecting inflation of the bladder, the inflation sensor adapted to generate a second electrical signal indicating that the bladder has been inflated and to transmit the second electrical signal to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising the controller communicatively coupled to the inflation sensor and configured to receive the second signal. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the second signal, the controller indicating on the display that the bladder has been inflated. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the first signal, the controller signaling a remote device that the water sensor has detected the presence of water on the tarp body. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a control panel communicatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a tie down means coupled to a peripheral edge of the tarp body. 
     
     
         17 . An inflatable cover assembly comprising:
 a tarp body having a first surface and a second surface;   a bladder coupled to the second surface of the tarp body, the bladder having an air chamber;   a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the bladder, the tube in fluid communication with the air chamber;   an air pump coupled to the second end of the tube, the air pump operable to inflate and deflate the bladder via air pumped through the tube;   a water sensor coupled to the tarp body, the water sensor operable to detect the presence of water on the tarp body and generate a first electrical signal indicating the presence of water on the tarp body;   an inflation sensor coupled to the bladder for detecting inflation of the bladder, the inflation sensor adapted to generate a second electrical signal indicating that the bladder has been inflated; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the water sensor, the air pump and the inflation sensor, the controller configured to receive the first signal from the water sensor and in response to receiving the first signal, turn on the air pump to inflate the bladder, the controller further configured to receive the second signal from the inflation sensor and in response to receiving the second signal, turn off the air pump.   
     
     
         18 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the second signal, the controller indicating on the display that the bladder has been inflated. 
     
     
         19 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the controller, in response to receiving the first signal, the controller signaling a remote device that the water sensor has detected the presence of water on the tarp body. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable cover assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a control panel communicatively coupled to the controller.