Water release valve for pool safety cover

Abstract

A water release valve is disclosed for a pool safety cover on a swimming pool. An example water release valve includes an upper valve body and a lower valve body. The lower valve body is attached to the upper valve body through an opening formed in the pool safety cover. A valve actuator is configured to automatically open to release at least some water on top of the pool safety cover into the swimming pool to reduce water accumulation on top of the pool safety cover. In an example, the valve actuator automatically opens under the weight of the water on top of the pool safety cover. In an example, more than one water release valve may be provided at various locations on the pool safety cover.

1 . A water release valve for a pool safety cover on a swimming pool, comprising:
 an upper valve body;   a lower valve body, the lower valve body attached to the upper valve body through an opening formed in the pool safety cover; and   a valve actuator configured to automatically open to release at least some water on top of the pool safety cover into the swimming pool to reduce water accumulation on top of the pool safety cover.   
     
     
         2 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator automatically opens under weight of accumulating water on top of the pool safety cover. 
     
     
         3 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge to rotatably attach the valve actuator to the upper valve body. 
     
     
         4 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge to rotatably attach the valve actuator to the lower valve body. 
     
     
         5 . The water release valve of  claim 4 , wherein the hinge is located on a side nearest to the pool safety cover roll-up side to automatically close the valve actuator when the pool safety cover is opened and the valve actuator to roll into the pool safety cover without the valve actuator obstructing the rolling action. 
     
     
         6 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a bias mechanism to bias the valve actuator in a closed state as a default condition. 
     
     
         7 . The water release valve of  claim 6 , wherein the bias mechanism is a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen covering the opening formed in the pool safety cover to reduce debris entering the swimming pool through the cover when the valve actuator automatically opens to release the water on top of the pool safety cover into the swimming pool. 
     
     
         9 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve body is mechanically connected to the lower valve body. 
     
     
         10 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve body is connected to the lower valve body with screws. 
     
     
         11 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve body is connected to the lower valve body with adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The water release valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal on the valve actuator, the seal configured to reduce heat loss and evaporation from the pool water. 
     
     
         13 . The water release valve of  claim 12 , wherein the seal includes at least one of a magnetic seal, and a gasket, the seal selected so as to provide a sealing function while also having a sufficiently low breaking force to allow the valve actuator to open under weight of the accumulating water to open and release water into the swimming pool. 
     
     
         14 . A water release valve system comprising:
 a plurality of water release valves installed on a pool safety cover for a swimming pool, each water release valve having:
 an upper valve body; 
 a lower valve body, the lower valve body attached to the upper valve body through an opening formed in the pool safety cover; and 
 a valve actuator configured to automatically open to release at least some water on top of the pool safety cover into the swimming pool to reduce water accumulation on top of the pool safety cover. 
   
     
     
         15 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , wherein the valve actuator automatically opens under weight of accumulating water on top of the pool safety cover. 
     
     
         16 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , further comprising a hinge to rotatably attach the valve actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , further comprising a spring mechanism to bias the valve actuator in a closed state as a default condition. 
     
     
         18 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , further comprising a screen covering the opening formed in the pool safety cover to reduce debris entering the swimming pool through the cover when the valve actuator automatically opens to release the water on top of the pool safety cover into the swimming pool. 
     
     
         19 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , wherein the upper valve body is mechanically connected to the lower valve body with screws. 
     
     
         20 . The water release valve of  claim 14 , wherein the upper valve body is connected to the lower valve body with adhesive.