Pool cover mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a pool cover mechanism for winding and unwinding slats over a pool. The pool cover mechanism comprises a tube for connecting with the slats, a tube motor assembly for rotating the tube, a first holder for receiving the non-rotating motor end of the tube motor assembly, an outer shaft bearing assembly connected to the second end of the tube, a second holder for receiving the outer shaft bearing assembly, wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly and the second holder are configured such that at least part of the outer shaft bearing assembly can rotate in the second holder when the tube is tilted compared to the position of the tube wherein the motor end is in the first holder.

1 . A pool cover mechanism for winding and unwinding slats over a pool, the pool cover mechanism comprising
 a tube ( 1 ) for connecting with the slats ( 55 );   a tube motor assembly ( 47 ) for rotating the tube ( 1 ) wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) is connected to the tube ( 1 ) at a first end and wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) comprises a tube motor ( 15 ) and a non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) when the tube motor ( 15 ) is rotating;   a first holder ( 46 ) for receiving the non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) of the tube motor assembly ( 47 );   an outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) connected to the second end of the tube ( 1 ) wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) is configured to allow rotation of the tube ( 1 ) when the tube motor ( 15 ) is rotating;   a second holder ( 46 ) for receiving the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 );   wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) and the second holder ( 46 ) are configured such that at least part of the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) can rotate in the second holder ( 46 ) when the tube ( 1 ) is tilted compared to the position of the tube wherein the motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) is in the first holder ( 46 ) and wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) comprises a first group of elements ( 18 ) and a second group of elements ( 16 ,  17 ), wherein the first group of elements and the second group of elements are configured such that the first group of elements can do a sliding movement relative to the second group of elements in the axial direction of the tube ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) comprises a ball joint ( 16 ) and a ball joint housing ( 17 ), wherein the ball joint ( 16 ) can rotate in the ball joint housing ( 17 ) when the ball joint housing ( 17 ) is received in the second holder ( 46 ) and the tube ( 1 ) is tilted compared to the position of the tube wherein the motor end is in the first holder. 
     
     
         3 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) comprises an outer shaft bearing ( 18 ) connected to the second end of the tube ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 3  when dependent on  claim 2 , wherein the outer shaft bearing ( 18 ) has a central opening, wherein the ball joint ( 16 ) has a shaft portion ( 35 ), and wherein the central opening and the ball joint ( 16 ) are configured such that the outer shaft bearing  18  can slide in the axial direction over the shaft portion ( 35 ). 
     
     
         5 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer bearing assembly further comprises a stopper ( 20 ) and wherein the stopper is configured such that the stopper limits the sliding of the outer shaft bearing ( 18 ) over the shaft portion ( 35 ). 
     
     
         6 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tube ( 1 ) is a single tube ( 63 ). 
     
     
         7 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tube ( 1 ) comprises at least two outer tubes ( 1 ) and at least one inner tube ( 2 ), wherein the inner tube ( 2 ) is configured to have an outer profile which corresponds to the inner profile of the outer tube ( 1 ) such that the inner tube ( 2 ) can slide into the outer tubes ( 1 ) and such that the inner tube ( 2 ) is rotating when the outer tube ( 1 ) is rotating. 
     
     
         8 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the first holder ( 46 ) is identical to the second holder ( 46 ). 
     
     
         9 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the first holder and the second holder are not identical. 
     
     
         10 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) and the second holder ( 46 ) are configured such that the at least part of the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) can rotate in the second holder ( 46 ) between 0 and 20° when the tube ( 1 ) is tilted between 0 and 20° compared to the position of the tube wherein the motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) is in the first holder ( 46 ). 
     
     
         11 . A pool cover mechanism for winding and unwinding slats over a pool, the pool cover mechanism comprising
 a tube ( 1 ) for connecting with the slats ( 55 );   a tube motor assembly ( 47 ) for rotating the tube ( 1 ) wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) is connected to the tube ( 1 ) at a first end and wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) comprises a tube motor ( 15 ) and a non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) when the tube motor ( 15 ) is rotating;   a first holder ( 46 ) for receiving the non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) of the tube motor assembly ( 47 );   an outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) connected to the second end of the tube ( 1 ) wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) is configured to allow rotation of the tube ( 1 ) when the tube motor ( 75 ) is rotating;   a second holder ( 46 ) for receiving the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 );   characterized in that the tube ( 1 ) comprises at least two outer tubes ( 1 ) and at least one inner tube ( 2 ), wherein the inner tube ( 2 ) is configured to have an outer profile which corresponds to the inner profile of the outer tube ( 1 ) such that the inner tube ( 2 ) can slide into the outer tubes ( 1 ) and such that the inner tube ( 2 ) is rotating when the outer tube ( 1 ) is rotating.   
     
     
         12 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 11  wherein the outer tube ( 1 ) has a cylindrical shaped outer profile ( 25 ). 
     
     
         13 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 11 or 12 , wherein the inner profile of the outer tube ( 1 ) comprises at least one recess area ( 22 ) and wherein the outer profile of the inner tube ( 2 ) comprises at least one protrusion ( 23 ). 
     
     
         14 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims 11 to 13 , wherein the at least two outer tubes ( 1 ) are fixed with respect to the at least one inner tube ( 2 ) such that the assembled at least two outer tubes and the at least one inner tube have a fixed length. 
     
     
         15 . A pool cover mechanism according to  any one of the preceding claims 11 to 14 , wherein the at least two outer tubes ( 1 ) are fixed to the at least one inner tube ( 2 ) by at least one screw positioned in the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A pool cover mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims  11  to  16 , wherein the inner profile ( 2 ) comprises three recessed areas and the outer profile ( 1 ) comprises three protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . A pool cover mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims  11  to  17 , wherein the tube ( 48 ) further comprises a strap link ( 3 ) assembled on the inner tube ( 2 ), wherein the strap link ( 3 ) has an outer profile with a cylindrical shape and with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the outer tube ( 1 ). 
     
     
         19 . A pool cover mechanism for winding and unwinding a number of connected slats over a pool, the pool cover mechanism comprising
 a tube ( 1 ) for connecting with the slats ( 55 );   a tube motor assembly ( 47 ) for rotating the tube ( 1 ) wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) is connected to the tube ( 1 ) at a first end and wherein the tube motor assembly ( 47 ) comprises a tube motor ( 15 ) and a non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) when the tube motor ( 15 ) is rotating;   a first holder ( 46 ) for receiving the non-rotating motor end ( 13 ,  27 ) of the tube motor assembly ( 47 );   an outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) connected to the second end of the tube ( 1 ) wherein the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 ) is configured to allow rotation of the tube ( 1 ) when the tube motor ( 75 ) is rotating;   a second holder ( 46 ) for receiving the outer shaft bearing assembly ( 51 );   at least one strap  52  connected to the tube ( 1 ),   characterized in that the pool cover mechanism further comprises   at least one slat connector ( 53 ) for connecting the at least one strap ( 52 ) to the first slat of the number of connected slats ( 55 ), wherein the at least one slat connector ( 53 ) comprises a buckle ( 54 ) having two leg portions ( 60 ) and being configured to connect with the strap ( 52 ) and a C-shaped tube ( 57 ) having a slit ( 58 ) over the whole length of the C-shaped tube for sliding over a part of the slat and having a slot ( 59 ) in the C-shaped tube opposite to the slit for receiving the buckle, wherein the slot is configured such that the two leg portions ( 60 ) of the buckle ( 54 ) are anchored inside the C-shaped tube ( 57 ) when the buckle is connected to the strap.   
     
     
         20 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 19 , wherein the strap ( 52 ) comprises a loop ( 61 ) and wherein the buckle is connected with the loop by arranging a part of the buckle in the loop while the legs ( 60 ) of the buckle are arranged in the C-shaped tube ( 57 ). 
     
     
         21 . A pool cover mechanism according to  claim 19 or claim 20 , wherein the slit ( 58 ) is narrower at the ends of the C-shaped tube ( 57 ) compared to the middle of the C-shaped tube.