Pool cover assembly

Abstract

A rigid pool cover assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the rigid pool cover assembly is provided with a main body portion and a pair of opposite foldable end sections, the end sections are folded onto the main body portion, the rigid pool cover assembly is lifted and lowered with a cable lift assembly, and the cable lift assembly is mounted on cross members and supported by posts. In one embodiment, one or more solar panels are disposed on multiple stringers above the cross members to receive solar energy and use the received solar energy to charge one or more batteries configured to lift and lower the rigid planar assembly. In one embodiment, multiple hydraulic cylinders are configured to lift and lower the rigid planar assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool cover assembly comprising:
 a rigid planar assembly provided with a main body portion and a pair of opposite foldable end sections pivotally secured to the main body portion;   a plurality of support members provided about the rigid planar assembly;   a plurality of cross members interconnecting the plurality of support members; and   a lift assembly provided between the plurality of cross members and the rigid planar assembly, wherein the lift assembly is configured to lift the rigid planar assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is provided with a plurality of rigid frame members. 
     
     
         3 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein closed cell foam is provided between the plurality of the rigid frame members. 
     
     
         4 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein closed cell foam sections are provided underneath a top surface end portion of each of the pair of the opposite foldable end sections. 
     
     
         5 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a snubber device extends across the closed cell foam sections. 
     
     
         6 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of the opposite foldable end sections is provided with a lifting strap. 
     
     
         7 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid planar assembly is provided with a flexible planar member extending thereacross. 
     
     
         8 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible planar member is provided with artificial turf on a top surface of the flexible planar member. 
     
     
         9 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lift assembly is provided with at least one drive motor having a control switch. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling a pool cover assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a rigid planar assembly with a main body portion and a pair of opposite foldable end sections;   pivotally securing the pair of opposite foldable end sections to the main body portion;   arranging a plurality of support posts about the rigid planar assembly;   interconnecting a plurality of cross members between the plurality of support posts;   providing a lift assembly between the plurality of cross members and the rigid planar assembly; and   configuring the lift assembly to lift the rigid planar assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the main body portion with a plurality of rigid frame members. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing closed cell foam between the plurality of the rigid frame members. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing closed cell foam sections underneath a top surface end portion of each of the pair of the foldable end sections. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , said further comprising extending a snubber device across the closed cell foam sections. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing each of the pair of the foldable end sections with a lifting strap. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the rigid planar assembly with a flexible planar member extending thereacross. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the flexible planar member with artificial turf on a top surface of the flexible planar member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the lift assembly with at least one drive motor having a control switch. 
     
     
         19 . A pool cover assembly for a pool, comprising:
 a rigid planar assembly above the pool;   a plurality of support members provided about the rigid planar assembly;   a plurality of cross members interconnecting the plurality of support members;   one or more batteries disposed within the rigid planar assembly;   a lift assembly provided between the plurality of cross members and the rigid planar assembly, wherein the lift assembly is configured to lift and lower the rigid planar assembly using power supplied by the one or more batteries;   multiple stringers disposed on, and attached to, the plurality of cross members; and   one or more solar panels disposed on the multiple stringers, each panel being disposed on, and attached to, two or more stringers of the multiple stringers,   wherein the one or more solar panels are configured to receive solar energy and use the received solar energy to charge the one or more batteries via a power cable that electrically connects the one or more solar panels to the one or more batteries.   
     
     
         20 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 one or more water heaters disposed within the rigid planar assembly, wherein the one or more water heaters are configured to heat water in the pool using power supplied by the one or more batteries.   
     
     
         21 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 A first plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) lights is attached to a bottom surface of the rigid planar assembly and is configured provide light onto the pool using power supplied by the one or more batteries.   
     
     
         22 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 A second plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) lights is attached to a bottom surface of the plurality of cross members and is configured provide light onto rigid planar assembly using power supplied by the one or more batteries.   
     
     
         23 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the rigid planar assembly comprises a main body portion and a pair of opposite foldable end sections pivotally secured to the main body portion. 
     
     
         24 . A pool cover assembly for a pool, comprising:
 a rigid planar assembly above the pool; and   multiple hydraulic cylinders configured to lift and lower the rigid planar assembly, said multiple hydraulic cylinders being driven by an electrically powered pump, each hydraulic cylinder being positioned outside the pool in a hole within a pool deck surrounding an interior of the pool.   
     
     
         25 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the multiple hydraulic cylinders are entirely underground while the rigid planar assembly is not raised above ground level. 
     
     
         26 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each hydraulic cylinder is a multistage hydraulic cylinder having two or more stages. 
     
     
         27 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each hydraulic cylinder is a single-stage hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         28 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the electrically powered pump is powered by alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         29 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the electrically powered pump is powered by at least one battery. 
     
     
         30 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the multiple hydraulic cylinders are driven by vegetable grade vegetable oil. 
     
     
         31 . The pool cover assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the rigid planar assembly comprises a main body portion and a pair of opposite foldable end sections pivotally secured to the main body portion.