US-12622492-B2 - Slip-resistant buckle for safety swimming pool cover straps

Abstract

A 2-piece buckle connects buckle straps within a safety swimming pool cover. The 2-piece buckle is used in place of a strap/buckle system. The interlocking design allows for a quick, secure attachment that remains unaffected over time by weathering. The tension within the pool cover, along with the interlocking design, secures the 2-component attachment. The “half-moon” prong of the buckle is inserted through the open triangle shape of the other buckle half through the bottom, at an approximate 90-degree angle. The prong is then turned 90 degrees, rotated upward, and the two halves are “locked” into place. After the buckles are connected, the cover can be installed and tensioned over the pool. Tensioning prevents the 2 halves of the buckle from being rotated and disengaged. Disengagement can be performed once the pool cover anchoring hardware has been disengaged and the tension in the cover has been relieved.

Inventors

• Michael Sofia

Assignees

• POOL COVER CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240626

Claims (5)

1. 1 . Apparatus for, and in combination with, a swimming pool cover, comprising: a swimming pool cover configured to be installed and tensioned over said-a swimming pool; said cover having slot cutouts to pass around obstructions and maintain total coverage denying access to water below in said swimming pool, the swimming pool cover coupled to a surface surrounding said swimming pool; webbing straps extending from opposite side edges of said slot cutouts into said slot cutouts oppositely facing each other; a two piece buckle for joining said webbing straps in each slot cutout, the two piece buckle comprising; a male member in the form of a crescent half-moon shape, the male member coupled to one of said webbing straps in each slot cutout and a female member having a triangular shaped opening configured to receive said male member, the female member coupled to the oppositely facing webbing strap in each said slot cutout corresponding to a respective webbing strap including the male member; the joining of said male member and said female member requiring rotation of said male member by about 90 degrees to enter said triangular shaped opening of said female member; and whereby tensioning of said swimming pool cover places a pulling force on joined male and female members making it impossible for the two pieces of said buckle to be rotated and disengaged.
2. 2 . The apparatus of claim 1 in which said obstructions include handrails or other fixed objects extending above a surface of said pool.
3. 3 . The apparatus of claim 1 in which said pointed end of said triangular shaped opening faces said male member.
4. 4 . The apparatus of claim 3 in which said crescent half-moon shape comprises a straight edge attached to a body of said male member and a hemispherical shaped edge opposite of said straight edge.
5. 5 . The apparatus of claim 4 in which disengagement of said buckle requires a 90-degree rotation of said male member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a slip-resistant buckle for safety swimming pool cover straps. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain circumstances, there are times when a safety swimming pool cover must be designed and manufactured with obstacle avoidance accommodations (slot cutouts). For example, a swimming pool may include a handrail for entry/exit, or a commercial pool may include a water feature within the interior of the pool. These conditions require accommodations for the design/installation of the swimming pool cover. Currently, Loop-Loc provides “slot cutouts” located at the exact location of the permanent rails and other obstructions. These slot cutouts allow the cover to pass around the obstruction and maintain total coverage denying access to the water below. Securement of the slot cutout is achieved with webbing straps which pass through a stainless-steel buckle. In addition to rail cutouts, the current strap/buckle securement system is currently used for ladder, water feature, and spa-access slot cutouts. These cutouts can range in length, and it is not uncommon for them to reach lengths in excess of 20 feet. There are 2 disadvantages to the current strap/buckle system. Firstly, Loop-Loc's design guidelines require that the strap/buckle be placed every 3″. Installers report that the attachment for this system, especially on very long slot cutouts, is too laborious and requires excessive installation time. Secondly, over a time period of years, the webbing straps become weathered, rigid, and difficult to work with. Weathered polypropylene webbing straps become stiff and difficult to weave through the stainless-steel buckle. Therefore, the use of slip-resistant buckles, as in Applicant's present invention, in conjunction with buckle straps being provided over the obstacle avoidance gaps (slot cutouts) is not only not suggested but would be discouraged or taught away by the references relied on. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slip-resistant buckle for safety swimming pool cover straps. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a buckle having a crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, which inserts into a triangular receptacle by insertion of a corner of the crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, and then rotating the crescent-shaped half-moon prong under the surface base of the triangular receptacle of the buckle for the safety swimming pool cover straps, which promotes slip resistance of the straps of the buckle of the safety swimming pool cover over obstacle avoidance gaps (slot cutouts) of the safety swimming pool cover. Other objects which become apparent from the following description of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention is a slip-resistant buckle for safety swimming pool cover straps. The buckle has a crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, which inserts into a triangular receptacle by insertion of a corner of the crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, and then the crescent-shaped half-moon prong is rotated under the surface base of the triangular receptacle of the buckle for the safety swimming pool cover straps, promoting slip resistance of the straps of the buckle of the safety swimming pool cover. The buckle of the present invention enhances the slip-resistance of the buckle components and buckle straps by incorporating the crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, which remains fixed in place within the base of the triangular receptacle so that the straps of the safety swimming pool cover do not move like Prior Art straps, which are held in place by a looping of a buckle prong over a rectangular ring of the buckle, back against itself. Over time, the Prior Art buckle straps loosen and bend due to winter weather and stress of holding the pool cover in place. When the Prior Art buckles and straps bend under torque and pressure, they can cause the base bars of the loop buckle to bend and/or break, thereby causing the detrimental loosening of the pool cover straps over the Prior Art obstacle avoidance cutouts in the swimming pool cover and also compromising the tightness of the pool cover over the swimming pool during winter use. In contrast, the addition of the new buckle with the crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, which remains fixed in place within the base of the triangular receptacle so that the straps of the safety swimming pool cover do not slip out of position like Prior Art straps, which greatly enhances the slip resistance of the straps of the safety swimming pool cover. The important slip-resistant function of the improved buckle is maintained with aforementioned features. The synergistic locking combination of the crescent-shaped half-moon protruding prong, which remains fixed in place within the base of the triangular receptacle provides beneficial