System for controlling the temperature of a railing and method therefor

A system for controlling the temperature of a railing. The system has a hollow railing having a first open end and a second open end. A conduit is coupled to the first open end of the hollow railing and is used for conveying a liquid to the hollow railing. The liquid travels through the hollow railing and is used to control the temperature of the hollow railing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to railings, and more specifically, to a 
system for controlling the temperature of a railing in a pool or water 
spa. 
2. Background of the Invention 
Presently, many swimming pools and water spas (i.e., whirlpools, jacuzzi, 
hot tubs, etc.) have rails which are used to help individuals enter and 
exit the pools and spas. While the railings have many beneficial uses, 
they suffer from one main problem. In areas where the outside temperature 
is extremely warm (i.e., desert climates), the railings used in the pools 
and spas get extremely warm. In many desert areas, the railings may not be 
used during the summer months since the sunlight heats the railings to a 
temperature that is so hot, that individuals are unable to grab the 
railing for fear of getting burned. 
Therefore, a need existed to provide a system for controlling the 
temperature of a railing. The system must be able to raise and lower the 
temperature of the railing to a temperature which is comfortable enough to 
allow an individual to grab hold of and use the railing. The system must 
also be able to be easily installed on existing swimming pools and water 
spas as well as those pools and spas yet to be built. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object 
of the present invention to provide a system for controlling the 
temperature of a railing. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for 
controlling the temperature of a railing that is able to raise and lower 
the temperature of the railing to a temperature which is comfortable 
enough to allow an individual to grab hold of and use the railing. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system for 
controlling the temperature of a railing that is easy to install on 
existing swimming pools and water spas as well as those pools and spas yet 
to be built. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system for 
controlling the temperature of a railing is disclosed. The system has a 
hollow railing having a first open end and a second open end. A conduit is 
coupled to the first open end of the hollow railing and is used for 
conveying a liquid to the hollow railing. The liquid travels through the 
hollow railing and is used to control the temperature of the hollow 
railing. 
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of 
providing a system for controlling the temperature of a railing is 
disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a hollow railing 
having a first open end and a second open end; and providing a conduit 
coupled to the first open end of the hollow railing for conveying a liquid 
to the hollow railing, the liquid traveling through and being used to 
control the temperature of the hollow railing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, a system for controlling the temperature of a railing 
10 (hereinafter system 10) is shown. The system 10 may be used to control 
the temperature of any type of railing. In the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, the system 10 is used to control the temperature of an 
outside railing and, more specifically, the system 10 is used to control 
the temperature of an outside railing used to help individuals enter and 
exit a swimming pool/water spa (i.e., hot tub, jacuzzi, whirlpool, etc.). 
The system 10 has a railing 12 which individuals use to enter and exit the 
pool/spa. The railing 12 is a hollow railing and has a first open end 12A 
and a second open end 12B. The railing 12 may be a preexisting railing 12 
which was installed when the pool/spa was built, or the railing 12 may be 
a new railing 12 to be installed with a new pool/spa. 
A conduit 14 is coupled to the first open end 12A of the railing 12. The 
conduit 14 is used for transferring a liquid to the railing 12. The liquid 
is forced to flow through the hollow railing 12 and is used to control the 
temperature of the hollow railing 12. In the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, the liquid used to control the temperature of the 
railing 12 is the water located within the pool/spa where the railing 12 
is installed. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second open end 
12B of the hollow railing 12 is located within the pool/spa. Thus, once 
the water travels through the hollow railing 12, the water is returned to 
the pool/spa. However, it should be noted that the second open end may 
also be located outside the pool/spa and that a conduit may be used to 
return the water that travels through the hollow railing 12 back to the 
pool/spa. It should also be noted that the first open end 12A of the 
railing may be located inside or outside of the pool/spa. 
In order to circulate the water through the conduit 14 and the railing 12, 
a small pump 16 may be used. In the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the pump 16 is a small horsepower AC pump. However, it should 
be noted that other types of pumps may be used. 
The conduit 14 is generally broken into two sections. The first section 14' 
has a first open end 14'A which is placed within the pool/spa. The second 
open end 14'B of the first section 14' of the conduit 14 is coupled to an 
intake valve of the pump 16. A first open end 14"A of the second section 
14" of the conduit 14 is coupled to an exit valve of the pump 16. The 
second open end 14"B of the second section 14" of the conduit 14 is 
coupled to the hollow railing 12. The first open end 14'A of the first 
section 14' of the conduit 14 should be placed at a sufficient level below 
the water line of the pool/spa to ensure that water will always be drawn 
into the conduit 14 and sent to the railing 12 when the pump 16 is 
activated. 
When the pump 16 is activated, the pump 16 will draw water from the 
pool/spa into the intake valve via the first section 14' of the conduit 
14. The water that is drawn into the pump 16 is then released through the 
exit valve of the pump 16. The water travels through the second section 
14" of the conduit 14 and into the hollow railing 12. The circulating 
water will control the temperature of the hollow railing 12 to that of the 
circulating water. 
In order to activate the pump 16, a power source is required. In the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a power supply 18 is used for this purpose. In 
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an AC power supply 18 
is used. However, it should be noted that alternative power sources may be 
used (i.e., gasoline powered, solar power, etc.). A switch 20 may be 
positioned between the power supply 18 and the pump 16. The switch 20 is 
used to couple the power supply 18 to the pump 16. Thus, the switch 20 is 
used to activate or deactivate the pump 16 whenever an individual desires 
to circulate water through the railing 12. A timer 22 may also be coupled 
to the pump 16 in order to circulate the water through the hollow railing 
12 at specific periods during the day. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2-3 wherein like numerals and symbols represent like 
elements, a plug 24 is shown. The plug 24 is used to connect the conduit 
14 to the hollow railing 12 and for forming a liquid tight seal in the 
hollow railing 12. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the plug 24 is 
located at the first opening 12A of the hollow railing 12. The plug 24 has 
an elongated bolt 26. The bolt 26 has a channel 28 drilled through the 
entire length of the bolt 26. The channel 28 is used to allow the water to 
pass from the conduit 14 into the hollow railing 12. The bolt 26 is placed 
through a central opening in a first washer 30 such that the first washer 
30 is positioned against the flat edge of the head 26B of the bolt 26. The 
bolt 26 is also placed through a central opening in a second washer 32. 
Both the first washer 30 and the second washer 32 may be made out of any 
type of material. However, in order to ensure the longevity of the system 
10, both the first washer 30 and the second washer 32 should be made out 
of a material that will not rust. 
A gasket 34 is positioned in between the first washer 30 and the second 
washer 32. The gasket 34 is used for forming the liquid tight seal at the 
first open end 12A of the hollow railing 12. The water tight seal which is 
formed at the first open end 12A of the hollow railing 12 will prevent the 
water from flowing out of the first open end 12A. The water entering the 
hollow railing 12 will thus be forced to flow out the second open end 12B 
of the hollow railing 12. The circulating water through the hollow railing 
12 will control the temperature of the railing to that of the circulating 
water. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gasket 34 
is made out of rubber. 
A fastener 36 is coupled to the bolt 26. The fastener 36 is used for 
applying and relieving pressure to the gasket 34 in order to cause the 
gasket 34 to expand/contract. By tightening or loosening the fastener 36, 
the gasket 34 will expand or contract in order to conform to the size of 
the first open end 12A of the hollow railing 12. When the fastener 36 is 
tightened, the gasket 34 will be squeezed in between the first washer 30 
and the second washer 34. This will cause the gasket 34 to expand in an 
outward manner. The fastener 36 should be tightened until the gasket 34 
reaches the interior wall of the hollow railing 12. When the fastener 36 
is fully tightened, a water tight seal will be formed at the first end 12A 
of the hollow railing 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the fastener 36 is a wing nut which is threadedly coupled to 
the bolt 26. 
The bolt 26 may further have a connector 38 coupled to a bottom end of the 
bolt 26. The connector 38 is used for coupling the conduit 14 to the plug 
24. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connector 38 
will allow for a liquid tight seal to form between the conduit 14 and the 
plug 24 when the two are fastened together. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, two different drawings are shown to show 
the installation of the plug 26 in a new railing installation (FIG. 4) or 
an existing railing installation (FIG. 5). As may be seen in FIG. 5, in 
order to avoid the digging up of the existing railing 12, the connector 38 
of the plug 26 may be in the form of an "L" connector. Thus a hole would 
be drilled through the side of the railing in order to connect the conduit 
14 to the plug 26. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those 
skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and 
details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention. For example, the system may be installed on an outdoor 
stairway railing. Instead of a pool/spa, a water container is used to hold 
a supply of water. The water is drawn into the railing through the conduit 
by means of the pump. The water that exits the stairway railing is then 
sent back to the water container through an additional conduit.