Track assembly with apparatus for forming deck edging for swimming pools

An apparatus is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated guide connector is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for connecting to a guide member for the pool cover, that includes a form member shaped to form the edging, and a form mating structure on the form member for removably mating the form member to the elongated guide connector.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to swimming pools, and, more particularly, to a track assembly with apparatus for forming deck edging for swimming pools.

Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, to preserve chemical treatments in the water and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. An automatic pool cover provides convenience for a user by allowing the cover to be easily extended over the pool during periods of non-use, and retracted during periods of use. Typically, automatic pool covers utilize a track assembly built into the walls for guiding the leading edge bar of the cover as it traverses the pool. Such track assemblies are difficult to install and add clutter to the pool sides that may be unsightly and awkward to use.

In forming the coping and edging around the perimeter of pools it is useful to employ a mechanism in or attached to the pool walls that will provide uniformity in the coping and that can be easily installed and removed. Current forms are typically made of disposable materials, such as styrofoam, wood forms or other such materials. Such forms were often attached to the pool by two-sided tape or other temporary means. Often they were damaged during removal, so that new forms had to be used for each installation.

For pools with automatic vinyl covers, it is useful to have a mechanism in the pool walls that secures the bead of the vinyl liner to prevent wear and to maintain suitable appearance and structure. It is desirable that such a mechanism is simple, easy to install and firmly secures the edge or bead of the vinyl liner to the pool walls.

In addition, it is sometimes desirable to secure fiber optic lights or other decorative items in or around the pool walls. Using separate securing mechanisms for these purposes adds to the expense and installation time involved with pool construction.

Accordingly, a multiple purpose assembly for pool walls is needed that can perform one or more of the foregoing functions while minimizing the time and expense of installation. Such an assembly should be relatively simple and unobtrusive and should be flexible to accommodate various needs of different types of pool construction. Preferably, the assembly may include coping and edging forms that are easy to affix, provide uniformity in the forming function and are reusable to minimize cost.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a multiple purpose encapsulation member that is able to carry out the functions described above. The encapsulation member includes an element for guiding a pool cover edge as it is retracted and extended. The member may further include an element for securing a form piece to be used in forming the edge of the pool decking. The form may be removably secured to the member, enabling it to be reused and for different forms to be utilized with a common encapsulation member. In addition, the member may provide an element for securing a bead on the end of a vinyl liner. Further the member has an element for securing fiber optic light tubing or other decorative elements.

In one implementation apparatus is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover wherein an elongated guide connector is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for mating to a guide member for the pool cover. The apparatus comprises a form member shaped to form the edging, and a form mating structure on the form member for removably mating the form member to the elongated guide connector. For purposes of this application, the term “mating” shall mean in contact, in an adjoining relationship, fit together, joined, or connected.

In another implementation, apparatus is provided for attaching to a wall of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, and disposed to accommodate a guide member for the edge of the pool cover as the cover extends and retracts. The apparatus comprises an elongated track member attached to the wall of the swimming pool to accommodate the guide member, and a form element for forming an edge of the decking for the pool, the form element being removably mated to the track member.

In another implementation, a method is provided for constructing edging around the perimeter of a swimming pool having a decking and a retractable pool cover, comprising connecting an elongated guide connector to a wall of the swimming pool, and removably mating to the elongated guide connector a form member shaped to form the edging.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one implementation of the disclosure, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIG. 1, an implementation of a rectangular swimming pool10is shown having a pool deck12and walls14surrounding the pool. An automatic pool cover16extends from a pool cover mechanism18in a cover assembly box20disposed at one end of the pool10. A leading edge bar22at the front edge of the pool cover16rides in a track encapsulation assembly24along the interior walls of the pool.

Deck12is generally horizontal and is preferably constructed from concrete. Coping14connects to deck12in a substantially coplanar fashion along the edge of deck12facing the interior of swimming pool10. Encapsulation track assembly24may include structure to retain vinyl lining, coping forms and structure for fiber optic lighting running along the length of the pool.

FIG. 2shows an implementation of an encapsulation extrusion30according to the present disclosure. Extrusion30has an elongated slot32running along the bottom thereof to provide a cavity for securing the vinyl liner bead (not shown). A three-sided rectangular elongated cavity34formed by a bottom wall35, a side wall36and a top wall37, runs the length of extrusion30for receiving a cover guide extrusion, discussed below.

A bottom side38of top wall37includes protruding channels39and40that form grooves41and42for guiding the cover guide extrusion. Opposing elongated notches43and44are disposed in the bottom side38of top wall37and the top side45of bottom wall35, respectively for securing a track cover, described below.

The top side46of top wall37includes an elongated lip48for securing a coping extrusion. Extending from the bottom of side wall36is an elongated L-shaped securing flange50running the length of the encapsulation extrusion. An elongated lip52extends from the end of flange50at approximately a right angle thereto. A small elongated groove (not shown) may be included to extend longitudinally along top side46.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an alternate implementation is shown of an encapsulation extrusion54that is essentially identical to the implementation shown inFIG. 2, except for the addition of an elongated cavity56for securing fiber optic lighting. Cavity56is formed by a side wall58extending vertically between the bottom wall35and a top wall31forming elongated slot32. Wall58may be shaped as desired to accommodate the fiber optic tubing. Retaining lips57and59extend towards each other in the front of cavity56to retain the tubing.

FIG. 4Ashows an implementation of a cover guide extrusion60, sized and shaped to fit inside the cavity34of the encapsulation extrusions30illustrated inFIG. 2or54illustrated inFIG. 3. An elongated cavity62is formed in the cover guide extrusion60having an open side64for receiving the edge of a pool cover (not shown). The top wall66of cover guide extrusion60is shaped with elongated channels67and protrusions68that are adapted to engage the grooves41and42and the protruding channels39and40respectively (depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3) so that the cover guide extrusion is mated in cavity34with the encapsulation extrusions30or54.

FIG. 4Bdiscloses a guide support spacer extrusion80for wedging into the cavity34of the encapsulation extrusion30above or below the cover guide extrusion60, to secure extrusion60tightly in the cavity34. Spacer extrusion80may include elongated protrusions82to provide additional security.

FIG. 5discloses an elongated clip-on coping extrusion70for mating to the top wall37of the encapsulation extrusion30. Extrusion70includes a flat member72having a lip74at one end and a slot76at the other end. A curved elongated member78is shaped to form the pool coping (not shown). Member78may be formed in any shape to provide the appearance desired for the coping. A lip79extends downward to secure the coping extrusion70to the top of encapsulation extrusions30or54, shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. A snap hook extrusion73extends longitudinally along the undersurface of member72for further securing the coping extrusion70, as disclosed below. Looking now atFIG. 6, the elements separately shown inFIGS. 3-5are shown functional connection with each other to form an encapsulation assembly84. Coping extrusion70is mated to encapsulation extrusion54by sliding lip48into slot76and by sliding lip74onto the end of top wall37, as shown. Coping extrusion70is further secured by mating snap hook extrusion73into groove47. Cover guide extrusion60is wedged in cavity34of encapsulation extrusion54by spacer extrusion80. A fiber optic tube86is secured in cavity56.

FIG. 7shows the same assembly84including a vinyl liner89in contact with a side wall88and having a beaded edge90secured within cavity62of the encapsulation extrusion30. A pool cover92is secured to assembly84by an elongated tubing94connected to the edge of cover92and secured in cavity62. Preferably tubing94is smaller than the dimensions of the cavity62so that it can move freely along the cavity62as the pool cover is extended or retracted. Lips63and65at the front of cavity62retain tubing94in cavity62. Support spacer extrusion80is pushed into the cavity34below the cover guide extrusion60.

FIG. 8shows another implementation of an encapsulation assembly100in which the encapsulated extrusion30ofFIG. 2is mated with the coping extrusion70ofFIG. 5. Assembly100is embedded in an edge of a pool deck102. Curved coping member78shapes the edge of the pool deck104to the configuration of member78.

In this implementation, a cover guide is not used, either because a pool cover is not deployed or because the encapsulation assembly is disposed on a back wall of the pool where a pool cover guide extrusion is not needed. In such instances, cavity108may be capped by a cover106for cosmetic and safety purposes. Cover106is secured by small flanges109and110that extend into cavity108. Tiny lips11land113at the end of flanges109and110mate with corresponding grooves, such as grooves43and44as shown inFIG. 2. Looking now atFIG. 9, a concrete form110is shown that can be attached to the encapsulation extrusions30or54, shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Form110is a generally L-shaped member having a bottom wall112and a side wall114. Bottom wall112includes channel116and protrusion117that are formed to mate with corresponding protrusion39and channel42in the bottom side38of top wall37, as shown inFIG. 3. Side wall114has a curvature118designed to shape the edge of the concrete decking of the pool. A channel120is formed along the back side of wall114for holding an alignment piece for aligning form116with adjacent form members. Opposing lip members122and123are formed to retain the alignment piece.

FIG. 10shows the manner in which the concrete form110mates to the encapsulation extrusion54. Bottom wall112extends into the cavity34of extrusion54so that channel116and protrusion117mate with the corresponding protrusion39and channel42of the bottom part38of top wall37of extrusion54.

FIG. 11shows the concrete form110and encapsulation extrusion54completely mated. A concrete deck122is formed adjacent thereto, with the shape of side wall114of form110determining the curvature of the deck edging124. A spacer126is inserted into cavity34of encapsulation extrusion54to maintain the shape of the cavity during formation of the deck. Spacer126may be of any shape and material sufficient to maintain concrete form110snugly abutting the lower surface of encapsulation extrusion54. After the deck is formed, concrete form110is removed from cavity34, together with filler piece126so that the pool cover guide extrusion60can be inserted, as shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 12show concrete form110mated with the encapsulation extrusion30shown inFIG. 2.FIGS. 11 and 12together make it apparent that concrete form110will readily mate with both of the encapsulation extrusions30and54shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 13shows the encapsulation extrusion54ofFIG. 3inset on the top of a pool wall130. Flange50and lip52extend into the mortar132above the wall130to secure the extrusion54. In this arrangement, masonry134is formed above extrusion54made of any appropriate material, such as brick, in any desirable shape to form an edge to the pool. In this situation, concrete form110or coping form70would not be required.

FIG. 14shows an encapsulation extrusion140for use with gunite concrete pools rather than vinyl lined pools. In this implementation of the encapsulation extrusion no vinyl bead retention slot32or fiber optic cavity56are needed, as shown in the implementation ofFIG. 3. Extrusion140has a bottom wall142, a side wall144and a top wall146which form a cavity152, similar to the shape of the other encapsulation extrusions shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Also, a flange143with lip145extends from the intersection of bottom wall142and side wall144, for securing the encapsulation extrusion140in an appropriate medium, such as mortar.

FIG. 14includes channels148,149and protrusions150,151to mate with the cover guide extrusion60shown inFIG. 4A. When the cover guide extrusion60is not used, such as in the absence of a pool cover or along the wall of the pool opposite the pool cover assembly, an encapsulation gap cover159can be applied to cover cavity152, as shown inFIG. 15. This arrangement is similar to the members shown inFIG. 8. Cover159includes flanges154and155each having tiny lips156and157that are designed to snap into elongated grooves158a,b.

FIG. 16discloses the encapsulation extrusion140shown inFIG. 14inset on the top of a pool wall160, similar to the implementation shown inFIG. 13. Flange143and lip145extend into mortar162to secure the extrusion140. Masonry164of any appropriate design and shape rest on top of the top wall146of extrusion140.

As can be seen, the encapsulated track assembly of the present disclosure can take several different shapes, depending on the type of pool and the functions required, including securing the vinyl liner, holding fiber optic lighting, positioning form extrusions to form deck coping or edging and guiding pool cover edge members as the cover is retracted and extended. This This multiple purpose system is simple, easy to construct and install and relatively inexpensive.

The encapsulated track assembly provides a simple means to insert a form for the decking into the assembly and then remove it for future use after the decking is formed. The concrete forms are reusable and are readily mated with the encapsulation assembly. Numerous additional advantages are apparent from the disclosure provided herein.

Although the above implementations are representative of the present disclosure, other implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification and the appended claims, or from a practice of the implementations of the disclosed disclosure. It is intended that the specification and implementations therein be considered as exemplary only, with the present disclosure being defined by the claims and their equivalents.