Retrofittable receptor device

A longitudinal receptor construction for insertion into a channel or opening and for holding a desired element is provided. The receptor has an inverted L-shape cross section in which a horizontal leg is advantageously suited for retrofit usage in an existing groove or channel opening and has locking features which afford substantially improved capability for holding the receptor and the element inserted into the receptor. The groove into which the receptor is positioned may be the groove contiguous to a swimming pool coping and may be the same groove devised for and used to hold another element such as the peripheral bead of a swimming pool liner. Sufficient gripping force by the horizontal receptor leg in the locking groove or channel is provided by the receptor leg configuration which prevents dislodging of the receptor leg by forces pulling on the receptor or other member which may be present in the opening. Advantageously the receptor may be used on an existing pool coping which has a channel or groove into which the peripheral bead of a vinyl liner which covers the swimming pool bottom is positioned. The securing leg of the receptor of the invention is of slender construction and contoured that it can be accommodated, together with the bead of the swimming pool liner, within a conventional pre-existing channel or groove such as that in the upper inner wall or coping of a swimming pool which houses the bead of a pool liner.

The invention relates to an attachable device that is insertable in a slot 
or groove and is used for securing a desired element in place within the 
device. More particularly, the invention relates to a device of this kind 
which may be used as a retrofit means in conjunction with an existing 
arrangement that includes a channel or groove which is employed for some 
other purpose in the pre-existing arrangement. For example, in the case of 
a swimming pool, a peripheral channel or groove is present contiguous to 
the top of the inner wall; the groove being required for holding the bead 
of a pliable plastic swimming pool liner. The invention thus comprises a 
device that is attachable in such, or other, channel or groove and used to 
hold a desired element such as a sign, a border or finish tile, a fiber 
optic light, decorative trim, and the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The prior art contains various structures which are designed to use 
grooves, channels, slots, or other openings therein, to hold an element 
for which the opening was provided. One such structure, for example, is 
the peripheral slot contiguous to the top at the inside of a swimming pool 
wall in which the peripheral bead, at the top of the flexible plastic 
swimming pool liner, is inserted to suspend the liner in position. While 
provision may be made in the design of such structures for securing 
additional desired accessories or elements, such "special" provision would 
add substantially to the cost and, in a standard design, when the 
additional accessory is not desired or not used, such additional grooves, 
channels, or other openings, present an unsightly appearance. Moreover, in 
many pre-existing arrangements, it would be desirable if an accessory 
receptor device could be conveniently and economically retrofitted onto an 
existing structure. 
Also, in the past, when additional accessories are found to be desirable, a 
separate holding means for the additional accessory has been provided. 
This is the situation, for example, with reference to the arrangement 
presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,119 where an additional (a second) 
channel or groove is provided in the coping member; the lower cannel being 
used to hold the peripheral bead of the swimming pool liner and the upper 
channel being used to hold another member, such as a cover. 
Accordingly, a need exists for a novel receptor device, which is unique in 
structure and performance and also has the advantage of being 
retrofittable, that permits an accessory to be attached therein and be 
secured within the receptor device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention resides in providing a novel receptor device or 
element that functions as a mounting base and which additionally can be 
secured in a pre-existing groove or channel and which receives for 
retention therein a variety of desired elements. 
The receptor device of the invention, which is secured in a groove or 
channel, and which may be a pre-existing groove or channel, comprises an 
elongated member which, in cross section, has a generally inverted "L" 
shape; the first or horizontal leg of which functions to secure the 
receptor device in position, and the second or other leg, the vertical 
leg, of which functions to to receive for retention therein, a desired 
element, e.g. a decorative piece, tile member, fiber optic light element, 
and the like. 
The horizontal or securing leg of the receptor device of the invention, 
which is formed of semi-rigid rubber or synthetic plastic composition, is 
contoured so as to permit insertion into a groove or channel and is 
provided with gripping means and a locking shoulder or lip, at the 
extremity of the leg, which flexes to afford a streamlined shape when 
inserted and which serves to lock the receptor in place on the bead which 
is already inplace in the groovewhen the receptor is fully seated in place 
in the receiving groove. The vertical leg is provided with a suitable 
means to receive the element which it is desired to secure in place within 
the receptor. To secure the desired element in place, the vertical leg of 
the receptor preferably comprises a concave quasi-eliptic opening, i.e., 
the end portions of the concave shape reverse direction to form a partial 
elipse and function to receive and to securely and detachably hold an 
element positioned therein without the need for supplemental fastening 
means, such as screws, adhesive, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Reference is made to FIG. 1 of the drawing which illustrates a fragment 10 
of a swimming pool with coping 12 partially embedded in a poured concrete 
deck 11 which surrounds the top of the vertical pool wall W. The lower 
portion of the coping 12 is formed with a horizontally extending channel 
14 which functions to retain the bead of a liner 15 which is inserted into 
the holding channel 14. 
The receptor device 20 of the invention shown in cross section in FIG. 2 
will be discussed in greater detail by reference thereto in conjunction 
with FIGS. 3-5. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the receptor device 20 comprises a longitudinal element 
which may be characterized as generally having an inverted L-shaped cross 
section. The receptor device 20 has a horizontal leg 22 used to hold the 
receptor in place and a vertical leg 30, which includes a concave opening 
32 and devised to retain therein the desired element. The horizontal leg 
22 comprises an end portion 23 with a depending portion or lip 24 and a 
locking shoulder 25 and is formed so that depending portion 24 flexes and 
insertion into a relatively restricted opening is facilitated. In other 
words, the composition of the reception while substantially rigid is also 
sufficiently pliable or flexible so that upon compression the depending 
lip 24 is flexed upward back against the leg 22 under compression to give 
a streamlined shape (as shown in FIG. 4) during insertion into a 
restricted opening, to more readily permit entry of leg 22 into a holding 
channel or groove of the kind shown as 14 (FIG. 3). The groove or channel 
14 is preferably provided with a lip 19 at the mouth of the lower surface 
of the opening 14 to aid in retention of an element, such as the 
peripheral bead of a swimming pool liner, inserted therein. Grooves of 
this kind in which extensions or lips are formed at the bottom or top 
surfaces at the mouth of the opening are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,429,425. It is contemplated that groove 14 may be occupied or crowded 
already by an element such as the bead 16 (FIG. 3) leaving at best only 
limited space. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexing back or "stream-lining" of 
the lip 24 on the horizontal leg of the receptor 20 results in a shape 
simulating an arrowhead at the top 23 of leg 22 thereby minimizing 
resistance to the sliding insertion of the leg 22 of the receptor 20 into 
the holding groove or opening 14. The horizontal leg 22 may also be 
provided optionally with one or more saw tooth-like backward canted 
gripping protuberances 27, 28 and 29, which are formed such as to not 
impede the insertion of the leg 22 into a narrow restricted slot or groove 
while at the same time supplementing the gripping force on the leg 22 and 
aiding in the locking of the receptor 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, 
when the leg 22 is fully inserted and the face of the vertical leg 30 
abutsthe swimming pool wall, or the liner and/or bead 15 and 17, 
respectively, which is draped over the vertical wall of the swimming pool. 
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, an optional supplemental abutting means may 
be included, such as stop member 26 which abuts against the vertical 
surface of coping 12. The stop member 26 abuts the wall 12 contiguous to 
the opening 14. Additionally, when the vertical leg 22 is substantially 
fully inserted, lip 24 at the extremity of the leg 22 is extended, and 
shoulder 25 is in abutment with the top of the bead 18, as illustrated in 
FIG. 5. Referring again to FIG. 2, the vertical leg 30 at its outer face 
is provided with a concave or quasi-eliptic shaped opening which receives 
and holds an element therein. While the means used to hold an element in 
the opening 32 comprises an arrangement as shown in which the element 
(such as 50) may be removably snapped into and held in place in the recess 
32 for easy removabe when desired, such holding means may optionally also 
include a fastener or adhesive. In the holding means shown, the concave 
quasi-eliptic shaped opening 32 is contoured so as to partially wrap back 
and possesses element retaining tips 34 and 36 at opposite ends of the 
concave opening 32. The desired element, to be inserted and retained in 
the concave opening 32 and secured in position by the tips 34 and 36, may 
comprise a variety of items as such for example, tiles, signs, decorative 
strips or inserts, a fiber-optic light strip, and the like. The item 
secured in the concave recess 32 of the receptor of the invention is held 
inplace without additional holding means. 
As shown in FIG. 6, a fiber-optics light arrangement 50 of the kind 
illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,984, may be inserted, such as by 
snapping in place, into the receptor and held secure by tips 34 and 36 of 
the receptor structure. Such fiber-optic units generally comprise, for 
example, a lens region 54, translucent fiber elements 58, and may include 
a reflectant surface 57 with light being transmitted through the fiber by 
a suitable light source. 
In the use of the receptor 20 of the invention as shown in FIG. 2, 
reference is made in particular to FIG. 3-5 of the drawing and with 
reference to a channel or groove formed in the coping or wall of a 
swimming pool. It will be apparent, however, that the invention is not to 
be construed as limited for use only with swimming pools or with channels 
for retaining swimming linear beads. Rather, it will be apparent that the 
receptor of the invention can be used in any of a variety of grooves or 
channels whether such are specifically devised to receive the receptor of 
the invention or whether such opening, i.e. such groove or channel, 
pre-exists to be used for other purpose and the receptor of the invention 
is then retrofitted into such pre-existing opening. 
Because of the slender configuration of horizontal leg 22 of the receptor 
20 of the invention and the appropriate resiliency of the cooperating 
parts, the insertion of the leg 22 into the channel 14, even though the 
channel 14 may already house the liner bead 16, is readily effected. Once 
in place, the protuberances 27, 28 and 29 at the top and the shoulder 25 
of lip 24 at the bottom abutting against the top of liner bead 16 retain 
the receptor 20 securely in the locked/holding position. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, a relatively more slender 
horizontal securing leg 22A is illustrated for use with a "more crowded" 
groove, i.e., where relatively restricted space remains in the groove, in 
which to insert the horizontal leg of the receptor device. In the 
embodiment of FIG. 2A, the reference numerals followed by the letter "A" 
correspond to parts and their function similar to those of like reference 
numerals in the structure shown in FIG. 2. 
The horizontal leg 22A of FIG. 2A differs from the receptor device of FIG. 
2 primarily in that the optional upward extending protrusion 26 shown in 
FIG. 2 is omitted, and the upward extending holding fingers, two of which 
28A and 29A are shown, are relatively more slender and are formed at a 
greater angle with the horizontal than are the protuberance or extensions 
27, 28 and 29 of FIG. 2. In some applications, the omission of the upward 
protrusion or stop member similar to that shown as 26 in FIG. 2 is 
unnecessry, may be aesthetically undesirable, and does not add to the 
essential performance, since the holding power of extensions 28A and 29A 
in conjunction with the abutment of face 31A against the wall W and 
abutting lip 25A suffice to provide a secure hold. 
The receptors 20 and are preferably formed of any well known semi-rigid 
plastic, i.e. synthetic resin composition, such as nylon, polyvinyl 
chloride, polyester, polycarbonate, polyolefin e.g. polypropylene or 
polyethylene, and the like, which, while of sufficient rigidity and 
toughness, possesses the desired resiliency and is comprised of a cross 
section adequate to withstand substantial stress and deformation while 
being inserted into the channel without damage. The receptor is sized so 
that the leg 22 (or 22A) is sufficiently slender and can be inserted into 
a channel or groove opening even when the groove is occupied. The 
extensions or ridges or protrusions extending upward from the horizontal 
leg are angled backward to facilitate insertion and, because they are 
angled backward, have the tendency to resist withdrawal once they have 
been inserted into position. This snug fit including the frictional grip 
of the protrusions 28A and 29A and the depending lip 24A, maintain the 
receptor in place. Should removal of the receptor element 22 or (22A) be 
desired, a prying tool (not shown) is inserted to disengage the shoulder 
25 (or 25A from its depending abutting position. 
While a single protrusion or extension positioned intermediately along the 
top of the horizontal surface of the leg 22 (or 2A) may suffice to aid in 
preventing the leg from sliding back, any practical number of additional 
serrations or extensions, two of which are shown, 27 and 29, may formed on 
the upper surface of leg 22 of the receptor 20. Thus the additional or 
supplemental ridges or extensions 27 and 29 afford sufficient additional 
pressure against the upper face of the groove or channel 14 and against 
the liner bead 16 which is pressed down against the lower face of the 
groove 14 thereby preventing dislodgment of the bead 18 or of the leg 22 
from channel 14. Similarly this applies to the extensions 28A and 29A of 
the receptor 20A shown in FIG. 2A. 
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in 
detail, it is to be understood that various alternative details or 
equivalents which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed may be 
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.