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[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/607,132, filed Sep. 3, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to swimming pools and, more particularly, to liner-type swimming pools having flexible plastic liners.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Residential swimming pools are often constructed of a plurality of separate wall sections situated and fixed to each other in end to end relationship to define an enclosed container or vessel which is then lined by a thin, flexible plastic liner which makes the container watertight. Such “liner” swimming pools are less expensive than swimming pools made of concrete.  
         [0004]     On the other hand, concrete swimming pools are considered to be more aesthetically pleasing than liner pools. Decorative tiles are easily applied to pool walls formed of concrete while the concrete is in a wet or moldable state. While plastic liners are often provided with decorative printed designs, the designs printed on the portion of the liner that is situated above the water line of the pool often becomes discolored due to exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun and the chemicals in the pool water. While it has been proposed to apply a separate plastic border having a decorative print over discolored portions of a liner when discoloration of the original liner occurs (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,867 to Hodak), the print on the border is still not as decorative as actual tiles.  
         [0005]     Arrangements have been suggested for applying decorative tiles to the side walls of liner-type pools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,499 to Lankheet discloses a liner pool in which a peripherally extending groove is formed in the pool wall which receives and holds a bead provided at the edge of the liner. The groove is formed a distance below the top edge of the wall section to provide an area above the channel on the surface of the pool wall on which tiles can be mounted. However, this arrangement requires a special construction for the pool wall and obviously is not useful in connection with retrofitting conventional liner type pools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,308 to Palmere discloses a peripherally extending receptor apparatus which overhangs the plastic liner and which includes a liner bead-receiving channel and a tile setting track. However, the open space between the receptor apparatus and the liner is prone to collect dirt and algae and can be damaged by ice in the winter months. The receptor apparatus rubs against the liner and causes it to unduly wear or fail. Moreover, such tile-mounting structures do not form aesthetic junctions with terminations of the pool wall. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,324 to Lankheet discloses a tile track that hangs over a plastic liner and is therefore subject to the same problems inherent in the Palmere arrangement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tile and liner bracket member for liner type swimming pools, and swimming pools which utilize the same.  
         [0007]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tile and liner bracket member for liner type swimming pools, and swimming pools which utilize the same, which overcome the problems inherent in prior art arrangements.  
         [0008]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tile and liner bracket member for liner type swimming pools, and swimming pools which utilize the same, wherein the liner is connected to the bracket structure below the water line of the pool and a water tight seal is provided between the liner and the pool wall below the water line and at the junctions between the liner and terminations of the pool wall, including conventional skimmer openings, wall ladders or other accessories affixed to or integral with the pool wall.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tile and liner bracket member for liner type swimming pools, and swimming pools which utilize the same, in which the liner is located entirely below the water line thereby protecting it from discoloration due to exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun and to which decorative tiles can be mounted to provide the desirable aesthetic characteristics of concrete pools.  
         [0010]     Briefly, these and other objects are attained by providing in conjunction with a liner-type pool, a peripheral tile and liner bracket member having a body whose outwardly facing surface directly substantially engages, and has a contour that substantially conforms to the contour of the inwardly facing surface of the pool wall and which is mounted on the pool wall to form a border adjacent to the top of the pool wall. A channel structure extends along a lower region of the inwardly facing surface of the bracket body at a level below the normal water line of the pool which receives and holds a bead provided at the liner edge. An elongate cap is affixed to the bead-receiving bracket structure. In one embodiment, the bracket structure comprises an extruded product formed of plastic about eight inches in height, about 0.08 inches in thickness and about 8 to 10 feet in length. The bracket member is flexible so that it can closely conform to the contour of the pool wall, not only along relatively straight lengths, but also along curved lengths.  
         [0011]     The tile and bracket structure also provides aesthetic junctions with and secure watertight seals at the skimmer openings and other pool wall terminations such as stairs and wall ladders. In the case of a skimmer opening, bracket structure body is provided with a reduced height section forming, along with adjacent body sections, an open area overlying the skimmer opening. Sealing members are fastened to the pool wall which are situated over the edge regions of the body and bead-receiving channel structure bordering the skimmer opening. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevation view of a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a side elevation view of the tile and liner bracket member shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the channel structure of the tile and liner bracket member shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and designated at “A” in  FIG. 1B ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective broken away view of a pool wall on which a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention is mounted;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in cross section of a pool wall on which a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention is mounted;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a pool wall on which a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention is mounted showing the attachment of a liner bead and channel cap to the channel structure;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a tile and liner bracket member mounted on a pool wall and showing a connecting member for interconnecting two adjacent bracket members;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a exploded perspective view showing the application of a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention to a pool wall in the region of a skimmer opening;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a side section through a skimmer opening of a swimming pool to which a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention is mounted;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 9-14  are perspective views showing sequential steps of mounting a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention to a swimming pool wall in the region of a skimmer opening; and  
         [0023]      FIGS. 15-19  are perspective views showing sequential steps of mounting a tile and liner bracket member in accordance with the invention at a junction with a termination of the pool wall, namely pool wall ladder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a tile and liner bracket member  10  in accordance with the invention includes a body  12  having a top edge  14  comprising an inwardly extending flange  15 , a bottom edge  16 , a surface  18  which faces inwardly towards the water in the pool when the bracket member  10  is mounted on a pool wall, and a surface  20  which faces outwardly away from the water in the pool. A channel structure  22  extends along a lower region of the inwardly facing surface  18  of body  10 . The region  23  ( FIG. 1A ) of inwardly facing body surface  18  between the channel structure  22  and the top edge  14  constitutes a tile-mounting region on which decorative tiles can be fixed. Openings  24  are formed through the body  12  through which fasteners pass for securing the bracket member  10  to a pool wall as described below. In a preferred embodiment, the tile and liner bracket member  10  is formed of polyvinyl chloride by an extrusion process. The body  12  of bracket member  10  has a thickness T preferably in the range of between 0.06 to 1.0 inches, and most preferably about 0.08 inches, and a height H preferably in the range of between about 7 to 9 inches and most preferably about 8.0 inches. The length L of the bracket member  10  is preferably in the range of about 10 to 12 feet. With these or equivalent dimensions and materials the tile and liner bracket  10  has flexibility and can conform to the contour of a pool wall both along straight wall lengths as well as along curved wall lengths having radii of curvature as short as about 6 inches. The bracket members may be cut from longer extruded lengths which may be provided to pool installers in coiled rolls.  
         [0025]     The channel structure  22  formed on the lower region of the body  12  of the tile and liner bracket member  10  includes a lower flange  26  projecting inwardly from the inwardly facing surface  18 , an inwardly projecting upper flange  28  and an inwardly projecting intermediate flange  30 . The lower and intermediate flanges  26 ,  30  define a first lower channel  32  while the upper and intermediate flanges  28 ,  30  define a second upper channel  34 . As best seen in  FIG. 1A , the channels extend parallel to each other in a generally horizontal direction.  
         [0026]     A plurality of aligned bracket members  10  are situated adjacent to the top surface  46  of pool wall  44  in side by side relationship, with their side edges in contiguous relationships with each other, to form a substantially continuous peripheral border. The upper tile mounting regions  23  of the bodies  12  of bracket members  10  are aligned with each other to form a substantially continuous tile-mounting surface around the periphery of the pool. Similarly, the channels  32 ,  34  of channel structures  22  of the bracket members are aligned with each other to form a substantially continuous channel structure. As discussed in detail below, the continuity of the tile mounting regions and/or channel structure typically ceases where the pool wall surface is interrupted by a non-wall structure, such as a pool wall ladder or steps, or by skimmer openings.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a tile and liner bracket member  10  overlies and is mounted directly on the inwardly facing surface  42  of pool wall  44  with the top edge  14  of body  12  situated substantially flush with the top edge  46  of pool wall  44 . The bracket members are mounted to the pool wall by means of threaded fasteners  48  ( FIG. 4 ) that pass through openings  24  in body  12  and pool wall  44 . The openings  24  may be countersunk to receive the heads of fasteners  48 . Upon mounting the bracket member  10  on the pool wall  44 , the outwardly facing surface  20  of bracket body  10  is positioned substantially flush against and in substantial engagement with the inwardly facing pool wall surface  42 . The outwardly facing body surface  20  assumes a contour that substantially conforms to the contour of the inwardly facing surface  42  of pool wall  44 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , a bracket connecting member  36  comprises a thin rectangular plastic sheet, the inner and outer surfaces of which are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The connecting member  36  has a height which is generally co-extensive with the height of the tile and liner bracket members  10 . A connecting member is adhesively affixed to the surface  42  of pool wall  44  at each junction between adjacent bracket members  10 . The length of each connecting member  38  is such that a few inches of the adjacent edge regions of each of the outer body surfaces  20  overlie and are adhesively affixed to the connecting member. This construction provides a secure seal against water passing through any space between the adjacent bracket members.  
         [0028]     Decorative tiles  50  are adhesively affixed to the upper tile-mounting region  23  of the inwardly facing surface  18  of bracket body  10  between the upper flange  28  of channel structure  22  and the inwardly extending flange  15  at top edge  14  of the body  10 . Each tile can be relatively large and extend the full height of tile mounting region  23 , or may be smaller so that a mosaic pattern can be utilized.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the edge of the pool liner  52  is provided with a bead  54  which is received within and held by the first channel  32  to form a water tight seal between the liner and the bracket member over the substantial periphery of the pool. The bead may either be formed integrally with the liner at its edge or may be formed on a separate strip  56  of flexible plastic material, e.g., PVC, which is then fused to the edge of the liner  52  as shown at  58  in the preferred embodiment. The height of the bracket body  12  and location of the bead-receiving first channel  32  are such that the first channel  32  is located below the normal water line of the pool. In this manner, the edge of the liner is attached to the bracket members  10  in a water tight manner around substantially the entire periphery of the pool. At the same time, the tile-mounting region  23  of body  12  extends from below the normal water line of the pool to the top edge of the pool wall.  
         [0030]     An elongate channel cap  60  is fixed to the bead-receiving channel structure in overlying relationship therewith and serves both to present an aesthetic appearance by covering the channel structure as well as to reinforce the water tight seal between the liner  52  and bracket member  10 . The channel cap  60  comprises a cover strip  62 . The liner bead which is received and held in the bead-receiving first channel  32  is formed so as to define an elongate slot  68  ( FIG. 5 ). The channel cap  60  is affixed to the bead-receiving channel structure by means of lower cap flange  66  being received in bead slot  68  and upper cap flange extending into and being held in second channel  34  of the channel structure  22 . The lower cap flange  66  is preferably formed such that when it is received in the bead slot  68 , it causes the bead  54  to expand and more tightly engage the channel  32  thereby reinforcing the water tight seal. The channel cap  60  extends around the substantial periphery of the pool except at termination points of the pool wall.  
         [0031]     The construction of the tile and liner bracket member according to the invention provides a liner pool with the appearance of a tiled concrete pool. The pool liner is entirely situated below the pool water line thereby avoiding discoloration of the liner due to direct impingement of UV rays from the sun. There is no space formed between the bracket member and either the liner or pool wall within which dirt or algae can accumulate or within which water can freeze and cause damage. The bracket member does not rub against the liner so that the provision of the tile and liner bracket does not result in undue wear of the liner.  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-14 , the construction of the tile and liner bracket member  10  is shown when the bracket member is applied to a pool wall in the vicinity of a skimmer opening  70  formed through the pool wall  44 . The skimmer opening  70  opens onto the inwardly facing surface  42  and outwardly facing surface (not shown) of pool wall  44  and is generally rectangular intersecting the pool wall surface at upper and lower edges  72 ,  74  and at side edges  76 ,  76 . The body  12  of bracket member  10  has a reduced height section  78  which forms, along with adjacent full height body sections, an open area  80  that overlies the skimmer opening  70 . The upper edge  72  of skimmer opening  70  is spaced below the top surface  46  of the pool wall  44  so that the reduced height section  78  of bracket body  10  overlies the region of the inwardly facing pool wall surface  42  defined between the upper edge  72  of the skimmer opening and the top surface  46  of pool wall  44 . Thus, tiles can be mounted on the reduced height section  78  between the skimmer opening and the top surface  46  of the pool wall  44 .  
         [0033]     The open area  80  of body  10  is defined by opposed inner edges  82  of body  10  and an upper interconnecting edge  84  of body  10 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the channel structure  22  extends along the lower region of the full height sections of body  10  (only the left full height section is shown) and terminates at ends  86  substantially at the opposed inner edges  82  of body  10 . The position of liner  52  that spans the distance between the ends  86  of the channel structure  88  is shaped so as to overlie the region of the pool wall surface  42  bordering the lower edge  74  of skimmer opening  70 .  
         [0034]     A watertight seal is formed between the pool wall surface  42  and the areas of the bracket  10  and liner portion  88  bordering skimmer opening  70 . The pool wall surface  42  includes upper, lower and side edge surface regions  90 ,  92  and  94  respectively bordering the upper, lower and side edges  72 ,  74  and  76  respectively of skimmer opening  70 . The outwardly facing body surface  20  includes an upper edge surface region  96  bordering the upper edge  84  of body  10  defining open area  80  and side edge surface regions  98 ,  98  bordering the inner edges  82  of body  10  defining open area  80 . The upper and side edge regions  96 ,  98  of the outwardly facing body surface  20  overlies the upper and side edge surface regions  90 ,  94  of pool wall surface  42 . The portion  88  of liner  52  that spans the ends  86  of channel structure  22  overlies the lower edge surface region  92  of pool wall surface  42 . In order to form a water tight seal, a first inverted U-shaped seal member  100  having a pair of side sealing legs  102  and an interconnecting sealing leg  104  is situated over the overlying side and upper edge surface regions of body  12  and pool wall  44  and is ultimately fastened by the threaded members  106  to the skimmer apparatus  108  situated adjacent to the outer surface of pool wall  44  to urge the overlying side and upper edge surface regions of body  12  and pool wall  44  into sealing engagement. Similarly, a second U-shaped seal member having a pair of side sealing legs  112  and an interconnecting sealing leg  114  is situated over the overlying side edge surface regions of body  12  and pool wall  44  and the overlying lower edge surface region of body  12  and liner portion  88  and is likewise ultimately fastened by threaded members to skimmer apparatus  108  to urge the liner into sealing engagement with the pool wall.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  in conjunction with  FIGS. 9-14 , the junction between the tile and liner bracket  10  (and liner  52 ) and the skimmer opening  70  is formed as follows: a first gasket  118  is fastened to the pool wall  42  bordering opening  70  ( FIG. 9 ). A bracket member  10  having a reduced height section  78  is fastened to the pool wall surface with the open area  80  overlying the skimmer opening ( FIG. 10 ). A short piece of butyl rope  122  is preferably situated beneath the channel structure  22 . The first sealing member  100  is situated over the overlying body, gasket and pool wall surface regions ( FIG. 11 ). The side sealing legs  102  terminate in a downward direction at the upper flange  28  of channel structure  22 . The channel cap terminates just prior to the end region of the channel structure  22 . The liner  52  is installed and the channel cap  60  is affixed to the channel structure  22  ( FIG. 12 ). The second U-shaped seal member  110  is then installed ( FIG. 13 ). It is noted that the side sealing legs  112  of the seal member  110  conform to and overlie channel structure  22  as well as the end portions of the side sealing legs  102  of the seal member  100 . Finally, a cover plate  124  is situated over the sealing members  100 ,  110  whereupon threaded fasteners  116  are passed through aligned openings in the pool wall  44 , gasket  118 , seal members  100 ,  110  and cover plate  124  to compress the assembly to form a secure and aesthetically pleasing junction with the skimmer opening.  
         [0036]     Turning now to  FIGS. 15-19 , the construction of the tile and liner bracket member  10  is shown when the bracket member is applied to a pool wall in the vicinity of a junction with a non-wall structure, namely a wall step module  126 . The wall step module  126  has an inwardly facing surface  128 , a side edge  130  and a side surface  132 , and is situated adjacent to the pool wall with their side surfaces in contiguous relationship. The inwardly facing surfaces  42  and  128  of the pool wall step module define an inwardly facing substantially continuous surface assembly. The outwardly facing body surface  42  substantially conforms to the shape of the inwardly facing surface assembly  42 ,  128  and is positioned substantially flush against and in engagement with the surface assembly. The outwardly facing surface  20  of body  10  include a side edge surface region  134  proximate to the side edge  130  of the wall step module  126  which overlies and is fastened to the side edge surface region  130  of the wall step module. A gasket  136  is situated between the overlying side edge regions  128  and  134  of the wall step module and body  10 . An elongate first sealing member  138  extends from the bead-holding channel structure  22  of the bracket member  10  to a position proximate to the top edge of the body  10  and a second sealing member  140  overlies the channel structure  22 . The first and second sealing members are affixed by threaded fasteners to the pool wall and urge the body  10 , gasket  136  and inwardly facing surface  128  of the wall step module together to form a water tight seal. A cover plate  142  is fastened over the sealing members to provide an aesthetically pleasing junction between the bracket member  10  and the non-wall structure.  
         [0037]     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It therefore to be understood that within the scope of the claims appended hereto the invention may be varied from the specific embodiment disclosed herein.

Summary:
A peripheral bracket member provided in conjunction with a liner-type pool, having a body whose outwardly facing surface directly substantially engages, and has a contour that substantially conforms to the contour of the inwardly facing surface of the pool wall and which is mounted on the pool wall to form a border adjacent to the top of the pool wall. A channel structure extends along a lower region of the inwardly facing surface of the bracket body at a level below the normal water line of the pool which receives and holds a bead provided at the liner edge. An elongate cap is affixed to the bead-receiving bracket structure. The tile and bracket structure also provides aesthetic junctions with and secure watertight seals at the skimmer openings and other pool wall terminations such as stairs and wall ladders.