Abstract:
The pipes associated with an in-ground swimming pool can be supported by a support that includes a base and two telescopingly engaged tubular sections. A U-shaped element is located on one end of the tubular sections and has a pad on which the pipe rests. A lock connects the two tubular sections together once the height of the support is selected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of supports, and to the particular field of conduit supports. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many residences and municipalities have in-ground swimming pools. These pools are often installed by professionals according to detailed plans and specifications. The swimming pools are generally installed and then backfilled. Once installed, the pools must be maintained. 
     The inventor has discovered that, in some instances, the final installation and backfilling of a swimming pool may place stress on the fluid conduits and fittings associated with the swimming pool. Some of these stresses are compounded by shifts in the ground. In some cases, the stresses are sufficient to cause a failure or a rupture in a fluid conduit or a fitting. Such failure may occur long after the swimming pool has been installed. A failure in a fluid conduit or a fitting may require extensive and expensive repair work. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool. 
     Since in-ground swimming pools can be designed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and the terrain adjacent to such pools often has a wide variety, any means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings should be easily adjustable and versatile. In order to save labor costs, such supports should also be easy to set up. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool which is easily set up and is easily adjusted. 
     Furthermore, since most in-ground swimming pools are intended to last for a long time, any accessory associated with such pools should also be durable. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool which is durable. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is easily set up. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is easily adjusted. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is durable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a combination which includes an in-ground swimming pool which includes a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, fittings, backfill, and concrete; a pipe support associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes, the pipe support including a first tubular element having a cylindrical wall, a proximal end, a distal end, an axial dimension extending between the proximal end of the first tubular element and the distal end of the first tubular element, a bore extending along the axial dimension of the first tubular element from the distal end of the first tubular element toward the proximal end of the first tubular element, the bore having an inner diameter, and a slot defined though the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element, a base on the proximal end of the first tubular element, a second tubular element having a cylindrical wall with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore of the first tubular element, the second tubular element being telescopingly received in the bore of the first tubular element, a lock element on the cylindrical wall of the second tubular element and extending through the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and frictionally engaging the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element adjacent to the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element to lock the second tubular element to the first tubular element, and a pipe engaging element on the second tubular element, the pipe engaging element including a U-shaped body, an inner surface and a pad on the inner surface of the U-shaped body, the at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes resting on the pad when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported by the pipe support. 
     The pipes associated with the in-ground swimming pool can thus be supported by a support that is easily set up and will reliably hold the pipes during final backfilling of the swimming pool as well as during the pouring of concrete and then after the pool is completed. The supported pipes are less likely to fail than non-supported pipes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-ground swimming pool having fluid conduits, fittings and the like, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pipe support for use with the in-ground swimming pool shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view of detail A shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a combination that includes an in-ground swimming pool  10  which includes a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, such as pipes  12  and  14  which are used in the manner common to in-ground swimming pools, fittings such as fitting  16 , backfill  18 , and concrete  20 . The operation and functions of the in-ground swimming pool are well known to those skilled in the art and thus will not be discussed herein. 
     The combination embodying the present invention further includes a pipe support, such as pipe support  30 , or pipe support  32 , associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes. The pipe support supports the pipes during installation of the pool as well as after installation of the pool. The supported pipes are less likely to fail than other unsupported pipes. 
     The pipe support is best shown in FIGS. 2-4 and includes a first tubular element  40  having a cylindrical wall  42 , a proximal end  44 , a distal end  46  and an axial dimension  48  which extends between the proximal end  44  of the first tubular element  40  and the distal end  46  of the first tubular element  40 . A bore  50  is defined in the first tubular element  40  and extends from the distal end  46  of the first tubular element  40  toward the proximal end  44  of the first tubular element  40  in the direction of the axial dimension  48  of the first tubular element  40 . The bore  50  has an inner diameter  52 . A slot  54  is defined through the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40  and has one end  56  thereof located adjacent to and spaced apart from the distal end  46  of the first tubular element  40 . 
     A base  60  is on the proximal end  44  of the first tubular element  40  and has a plurality of support bars, such as support bar  62 . Each bar  62  has a proximal end  64  fixed to the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40  and extends radially outward from the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40 , and has a distal end  66  spaced apart from the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40 . 
     A second tubular element  70  has a cylindrical wall  72  with an outer diameter  74  that is less than the inner diameter  52  of the bore  50  defined in the first tubular element  40 , a proximal end  76 , a distal end  78  and an axial dimension  80  that extends between the proximal end  76  of the second tubular element  70  and the distal end  78  of the second tubular element  70 . 
     The second tubular element  70  is telescopingly received in the bore  50  of the first tubular element  40  and is slidable in the direction of the axial dimension  48  of the first tubular element  40  as indicated by double-headed arrow  82 . The axial dimension  80  of the second tubular element  70  is co-linear with the axial dimension  48  of the first tubular element  40  when the second tubular element  70  is assembled with the first tubular element  40 . 
     A lock element  90  is threadably mounted on the cylindrical wall  72  of the second tubular element  70  and extends radially outward from the cylindrical wall  72  of the second tubular element  70 . The lock element  90  includes a body  92  that extends through the slot  54  defined through the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40  and a head  94  that frictionally engages the cylindrical wall  42  of the first tubular element  40  adjacent to the slot  54  to lock the second tubular element  70  to the first tubular element  40 . 
     A pipe-engaging element  100  is located on the distal end  78  of the second tubular element  70 . Pipe-engaging element  100  includes a U-shaped body  102  having an inner surface  104  and an opening  106 . The U-shaped body  102  is bi-axial with a centerline  108  on the axial dimension  80  of the second tubular element  70 . A pad  110  is fixed to the inner surface  104  of the U-shaped body  102 . The pad  110  has an inside surface  112  that engages the at least one polyvinyl pipe when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported on said pipe support. 
     The pipe support can be oriented in any direction to properly accommodate a pipe and pad  110  is formed of suitable material so the polyvinyl pipe can be properly supported. The second tubular element  70  is moved with respect to the first tubular element  40  until the pipe support element is positioned at the proper height to stably support a pipe. Then, the lock element  90  is tightened to lock the second tubular element  70  to the first tubular element  40 . 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.