Abstract:
An above-ground pool wall installation apparatus comprises a base and a turntable. The base, made of a resilient material comprises a spherical platform which supports the turntable. A bifurcated rope provided with a handle allows a user to manually pull the apparatus along a pre-determined perimeter, thereby creating the wall of the pool by progressively dispensing the material from a coil mounted onto the rotating turntable.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Dec. 15, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to above-ground swimming pools, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for installing the wall for an above-ground pool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The nature of above-ground pool installation differs drastically from the laying of an in-ground pool. In particular, the deployment and placement of the pool sidewall is a tedious and difficult task which generally requires many hands. 
     Above-ground pool walls are conventionally delivered in a rolled up, coiled state. Since they are difficult to un-roll in the exact location needed, many installation teams simply unroll the coil for its entire length and then manhandle the wall into place. This obviously requires a large number of workers. Additionally, the thin nature of the pool wall also makes it vulnerable to dents and other damage. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide tools for handling rolled materials. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,046, issued in the name of Beyer, Sr., describes a reeling and unreeling apparatus for spools of material which is attachable to a vehicle hitch. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,504, issued in the name of Elder, describes a wire spool cart which provides rolling transportation for a plurality of spools. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,471, issued in the name of Albritton, describes a fence dispensing apparatus for installing fence wire along a line of fence posts. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices are not well adapted to sheet materials. Also, many such devices are not adapted for use along a non-paved surface. Furthermore, many such devices are not simple in construction and operation which contributes to increased time and expense to build and operate them. In addition, many such devices are not well adapted for use in installing above-ground pools. Accordingly, there exists a need for an above-ground pool wall installation apparatus without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for an apparatus which allows a small number of operators to quickly and accurately install an above-ground pool wall from an initially rolled configuration in a manner which is simple and cost effective. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise an apparatus and method for installing the wall for an above-ground pool. The apparatus comprises a base, a platform, a platform supporting filler, and a turntable. 
     Another object of the present invention is to comprise the base of a durable semispherical bottom surface which facilitates sliding across an unpaved ground surface. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to receive and retain a coil of pool wall material. The turntable comprises a tubular center post and a hub located at the top of the post which respectively receive and stabilize the coil. The turntable is rotatably removably connected to the base of the apparatus by fitting over a centrally-located upwardly extending axle structure integrally attached to the base. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow the pool wall material to uncoil freely when pulled without necessitating rotation of the base. The apparatus further comprises a bearing which comprises a plurality of stacked flat disks constructed of a low friction material. The bearing reduces friction between the turntable and base portions of the apparatus. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to facilitate transportation of the apparatus when loaded with a coil of pool wall material via a handle attached to the base. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of obtaining an instance of the apparatus, assembling the apparatus, placing a coil of pool wall material over the tubular center post and hub, transporting the apparatus to a location of an above ground pool installation, utilizing the handle to position the apparatus in place about a starting location of the pool wall perimeter, fastening a loose edge of the coiled material to a wall upright, uncoiling the material progressively by continuously pulling the apparatus along the predetermined perimeter of the pool, fastening the material to previously installed wall uprights as necessary, and closing the pool wall loop by completely circling the predetermined pool perimeter and fastening the remaining tail end of the coil material onto the last wall upright and the starter portion. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of an above-ground pool wall installation apparatus  10  depicted in progressive use, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective assembled view of the above-ground pool wall installation apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2   b  is a perspective exploded view of the above-ground pool wall installation apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  above-ground pool wall installation apparatus 
               11  base 
               12  bearing 
               13  filler 
               14  platform 
               15   a  first center aperture 
               15   b  second center aperture 
               15   c  third center aperture 
               16  turntable 
               17  center post 
               18  hub 
               19  bi-furcated rope 
               21  handle 
               22  axle 
               23  platform ear 
               24  slot 
               60  pool wall 
               61  coiled material 
               62  partially deployed portion 
               63  wall upright 
               64  wall channel 
               66  ground 
               71  first user 
               72  second user 
               73  first hand 
               74  second hand 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 2   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an apparatus (herein described as “the apparatus  10 ”) and a method for installing the wall  60  for an above-ground pool. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  depicted as utilized for a progressive installation of a pool wall  60 . The pool wall  60  comprises a partially deployed portion  62 , a coiled portion  61 , a plurality of wall uprights  63  and a wall channel  64 . A first user  71  secures the pool wall  60  onto a wall upright  63  and insures that the bottom edge is situated within a wall channel  64 . A first hand  73  of a second user  72  steadies an assembly  70 , comprising the apparatus  10  and the coiled portion  61 , while a second hand  74  pulls the assembly  70  by a bi-furcated rope  19  permanently attached onto a base  11  and comprising a handle  21 . The bi-furcated rope allows the second user  72  to pull the assembly  70  along a perimeter outlining a configuration of a pool upon a ground  66 , thereby causing an induced rotation of the turntable  16  and the coiled portion  61  to progressively deploy the wall  60 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2   a , a perspective assembled view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises the base  11 , envisioned to be similar to a regular circular sled, a platform  14 , a platform supporting filler  13 , and a turntable  16  comprising an integral tubular center post  17  wherein a top portion comprises a hub  18  intended to center and stabilize the coiled portion  61  of the pool wall  60  material. A bearing  12  is envisioned to comprise a plurality of stacked flat disks made of a low friction plastic; such as, but not limited to: TEFLON® or NYLON®, wherein a friction is progressively reduced by a rotational interaction between corresponding disk surface portions. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2   b , a perspective exploded view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises the base  11 , an axle  22 , and the platform  14  comprising a pair of ears  23 . The platform  14  is supported within the base  11  by the filler  13  and non-rotationally fixed by engaging a pair of ears  23  into a pair of corresponding slots  24  comprised within the rim of the base  11 . The axle  22 , envisioned to be fastened onto the inside bottom portion of the base  11  either removably by threaded fasteners, or permanently by rivets, welding or chemical bonding, maintains the centered location of the filler  13 , the platform  14  and the bearing  12  by means of the apertures  15   a ,  15   b , and  15   c . The assembly of the turntable  16  and the integral center post  17  is rotationally installed onto the axle  22 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by a pair of common users in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the various components of the apparatus  10 , it would be assembled as indicated in  FIG. 2A  and operated as indicate in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of assembling and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: inspecting all components; installing the filler  13  over the axle  22 ; ensuring the seating of the filler  13  into the base  11 ; installing the platform  14  over the axle  22  and onto the filler  13 ; ensuring the seating of the pair of ears  23  within the slots  24  of the base  11 ; installing the plurality of disks comprising the bearing  12  over the axle  22  and onto the platform  14 ; installing the assembly comprising the turntable  16 , the center post  17  and the hub  18  over the axle  22  and onto the bearing  12 ; checking the freedom of rotation of the assembly  16 ,  17 ,  18 ; tilting the apparatus  10  to facilitate the installation of the coiled material  61  over the center post  17  and the hub  18 ; up-righting the apparatus  10 ; grasping the handle  21  of the bifurcated rope  19 ; moving the apparatus  10  to a starting location of the pool wall perimeter; inserting a lower edge of a starter portion of the coiled portion  61  hereinto the wall channel  64 ; fastening the loose edge of the coiled portion  61  onto a first wall upright  63 ; de-reeling the coiled portion progressively by continuously pulling the apparatus  10  by the bi-furcated rope  19  along the pre-determined perimeter of the pool; fastening each deployed portion  62  onto each wall upright  63  in conjunction with the progress of the deployment of the pool wall  60 ; closing the pool wall  60  loop by fastening the remaining tail end of the coiled portion  61  onto the last wall upright  63  and the starter portion; removing the apparatus  10  from the pool location; and disassembling, cleaning and storing the apparatus  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.