Abstract:
An apparatus and kit for installing an object in a swimming pool are provided. Included are a receptacle, one or more gaskets, and a top deck anchor. The receptacle holds a substance such as concrete, to which the top deck anchor is attached. The gasket is attached to the top of the receptacle. A method of installing an object into a swimming pool is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/343,446, filed Apr. 29, 2010, entitled ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT FOR SWIMMING POOL, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to supports for objects in a swimming pool, and more specifically relates to anchors for posts in a swimming pool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Steel wall, vinyl liner swimming pools are common in both residential and commercial settings. In some such swimming pools, apparatus employing one or more poles or posts, such as for stools, are desired to be permanently installed inside the pool. 
     However, there are practical limitations for installing such a post in such a swimming pool due to the use of vinyl liners that cover the bottoms of such pools. A hole in the vinyl liner is necessarily created where the post is to be secured to the pool bottom. The creation of a hole in the vinyl liner will likely result in leakage of water between the vinyl liner and the pool bottom surface. In addition, the bottoms of such pools are typically composed of a vermiculite and cement (such as Portland cement) mixture, making it virtually impossible to securely install a post due to the lack of resilience and strength of the mixture. The post and its attachment will not withstand typical pool forces if the post is merely seated within the vermiculite/cement bottom, even if a fixture such as a wall fitting is used. 
     The anchor arrangement of one or more embodiments of the present invention allows a post, such as that for a stool or other accessory, to be installed securely into a concrete portion of a bottom of a swimming pool, while preventing leakage of water beneath the vinyl lining. One embodiment of the anchor arrangement includes a stabilizing vessel for insertion into a concrete portion of a swimming pool bottom, that is preferably in the shape of a large circular cup and has a circular top rim, and a plurality of concrete sets for insertion into concrete within the stabilizing vessel. A pair of seals, disposed to receive a vinyl liner between them, are attachable to the circular top rim of the stabilizing vessel by use of a top seal ring. A post is installed through and secured by a top deck anchor which is attached to the concrete sets and to which the post is secured by use of one or more fasteners. 
     Installation of such an anchor arrangement embodiment is not complex and results in a stabilized and secure post installation which prevents leakage between the vinyl liner and the pool bottom. 
     Other embodiments and features of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and claims and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a swimming pool having a plurality of sitting stools, each of which employs an embodiment of an anchor arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a stabilizing vessel and seal arrangement of an embodiment of an anchor arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a top deck anchor with concrete sets and screws, all of which are parts of an embodiment of an anchor arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational cross-section view of an installed anchor arrangement embodiment of the present invention. 
       Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the anchor arrangement and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawing figures,  FIG. 1  shows a portion of a swimming pool  10 . The pool  10  includes a bottom  12 , generally of a vermiculite/cement mixture and a strip of concrete  13  that is preferably about a foot deep. The bottom  12  is covered by a vinyl liner  14  that ensures that water remains in the pool. The pool  10  shown in  FIG. 1  also includes a bar counter top  16  adjacent one side of the pool  10  for serving drinks or other entertainment. A plurality of stools  18  reside adjacent the bar counter top  16  in the pool  10 . Stools  18  each include a support post  20  that is attached to the concrete strip  13  of the bottom  12  by an anchor arrangement  22 . 
       FIGS. 2-3  show components of the anchor arrangement  22 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the anchor arrangement  22  includes a stabilizing vessel  30 . The stabilizing vessel  30  is cup-shaped and its inner diameter is preferably at least twice that of the diameter of a support post  20 , a portion of which will reside within the inner diameter of the stabilizing vessel  30 . The stabilizing vessel  30  has a bottom  32 , which may or may not be flat and has a continuous wall  34  extending upwardly from the bottom  32 . The bottom  32  and wall  34  define an interior  35 . At its top, wall  34  terminates at a circular rim  36  which is preferably flat, i.e. in a single plane. Bored into and below the rim  36  are a plurality of holes  38 , which are preferably equally spaced from one another, and which are sized and shaped to receive the threaded portion of a fastener  40  such as a screw or hex bolt. In the preferred embodiment, the stabilizing vessel has six holes  38 . The stabilizing vessel  30  also preferably includes one or more cleats, which are protrusions from the outer edge of wall  34  or bottom  32  to assist in maintaining the position of the stabilizing vessel  30  in concrete when it is installed. The stabilizing vessel  30  shown in  FIG. 2  includes two cleats, a side cleat  37  and a bottom cleat  39 . The side cleat  37  includes an aperture  37 ′ for receiving and threading of a bonding wire which is discussed below. A sealing nut  37 ″ is used to seal the aperture  37 ′ and thus the stabilizing vessel from water intrusion. The stabilizing vessel  30  is preferably made entirely of stainless steel, but other materials could be used alone or in combination with stainless steel. Other possible materials for manufacture of the stabilizing vessel include bronze and rigid moldable plastics. 
     The anchor arrangement  22  also includes a bottom gasket  42  and a top gasket  44 , which are preferably identical to one another. The bottom gasket  42  and top gasket  44  have substantially the same inner diameter, and substantially the same outer diameter, as the rim  36  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . Gaskets  42 ,  44  are preferably comprised of a pressed cork or a compressed paper substance. It is contemplated that gaskets of other suitable materials may also be used. An example of a gasket that may be used with the anchor arrangement  22  is the Model CS-301 gasket sold by Interface Solutions, Inc. of Lancaster, Pa. Bottom gasket  42  includes a plurality of holes  46  that align with, and preferably are the same in number as, the holes  38  of the stabilizing vessel  30  when the bottom gasket  42  is properly aligned with the rim  36  of stabilizing vessel  30 . Similarly, top gasket  44  includes a plurality of holes  48  which align with, and preferably are the same in number as, the holes  46  of the bottom gasket  42  and the holes  38  of the stabilizing vessel  30  when aligned properly with both the bottom gasket  42  and the rim  36  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . 
     The anchor arrangement  22  also includes a top cap  50 , preferably in the form of a ring, for securing the vinyl liner  14  of the pool between the top gasket  44  and the bottom gasket  42  and securing the gaskets and liner to the stabilizing vessel  30 , the procedure of which is discussed in more detail below. The top cap  50  is preferably of the same material as the stabilizing vessel  30  and includes a plurality of holes  52 , preferably the same in number as the number of holes in stabilizing vessel  30  and gaskets  42 ,  44 , which are sized and shaped to receive fasteners  40 . The holes  52  are spaced such that they align with the holes  48  of the top gasket  44 , the holes  46  of the bottom gasket  42 , and the holes  38  of the stabilizing vessel  30  when the top cap  50  is aligned properly. Top cap  50  is preferably thin from top to bottom, as it will extend above the vinyl liner  14  at the bottom  12  of the swimming pool  10 , but should be thick enough to ensure that the gaskets  42 ,  44  will remain secured once the anchor arrangement  22  is installed. 
     The anchor arrangement  22  includes additional components, as shown in  FIG. 3 . These components include, among other things, a top deck anchor  60 . The top deck anchor  60  has a substantially circular base  62  and a generally cylindrical central column  64  extending upwardly therefrom. The column  64  is hollow creating an inner substantially cylindrical space therein, and has an inner diameter that is minimally larger than the outer diameter of the post  20  to be installed. The top deck anchor  60  also includes a plurality of buttresses  66  which extend outwardly from the column  64  and upwardly from the base  62  to provide added strength and stabilization to the top deck anchor  60 . The top deck anchor  60  as shown includes fixing apertures  68  in the base  62  which are equally spaced from one another and are each sized to receive a concrete setting screw  70 . The top deck anchor  60  also has two side holes  72  bored horizontally through the column  64  for receiving set screws or an elongated fastener such as a bolt for securing a post to the top deck anchor  60 . (See  FIG. 4 ). Anchor arrangement  22  also includes, in addition to concrete setting screws  70 , washers  74  and concrete sets  76 . The concrete sets  76  contain internal threading for receiving the threaded portion of the concrete setting screws  70 . The anchor arrangement  22  also includes a cylindrical sleeve  78  which preferably has the same outer diameter, or slightly larger diameter, than the post to be installed. 
     In operation, the anchor arrangement  22  is installed as follows. The concrete strip  13  of the bottom  12  of the swimming pool  10  is poured and while the concrete is still wet, the stabilizing vessel  30  for each post to be installed is inserted into the concrete such that the rim  36  of the stabilizing vessel  30  is substantially flush with the top surface of the concrete strip  13 . A bonding wire  80  is threaded through the sealing nut  37 ″ and side cleat aperture  37 ′ of the wall  34  and extended upwardly out of and above stabilizing vessel  30 . Sealing nut  37 ″ is sealed around bonding wire  80  and inside cleat aperture  37 ′ to ensure no seepage of water into the stabilizing vessel  30 . Wet concrete is poured into the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30  such that the top of the concrete in the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30  is substantially flush with both the rim  36  and the top surface of the bottom  12  of the swimming pool  10 . Bonding wire  80  protrudes out of the concrete in the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . 
     After the concrete is poured into the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30 , while such concrete is still wet, the center of the circle that is created by the rim  36  is determined and sleeve  78  is inserted into the wet concrete at that center, after the outer surfaces of sleeve  78  have been greased. The sleeve  78  should extend above the concrete a short amount, preferably at least two inches, and the top of the sleeve  78  is preferably level with the top of the top deck anchor  60  to allow easier installation and leveling. The top deck anchor  60  is then placed downwardly over the sleeve  78  until its bottom contacts the top surface of the concrete in the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . Using the fixing apertures  68  in the top deck anchor  60  as guides, the concrete sets  76  are inserted into the wet concrete. The top lip of the concrete sets  76  should be substantially flush with the top surface of the concrete in the interior  35  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . The concrete is allowed to dry. Once the concrete is dried, the fasteners  70  are removed. The top deck anchor is then removed by pulling it upwardly away from the concrete and sleeve  78 . 
     The greased sleeve  78  is then removed, leaving a cylindrically-shaped ring and a concrete plug in the center of the circle created by the rim  36 . The plug is then removed, such as by chiseling, creating a hole  82 . The bottom gasket  42  is placed on the rim  36 , with holes  46  aligned with holes  38 . The vinyl liner  14  is then installed over the bottom  12  of the swimming pool  10 , including over the bottom gasket  42 , the rim  36 , and the hole  82 . The vinyl liner  14  is then sealed to the anchor arrangement  22  by placing top gasket  44  over the vinyl liner  14  at a position directly above bottom gasket  42 . The holes  48  of the top gasket  44  are aligned with the holes  46  of the bottom gasket  42  and the holes  38  in the rim  36  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . The top cap  50  is placed on top of the top gasket  44  with the holes  52  aligned with holes  48 ,  46 , and  38 . Fasteners  40  are inserted through the holes  52 ,  48 , and  46  and into the holes  38  of the rim  36 . The fasteners  40  are tightened to create a watertight seal between the top cap  50  and the rim  36  of the stabilizing vessel  30 . 
     The top deck anchor  60  is then placed over the hole  82  and over the concrete sets  76 . Each fixing aperture  68  is aligned with a concrete set  76  and a concrete setting screw  70  is inserted through each fixing aperture  68  and into a concrete set  76 . The screws  70  are each fastened to a respective concrete set  76 , but not completely tightened. 
     The support post  20  is positioned adjacent the anchor arrangement  22  and the bonding wire  80  is strung through the support post  20 , extending toward the top of the support post  20  to a grounding bug  90 , which is preferably inserted in a 10/32″ threaded bore  92  in the support post  20 . If a stool is being installed, a hole  94  is preferably bored into a seat plate  96  to allow access to the grounding bug  90  for attachment of bonding wire  80 . The bottom of the support post  20  is then inserted through the top deck anchor  60  and into the hole  82 . After the bottom of support post  20  contacts the bottom of hole  82 , a bolt  84  is inserted through the first side hole  72  in the top deck anchor  60 , through post  20 , and through the second side hole  72 . A nut  86  is used to tighten the bolt  84  and secure the support post  20  to the top deck anchor  60 . The concrete setting screws  70  are then tightened, completing the secure fastening of the support post  20  to the bottom  12  of the swimming pool  10 . A stool seat, or other desired apparatus may then be attached to the secured support post  20 . 
     The above-described anchor assembly embodiment and method of use of the anchor assembly provide a sturdy, stable, and easy-to-use system for affixing a post to the bottom of a vinyl-lined swimming pool. The system provides enough stability such that the post will not come loose or be damaged without a force that is atypical of that found in a standard swimming pool. Moreover, the anchor assembly provides a watertight assembly such that water will not seep between the vinyl liner and the bottom of the pool. 
     Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.