Abstract:
A novel pool deck structure channel located beneath a swimming pool deck surface is disclosed that incorporates both a drainage device and a pool safety fence support structure. The unique channel design eliminate the need to have separate support holes drilled in a pool deck surface that can be a safety hazard when not in use, cause functional problems due to dirt and debris, and are not otherwise aesthetically pleasing. The unique channel design includes an elongated trough extending beneath the pool deck surface for supporting a drainage device, a plurality of holes in the trough, and a plurality of inserts within the holes that extend into the trough in order to support pool safety fence support posts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of art pertaining to drainage systems for pools and more specifically to a pool deck structure that provides for co-location of a drainage device and safety fence support system. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Swimming pools, especially those built in-ground, are known to have large deck structures, typically made of concrete, surrounding the swimming pool. These deck structures are usually pitched in a direction away from the swimming pool in order to direct pool water run-off and rain run-off away from the swimming pool and towards a drainage device located about or within the pool deck structure. Examples of these type drainage devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,815,888, 5,454,663, 4,490,067, and 3,876,322. Advancements have been made regarding these drainage devices including changing the material for these drainage devices to polyvinylchloride (PVC) and incorporating a replaceable cover for easier maintenance. 
     Another feature of many swimming pools, especially those built in-ground, are pool safety fences that are erected from a pool deck structure, in close proximity to a swimming pool, and surround the perimeter of a swimming pool to prevent unwanted entry. In many regions, local governments have enacted legislation requiring swimming pool owners to have a pool safety fence in place when a swimming pool is not in use, to prevent entry by unsupervised children that could otherwise drown. Prior art safety fences have a plurality of poles that are typically supported by a plurality of holes, which are drilled in the pool deck surface. These extra holes are not only unsightly when not in use supporting safety fence poles, but are a safety hazard for pool users to trip over when moving about the pool deck structure. 
     Furthermore, these holes easily fill with dirt or debris making it difficult to insert the safety fence poles. The pool fence is typically close to the swimming pool and the drain device further away, due to the grading of the deck. Therefore, the holes in the pool deck structure for supporting the pool fence are typically covered when not in use to prevent possible injury. 
     The present invention seeks to overcome the shortfalls of the prior art by providing pool deck structure with a channel design extending beneath the pool deck surface that incorporates both a drainage device and a pool safety fence support structure. This improved pool deck structure design will eliminate the occurrence of unsightly and dangerously positioned exposed pool safety fence support holes in the pool deck structure. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel pool deck structure channel located beneath a pool deck surface that is designed to accommodate both a drainage device and a pool safety fence support structure. The present invention incorporates multiple embodiments having different channel geometries. The pool safety fence support system includes a plurality of holes drilled in the pool deck structure beneath the channel and inserts placed in the holes and extending into the channel to provide additional structural support for the safety fence poles. Safety fence poles are inserted through holes in the pool drain cover and inserted into holes in inserts of the pool safety fence support structure. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a common location about a swimming pool for a drainage device and pool safety fence support system. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to eliminate additional holes in a pool deck structure that can be unsightly and a potential safety hazard. 
     In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool deck structure of the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown incorporating a drainage system and pool safety fence. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown incorporating a drainage system and pool safety fence. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporating cover plugs. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention incorporating a U-shaped channel cross section. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention incorporating an alternate U-shaped channel cross section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a pool deck structure of the prior art is shown in perspective view. It should be noted that the attached figures are merely representations and not necessarily to scale. Items may have been removed for clarity purposes. Pool deck structure  10  has a deck surface  11  and a drainage device  12 . Also in pool deck surface  11  is a pool safety fence support structure  13  drilled into said pool deck structure  10  a distance away from a swimming pool and a distance away from drainage device  12 . Under this arrangement, safety fence support structure  13  requires additional holes  14  to be drilled in pool deck structure  10  to support safety fence poles  15 . Holes  14 , when not supporting fence poles  15 , can be a safety hazard causing a person to trip over the holes. They are also not aesthetically pleasing when fence poles  15  are removed, leaving open holes in an otherwise clear pool deck structure that can easily trap dirt and debris causing problems when inserting fence poles  15 . 
     The present invention is shown in what is considered the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 2-5. A deck structure  20  for use about a swimming pool has a deck surface  21  and a channel  22  extending beneath deck surface  21 . In the present invention, channel  22  provides a means for co-locating a drainage device and a safety fence support system. In the preferred embodiment, as shown specifically in FIGS. 2 and 3, channel  22  comprises a trough  23  having a generally elongated C-shape cross-section with a first end  24 , second end  25 , and a generally curved body  26  extending therebetween. It is to be understood that generally curved body  26  can have flat regions as well, depending on the drainage requirements. Extending from first end  24  is first sidewall  27  and extending from second end  25  is second sidewall  28 . First sidewall  27  and second sidewall  28  are generally parallel to each other and extend towards deck surface  21  such that they are perpendicular to deck surface  21 . 
     Channel  22  further comprises a plurality of first holes  29 , as shown in FIGS. 3-5, located in generally curved body  26  of trough  23  extending in a direction perpendicular to deck surface  21 . First holes  29 , which extend beneath trough  23 , are spaced apart along pool deck surface  21  at a predetermined interval necessary to provide adequate support to a pool safety fence. Referring to FIG. 3, channel  22  further contains a plurality of inserts  30 , which are each positioned within first hole  29 . Inserts  30  have an outer wall  31 , inner wall  32 , a thickness  33  there between of at least 0.030 inches, a first length  34 , and a second hole  35  formed by inner wall  32 . Outer wall  31  has dimensions such that insert  30  can be placed in first hole  29  thereby allowing insert  30  to extend from first hole  29  into trough  23  a distance sufficient to provide adequate support to a safety fence support pole. In order to reduce manufacturing costs and extend durability, inserts  30  are typically manufactured from a polymer plastic composition such as polyvinlychloride, also known more commonly as PVC. In the preferred embodiment, first holes  29 , inserts  30 , and second holes  35  each have a generally circular cross section, although one skilled in the art would understand that the cross sectional shape is independent of the function and therefore first and second holes and inserts could be of any corresponding cross section, such as rectangular. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, channel  22  is configured to contain a drainage device  40  having a cross section similar to that of trough  23  wherein drainage device  40  can be fixed within channel  22  along trough  23  in order to transfer water from pool deck surface  21  to a point away from deck surface  21 . As with inserts  30 , most drainage devices  40  are manufactured from PVC and can contain either an integral or separable cover  41  having a plurality of drainage apertures  44  for transferring water from deck surface  21  to drainage device  40 . In the preferred embodiment, drainage apertures  44  are round in shape, but one skilled in the art would understand that alternate configurations such as elongated slots may be used as well. Inserts  30 , while considered a separate structural element in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are sealed to drainage device  40  along joints  42  to prevent drainage water from leaking into trough  23  of channel  22 . Depending on the manufacturing and assembly techniques utilized, inserts  30  can be integral to drainage device  40 , such that joint  42  is eliminated. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, inserts  30  have second holes  35  in order to support a safety pool fence pole  50 , such that pole  50  is inserted into second hole  35  of insert  30 . Referring to FIGS. 2-4, safety pool fence pole  50  extends from insert  30  through a third hole  51  in cover  41  to a sufficient height above pool deck surface  21  in order to support a fence material such as a nylon netting interconnected by a plurality of poles  50  to provide a barrier against unwanted access to a swimming pool. When a safety pool fence is not in use and poles  50  are removed from inserts  30 , third holes  51  can serve as additional drainage apertures  44  in cover  41 . Should third hole  51  be too large or unnecessary, a cover plugs  60 , as shown in FIG. 5, having a second length  61  extends from deck surface  21  to proximate first hole  29 , such that a plug  60  is placed within a second hole  35  of insert  30 . In such an arrangement, second length  61  of cover plug  60  is greater than first length  34  of insert  30 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The alternate embodiment is essentially the same as the preferred embodiment with the exception of the channel geometry. Deck structure  120  has a deck surface  121  and a channel  122  extending beneath deck surface  121 . Channel  122  comprises a trough  123  having a generally U-shape cross section with a first end  124  and second end  125  proximate deck surface  121 . Trough  123  further comprises a first member  126  extending from first end  124  generally perpendicular to deck surface  121  and a second member  127  extending from second end  125  and also generally perpendicular to deck surface  121  such that first member  126  and second member  127  are generally parallel. Extending between first member  126  and second member  127  is a third member  128 . Depending on particular drainage requirements, third member  128  can be curved as shown in FIG. 6 or can be generally parallel to deck surface  121  and perpendicular to first member  126  and second member  127  as shown in a further alternate embodiment in FIG.  7 . In addition, channel  122  contains a plurality of first holes  129  extending beneath deck structure  120  in a direction perpendicular to deck surface  121  and a plurality of inserts  130  fixed within first holes  129 . All other features of the alternate embodiment are identical to those of the preferred embodiment and therefore will not be discussed any further. The alternate embodiments having different channel geometries to allow for different styles of drainage systems, which may be necessary depending on the pool deck structure, amount of water to drain, and style of pool safety fence pole to support. 
     While the invention has been described in what is known as presently the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the following claims.