Patent Publication Number: US-5425144-A

Title: Above ground pool components

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to swimming pools and in particular to components used in the construction of above ground pools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Swimming pools of the above ground variety usually comprise an exterior wall of sheet metal construction and formed into a continuous circular or oval shape. A plurality of support or reinforcing posts are located about the perimeter of the pool and serve to strengthen and maintain the pool wall in the desired position. Conventionally, various components make up these post assemblies and may include upper and lower rails for engaging and covering the upper and lower edges of the metal pool wall, some form of plate connectors which serve to mount the vertical posts in position and which may also be utilized to secure sections of coping or upper ledges around the top of the pool wall. Some form of cap is usually fastened to finish the top of the post assembly. 
     One example of the prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,872 of Oct. 20, 1992 to Aymes and further examples are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,220 of May 11, 1976 to Kesler. 
     One of the problems in conventional construction of the assemblies in above ground pools is that the edges of the pool wall are insufficiently secured in their associated rails. 
     Additionally, many forms of the prior art have fastening members that are both visible and so located as to be a source of snagging a person&#39;s clothes or the like thereon. 
     One of the objects of the present invention is to provide apparatus in an above ground assembly that will provide a more secure track for edges of the metal swimming pool wall. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved cap members with no visible means of securement thereof to the post assemblies. 
     According to one broad aspect, the invention relates to apparatus for use in above ground swimming pool construction wherein a perimeter pool wall is secured in position. The apparatus consists of top and bottom connectors for locating the upper and lower edges of the wall and securing the wall thereto as well as providing upper and lower tracks for receiving upper and lower edges of the wall. Receptor means are provided on the connectors for receiving and retaining the tracks on the connectors and ledge members covering the upper edges of the wall extend between and are secured to the top connectors. A cap covers each top connector and the terminal ends of the ledge members associated therewith. The tracks and the connector receptors have a generally triangular configuration in cross section and means fix the cap over the ledge members and the top connector with no visible means of securement from the exterior thereof. 
    
    
     The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompany drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a section a pool wall incorporating apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of an assembly of the apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a connector used in the assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the connector in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one embodiment of a cap according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of a cap according to the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but incorporating a cap support member and illustrating one form of a cap securing clip; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of another form of cap securing clip; 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the clip of FIG. 9 in operative position; 
     FIG. 11 is another side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the use of a cap according to FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing a different form of upper track; 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing an alternate form of attachment of one end of the cap; and 
     FIG. 14 is a view from the underside of the nose portion of the cap in FIG. 13. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a section of an above ground swimming pool construction according to the invention. 
     The apparatus includes a top connector 10 and a bottom connector 12 each of which has a plurality of tabs 14 providing anchors for a vertical post member 16 secured thereto. 
     Each connector, 10, 12 includes receptors 18 of generally triangular cross section for receiving and retaining upper and lower tracks 20, 22 respectively that enclose the top and bottom edges of the steel wall 24 of the pool. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top connector 10 may include a slot 26 for the protrusion therethrough of one leg of a cap support 28. (See FIG. 11). 
     A plurality of ledge members 30 are located around the top edge of the pool wall and each ledge panel or member 30 extends between adjacent vertical posts 16 and are secured at their terminal ends to the upper connectors 10, by means of screws 32 for example, as shown in FIG. 2. 
     A finishing cap 34 is placed over the ledge member 30 and is secured thereto. The means of fixing the cap is such that there is no visible means of securement to the ledge from the exterior thereof. 
     One embodiment of the cap is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and illustrates the cap having a main cover panel 36 with a pair of side panels 38 depending therefrom. Cap 36 has a nose portion 40 and a heel portion 42. As shown in FIG. 1, the heel and toe portions 42, 40 engage the underside of the ledge member 30 and the side panels 38 contact the upper surface of the ledge member. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the nose portion 40 of cap 34 has an inwardly turned lip 44 which engages the underside of the pool-side edge of the ledge member 30. 
     The heel portion 42 includes a pair of inwardly directed fingers 46 which engage the underside of the opposite edge of the ledge member 30 as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The cap 34 may be secured in position over the ledge member 30 in several ways,-one example being shown in FIG. 1 where a clip 48 is located in slots 50 (FIG. 5) and they include a set screw 52 which is threadably received in one arm of the clip and, as is evident from FIG. 1, when turned inwardly secures the heel portion 42 in position against the ledge member. 
     Another form of attachment is shown in FIG. 7 where the side wall 38 of the cap 34 is provided with an inwardly directed, sharp projection 54 which, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, puts a corresponding dent in the surface of the ledge 30 to hold the cap in place. When using this arrangement, the nose portion can be secured in several ways, one being shown in FIG. 12 where the lip 44 (FIG. 7) is provided with a securing screw 56 to prevent the nose portion from lifting. 
     In FIGS. 13 and 14, the two outside corners 45 of the lip 44 are turned upwardly and inwardly to capture and hold the nose portion against the top ledge 30. 
     Another form of securement is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In place of the screw clip 48 shown in FIG. 1, a generally L-shaped ratchet clip 58 is utilized. This clip has a serrated lower surface 60 which engages a tongue 62 that defines slots in the heel portion 42 of the cap. With the heel portion in place over the ledge member 30 as shown in FIG. 10, the ratchet clip 58 is driven home with the serrated surface 60 engaging the tongue 62 so that the inwardly turned point 64 engages the underside of the ledge 30 to secure the cap in place. 
     In FIGS. 8 and 11, the upper track 20 includes an inner combing 66 which captures the upper end of a vinyl pool liner 68. 
     In FIGS. 12 and 13, a liner retaining top track 70 is utilized, this track having a pool-side channel 72 with an inwardly turned lip 74 for capturing the bead 76 as the upper end of a pool liner 78. 
     It will be appreciated that in all of the embodiments of the invention as illustrated the triangulated tracks and receptor means on the connectors 10 and 12 provide enhanced securement and stabilization to the edges of the pool wall. Additionally, the various means of securing the cap to the ledge member all include a form of securement that is not visible from the exterior of the assembly and this not only enhances the appearance of the design but it removes any bolt heads, clips or the like which might snag clothing of people in the vicinity of the assembly. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are used as terms of description and not of limitations, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any eqilivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claims.