Patent Publication Number: US-2004040082-A1

Title: Self-rising swimming pool construction

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/398,461 filed Jul. 25, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] Self-rising above-ground swimming pools are commonly constructed of a flexible bottom, a flexible wall attached to the bottom, and an inflatable toroidal tube attached to the top of the wall to define the opening of the pool. The process of~filling the pool entails spreading out the bottom and the side wall on the ground, positioning the inflatable tube so that it lies above them, and then inflating the tube. Water is then introduced within the opening defined by the inner circumference of the tube so that, as the water rises, the pool wall bulges outwardly beyond the perimeter of the annular tube, and the tube is supported by the rising water. Pool manufacturers heretofore have constructed the pool wall from a relatively thick layer or layers of opaque polymer material, compared to conventional inflatable pools, to provide the strength necessary to withstand the outwardly-directed hydraulic pressure generated by the water in the pool. However, with such pools, the occupants of the pool cannot be fully seen by those outside the pool, since the opacity of the pool side wall at least partially hides the occupants from view. In addition, the opaque side walls of the pool may hinder the sun&#39;s rays from most efficiently warming the water contained in the pool.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003] Disclosed herein are self-rising swimming pool constructions employing side walls sufficiently translucent to allow those outside the swimming pool to monitor the underwater activities of the swimming pool&#39;s occupants. Translucent side walls have the additional benefit of allowing more efficient solar heating of the water contained in the swimming pool, compared to swimming pools constructed with totally opaque side walls.  
       [0004] In one exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may comprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and a flexible wall attached to the top member and attached to the base member, the flexible wall and base member together defining an interior region into which water may be introduced, and at least a portion of the flexible wall being sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the underwater activities of the occupants of the swimming pool.  
       [0005] In another exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may comprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and a flexible wall attached to the base member at a base seam and attached to the top member at the underside of the top member, defining an interior region for receiving water, at least a portion of the flexible wall being comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a second layer of translucent PVC.  
       [0006] In a further exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may comprise a flexible wall, at least a portion of which is comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC, an inflatable toroidal top member, the top member having a first flexible flap and a second flexible flap extending downward from its underside , the first flexible flap of the top member being affixed to an inner surface of the flexible wall, and the second flexible flap of the top member being affixed to an outer surface of the flexible wall, and a base member affixed to the flexible wall at a base seam, defining an interior region for receiving water.  
       [0007] In a further exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may further comprise a removably attachable flexible translucent cover. In one exemplary embodiment, the cover may be removably attachable to the top member. Alternatively, the cover may be removably attachable to the side wall. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] These and other features and advantages of the self-rising swimming pools disclosed herein will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description, in conjunction with the attached drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements through the different views. The drawings illustrate principles of the apparatus disclosed herein, and are not to scale.  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a self-rising swimming pool, showing the swimming pool in an upright or filled condition;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the swimming pool of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the top member to the flexible wall and of the flexible wall to the base member;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible wall of the swimming pool at the location of a seam;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the swimming pool;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates schematically an exemplary three-layer construction of the swimming pool&#39;s flexible side wall or side wall panels, or flexible translucent cover; and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the swimming pool including a cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
     [0015] To provide an overall understanding, certain illustrative embodiments will now be described; however, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the devices and methods described herein can be adapted and modified to provide devices and methods for other suitable applications and that other additions and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the systems described herein.  
     [0016] Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise combined, specified, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the disclosed devices or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes of components are also exemplary, and unless otherwise specified, can be altered without affecting the disclosed devices or methods.  
     [0017] FIGS.  1 - 5  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a self-rising swimming pool. The swimming pool features an inflatable toroidal top member  10 , which may be constructed of a flexible polymer, such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other vinyl or plastic, natural or synthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in the construction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. Affixed to the underside of the top member  10  is a flexible wall  12 . The flexible wall  12  is in turn affixed to a base member  30 , as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The flexible wall  12  and base member  30  together define an interior region  20  of the swimming pool, into which water may be introduced. As the interior region  20  is filled, the inflatable top member  10  floats atop the accumulating water, and raises the flexible wall  12  into the approximately upright position shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0018] In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible wall  12  is made of material sufficiently translucent to allow those outside the pool to monitor the underwater activities of the swimming pool&#39;s occupants, enhancing the safety of the swimming pool. In addition, the use of a flexible wall  12  at least a portion of which is translucent enhances the efficiency of solar heating of the water contained in the pool, compared to a pool with an entirely opaque flexible wall.  
     [0019] In some embodiments, the translucent portion of the flexible wall  12  may have a multi-layer construction, such as, for example, the three-layer construction illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic cutaway view of the three-layer construction, and FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the three-layer construction. The three-layer construction illustrated includes a layer of mesh  42  interposed between two layers  40  of a translucent flexible polymer, such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other vinyl or plastic, natural or synthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in the construction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. The mesh  42  may be a monofilament mesh, or constructed of bundled threads woven into mesh form, and may be constructed of polyester, polypropylene, or other polymer, as well as cotton fiber, or other natural or synthetic materials suitable for molding or weaving into mesh form. In an exemplary embodiment, the mesh layer is constructed of fine polyester fibers bundled into threads approximately 1 mm in thickness, woven into a mesh of a density approximately 36 squares per square inch. The polymer layers  40  are water resistant and nonporous, and inhibit water from leaking through the wall of the swimming pool. The mesh layer  42  enhances the tensile strength of the flexible wall  12 , increasing the durability of the structure and allowing larger swimming pools to be constructed, compared to flexible walls made without a reinforcing mesh layer.  
     [0020] The polymer material of which the flexible wall  12  is constructed may be formed using any of the processes known in the art for forming flexible polymer sheets, including but not limited to calendaring, lamination, pressing, molding, extrusion, or a spray coating process employing a liquid form of the polymer. In embodiments employing the three-layer construction of FIG. 5, the three-layer flexible wall material may be manufactured using any of the above processes, including a hot lamination or a cold lamination procedure to bind the layers of polymer and mesh together.  
     [0021] In the exemplary embodiment, the hot lamination procedure employs an arrangement of rolls containing translucent PVC stock and mesh stock. The rolls containing the PVC stock may be heated to soften the PVC. The stock is then fed off the rolls, into rollers or other compression means, in such a manner that the mesh layer is interposed between the two PVC layers. The three layers are then compressed together in the rollers or other compression means so that the each PVC layer bonds to the mesh and to the other PVC layer in the interstices of the mesh. Referring to the schematic illustration of FIG. 5, during this process the interstices of the mesh  42  are substantially filled by the PVC. In one embodiment, the mesh may be precoated with PVC to improve bonding with the outer layers and inhibit shredding of the mesh. In a variation of this procedure, the mesh layer may first be hot laminated to one layer of PVC, and the second layer of PVC, in liquid form, may then be sprayed, poured, or otherwise made to coat the mesh layer, solidifying as it cools. In the cold lamination procedure, at least one of the PVC layers is first coated with adhesive, and the three layers are then pressed through rollers or other compression means to bind them, without heating. The total thickness t of the three-layer materials as showing in FIG. 5 may vary from about 0.55 mm to about 0.75 mm or more.  
     [0022] The thickness of the flexible wall  12  may be chosen with regard to the water capacity of the swimming pool, as larger pools may require thicker walls to resist the force exerted radially outward by the water on the walls. In some embodiments, a wall thickness t of 0.55 mm may be used for pools accommodating at least about 286 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity. A wall thickness t of 0.60 mm may be used for pools accommodating at least about 939 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity. In addition, a wall thickness t of 0.65 mm may be used for pools accommodating at least about 1,759 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity; a wall thickness t of 0.70 mm may be used for pools accommodating at least about 3,712 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity; and a wall thickness t of 0.75 mm may be used for pools accommodating at least about 5,634 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity.  
     [0023] The flexible wall  12  may be comprised of multiple panels  14 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The panels may be bound at seams  16 , using similar lamination methods to those described above. Alternatively, the panels may be bound together with adhesive. In some embodiments, including the embodiment shown in cross section in FIG. 2, a base member  30  is affixed to the flexible wall  12  by a similar seam, base seam  32 .  
     [0024] Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a reinforcing band  18 , which may be added in certain embodiments to increase the strength of the flexible wall  12 . The reinforcing band  18  may be particularly useful in larger embodiments of the swimming pool, where the force exerted radially outward upon the wall by the water in the pool is increased.  
     [0025] The height of the flexible wall  12  may vary depending upon the size of swimming pool desired. In some exemplary embodiments, the length of the flexible wall  12 , measured from the base seam  32  to the underside of the top member  10  may be between at least about 17.5 inches and at least about 44 inches.  
     [0026] In some embodiments, a filtration pump may be employed to keep the water in the swimming pool clean during use and/or between uses. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a pump outlet  22  where water exits the swimming pool and flows to the pump, and a pump inlet  24  where the filtered water returns to the swimming pool.  
     [0027] The cross sectional view of the swimming pool of FIG. 2 also illustrates other features of some embodiments of the swimming pool. In the embodiment pictured in FIG. 2, the toroidal top member  10  has two flexible flaps  34  extending downward from its underside. As illustrated in FIG. 2, one of the flexible flaps  34  is affixed to the inner surface of the flexible wall  12 , while the other flexible flap  34  is affixed to the outer surface of the flexible wall  12 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the flexible flaps  34  and the toroidal top member  10  are formed from a single piece of material rolled into an approximate cylinder comprising the top member  10 , with excess material comprising the flexible flaps  34 . In other embodiments, the flexible flaps  34  may be formed from separate pieces of polymer or other suitable material and bonded to the toroidal top member  10 . The flexible flaps  34 , like the toroidal top member  10 , may be constructed of flexible polymer, such as, for example, PVC, other vinyl or plastic, natural or synthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in the construction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. However constructed, the use of two flexible flaps  34 , one bonded to each of the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible wall  12 , enhances the strength and durability of the swimming pool.  
     [0028] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the inflatable toroidal top member  10  may be inflated and sealed using an air valve  26 . The air valve  26  may be the Air Valve for an Inflatable Device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,711, or the Air Valve for an Inflatable Device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,143, the contents of which patents are herein incorporated by reference, or another suitable air valve.  
     [0029] In some embodiments, a swimming pool cover may be employed to cover the filled swimming pool when the pool is not in use, to prevent dirt, debris, pets, children, or other items from falling into the water. At least a portion of the swimming pool cover may, in one embodiment, be constructed of a translucent polymer material, to further enhance the efficiency of solar heating of the water in the swimming pool, compared to an entirely opaque swimming pool cover. The swimming pool cover may be constructed of flexible polymer, such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride PVC, other vinyl or plastic, natural or synthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in the construction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. The material used to construct the swimming pool cover may be the same as or different from the material used to construct the toroidal top member  10 . Alternatively, the three-layer construction described above for the flexible wall  12  may also be used to construct the swimming pool cover.  
     [0030] An exemplary embodiment of a swimming pool including a cover is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6. The cover  50  may be constructed of a sheet of a suitable material cut into a circle large enough to fit over the outer circumference of the inflatable top member  10 . The cover may be lowered over the filled swimming pool as illustrated schematically by arrows  52 .  
     [0031] In some embodiments, the cover may be removably attachable to the top member or side wall of the swimming pool, to prevent the cover from blowing off in the wind, while allowing quick removal when use of the pool is desired. Means for removably attaching the swimming pool cover may include a plurality of buttons, pegs, or similar attachments spaced along the side wall  12  of the swimming pool, which mate with a plurality of corresponding loops affixed to the lower edge of the cover  50 . Alternatively, the cover may be removably attached to the pool by means of snaps. A plurality of snap sockets may be placed on flaps spaced around the circumference of the side wall  12 , and made to mate with corresponding snap studs on flaps affixed to the lower edge of the cover  50 . It will be understood that the placement of the sockets and studs may be reversed so that the sockets are on the flaps on the cover  50 , while the studs are on the flaps on the side wall  12 .  
     [0032] Alternatively, a hook-and-loop type closure may be used to removably secure the cover  50 . In such an embodiment, fabric comprising the loop portion of a hook-and-loop closure may be affixed to the side wall  12 , either placed in discrete spots around the circumference of the side wall  12 , or forming a continuous band around it. Flaps comprising the hook portion of the hook-and-loop closure may be affixed to the lower edge of the cover  50  to mate with the corresponding loop portion on the side wall  12 . It will be understood that the placement of the hook and loop portions may be reversed, so that the hook portion of the hook-and-loop closure is on the side wall  12 , while the loop portion is on the flaps attached to the cover  50 .  
     [0033] In still another embodiment, the cover may be removably attached to the swimming pool by means of a draw string sewn into the lower edge of the cover  50 . Tightening such a string would cause the edge of the cover  50  to cinch around the inflatable top member  10 , gripping it securely but removably. Alternatively, the cover  50  can be made to removably grip the top member  10  by means of an elastic strip embedded in the lower edge of the cover  50 , similarly to the way a fitted sheet grips a mattress.