Patent Publication Number: US-11035139-B2

Title: Above ground pool assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number CN201821797266.3, filed on Nov. 2, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     RELATED FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to a pool assembly and, more specifically, to an above ground pool assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An above ground pool is a recreational product that can be installed in an outdoor open area. For example, an above ground pool can be installed in a yard or in other open areas of a home for adults and children to play. An above group pool is very popular because it is easy to install and has good use. 
     There are various forms of above ground pools. For example, a circular bracket pool is one common above ground pool. The circular bracket pool mainly includes a plurality of horizontal support tubes, a plurality of vertical support tubes, and a pool body made of flexible reinforced PVC sheeting. The pool body includes a vertical pool wall and a pool bottom, and the pool wall is mounted to the horizontal support tubes. 
     The plurality of horizontal support tubes connect to the plurality of vertical support tubes as a support structure for the bracket pool. The pool wall of the pool body is located inside the vertical support tubes. The pool wall connects to an edge of the pool bottom and extends vertically upward. A reinforcing belt, having a continuous circular shape, is located inside the vertical support tubes and outside of the pool wall. The reinforcing belt covers the whole or a part of the circumference of the pool body and is connected with the pool wall. A fixing belt, having a continuous circular shape, is disposed outside the reinforcing belt and the vertical support tubes. At least one fixing device is attached to the reinforcing belt wherein the fixing belt passes through the fixing device. 
     Oftentimes, an above ground pool is installed in an outdoor open area and is used during the summer when the weather is hot. Accordingly, an above ground pool can be subjected to sun exposure for long periods. The horizontal and vertical support tubes of the above ground pools are generally made from steel, and, under sun exposure, the temperature of the steel tubes increases. Similarly, the temperature of the PVC sheet of the pool body also increases. As a result, sticky ingredients in the PVC sheet may be released thereby causing the PVC sheet to adhere to the surface of the steel tubes. This creates difficulties in separating the pool body from the support tubes during the process of disassembling the above ground pool. If the pool body is forcibly separated from the support tubes, it can easily damage the pool body. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention overcome the deficiencies mentioned above and solve the problem of the PVC sheet being adhered to the bracket of the above ground pool assembly. Embodiments of the present invention provide an above ground pool assembly that allows easy removal of the pool body from the bracket of the above ground pool assembly. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention provide an above ground pool assembly having improved wear resistance and slip resistance of the bracket. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an above ground pool assembly including a bracket and a pool body. The bracket includes a plurality of horizontal support members and a plurality of vertical support members. The plurality of horizontal support members are coupled to one another forming an upper frame. The plurality of vertical support members are coupled to the upper frame for supporting the upper frame. The pool body has a side wall, wherein a top of the side wall is provided with a plurality of sleeves. The plurality of sleeves attach to the plurality of horizontal support members. Each horizontal support member of the plurality of horizontal support members has an outer surface with an uneven texture. 
     By providing an uneven texture on the surface of the horizontal support members of the bracket of the above ground pool assembly, it reduces the contact area between the pool body and the horizontal support members. In addition, it avoids the adhesion between the pool body and the horizontal support members so that the pool body and the bracket can be separated easily. Accordingly, the pool body cannot be easily damaged during separation. In addition, the inclusion of the uneven texture improves wear resistance and slip resistance of the bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the embodiments of present invention will be readily appreciated, as same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an above ground pool assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a bracket of the above ground pool assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a horizontal support member of a bracket of the above ground pool assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view of the horizontal support member of a bracket of the above ground pool assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a vertical support member of a bracket of the above ground pool assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a connection joint of a bracket of the above ground pool assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings herein. It should be understood that the description herein for the exemplary embodiments should be considered as illustrative of the structure of the inflatable product, and is not intended to limit the present invention to the exemplary embodiments. 
     In the present disclosure, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, etc. are used for the convenience of description and are not restrictive. Moreover, “horizontal” and “vertical” herein are merely for convenience of description and are not restrictive. 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an above ground pool assembly  10  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is generally shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the above ground pool assembly  10  includes a pool body  12 . The pool body  12  is configured to contain water in which adults and children play. It should be understood that the function of the above ground pool assembly  10  is not limited to the entertainment function for people to play in water, as it can also be used for other purposes. The pool body  12  includes a bottom wall (not shown) and a side wall  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall of the pool body  12  is substantially planar and can be placed on a flat surface. The side wall  14  of the pool body  12  extends substantially vertically from a top to a bottom. The side wall  14  of the pool body  12  attaches to the bottom wall via an arcuate transition portion having a generally circular shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  is formed by splicing together a plurality of side sheets  16 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pool body  12  can be mainly made from a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) material and a tarpaulin material. The tarpaulin material generally includes two layers of PVC material and a base fabric sandwiched between two layers of PVC material. 
     The above ground pool assembly  10  further includes a bracket  18  for providing support to the pool body  12 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10 . As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bracket  18  includes a plurality of horizontal support members  24  and a plurality of vertical support members  28 . The plurality of horizontal support members  24  are coupled to one another forming an upper frame  20 . The plurality of vertical support members  28  are coupled to the upper frame  20  for providing support to the upper frame  20 . 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of horizontal support members  24  are sequentially arranged to form the upper frame  20  having a generally circular shape. Each of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  extends between two ends  26  wherein adjacent ends  26  of two adjacent horizontal support members  24  of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  are coupled to each other, thereby forming the upper frame  20 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  is a straight tube. The upper frame  20 , formed by the plurality of horizontal support members  24  connected to one another, has a generally circular shape. It should be understood that the horizontal support member  24  may be curved. In addition, it should be understood that the upper frame  20  can have shapes other than the circular shape illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, a standard circular shaped upper frame can be formed using a plurality of horizontal support members wherein each of the horizontal support members is a curved tube. Alternatively, an elliptical shaped upper frame can be formed using a plurality of horizontal support members in the form of curved tubes having different curvatures. According to another embodiment of the present invention, square or rectangular shaped upper frames can be formed using a plurality of horizontal support members in the form of straight tubes. Additionally, in some embodiments, some of the plurality of horizontal support members for forming the upper frame are straight tubes and some are curved tubes. Accordingly, the horizontal support members can be connected to each other to form an oblong shaped upper frame. It should be understood that the upper frame may also be integrally formed. For example, the upper frame can be an integrally formed circular horizontal support member. 
     The plurality of vertical support members  28  are sequentially arranged, circumferentially spaced apart from one another, wherein one end of each of the plurality of the vertical support members  28  is connected to the upper frame  20  to provide support to the upper frame  20 . 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, each vertical support member  28  of the plurality of vertical support members  28  is a straight tube extending between an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of each of the vertical support members  28  is connected to the upper frame  20 . The lower end of each of the vertical support members  28  is supported on the ground. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of each vertical support member  28  is also connected to a base  30  wherein the contact area of the base  30  with the ground is larger, so that the vertical support member  28  can be more stably supported on the ground. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the above ground pool assembly  10  can further includes a plurality of connectors  32 . Each connector  32  of the plurality of connectors  32  is disposed between two adjacent horizontal support members  24  of the plurality of horizontal support members  24 . Adjacent ends  26  of two adjacent horizontal support members  24  of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  are respectively connected to the connector  32 . 
     Each of the plurality of connectors  32 , having a generally T-shape, includes two horizontal tubes  34 . The adjacent ends  26  of two adjacent horizontal support members  24  of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  are respectively inserted into the horizontal tubes  34  of a connector  32 . It should be understood that it is also possible for the two horizontal tubes  34  of the connector  32  to be inserted into the adjacent ends  26  of two adjacent horizontal support members  24 , respectively. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the connection of the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24  to the connector  32  is a detachable connection. The horizontal tube  34  and the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24  are each provided with a through hole  36 . A pin  38  is inserted into the through holes  36  of the horizontal tube  34  and the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24  such that the horizontal tube  34  connects to the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24 . It should be understood that the horizontal support member  24  can be separated from the connector  32  by pulling the pin  38  out of the through holes  36  of the horizontal tube  34  and the end of the horizontal support member  24  when the bracket  18  is disassembled. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10  includes a waterproof ring  40 . The pin  38  includes a stem portion  42  and a head portion  44 . The stem portion  42  of the pin  38  is inserted into the waterproof ring  40  and the through holes  36  of the horizontal tube  34  and the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24 . The waterproof ring  40  is located between the head portion  44  of the pin  38 , and the horizontal tube  34  and end  26  of the horizontal support member  24 . By providing the waterproof ring  40 , it is possible to prevent rainwater or water in the pool body  12  from flowing into the horizontal tube  34  and the horizontal support member  24  through the through holes  36  of the horizontal tube  34  of the connector  32  and the end  26  of the horizontal support member  24 . 
     The upper end of each of the plurality of vertical support members  28  connects to the connector  32 . The connector  32  includes a vertical tube  46  for receiving the upper end of the vertical support member  28 . It should be understood that it is also possible for the vertical tube  46  of the connector  32  to be inserted into the upper end of the vertical support member  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connection of the end of the vertical support member  28  to the connector  32  is a detachable connection. 
     The structure of the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10  has been described above. The bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10  is supported on the ground. The disassembly and assembly of the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10  is facilitated by providing the plurality of horizontal support members  24 , the plurality of vertical support members  28 , and the connectors  32 . 
     A top of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  is provided with a sleeve  48 , and the sleeve  48  is coupled to the upper frame  20 . More specifically, the top of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  is provided with a plurality of sleeves  48 , and each sleeve  48  of plurality of sleeves  48  is coupled to the corresponding horizontal support member  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, each sleeve  48  of the pool body  12  is disposed on the top of each side sheets  16  forming the side wall  14  of the pool body  12 . Thus, the pool body  12  is mounted on the bracket  18 , and the pool body  12  is also supported as the bracket  18  is supported by the ground to form the above ground pool assembly  10 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively show a perspective view and, an enlarged sectional view (as well as a partial enlarged sectional view) of a horizontal support member  24  of the above ground pool assembly  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each horizontal support member  24  of the plurality of horizontal support members  24  has an outer surface provided with an uneven texture. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal support member  24  is made from metal. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an outer surface of the metal is coated with a coating  52  which forms an uneven texture  50 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, the outer surface of the metal is at least partially covered by the coating  52  to form a plurality of lines protruding from the metal to establish the uneven texture  50 . The coating  52  can form an uneven texture  50  by selecting a suitable sprayer and coating material. By forming the uneven texture  50  on the outer surface of the metal, the contact area between the sleeve  48  of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  and the horizontal support member  24  can be reduced. Thus, adhesion between the sleeve  48  of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  and the horizontal support member  24  can be avoided, so that separation of the pool body  12  from the bracket  18  becomes easier, and no damage to the pool body  12  due to such separation, thereby extending the service life of the pool body  12 . According other embodiments of the present invention, the coating  52  can also contain materials that are suitable for preventing rust and/or emitting fluorescence. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , according to one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of lines are in an irregular pattern forming the uneven texture  50 . The use of the uneven texture  50  makes the coating process simpler and the manufacturing processes more convenient. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal support member  24  is an injection-molded tube. An outer surface of the injection-molded tube forms the uneven texture  50 . Specifically, the uneven texture  50  can be formed on the outer surface of the injection-molded tube by using a suitable injection molding machine. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a vertical support member  28  of the above ground pool assembly  10  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An outer surface of each of the plurality of vertical support members  28  is at least partially formed by a coating that includes a plurality of lines to establish the uneven texture  50 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the outer surface of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  is in contact with the vertical support members  28 . When the pool body  12  contains water, the outer surface of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  abuts against the vertical support members  28  due to the force of the water against the side wall  14 . Moreover, the above ground pool assembly  10  includes a fixing belt  54  that sandwiches the vertical support members  28  between the fixing belt  54  and the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  to stabilize the connection between the pool body  12  and the bracket  18 . The fixing belt  54  is also in contact with or even abuts against the vertical support members  28 . By providing the uneven texture  50  on the surface of the vertical support members  28 , the contact areas of the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  and the fixing belt  54  with the vertical support tubes  28  can be reduced. Accordingly, adhesion between the side wall  14  of the pool body  12  and the fixing belt  54  with the vertical support tubes  28  can be avoided, so that separation of the pool body  12  from the bracket  18  becomes easier, and no damage to the pool body  12  due to such separation thereby extending the service life of the pool body  12 . 
       FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of a connector  32  of the above ground pool assembly  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. An outer surface of the connector  32  is provided with an uneven texture  50 . Thereby, the visual effect of the bracket  18  as a whole is more uniform. 
     In accordance with the description above, it should be appreciated that, by providing an uneven texture  50  on the surfaces of the horizontal support members  24  of the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10 , it reduces the contact area between the pool body  12  and the horizontal support members  24 . In addition, it avoids adhesion between the pool body  12  and the horizontal support members  24  so that the pool body  12  and the bracket  18  can be separated easily. Accordingly, the pool body  12  cannot be easily damaged during separation. In addition, the inclusion of the uneven texture  50  improves wear resistance and slip resistance of the bracket  18 . The visual contrast between the bracket  18  and the pool body  12  is small, and the overall visual effect of the above ground pool assembly  10  is improved. Anti-rust and fluorescing functions can be achieved by adding rust-preventing and fluorescence-emitting materials to the coating  52 . By providing the plurality of horizontal support members  24 , the plurality of vertical support members  28  and the connectors  32 , the disassembly and assembly of the bracket  18  of the above ground pool assembly  10  becomes more convenient. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations to embodiments of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the claimed invention. It is understood that all features described of all embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, so long as such combination would not contradict one another.