Patent Publication Number: US-2015082533-A1

Title: Swimming Pool Divider

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/880,396 filed on Sep. 20, 2013, entitled “Kiddie Pool.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to children&#39;s swimming pools. More specifically, the present invention describes a swimming pool divider comprising a vertical panel to be disposed on the entryway, such as the stairs leading into an in-ground swimming pool. The vertical panel is secured to the walls on opposing sides of the entry portion by a plurality of suction cups. A second panel is hingedly attached to the first panel and is adapted to rotate into a horizontal configuration, perpendicular to the first panel, such that the second panel rests on one of the stairs. In this way, the swimming pool divider creates a small, shallow pool in the entryway of the pool that includes various depths and that is constructed for use by young children. 
     Many adults and children enjoy swimming, relaxing, and sunbathing in swimming pools, particularly during periods of warm weather. While swimming pools provide relief from high outdoor temperatures and serve as a source of entertainment for users, many private in-ground swimming pools are built for adults and are too deep for young children or toddlers. This is problematic as many children enjoy playing in the water, but are not strong swimmers and require constant supervision. 
     Young children may not be tall enough to stand in the pool, even in the shallow end. Thus, the children are required to use flotation devices or need a parent to hold them or stand close-by in order to supervise the child. If left unattended, young children may be drawn from the shallow end of a pool towards the deeper end if the children are playing a game or if a pool toy or ball has drifted into the deeper end of the pool. This creates a safety risk wherein the child swims towards the deep end of the pool. 
     Most in-ground pools do not comprise a section that is sufficiently shallow for use by a young child or toddler. Further, most people do not have a separate pool for use by small children. Thus, young children are unable to use the in-ground swimming pool unless the parent is able and willing to supervise the child while the child is in the water. Therefore, a device that can be used to create a shallow pool area within an in-ground swimming pool for use by children is desired, so that parents and children can both use and enjoy an in-ground swimming pool. 
     The present invention discloses a swimming pool divider adapted to create a shallow pool within a larger in-ground swimming pool that is suitable for use by young children. The divider includes a rectangular first panel that is disposed vertically and is secured about the entry or stairwell portion of an in-ground swimming pool. The first panel comprises a plurality of suction cups for removably securing the first panel to the pool wall adjacent to the pool&#39;s stairs. A second panel is hingedly secured to the first panel and is able to rotate into a horizontal, shelf-like position. The second panel is adapted to rest on a step of the pool&#39;s entryway. In this way, the first panel serves as a barrier by separating the entry portion of a pool from the remainder of the pool, and the second panel defines the floor of a shallow area that is suitable for a child to use. The second panel can be folded so that it is flush against the first panel, which provides a compact configuration that is suitable for storage and travel. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to children&#39;s swimming pool. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to children&#39;s swimming pools comprising shallow enclosures disposed within a larger swimming pool or body of water. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art. 
     One such device is U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,005 to Badon, which discloses a swimming pool playpen comprising an enclosure that is constructed of a rigid tubular frame disposed on an adjustable support. The enclosure comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein the bottom of the enclosure is positioned at a shallow depth within a pool or body of water, so as to create a small, shallow pool in which a small child can play and swim. The bottom and side walls of the enclosure have a plurality of apertures therethrough that allow water to pass into the enclosure. The adjustable support of the device is adapted to rest on the bottom of a swimming pool. Thus, Badon discloses an entire enclosure that is positioned within a pool, and Badon suffers the drawback of having a large enclosure that may consume a significant portion of a swimming pool. In contrast, the present invention discloses a first panel that is used to segregate the entryway section of an in-ground pool, and a second horizontal panel that serves as the floor for a smaller pool area situated in the entryway of the pool. Thus, the present invention is compact and is convenient for storage and travel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,767 to Cloffey discloses a children&#39;s pool comprising an enclosure that can be positioned within a swimming pool. The device includes an adjustable frame that supports a floor of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure extends entirely around the floor of the device. The enclosure can be adjusted in height so as to change the depth of the water within the enclosure. Thus, Cloffey discloses an enclosure that can be positioned in a swimming pool so as to define a shallow pool area in which children can swim. However, Cloffey does not disclose a panel that can be used to separate a portion of the pool from the remainder of the pool, and wherein a second panel is hingedly secured to the first panel and is adapted to define the bottom or floor of the shallow children&#39;s pool. Cloffey instead discloses an enclosure that defines a shallow swimming area that can be positioned in various locations within a larger swimming pool. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,906 to Millard et al. discloses a crib for use in a swimming pool comprising a crib having vertical rails on the sides thereof, and a floor defining a shallow area in which a child can play and swim. A set of weights are connected to one another by a bottom support having perforations that allow the support to fill with water, preventing the bottom support from floating. The bottom support is secured to the crib by several vertical supports. Thus, Millard discloses a crib to be positioned within the interior of a swimming pool and does not disclose a device that includes a vertical panel to separate the entryway or stairs of a swimming pool from the remainder of the pool. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,307 to Smith discloses a floating pool assembly comprising a sheet that defines a continuous wall wherein a flotation pocket is disposed at an upper end of the wall and a weighted pocket extends along the bottom of the wall. Smith discloses a device that encloses a region within a swimming pool and separates that region from the remainder of the swimming pool. However, Smith does not disclose a first panel used to separate an entryway of the swimming pool, and does not disclose a second hinged panel that can be folded into a horizontal position so as to form the bottom of a shallow swimming pool area. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,770 to Zaris describes a floating swimming pool comprising a pool deck with a plurality of buoyant sections having a flat upper surface. The buoyant deck surrounds a swimming pool area having perforated plates that define side walls, and a perforated plate extending across the lower region of the side walls to define a bottom wall. The side walls and bottom are secured together so as to form an enclosed swimming pool area. The plates are preferably of rigid construction and allow for improved footing thereon. Thus, Zaris discloses a floating pool assembly to be positioned within a body of water, and does not disclose a panel used to separate a section of a pool from the remainder of the pool. 
     These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. Several devices in the prior art disclose large enclosures having a bottom entirely surrounded by upstanding side walls, defining an interior area suited for use as a shallow swimming pool by a child. These devices are large and cumbersome, and consume a considerable amount of space within a swimming pool. Thus, when such devices are disposed within a swimming pool, the use and enjoyment of the remainder of the swimming pool is substantially diminished, and the children&#39;s swimming pool obstructs the use of the swimming pool. Further, such devices are large and bulky and may be difficult to assemble and disassemble for storage. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing children&#39;s swimming pool devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of children&#39;s swimming pools now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new swimming pool divider wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when separating a section of a swimming pool to create a shallow swimming area for use by young children. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved swimming pool divider that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool divider that creates a separate, shallow region of a pool for use by children. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool divider that is easily installed in a pool by engaging suction cups on the device with a pool wall. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool divider that is foldable for storage and travel. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool divider that is transparent so as to allow the separated area to be easily viewed by parents or guardians. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool divider having a first panel that is hingedly attached to a second panel, wherein the first panel defines a wall of a shallow pool area and the second panel functions as a floor of the shallow pool area. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool divider that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention in an unfolded configuration. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention in a folded configuration. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention as installed in an in-ground pool. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side cross-sectional view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention as installed in an in-ground pool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the swimming pool divider. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for creating a separate, shallow swimming area within a larger swimming pool for use by children. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there are shown perspective views of the swimming pool divider of the present invention in unfolded and folded configurations, respectively. The swimming pool divider  11  of the present invention comprises a first panel  12  adapted to be disposed vertically in a pool. The first panel  12  is substantially rectangular and planar. The swimming pool divider  11  has an upper end  15  opposite a lower end  16 , and further has a first side  17  opposite a second side  18 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the first panel  12  is transparent. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the first panel  12  includes a plurality of apertures therethrough that allow water to flow through the first panel  12 . Preferably, the apertures are sized such that a child&#39;s finger is unable to enter and become stuck therein. 
     A second panel  13  is pivotally attached to a first face of the first panel  12  by a hinge  14 . The hinge  14  extends along a side of the second panel  13 . The second panel  13  is sized so that it is not as wide as the first panel  12 . Thus, the hinge  14  does not extend entirely from the first side  17  and second side  18 . The second panel  13  is secured to the first panel  12  at a point between the upper end  15  and lower end  16  of the first panel  12 . Preferably, the second panel  13  is secured near the middle of the first panel  12 . The second panel  13  is adapted to rotate about the horizontal axis of the hinge  14  between a folded and an unfolded configuration. 
     In the unfolded configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the second panel  13  is substantially horizontal and is perpendicular to the first panel  12 . In this way, the second panel  13  resembles a shelf. The second panel  13  is adapted to rest on the entryway of a pool, such as stairs of the pool. Thus, the second panel  13  defines the bottom surface or a floor of a shallow area of the pool suitable for use by a young child or toddler. The first panel  12  serves as a wall of the shallow pool area, and also serves as a barrier to prevent a child within the shallow swimming area from leaving the shallow area into the larger swimming pool. 
     In the folded configuration of  FIG. 1B , the second panel  13  is folded bout the hinge so that it rests flush against, and parallel to, the first panel  12 . The second panel  13  folds upwards towards the upper end  15  of the first panel  12 . However, the second panel  13 , when folded, does not reach the height of the first panel  12 . In this way, the swimming pool divider  11  can be easily folded into a compact configuration for travel and storage. 
     The first panel  12  and the second panel  13  can be composed of any of a variety of rigid, durable materials. The first and second panels  12 ,  13  are preferably composed of high density polyethylene (HDPE), but can alternatively be composed of polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas), or another similar material. In embodiments of the present invention composed of HDPE, the first and second panels  12 ,  13  are preferably white in color. Further, the hinge  14  is composed of a metal or plastic material. In embodiments of the present invention wherein the hinge is metal, the metal comprises a corrosion resistant coating thereon to enhance the durability and longevity of the hinge  14  and to inhibit the formation of rust thereon. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention as installed in an in-ground pool. In operation, the first panel  12  is positioned vertically within the pool in front of the pool&#39;s entryway, such as a set of stairs that leads into the pool. The first panel  12  is positioned so as to separate the entryway of the pool from the remainder of the pool. In this way, the first panel  12  defines a wall of a children&#39;s swimming area, and the walls of the entryway serve to define the remaining walls of the children&#39;s swimming area. The first panel  12  is sized so that it is at least as high as the depth of the pool, and preferably extends above ground-level. In this way, the first panel  12  can serve as a fence or barrier to prevent the child within the shallow swimming area from climbing over the first panel  12 , and exiting the shallow swimming area into the larger pool area. 
     The first side  17  of the first panel  12  extends onto the pool wall  25  and is attached thereto by one or more suction cups  20 . Similarly, the second side  18  of the first panel  12  extends onto the pool wall  25  and is attached thereto by one or more suction cups  20 . Thus, the first panel  12  comprises a width that is wider than the entryway to the pool, such that the first and second sides  17 ,  18  thereof overlap with the pool wall  25 . The suction cups  20  are disposed on a first face of the first panel  12 , and are positioned on the first face of the first panel  12 , and are thus are positioned on the same side of the first panel as the second panel  14 . Preferably, the suction cups  20  are arranged along the first and second sides  17 ,  18  of the first panel  12 . More preferably, there are two pairs of suction cups  20 , wherein a first pair includes suction cups positioned on the lower corners of the first panel  12 , and wherein the second pair of suction cups are positioned above the hinge  14  and towards the upper end  15  of the first panel  12 , so that the suction cups attach to a portion of the pool wall  25  near the pool deck. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention the suction cups  20  are removable from the first panel  12 . In such embodiments, the first panel  12  comprises openings corresponding to the location of the suction cups  20 . Each suction cup  20  is disposed on the end of a threaded rod, and the threaded rod is positioned through an opening on the first panel  12 . The suction cups  20  can be secured to the first panel  12  by securing threaded nuts onto the threaded rod, preferably the threaded nuts are adapted to be easily turned by hand, so that a user can tighten and remove the nuts as desired. In this way, a user can secure the suction cups  20  to the pool wall so that the threaded rods extend outward therefrom. The first panel can be positioned over the threaded rods so that the rods extend through the openings on the first panel, and then nuts can be secured onto the threaded rods to secure the first panel thereon. This allows users to remove the first panel from the swimming pool without having to remove the suction cups from the pool wall. 
     Once the first panel  12  is positioned such that the entryway of the pool is separated from the remainder of the pool, the second panel  13  can be folded downward from the stowed position and onto a step  23  or the incline of the swimming pool entryway. By resting on a step  23  of the entryway, the second panel  13  is held securely in position. The second panel  13  is preferably sized so that the second panel  13  extends the width of the step  23  of the pool&#39;s entryway. If the second panel  13  is wider than the entryway, then it would be unable to be configured in the unfolded position. The second panel  13  is adapted to be disposed in a horizontal configuration such that it defines a flat, bottom surface of the shallow children&#39;s swimming area. Thus, the second panel  13  is preferably attached to said first panel  12  at a point near the middle of the first panel  12 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the hinge  14  is adapted to limit rotation of the second panel  13  such that the second panel  13  is unable to rotate further once a horizontal position is reached. Further, the hinge  14  may be adapted to maintain the second panel  13  in a variety of positions relative to the first panel  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a side cross-sectional view of the swimming pool divider of the present invention as installed in an in-ground pool. The first panel  12  is positioned within the swimming pool in a vertical orientation so as to separate the swimming pool  21  from a shallow children&#39;s pool  24 . The first panel  12  is disposed within the pool so that the lower end  16  is adjacent to the bottom surface  22  of the pool, or may touch the bottom surface  22  thereof. The first end  15  of the first panel  12  extends above the surface of the water within the pool so as to create a barrier between the swimming pool  21  and the children&#39;s pool area  24 . In this way, the first panel  12  separates the two areas, but also helps to prevent a child within the children&#39;s swimming pool  24  from climbing over the first panel  12  and into the swimming pool  21 . 
     In the unfolded configuration, the second panel  13  rests on a step  23  of the entryway, so as to define the bottom surface of the children&#39;s swimming area  24 . The second panel  13  is attached to the first panel  12  via a hinge  14  at a point between the lower end  16  and the upper end  15  of the first panel  12 . The second panel  13  may be attached by the hinge  14  at the midpoint of the first panel  12 . 
     While many people have in-ground swimming pools at their home or apartment, such pools are generally not suited for use by small children and toddlers. Small children are generally not strong swimmers and may not be sufficiently tall that the children can stand in the pool with their head above the surface of the water. While devices are known in the prior art that disclose children&#39;s swimming pools that can be disposed within a pool in order to create a shallow swimming pool suitable for children, such devices are bulky and cumbersome, and inhibit the users&#39; use and enjoyment of the remainder of the swimming pool. 
     The present invention provides a swimming pool divider device comprising a first panel disposed vertically within a pool about the entryway of the pool so as to separate the entryway from the remainder of the pool. The first panel is secured to the pool wall by means of suction cups on a face of the first panel. A second panel is pivotally attached to the first panel by means of a hinge and can be unfolded into a horizontal position so as to define the bottom surface of a shallow swimming pool area within the entryway of the pool. The second panel can be folded flush against the first panel for storage or transportation. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.