Patent Publication Number: US-6209149-B1

Title: Inflatable swimming pool with a sun shield

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a swimming pool, more particularly to an inflatable swimming pool with a sun shield. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional inflatable swimming pool assembly for children generally includes a pool that is made of a flexible material and that has a flat bottom and a peripheral wall which cooperates with the bottom to define a water receiving space therebetween so that children can play with water within the pool. 
     However, in case, the pool is exposed under the sun, the children playing therein may suffer from sunburn due to prolonged exposure to the sun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide an inflatable swimming pool with a sun shield so as to avoid the drawbacks that generally result from the use of the conventional inflatable swimming pool assembly. 
     Accordingly, an inflatable swimming pool assembly of the present invention includes an inflatable swimming pool with a peripheral wall that has a top surface, a first half and a second half. A sun shield has a flexible sunshade portion with two opposite sides, which are formed respectively with a curved first inflatable tube and a curved second inflatable tube. The first inflatable tube has two ends that are respectively in fluid communication with two ends of the second inflatable tube at two intersections. Two fastener units attach respectively the intersections of the sun shield to two diametrically opposed portions of the top surface of the peripheral wall of the pool. Thus, the sun shield can rotate on the top surface of the peripheral wall about a connecting line of the intersections between a first position, where the first inflatable tube rests entirely on the first half of the pool, and where the second inflatable tube forms an angle with the top surface of the peripheral wall, and a second position, where the second inflatable tube rests entirely on the second half of the pool and where the first inflatable tube forms an angle with the top surface of the peripheral wall of the pool. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an inflatable swimming pool of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a sun shield employed in the preferred embodiment; 
     FIGS. 3 and 3A respectively illustrate two positions of the sun shield of the preferred embodiment in use; and 
     FIG. 4 illustrates how two fastener units attach the sun shield to an inflatable swimming pool in the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of an inflatable swimming pool assembly of the present invention is shown to include an inflatable swimming pool  1 , a sun shield  2 , and two fastener units. 
     As illustrated, the inflatable swimming pool  1  includes a peripheral wall  11  that has a top surface  110 , a first half  101 , and a second half  102  (see FIGS.  3  and  3 A). 
     The sun shield  2  has a flexible sunshade portion  22  with two opposite sides, which are formed respectively with a curved first inflatable tube  211  and a curved second inflatable tube  212  that are fixed thereon. The first inflatable tube  211  has two ends that are respectively in fluid communication with two ends of the second inflatable tube  212  at two intersections  214 , 215 . 
     The fastener units attach respectively the intersections  214 , 215  of the sun shield  2  to two diametrically opposed portions of the top surface  110  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1 , such that the sun shield  2  can rotate on the top surface  110  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1  about a connecting line of the intersections  214 , 215  between a first position, as best shown in FIG. 3, where the first inflatable tube  211  rests entirely on the first half  101  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1  and where the second inflatable tube  212  forms an angle with the top surface  110  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1 , and a second position as best shown in FIG. 3A, where the second inflatable tube  212  rests entirely on the second half  102  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1  and where the first inflatable tube  211  forms an angle with the top surface  110  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first and second inflatable tubes  211 ,  212  of the sun shield  2  are generally perpendicular to each other. The sun shield  2  further has a cross-shaped inflatable tube unit, which includes a long tubular portion  213  with two ends that are respectively in fluid communication with the intersections  214 , 215  of the first and second inflatable tubes  211 , 212 , and a short tubular portion  214  that has a middle portion crossing and in fluid communication with the long tubular portion  213 , and two ends that are respectively in fluid communication with middle portions of the first and second inflatable tubes  211 , 212 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, each of the fastener units includes first and second lugs  12 ,  23  and a fastener cord  3 . The first lug  12  is fixed on the top surface  110  of the peripheral wall  11  of the pool  1  between the first and second halves  101 , 102 . The first lug  12  has a side surface  120  and a hole  121  formed therethrough. The second lug  23  is fixed on a corresponding one of the intersections  214 , 215  of the sun shield  2  near the first lug  12 , and has a side surface  230  and a hole  231  that is formed therethrough. The fastener cord  3  has two opposite ends that extend through the holes  121 ,  231  in the first and second lugs  12 , 23 . Two stop rods  31  are attached respectively to the ends of the cord  3 . Each of the rods  31  is connected fixedly to the cord  3  at a middle portion thereof, and abuts against the side surfaces  120 , 230  of the first and second lugs  12 , 23  at two end portions thereof for retaining the intersections  214 , 215  of the sun shield  2  on the pool  1 . 
     For storage and transport, the pool  1 , the first and second inflatable tubes  211 ,  212 , and the cross-shaped inflatable tube unit of the sun shield  2  can be deflated so as to occupy little storage space. With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.