Patent Publication Number: US-6209150-B1

Title: Inflatable Sun shade for pool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to above-the ground, flexible plastic, inflatable-type swimming pools. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a children&#39;s wading pool having a multiple-tier, inflatable sidewall and a bottom wall and includes a sun shade canopy that covers the pool and is supported by a pair of inflatable arched tubes which are attachable to and removable from the top of the wading pool by hook and loop fastener means. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art is directed to methods and apparatus for above-the-ground inflatable swimming or wading pools typically fashioned from polyvinylchloride sheeting, having a sun blocking canopy, and used in the out-of-doors. 
     Swimming and wading pools intended for use by children and comprised of inflatable plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride (hereinafter “PVC”) sheeting and having a multiple-tier inflatable sidewall including appropriate air valves and a plastic bottom wall are known in the art. These swimming and wading pools are intended to hold a minimum amount of water to enable one or more small children to play therein and splash the water on warm days. 
     Likewise, devices intended to shade people from the direct rays of the sun are also known in the art. For example, several aquatic lounge and floatation devices have been known. These devices do not themselves contain water, i.e., they are not a swimming or wading pool, but are designed to float within a larger body of water such as a swimming pool, pond, lake and the like. For example, one known device is an aquatic lounge having a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart longitudinally extending buoyant members intended to float in a swimming pool or the like. The aquatic lounge includes a head rest having a small canopy for shading the face of an individual resting on the lounge. The shade canopy is removable from the head rest via a plurality of threaded mechanical fasteners. The aquatic lounge also includes a serving tray attachment having a small canopy positioned thereover for protecting, for example, soft drinks from direct sun light on warm days. 
     Another known device is a recreational floating apparatus typically used by small children with the assistance of an adult. This device is also an aquatic floatation mechanism which includes a circular foamed plastic float, a supporting fabric seat and an attached frame collapsible canopy. The supporting seat is adapted to support a small child or infant in an upright position. The collapsible canopy is adapted to partially cover the occupant of the floating apparatus to provide protection from the sun. A third known device includes a similar floatation device which can serve as a seat and includes an umbrella shade mechanism positioned directly over the floatation portion of the device. Yet another similar device discloses an umbrella support for attachment to a recreation floatation device such as a large intertube equipped with seats. The umbrella support includes a socket for mounting the support shaft of a sun shade umbrella therein. 
     Another device is characterized by an inflatable raft-like floatation device for use in, for example, a swimming pool. The raft-like device includes a series of communicating compartments wherein an outermost compartment pair is extendedly formed into a sun shade support. A sun shade having a fixed portion and an adjustable portion is affixed to the sun shade support. Another known device discloses a floating sun shield which has a rectangular floating frame and an arched sun shield canopy mounted over the rectangular floating frame. The floating frame can be comprised of polyvinylchloride and the sun shield canopy can be preferably formed of nylon fabric or similar materials. The arched portion of the canopy can include structural support rods. Many other sun shade type devices are also known in the art and are used typically with, for example, lounge chairs or the like. These sun shade type devices are also removable and replaceable but only via mechanical attachment means. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a children&#39;s wading or swimming pool having a multiple-tier, inflatable sidewall and a bottom wall, and where the swimming pool also includes a sun shade canopy where the canopy is supported by a pair of inflatable arched tubes and is quickly attachable to and removable from the top surface of the wading pool by hook and loop fasteners. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved sun shade pool and method therefore typically used by small children as an above-the-ground wading pool. The sun shade pool includes an inflatable pool and a removable sun shade canopy mounted upon the inflatable pool for blocking direct sun light on warm days. The inflatable pool can be multiple-tiered in height, include a bottom wall and be fashioned from polyvinylchloride sheeting, include a plurality of inflation air valves for inflating the pool and a drain plug for rapidly draining water from the pool. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the removable shade canopy is attachable to and detachable from a top surface of the inflatable pool by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The sun shade canopy is formed from a pair of inflatable arched tubes and a sun blocking fabric suspended therebetween. Each of the inflatable arched tubes are generally identical in form, are separated by a pair of inflatable cross members which provide structural support, include an inflation air valve, and are inflated into a generally U-shaped tubular arch. The pair of inflatable arched tubes are mounted on opposite sides of the top surface of the inflatable pool. The sun blocking fabric is suspended between the inflatable arched tubes and over the inflatable cross members by attaching the fabric to each of the arched tubes by a known method such as by the use of radio frequency sealing or an adhesive. The inflatable arched tubes, inflatable cross members, and the sun blocking fabric can also be comprised of polyvinylchloride sheeting. However, the sun blocking fabric can also be formed of other known natural materials. 
     In the present invention, the sun shade canopy is attachable to and detachable from the inflatable pool by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The inflatable pool is typically rectangular in shape but is not limited to that geometric form. The top surface of a rectangular-shaped inflatable pool includes four corners. Each hook and loop fastener includes a hook portion and a loop portion. One suitable method of attachment and detachment of the sun shade canopy to the inflatable pool is to affix a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener to each of the two bottom ends of each of the pair of inflatable arched tubes. Likewise, the loop portions of the corresponding hook and loop fasteners are affixed to the top surface of the inflatable pool at each of the four corners. This design layout ensures that the hook portions will intersect with the corresponding loop portions and enables the sun shade canopy to be conveniently attached to and removed from the top surface of the inflatable pool. 
     The present invention is generally directed to a sun shade pool and method therefore typically used by children in an above-the-ground environment for use in the out-of-doors. The inventive sun shade pool provides an attractive and economic solution to parents with small children who seek relief from hot weather during the warm months of the year. The sun shade pool including the shade canopy enables the small child to enjoy the fun associated with splashing in water but simultaneously be protected from direct sun rays. Further, the sun shade pool provides these features without the necessity of the child being in the vicinity of a conventional swimming pool. In its most fundamental embodiment, the sun shade pool exhibits a construction including an inflatable pool having a sidewall sealed to a bottom wall for containing a fluid. A removable sun shade canopy for covering a top surface of the inflatable pool is also included. The canopy includes a pair of inflatable arched tubes attachably and detachably mounted to the top surface of the inflatable pool by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. A sun blocking fabric is also suspended between the pair of inflatable arched tubes. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, by way of example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sun shade pool and method showing a sun shade canopy comprising a pair of inflatable arched tubes mounted upon a children&#39;s inflatable pool via a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing a first of the pair of inflatable arched tubes mounted on a top surface of a multiple-tier inflatable sidewall of the inflatable pool and an air valve located in the first of the inflatable arched tubes. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing a second of the pair of inflatable arched tubes mounted on the top surface of the multiple-tier inflatable sidewall and an air valve located in each of the tiers of the multiple-tier inflatable sidewall. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing a fabric attached to the tops of and extended between the pair of inflatable arched tubes to form the canopy mounted upon the inflatable sidewall of the inflatable pool. 
     FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing the fabric attached to the tops of and extended between the pair of inflatable arched tubes to form the canopy mounted upon the inflatable sidewall of the inflatable pool. 
     FIG. 6 is a top planar view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing the fabric of the sun shade canopy extended between the tops of the pair of inflatable arched tubes which are mounted on the top surface of the inflatable sidewall of the inflatable pool. 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom planar view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing a bottom wall of the inflatable pool attached to the multiple-tier inflatable sidewall and a drain plug formed in the bottom wall. 
     FIG. 8 is a top planar view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 with the sun shade canopy removed and showing the interior of the inflatable pool including the drain plug and the plurality of hook and loop fasteners affixed to the top surface of the inflatable sidewall. 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the canopy of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing a pair of inflatable cross members with air valves which connect together the pair of inflatable arched tubes for supporting the fabric of the canopy and a plurality of co-mating hook and loop fasteners, one affixed to the bottom end of each inflatable arched tube. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the inflatable sidewall of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 taken along the line  10 — 10  of FIG.  4  and showing the interior of the sidewall of the inflatable pool. 
     FIG. 11 is a detail view of the sun shade pool of FIG. 1 showing two of the co-mating hook and loop fasteners affixed to the bottom ends of one of the pair of inflatable arched tubes aligned with the corresponding hook and loop fasteners affixed to the top surface of the sidewall of the inflatable pool. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a sun shade pool  100  typically used by children in an above-the-ground environment for use in the out-of-doors. The sun shade pool  100  includes an inflatable pool  102  and a removable sun shade canopy  104  as shown best in FIG. 1 but also in FIGS. 2-5. The inflatable pool  102  includes a continuous sidewall  106  comprising one or more vertical tiers. In the preferred embodiment, the continuous sidewall  106  includes two vertical tiers  108 ,  110 , each comprised of a flexible inflatable material such as, for example, polyvinylchloride sheeting (typically referred to as PVC). 
     The vertical tiers  108  and  110  are independent air chambers and are fused together by means known in the art such as, for example, radio frequency sealing. Since each of the two vertical tiers  108 ,  110  are independent air chambers, each includes an inflation air valve  112  as shown in FIG. 3 for the insertion and discharge of pressurized air. It follows that the gauge thickness of the polyvinylchloride sheeting of the vertical tiers  108 ,  110  is suitable for the air pressure with which the vertical tiers  108 ,  110  are charged. Since each of the vertical tiers  108  and  110  are charged with pressurized air, each of a plurality of side surfaces  114  are rounded as shown with the appropriate shading in FIGS. 1-5,  10  and  11 . 
     The upper vertical tier  110  of the continuous sidewall  106  has a top surface  116  which is continuous with the side surfaces  114  of the vertical tiers  108  and  110 . The top surface  116  of the vertical tier  110  and the rounded side surfaces  114  of the vertical tiers  108  and  110  are more clearly shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.  10 . It is the top surface  116  of the upper vertical tier  110  of the continuous sidewall  106  that supports the sun shade canopy  104  as will be discussed more fully hereinbelow with regard to FIGS. 6 and 11 enclosed herewith. 
     The inflatable pool  102  also includes a bottom wall  118  as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 but is also partially shown in FIG.  1 . The bottom wall  118  is also preferable comprised of polyvinylchloride sheeting but can be of a lower gauge thickness than the vertical tiers  108  and  110 . The bottom wall  118 , which serves as a floor surface, can be of a lower gauge thickness since it is not exposed to pressurized air. Thus, the gauge thickness of the bottom wall  118  is suitably selected for its intended use. The bottom wall  118  is sealed to the lower vertical tier  108  of the continuous sidewall  106  along a sealing line  120  as is best shown in FIG.  7 . The sealing line  120  is not visible in the top planar view of the inflatable pool  102  shown in FIG. 8 because of the overhang of the top surface  116 . The sealing or fusing of the bottom wall  118  to the vertical tier  108  is accomplished in a manner known in the art such as, for example, radio frequency sealing or adhesive sealing. 
     Thus, the polyvinylchloride sheeting of the bottom wall  118  is sealed or fused to the polyvinylchloride sheeting of the vertical tier  108  along sealing line  120  to complete the construction of the inflatable pool  102 . The completed inflatable pool  102  is then capable of containing a fluid such as water which can be introduced into the inflatable pool  102  with, for example, a garden hose. Located within the polyvinylchloride sheeting of the bottom wall  118  is a drain plug  122 . The drain plug  122  can be of, for example, a flexible or semi-rigid polyvinylchloride construction as is known in the art. The drain plug  122  typically includes a base flange  124  (see FIG. 8) which is fused as by radio frequency sealing to the polyvinylchloride sheeting about the perimeter of a penetration (not shown) formed in the bottom wall  118 . The discharge end of the drain plug  122  passes through the penetration (not shown) and serves as an exit point for the water when the drain plug  122  is in the open position as is shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The sun shade canopy  104  comprises three main components including a pair of inflatable arched tubes, i.e., a first inflatable arched tube  126  and a second inflatable arched tube  128 , and a sun blocking fabric  130 . Each of the inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  and the sun blocking fabric  130  are shown in FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5  and  6 . Additionally, a pair of inflatable cross members, i.e., a first inflatable cross member  132  and a second inflatable cross member  134  are incorporated into the sun shade canopy  104  as shown in FIG.  9 . The sun shade canopy  104  is attachable to and detachable from the inflatable pool  102  by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners  136  as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. It is noted that the entire interior volume of the inflatable pool  102  including the top surface  116  is covered by the sun shade canopy  104  as shown in FIG.  1 . Thus, a child seated at any location within the interior of the inflatable pool  102  will be shaded from damaging sun rays during those hours of the day when the sun is directly above. 
     The first inflatable arched tube  126  and the second inflatable arched tube  128  serve to hold the sun blocking fabric  130  over the inflatable pool  102 . The pair of inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  are separated and structurally reinforced by the first inflatable cross member  132  and the second inflatable cross member  134  as is clearly shown in FIG.  9 . Each of the inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  are essentially identical in construction and form and are comprised of a robust flexible plastic such as, for example, polyvinylchloride sheeting. Each of the pair of inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  include an inflation air valve  138  as known in the art for the insertion and discharge of pressurized air as is best shown in FIG.  1 . Once inflated, the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  adopt a generally U-shaped tubular arch form and are parallel mounted on opposite sides of the top surface  116  of the inflatable pool  102 . The first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  are independent air chambers. 
     The first inflatable cross member  132  and the second inflatable cross member  134  are parallel positioned between and orthogonal to the first inflatable arched tube  126  and the second inflatable arched tube  128  as is shown in FIG.  9 . The first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134  are generally identical in shape and are typically straight, tubular-shaped independent air chambers. Each of the first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134  include an inflation air valve  140  as known in the art for the insertion and discharge of pressurized air as is shown in FIG.  9 . The first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134  are sealed or fused to the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  by means known in the art such as, for example, radio frequency sealing or adhesive sealing. The first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134  once fused to the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  form a stable structure. 
     The sun blocking fabric  130  serves to block the direct rays of the sun to protect the children playing in the inflatable pool  102 . In the present invention, the sun blocking fabric  130  is suspended between the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  as shown in FIG.  1 . Likewise, the sun blocking fabric  130  is positioned over the first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134  as shown in FIG.  9 . Suspension of the sun shade fabric  130  between the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  is accomplished by attaching the fabric  130  to each of the arched tubes  126  and  128  by a known method such as by the use of radio frequency sealing or adhesive sealing. Like the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  and the first and second inflatable cross members  132  and  134 , the sun blocking fabric  130  can also be comprised of polyvinylchloride sheeting. However, the sun blocking fabric  130  can also be formed of any one of a plurality of woven fabrics such as cotton. 
     In the present invention, the sun shade canopy  104  is attachable to and detachable from the inflatable pool  102  by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners  136  best shown in FIGS. 8,  9  and  11 . The inflatable pool  102  is typically rectangular in shape but can adopt any geometric form. The top surface  116  of the rectangular-shaped inflatable pool  102  shown in FIG. 8 includes a plurality of four identical corners  142 . Each hook and loop fastener  136  includes a hook portion  144  and a loop portion  146 . One suitable method of attachment and detachment of the sun shade canopy  130  to the inflatable pool  102  is to affix as by gluing a hook portion  144  of a hook and loop fastener  136  to each of the two bottom ends  148  of each of the first and second inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128 . Likewise, the loop portions  146  of the corresponding hook and loop fasteners  136  are affixed as by gluing to the top surface  116  of the inflatable pool  102  at each of the four identical corners  142 . This design layout ensures that the hook portions  144  of the hook and loop fasteners  136  will intersect with the corresponding loop portions  146  and enable the sun shade canopy  104  to be conveniently attached to and removed from the top surface  116  of the inflatable pool  102 . 
     The present invention provides novel advantages over other inflatable pools for use by small children known in the prior art. A main advantage of the sun shade pool  100  of the present invention is that the sun shade canopy  104  is removable, i.e., it is attachable to and detachable from the top surface  116  of the inflatable pool  102 . This feature is helpful in transporting and storing the sun shade pool  100 . Further, the sun shade canopy  104  is held in position by the pair of inflatable arched tubes  126  and  128  that utilize hook and loop fasteners  136  to attach to and detach from the inflatable pool  102 . Thus, conventional mechanical attachment means are avoided. Additionally, the sun shade canopy  104  including the pair of support inflatable cross members  132  and  134  and the sun blocking fabric  130  cover the entire surface area of the inflatable pool  102 . Consequently, the inventive sun shade pool  100  enables small children to obtain relief from hot weather and to enjoy splashing in water without exposure to direct sun rays. Further, the present invention eliminates the necessity for small children to be in the vicinity of a conventional swimming pool. Additionally, the sun shade pool  100  of the present invention is lightweight, easy to assemble and disassemble, and is robust and stable in construction. 
     While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility. 
     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,