Patent Publication Number: US-10316533-B2

Title: Pool systems and methods for making and using same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/174,602, filed 6 Jun. 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,631,386, entitled “POOL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/104,149, filed 12 Dec. 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,781, entitled “POOL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME,” which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/736,424, filed 12 Dec. 2012, entitled “POOL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME,” and the entire contents and substance of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth below. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a container and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing an improved pool. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A variety of pools are known. Simply described, pools are containers of water for people to swim, wade, relax, and play in. In their many forms, pools can be above-ground pools that extend up from the ground, or below-ground pools that extend down into the ground. Above ground pools can sometimes be temporary, providing relaxation and enjoyment along with the ability to be removed and stored after use. Below ground pools, however, are usually more permanent. 
     Many types of above ground pools exist. Some designs, for example, are inflatable. These designs comprise a hollow sidewall that can be inflated to provide a containing system for water. In use, air is pumped or blown into the sidewall, and the sidewall expands and takes on the shape of a pool. Since the sidewall is attached to a pool floor, the entire system can be filled to provide an area where users can swim, wade, relax, and play. These inflatable systems can vary in size from small kiddie pools to larger pools that can accommodate several adults. Inflatable pools, however, required the use of a pump or blowing by mouth to fill with air. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , another type of above ground pool is a frame pool  100  (exploded in  FIG. 1 ). Frame pools  100  comprise a sidewall  105  and floor  110  made from a thin flexible material, and the sidewall  105  and floor  110  together form a shell  115 . The shell  115  is supported by a frame (not shown) that holds the sidewalls  105  of the flexible material above the ground and provides the shape of the pool  100 . The pool  100  can then be filled with water. The hydrostatic pressure from the water pushes out on the flexible material, giving the shell  115  its shape against the frame. Frame pools  100  have the advantage of being easy to assemble for use and disassemble for storage without requiring inflation by a pump or person. 
     Conventional frame pools  100  are manufactured by integrating several large sheets of flexible material into a shell. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 1 , several large sheets  120  that each comprise at least one sidewall section  105  and a floor section  110  are joined to form the shell  115 . In these designs, the sheets  120  must be joined along several lengthy seams  150  that span the sidewall  105  and floor  110  of the pool  100 . Joining these seams  150  requires several manufacturing steps, leading to increased manufacturing time. In addition, because the sheets  120  are manufactured from flat layers of material, conventional designs require large corner sections  125  to be integrated proximate the corners of the pool  100  in order to give the pool  100  a rounded shape. These features result in designs with several components and multiple long seams  150 . Because the seams  150  are the most likely place for the shell  115  to fail, traditional designs can encounter failure more often, or earlier, than users would like. 
     Moreover, in many pools  100 , the most likely place for the shell to fail is at a seam  150  that that is on a sidewall  105  and near the bottom of the pool  100 . This is because the bottom sidewall  105  of the pool  100  is subject to high hydrostatic pressure, and is not supported by the ground under the pool  100 . In addition, this portion of the pool  100  is often kicked and bumped by people in the pool, further weakening it. Thus, it would be preferable to have a pool  100  wherein the number of seams  150  on the sidewall  105  near the bottom of the pool is minimized or eliminated. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a pool with a reduced number of areas prone to failure. More specifically, there is a need for a pool with fewer components and fewer seams. In addition, the seams should be shorter and strategically placed. The pool should also enable faster, more efficient manufacturing with fewer steps and fewer components. Various embodiments of the present invention address these desires. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly described, embodiments of the present invention relate to container, such as a pool. In some embodiments, the pool comprises fewer and shorter seams than similar conventional pools. The pool is therefore more durable than comparable conventional pools, and has a reduced likelihood of rupturing. Moreover, in some embodiments, the pool requires fewer components and fewer welding steps during manufacturing. The pool is therefore easier and less expensive to manufacture than similar traditional pools. 
     In some embodiments, the pool can comprise an integrated sidewall and a floor portion made from one or more sheets. The integrated sidewall can be formed from one long, substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material. In some embodiments, the ends of the sheet can be joined to form an integrated sidewall with only one seam. Thus, the sidewalls of the pool can be formed from one sheet of material comprising only one seam. This is in contrast to conventional pools that require several sheets and several seams. The use of only one seam, as opposed to several, reduces the likelihood that the pool will rupture, and reduces the amount of welding, and number of welding steps, required during manufacturing. 
     In some embodiments, the integrated sidewall can be joined to the floor portion. The floor portion can comprise one sheet of flexible material, or a plurality of sheets of flexible material. In one embodiment, the floor portion comprises three sheets of flexible material that are joined together. Once the sidewall and floor portion are joined, an upward force providing member can be used to support the sidewalls and provide shape to the pool. The pool can then be filled with water and used for swimming, relaxing, and any other purposes desired by the users. 
     In some embodiments a fluid container may comprise a shell and a support for keeping the upper portion elevated off the ground. The shell may comprise a substantially vertical unitary sidewall having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a substantially horizontal floor portion attached to the lower lip section of the unitary sidewall with a substantially horizontal seam. The lower portion may comprise a lower lip section. The unitary sidewall may be formed from a single, generally rectangular sheet. The container may further comprise corner patches that may be attached to both the unitary sidewall as well as the floor portion. In some embodiments, the floor portion may be a single sheet, and in others, the floor portion may comprise a plurality of sheets joined with horizontal seams. 
     The unitary sidewall may comprise one or more receiving portions for receiving a support frame in some embodiments a fluid container. In addition or alternatively, some embodiments according to the present disclosure may have a support that comprises one or more flotation regions on the upper portion of the unitary sidewall. In some embodiments the floor portion may be substantially rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal. The seams relating to a container according to the present disclosure may be created by welding, RF welding, sewing, laminating, gluing, adhering, fastening, attaching, or sticking one portion of the unitary sidewall to a second portion of the unitary sidewall. In some embodiments, the unitary sidewall and floor portion may comprise polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure may involve a method for assembling a fluid container. In some embodiments, a method may comprise providing a plurality of sheets of a flexible material, wherein at least one of the plurality of sheets may be a substantially vertical integrated sidewall and at least another of the plurality of sheets may be a substantially horizontal floor portion. A method of the present disclosure may further comprise joining a first portion of the integrated sidewall to a second portion of the integrated sidewall with a substantially vertical seam, and joining the integrated sidewall to the floor portion with a substantially horizontal seam. 
     According to the present disclosure, a method of joining two or more portions of the plurality of sheets could comprise welding, RF welding, sewing, laminating, gluing, adhering, fastening, attaching, or sticking the portions together. Furthermore, a method according to the present disclosure may comprise joining two or more of the plurality of sheets to form the floor portion with one or more substantially horizontal seams. A method of the present disclosure may further comprise providing a plurality of corner patches, and joining the corner patches to the integrated sidewall and the floor portion with a single substantially continuous seam. 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise providing a support for keeping an upper portion of the integrated sidewall elevated above the floor portion. A method of the present disclosure may comprise a frame, and may involve connecting the upper portion of the integrated sidewall to the frame. In addition or alternatively, some embodiments according to the present disclosure may include a support that comprises a floatation device connected to the upper portion of the integrated sidewall. In some embodiments, providing a plurality of sheets of a flexible material may comprise providing a plurality of sheets of polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water. 
     In some embodiments a fluid container may comprise a shell and a frame connected to a receiving portion for keeping the upper portion elevated off the ground. A shell of the present disclosure may comprise a substantially vertical integrated sidewall formed from a single, generally rectangular sheet, a substantially horizontal floor portion attached to the lower lip section of the integrated sidewall with a substantially horizontal seam, and at least one corner patch attached to both the integrated sidewall and the floor portion. In some embodiments the substantially vertical integrated sidewall may comprise an upper portion comprising a receiving portion, a lower portion comprising a lower lip section, and a single vertical seam that attaches a first portion of the integrated sidewall to a second portion of the integrated sidewall. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention are described in the Detailed Description below and the accompanying figures. Other aspects and features of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following description of embodiments of the present invention in concert with the figures. While features of the present invention may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures, all embodiments of the present invention can include one or more of the features discussed herein. While one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used with the various embodiments of the invention discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as system or method embodiments, it is to be understood that such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, exploded view of a conventional frame pool. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective, exploded view of an improved pool, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an improved pool, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a birds-eye view of an improved pool, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart depicting a method of making an improved pool, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of the various embodiments of the invention, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. Although exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail as being a frame pool or swimming pool in general, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated, such as embodiments that serve as containers of various sizes and for various purposes. Accordingly, where the terms “pool,” “swimming,” and related terms are used throughout this disclosure, it will be understood that other entities, objects, or activities can take the place of these in various embodiments of the invention. For example, and not limitation, some exemplary embodiments of the invention may improve other containers, such as buckets, tarps, food and beverage containers, coolers, and the like. It is not intended that the invention is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the exemplary embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. 
     It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to a component is intended also to include composition of a plurality of components. References to a composition containing “a” constituent is intended to include other constituents in addition to the one named. Furthermore, it is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” or “substantially” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” or “substantially” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, other exemplary embodiments include from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. 
     By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named. 
     It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a composition does not preclude the presence of additional components than those expressly identified. 
     The materials described as making up the various elements of the invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, materials that are developed after the time of the development of the invention. 
     As explained above, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , a problem with traditional pools  100  is that they comprise long seams  150  that extend along the sidewalls  105  and floor  110  of the pool  100 . The seams are formed when several large sheets  120  that each comprise at least one sidewall section  105  and a floor section  110  are joined together. The result is a shell  115  with lengthy seams  150  that span the sidewalls  105  and floor  110  of the pool  100 , including the area on the sidewalls  105  near the floor  110  of the pool  100 . 
     Typically, long seams  150  are more prone to rupture than short seams because they provide an increased length along which the seam  150  can fail. In addition, seams  150  located on the sidewalls  105  near the floor  110  of the pool  100  are prone to failure because of the high hydrostatic pressure exerted on the seams  150 , their susceptibility to contact by users, and the lack of additional reinforcement the seams  150  usually receive. As a result, the seams  150  of traditional pools sometimes rupture, causing the pool  100  to leak, which can require significant repairs or disposal of the pool  100 . It would therefore be beneficial to minimize the length of seams  150  and/or the presence of seams  150  in sensitive areas, such as on the bottom sidewall. It would also be beneficial, for reasons of manufacturing and material cost, to reduce the number of components required to manufacture a pool  100 , and the number of steps required during manufacturing. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide several exemplary containers that can be used as a pool, such as, for example, a swimming pool, kiddie pool, or wading pool. In some embodiments, the present invention can comprise a frame pool. Similarly, embodiments of the present invention can comprise a shell for a frame pool. The shell can comprise shorter seams than traditional shells, and can eliminate the presence of seams near the bottom of the sidewall (i.e., on the vertical portion of the sidewall near the floor of the pool). Accordingly, the present invention can minimize the potential that the pool will rupture or fail, leading to a leak that requires disposing of the pool or making a significant repair. The present invention also minimizes the amount of joining, or welding, required to manufacture a pool. The present invention can therefore reduce manufacturing costs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the present invention can be a container, such as a pool  200 . The pool  200  can be a frame pool, and can comprise a shell  205 . The shell  205  can comprise an integrated sidewall  210  and a base or floor portion  215 . The shell can further comprise one or more corner patches  220 . In some embodiments, the components of the shell  205  are joined at one or more seams  250 . Those of skill in the art will understand that the seams  250  are shown as exploded (i.e., not attached) in  FIG. 2 , but are shown as attached in  FIG. 3 . 
     In some embodiments, the integrated sidewall  210  can be made from one long, substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material. Accordingly, one piece of material, instead of several, can be used to form the sidewalls  210  of the shell, and thus the sidewalls  210  of the pool  200 . In other embodiments, however, a plurality of sheets can be joined to form the integrated sidewall  210 . 
     As described above, in some embodiments, one long, substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material can be used to manufacture the sidewalls  210  of the pool  200 . Advantageously, the use of one sheet reduces the number of seams  250  on the sidewall  210 . More particularly, in some embodiments, the use of one sheet reduces the number of seams  250  from several (usually six or more) to one, the one seam  250  joining the ends of the integrated sidewall  210  together as the sidewall  210  “loops around” on itself. The shell  205  can therefore have a reduced number of seams  250  on its sidewalls  210 , including near the bottom of the pool  200 . Thus, in some embodiments, the reduced number of seams  250  means that the pool  200  has a reduced number of locations where the pool  200  is prone to rupture. Moreover, the reduced number of seams means that fewer joining steps are required during manufacturing, which can reduce cost and decrease manufacturing time. 
     In some embodiments, to facilitate manufacturing, the sidewall  210  can be formed with open corner sections  225 . The open corner sections  225  can enable the sidewall  210  to take on a desirable shape while enabling the sidewall  210  to be cut from one continuous, flat piece of material (i.e., from one sheet). More specifically, as can be seen in  FIGS. 2-3 , the open corner sections  225  can allow the sidewall  210  to have rounded corners and a slight bulge near the bottom. These features can allow the sidewall  210  to better allocate the pressure applied to it by the water in the pool  200 . This, in turn, can reduce the likelihood of a pressure induced rupture of the shell  205 . 
     In some embodiments, the floor portion  215  is made from one or more sheets  230  of a flexible material. In embodiments where the floor portion  215  is made from a plurality of sheets  230 , the sheets can be joined together to form a single floor portion  215 . The perimeter of the floor portion  215 , or an area near the perimeter, can then be joined with the sidewall  210  to form at least part of the shell  205 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the floor portion  215  comprises three sheets  230  joined together. In other embodiments, however, the floor portion  215  can comprise one, two, four, or five sheets  230 . In some embodiments, the floor portion  215  can comprise from one to approximately twenty sheets  230 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheets  230  can be substantially rectangular, and can span the length, width, or both of the floor portion  215 . Those of skill in the art will understand, however, that the sheets  230  can be a variety of shapes and sizes, including triangular. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that, since the floor portion  215  can be separate from the sidewall  210 , the floor portion  215  can have a different number of seams  250  than the sidewall  210 . Thus, the floor portion  215  can comprise a plurality of seams  250 , while the integrated sidewall  210  can comprise only one. This is in contrast to conventional designs, wherein the floor and the sidewall are made from the same sheets and comprise the same number of seams. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the separate sidewall  210  and floor portion  215  decrease the likelihood of rupture by enabling a reduction in the number of seams  250  on the sidewall  210 . The separate sidewall  210  and floor portion  215  also reduce the number of steps required during manufacturing, as the reduced complexity of the design requires fewer joining steps than traditional designs. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can also comprise one or more corner patches  220 . The corner patches  220  can seal the holes left by the open corner sections  225  of the sidewall  210 . In some embodiments, the corner patches  220  are smaller than the corner sections of traditional designs, reducing seam size and decreasing the likelihood of rupture. Moreover, the corner patches  220  can be joined with both the sidewall  210  and the floor portion  215  to provide a small seam  250  that is substantially round, minimizing the possibility that the seam  250  will break or tear. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the flexible sheets at the end of the floor portion  215  can comprise recessed corners  255 . The recessed corners  255  can provide a surface with a substantially round contour to join with the rounded corner patches  220 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention can further comprise a lower lip section  235  proximate the bottom of the integrated sidewall  210 . In some embodiments, the lower lip section  235  is the bottom most portion of the sidewall  210 , and can be configured to be joined with the floor portion  215 . More specifically, in some embodiments, the lower lip section  235  can be configured to be joined with the perimeter, or an area proximate the perimeter, of the floor portion  215 . In some embodiments, the seam that joins the floor potion  215  and the lower lip section  235  can be a substantially horizontal seam, i.e., a seam that is parallel with the floor portion  215  and/or the ground. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can comprise a lower lip section  235  that is sized, shaped, and oriented to provide significant advantages. The lower lip section  235 , for example, can extend inward from the sidewall  210  and parallel to the ground at the area where the sidewall  210  joins with the floor portion  215 . In this manner, the lower lip section  235  can ensure that, in a filled pool, hydrostatic pressure is applied downward on the seams  250  joining the sidewall  210  and the floor portion  215 . As those of skill in the art will recognize, this is advantageous because the hydrostatic pressure can push the sidewall  210  and the floor portion  215  together against the ground. The ground can therefore support the seam  250 , preventing rupture. On the other hand, any seams  250  on a vertical portion of the sidewall  210  would not be supported, and hydrostatic pressure could fatigue the seam  250 . 
     The lower lip section  235  can be a variety of shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, as described above, the lower lip section  235  can be the bottom most portion of the sidewall  210 , and can have a contour that matches the contour of the perimeter of the floor portion  215 , thereby facilitating the act of joining the two components. The lower lip section  235  can also be disposed on all sides of the pool  200 . In some embodiments, however, the lower lip section  235  can be disposed on less than all sides of the pool, such as only one, two, or three sides. 
     In some embodiments, in order to provide shape and support for the shell  205 , the pool  200  can further comprise an upward force providing member. The upward force providing member can be a variety of components, such as, for example, a frame or flotation device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sidewall  210  can comprise one or more receiving portions  240  for receiving a frame  245  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). In some embodiments, the receiving portions  240  can be located proximate the top of the sidewall  210 , and can comprise one or more conduits for receiving a top structure of the frame  245 . The conduits can comprise apertures to allow supports of the frame  245  to engage the top structure. The supports can be, for example, vertical supports that hold the top structure of the frame  245  some distance above the ground. Thus, the supports can engage the top structure to hold the top structure, and the top of the sidewall  210 , above the ground, enabling the pool  200  to be filled with water. Accordingly, the frame  245  can be assembled and mated with the receiving portions  240 , providing upward support to the sidewalls  210  and shape to the pool  200 . Once the frame and the shell are assembled, the pool  200  can be filled with water and used. 
     In some embodiments, the upward force providing member can be a floatation device. Thus, a top portion of the sidewall  210  can comprise a floatation device that floats on the water in the pool  200 , causing the sidewall to rise as additional water is deposited in the pool  200 . The floatation device can be positioned within the interior of the pool, i.e., on the inside of the sidewall  210 , so that it is exposed to, and can float on, the water in the pool  200 . More specifically, the inside of the top portion of the sidewall  210  can comprise a float. In this manner, the pool  200  can be filled with water, and the float can float on the water in the pool  200  to elevate the sidewalls. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can comprise a container, such as a pool  200 , that can have a variety of shapes. The pool  200  can be, for example, substantially rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, decagonal, and the like. Additionally, the pool can be made in a variety of sizes, depending upon the amount of space available and the desired use. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can also comprise a pool  200  with fewer components than traditional pools. More specifically, the use of the integrated sidewall  210  can reduce the number of components required to manufacture the sidewall  210  and the floor portion  215 , thereby reducing the overall number of components required to manufacture the pool  200 . Since fewer components are used, manufacturing costs can be decreased compared to conventional designs. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an assembled pool  200  in accordance with the present disclosure. Pool  200  is shown with frame  245  supporting sidewall  210 . Frame  245  may be made of any suitable material and may have any structure such that sidewall  210  is supported to retain fluid. As shown in  FIG. 3 , frame  245  may pass through one or more receiving portions  240  of sidewall  210 . 
     A birds-eye view of a pool  200  in accordance with some embodiments is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Sidewall  210 , sheets  230 , and lower lip section  235  are shown. 
     As described herein, portions of a flexible material are “joined,” “joined together,” or “joined with” each other. Other terms may also be used to describe how different portions of flexible material are joined or attached together. As used herein, these terms include various processes for joining at least two portions of flexible material. In some embodiments, for example, joining portions of flexible material can comprise welding the portions of flexible material together. In some embodiments, joining portions of flexible material can comprise melting the portions together. Joining portions of flexible material can further comprise RF welding, sewing, laminating, gluing, adhering, fastening, attaching, and sticking portions together. Thus, the various processes used to join portions of flexible material can include any process known to those of skill in the art. 
     Moreover, embodiments of the present invention can comprise several different flexible materials. The flexible materials can comprise, for example, PolyLaminate™ PVC. In some embodiments, the PolyLaminate™ PVC can optionally have polyester inner mesh sidewalls. The flexible materials can also comprise POLYTRENGTH™ PVC, optionally triple-layer POLYTRENGTH™ PVC. In other embodiments, the flexible materials can be various polymers, plastics, composites and/or other materials such as polyurethane, PVC, nylon, and/or other materials known in the art. In some embodiments, for example, the floor portion  215  and sidewall  210  of the pool  200  can be formed from a textile (e.g., burlap, etc.) or synthetic material (e.g., plastics, polyurethane, PVC, nylon, etc). 
     As will be understood by those of skill in the art, many materials can be used to construct a pool  200 . The flexible materials, however, are preferably treated to retain water. For example, water-permeable materials could be adhered to, laminated with, coated with, or bonded to a material impermeable to water to create a usable flexible material. The floor portion  215  or sidewall  210 , for example, can be formed from a nylon sheet, which can be laminated or otherwise treated to hold water. For example, the nylon sheet might be bonded to another material, such as a polyurethane, PVC, vinyl, or other suitable impermeable lining to provide the desirable waterproof qualities, and to provide a more pleasing tactile quality to the interior of the pool  200 . Many of the flexible materials that are used can be selected for their durability. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , embodiments of the present invention can further comprise methods of making and using a container, such as a pool. For example, in some embodiments, a pool can be constructed by forming a sidewall  505 , forming a base or floor portion  510 , and joining the sidewall and floor portion together  515 . An upward force providing member can optionally be mated with the sidewall to provide shape and support for the pool  520 . These steps are elaborated on below. 
     In some embodiments, a sidewall can be formed from a single piece of flexible material. The sidewall can be formed to desired dimensions and can include a top, bottom, first end, and second end. The sidewall can also be formed to include open corner sections, as described above. The first end and second end of the sidewall can be joined together to form an integrated sidewall. The integrated sidewall can be joined to a floor portion, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 . 
     In some embodiments, as described above, the floor portion can comprise one or more sheets of flexible material. In some embodiments, the sheets are first joined together to form a floor portion, and the floor portion is later joined with the sidewall. In alternate embodiments, however, the sheets are first joined with the sidewall, and are subsequently joined together. 
     In some embodiments, the corner patches can be joined to the sidewall and/or floor portion at any time during the manufacturing process. They can be joined with the sidewall and floor portion, for example, after the floor portion and the sidewall are joined together. In some embodiments, however, the corner patches are first joined with the sidewall and are later joined with the floor portion. In other embodiments, the corner patches are joined with the floor portion first and later joined with the sidewall. 
     After the shell is formed, a complete pool can be assembled. The upward force providing member can be mated with the shell to provide an upward force to the sidewall, giving the pool shape and support. In some embodiments, the upward force providing member can be a frame, and the frame can be constructed to provide shape and support to the shell. In other embodiments, the upward force providing member can be inflatable, and can likewise provide shape and support to the shell. After manufacturing and assembly, the pool can be used for enjoyment and relaxation. 
     Those of skill in the art will recognize that the method steps described herein can be performed in various orders, and thus the order of steps described above and shown in  FIG. 5  is not limiting. For example, in some embodiments, a pool can be constructed by forming a base or floor portion  510  and later forming a sidewall  505 . 
     As described above, in some embodiments, a pool or shell of the present invention can comprise fewer seams, and shorter seams, than traditional pools and shells. This is due, at least in part, to the reduced complexity of the design. The reduced number of seams, and reduced length of the seams, means that fewer joining steps are required during manufacturing. This can advantageously reduce costs and decrease manufacturing time. 
     While certain systems and methods related to containers, and specifically pools, have been disclosed in some exemplary forms, many modifications, additions, and deletions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system, method, and their equivalents, as set forth in claims to be filed in a later, non-provisional application. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims. 
     Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other devices, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.