Patent Abstract:
A reinforcing accessory has a footer that fits beneath the sidewalk of a swimming pool cage, above ground pool, storage shed, and mobile homes for reinforcement. As many reinforcing poles as desired can be used to ensure that the cage is fully supported against high winds.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the general art of basins or swimming pools, and to the particular field of accessories for basins or swimming pools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns improvements in or relating to transportable swimming pools or basins for the storage of liquids, and which include walls which can be assembled to form a basin or pool, such walls being covered on the side facing the water with a synthetic resin sheet liner. Hereafter reference will be made to swimming pools, without thereby limiting the use of such basins or pools necessarily to swimming. These pools generally include a sidewall which is self-supporting, which can readily be assembled and which has supporting and sealing materials so arranged that a synthetic resin material, such as glass fiber reinforced polyester resin, can advantageously be used for the liner. 
         [0003]    Demountable or so-called portable basins and other structures, and especially swimming pool structures, have been the subject of considerable interest in recent years. Many of the so-called prefabricated and transportable basins or pools are designed for easy and ready on-the-site assembly and construction by minimally skilled workmen. Customarily, such constructions involve interconnection of a plurality of a similar modular, prefabricated wall units and additional supporting members which assemble either by interlock or by interlock and/or bolting. Ordinarily, for simplicity, they are constructed of a minimum of modular building or structural elements and the ultimate size and shape is variable depending upon how many of the modular units are assembled to make the particular structure. In the case of a swimming pool the length and the height of the swimming pool wall is ordinarily arbitrarily determined by the ultimate size desired with as many units being capable of assembly together to form any particular size of basin or pool as may be desired. Normally the height of the pool and the depth of water which is contained in the pool is a factor to be considered since the depth of pool determines essentially the head of water maintained within the vessel or chamber formed and this, in turn, imposes certain minimal strength requirements on the structure. 
         [0004]    While these structures have had considerable success, they have certain drawbacks that should be addressed if continued commercial success is to be achieved. For example, in certain environmental conditions, such as a high wind situation as might occur during a storm, these structures may be subject to damage by the high winds. While the basic structure could be initially formed to account for such high winds, such an approach may be expensive. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a means to protect structures such as swimming pools against high winds and which can be easy and efficient to install. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a reinforcing accessory that has a footer that fits beneath the sidewalk of a swimming pool and a body that is attached to the cage of the pool so that cage is reinforced. As many reinforcing poles as desired can be used to ensure that the cage is fully supported against high winds. 
         [0007]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0008]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a view of a reinforcing accessory embodying the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is shows an enclosure frame or cage substantially enclosing a swimming pool. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarge view of an anchor accessory anchoring an enclosure frame to a basin of a swimming pool, such as a sidewalk of a swimming pool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a swimming pool reinforcing accessory  10  that will reinforce the side of a swimming pool or basin against the effects of high winds. Accessory  10  comprises a footer  12  which is located beneath a sidewalk SW of a swimming pool S in use to be held in place by the sidewalk. Footer  12  includes a first end  14  which is an inside end when the footer is in use and a second end  16  which is an outside end when the footer is in use. The terms “inside” and “outside” are taken with reference to the sidewalk of the swimming pool. A hinge element  20  is mounted on outside end  16  of the footer. 
         [0013]    A support pole  30  is attached to the footer and includes a body  32 , a first end  34  of the body which is a top end when the support pole is in use, a second end  36  of the body which is a bottom end when the support pole is in use and a longitudinal axis  38  which extends between the first end of the body and the second end of the body. Second end  36  is connected to hinge element  20  so the body can be adjusted with respect to the footer. The support pole  30  may be substantially longer than the footer  12 . 
         [0014]    A plurality of fastener-accommodating holes, such as hole  50 , are defined through the body at locations that are spaced apart from each other along longitudinal axis  38  of the body. Each fastener, such as fastener  60 , of a plurality of fasteners, extends through a fastener-accommodating hole to attach the body  32  of the support pole and to an enclosure frame or cage  70  that may enclose the swimming pool. In certain areas where bugs, such as mosquitoes, are common, enclosure frames  70  are used to enclose the pool in order to keep bugs away from the swimming pool area so that swimmers can enjoy the pool area without being bothered by the bugs. 
         [0015]    Each fastener may include a threaded body  62  that may be embedded into the side of the frame  70 . A combination of a head  64 , a washer  66 , and a bolt element  68  may be used to ensure that the fastener securely anchors the body  32  to the side of the frame  70 . The footer  12  may be securely anchored to the SW by inserting a screw  72  through the SW and into the footer  12 . The accessory  10  substantially anchors the frame  70  to the SW of the pool to substantially resist high winds from causing damage on the frame and the pool. 
         [0016]    In use, the accessory  10  may be installed during the installation of the pool or after the pool has been installed. To install the accessory  10  after the pool has been installed, the footer  12  may be inserted underneath the SW of the pool and a first screw  72  may be inserted through the SW and into the footer  12  or from the outside using a second screw  74  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In situations when the frame  70  is not used, the fastener  60  may be removed from the frame  70  and the body  32 , and the body  32  may be rotated downward about the hinge element  20  and laid flat substantially flat with the ground G. 
         [0017]    While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4