Abstract:
An adjustable footing assembly comprising a footing member including a base element and a vertical element. The vertical element is connected to the base portion and the vertical element defines a bore therein. An elongate coupling member has a lower portion positionally adjustably situated within the bore of the vertical portion of said footing member and an upper portion structured and arranged for connection to an end of a stair support member. Rotation of the elongate coupling member results in movement of the elongate coupling member vertically along a vertical axis of the bore.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a footing assembly for use with pool steps. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable footing assembly used for installation and stabilization of supporting members for pool steps for use with in-ground swimming pools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Installation of pre-fabricated steps or stairs in in-ground pools is a time-consuming and expensive practice. Pool stairs require reinforcement to eliminate bending and flexing. Pool steps are prone to deforming underneath the weight of a person stepping on the step. Providing support for pool steps is necessary for both the comfort and safety of potential swimmers. However, installation of support members can be problematic. During installation, stair supports may not provide suitable support or may shift due to uneven ground levels beneath the steps. 
         [0003]    A common method of installing pre-fabricated pool stairs, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,378, includes constructing and installing supplementary support consisting of piers formed from concrete or brick stacks which rest on concrete footings. The piers extend from the ground to the underside of one or more of the steps of the stairs to provide support for the steps. This system requires construction of a concrete footing that is level and resistant to misalignment. 
         [0004]    Another method of installing pre-fabricated stairs includes installing columns or poles which abut the underside of pool steps. The columns are attached to the ground by concrete blocks or footings. These concrete blocks and footings are prone to settling improperly and are further prone to misalignment. In order to ensure that the pole is secured correctly to the bottom of the step and that the pole provides adequate support for the step, additional stiffeners may have to be used. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,237 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,098 disclose a stair support system wherein support posts are attached to the underside of pre-fabricated stairs and footings are provided at the bottom of the support posts for connection to the ground. Prior to installation of the stairs, the supports posts are deployed along with the footings and the pre-fabricated stairs are lowered into the area where they will be installed. The support posts of this system come in a standard size so further leveling is needed to ensure that the steps provide adequate support. 
         [0006]    The above described methods each suffer from certain drawbacks when installing pre-fabricated pool steps using support posts which rest on an uneven or non-level ground surface. For example, construction of a concrete footing may not adequately compensate for an uneven surface and further alteration is typically needed to attain optimal leveling. Systems that require the posts to be manufactured to a specific height, for pre-attachment to the underside of steps prior to installation, also suffer from problems during installation. The fixed length of the posts requires that further work, such as shimming or augmentation of the footings, be conducted if the pre-fabricated pool stairs are installed over uneven or non-level ground surfaces. In such cases, the posts may shift or provide insufficient support for the pool steps without further augmentation. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods and apparatus for use in the installation of pool steps. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved footing assemblies for support posts for prefabricated pool steps. 
         [0009]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved footing assemblies for pool step supports which are adjustable to accommodate for unevenness of the ground surface on which the step support posts rest. 
         [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved adjustable height footing assemblies for support posts for swimming pool steps. 
         [0011]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods of installing support members for pool steps, wherein installation does not require excessive alteration of the length and size of the support members. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects are attained by providing an adjustable footing assembly comprising a footing member including a base element and a vertical element connected to said base element, the vertical element defining a bore therein, and an elongate coupling member having a lower portion positionally adjustably situated within the bore of said vertical element of said footing member and an upper portion structured and arranged for connection to an end of a stair support member. 
         [0013]    The height of the adjustable footing assembly of the invention may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the elongate coupling member within the bore of the footing member. Such adjustment may be accomplished by providing cooperating threads on the interior of the bore and exterior of the lower portion of the coupling member, and suitably rotating the coupling member within the bore of the footing member. Rotation of the elongate coupling member in a selected direction raises or lowers a support member attached to the upper portion of said elongate coupling member in order to compensate for uneven ground surfaces and/or to accomplish precise engagement of the underside of the step with the top of the support member. 
         [0014]    The upper portion of the elongate coupling member may further comprise a plurality of upwardly extending resilient fingers structured and arranged to be received in an open end of a step support member and to engage the inner surface of the support member. 
         [0015]    The adjustable footing assembly of the present invention enables pre-fabricated pool steps to be evenly supported without further modifications, such as shimming, to compensate for an uneven level of the ground on which the pool support members rest. 
         [0016]    According to the method of the invention, an end of a support member is attached to an upper portion of an elongate coupling member. A lower portion of the elongate coupling member is situated within a bore of a footing member. The height of the stair support member coupled to the adjustable footing assembly can be varied by adjusting the position of the elongate coupling member in the bore. To secure the adjustable footing assembly to the ground, the base of the footing member is staked to the ground and concrete poured around the adjustable footing assembly and allowed to harden, thereby securing the support member in place. 
         [0017]    These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of an adjustable footing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable footing assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the adjustable footing assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a base portion of the adjustable footing disengaged from an elongate support member; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the adjustable footing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an adjustable footing assembly, generally designated  20 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, is shown. Referring to the figures, an adjustable footing assembly  20  comprises a footing member  22  and an elongate coupling member  24 . Footing member  22  is constructed of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum although other materials may be employed. The footing member  22  comprises a base element  26  disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, having an upper surface  27  and a lower surface (not shown) connected to a vertical element  28 , having an upper end  29  and a lower end  31 , the vertical element defining a cylindrical bore  30  therein. Lower end  31  of vertical element  28  and upper surface  27  of base element  26  are spaced from each other. As will be seen, this spacing allows for further downward vertical displacement of a lower portion  34  of an elongate coupling member  24  to a position below lower end  31  of vertical element  28 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the perimeter of the base element  26  is spaced outwardly from the profile of the vertical element  28  to provide stabilization when the adjustable footing assembly  20  rests on an uneven ground surface. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the vertical element  28  is substantially cylindrical in shape and defines a cylindrical bore  30  therein. Base element  26  is connected to vertical element  28  by a plurality of obliquely extending webs  32 , which are spaced from each other around the circumference of vertical element  28 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , elongate coupling member  24 , preferably formed of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum, although other material may be employed, comprises a lower portion  34  adjustably positioned within the bore  30  of vertical portion  28  of footing member  22  and an upper portion  36  structured and arranged for connection to an end of a stair support member. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , upper portion  36  of coupling member  24  has an x-shaped cross section which is structured and arranged for insertion into an end of a stair support member. A “support member,” as used herein, can include a post, column, vertical channel, vertical member or other support. Support members may further include lengths of ABS or PVC plastic pipe. The support member may be precut prior to installation in accordance with customary lengths corresponding to the construction of pre-fabricated steps known in the field. Alternatively, the support member may be cut at an installation site and customized to a specific set of pool stairs. 
         [0026]    Lower portion  34  of coupling member  24  has external spiral threads  44  formed therein while the surface of bore  30  of the vertical element  28  has matching threads  45  formed thereon. The lower portion  34  of coupling member  24  is threadedly engaged within bore  30  so that rotation of the coupling member  24  within bore  30  will cause the coupling member  24  to either protrude further from the bore  30  (i.e., be raised) or extend further into the bore  30  (i.e., be lowered). 
         [0027]    The elongate coupling member  24  further comprises a shelf  38  at the junction of lower portion  34  and upper portion  36 . The shelf  38  has an upper surface  40  and a lower surface  42 . Shelf  38  has a x-shaped cross-section which extends beyond the cross-sections of upper portion  36  and lower portion  38  defining two pairs of handle portions  68 . During installation, the elongate coupling member  24  is rotated to adjust the height of the support member by grasping and rotating the handle portions  68 . 
         [0028]    During installation of pre-fabricated pool stairs, the support member may need to be either raised or lowered to optimize stability of the steps where the footing members for the same step are situated on an uneven ground surface. The adjustable footing assembly  20  allows for such an adjustment without requiring further measuring and cutting of the support member or necessitating the use of shims and stiffeners to compensate for the uneven ground surface. Rotation of elongate coupling member  24  in one direction lowers elongate coupling member  24  into footing member  22 , thus reducing the height of adjustable footing assembly  20  and lowering the height of the support member coupled to the adjustable footing assembly  20 . At the lowest height of adjustable footing assembly  20 , the lower surface  42  of shelf  38  abuts the top surface  29  of vertical element  28 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , base element  26  of footing member  22  may be round, octagonal, square-shaped, rhomboid-shaped, or any other shape. Preferably, base element  26  of footing member  22  is rhomboid-shaped with two opposing pairs of substantially parallel sides  46 ,  50  and  48 ,  52 . The rhomboid shape provides additional stability on uneven surfaces. Apertures  62  and  64  are formed through the base element  26  near corners  54  and  58  of base element  26 . Apertures  62  and  64  are structured and arranged to receive reinforcing bars (“rebars”), for staking adjustable footing assembly  20  into position before concrete is poured. Rebars are further used to insure that adjustable footing assembly  20  does not move even if the concrete that surrounds adjustable footing assembly  20  cracks. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , upper portion  36  of elongate coupling member  24  comprises a pair of upwardly extending fingers  66  spaced from each other. A planar member  67  is situated between the fingers  66 . The fingers  66  are structured and arranged to be inserted into an open end of a stair support member. Fingers  66  are flexible and resilient and can be urged towards each other prior to insertion into an open end of a stair support member to accommodate a support member of a particular diameter. When unengaged, the width of upper portion  36  and distance between fingers  66  is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the inside diameter of the support member. Upon insertion, fingers  66  are flexed inwardly and consequently spring biased against the inner surface of the stair support member. 
         [0031]    In a typical installation of the adjustable footing assembly  20  of the present invention, a pre-fabricated stair unit is brought to a work site and is measured and positioned. Adjustable footing assembly  20  is positioned beneath the bottom surface of a stair and is placed on the ground. A support member is connected to adjustable footing assembly and secured into place. The adjustable footing assembly is adjusted to situate the top end of support member in the preferred position, which is typically a position wherein the end of the support member securely abuts the bottom surface of the step. The support member can be secured to the bottom of the step using a stiffener or a second adjustable foot assembly. Additional locking mechanisms can be used to secure the support member to the bottom surface of a step or an attachment coupled to the bottom surface of a step. Adjustable footing assembly  20  may be secured to the underside of a pool step and may be attached to either or both ends of a supporting member. Subsequent to attachment of the support member to the bottom surface of the step, adjustable foot assembly  20  is staked to the ground using reinforcing bars to secure and hold the footing assembly in place. Concrete is then poured over adjustable foot assembly  20  to secure it into position. The spaces between the webs  32  allow the concrete material to enter within the footing member  22  to provide enhanced stabilization of the footing assembly  20 . A plurality of adjustable footing assemblies and corresponding support members may be installed along the underside of a pre-fabricated stair module. 
         [0032]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. 
         [0033]    The invention has been described with reference to an embodiment that illustrates the principles of the invention and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the scope of the invention be construed as including all modifications and alterations that may occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description insofar as they come within the scope of the following claims or equivalents thereof. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.