Patent Document

This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/291,998 filed on May 18, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed generally to a border or beading for use in attachment of an article to another article or surface. In particular, the present invention is directed to a border or beading for use in attachment of a swimming pool liner to an upper edge of a swimming pool wall. The present invention also provides a swimming pool liner with a dual purpose beading circumferentially connected thereto for attachment to a swimming pool wall. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the drawings incorporated herein by reference and in which 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a beading according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the beading of the first embodiment with a swimming pool wall liner attached thereto. 
     FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of an upper perimeter edge of an overlap-type swimming pool wall. 
     FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the beading of the first embodiment seated upon the overlap-type swimming pool wall. 
     FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of a pool rail. 
     FIG. 3E is a cross sectional view of the pool rail mounted on the beading. 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a beading according to the invention. 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment with an outer flange folded under. 
     FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an upper perimeter edge of a receptor-type swimming pool wall. 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the beading of the second embodiment mounted to the receptor-type swimming pool wall. 
     FIG. 6 is a dimensional view of the beading according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a swimming pool liner with the beading according to the invention attached thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrative embodiments of the present invention described below are directed to a border or beading for use in attachment of a swimming pool liner to a swimming pool wall. The beading comprises an elongated member with a first portion constructed and configured for attachment of a swimming pool liner thereto, and a second hook-shaped portion constructed and configured to couple the beading to an upper edge of a swimming pool wall. The beading enables the liner to be joined to the swimming pool wall to provide for installation of the liner. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the border or beading of the present invention may be used in other types of installations, wherein an article requires joining with another article or surface. 
     Embodiments are described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-6 which are presented for the purpose of illustrating embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective of a first embodiment of the invention illustrates a beading  10  comprising an elongated member  12  including a first portion  14  constructed and configured to receive a swimming pool liner, wherein the first portion  14  includes a substantially planar surface  14   a  to which the swimming pool liner is adhered or annealed thereto. The elongated member  12  further comprises a second hook-shaped portion  16  constructed and configured to define a seating groove  18  to couple the beading  10  to a swimming pool wall. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the seating groove  18  is constructed and configured as a substantially inverted U-shaped end  18   b  which defines an internal groove  18   a . An outer flange  20  extends from the seating groove  18  adjacent to the elongated member  12  and terminates into a terminal bead  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A-3E, cross-sectional views of the first embodiment illustrate the seating groove  18  and the outer flange  20  of the beading  10  that serve to seat the beading  10  to an upper perimeter edge  34  of a swimming pool wall  32  in order to mount the beading  10  to the swimming pool wall. As shown in FIG. 3A, a swimming pool liner  30  is attached to a surface  14   a  of the first portion  14  of the elongated member  12 . 
     The beading  10  is joined to the swimming pool wall  32  by positioning the seating groove  18  on the upper perimeter edge  34  of the pool wall  32 . The beading  10  conforms to the upper perimeter edge  34  of the swimming pool wall  32 , such as the overlap-type of swimming pool wall shown in FIG.  3 B. As shown in FIG. 3C, the internal groove  18   a  is constructed and configured such that it receives and closely couples with the upper perimeter edge  34  of the pool wall  32 . In one embodiment, the beading may further comprise a pool rail  36 , such as the pool rail shown in FIG. 3D, including a hollow, elongated member with an opening  36   a  to permit mounting of the pool rail  36  upon the seating groove  18  of the beading  10 . As shown in FIG. 3E, the pool rail  36  attaches to the seating groove  18  of the beading  10 , thereby securely mounting the beading  10  to the upper perimeter edge  34  and joining the wall liner  30  with the swimming pool wall  32 . 
     The beading  10  of the first embodiment is used with swimming pools that are referred to as an overlap-type swimming pool, as shown in FIG. 3B, which denotes the construction and configuration of the swimming pool wall and the nature of coupling of the beading  10  to the wall. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first embodiment of the beading  10  according to the invention “overlaps” the upper perimeter edge  34  of the swimming pool wall  32  to mount the beading  10  thereto. 
     The beading  10  is constructed of a durable, flexible material suitable for use with a swimming pool, such as, although not limited to, extruded plastics, polyvinylchloride, nylon, polyurethane, and neoprene. Those of ordinary skill in the art may select other materials to accommodate the particular configuration and dimensions of a swimming pool wall liner and swimming pool wall. The beading is manufactured generally by an extrusion process, wherein the beading is formed as a single unit. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the dimensions of the beading  10  according to the first and second embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The beading  10  is particularly suited for, although not limited to, use with above-ground swimming pools. In one embodiment, the beading  10  can have any size, dimensions, thickness and circumference to accommodate the use, size, dimensions, and circumference of a swimming pool liner and a swimming pool. Thus, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the dimensions of the beading  10  shown in FIG. 6 are illustrative of the embodiments described herein, and the beading  10  according to the invention is not limited to those dimensions disclosed in FIG. 6 but may include different dimensions as noted above. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the elongated member  12  of the beading  10  is generally from about 1 inch to about 3 inches in overall height  60 . The first portion  14  is generally from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches in height  64  and from about 0.03 inches to about 0.05 inches in thickness  62 . The second hook-shaped portion  16  is generally from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches in height  66  with a thickness  67  of from about 0.050 inches to about 0.150 inches. At the seating groove  18 , the beading  10  has a thickness  61  of from about 0.14 inches to about 0.38 inches. The internal groove  18   a  has a radius of from about 0.038 inches to about 0.042 inches, and the terminal bead  22  has a radius of from about 0.034 inches to about 0.042 inches. The outer flange  20  is generally from about 0.50 inches to about 0.75 inches in height  68 . The outer flange  22  has a thickness  70  of from about 0.050 inches to about 0.200 inches. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, cross-sectional views illustrate a second embodiment of a beading  10  according to the invention wherein the beading  10  further comprises the outer flange  20  with a notched groove  21 . The notched groove  21  permits the terminal bead  22  of the outer flange  20  to be folded under and into the internal groove  18   a  of the seating groove  18 . The terminal bead  22  is constructed and configured such that when it is folded under and received by the internal groove  18   a , the bead  22  couples closely with the dimensions of the internal groove  18   a . As shown in FIG. 4A, the terminal bead  22  is circular-shaped and similar in shape and configuration as the internal groove  18   a  in order to permit close coupling of the bead  22  with the internal groove  18   a  when the outer flange  20  is folded under and into the internal groove  18   a . The shape and configuration of the internal groove  18   a  and terminal bead  22  are not relevant to the invention and may include other shapes and configurations and limited only to the extent the internal groove  18   a  and the terminal bead  22  must be similar in shape and configuration to permit close coupling when the outer flange  22  is folded under and into the internal groove  18   a . As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment the notched groove  21  is angled in a range of, although not limited to, from about 55 degrees to about 77 degrees in relation to an outer surface of the outer flange  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, the beading  10  of the second embodiment couples with a swimming pool wall with a receptor-type coupling mechanism  40 , which is attached to the upper perimeter edge  34  of the swimming pool wall  32 . As shown in FIG. 5A, the receptor-type coupling mechanism  40  includes an insertion track  40   a  that is similar in shape and configuration as a folded portion of the beading  10  formed when the outer flange  22  is folded under and into the internal groove  18   a  of the seating groove  18 . As shown in FIG. 5B, the beading  10 , with the swimming pool liner  30  attached thereto, is inserted into and received by the insertion track  40   a  to mount the beading  10  to the upper perimeter edge  34  of the swimming pool wall  32 , thereby joining the liner  30  with the swimming pool wall  32 . 
     The beading  10  of the second embodiment is used with swimming pools that are referred to as receptor-type swimming pools, which denotes the construction and configuration of the swimming pool wall and the nature of coupling of the beading  51  to the upper perimeter edge  34  of the swimming pool wall  32 . As shown in FIG. 5B, the beading  10  of the second embodiment of the invention is inserted into a “receptor” type of swimming pool wall  32  to mount the beading  10  thereto. 
     A feature and advantage of the embodiments of the beading according to the invention is that the construction and configuration of the beading is such that the beading is used with both the overlap- and receptor-type of swimming pools, thereby requiring manufacture of only one type of beading. With a single construction and configuration, the beading of the invention maintains the same height of the swimming pool wall for both overlap and receptor types of swimming pools, thereby requiring the manufacture of only one type of swimming pool liner. Thus, the beading of the present invention provides manufacturing efficiency and installation flexibility with respect to swimming pool wall liners. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated including a swimming pool liner  70  comprising the beading  10  according to the invention, wherein the swimming pool liner  70  is attached to the planar surface  14   a  of the first portion  14  of the beading  10 . The swimming pool wall liner  70  is constructed of a strong and flexible material suitable for use with swimming pools such as, although not limited to, flexible polyvinyl chloride sheet. The liner  70  is permanently adhered, bonded or annealed to the planar surface  14   a  of the first portion  14  by any one of a number of methods or mechanisms well known in the art for adhering, bonding or annealing such materials, including, although not limited to, RF sealing, heat sealing, impulse welding, solvent bonding, and ultrasonically welding. The swimming pool liner  70  with the beading attached thereto according to the invention may be used with either the overlap- or receptor-type of swimming pool wall configurations to join the liner  70  to the wall  32  of the swimming pool. As noted above, a feature and benefit of the swimming pool liner and beading according to the invention is that such combination permits the swimming pool liner  70  to be manufactured in particular sizes with specific dimensions to accommodate the dimensions of swimming pools of various sizes. 
     Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention&#39;s limit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

Technology Category: 0