Swimming pool joint cover system
A joint cover system, for covering a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body, has a cover strip and a receiver strip. The cover strip had a first attachment portion and is adapted for spanning the joint. The receiver strip has a second attachment portion and an anchor portion. The second attachment portion is adapted to lockingly engage the first attachment portion of the cover strip, thereby mechanically coupling the cover strip to the receiver strip. The anchor portion extends from the receiver strip and is adapted for anchoring in the first body.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to structural systems having joints between components, and more particularly to a joint cover system for covering a joint between a swimming pool and coping.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical swimming pool construction process, a swimming pool liner is formed from gunite or shotcrete. The gunite or shotcrete is relatively porous, and a watertight layer of plaster (also called whitecoat or marcite) is formed over an interior surface of the swimming pool liner.
The upper portions of the side walls of a swimming pool liner are collectively referred to as the “bond beam,” and capstone used to cover the bond beam is called “coping.” The coping extends between an upper surface of the bond beam and an upper surface of a deck surrounding the swimming pool. Concrete coping with a bull nose front edge has been popular for many years. Some swimming pools have cantilever decks that extend over the bond beam. Such swimming pools with cantilever decks typically do not have coping.
The plaster layers used to finish interior surfaces of swimming pools are relatively difficult to clean and prone to staining. In addition, oil and dirt floating on the water in a swimming pool tends to accumulate on the plaster finish layer at the water level. For this reason, a row of tile is typically applied to an interior surface of the swimming pool liner at the water level. The tile provides an easily cleanable surface to catch oil and dirt, and may also provide an attractive accent to the upper edge of the swimming pool liner.
In recent years pebble finish layers have become popular alternatives to plaster finish layers in swimming pool construction. The exposed pebbles of the pebble finish layers are more durable and stain resistant than plaster finish layers, rendering the row of tile at the water level optional rather than required. Non-porous pebbles are typically selected for color, screened, and tumble-smoothed. The pebbles are mixed with a cement, and the mix is applied to the interior surface of the swimming pool liner. An outer layer of the pebbles is then exposed. After the pebble finish layer has thoroughly hardened, normally within 24 hours, it is cleaned to enhance the brightness and luster of the pebbles. One popular pebble finish layer is the Pebble Tec® finish layer (Pebble Technology, Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz.).
A problem arises when a swimming pool is constructed on expansive soil, and the coping or deck layer formed over the bond beam of the swimming pool is in contact with the soil. In this situation, the coping or deck layer may be lifted up and away from the bond beam during wet weather due to soil expansion. The gap between the finish layer (e.g., a pebble finish layer) and the coping or deck layer is typically filled with a flexible joint sealant. The lifting of the coping or deck layer enlarges the gap between the finish layer and the coping or deck layer, exposing the unsightly sealant layer.
Further, movement of the coping or deck layer between wet and dry weather conditions often causes the sealant to pull away from one or both surfaces. In this situation, the sealant layer must be repaired or replaced. Over the lifetime of a swimming pool the cost of repairing and/or replacing the sealant layer can become significant. It would thus be beneficial to have a cover for hiding a joint between solid bodies that tend to move relative to one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a joint cover system for covering a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body. The joint cover system includes a cover strip and a receiver strip. The cover strip had a first attachment portion and is adapted for spanning the joint. The receiver strip has a second attachment portion and an anchor portion. The second attachment portion is adapted to lockingly engage the first attachment portion of the cover strip, thereby mechanically coupling the cover strip to the receiver strip. The anchor portion extends from the receiver strip and is adapted for anchoring in the first body.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a joint cover system having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a joint cover system that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.
A further objective is to provide a joint cover system that covers the joint so as to hide any shifting between the first and second bodies.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
In the embodiment of
While a portion of the cover strip 30 is preferably in continuous contact with the second body 28, the cover strip 30 need not be in continuous contact with the second body 28, and may only be in proximity to the second body 28 in other embodiments.
As shown in
The cover strip 30 is preferably formed from a flexible material impervious to water. Suitable flexible plastic materials include polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Other flexible materials impervious to water may also be suitable.
The body 60 has a first dimension “D1,” a second dimension “D2,” and a thickness “T1.” In one embodiment D1 is about 0.440 in., D2 is approximately 0.180 in., and T1 is about 0.060 in. The tapered covering member 62 has a dimension “D3.” In one embodiment D3 is about 0.750 in. The attachment rib 64 has a first dimension “D4,” a second dimension “D5,” and a thickness “T2.” In one embodiment D4 is about 0.3875 in., D5 is approximately 0.1275 in., and T2 is about 0.060 in. The barb 66 of the attachment rib 64 has a dimension “D6.” In one embodiment D6 is about 0.050 in.
As shown in
The receiver strip 32 is preferably formed from a flexible material impervious to water. Suitable flexible plastic materials include polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Other flexible materials impervious to water may also be suitable.
As indicated in
In one embodiment, the body 74 of the protective strip 72 has a first dimension “D1” and a thickness “T1.” In one embodiment D1 is about 0.375 in. and T1 is about 0.040 in. The attachment rib 76 has a first dimension “D2,” a second dimension “D3,” and a thickness “T2.” In one embodiment D2 is about 0.200 in., D3 is approximately 0.085 in., and T2 is about 0.070 in. The stub 78 of the attachment rib 76 has a dimension “D4.” In one embodiment D4 is about 0.050 in.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
Claims
1. A joint cover system, comprising:
- a cover strip adapted for spanning a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body and comprising an attachment rib; and
- a receiver strip, comprising: a substantially hollow body having a slit for receiving the attachment rib of the cover strip; and an anchor rib attached to the body and adapted for anchoring in the first body; and
- wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.
2. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment rib of the cover strip includes a barb protruding outwardly from the attachment rib.
3. The joint cover system as recited in claim 2, wherein the substantially hollow body of the receiver strip has a groove in an interior surface adapted to receive the barb of the attachment rib of the cover strip.
4. The joint cover system as recited in claim 3, wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip and the barb of the attachment rib enters the groove in the interior surface of the body of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.
5. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver strip and the cover strip are formed from a flexible material impervious to water.
6. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver strip and the cover strip are formed from polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
7. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver strip is formed from a flexible material impervious to water.
8. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver strip is formed from polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
9. The joint cover system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a protective strip having an attachment rib, wherein when the attachment rib of the protective strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip the protective strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip and substantially covers the slit, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the slit.
10. A system, comprising:
- a first body and a second body meeting at a joint;
- a joint cover system positioned at the joint and comprising a cover strip mechanically coupled to a receiver strip, wherein the receiver strip is anchored in the first body, and wherein the cover strip spans a gap between the first body and the second body at the joint; and
- wherein the joint cover system covers the joint despite dimensional changes in the gap between the first body and the second body at the joint.
11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first body is a coping or deck layer formed over an upper surface of a bond beam of a swimming pool liner.
12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the second body is a pebble finish layer formed on an interior surface of the swimming pool liner.
13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the dimensional changes in the gap between the first body and the second body at the joint are caused by expansion of soil in contact with the first body or the second body during wet weather.
14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein a portion of the cover strip is in continuous contact with the second body.
15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiver strip comprises a substantially hollow body having a slit for receiving an attachment rib of the cover strip.
16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the receiver strip further comprises an anchor rib attached to the body, and wherein the anchor rib is anchored in the first body.
17. A joint cover system for covering a gap at a joint between a first body and a second body, the joint cover system comprising:
- a cover strip having a first attachment portion, the cover strip being adapted for spanning the joint;
- a receiver strip having a second attachment portion adapted to lockingly engage the first attachment portion of the cover strip; and
- an anchor portion extending from the receiver strip and adapted for anchoring in the first body,
- wherein when the first attachment portion lockingly engages the second attachment portion, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.
18. The joint cover system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first attachment portion is an attachment rib; wherein the second attachment portion is a substantially hollow body that defines a slit shaped to receive the attachment rib of the cover strip; and wherein the anchor portion is an anchor rib.
19. The joint cover system as recited in claim 18, wherein the substantially hollow body of the receiver strip has a groove in an interior surface adapted to receive the barb of the attachment rib of the cover strip.
20. The joint cover system as recited in claim 19, wherein when the attachment rib of the cover strip is inserted into the slit of the receiver strip and the barb of the attachment rib enters the groove in the interior surface of the body of the receiver strip, the cover strip is mechanically coupled to the receiver strip.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2003
Publication Date: Jan 20, 2005
Inventor: William Stegmeier (Arlington, TX)
Application Number: 10/619,367