Re-Enforcing Support

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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

FIG. 1 is a view of a reinforcing accessory embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is shows an enclosure frame or cage substantially enclosing a swimming pool.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Claims

1. An accessory to anchor an enclosure frame to a sidewalk of a swimming pool, the accessory comprising:

A) a footer which is located beneath the sidewalk of a swimming pool in use to be held in place by the sidewalk, the footer including a first end which is an inside end when the footer is in use and a second end which is an outside end when the footer is in use;

B) a hinge element mounted on the outside end of the footer;

C) a support pole, the support pole being substantially longer than the footer, the support pole includes (1) a body, (2) a first end of the body which is a top end when the support pole is in use, (3) a second end of the body which is a bottom end when the support pole is in use, the second end being connected to the hinge element, (4) a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end of the body and the second end of the body, and (5) a plurality of fastener-accommodating holes defined through the body at locations that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the body;

D) the support pole being located adjacent to and in contact with the enclosure frame when the support pole is in use; and

E) a plurality of fasteners each of which extends through a fastener-accommodating hole to attach the body of the support pole to the side of the enclosure frame.

2. A method of anchoring an enclosure frame to a sidewalk of a swimming pool, the method comprising:

A) providing an anchor accessory having a hinge element between a footer and a support pole, the support hole having a plurality of holes adapted to receive fasteners, and the support pole being substantially longer than the footer;

B) inserting the footer underneath the sidewalk;

C) fastening the footer to the sidewalk; and

D) fastening the support pole to the side of the enclosure frame such that the support pole is approximately perpendicular to the footer.