Pool systems and methods for making and using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10316533-B2
Application number	US-201715495756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2017
Priority date	Dec 12, 2012
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved pool. Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a method of making an improved pool. The pool can comprise an unitary sidewall joined to a floor portion. The unitary sidewall can be constructed from one piece of material, and can have fewer seams than traditional pools, thereby reducing the likelihood that that pool will rupture and leak. In some embodiments, since the pool has fewer seams than traditional pools, fewer manufacturing steps are required to make the pool. This can increase manufacturing speed and decrease cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An above ground pool comprising:
a shell comprising:
a substantially vertical unitary sidewall having: (i) an upper portion, (ii) a lower portion having a lower lip section extending horizontally inward, and (iii) opposing ends joined together by exactly one seam; and
a substantially horizontal floor portion, at least a portion of the floor portion overlapping the lower lip section and attached to the lower lip section with at least one substantially horizontal floor seam such that, when the above ground pool is filled with fluid, hydrostatic pressure is applied downward on the floor seam to push the at least a portion of the floor portion overlapping the lower lip section together against the ground; and

a support for keeping the upper portion elevated off the ground.

2. The above ground pool of claim 1 , the unitary sidewall comprising open corner sections proximate the floor portion, the open corner sections being defined by portions of the unitary sidewall having substantially round contours.

3. The above ground pool of claim 2 , the unitary sidewall comprising continuous corners proximate the upper portion.

4. The above ground pool of claim 2 , further comprising corner patches sealing the open corner sections.

5. The above ground pool of claim 1 , the floor portion comprising a plurality of floor sheets joined together with seams extending parallel to the ground such that, when the above ground pool is filled with fluid, hydrostatic pressure is applied downward on the seams against the ground.

6. The above ground pool of claim 1 , the floor portion comprising a single sheet.

7. An above ground pool comprising:
a unitary sidewall formed from a single sheet and having one or more corners, the unitary sidewall having an upper portion and a lower portion; and
a floor portion, the floor portion overlapping a horizontally extending lower lip of the lower portion, the floor portion joined together with the lower portion of the unitary sidewall to form a fluid container area of the above ground pool.

8. The above ground pool of claim 7 , the unitary sidewall having no seams that join together portions of the unitary sidewall.

9. The above ground pool of claim 7 , the unitary sidewall having opposing ends joined together by exactly one seam.

10. The above ground pool of claim 7 , wherein the unitary sidewall and the floor portion are formed from separate pieces of material.

11. The above ground pool of claim 7 , the one or more corners of the unitary sidewall comprising a first section proximate the floor portion and a second section above the first section, the first section comprising open corner sections and the second section comprising continuous corner sections.

12. The above ground pool of claim 11 , further comprising rounded corner patches that seal the open corner sections.

13. The above ground pool of claim 7 , wherein a frame supports the unitary sidewall.

14. A method of manufacturing an above ground pool, the method comprising:
forming, from a single sheet of material, a unitary sidewall, the unitary sidewall having four corners, an upper portion, and a lower portion;
joining together opposing ends of the unitary sidewall; and
attaching the unitary sidewall to a floor portion, the floor portion overlapping a horizontally extending lip of the lower portion.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising cutting open corner sections into at least one of the four corners.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching one or more patches to patch the open corner sections.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises providing a support for keeping the upper portion of the unitary sidewall elevated above the floor portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the support comprises a frame, and wherein the method further comprises connecting the upper portion of the unitary sidewall to the frame.

19. An above ground pool comprising:
a shell comprising:
a substantially vertical unitary sidewall having (i) an upper portion, (ii) a lower portion, the lower portion having a lower lip section extending horizontally inward, and (iii) open corner sections each being defined by portions of the unitary sidewall, each portion having a substantially round contour; and
a substantially horizontal floor portion, at least a portion of the floor portion overlapping the lower lip section and attached to the lower lip section with at least one substantially horizontal floor seam such that, when the above ground pool is filled with fluid, hydrostatic pressure is applied downward on the floor seam to push the at least a portion of the floor portion overlapping the lower lip section together against the ground, the open corner sections being proximate the floor portion; and

a support for keeping the upper portion elevated off the ground.

Assignees

• Polygroup Macau Ltd Bvi

Inventors

• Lan Chao Long

Classifications

• E04H4/0056 Primary

  with a framework combined with a water retaining bag · CPC title

• E04H4/0031 Primary

  with shell type elements · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• E04H4/005

  characterised by the framework for supporting the panels · CPC title

• E04H4/0043 Primary

  mainly made of panels (E04H4/0031 takes precedence) · CPC title