POOL STRUCTURE WITH BUILT-IN EXTERNALLY SUPPORTED STEP-SLIDE
United States Patent 3668715
A molded tub-like structure, with a peripheral flange, having an integrally molded sliding surface projecting well above the peripheral flange thereof and having integrally molded steps is disclosed herein. The tub, sliding surface, and steps are unitarily formed of comparatively lightweight thermoplastic sheet material. An elevated platform is disposed between the sliding surface and steps, and it is reinforced and structurally supported by a tripod structure having plural tubular support members.
US Patent References:
Construction of swimming-pool water slides
Rohmer - November 1927 - 1648196
Body muscular development device
Hjelte - October 1965 - 3210077
POOL WITH INTEGRAL SLIDE
Diemond et al. - March 1970 - 3497877
Construction of swimming-pool water slides
Rohmer - November 1927 - 1648196
Body muscular development device
Hjelte - October 1965 - 3210077
POOL WITH INTEGRAL SLIDE
Diemond et al. - March 1970 - 3497877
Application Number:
05/113023
Publication Date:
06/13/1972
Filing Date:
02/05/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
General Foam Plastics Corp. (Norfolk, VA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
472/117
International Classes:
E04H4/00; E04H3/16; E04H3/18
Field of Search:
4/172,172.19,172.21 D13/1 272/56.5
Primary Examiner:
Artis, Henry K.
Claims:
I claim
1. A non-collapsible, compound slide structure for a plastic water-retaining pool having a flat bottom wall of predetermined configuration and circumscribing peripheral side walls of predetermined height extending upwardly therefrom, said slide structure including
2. The structure of claim 1, in which
3. The structure of claim 1, in which
4. The structure of claim 1, in which
5. The structure of claim 1, in which
6. A one-piece pool structure including
7. The structure of claim 6, in which
8. The structure of claim 7, in which
9. The structure of claim 6, in which
10. The structure of claim 9, in which
11. The structure of claim 10, in which
1. A non-collapsible, compound slide structure for a plastic water-retaining pool having a flat bottom wall of predetermined configuration and circumscribing peripheral side walls of predetermined height extending upwardly therefrom, said slide structure including
2. The structure of claim 1, in which
3. The structure of claim 1, in which
4. The structure of claim 1, in which
5. The structure of claim 1, in which
6. A one-piece pool structure including
7. The structure of claim 6, in which
8. The structure of claim 7, in which
9. The structure of claim 6, in which
10. The structure of claim 9, in which
11. The structure of claim 10, in which
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The invention disclosed herein is related in some aspects to copending application Ser. No. 82,474, filed Oct. 20 1970, the disclosure of which is deemed incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tub-like, pool-like and other water-retaining structures have been long known to the art for myriad purposes, paramount among which are recreational and hygienic applications. The materials employed in the construction of tubs, baths, pools and the like have varied from culture to culture and from civilization to civilization, ranging from stones and mortar to the most modern and recently developed synthetic materials, such as polyethylene.
Vacuum molded or otherwise thermo-formed plastic bathing tubs, wading pools, sandboxes and the like have been known and used by the art for many years. Moreover, various integral structural modifications of these tubs, pools, sandboxes and the like have long been available. For example, auxiliary functional surfaces have been integrally molded into water-retaining structures below the peripheral edges thereof for a variety of purposes, such as for forming anatomical supporting surfaces in the nature of seats, sliding surfaces and the like. That is to say, all of the adjunct structure employed heretofore in water-retaining structures has been disposed beneath the upper peripheral edges of the structure. While these structures have generally proved to be satisfactory for the formation of seats, low ramps, unelevated slides, and the like in tubs, pools, sandboxes, etc., the art heretofore has been unable to develop a bath, pool or sandbox structure having an elevated recreational slide integrally formed therewith, i.e., a slide projecting well above the peripheral flanges.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides, for the first time, a children's tub, pool, or sandbox structure, having an integrally formed slide which projects well above the major peripheral edges of the tub-like structure, and integrally molded steps leading from the bottom of the structure to the top of the slide. The new tub and step-slide structure is vacuum molded or otherwise thermo-formed from a single sheet of heavy gauge plastic material, such as polyethylene or a like polymeric plastic material.
The step-slide portion of the new structure is hollow and is uniquely reinforced and supported to withstand those crushing forces which may be presented by the pressure of retained water or sand when the tub or pool portion is filled and to withstand and to support safely the weight of a sliding child or sliding children. More specifically, the step-slide, itself, is derived from peripheral side wall portions of the tube structure, while the reinforcing support structure is in the general nature of a stabilized tripod formed by three specially configured tubular elements.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for a better appreciation of its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circular, tub-like swimming pool having integrally molded steps leading to an integrally molded hollow, elevated slide reinforced by a unique tripod structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pool with the new hollow step-slide structure;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and showing the supporting of the platform portion of the new pool by the tripod structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing additional details of construction of the step-slide of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing details of the tripod support, as viewed from beneath the step-slide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, the new structure of the present invention comprises a generally conventional tube-like structure 11, having an upper peripheral circumscribing flange 12; a step-slide structure 10 integrally formed at one side of tub-like structure 11; and a stabilized tripod structure 9. The tub-like structure 11, aside from the step-slide 10, is essentially conventional in all respects and includes substantially vertical, circumscribing side walls 13 and a horizontal bottom wall 14 formed by vacuum molding sheet polyethylene or a similar synthetic plastic material.
In accordance with the principles of the invention, the hollow, elevated step-slide 10 is formed integrally at one side of the tub-like structure 11 as follows. Material from side wall portions and adjacent bottom portions of the tub-like structure 11, which, absent the step-slide 10, would otherwise be used to form side walls and bottom wall portions is "borrowed" and "inverted " to define the step-slide structure 10. Specifically, the step-slide structure 10 includes an elevated, horizontal platform 16, a curved slide 17, descending from the platform 16 to the bottom wall 14, and a series of steps 18 ascending in a curve from the wall 14 to the platform 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the new step-slide 10 is supported at its outside edges by the external, peripheral wall portions 19 to which it is integrally joined. The inner edges of the slide 27, platform 16, and steps 18 are supported by an inner pool wall 20 which extends between said inner edges of the step-slide and the bottom wall 14 of the pool, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The curvature of the inner pool wall 20 is similar to that of the outer pool wall 13. Thus it will be understood that the outer edge portions of the step-slide, which are beneath the flange 22, are in effect "top supported" or suspended by the pool wall portions 19, whereas the inner edge portions of the step-slide 10 are "bottom supported" by the inner side wall which extends between the bottom of the pool and the inner side edges of the step-slide. In accordance with the invention, the elevated portions of the step-slide are "bottom" supported at their outer edges by a vertical, auxiliary shell 21 comprised of a vertical extension 22 of the side walls 13 and a vertical extension 23 of the flange 12 (FIG. 4). As shown, a generally vertical step wall 30 extends between the outer side walls 13 and inner pool wall 20 and joins the bottom wall 14 and lower step 18. A similar step wall 31 joins the rearmost portion of the lower step 18 with the forwardmost portion of the upper step 18, while a similar step wall 32 joins the upper step to the rear edge of the platform 16.
As shown, the side walls may be provided with a decorative waffle-like or grid pattern 25 of integrally embossed ribs 26, which contribute to the strength of the side walls 13 as well as to the attractiveness of the appearance of the pool. The inner side wall 20 of the step-slide 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is provided with closely spaced, parallel, vertical ribs 27 to lend further support to the elevated step-slide structure. Advantageously, the horizontal surfaces of the two steps 18 leading up to the elevated platform are provided with integrally formed non-slip tread elements 29, as shown best in FIG. 3.
As a most important aspect of the invention, external support and rigidity for the new pool having an integrally molded step-slide structure is provided by the unique stabilized tripod arrangement 9 comprised of three tubular rail elements 40-42. The element 40 comprised two vertical legs 44, 45 of lengths substantially greater than the height of the platform 16 interconnected by a crossbar 46. Element 41 is in the form of an inverted J, and comprises a major leg 47, a minor leg 46, and an interconnecting crossbar 48. The element 42 comprises a vertical strut 52 and a horizontal stabilizing member 49 having an upturned foot portion 50 which has a reduced diameter projection 51 which telescopes into the lower end of leg 45 as shown in FIG. 5, The strut 52 is bent at its upper end to define a support 53 for the flange 12.
More specifically, the new stabilized tripod support 9 of the invention is assembled and joined with the tub structure 11 in the following manner to reinforce, strengthen, and otherwise rigidify the new step-slide 10. The rail 41 is first attached to the underside of the step-slide 10 by a bolt 60 which extends through a hole 62 in the side wall 20, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 5. A nut 61 is threaded to the bolt 60 to secure the rail 41 to the pool and effectively clamp it between the inside surface of the wall 20 and the nut 61. As will be appreciated, the hole 62 in the wall 20, through which the bolt 61 passes, is advantageously located above the high-water mark of the pool, e.g., above the uppermost step 18. Thereafter, the rail element 40 is attached to the outer surfaces of the shell 21 by clampingly securing the leg 44 thereto by bolts 63 which pass through the tubular leg 44 and through holes in the shell 21. The threaded ends of the bolts 63 are joined with mating nuts 68 which, when tightened down, tend to clamp the shell between the tubular leg 44 and the inner surfaces of the nuts, as will be understood. The other leg 45 of the element 40 is also secured to the shell 21. A pair of elongated bolts 64 fasten leg 45 to the shell and extend through registered holes in the minor leg 46 of the inverted J-shaped rail element 41. Nuts 65 securely join the minor portion 47 of the rail element 41 to the leg 45 of the element 40, as will be understood, in a manner which clamps the shell surface 21 therebetween, as shown best in FIG. 5.
The reinforcing and supporting tripod structure 9 of the invention is completed by inserting the reduced diameter portion 51 of the foot portion 50 of the rail element 42 into the lower end of the leg 45 to form therewith a contiguous foot, as will be understood, and thereafter by securing the support 53 to the flange 12 by a bolt 66 which extends through the flange from the outside and through the portion 53 which is disposed beneath the flange 12, as shown in FIG. 5. A nut 67 is tightened down on the bolt 66 and thereby effectively clamps the support portion 53 between the head of the bolt 66 and the inner surfaces of the flange 12, as will be understood and as is shown best in FIG. 5. Advantageously, if oversized bolt heads are not readily available, enlarged washers may be interposed between the bolt heads and nuts in a conventional fashion to enhance their clamping-type fastening effect.
It will be appreciated that many other equivalent types of reinforcing support arrangements may be employed in lieu of the specifically described arrangement. Regardless of the specific configuration of the chosen support, it should provide support and reinforcement for the elevated step-slide structure in the manner shown and, advantageously but not necessarily, it should provide a hand rail adjacent to the uppermost portions of the sliding surface.
It should further be appreciated that the structure of the present invention provides for the first time a play pool or sandbox having a completely internally contained, integral slide unit. That is to say, a child may repeatedly ascend the slide and descend into the water or sand without having to exit from and then reenter the structure.
While the step-slide pool of the invention has been illustrated in the form of a circular pool, it will be appreciated that the external, geometrical shape is a matter of choice, and the new pool may be oval, kidney-shaped, rectangular or the like while embodying the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in order to ascertain the scope of the present invention.
The invention disclosed herein is related in some aspects to copending application Ser. No. 82,474, filed Oct. 20 1970, the disclosure of which is deemed incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tub-like, pool-like and other water-retaining structures have been long known to the art for myriad purposes, paramount among which are recreational and hygienic applications. The materials employed in the construction of tubs, baths, pools and the like have varied from culture to culture and from civilization to civilization, ranging from stones and mortar to the most modern and recently developed synthetic materials, such as polyethylene.
Vacuum molded or otherwise thermo-formed plastic bathing tubs, wading pools, sandboxes and the like have been known and used by the art for many years. Moreover, various integral structural modifications of these tubs, pools, sandboxes and the like have long been available. For example, auxiliary functional surfaces have been integrally molded into water-retaining structures below the peripheral edges thereof for a variety of purposes, such as for forming anatomical supporting surfaces in the nature of seats, sliding surfaces and the like. That is to say, all of the adjunct structure employed heretofore in water-retaining structures has been disposed beneath the upper peripheral edges of the structure. While these structures have generally proved to be satisfactory for the formation of seats, low ramps, unelevated slides, and the like in tubs, pools, sandboxes, etc., the art heretofore has been unable to develop a bath, pool or sandbox structure having an elevated recreational slide integrally formed therewith, i.e., a slide projecting well above the peripheral flanges.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides, for the first time, a children's tub, pool, or sandbox structure, having an integrally formed slide which projects well above the major peripheral edges of the tub-like structure, and integrally molded steps leading from the bottom of the structure to the top of the slide. The new tub and step-slide structure is vacuum molded or otherwise thermo-formed from a single sheet of heavy gauge plastic material, such as polyethylene or a like polymeric plastic material.
The step-slide portion of the new structure is hollow and is uniquely reinforced and supported to withstand those crushing forces which may be presented by the pressure of retained water or sand when the tub or pool portion is filled and to withstand and to support safely the weight of a sliding child or sliding children. More specifically, the step-slide, itself, is derived from peripheral side wall portions of the tube structure, while the reinforcing support structure is in the general nature of a stabilized tripod formed by three specially configured tubular elements.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for a better appreciation of its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circular, tub-like swimming pool having integrally molded steps leading to an integrally molded hollow, elevated slide reinforced by a unique tripod structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pool with the new hollow step-slide structure;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and showing the supporting of the platform portion of the new pool by the tripod structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing additional details of construction of the step-slide of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing details of the tripod support, as viewed from beneath the step-slide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, the new structure of the present invention comprises a generally conventional tube-like structure 11, having an upper peripheral circumscribing flange 12; a step-slide structure 10 integrally formed at one side of tub-like structure 11; and a stabilized tripod structure 9. The tub-like structure 11, aside from the step-slide 10, is essentially conventional in all respects and includes substantially vertical, circumscribing side walls 13 and a horizontal bottom wall 14 formed by vacuum molding sheet polyethylene or a similar synthetic plastic material.
In accordance with the principles of the invention, the hollow, elevated step-slide 10 is formed integrally at one side of the tub-like structure 11 as follows. Material from side wall portions and adjacent bottom portions of the tub-like structure 11, which, absent the step-slide 10, would otherwise be used to form side walls and bottom wall portions is "borrowed" and "inverted " to define the step-slide structure 10. Specifically, the step-slide structure 10 includes an elevated, horizontal platform 16, a curved slide 17, descending from the platform 16 to the bottom wall 14, and a series of steps 18 ascending in a curve from the wall 14 to the platform 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the new step-slide 10 is supported at its outside edges by the external, peripheral wall portions 19 to which it is integrally joined. The inner edges of the slide 27, platform 16, and steps 18 are supported by an inner pool wall 20 which extends between said inner edges of the step-slide and the bottom wall 14 of the pool, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The curvature of the inner pool wall 20 is similar to that of the outer pool wall 13. Thus it will be understood that the outer edge portions of the step-slide, which are beneath the flange 22, are in effect "top supported" or suspended by the pool wall portions 19, whereas the inner edge portions of the step-slide 10 are "bottom supported" by the inner side wall which extends between the bottom of the pool and the inner side edges of the step-slide. In accordance with the invention, the elevated portions of the step-slide are "bottom" supported at their outer edges by a vertical, auxiliary shell 21 comprised of a vertical extension 22 of the side walls 13 and a vertical extension 23 of the flange 12 (FIG. 4). As shown, a generally vertical step wall 30 extends between the outer side walls 13 and inner pool wall 20 and joins the bottom wall 14 and lower step 18. A similar step wall 31 joins the rearmost portion of the lower step 18 with the forwardmost portion of the upper step 18, while a similar step wall 32 joins the upper step to the rear edge of the platform 16.
As shown, the side walls may be provided with a decorative waffle-like or grid pattern 25 of integrally embossed ribs 26, which contribute to the strength of the side walls 13 as well as to the attractiveness of the appearance of the pool. The inner side wall 20 of the step-slide 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is provided with closely spaced, parallel, vertical ribs 27 to lend further support to the elevated step-slide structure. Advantageously, the horizontal surfaces of the two steps 18 leading up to the elevated platform are provided with integrally formed non-slip tread elements 29, as shown best in FIG. 3.
As a most important aspect of the invention, external support and rigidity for the new pool having an integrally molded step-slide structure is provided by the unique stabilized tripod arrangement 9 comprised of three tubular rail elements 40-42. The element 40 comprised two vertical legs 44, 45 of lengths substantially greater than the height of the platform 16 interconnected by a crossbar 46. Element 41 is in the form of an inverted J, and comprises a major leg 47, a minor leg 46, and an interconnecting crossbar 48. The element 42 comprises a vertical strut 52 and a horizontal stabilizing member 49 having an upturned foot portion 50 which has a reduced diameter projection 51 which telescopes into the lower end of leg 45 as shown in FIG. 5, The strut 52 is bent at its upper end to define a support 53 for the flange 12.
More specifically, the new stabilized tripod support 9 of the invention is assembled and joined with the tub structure 11 in the following manner to reinforce, strengthen, and otherwise rigidify the new step-slide 10. The rail 41 is first attached to the underside of the step-slide 10 by a bolt 60 which extends through a hole 62 in the side wall 20, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 5. A nut 61 is threaded to the bolt 60 to secure the rail 41 to the pool and effectively clamp it between the inside surface of the wall 20 and the nut 61. As will be appreciated, the hole 62 in the wall 20, through which the bolt 61 passes, is advantageously located above the high-water mark of the pool, e.g., above the uppermost step 18. Thereafter, the rail element 40 is attached to the outer surfaces of the shell 21 by clampingly securing the leg 44 thereto by bolts 63 which pass through the tubular leg 44 and through holes in the shell 21. The threaded ends of the bolts 63 are joined with mating nuts 68 which, when tightened down, tend to clamp the shell between the tubular leg 44 and the inner surfaces of the nuts, as will be understood. The other leg 45 of the element 40 is also secured to the shell 21. A pair of elongated bolts 64 fasten leg 45 to the shell and extend through registered holes in the minor leg 46 of the inverted J-shaped rail element 41. Nuts 65 securely join the minor portion 47 of the rail element 41 to the leg 45 of the element 40, as will be understood, in a manner which clamps the shell surface 21 therebetween, as shown best in FIG. 5.
The reinforcing and supporting tripod structure 9 of the invention is completed by inserting the reduced diameter portion 51 of the foot portion 50 of the rail element 42 into the lower end of the leg 45 to form therewith a contiguous foot, as will be understood, and thereafter by securing the support 53 to the flange 12 by a bolt 66 which extends through the flange from the outside and through the portion 53 which is disposed beneath the flange 12, as shown in FIG. 5. A nut 67 is tightened down on the bolt 66 and thereby effectively clamps the support portion 53 between the head of the bolt 66 and the inner surfaces of the flange 12, as will be understood and as is shown best in FIG. 5. Advantageously, if oversized bolt heads are not readily available, enlarged washers may be interposed between the bolt heads and nuts in a conventional fashion to enhance their clamping-type fastening effect.
It will be appreciated that many other equivalent types of reinforcing support arrangements may be employed in lieu of the specifically described arrangement. Regardless of the specific configuration of the chosen support, it should provide support and reinforcement for the elevated step-slide structure in the manner shown and, advantageously but not necessarily, it should provide a hand rail adjacent to the uppermost portions of the sliding surface.
It should further be appreciated that the structure of the present invention provides for the first time a play pool or sandbox having a completely internally contained, integral slide unit. That is to say, a child may repeatedly ascend the slide and descend into the water or sand without having to exit from and then reenter the structure.
While the step-slide pool of the invention has been illustrated in the form of a circular pool, it will be appreciated that the external, geometrical shape is a matter of choice, and the new pool may be oval, kidney-shaped, rectangular or the like while embodying the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in order to ascertain the scope of the present invention.