US-12618252-B2 - Frame joint for an above-ground pool

US12618252B2US 12618252 B2US12618252 B2US 12618252B2US-12618252-B2

Abstract

A joint for an above-ground pool frame is disclosed. A variety of above-ground pool types are considered. Above-ground pools must be assembled before use and disassembled after use in a lengthy and time-consuming process to be stored properly and maintain modularity. The presently disclosed joint can ease the assembly and disassembly processes. The pool can comprise a plurality of joints configured to join at least the two or more horizontal support members through insertion. The presently disclosed joint can comprise at least a portion cutaway configured to laterally receive at least one horizontal support member from two or more horizontal support members. The presently disclosed joint can also be configured to receive at least one vertical support member. This and other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Inventors

Jaime Ramos

Assignees

BELGRAVIA WOOD LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20200605
Priority Date: 20190605

Claims (20)

1 . An above-ground pool comprising: a base; at least one pool sidewall defining the entire pool area and joined to the base; and a support element comprising: two horizontal support members; a vertical support member; and a joint configured to join at least the two horizontal support members through insertion, wherein the joint comprises a joint sidewall and a lateral cutaway opening located on the joint sidewall, the lateral cutaway opening configured to laterally receive at least one of the two horizontal support members.
2 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , the support element further configured to keep the at least one pool sidewall elevated off the ground.
3 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , wherein the base is rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal.
4 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pool sidewall and base comprise polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water.
5 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , wherein, when the above-ground pool is in an installed state, a first end of the vertical support member abuts a surface supporting the above-ground pool.
6 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , further comprising a set of fastening pins connecting the joint and the two horizontal support members.
7 . The above-ground pool of claim 1 , further comprising a set of fastening pins connecting the joint and the vertical support member.
8 . The above-ground pool of claim 7 , wherein each fastening pin of the set of fastening pins comprises: an upper wing; a lower wing; and a spring attached to the upper wing and the lower wing and attaching thereto, wherein the upper wing and the lower wing are capable of flexing toward one another such that the fastening pin has an inward position, and wherein the spring is configured to push the upper wing and the lower wing away from one another such that the fastening pin has a neutral position.
9 . The above-ground pool of claim 8 , wherein the upper wing has an upper notch and the lower wing has a lower notch, and wherein the upper notch and the lower notch are configured to be inserted through a first set of apertures in the joint and a second set of apertures in the two horizontal support members.
10 . The above-ground pool of claim 8 , wherein the upper wing and the lower wing are contoured to match the shape of the two horizontal support members such that the upper wing and the lower wing are configured to be flush with an interior surface of the two support members when inserted.
11 . An above-ground pool comprising: a base; at least one pool sidewall that, when in a deployed configuration, defines an interior volume of the above-ground pool and joined to the base; and a support element comprising: two horizontal support members; a vertical support member; a joint configured to receive and join the vertical support member; a face plate detachably attachable to the joint such that to sandwich an end of each of the two horizontal support members can be secured between the face plate and the joint when the face plate is attached to the joint.
12 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , the support element further configured to keep the at least one pool sidewall elevated off the ground.
13 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , wherein the base is rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal.
14 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , wherein the at least one pool sidewall and base comprise polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water.
15 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , wherein, when the above-ground pool is in an installed state, a first end of the vertical support member abuts a surface supporting the above-ground pool.
16 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , further comprising a set of fastening pins connecting the joint and the two horizontal support members.
17 . The above-ground pool of claim 11 , further comprising a set of fastening pins connecting the joint and the vertical support member.
18 . The above-ground pool of claim 17 , wherein each fastening pin of the set of fastening pins comprises: an upper wing; a lower wing; and a spring attached to the upper wing and the lower wing and attaching thereto, wherein the upper wing and the lower wing are capable of flexing toward one another such that the fastening pin has an inward position, and wherein the spring is configured to push the upper wing and the lower wing away from one another such that the fastening pin has a neutral position.
19 . The above-ground pool of claim 18 , wherein the upper wing has an upper notch and the lower wing has a lower notch, and wherein the upper notch and the lower notch are configured to be inserted through a first set of apertures in the joint, a second set of apertures in the faceplate, and a third set of apertures in the two horizontal support members.
20 . The above-ground pool of claim 18 , wherein the upper wing and the lower wing are contoured to match the shape of the two horizontal support members such that the upper wing and the lower wing are configured to be flush with an interior surface of the two support members when inserted.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2020/036373, filed on Jun. 5, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to CN application No. 201920841 161 1, filed on Jun. 5, 2019. The entire contents of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to above-ground pools, and, more particularly, to frame joints for above-ground pools. BACKGROUND Simply described, pools are containers of water for people to swim, wade, relax, and play in. In their many forms, pools can be above-ground pools that extend up from the ground, or below-ground pools that extend down into the ground. Above-ground pools can sometimes be temporary, providing relaxation and enjoyment along with the ability to be removed and stored after use. Below-ground pools, however, are usually more permanent. Many types of above-ground pools exist. Some designs, for example, can be inflatable. Other designs can have metal frames and sidewalls, or modular panels that attach to one another. Above-ground pools can come in any number of different shapes and sizes. While above-ground pools provide the convenience of storage and flexibility of being temporary, the need remains to assemble the pool before use and disassemble the pool when it is no longer needed. No matter the design, shape, or size of the above-ground pool, all pools must be assembled and disassembled to retain the advantage of storage and modularity of the above-ground pool. These processes are labor and time intensive, especially when considering a pool with a metal frame. Whenever it is desired to assemble the pool, all portions of the pool frame must be assembled properly to retain the structural integrity of the pool. When using such a rigid frame, the user may experience difficulty in fitting the proper pieces together. Disassembling the pool is equally as important for the benefit of storage but can be equally as difficult when considering a rigid frame. Improved methods for assembling and disassembling a pool and improving the user experience while maintaining the benefits of an above-ground pool are desirable. SUMMARY Aspects of the presently disclosed technology relate to an improved above-ground pool frame portions and methods for joining the frame portions. The improved frame portions retain the modularity and storage convenience of the pool while improving the ease of operation and time consumed for the assembling and disassembling process. Embodiments of the present disclosure address this need as well as other needs that will become apparent upon reading the description below in conjunction with the drawings. A collapsible container with a frame and joints for joining frame components is disclosed. Specifically, in some embodiments, the disclosed technology can provide a collapsible swimming pool with a frame comprising a plurality of improved joints. In some embodiments, the pool can comprise a base, at least one sidewall defining the entire pool area and joined to the base, and a support element (i.e., frame) for keeping the sidewall elevated off the ground. In some embodiments, the frame can comprise a plurality of horizontal support members and vertical support members, and a plurality of joints configured to join two horizontal support members and one vertical support member. In some embodiments, a first end of a vertical support member can be affixed to the ground, and the second end can be received into one of the joints. Additionally, the joints can comprise at least one cutaway portion configured to laterally receive a horizontal support member. The pool can further comprise insertable elements for connecting the joint and the horizontal support member and for connecting the joint and the vertical support member. In some embodiments, the horizontal and vertical support members can be selected from the group consisting of a flexible pole, a rod, and a bar. As disclosed herein, the at least one sidewall can be a unitary sidewall formed from a single sheet. In some embodiments, the base can be rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal. Accordingly, the at least one sidewall and base can comprise polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water. The pool can be described as incorporating a side wall, as a preferred embodiment which can comprise a circular-shaped pool having but a single side, but as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the pool may include more than one side or a plurality of sides. In some embodiments, the pool can comprise at least one drainage aperture in the side wall and a drain. The drain can further comprise a drain hole configured to fit within the drainage aperture. T