GB2150022A - Improvements relating to paddling pools - Google Patents

Abstract

A paddling pool is formed from plastics sheet material and has an inflatable side wall formed of superimposed inflatable chambers (5,6 and 7) separated from each other by line welds (9 and 10). The pool is of polygonal shape in plan view, and the inflatable chambers (5, 6 and 7) in each of the sides (1 to 4) of the polygon are separate from those of the other sides of the polygon. Thus each of the sides (1 to 4) may be individually preformed and the sides (1 to 4) joined together by vertical welds 15 at the corners of the pool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to paddling pools This invention relates to paddling pools which are formed from plastics material and which have an inflatable side wall so that it is self supporting.

Conventionally such paddling pools have a circular side wall composed of a plurality of annular inflatable chambers superimposed one on the other. The side wall is constructed by welding sheet plastics material, the individual annular chambers being formed by line welding facing surfaces of the sheet material together after the material has been formed into a closed loop. This method is disadvantageously time consuming and complicated since each line weld is performed by a sequence of welding operations each of which forms a part of the line weld and between each welding operation the material has to be moved round so to speak to move the next part of the line weld to be formed beneath the welding tool.

The object of the invention is to obviate the above mentioned disadvantage.

According to the invention a paddling pool having an inflatable side wall formed of superimposed inflatable chambers separated from each other by line welds is of polygonal shape, e.g. rectangular, and the inflatable chambers of each side of the polygon are separate from those of the other sides of the polygon.

Thus each side can be individually preformed in one welding operation and the sides can then be simply joined to each other by vertical welds at the corners. Alternatively a continuous length of the side wall can be produced with the line welds and then joined at its ends to form one corner, the other corners being formed by crease welds. As a further alternative two or more lengths of the side wall can be formed and joined together at two or more corners, the remaining corners being formed by crease welds.

Advantageously the line welds in each of the sides are provided with one or more breaks to allow air to pass from one chamber to another so that each side can be inflated through a single valve in one chamber of each side.

One construction of a paddling pool, in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the paddling pool, Figure 2 shows to an enlarged scale one corner of the paddling pool, and Figure 3 shows a sectional view on the line A-A of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the paddling pool is of rectangular shape having sides 1 to 4. Each side comprises three superimposed inflatable chambers 5 to 7 the chambers in each side being separate from, i.e. not communicating internally with the chambers in the other sides.

In this example each of the sides is separately formed from a single length of sheet plastics material. The first step is to fold the material in half widthwise so that the width of the folded material is equal to the height of the side wall. Then a seam weld 8 and line welds 9 and 10 are made to join the longitudinal edges of the folded over sheet and to join the facing surfaces of the sheet material in order to provide the superimposed chambers 5 to 7.

In this example the line welds 9 and 10 are stopped short of the ends of the sheet material to provide intercommunicating ports 1 2 and 1 3 between the chambers. An inflation valve 14 is welded into the lowest chamber 7.

The inter-communicating ports can be provided at any position along the line welds.

Alternatively the line welds can be continuous up to the ends of the sheet material and inflation valves provided in each chamber.

The sides 1 to 4 are then joined to each other by corner welds 1 5 which will also close off the ends of the chambers 5 to 7. However, to ensure an effective seal, the ends of the chambers 5 to 7 are also closed off by reinforcement welds 16.

Finally a base sheet 1 7 of plastics material is welded along its edges to the side walls 1 to 14 at 18.

1. A paddling pool formed from plastics sheet material and having an inflatable side wall formed of superimposed inflatable chambers separated from each other by line welds, characterised in that the pool is of polygonal shape in plan view, and in that the inflatable chambers in each side of the polygon are separate from those of the other side of the polygon.

2. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein each said side is individually preformed and the said sides are joined together by vertical welds at the corners of the pool.

3. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sides are preformed together, the corners between said plurality of sides being formed by crease welds, said plurality of sides being joined to one or more other preformed sides by vertical welds at corners of the pool.

4. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall is preformed in a single length and joined at its ends to form one corner, the other corners being formed by crease welds.

5. A paddling pool according to any preceding Claim, wherein the chambers in each side are interconnected to allow air to pass from one chamber to another.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to paddling pools This invention relates to paddling pools which are formed from plastics material and which have an inflatable side wall so that it is self supporting. Conventionally such paddling pools have a circular side wall composed of a plurality of annular inflatable chambers superimposed one on the other. The side wall is constructed by welding sheet plastics material, the individual annular chambers being formed by line welding facing surfaces of the sheet material together after the material has been formed into a closed loop. This method is disadvantageously time consuming and complicated since each line weld is performed by a sequence of welding operations each of which forms a part of the line weld and between each welding operation the material has to be moved round so to speak to move the next part of the line weld to be formed beneath the welding tool. The object of the invention is to obviate the above mentioned disadvantage. According to the invention a paddling pool having an inflatable side wall formed of superimposed inflatable chambers separated from each other by line welds is of polygonal shape, e.g. rectangular, and the inflatable chambers of each side of the polygon are separate from those of the other sides of the polygon. Thus each side can be individually preformed in one welding operation and the sides can then be simply joined to each other by vertical welds at the corners. Alternatively a continuous length of the side wall can be produced with the line welds and then joined at its ends to form one corner, the other corners being formed by crease welds. As a further alternative two or more lengths of the side wall can be formed and joined together at two or more corners, the remaining corners being formed by crease welds. Advantageously the line welds in each of the sides are provided with one or more breaks to allow air to pass from one chamber to another so that each side can be inflated through a single valve in one chamber of each side. One construction of a paddling pool, in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the paddling pool, Figure 2 shows to an enlarged scale one corner of the paddling pool, and Figure 3 shows a sectional view on the line A-A of Fig. 2. Referring now to the drawings, the paddling pool is of rectangular shape having sides 1 to 4. Each side comprises three superimposed inflatable chambers 5 to 7 the chambers in each side being separate from, i.e. not communicating internally with the chambers in the other sides. In this example each of the sides is separately formed from a single length of sheet plastics material. The first step is to fold the material in half widthwise so that the width of the folded material is equal to the height of the side wall. Then a seam weld 8 and line welds 9 and 10 are made to join the longitudinal edges of the folded over sheet and to join the facing surfaces of the sheet material in order to provide the superimposed chambers 5 to 7. In this example the line welds 9 and 10 are stopped short of the ends of the sheet material to provide intercommunicating ports 1 2 and 1 3 between the chambers. An inflation valve 14 is welded into the lowest chamber 7. The inter-communicating ports can be provided at any position along the line welds. Alternatively the line welds can be continuous up to the ends of the sheet material and inflation valves provided in each chamber. The sides 1 to 4 are then joined to each other by corner welds 1 5 which will also close off the ends of the chambers 5 to 7. However, to ensure an effective seal, the ends of the chambers 5 to 7 are also closed off by reinforcement welds 16. Finally a base sheet 1 7 of plastics material is welded along its edges to the side walls 1 to 14 at 18. CLAIMS

1. A paddling pool formed from plastics sheet material and having an inflatable side wall formed of superimposed inflatable chambers separated from each other by line welds, characterised in that the pool is of polygonal shape in plan view, and in that the inflatable chambers in each side of the polygon are separate from those of the other side of the polygon.

2. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein each said side is individually preformed and the said sides are joined together by vertical welds at the corners of the pool.

3. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sides are preformed together, the corners between said plurality of sides being formed by crease welds, said plurality of sides being joined to one or more other preformed sides by vertical welds at corners of the pool.

4. A paddling pool according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall is preformed in a single length and joined at its ends to form one corner, the other corners being formed by crease welds.

5. A paddling pool according to any preceding Claim, wherein the chambers in each side are interconnected to allow air to pass from one chamber to another.

6. A paddling pool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.