US3256532A

US3256532A - Portable swimming pool

Info

Publication number: US3256532A
Application number: US410530A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Lindsey; John T Wilson
Original assignee: PORT A POOL CORP
Current assignee: PORT A POOL CORP
Priority date: 1964-11-12
Filing date: 1964-11-12
Publication date: 1966-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-21

Description

June 21, 1966 R. M. LINDSEY ET AL PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 12, 1964 Ln... WW

B M U a H W M June 21, 1966 LI D ET AL 3,256,532

PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 M 4h, E S. m 0 Q I 1 m WW E s "w ME. w m D a? I M m w W... 4 W mJ L m J M fla r w ||i 0 1: W M j r 1. Q T Ml a. E H u 5 s N u .l 2v 7 E .2 1 0 H .1 d W E fl a H J Mr 6 5 p R 5 lilli M, f K 9 1 v w lllll 4 m 5 j .M

I It. If!

June 21, 1966 UNDSEY ET AL 3,256,532

PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 United States Patent 3,256,532 PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL Robert M. Lindsey, La Canada, and John T. Wilson, San Marino, Califi, assignors to Port-A-Pool Corp orat1on, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 410,539 17 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates to swimming pools and more particularly to portable swimming pools which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

The typical portable swimming pool is cylindrical and rather small, being primarily for use by small children in the back yard of a residence. These circular pools are much too small for use in teaching swimming to larger children or for use by adults. In addition, the cylindrical pools when dismantled require a large space for storage. Some polygonal portable swimming pools have been designed but many of them are too small and the larger ones require lateral supports extending beyond the pool periphery to limit the deflection of the side walls of the pool caused by the water contained therein, thereby creating a safety hazard particularly for children who may trip over or bump against these lateral supports. Furthermore, the larger portable pools of the prior art usually require considerable time for their assembly and disassembly.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable swimming pool which will generally overcome the problems existing in the prior art portable pools.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable swimming pool which can be quickly assembled and disassembled and in the disassembled condition requires only a small space for storage. In one instance, this was accomplished by constructing a pool of a plurality of generally straight and flat members which would require a minimum amount of storage space when the pool was disassembled. Connecting means releasably secure these plurality of members together to provide for quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the pool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable swimming pool which requires no outside lateral supports which extend laterally beyond the generally vertical walls of the pool. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a polygonal or rectangular portable swimming pool having a strong rectangular lower railing and a plurality of straps extending between opposed sides of the rectangular railing to prevent substantial outward deflection thereof. A plurality of generally vertical posts releasably connect the lower rectangular railing to a strong rectangular. upper railing having approximately the same dimensions as the lower rectangular railing. A waterproof liner is releasably secured to the upper rectangular railing and forms the water containing portion of the pool. Outward movement of the waterproof liner is restained by a plurality of panel members which may be releasably secured to adjacent vertical posts and/ or the rectangular railings. This structure, in which all metal parts are preferably made of a strong steel, holds the outward deflection of the side walls of the portable pool to a minimum and requires no lateral supports extending outwardly beyond the periphery of the upper rectangular railing.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel details of construction for a portable swimming pool which provide a strong structure that can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel corner construction for a polygonal swimming pool. Such corner construction may include a baseplate at a corner of the swimming pool and first and second lower side rails with at least one of its walls overlying and releasably se- "ice cured to the baseplate. A' corner post having downwardly extending brackets is releasably secured to the web of each of the side rails and extends upwardly preferably from above the top of the flanges of the side rails. In one form of the invention, the releaseable securing means comprises bolts extending upwardly from the baseplate and through the side rails and the downwardly extending brackets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for rleasably securing the ends of the straps to the sides of the lower rectangular railing. Such means may include a plate positioned in a hook-shaped end section of the strap, releasable clamping means for frictionally securing at least a portion of the hook-shaped section to the top of the plate, and means for securing the plate to one side wall of the swimming pool. In one specific embodiment, the clamping means included a plurality of tabs bolted at one end to the plate and bearing downwardly against a portion of the hook-shaped section at the other end thereof.

Another object is to provide improved means for securing a Waterproof liner to the supporting structure of the pool. In one instance such improved means included a clip having a flange portion and means to releasably hold the waterproof liner in the supporting structure. The clip was positioned along the upper rectangular railing with a holddown bar disposed along the flange portion and secured to the upper rectangular railing for preventing portions of the clip from pulling away from the upper rectangular railing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable swimming pool in which the waterproof liner is prevented from being forced outwardly through any spaces which may appear in the supporting structure for the liner. In one instance this was accomplished by positioning resilient means along the lower and vertical edges of the rectangular pool to prevent the water contained by the liner which exerts high pressure thereon from forcing a portion of the liner through the supporting structure along these edges. The resilient means also provides a cushioning effect for whatever may strike thereagainst.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool having a removable cover thereon to prevent accidents when the pool is unatended and to prevent unauthorized use thereof. In one embodiment the cover included a plurality of decking elements supported by supporting surfaces adjacent the upper rectangular railing and extending across the pool between opposed side walls thereof. To prevent unauthorized removal of the decking elements two elongated angle members having end plates secured to each end thereof are pivotally mounted to the ends of the upper rectangular railing. The angle mem bers are so constructed and arranged as to be pivotable between a locking position in which they fit over the ends of the decking elements to lock the decking elements against the supporting surface and a releasing position in which the angle members form shelves along the upper rectangular railing of the pool and the ends of the elements are no longer locked against the upper supporting surfaces.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is'a perspective view of the portable swimming pool with portions of the cover broken away to expose the interior of the pool;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and showing details of the side wall construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 44 in FIG. 1 showing a typical top corner of the portable swimming pool;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view partially in section taken along line 55 of FIG. 1 and showing the details of the lower corner construction;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the swimming pool in an initial stage of assembly;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective showing the assembly of the corner and side post construction;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective showing the construction of the upper railings;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing how the liner is secured to the upper rectangular railing;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view partially in section showing an angle member locking the decking elements against the upper supporting surface; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 depicts a large portable rectangular swimming pool or container 15 which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. It is believed that the novel swimming pool 15 and its novel details of construction may best be understood by describing them in connection with a suitable mode of assembly.

The first steps in assembly of the rectangular pool 15 are to position four L-

shaped corner plates

17, 19, 21, and 23 at the corners of the rectangular pool and to position three strong

elongated straps

25, 27 and 29 so that they extend between opposed sides of the pool as shown in FIG. 6. The

straps

25, 27, and 29 are constructed of metal, preferably a strong steel. Although any number of straps may be provided, in one particular embodiment three straps evenly spaced as shown in FIG. 6 were found desirable. The metal straps and the corner plates are positioned on a suitable supporting surface 31 which may be, for example, concrete, asphalt, a lawn, or any piece of ground or structure which will suitably support the weight of the pool and the water which it contains.

A particular arrangement for connecting one end of the strap to the other components of the pool is shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The strap 25 has a reverse bend 33 adjacent one end thereof to form a hook-shaped section 35, the end of the hook-shaped section being bifurcated to form a bifurcated section 37. A plate 39 is disposed in the hook-shaped section so that the plate and the supporting surface 31 frictionally secure the strap therebetween. A generally vertical side post 41, preferably a steel T-section, and two threaded

lugs

43 and 45 are welded to the plate 39 and extend upwardly therefrom, the side post having an outwardly extending flange 47 which is received in the bifurcated section 37 of the strap 25. Two lower side rails or

lower channels

49 and 51, which form a portion of a lower rectangular railing 53 (FIG. 1) and which are preferably strong steel channels with apertured end portions, are placed over the

lugs

43 and 45 respectively so that the lugs protrude through the apertures. The lower side rails 49 and 51 have open ends abutting the side post 41 and stop short of the strap 25 as shown in FIG. 3. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, six side posts 41 are provided and the lower rectangular railing includes ten lower side rails releasably secured together.

Releasable clamping means for frictionally securing at least a portion of the hook-shaped section 35 .to the top of the plate 39 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the clamping means may include two

apertured tabs

55 and 57 which overlie the

lower railings

49 and 51 respectively and are releasably secured to the

lugs

43 and 45 respectively by washers 59 and nuts 61. The

apertured tabs

55 and 57 have enlarged

end portions

63 and 65 respectively which bear downwardly against a portion of I corner post 87 in position.

the hook-shaped section 35 to frictionally secure the latter I against the plate 39. The other end of the strap 25 and the other ends of the remaining straps are secured to similar side posts 41 and plates 39 in the same manner. Thus, the

straps

25, 27, and 29 are the primary means for preventing substantial outward movement of the

lower railings

49 and 51.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 the lower side rail 51 has a closed end 67 and two apertures adjacent the closed end which are adapted to receive two threaded lugs 69 and 71 rigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the corner plate 23. Another lower railing 73 having an open end 75 receives another threaded lug 77 on the corner plate 23. In FIG. 5. it can be seen that the lower side rail 73 is nearly contiguous to the lower side rail or channel 51 and that each includes two upwardly extending

flanges

81 and 33 connected by a web 85 in the conventional manner. The remaining lower side rails which make up the lower rectangular railing are of similar construction. A generally vertical corner post 87 which is preferably a steel angle member has two downwardly extending

brackets

89 and 91 welded thereto and provides a bottom surface 92, the brackets having generally horizontally integral

apertured supporting flanges

93 and 95 respectively at their lower end for receiving the

lugs

59 and 77 respectively. The supporting

flanges

93 and 95 are preferably sufliciently beneath the bottom surface 92 of the corner post 87 so that the bottom surface of the corner post is supported above the

flanges

81 and 83 of the lower side rails 51 and 73. Washers 97 and bolts 99 are then turned on the

lugs

69, 71, and 77 to secure the cornerplate 23, the lower side rails 51 and 73, and the This procedure is repeated for the other three cornerplates 17, 19, and 21.

A rectangular upper railing 101 preferably constructed of steel channels and of approximately the same dimensions as the lower rectangular railing 53 is then secure-d to the upper ends of the side posts 41 and the end posts 87. The upper rectangular railing 101 may include two relatively short upper side rails 103 having open ends 105 and two relatively long upper side rails 107 having closed ends 109 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the upper side rails 103 and 107 are steel channel members with downwardly extending flanges and they extend continuously between adjacent cornerposts 87. The side posts 41 have rectangular apertured supporting plates 111 welded to their upper ends and the four cornerposts 87 have generally horizontal, substantially L-shaped, apertured supporting plates 113 welded to their upper ends. The upper side rails 103 and 107 have downwardly extending threaded

lugs

115 and 117 respectively which are adapted to be received by the apertured supporting

plates

111 and 113. The upper side rail 107 is provided with a cut-out portion 119 (FIG. 8) at its junction with the side rail 103 to allow the side rails to fit over the generally L-shaped supporting plate 113. Suitable washers 121 and nuts 123 secure the

lugs

115 and 117 to their respective supporting plates.

A plurality of panels 125 preferably constructed of plywood are releasably secured to the side posts 41 and to the corner posts 87. Preferably, each of the panels 125 is of sufiicient length to extend between adjacent corner and/ or side posts, although longer or shorter panels may 'be used if desired. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the distances between adjacent side posts 41 and/ or corner posts 87 are substantially equal and accordingly, ten of the panels 125 are preferably used. The panels 125 are preferably of suificient height to extend from the supporting surface 31 to the upper surface of the upper rectangular railing 101. The panels 125 should be sufii- -ciently thick to resist lateral forces exerted by the water contained in the pool. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of T-nuts 127 having prongs 129 are rigidly secured at suitable intervals in each of the panels 125. The T-nuts extend through suitable apertures in the side posts 41 and the end posts 37 and are secured thereto by threaded securing means 131. Similar T-nuts may be provided to secure the panels 125 to the upper rectangular railing 101 and to the lower rectangular railing 53 if desired. To provide flexibility, the panels 125 preferably are slightly spaced apart at the corner posts 87 as showninFIG. 5.

A clip 133 (FIG. 2) is secured to an upper surface 135 of the upper rectangular railing 101. The clip 133 includes an inwardly facing grooved portion 137 and a flange portion 139 extending outwardly. A hold-down bar 140 preferably of metal overlies the flange portion 139 and is secured to the upper rectangular railing 101 along with the flange portion by a plurality of countersunk flathead bolts 141, the tops of which are flush with the upper surface of the hold-down bar 140. As shown in FIG. 2, it is preferred to have the inwardly facing portion 137 extend inwardly a sufficient distance to rest on the upper surface of the panels 125 and to be generally flush with the inner surface of the panels.

The flange portion 139 has a plurality of slits 143 therein at each corner of the pool as shown in FIG. 4 to form curved portions 144 which curve around the corners of the pool. As shown in FIG. 4, the flange portion 139 is displaced laterally from the upper surface 135 of the upper rectangular railing 101 as it curves around the corner of the pool. Of course, the inwardly facing portion 137 of the curved portion 144 is not flush with the inner surface of the panels 125 at the pool corners. The holddown bar 140 preferably terminates at the curved portion 144. A corner cover 144a is secured to the upper rectangular railing 101 by screws 144b and holds down the flange portion 139 of the curved portion 144.

A flexible waterproof liner 145 having a resilient bead 147 around its upper edge is inserted in the inwardly facing grooved portion 137 of the clip 133 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. The liner 145 is adapted to hold large quantities of water and is preferably a vinyl material. The inwardly facing grooved portion 137 and the resilient bead 147 form interlocking means which can be disengaged by pulling horizontally on the liner 145 adjacent the bead 147 but cannot be disengaged by vertical forces which may be exerted on the liner. The liner 145 will hang vertically from the inwardly facing grooved portion 137 downthe inner surface of the plywood panels 125. The liner 145 has a bottom 148 (FIG. 2) which overlies a vinyl mat 149 which rests on the supporting surface 31. The mat 149 will protect the bottom 148 of the liner 145 from sharp or rough objects which may overlie the supporting surface 31 and also provides a cushion for users of the pool.

When the pool is filled with water, considerable outward pressure is exerted on the liner 145 forcing the latter outwardly against the panels 125. The panels 125 and the other components of the pool which resist this outward force form the strong supporting structure of the pool. Because the panels 125 are not contiguous at the corners or vertical edges and may not engage the supporting surface 31, if the latter is uneven, along the full length of the panels, it is conceivable that this high outward pressure could force a portion of the liner 145 outwardly between panels at the corners or between a panel and the supporting surface 31. If this were to occur the liner 145 could be pinched and broken between the supporting surface 31 and the panels 125 or between adjacent panels at the corners. To avoid this and to provide a cushion for the users of the pool, a strip 151 of resilient material such as neoprene is laid around the lower edges of the pool as shown in FIG. 2 to provide a seal. The cross section of the strip 151 is preferably trapezodial as shown in FIG. 2. Similar vertical strips 153 which are preferably trapezodial in cross section and which may have one side thereof glued to an adjacent panel 125 are disposed at the four corners of the pool as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the supporting structure 'of the pool is devoid of openings which may allow the pool liner to move outwardly beyond the panels 125.

With the pool so assembled it includes opposed side walls 154 and 154a, a bottom wall 154!) and other opposed side walls 154C and 154d and may be filled with water. As the portable pool is quite large, e.g. one specific construction was 16 wide x 24 long x 3'6" high, and will hold many gallons of water, the force exerted on the supporting structure of the pool particularly when it is being used by a large number of swimmers is great. The heavy steel construction and the novel structural details of this invention, however, eliminate the need for lateral support extending outwardly beyond the periphery of the upper rectangular railing 101.

To prevent accidents with the pool while it is unattended and to prevent unauthorized use thereof a cover 155 (FIG. 1) is locked over the open upper end of the pool. elements 157 having channel-shaped cross sections, longitudinal stiffening grooves 158, and locking flanges 159 as shown in FIG. 11. For additional rigidity a plurality of stiffening plates 161? are welded preferably to the ends and midpoints of the channel-shaped decking elements.

If this is done, the stiffening plates 160 should not extend to the locking flanges 159 as shown in FIG. 11, but will terminate between the bottom of groove 158 and the locking flanges 159. A bar 161 is secured to the upper surface 135 of the upper rectangular railing 161 by welds as shown in FTG. 2 and may extend completely around the upper rectangular railing. The bar 151 provides upper decking or supporting surfaces 165 on which the ends of the decking elements 157 rest. The decking elements 157 preferably extend across the pool between the opposed side walls 154 and 154a which include the decking supporting surfaces as seen in FIG. 1. The decking elements 157 could, however, extend between the

opposed side walls

1540 and 154d if desired. Preferably, the locking flanges 159 of adjacent decking elements 157 overlap as shown in FIG. 11 to lock the decking elements together.

To lock the decking elements 157 in position, an elongated outwardly-swingable angle member having a pair of legs or

flanges

177 and 179 disposed at right angles is provided. An end plate 181 having a hinge slot 183 and a locking aperture 185 is welded to one end of the angle member 175 and another end plate 187 having only a slot (not shown) corresponding to the slot 183 is welded at the other end of the angle member. A pivot bolt 191 and a pivot pin 193 are suitably secured to and project laterally outwardly from the closed ends 169 of the upper side rail 197 that forms a part of the side wall 154a and a locking aperture 195 aligned with the aperture 185 is provided in the adjacent side rail near the bolt 191 (FIG. 11). With the angle member 175 disposed as shown in the solid lines in FIG. 10, a suitable lock 197 may be inserted through the

thenaligned locking apertures

185 and 195 to lock the.angle member in position against outward swinging or displacement. Another lock may be employed for the end plate 187 if suitable apertures in such end plate and the closed end 109 are provided. A second angle member 199 which is identical to the angle member 175 is similarly disposed on the upper side rail 107 of the wall 154. Thus, both ends of the decking elements 157 are locked in position against the upper supporting surface 165. Lateral movement of the decking element 157 is prevented by the

end plates

181 and 187.

The cover 155 includes a plurality of decking a shelf along and adjacent the decking supporting surfaces 165 of the pool. In this position the ends of the decking elements are no longer locked against the decking supporting surfaces. The angle member 199 may be similarly pivoted to the releasing position and the decking 157 may then be removed and stored. The

angle members

175 and 199 in the releasing position form shelves in which various articles utilized near a pool such as the filling hoses may be conveniently placed.

It is apparent that the pool 15 disclosed herein possesses many advantages including quick and easy assembly and disassembly, and requiring only a small storage space for the components of the pool when in the disassembled condition. This portable pool while capable of being constructed in large sizes, requires no outside supports which extend laterally beyond the periphery of the upper rectangular railing 101. The pool of the present invention is therefore much safer for use by children as no braces or supports extend outwardly over which such children may fall. Unauthorized use of the pool is prevented by use of the removable covering 155.

The particular construction disclosed herein may be subjected to various changes, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable above-ground rectangular swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and dismantled and adapted to rest on a supporting surface comprising:

a rectangular lower railing resting on and supported by said supporting surface having a plurality of lower side rails and means for detachably securing said lower side rails together adjacent their ends to form the four sides of said lower-rectangular railing;

a plurality of straps resting on said surface and extending between opposed sides of said lower rectangular railing, each of said straps including means adjacent the ends of the straps for detachably securing such ends to the side rails forming such opposed sides of said lower rectangular railing;

a strong rectangular upper railing of approximately the same dimensions as said lower rectangular railing, said upper rectangular railing including a plurality of upper side rails and means for detachably securing said upper side rails together adjacent their ends to form the four sides of said rectangular upper railing;

a plurality of generally vertical posts detachably secured to said upper railing and to said lower railing at least four of such posts being respectively at the corresponding corners of said railings; and

a plastic waterproof liner releasably secured to said upper rectangular railing and adapted to contain a large quantitiy of water, said pool being free of lateral support extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said upper rectangular railing.

2. A swimming pool as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of panels extending between said upper and lower railings, and means for detachably connecting said panels to said posts, said panels restraining outward movement of said liner.

3. A swimming pool as defined in claim 2 further comprising resilient means between said liner and said panels along the lower and generally vertical edges of said rectangular pool for providing a cushioning means and to prevent said water from forcing said liner outwardly along said lower edges and said generally vertical edges.

4. In a polygonal above-ground container which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and having side walls the combination of:

a corner plate at a corner of said polygonal container acting as a foundation member;

first and second lower side rails releasably secured to and overlying said corner plate, each of said side rails having a web and at least one upwardly extending flange, said lower side rails extending in diflerent directions from said corner plate to form portions of said side walls of said container;

a corner post extending upwardly from said corner plate and said lower side rails;

a plurality of brackets rigidly secured to said corner post and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting said corner post; and

means for releasably securing said brackets to said corner plate with said webs of said lower side rails therebetween.

5. In a polygonal above-ground swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and having side walls the combination of:

a corner plate at a corner of said polygonal swimming pool acting as a foundation member, said comer plate having a plurality of upwardly extending lugs thereon; l

first and second lower channels overlying said corner plate and extending in different directions from said corner late to form portions of said side walls of said swimming pool, each of said channels having at least two spaced upwardly extending flanges connected by a Web, said lugs of said corner plates passing through said webs;

a corner post above and extending upwardly from the top of said upwardly extending flanges; and

bracket means for supporting said corner posts above said flanges and including at least one bracket on said corner post extending beneath the bottom of said corner post, said bracket having a supporting flange adjacent its lower end for receiving 'at least one of said lugs.

6. A swimming pool as defined in claim 5 wherein said corner post has a top plate rigidly secured to its upper end;and

first and second upper side rails detachably secured to said top plate and extending generally parallel to said first and second lower channels, respectively.

7. A rectangular portable above-ground swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled comprising:

' a lower rectangular railing having four corners and including a plurality of lower side rails each with at least two upwardly extending flanges connected by a web;

a corner plate beneath each of said corners of said lower rectangular railing acting as a foundation member, said corner plates having a plurality of upwardly extending lugs thereon, the corners of said lower rectangular railing having apertures through the lower side rails thereof adapted to receive said lugs;

four corner posts, one above and extending upwardly from the top of said flan es at each of said corner platse; and

bracket means for supporting said corner posts above said flangesand including at least one bracket extending downwardly beneath the bottom of each of said corner posts, said bracket having a supporting flange adjacent its bottom for receiving at least one of said lugsv 8. In a portable above-ground rectangular swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and having a plurality of side walls and resting on a supporting surface, the combination of:

a strap for strengthening said swimming pool positioned on said supporting surface and having a reverse bend adjacent one end thereof to form a hook-shaped section forming a part of said strap, said strap extending between two of said side walls;

means for detachably securing said hook-shaped section to a first of said side walls of said swimming pool at a position at the bottom of such side wall between the corners of said pool; and

means for securing the other end of said strap to a second of side walls of said swimming pool whereby said straps substantially prevent said first and second side walls of said swimming pool from moving a art.

9. 1 swimming pool as defined in claim 8 wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are opposed.

10. A swimming pool as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for securing said hook-shaped section includes clamping means to releasably secure at least a portion of said hook-shaped section to said first side wall.

11. In a portable above-ground rectangular swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled on a supporting surface, said pool having a waterproof liner with a bottom wall supported vertically by the supporting surface and with sides supported laterally by a plurality of side walls detachably connected together, the combination of:

a strap for strengthening said swimming pool positioned on said supporting surface below said bottom wall and having a reverse bend adjacent one end thereof to form a hook-shaped section, said strap extending between two of said side walls that are opposed to each other;

a plate in said hook-shaped section at the bottom of one of such opposed side walls, said strap passing between said plate and said supporting surface for frictionally securing said strap therebetween;

releasable clamping means for securing at least a por tion of said hook-shaped section to the top of said plate; and

means for releasably securing the other end of said strap to the other of said opposed side walls, said plate forming a portion of said one of said side walls whereby said strap substantially prevents the bottoms of said opposed side walls of said swimming pool from moving apart.

12. A swimming pool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said releasable clamping means includes a plurality of tabs, each of said tabs being bolted at one end to said plates and bearing downwardly against said portion of said hook-shaped section at the other ends thereof.

13. In a rectangular portable above-ground swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled on a supporting surface, said pool having a waterproof liner with a bottom wall supported vertically by said supporting surface and with sides supported laterally by two pairs of opposed side Walls, the combination of:

a plurality of straps for strengthening said swimming pool each positioned on said supporting surface and each extending between a pair of said opposed side walls, each of said straps having a reverse bend at both ends thereof to form hook-shaped sections;

plates in said hook-shaped sections, said plates and said supporting surface frictionally securing said straps therebetween;

clamping means bolted to said plates for frictionally securing portions of the hook-shaped sections to the tops of said plates; and

means for securing said plates to said side walls of said rectangular swimming pool whereby said straps substantially prevent said side walls from moving outwardly.

14. A portable swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and adapted to rest on a supporting surface comprising:

a supporting structure with an upper railing therearound;

a clip secured to said upper railing and extending completely around said supporting structure, said clip having an inwardly facing portion and a flange portion extending outwardly;

a waterproof liner in said supporting structure, said liner having a bottom supported by said supporting surface and an upper edge;

interlocking means on said upper edge of said diner *and said inwardly facing portion of said clip to releasably secure said liner to said clip; and

a hold-down bar disposed on and along said flange portion and secured to said upper railing for preventing portions of said clip from pulling away from said upper railing.

15. A rectangular swimming pool comprising:

a water-retaining structure having first and second opposed side walls with decking supporting surfaces thereon;

a cover for said pool including a plurality of adjacent decking elements supported by said decking supporting surfaces and extending across said pool from said first opposed side wall to said second opposed side wall;

two elongated angle members with end plates secured to the ends thereof;

first means pivotally mounting a first of said two elongated angle members to an upper portion of said first opposed side wall; and

second means pivotally mounting a second of said two elongated angle members to an upper portion of said second opposed wall, said angle members being pivotal between a locking position in which they fit over the ends of said decking elements to lock said decking elements against said decking supporting surfaces and a releasing position in which said angle members form shelves along the decking supporting surfaces of the pool and the ends of said decking elements are no longer locked against the decking supporting surfaces.

16. A swimming pool as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second means includes a slot in each of said end plates and a pin for each end plate protruding from the ends of said opposed side walls to engage said slot to allow pivoting of said elongated angle members.

17. A portable rectangular swimming pool which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and adapted to rest on a supporting surface comprising:

a rectangular lower railing on said supporting surface having a plurality of lower side rails releasably secured together adjacent their ends to define the four sides of said lower rectangular railing; a corner plate beneath each corner of said lower rectangular railing, said corner plates having a plurality of upwardly extending lugs thereon; four corner posts respectively above and extending upwardly at said corners of said rectangular pool; bracket means for supporting said corner posts above said corner plates and said lower rectangular railing, said means including at least one bracket ex tending downwardly from the bottom of each of said corner posts, said brackets having supporting flanges adjacent their bottoms for receiving at least one of said lugs;

a plurality of straps extending between said sides of said lower rectangular railing, each of said straps having a reverse bend adjacent both ends thereof to form hook-shaped sections; plates in said hook-shaped sections, said plates and said supporting surface frictionally securing said straps therebetween;

releasable clamping means for frictionally securing at least a portion of said hook-shaped sections to the top of said plates;

a strong rectangular upper railing of approximately the same dimensions as said lower rectangular railing, said upper rectangular railing including a plurality of side rails releasably secured together adjacent their ends;

a plurality of generally vertical posts releasably secured to said upper rectangular railing and to said lower rectangular railing;

a clip secured to said upper rectangular railing and extending around said upper rectangular railing, said clip having an inwardly facing portion and a flange portion extending outwardly;

a waterproof liner adapted to contain a large quantity of water within the confines of said upper and lower rectangular railings, said liner having a bottom supported by said supporting surface and an upper edge;

interlocking means on said upper edge of said liner and said inwardly facing portion of said clip to releasably secure said liner to said clip;

a hold-down bar disposed on and along said flange portion and secured to said upper rectangular railing for preventing portions of said clip from pulling away from said upper rectangular railing, the upper surface of said upper rectangular railing providing decking support surfaces;

a plurality of decking elements supported by said decking supporting surfaces and extending across said pool from a first opposed side of said upper rectangularrailing to a second opposed side of said upper rectangular railing;

two elongated angle members with end plates at the ends thereof;

- first means pivotally mounting a first of said two elonrailing at said second opposed side thereof, said angle members being pivotal between a locking position in which they fit over the ends of said decking elements to lock said decking elements against said decking supporting surfaces and a releasing position in which said angle members form shelves along the decking supporting surfaces of said pool and the ends of said decking elements are no longer locked against said decking supporting surfaces;

a plurality of panels releasably secured to said posts, said panels restraining outward movement of said liner; and

resilient means between said liner and said panels along the lower and generally vertical edges of said rectangular pool for providing a cushioning means and to prevent said large quantity of water from forcing said liner outwardly along said lower edges and said vertical edges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,633 5/1952 Black 52--656 3,020,560 2/1962 Bedick 4-172 7 3,059,243 10/1962 Ross et al 4-172 3,142,069 7/1964 OConnell et a1 4-172 3,192,538 .7/1965 Walter 4172 3,225,362 12/1965 Barrera 4172 FOREIGN PATENTS 324,588 10/ 1957 Switzerland.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. ARTIS, Examiner.

Claims

1. A PORTABLE ABOVE-GROUND RECTANGULAR SWIMMING POOL WHICH CAN BE QUICKLY AND EASILY ASSEMBLED AND DISMANTLED AND ADATPED TO REST ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE COMPRISING: A RECTANGULAR LOWER RAILING RESTING ON AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF LOWER SIDE RAILS AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID LOWER SIDE RAILS TOGETHER ADJACENT THEIR ENDS TO FORM THE FOUR SIDES OF SAID LOWER RECTANGULAR RAILING; A PLURALITY OF STRAPS RESTING ON SAID SURFACE AND EXTENDING BETWEEN OPPOSED SIDES OF THE LOWER RECTANGULAR RAILING, EACH OF SAID STRAPS INCLUDING MEANS ADJACENT THE ENDS OF THE STRAPS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SUCH ENDS TO THE SIDE RAILS FORMING SUCH OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID LOWER RECTANGULAR RAILING; A STRONG RECTANGULAR UPPER RAILING OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME DIMENSIONS AS SAID LOWER RECTANGULAR RAILING, SAID UPPER RECTANGULAR RAILING INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF UPPER SIDE RAILS AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID UPPER SIDE RAILS TOGETHER ADJACENT THEIR ENDS TO FORM THE FOUR SIDES OF SAID RECTANGULAR UPPER RAILING; A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY VERTICAL POSTS DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID UPPER RAILING AND TO SAID LOWER RAILING AT LEAST FOUR OF SUCH POSTS BEING RESPECTIVELY AT THE CORRESPONDING CORNERS OF SAID RAILINGS; AND A PLASTIC WATERPROOF LINER RELEASABLY SECURED TO SAID UPPER RECTANGULAR RAILING AND ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LARGE QUANTITY OF WATER, SAID POOL BEING FREE OF LATERAL SUPPORT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID UPPER RECTANGULAR RAILING.