US3280408A

US3280408A - Water-retaining recreational structure for swimming pools and the like

Info

Publication number: US3280408A
Application number: US507634A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin Y Gershman
Original assignee: Coleco Industries Inc
Current assignee: Coleco Industries Inc
Priority date: 1965-10-23
Filing date: 1965-10-23
Publication date: 1966-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-25

Description

Oct. 25, 1966 M. Y. GERSHMAN WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. MELVIN Y. GERSHMAN A TTO/P/VE) United States Patent WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUC- TURE FOR SWIG POGLS AND TEE LIKE Melvin Y. Gershman, West Hartford, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Coleco Industries Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 507,634 10 Claims. (til. 4172) The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 364,370, filed May 4, 1964, and entitled Swimming Pool Assembly, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to water retaining recreational structures and more particularly to a novel frame assembly for a swimming pool, hockey rink, and the like, of the type having a flexible liner supported by a peripheral frame.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a novel frame assembly for supporting a flexible liner which is rigid and rugged in assembly and which may be relatively easily assembled. A related aim is to provide such an assembly which may be manufactured relatively economically and easily and which is adapted to provide both swimming pools of substantial depth and hockey rinks of relatively shallow depth.

Other related aims and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed specification and attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a swimming pool utilizing the novel frame assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view to an enlarged scale along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view to an enlarged scale along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 with a portion of the locking member broken away to reveal internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the frame assembly with the supporting panel removed for clarity of illustration; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view to an enlarged scale illustrating the intermediate support member positioned for mounting.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a novel frame assembly used in a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having a liner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providing a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion extending about the periphery of the bottom wall portion. The frame assembly has a relatively rigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the exterior periphery of the side wall portion of the liner member and closely adjacent thereto to provide the liner side wall portion with rigid horizontal support both against water pressure from water stored therein and against distortion by pressures applied during use. The panel is vertically dimensioned to coincide generally with the vertical dimension of the liner side wall portion to provide horizontal support for the full surface thereof.

A plurality of elongated horizontal support members extend in end-to-end relationship about the periphery of the liner member and have aligned slots horizontally extending therealong in the inner surface thereof which 3,28,4fi8 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 receive one horizontal edge portion of the support panel to align the panel edge portions and to limit transverse movement thereof. The frame further includes a plurality of locking members having horizontally spaced side wall portions and an outer wall portion extending therebetween with the side wall portions extending vertically inwardly of the frame assembly from the outer wall portions. The locking members receive and hold in alignment between their side wall portions the end portions of adjacent horizontal support members. Extending vertically inwardly of the frame assembly from the locking members and engaged therewith to prevent substantial movement therebetween are a plurality of vertical support members. The end portions of the adjacent horizontal support members received in each looking member are snugly interposed between the locking member outer wall portions and the end of the vertical support members, and the adjacent horizontal support members to permit limited relative movement therebetween in assembly, to accommodate fabricating tolerances and thermal expansion and contraction of the components and to prevent the adjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally away from the locking members. Most desirably, this is provided by having on these ends of the vertical support members, cooperating projections and recesses which are engaged to prevent the adjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally away from the vertical support members and thereby from the locking members. The frame also includes means providing vertical support for the upper edge portion of the liner side wall portion. Desirably, the end portions of the horizontal support members have vertically inwardly projecting engaging portions which engage with the ends of the vertical support members.

As will be appreciated, the support panel is most conveniently a single continuous length of relatively rigid material such as corrugated metal. However, a plurality of panel elements may be employed if so desired, particularly where even greater rigidity is desirable.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame includes upper and lower horizontal support members of equal number and substantially of equal length and of channel-like crosssection which lock into alignment the upper and lower edges respectively of the support panel. The upper or vertically outer wall portions of the upper support members have vertically inwardly or downwardly projecting engaging portions and the end portions of the lower wall portions are recessed to provide vertical access to the projecting portions. Similarly, the lower or vertically outer wall portions of the lower support members have vertically inwardly or upwardly projecting engaging portions and the end portions of the upper wall portions are recessed to provide vertical access to the projecting portions. Upper and lower locking members of channel-like cross-section telescopically receive the end portions of adjacent upper and lower support members respectively and are engaged with the end portions of vertical support members extending therebetween to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween. The upper and lower wall portions of the upper and lower support members are snugly interposed between the upper and lower wall portions of the upper and lower locking members and the upper and lower ends of the vertical support members. The end portions of the vertical support members are engaged with the projecting engaging portions to prevent the adjacent upper and lower support members from sliding periph erally away from the vertical support members and thereby from the upper and lower locking members. Desirably, the vertical support members are vertically dimensioned to seat the upper and lower locking members and thereby the upper and lower support panels.

Preferably, the vertical support members are generally channel-like and have peripherally spaced side wall portions against the interior surface of which abut the upwardly projecting engaging portions and the downwardly projecting engaging portions to prevent the lower and upper support members from sliding peripherally away from the vertical support members.

For convenience in assembling the frame, the upper support members and the lower support members are substantially identically configured and dimensioned for interchangeability.

In fabricating a swimming pool, the side wall portion of the liner may be conveniently vertically supported by folding the upper edge portion thereof over the upper edge of the support panel and providing a coping element which fits tightly over the folded liner material to secure the material to secure the material to the support panel. In swimming pools of substantial height, the frame assembly most desirably includes a plurality of intermediate support members extending peripherally between the vertical support members intermediate the horizontal support members and outwardly of the support panel and the side walls of the vertical support members have apertures therein for seating the ends of the intermediate support members which desirably are releasably locked thereto by fasteners such as sheet metal screws or by other suitable means.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawing, FIG- URES 1 and 2 illustrate a generally circular swimming pool utilizing the frame assembly of the present invention in combination With a liner member generally designated by the numeral 2 and fabricated from flexible, waterproof synthetic plastic material with a bottom wall portion 4 and a side wall portion 6 extending about the periphery of the bottom wall portion 4. A support panel 8 of relatively rigid sheet material illustrated as corrugated metal extends about the exterior periphery of the liner side wall portion 6 and is closely adjacent thereto to provide rigid horizontal support against the pressure of water 10 in the pool and distortion by pressures occurring during use.

The upper edge portion of the liner side wall portion 6 is folded over the upper edge of the support panel 8 and secured thereon by channel-shaped coping 12 of semirigid material such as synthetic plastic dimensioned to bear tightly against the interior and exterior surfaces of the support panel 8 through the material of the liner side wall portion 6. The upper and lower edges of the support panel 8 are flattened and folded over to form a marginal head which provides a rounded edge portion free of corrugations, thus minimizing the risk of tearing the liner material on a rough metal edge. Moreover, the coping 12 fits tightly over the bead and is locked thereby against inadvertent disengagement from the support panel 8.

The support panel 8 is aligned and secured against movement transversely of the major surface thereof by a plurality of lower and upper, channel-like, horizontal support members generally designated by the numerals 14, 140! respectively, which extend in end-to-end relationship about the liner member 2. The lower horizontal support members 14 have horizontally spaced

side wall portions

16, 18, and vertically spaced outer or lower and inner or

upper wall portions

20, 22 respectively, and are generally arcuate to conform to the periphery of the liner member 2 and the support panel 8. The upper wall portions 22 are horizontally spaced from the radially outer side wall portions 16 to provide aligned grooves or slots 24 extending longitudinally along the support members 14 which receive the lower horizontal edge portions of the support panel 8 to prevent the panel edges from moving transversely out of alignment. As seen in FIGURE 4,

dthe free edge of the upper wall portion '22 of the lower support members 14 is bent downwardly to provide a longitudinally extending flange portion 26 which rigidities the top wall portion 22 and strengthens the edge of slot 24 against which the support panel 8 bears.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the end portions of the lower wall portions 20 of the support members 14 have upwardly extending engaging portions or tabs 28 incised and bent upwardly from the material of the lower wall portions 2% The end portions of the upper wall portions 22 are recessed at 30 to provide vertical access to the tabs 28.

The end portions of adjacent lower support members 14 are telescopically received and held in alignment by channel-like lower aligning or locking members generally designated by the numeral 32 each having a bottom wall portion 34 disposed under the lower support members 14 and two horizontally spaced

side wall portions

36, 38 extending vertically inwardly of the frame assembly or upwardly from the bottom wall portion 34 to hold the lower support members 14 in horizontal alignment. The top wall portion '40 terminates inwardly from the side wall portion 36 to provide a slot or groove for receiving the support panel 8. The free edge of the top wall portion 4-8 has a recess 42 adjacent the center thereof providing vertical access to the tab portions 28 of the horizontal support members 14- and an integral tab 44 with an aperture 46 therein is formed from the metal thereof and projects upwardly from the marginal portion of the top wall portion 40 adjacent the recess 42.

A vertical support member generally designated by the numeral 48 having peripherally spaced, vertically extending side wall portions 50, 52 with rolled over free edges and connected by the outer wall or 'web portions 54 extends vertically through the recess 42 in the lower locking member 32 and bears against the upper surface of the lower wall portions 20 of adjacent lower support members 14. A self-tapping sheet metal screw 56 extending through aperture 46 in tab element 4-4 engages within the aperture 58 in the lower portions of outer wall portion 54 of vertical support member 48, and the recess 42 is dimensioned to receive snugly the end portion of the vertical support member 48 to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the upwardly extending tab portions 28 abut against the interior surfaces of the side wall portions 50, 52 of vertical support member 48, thus preventing adjacent lower support members 14 from sliding peripherally away from the vertical support member 48 and thereby from the lower locking number 32. The lower wall portion 22 of lower support member 14 is snugly interposed between the lower wall portion 34 of lower locking member 32 and the lower end of vertical support member 48, thus preventing the tab portions 28 from sliding out from under the vertical support member 48.

The upper support members 14.2 are substantially identical in configuration and dimension to the lower support members .14. Although the upper locking members 320 are generally similarly configured to the lower locking members 32, the lower wall portion 40a terminates at a distance spaced sufficiently from the side wall portion 35 to receive the vertical support member 48 in the spacing therebetween to permit slidable movement there-onto during assembly at a right angle thereto. Moreover, the free end of the side wall portion 36 is reversely bent to provide a lip portion 41 which cooperates with the body thereof to provide a channel in which the side wall portions 16a are retained during relative sliding movement and to en- *hance the rigidity of the assembly. The

members

14a, 32a cooperate with the upper edge of the support panel 8 and the upper end portions of the vertical support members 43 in substantially the same manner as their respective lower counterparts cooperate with the lower edge of the support panel 8 and the lower end portions of the ver tical support members 48. The openings in the vertically outer or upper wall portion 20a resulting from the downward bending of tab portions 28a are covered by the upper wall portion 34a of upper locking members 32a to prevent the passage of water therethrough. The upper locking members 32a are disposed vertically above the lower locking members 32 and the vertical support members 48 are vertically dimensioned to seat the lower and

upper locking members

32, 32a and thereby the lower and

upper support members

14, 14a about the lower and upper edges of the support panel 8. Although the seating of the lower and

upper support members

14, 14a over the horizontal edges of the support panel 8 is desirably firm, care must be taken to avoid too tight a seat which might cause the upper edge of the support panel 8 to cut through the material of the liner side wall portion 6. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the side wall portions 16 of the support members 14a are seated in the channels between the lip portions 41 and side wall portions 16.

When of substantial height, the support panel 8 is provided with additional support means intermediate the lower and

upper support members

14, 14a. -In the illustrated embodiment, elongated, relatively rigid intermediate support members 69, illustrated as tubular in form and generally arcuate along their length to conform to the periphery of the support panel 8, have flattened end portions which fit into the slots or apertures 62 in the side wall portions 59, 52 of the vertical support members 48. As seen in FIGURE 5, self-tapping metal screws 64 extend through apertures @5 in the vertical support members 48 and engage apertures 68 in the flattened end portions of the support members St) to secure the intermediate support members 6t firmly to the vertical support members 48.

As will be readily appreciated, the channel-like crosssections of the upper and lower support members and of the vertical support members provide great strength and rigidity with a minimum of material, and may be easily stamped and formed from sheet metal. The support members are quickly and easily interengageable in assembly by means of integrally formed portions of the several elements, thus minimizing the need for separately formed, expensive fittings. In assembling the frame, two adjacent horizontal support members may be quickly slid into the lower locking member, and a relatively short vertical movement of a vertical support member relative to the locking member engages the vertical support member with the horizontal support members. Thereafter, a single screw locks the vertical support member to the lower locking member to form a strong, simple junction of the two horizontal support members with the vertical support member. One horizontal edge of the support panel may be quickly and easily placed in the slot in the horizontal support members, and the opposing horizontal support members may be similarly and quickly secured at the other end of the vertical support member by sliding the locking member into position along the horizontal support members which are first positioned. The end portions of the horizontal and vertical support members are concealed by the locking members. Moreover, the support panel i dimensioned to locate the vertical edges behind the vertical support members. Thus, the danger of exposed sharp edges upon the frame assembly is minimized.

Thus, it is seen that the present invention provides a novel frame assembly for a water-retaining recreational structure which is quickly and easily assembled, which is rigid and rugged, and which may be fabricated easily and relatively economically.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having a liner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providing a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion extending about the periphery of said bottom Wall portion, the combination therewith of a frame assembly for supporting said liner member and having a relatively rigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the periphery of said linear side wall portion and closely adjacent thereto to provide a relatively rigid horizontal support; a plurality of elongated horizontal support members extending in end-to-end relationship about said liner member, said horizontal support members having spaced side, outer and inner wall portions and generally aligned slots in said inner Wall portions horizontally extending therealong and snugly receiving one horizontal edge portion of said support panel for aligning said edge portion and limiting transverse movement thereof; a plurality of locking members having an inner wall portion, horizontally spaced side wall portions and an outer wall portion extending therebetween, said side wall portions extending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly from said outer wall portion, each of said locking members telescopically receiving and holding in alignment the end portions of a pair of adjacent horizontal support members within said locking member side wall portions, and having a channel in the inner wall portion receiving one horizontal edge portion of said support panel; and a plurality of vertical support members extending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly from said locking members, having an outer wall portion spaced from said support panel and side wall portions extending toward said side wall panel, said inner wall portions of said locking members and said end portions of said horizontal support members having cooperating seating apertures therein receiving the end portions of said vertical support members, said vertical support members being engaged with said locking members to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween, said end portions of said adjacent horizontal support members with said locking members being snugly interposed between said locking member outer wall portions and one end of said vertical support members, said adjacent horizontal support members being engaged with said vertical support members within said locking members to permit limited relative horizontal telescopic movement therebetween in assembly and to prevent said adjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally away from said locking members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one end of said vertical support members and said end portions of said adjacent horizontal support members within said locking members have cooperating projections and recesses engaged to limit telescopic sliding movement of said horizontal support members relative to said vertical support members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end portions of said horizontal support members within said locking members have vertically inwardly projecting engaging portions on said outer wall portions engaged with said one end of said vertical support members.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end portions of said horizontal support members received Within said locking members have vertically inwardly projecting portions on said outer wall portions inwardly of said side Wall portions of said vertical support members to limit the peripheral movement thereof.

5. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having a liner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providing a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion extending about the periphery of said bottom wall portion, the combination therewith of a frame assembly for supporting said liner member and having a relatively rigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the periphery of said liner side wall portion and closely adjacent thereto to provide a relatively rigid horizontal support, said panel being vertically dimensioned to generally coincide with the vertical dimension of said liner side wall portion; a plurality of channellike horizontal support members extending in end-toend relationship generally about said liner member, said horizontal support members having vertically spaced inner and outer wall portions and side wall portions therebetween with said inner Wall portions having aligned slots horizontally extending tlierealong and snugly receiving one horizontal edge portion of said support panel for aligning said edge portion and for limiting transverse movement thereof, the end portions of said outer wall portions having vertically inwardly projecting engaging portions, the end portions of said inner wall portions being recessed to provide vertical access to said engaging pordons; a plurality of channel-like locking members having an inner wall portion, horizontally spaced side wall portions and an outer wall portion extending therebetween with said inner wall portion having a channel therein receiving one horizontal edge portion of said support panel, said side wall portions extending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly from said outer wall portion, said locking members telescopically receiving and holding in alignment the end portions of adjacent horizontal support members within said locking member side wall portions; and a plurality of vertical support members extending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly from said locking members, said locking members having a seating recess in the inner wall portion thereof cooperating with the recesses in the end portions of said inner wall portions of said horizontal support members received theerin to provide vertical access thereinto, said vertical support members being received within said recesses of said locking members and said horizontal support members and being engaged with said locking members to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween, said outer wall portions of said adjacent horizontal support members being snugly interposed between said locking member outer wall portions and one end of said vertical support members, said inwardly projecting engaging 7 portions of said horizontal support members being engaged with said vertical support members to permit limited relative horizontal telescopic movement and to prevent said adjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally away from said vertical support members and thereby from said locking members.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said vertical support members are generally channel-like and have two peripherally spaced vertically extending side wall portions, and wherein said inwardly projecting engaging portions abut against the interior surface of said peripherally spaced side wall portions to limit said adjacent horizontal support members in sliding movement peripherally away from said vertical support members.

7. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having a liner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providing a generally circular bottom wall portion and a generally vertical side wall portion extending about the periphery of said bottom wall portion, the combination therewith of a frame assembly for supporting said liner member and having a relatively rigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the periphery of said liner side wall portion, said support panel being horizontally arcuate to conform closely to the periphery of said liner side wall to provide rigid horizontal support therefor, said panel being vertically dimensioned to generally coincide with the vertical dimension of said liner side wall portion, the upper edge portion of said liner side wall portion being secured to the upper edge portion of said support panel; a plurality of channel-like horizontal lower support members extending in end-toend relationship about the periphery of said liner bottom Wall portion, said lower support members being horizontally arcuate to conform closely to the periphery of said liner bottom wall portion and having spaced side, upper and lower wall portions with generally aligned slots in said upper wall portions horizontally extending therealon g snugly receiving the lower edge portion of said support panel for aligning said lower edge portion and for limiting transverse movement thereof, the end portions of said lower wall portions having upwardly projecting engaging portions, the end portions of said upper wall portions being recessed to provide generally vertical access to said engaging portions; a plurality of channel-like lower locking members having a lower Wall portion and horizontally spaced side wall portions extending upwardly from the sides of said lower wall portion, and an upper wall portion, said upper wall portion having a slot therein receiving the lower edge portion of said support panel, said lower locking members telescopically receiving and hold ing in alignment the end portions of adjacent lower support members within said lower locking member side wall portions, said lower locking members having recesses in the upper wall portion thereof cooperating with the recesses in the upper wall portions of said lower support members to provide vertical access therethrou-gh, a plurality of channel-like horizontal upper support members extending in end-to-end relationship about the periphery of said liner side wall portion, said upper support members being equal in number and substantially equal in length to said lower support members and being horizontally arcuate to conform closely to the periphery of said liner side wall portion and having spaced side, upper and lower wall portions and generally aligned slots in said lower wall portions horizontally extending therealong snugly receiving the upper edge portion of said support panel for aligning said upper edge portion and for lirnting transverse movement thereof, the end portions of said upper wall portions having downwardly projecting engaging portions and the end portions of said lower wall portions being recessed to provide generally vertical access to said engaging portions; a plurality of channel-like upper locking members having an upper wall portion and horizontally spaced side wall portions extending downwardly from the sides of said upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, said upper locking members being equal in number to and substantially vertically spaced above said lower locking members and telescopically receiving and holding in alignment the end portions of adjacent upper support members within said upper locking member side wall portions, said upper locking members having recesses in the lower wall portions thereof cooperating with the recesses in the lower wall portions of said upper support members to provide vertical access therethrough said upper locking members having a slot in the lower wall portion thereof receiving the upper edge portion of said support panel; and a plurality of vertical support members, the lower end portions of said vertical support members being engaged with said lower locking members to prevent substantial relative movement there-between, said lower wall portions of said adjacent lower support members being snugly interposed between said lower locking member lower wall portions and the lower ends of said vertical support members, said upwardly projecting engaging portions being engaged with said lower end portions of said vertical support members-to prevent said adjacent lower support members from sliding pcripherally away from said vertical support members and thereby from said locking members, the upper end portions of said vertical support members being engaged with said upper locking members to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween, said upper wall portions of said adjacent upper support members being snugly interposed between said upper locking member upper wall portions and the upper ends of said vertical support members, said downwardly projecting engaging portions being engaged with said upper end portions of said vertical support members to prevent said adjacent upper support members from sliding peripherally away from said vertical support members and thereby from said locking members, said vertical support members being vertically dimensioned to seat said upper locking members and thereby said upper support members and said lower locking members and thereby said lower support members about the upper and lower edges respectively of said support panel.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said vertical support members are generally channel-like and have peripherally spaced side wall portions, and wherein said upwardly projecting engaging portions and said downwardly projecting engaging portions abut against the interior surface of the lower and upper end portions respectively of said peripherally spaced side wall portions to prevent said lower and upper support members from sliding peripherally away from said vertical support members.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said upper and lower support members are substantially identically configured and dimensioned and wherein said upper and lower locking members are substantially identically configured and dimensioned for interchangeability.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said frame assembly includes a plurality of intermediate support members extending peripherally between said vertical support members intermediate said horizontal support members and outwardly of said panel and wherein said 10 vertical support members have apertures therein for seating the ends of said intermediate support members and are engaged therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,846,694 8/1958 Wallace 4-172 2,864,098 12/ 1958 Lorimer 4l72 3,142,069 7/1964 OConnell et al. 4l72 3,225,362 12/1965 Barrera 4l72 3,233,251 2/1966 Barrera 4l72 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE TYPE HAVING A LINER MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE, RELATIVELY WATERPROOF SHEET MATERIAL PROVIDING A BOTTOM WALL PORTION AND A SIDE WALL PORTION EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM WALL PORTION, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING SAID LINER MEMBER AND HAVING A RELATIVELY RIGID, GENERALLY VERTICAL SUPPORT PANEL EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID LINEAR SIDE WALL PORTION AND CLOSELY ADJACENT THERETO TO PROVIDE A RELATIVELY RIGID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT; A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP ABOUT SAID LINER MEMBER, SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING SPACED SIDE, OUTER AND INNER WALL PORTIONS AND GENERALLY ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID INNER WALL PORTIONS HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING THEREALONG AND SNUGLY RECEIVING ONE HORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT PANEL FOR ALIGNING SAID EDGE PORTION AND LIMITING TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT THEREOF; A PLURALITY OF LOCKING MEMBERS HAVING AN INNER WALL PORTION, HORIZONTALLY SPACED SIDE WALL PORTIONS AND AN OUTER WALL PORTION EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID SIDE WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING VERTICALLY INWARDLY OF SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY FROM SAID OUTER WALL PORTION, EACH OF SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVING AND HOLDING IN ALIGNMENT THE END PORTIONS OF A PAIR OF ADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITHIN SAID LOCKING MEMBER SIDE WALL PORTIONS, AND HAVING A CHANNEL IN THE INNER WALL PORTION RECEIVING ONE HORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT PANEL; AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING VERTICALLY INWARDLY OF SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY FROM SAID LOCKING MEMBERS, HAVING AN OUTER WALL PORTION SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORT PANEL AND SIDE WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING TOWARD SAID SIDE WALL PANEL, SAID INNER WALL PORTIONS OF SAID LOCKING MEMBERS AND SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING COOPERATING SEATING APERTURES THEREIN RECEIVING THE END PORTIONS OF SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID ADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH SAID LOCKING MEMBERS BEING SNUGLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID LOCKING MEMBER OUTER WALL PORTIONS AND ONE END OF SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID ADJACENT HORIZONAL SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITHIN SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TO PERMIT LIMITED RELATIVE HORIZONTAL TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN IN ASSEMBLY AND TO PREVENT SAID ADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS FROM SLIDING PERIPHERALLY AWAY FROM SAID LOCKING MEMBERS.