Wet Niche and Accessories for Vinyl and Sprayed Cement Pools

• US 20120227176A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Calafut, Perry Sickler
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Calafut, Perry Sickler
• Inventors: Calafut, Edward J., Sickler, Perry
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/496
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

At least one socket in a swimming pool allows for the mounting of at least one pool accessory by way of a post mounted in the socket. In some embodiments, the socket is located in the bottom of the pool. In some embodiments, the socket is coupled to an electricity source to provide electricity to the post or pool accessory. In some embodiments, the socket is coupled to an air source to provide bubbles. In some embodiments, the socket is coupled to a fog source to provide a fog supply. In some embodiments, the socket is coupled to a water source to provide water flow to the post or pool accessory. In some embodiments, the fluid supplied to the post includes a scent. In some embodiments, the socket includes a light source and the post includes optical fibers to transmit light from the light source through the post.

Claims

1. A swimming pool accessory mounting system comprising:

at least one wet niche located in a floor portion of a swimming pool, the wet niche comprising;

a post socket having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and forming an enclosure;

a top flange mounted to the first end of the post socket;

a bottom flange mounted to the second end of the post socket;

a face plate mounted to the top flange; and

a gasket forming a watertight seal between the top flange and the face plate.

2. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 1 further comprising at least one mounting post having a first end received by the post socket of the wet niche.

3. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 2 further comprising an o-ring forming a watertight seal and an airtight seal between the post socket of the wet niche and the mounting post.

4. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 1 further comprising an electrical line supplying electricity from an electrical source and extending through the foundation and comprising an electrical port accessible by way of the enclosure.

5. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 2 further comprising a fluid line extending through the foundation and supplying a fluid to the enclosure from a fluid source.

6. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 5, wherein the fluid is a gas and the mounting post has at least one hole located underwater when the first end of the mounting post is received by the post socket, such that the gas bubbles out of the hole.

7. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 2 further comprising at least one swimming pool accessory coupled to a second end of the mounting post opposite the first end.

8. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 7, wherein the swimming pool accessory is selected from the group consisting of a barstool, a sofa, a bench, a chair, a hammock, a table, a ladder, an awning, a railing, a lighting structure, a basketball hoop, a volleyball net, and a play structure.

9. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the wet niche further comprises:

a lighting source housing extending vertically from below the bottom flange into the enclosure;

a lighting source socket formed in the lighting source housing; and

a lighting source mounted in the lighting source socket and coupled to an electricity source.

10. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 9, wherein the lighting source is a light-emitting diode.

11. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of optical fibers mounted in the mounting post such that when the mounting post is mounted in the socket, a first end of the optical fibers is located directly above the lighting source.

12. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 1 further comprising a scent line extending through the foundation and supplying a scent to the enclosure from a scent source.

13. The swimming pool accessory mounting system of claim 1 further comprising a fog line extending through the foundation and supplying a fog to the enclosure from a fog source.

14. A method of reversibly mounting a swimming pool accessory comprising:

inserting a first end of a mounting post into a post socket of a wet niche located in a floor portion of a swimming pool, wherein an o-ring forms a watertight seal and an airtight seal between the mounting post and the post socket and wherein the swimming pool accessory is coupled to a second end of the mounting post opposite the first end.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the swimming pool accessory is selected from the group consisting of a barstool, a sofa, a bench, a chair, a hammock, a table, a ladder, an awning, a railing, a lighting structure, a basketball hoop, a volleyball net, and a play structure.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising supplying electricity from an electrical source through the foundation, the wet niche, and the mounting post to the accessory.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising supplying air from an air source through the foundation and the wet niche to the mounting post to form bubbles.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of inserting a first end of a mounting post into a post socket comprises the sub-step of aligning a first end of a plurality of optical fibers mounted in the mounting post with a lighting source in the wet niche.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising supplying a scent from a scent source through the foundation and the wet niche to the mounting post.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising supplying fog from a fog source through the foundation and the wet niche to the mounting post.