Methods and Means for Improving the Interior Surfaces of Pools

• US 20150129109A1
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alliance Trading, Inc. (Pool Corp)
• Original Assignee: Alliance Trading, Inc. (Pool Corp)
• Inventors: Reavis, Thurman Lynn
• Application Number:
  US14/509,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20150129109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/71
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2004/146 Fixing of liners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1272 Skimmers integrated in the pool wall
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A liner for finishing an interior pool surface is disclosed, the liner including a water resistant material; and a predetermined decorative pattern or design, wherein the pattern or design is applied onto at least one side of the liner. The patterns and designs may be either two- or three-dimensional, and can include iridescent and/or reflective inks, reflective beads and/or pebbles and so on, and be arranged in either predetermined or randomized arrays. A customized pool skimmer face plate system is also disclosed, including at least a skimmer face plate cover; a template having a size and shape proportional to the size and shape of the face plate cover; a water-resistant material bearing a color, pattern, or design; and a wrapper created from the water-resistant material using the template that complements neighboring colors, patterns and designs surrounding the skimmer face plate installation location.

Claims

1. A method for customizing and finishing an interior pool surface, said method comprising:

selecting a desired decorative pattern or design;

applying said decorative pattern or design onto at least one side of a liner, wherein said liner comprises a water-resistant material; and

affixing said liner to an interior surface of a pool.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying said decorative pattern or design onto a vinyl liner.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying said decorative pattern onto said liner by means of a printing process.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising a three-dimensional decorative indicia onto said liner.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of a pebble and a bead.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of a reflective pebble and a reflective bead.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of an iridescent ink and a reflective ink.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising a patterned appearance.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a decorative pattern or design comprising a patterned appearance wherein every n^th tile, whether an actual tile segment or a simulated tile separation appearance created on a surface of said liner, repeats said pattern or design.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a randomly distributed decorative pattern or design.

11. A liner for customizing and finishing an interior pool surface, said liner comprising:

a water resistant material; and

a predetermined decorative pattern or design;

wherein said decorative pattern or design is applied onto at least one side of said liner.

12. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a decorative pattern applied thereon by means of a digital printing process.

13. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a decorative pattern applied thereon by means of a screen printing process.

14. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising a three-dimensional decorative indicia.

15. The liner of claim 14, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of a pebble and a bead.

16. The liner of claim 15, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of a reflective pebble and a reflective bead.

17. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising one or more of an iridescent ink and a reflective ink.

18. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising a patterned appearance.

19. The liner of claim 18, further comprising:

a decorative pattern or design comprising a patterned appearance wherein every n^th tile, whether an actual tile segment or a simulated tile separation appearance created on a surface of said liner, repeats said pattern or design.

20. The liner of claim 11, further comprising:

a randomly distributed decorative pattern or design.

21. A method for customizing a pool skimmer face plate, said method comprising:

selecting a skimmer face plate cover having a predetermined size and shape proportional to said pool skimmer face plate size and shape;

selecting a template having a size and shape proportional to the size and shape of said skimmer face plate cover, said template further comprising a cutting pattern, wherein said cutting pattern includes a cut-out to accommodate a mouth opening of said skimmer face plate cover;

selecting a water-resistant material having one or more of a color, a decorative pattern, and a decorative design, applied thereon;

using said template to create a skimmer face plate cover wrapper from said water-resistant material;

affixing said wrapper around the skimmer face plate cover such that said one or more of a color, a decorative pattern and a decorative design of the water-resistant wrapper material complements neighboring colors, patterns and designs surrounding a skimmer face plate installation location; and

fastening the wrapped skimmer face plate cover onto said pool skimmer face plate.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

affixing said skimmer face plate cover wrapper using an adhesive backing.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

affixing said skimmer face plate cover wrapper around the skimmer face plate cover using a compatible, waterproof adhesive comprising one or more of a glue, a gel, a spray and a tape.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

selecting a vinyl water-resistant material having one or more of a color, a decorative pattern, and a decorative design, applied thereon.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

selecting a template having a size and shape larger than the size and shape of said skimmer face plate cover.

26. A system for customizing a pool skimmer face plate, said system comprising:

a skimmer face plate cover having a predetermined size and shape proportional to said pool skimmer face plate size and shape, wherein said skimmer face plate cover is attachable to said pool skimmer face plate;

a template having a size and shape proportional to the size and shape of said skimmer face plate cover, said template further comprising a cutting pattern, wherein said cutting pattern includes a cut-out to accommodate a mouth opening of said skimmer face plate cover;

a water-resistant material having one or more of a color, a decorative pattern, and a decorative design, applied thereon;

a skimmer face plate cover wrapper created from said water-resistant material using said template, wherein said one or more of a color, a decorative pattern and a decorative design applied upon said water-resistant wrapper material complements neighboring colors, patterns and designs surrounding a skimmer face plate installation location.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a skimmer face plate cover wrapper having an adhesive backing.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a skimmer face plate cover wrapper affixed upon said skimmer face plate cover using a compatible, waterproof adhesive comprising one or more of a glue, a gel, a spray and a tape.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a vinyl water-resistant material having one or more of a color, a decorative pattern, and a decorative design, applied thereon.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a template having a size and shape larger than the size and shape of said skimmer face plate cover.