Method and apparatus for mounting of upright posts in swimming pools

• US 5,040,251 A
• Filed: 07/06/1990
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanford Pool & SPA Center Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hanford Pool & SPA Center Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanford, Marvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US07/553,856
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 4/488, 4/494, 4/496, 4/498, 4/503, 4/506, 52/297, 52/298, 52/169.7, 52/184, 182/93, 256/1, 248/511, 248/519, 248/530
• US Class Current: 4/496
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/028 Floor sockets for removable poles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/144 Means for facilitating access, e.g. step units or slides invalid-lifting devices for swimming pools A61G7/1005

Abstract

A method and apparatus for installing a mounting support for upright supporting posts in pools, particularly of the type having a vinyl liner. A hollow tube having a closed lower end and a coupler collar at the upper end is embedded in the ground defining the bottom of the pool. A top plate and gasket are secured to the coupler collar with the vinyl liner positioned therebetween. An upright post for a swimming pool accessory may then be easily engaged in or disengaged from the mounting support. A pop-on cap may be fitted to the opening of the mounting support when the mounting support is not in use.

Claims

1. A method of installing a mounting support for reception of an upright supporting post of a swimming pool accessory in a swimming pool of the type having a vinyl liner, said method comprising embedding an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end and a coupler collar mounted on its upper end in an area of the ground defining the bottom of the pool with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the bottom of the pool, positioning a vinyl liner over the embedded upright hollow tube and the ground defining the bottom of the pool, fastening a top plate with a sealing gasket to the coupler collar with the vinyl liner positioned therebetween so as to provide a watertight seal with the vinyl liner and wherein the top plate is provided with a hole therethrough of about the same size as the inner diameter of the upright embedded tube, and severing and removing the vinyl liner exposed within the hole in the top plate to gain access to the interior of the embedded upright hollow tube for thereby providing a mounting support for reception therein of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory.

2. A method of installing a mounting support for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in a swimming pool of the type having a concrete floor, said method comprising embedding an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end and a coupler collar in an area of ground below the floor with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the top of the finished concrete floor, and pouring the concrete floor around the upright hollow tube and coupler collar to thereby provide a mounting support for reception therein of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory.

3. A method of installing an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in the bottom of a swimming pool, said method comprising embedding an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end and a coupler collar mounted on its upper end in an area of the ground defining the bottom of the pool with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the finished bottom of the pool and positioning a supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in the upright embedded tube.

4. A method of installing an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in a swimming pool of the type having a vinyl liner, said method comprising embedding an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end and a coupler collar mounted on its upper end in an area of the ground defining the bottom of the pool with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the bottom of the pool, positioning a vinyl liner over the embedded upright hollow tube and the ground defining the bottom of the pool, fastening a top plate with a sealing gasket to the coupler collar with the vinyl liner positioned therebetween so as to provide a watertight seal with the vinyl liner and wherein the top plate is provided with a hole therethrough of about the same size as the inner diameter of the upright embedded tube, severing and removing the vinyl liner exposed within the hole in the top plate to gain access to the interior of the upright hollow tube, and positioning a supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in the upright embedded tube for thereby being supported by the embedded tube.

5. A method of installing an upright supporting post in a swimming pool of the type having a concrete floor, said method comprising embedding an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end and a coupler collar in an area of ground below the floor with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the top of the finished concrete floor, pouring the concrete floor around the upright hollow tube and coupler collar, and positioning a supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in the upright embedded tube for thereby being supported by the embedded tube.

6. A mounting support for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory in a swimming pool of the type having a vinyl liner, said mounting support comprising:

a hollow tube of at least about a foot in length;

an end cap closing one end of said tube and adapted to serve as a closed lower end of the tube;

a coupler collar mounted on the opposite end of said tube adapted to serve as the upper end of the tube, said coupler collar having upper and lower flanges, said lower flange adapted to be embedded with said tube when installed for aiding in anchoring the tube in ground at the bottom of a swimming pool;

a top plate and gasket overlying said upper flange and adapted for securing a vinyl liner between said gasket and said upper flange; and

fastener means penetrating said top plate and gasket and adjacent portions of said coupler collar for connecting said top plate to said coupler collar in sealed relation with a vinyl liner therebetween.

7. A mounting support according to claim 6 wherein an annular undercut is provided internally of said coupler collar in the lower portion thereof for reception of the upper end of said hollow tube.

8. In combination with a swimming pool of the type having a vinyl liner, a mounting support in the pool for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory, said mounting support comprising an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end embedded in an area of the ground below said vinyl liner defining the bottom of the pool, a coupler collar mounted on the upper end of said embedded upright tube with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the bottom of the pool and in engagement with the underside of said vinyl liner, a gasket overlying said vinyl liner above said coupler collar, a top plate overlying said gasket, said top plate having a hole therethrough of about the same size as the inner diameter of said embedded tube, and fastener means penetrating said top plate and adjacent portions of said underlying coupler collar and said gasket for providing a water tight seal with said vinyl liner whereby the portions of the vinyl liner exposed within the hole of the top plate may be severed and removed to thereby provide a mounting support for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory.

9. In combination with a swimming pool of the type having a concrete floor, a mounting support in the pool for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory, said mounting support comprising an upright hollow tube with a closed lower end embedded in the concrete floor defining the bottom of the pool, and a coupler collar mounted on the upper end of said embedded upright tube with the upper end of the coupler collar positioned to terminate substantially flush with the finished bottom of the concrete floor of the pool to thereby provide a mounting support for reception of an upright supporting post for a swimming pool accessory.