Radius corner plate for a pool

• US 7,114,297 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Latham Pool Products, Inc (Latham Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pool Cover Specialist National Incorporated (Latham Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mathis, Wesley L., Dalton, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amiri, Nahid
• Application Number:
  US10/347,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 521/697, 521/91, 521/82, 522/871, 521/02, 52/85, 52/86, 449/6, 448/8, 449/9, 450/6, 450/7, 449/8, 450/3, 451/0
• US Class Current: 52/169.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/141 Coping elements for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools

Abstract

A modular rounded corner piece for forming rounded corners of a pool. The modular rounded corner piece may include a plate portion and a liner receptor portion. The liner receptor portion may include a channel formed by a top wall and a bottom wall. The channel may align with a pool liner receptor slot in the coping around the perimeter of the pool. Thus, a continuous liner receptor slot may be formed around the interior circumference of the pool for receiving an edge of a pool liner thereinto. The modular rounded corner piece may be installed on the pool sidewall to provide a gapless alignment between the liner receptor on the pool sidewall and the liner receptor in the rounded side of the corner plate.

Claims

1. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving a pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side;

wherein said curved portion defines a concave curve; and

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween, and wherein said channel has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said channel between said top wall and said bottom wall.

2. The modular corner piece of claim 1, wherein said first side of said corner plate is disposed at a right angle with respect to said second side.

3. The modular corner piece of claim 1, wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

4. The modular corner piece of claim 1, further comprising at least one end configured for abutting with a coping end on said pool wall.

5. The modular corner piece of claim 1, wherein said corner plate has an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein said liner receptor portion extends above said upper surface.

6. The modular corner piece of claim 1, wherein said channel extends from an upper surface of said corner plate to a lower surface of said corner plate.

7. The modular corner piece of claim 4, further comprising a substantially rigid coping portion for aligning with said coping end to form a coping corner.

8. The modular corner piece of claim 4, further comprising a linear coping portion for aligning with said coping end, said liner receptor being aligned with said linear coping portion at said at least one end and curving away from said linear portion.

9. The modular corner piece of claim 5, wherein said liner receptor portion extends below said lower surface.

11. The modular corner piece of claim 4, wherein said flange is attached to said corner plate using fasteners.

10. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said liner receptor portion includes a flange for attaching said liner receptor portion to said corner plate;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

12. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said first side and said second side of said corner plate each comprise a shoulder;

wherein said curved portion extends beyond said shoulders; and

wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

13. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate comprising a first side and a second side; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving a pool liner;

wherein said liner receptor portion includes a flange for attaching said liner receptor portion to said corner plate; and

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween, and wherein said channel has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said channel between said top wall and said bottom wall;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

14. The modular corner piece of claim 13, wherein said flange is attached to said corner plate using fasteners.

15. The modular corner piece of claim 13, wherein said first side of said corner plate is disposed at a right angle with respect to said second side.

16. The modular corner piece of claim 15, wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side.

17. The modular corner piece of claim 13, wherein said corner plate forms a substantially planar member.

18. The modular corner piece of claim 13, wherein said corner plate has an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein said liner receptor portion extends above said upper surface.

19. The modular corner piece of claim 13, wherein said channel extends from an upper surface of said corner plate to a lower surface of said corner plate.

20. The modular corner piece of claim 18, wherein said liner receptor portion extends below said lower surface.

21. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate comprising a first side configured to fit within said slot, and a second side configured to fit within said slot; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein when said first side and said second side of said corner plate are installed within said slot, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said slot;

wherein said first side and said second side of said corner plate each comprise a shoulder;

wherein said curved portion extends beyond said shoulders;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

22. A system forming a corner of a pool, said system comprising:

a slot formed in a perimeter of said pool, said slot configured for receiving a pool liner;

a modular corner piece, said modular corner piece comprising a corner plate and a curved portion, said corner plate configured to be received within said slot such that said curved portion defines a corner of said pool.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said curved portion is disposed on said corner plate in alignment with said slot.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said slot is defined in a coping extending around said perimeter of said pool.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said coping further comprises a track retainer for retaining a pool cover track for guiding an edge of a retractable pool cover.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said coping further comprises a lighting channel for housing lighting devices.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said coping defining said slot and said track retainer is formed of a single piece.

28. A system for forming a corner of a pool, said system comprising:

a coping for extending around a perimeter of said pool, said coping having a first linear side and a second linear side that come together at a coping corner, said coping comprising a pool liner receptor slot configured for receiving a pool liner;

a modular corner piece, said modular corner piece comprising a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side configured to be received in said liner receptor slot in said first linear side of said coping and a second side configured to be received in said liner receptor slot in said second linear side of said coping, said first side of said corner plate and said second side of said corner plate intersecting at a corner point, said modular corner piece further comprising a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein when said first side of said corner plate and said second side of said corner plate are inserted in said pool liner receptor slot at said coping corner, said curved portion is disposed in elevational alignment with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween;

wherein said liner receptor portion includes a flange for attaching said liner receptor portion to said corner plate;

wherein said flange is attached to said corner plate using fasteners;

wherein said first side of said corner plate is disposed at a right angle with respect to said second side of said corner plate;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side of said corner plate and said second side of said corner plate;

wherein said first side of said corner plate and said second side of said corner plate each comprise a shoulder;

wherein said curved portion extends beyond said shoulders;

wherein said coping further comprises a track retainer for retaining a pool cover track for guiding an edge of a retractable pool cover;

wherein said coping defining said liner receptor slot and said track retainer is formed of a single piece; and

wherein when said modular corner piece is installed in said coping, said pool liner receptor slot forms a continuous path with said liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner.

29. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving a pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein a distance between a top surface of said top wall to a bottom surface of said bottom wall is greater than a thickness of said corner plate between an upper surface of said corner plate and a lower surface of said corner plate; and

wherein said corner plate is solid throughout said thickness such that said corner plate extends from said top wall to said bottom wall through said thickness.

30. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said corner plate comprises an upper surface defining an uppermost boundary of said corner plate, and a lower surface defining a lowermost boundary of said corner plate, and wherein at least one of said first side and said second side define a substantially continuous planar surface between said upper surface and said lower surface characterized by an absence of protrusions extending therefrom;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

31. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate comprising a first side and a second side; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving a pool liner;

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein a distance between a top surface of said top wall to a bottom surface of said bottom wall is greater than a thickness of said corner plate between an upper surface of said corner plate and a lower surface of said corner plate; and

wherein said corner plate is solid throughout said thickness;

and wherein said curved portion composes a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

32. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate comprising a first side configured to fit within said slot, and a second side configured to fit within said slot; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein when said first side and said second side of said corner plate are installed within said slot, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said slot;

wherein said curved portion defines a concave curve;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

33. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate comprising a first side configured to fit within said slot, and a second side configured to fit within said slot; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein when said first side and said second side of said corner plate are installed within said slot, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said slot;

wherein said corner plate comprises an upper surface defining an uppermost boundary of said corner plate, and a lower surface defining a lowermost boundary of said corner plate, and wherein at least one of said first side and said second side define a substantially continuous planar surface between said upper surface and said lower surface characterized by an absence of protrusions extending therefrom;

and wherein said curved portion comprises a curved portion slot for receiving said corner plate.

34. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said liner receptor portion includes a flange for attaching said liner receptor portion to said corner plate; and

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween, and wherein said channel has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said channel between said top wall and said bottom wall.

35. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said first side and said second side of said corner plate each comprise a shoulder;

wherein said curved portion extends beyond said shoulders; and

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween, and wherein said channel has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said channel between said top wall and said bottom wall.

36. A modular corner piece for forming a corner of a pool, said pool including a sidewall having a pool liner receptor slot for receiving a pool liner, said modular corner piece comprising:

a corner plate defining a substantially planar member comprising a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side intersecting at a corner point; and

a curved portion including a liner receptor portion for receiving said pool liner;

wherein said curved portion extends between said first side and said second side such that when said corner plate is installed in said pool sidewall, said liner receptor portion is aligned with said pool liner receptor slot;

wherein said corner plate comprises an upper surface defining an uppermost boundary of said corner plate, and a lower surface defining a lowermost boundary of said corner plate, and wherein at least one of said first side and said second side define a substantially continuous planar surface between said upper surface and said lower surface characterized by an absence of protrusions extending therefrom; and

wherein said liner receptor portion comprises a top wall and a bottom wall defining a channel therebetween, and wherein said channel has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said channel between said top wall and said bottom wall.