U.S. patent application number 10/046365 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for wall brace for swimming pool wall.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kiefer Pool Equipment Co.. Invention is credited to Rumachik, Paul.
Application Number | 20030132357 10/046365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21943061 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132357 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rumachik, Paul |
July 17, 2003 |
Wall brace for swimming pool wall
Abstract
For mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool, a
brace made from a single sheet of stainless steel has plural
members, which are unitary with one another and which have
reinforcing flanges. Each brace is cut from such a sheet via a
laser, which may be computer-controlled, and a subsequent bending
operation provides said brace with flanges, as and where indicated
above. Hence, dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from
one brace to another can be easily achieved.
Inventors: |
Rumachik, Paul; (Kenosha,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
CITICORP CENTER, SUITE 33800
500 WEST MADISON STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60661-2511
US
|
Assignee: |
Kiefer Pool Equipment Co.
|
Family ID: |
21943061 |
Appl. No.: |
10/046365 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/0043
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/300 |
International
Class: |
A47H 001/10 |
Claims
1. A brace made from sheet metal and having plural members, which
are unitary with one another, for mounting outside and against a
wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly
directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is
filled with water, wherein the unitary members include a vertically
mountable member mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and
against the wall of the swimming pool, wherein the unitary members
further include plural unitary members oriented so as to extend
outwardly from the vertically mountable member when the vertically
mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation,
outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, each outwardly
extensible member having a proximal end, which adjoins the
vertically mountable member, and each outwardly extensible member
having a distal end, wherein at least one of the outwardly
extensible members is oriented so as to be vertically spaced above
a bottom one of the outwardly extensible members when the
vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical
orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and
wherein a further one of the unitary members is oriented so as to
extend downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to
intersect the distal ends of the outwardly extensible members.
2. The brace of claim 1 wherein the unitary members are oriented so
that the bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends
downwardly and horizontally and so that each other one of the
outwardly extensible members extends horizontally when the
vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical
orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.
3. The brace of claim 1 wherein each member has two generally
parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins
another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion
of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member
where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member
is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said
member.
4. The brace of claim 2 wherein each member has two generally
parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins
another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion
of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member
where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member
is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said
member.
5. A brace made from sheet metal and having plural members, which
are unitary with one another, for mounting outside and against a
wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly
directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is
filled with water, wherein the unitary members include a vertically
mountable member mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and
against the wall of the swimming pool, wherein the unitary members
further include plural unitary members oriented so as to extend
outwardly from the vertically mountable member when the vertically
mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation,
outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, each outwardly
extensible member having a proximal end, which adjoins the
vertically mountable member, and each outwardly extensible member
having a distal end, wherein two of the outwardly extensible
members are oriented so as to be vertically spaced above a bottom
one of the outwardly extensible members when the vertically
mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation,
outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and wherein a
further one of the unitary members is oriented so as to extend
downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to
intersect the distal ends of the outwardly extensible members.
6. The brace of claim 5 wherein the unitary members are oriented so
that the bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends
downwardly and horizontally and so that each other one of the
outwardly extensible members extends horizontally when the
vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical
orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.
7. The brace of claim 5 wherein each member has two generally
parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins
another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion
of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member
where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member
is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said
member.
8. The brace of claim 6 wherein each member has two generally
parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins
another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion
of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member
where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member
is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said
member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains to a brace for mounting outside and
against a wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against
outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming
pool is filled with water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A swimming pool of a modem type has stainless steel walls
clad with polyvinyl chloride, flooring made from polyvinyl
chloride, and multiple braces, which are mounted outside and
against the walls at spaced intervals, e.g., every three feet, and
which are anchored to concrete slabs. The braces are used to brace
the walls against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted
when the swimming pool is filled with water. In an in-ground
installation, if backfill is compacted against the walls, the
compacted backfill may be also used to brace the walls against
those forces. In an above-ground installation, even if the braces
are enclosed by decking or otherwise, the walls are braced against
those forces solely or primarily by the braces. Swimming pools of
the noted type are available commercially from Kiefer Pool
Equipment Co. of Zion, Ill., under its MILLENIUM trademark.
[0003] Prior art braces for those swimming pools have been
fabricated from multiple, elongate pieces of galvanized steel, each
defining a right angle in cross section, which comprise vertical,
horizontal, and sloping pieces that are welded at multiple joints.
Such braces have been found to have shortcomings. It has been found
to be very expensive to fabricate those braces with properly made
welds. Improperly made welds are prone to corrosion, failures, or
both. It has been found to be very difficult to achieve dimensional
uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another.
Absent dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one
brace to another, installation of a swimming pool of the noted type
may prove to be unduly expensive, particularly if each brace has to
be extensively adjusted before or after being anchored to a
concrete slab.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention provides a brace made sheet metal, e.g.,
stainless steel, so as to have plural members, which are unitary
with one another, for mounting outside and against a wall of a
swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly directed
forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with
water.
[0005] One of those unitary members is mountable in a vertical
orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and
may be conveniently called a vertically mountable member. Plural
unitary members are oriented so as to extend outwardly from the
vertically mountable member when the vertically mountable member is
mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against
the wall of the swimming pool, and may be conveniently called
outwardly extensible members. Each of those outwardly extensible
members has a proximal end, which adjoins the vertically mountable
member, and a distal end.
[0006] Generally, at least one of the outwardly extensible members
is oriented so as to be vertically spaced above a bottom one of the
outwardly extensible members when the vertically mountable member
is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against
the wall of the swimming pool. Preferably, two outwardly extensible
members are oriented similarly. In any event, a further one of the
unitary members is oriented so as to extend downwardly and
outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the distal
ends of the outwardly extensible members.
[0007] Preferably, the unitary members are oriented so that the
bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends downwardly
and horizontally and so that each other one of the outwardly
extensible members extends horizontally when the vertically
mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation,
outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, each member has two generally
parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins
another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion
of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member
where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member
is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said
member.
[0009] In a preferred mode for carrying out this invention, each
brace is cut from such a sheet via a laser, which may be
computer-controlled, and a subsequent bending operation provides
said brace with flanges, as and where indicated above. Hence,
dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to
another can be easily achieved, within tolerances that are
appropriate for installation of a swimming pool of the noted
type.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brace embodying this
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating several braces,
each conforming to the brace of FIG. 1, as positioned for mounting
outside and against a wall of a swimming pool. In FIG. 2, a portion
of the wall, which has a gutter at its upper edge, and a portion of
the gutter are suggested in broken lines.
[0012] FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively, are front, back,
top, bottom, left edge, and right edge views of the brace, as
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and other views, a brace 10
embodying this invention is cut from a single sheet of stainless
steel via a computer-controlled laser (not shown) and is bent, in a
subsequent bending operation, so as to have plural members, which
are unitary with one another, and so as to have plural flanges,
which are unitary with those members. Braces similar to and
including the brace 10 are intended to replace prior art braces
described above and, except as explained below, to function
similarly, to be similarly mounted, and to be similarly
anchored.
[0014] As suggested in FIG. 2, braces similar to and including the
brace 10 are mounted to a wall W of a swimming pool P and to other
walls of the swimming pool P at spaced intervals, e.g., every three
feet, so as to brace the wall W and the other walls against
outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming
pool P is filled with water. The brace 10 is anchored to a concrete
slab S via a known anchor (not shown) and the similar braces
mounted to the wall Wand to the other walls are anchored similarly.
As suggested in FIG. 2, the wall W of the swimming pool P has a
gutter G, which is attached to the wall W along an upper edge of
the wall W. The other walls of the swimming pool P have similar
gutters. The brace 10 and the similar braces mounted to the walls
including the wall W are adapted to support the gutters including
the gutter G.
[0015] Advantageously, the laser-cutting and subsequent bending
operations enable dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness
from one brace to another to be easily achieved, within tolerances
that are appropriate for installation of a swimming pool of the
type noted above. Particular details of laser-cutting and
subsequent bending operations can be readily supplied by persons
having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this
invention. Particular details of the swimming pool P, of its walls
including the wall P, and of its gutters including the gutter G can
be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and
are outside the scope of this invention. Particular details of the
concrete slabs including the concrete slab S and of the anchors
noted above can be readily supplied by persons having ordinary
skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention.
[0016] The unitary members of the brace 10 comprise a member 20
that is mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and against
the wall W of the swimming pool P, and that may be conveniently
called a vertically mountable member 20. The vertically mountable
member 20 has spaced holes 22 to receive suitable fasteners (not
shown) which are used to mount the vertically mountable member 20,
in the vertical orientation, to an outside surface of the wall W of
the swimming pool P. Particular details of suitable fasteners can
be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and
are outside the scope of this invention. The brace 10 is formed, as
discussed above, so that the vertically mountable member 20 has a
reinforcing flange 24 along one edge, i.e., the edge nearest to the
outside surface of wall W of the swimming pool P when the
vertically mounted member 20 is mounted thereto.
[0017] The unitary members of the brace 10 comprise three unitary
members that are oriented so as to extend outwardly from the
vertically mountable member 20 when the vertically mountable member
20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, and
that may be conveniently called outwardly extensible members.
[0018] The outwardly extensible members comprise a lowermost member
30, which has a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34, which is
oriented so as to extend outwardly and downwardly in a sloping
orientation from the vertically mountable member 20 when the
vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical
orientation, as described above, and which adjoins the vertically
mountable member 20 so that the proximal end 32 of the lowermost
member 30 is spaced above the nearer end 26 of the vertically
mountable member 20, i.e., its lower end 26, when the vertically
mountable member 20 is mounted in its vertical orientation. The
lowermost member 30 has a reinforcing flange 36 extending along
substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper edge when the
vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical
orientation. The lowermost member 30 has a reinforcing flange 38
extending along substantially all of its opposite edge.
[0019] The outwardly extensible members comprise an intermediate
member 40, which has a proximal end 42 and a distal end 44, which
is oriented so as to extend outwardly and horizontally from the
vertically mountable member 20, and which adjoins the vertically
mountable member 20 so that the proximal end 42 of the intermediate
member 40 is spaced above the proximal end 32 of the lowermost
member 30 and below one end 38 of the vertically mountable member
30, i.e., its upper end, when the vertically mountable member 20 is
mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above. The
intermediate member 40 has a reinforcing flange 46 extending along
substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper edge when the
vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical
orientation. The intermediate member 40 has a reinforcing flange 48
extending along substantially all of its opposite edge.
[0020] The outwardly extensible members comprise an uppermost
member 50, which has a proximal end 52 and a distal end 54, which
is oriented so as to extend outwardly and horizontally from the
vertically mountable member 20 when the vertically mountable member
20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, and
which adjoins the vertically mountable member 20 so that the
proximal end 52 of the uppermost member 50 is spaced above the
proximal end 42 of the intermediate member 40 and below the nearer
end 28 of the vertically mountable member 20, i.e., its upper end,
when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical
orientation. The uppermost member 50 has a reinforcing flange 54
extending along a substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper
edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the
vertical orientation. The uppermost member 50 has a reinforcing
flange 56 along substantially all of its opposite edge.
[0021] The unitary members of the brace 10 further comprise an
intersecting member 60 that is oriented so as to extend downwardly
and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the
distal end 54 of the uppermost member 50, the distal end 44 of the
intermediate member 40, and the distal end 32 of the lowermost
member 30. The intersecting member 60 has a reinforcing flange 62
extending along a substantially all of one edge, i.e., its outer
edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the
vertical orientation, as described above.
[0022] The brace further comprises a gusset 70 merging with the
uppermost member 50, at end near the distal end 54 of the uppermost
member 50, and merging with the intersecting member 60, so as to be
disposed above uppermost member 50 when the vertically mountable
member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described
above. In a region above the uppermost member 50, between the
vertically mountable member 20 and the gusset 70, the brace 10 is
adapted to support the gutter G of the swimming pool P.
[0023] The gusset 70 is triangular except for a small, rectangular
region 72, which is its uppermost region when the vertically
mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as
described above. The gusset 70 has a reinforcing flange 72
extending along one edge, i.e., its outer edge when the vertically
mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as
described above, so that the reinforcing flange 62 of the
intersecting member 60 and the reinforcing flange 72 of the gusset
70 are seamless, coplanar continuations of each other. The gusset
70 has a reinforcing flange 74 extending along another edge, which
is nearer to the vertically mountable member 20 and which is
vertical when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the
vertical orientation, as described above. The gusset 70 has a
reinforcing flange 80, which either is formed as an extension of
the small, rectangular region 72 of the gusset 70 and is welded to
the reinforcing flange 74 along a welded seam 82, as illustrated,
or is formed as an extension of the reinforcing flange 74 and is
welded to the small, rectangular region 72 of the gusset 70.
[0024] At its distal end 43, the lowermost member 30 has an endmost
flange 90, which is oriented to as to be substantially horizontal
when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical
orientation, as described above, which is welded to the reinforcing
flange 38 of the lowermost member 30, along a welded seam 92, and
which is welded to the reinforcing flange 62 of the intersecting
member 60, along a welded seam 94. The small flange 90, which rests
on the concrete slab S when the brace 10 is anchored to the
concrete slab S. The endmost flange 90 of the lowermost member 30,
the reinforcing flange 62 of the intersecting member 60, or both
can have suitable apertures (not shown) to accommodate an anchor
(not shown) used to anchor the brace 10 to the concrete slab S.
* * * * *