Safety Ladder For Above-ground Swimming Pool

Abstract

An improved ladder assembly is provided for the aboveground type of swimming pool. The ladder of the invention may be bolted to the top edge of the side of the swimming pool, and the section of the ladder outside of the pool is pivotally mounted so that it may be swung up off the ground for safety reasons, and to prevent unattended children, for example, from climbing up the ladder and falling into the pool.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The usual prior art ladder assembly for use with aboveground swimming pools usually includes an inner section which has steps extending down into the water in the pool; and it also includes an outer section which has side rails resting on the ground, and which includes steps to enable one to climb up over the side and into the pool. However, the prior art type of ladder is a potential hazard to children, since they may climb up into the pool when they are not appropriately supervised.

The ladder assembly of the present invention, however, by the simple expedient described above, completely removes the hazard, and it provides a simple and expeditious means for rendering the pool absolutely safe, insofar as small children are concerned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. l is an external view of an aboveground swimming pool, and showing the external part of the ladder assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and with the ladder assembly in position for normal usage;

FIG. 2 is an external view of the aboveground swimming pool of FIG. l, and showing the external section of the ladder assembly of FIG. l swung up into a safe position, so as to prevent use by unattended children; and

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the upper portion of the ladder assembly, and the manner in which the ladder assembly is secured to the top edge of the pool.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. l. 16 of the pool by 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

The ladder assembly illustrated in the drawing includes an external section having a pair of side rails 10 and 12 which extend down from the top 14 of the side 16 of the swimming pool, when the outer section is in its normal position, and to the ground, as shown in FIG. l. The side rails 10 and 12 include a plurality of transverse steps 20 extending therebetween. The outer section of the ladder assembly is supported on the top of the side of the pool by means of a pair of side brackets 24 and 26 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the pool, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A pair of handles, each having an inverted U-shaped configuration, are secured to the side brackets, these handles being designated 30 and 32. The ladder assembly also includes an inner section which extends down into the pool, and whose side rails, for example, may be integral with the inner portions of the handles.

As shown in FIGS. 1--3, the upper ends of the side rails 10 and 12 of the external section of the ladder assembly are pivotally secured to the brackets 24 and 26 by means, for example, of bolts 34 and 36. This permits the outer section to be swung up from the position shown in FIG. l, to the position shown in FIG. 2, when the pool is not in use, and for the reasons described above.

As best shown in FIG. 3, for example, the top edge 14 of the pool may form a deck seat for the pool ladder to add to the convenience of the assembly.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved safety ladder assembly for use with aboveground swimming pools, and which provides a simple and foolproof means, whereby the pool may be rendered safe from unauthorized use by small children, small animals, or the like.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. In combination with the top edge of the side of an aboveground swimming pool:

a pair of side brackets affixed to said top edge and extending thereacross in spaced relationship to one another;

a ladder section having a pair of side rails pivotally coupled to respective ones of said side brackets and normally extending down from the top edge of the side of the pool externally of said side, and a plurality of spaced transverse steps affixed to said rails and extending therebetween;

said brackets pivotally coupling said ladder section to said top edge of said pool to support said ladder section against the side of the pool and to permit said ladder section to be swung up to an inaccessible position, at least insofar as small children are concerned, the portion of said top edge of said side between said brackets forming a seat deck for the ladder.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a pair of upstanding inverted U-shaped handles affixed to respective ones of said side brackets.

3. The combination defined in claim l, and which includes an inner ladder section attached to said bracket means and extending down from the top edge of the side of said pool internally of said side.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, in which said inner ladder section has side rails integral with respective ones of said handles.