Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relates to an improved above
ground swimming pool construction and more particularly to an
improved rib structure and to an improved deck structure
therefor~
By way of background, the present invention is an
improvement over the swimming pool construction disclosed in
U.S. Patent No. 3,636,694. Since the ribs and the deck of the
swimming pool shown in the foregoing patent were made of wood,
it was necessary to periodically paint the wood. In addition,
slivers could be received from the wood. It is with overcoming
deficiencies that the present invention is concerned.
It is one important object of the present invention
to provide a plastic rib structure for an above ground swimming
pool which is not subject to decay and which does not require
periodic maintenance, such as painting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved plastic pool deck structure which is not subject to
deterioration and which does not require periodic painting and
which is constructed in such a manner so as to function as a
panel through which pool water is conducted in a serpentine path
for solar heating and which gives the appearance of parallel
wood slats resembling a wooden pool deck. O-ther objects and
attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be
perceived hereafter.
The present invention relates to a plastic pool rib
comprising a body, a first vertical side on said body having an
upper portion, a second vertical side spaced laterally from and
~A 2
~7~4~
above said first vertical side and having a lower portion, a
horizontal side connecting said upper portion of said first
vertical side and said lower portion of said second vertical
side, a third vertical side having a portion on the opposite
side of said second vertical side from said first vertical side,
a first tubular portion at said first vertical side, a second
tubular portion at said second vertical side, a third tubular
portion at said third vertical side, a fourth tubular portion at
said horizontal side, a fifth tubular portion in axial alignment
with said second tubular portion and located below said second
tubular portion, first tubular means extending transversely
between said first and fourth tubular portions, and second
tubular means extending between said first and third tubular
portions.
The various aspects of the present invention will be
more fully understood when the following portions of the
specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an above
ground swimming pool which includes the improved rib and solar
deck construction of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rib
structure and showing its relationship to certain other
components of the pooli
FIG. 2A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 2A-2A of FIG. 2;
~': 3
~7~i4~5
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the rib
structure taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and also
showing in cross section other portions of the pool;
FIG. 3A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 3A-3A of FIG. 3 and showing the
structure of the lower rib section;
FIG. 3B is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 3B-3B of FIG. 3 and showing the
construction of the upper rib section;
FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 3C-3C of FIG. 3 and showing the construction of the
upper rib section in this area;
FIG. 3D is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 3D-3D of FIG. 3;
FIG. 3E is a fragmentary view taken substantially in
the direction of arrows 3E-3E of FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar
to FIG. 3 and showing the upper and lower plastic rib sections
in ~he process of being assembled;
FIG. 4A is a fragmentary side elevational view taken
substantially in the direction of arrows 4A-4A of FIG. 4;
FIG. 4B is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
subtantially along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4;
F'IG. 4C is a Eragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 4C-4C of FIG. 4;
FIG. 4D is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
along line 4D-4D of FIG. 4;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing the upper and
lower rib sections in assembled relationship;
. 27~
FIG. 6 is a fragmen-tary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 6-6 of FIG~ 3 and showing the relation-
ship between the upper rib section and the rail of a fence;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 3 and showing the manner in
which the hand rail is associated with the upper rib section;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 3 at the corner of a pool
and showing the manner in which the corner ribs are oriented
relative to each other and how they fit into the bottom channel
frame members;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 3 showing the manner in
which the upper frame members are joined relative to each other
and their orientation relative to the ribs at the corners of the
pool;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view taken sub-
stantially in the direction of arrows 12-12 of FIG. 3 and
showing a portion of the solar deck and the plastic ribs in
plan;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 and showing portions
of the solar deck and the pool structure;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
along line 14-14 of FIG. 12;
~ ~7~S
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a modular solar deck
panel;
FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the solar deck
panel;
FIG. 17 is a fracmentary enlarged cross sectional
view taken substantially along line 17 17 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 18-18 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 19-19 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 20-20 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 21-21 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 22 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken
substantially in the direction of arrows 22-22 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 23 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken
substantially in the direction of arrows 23-23 of FIG. 15 t
FIG. 24 is a fragmentary plan view taken in the
direction of arrows 24-24 of FIG. 25 and showing the ends of
adjacent deck panels with hoses therebetween; and
FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken
substantially along line 25-25 of FIG. 24.
Summarizing briefly in advance, the basic construc-
tion of the above ground swimming pool 10 is basically the same
as disclosed in United States patent No. 3,686,694, except that
the present invention relates to an improved rib structure which
is fabricated of plastic and it also relates to a plastic solar
~L27~
deck construction through which pool water is pumped and is
heated by the sun.
The swimming pool 10 of the present invention
includes a rectangular framework of lower channels 11 (FIGS. 1,
8, 9 and 10) placed on the ground with their open sides extend-
ing upwardly for defining the outer periphery of the lower
portion oE the pool. The channels 11 on each side of the pool
are joined to each other at their corners by metal braces 12
which are bolted between adjacent channels (FIG. 8). The
corners of adjacent channels may also be bolted at their
juncture with bolts, not shown. Channels 11 receive ribs 13 at
spaced locations around the four sides of the pool~ ~oles 15'
may be provided in the channels 11 (FIG. 2) to aid in spacing
ribs 13, and nails 14' may be driven through holes 15' to secure
the ribs to the channels.
Each rib 13 is fabricated from a combination of
blow-molded high density polyethylene plastic and wood and
comprises a lower section 14 and an upper section 15 (FIG. 4)
which are suitably joined to each other. Lower section 14
comprises an inner side portion 16 and an outer side portion 17
(FIGS. 3 and 4). The inner side portion 16 includes a tubular
portion 19 which receives a 4x4 wood post 20 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 2A)
which protrudes at 21 beyond the lower edge 22 of tubular
portion 19 and is received in channel 11. Post 20 is suitably
treated against decay. The end 21 of post 20 is chamfered at 23
so that it can be received in channel 11 which is narrower than
the corresponding dimension of the 4x4 post 20. Post 20 also
protrudes slightly at 24 beyond the upper edge 25 of tubular
portion 16.
s
Tubular portion 19 is molded integrally with webs 26,
27, 29, 30 and 31 (FIGS. 3 and 3A). The ends of webs 26, 27 and
29 remote from tubular portion 19 are molded integrally with
upper horizontal tubular portion 32 (FIG. 3). ~eb 26 is molded
integrally with and extends between tubular portions 19, 32 and
33. Web 27 is molded integrally with and extends between
tubular portions 19, 32, 33 and 34. Web 29 is molded integrally
with and extends between tubular portions 19, 32, 34 and 35
(FIGSo 3 and 3D). Web 30 extends between and is molded
integrally with tubular portions 19, 35, 36 and 37 (FIGS. 3, 3D,
4 and 5). ~eb 31 extends between and is molded integrally with
tubular portions 19, 36, 37 and 39. Tubular portion 37 includes
a reduced end portion 40, a reduced end portion 41, and an
enlarged central portion 42 therebetween (FIGS. 4, 4C and 5).
The thickness of the webs is approximately 1/2 inches and the
thickness of the walls of the tubular portions is approximately
3/16 inches, and the the upper rib section 15 is also a blow
molded high density polyethylene plastic section which is
secured to the lower rib section 14. The upper rib section 15
includes an inner side portion 44 and an outer side portion 45O
A tubular portion 46 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 4B) is located at the inner
side portion 44 and a tubular portion 47 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) is
located at the outer side portion 45. Tubular portions 46 and
47 merge at the upper end to provide a singular tubular portion
49 (FIGS. 3 and 3C). A plurality of webs 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and
55 extend between tubular portions 46 and 47 (FIGS. 3, 3B and
4). A plurality of tubular sections 50', 51', 52', 54' and 58
(FIGS. 2, 3 and 3B) extend between tubular portions 46 and 47.
A tubular section 56 joins tubular sections 46 and 47 at their
bottoms. The lower portion of tubular portion 46 at 57 has the
~7~qL~S
configuration shown in FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B and 5 and it includes an
enlarged central portion 59 which merges into smaller portion
60. Flanges 61 are formed on the opposite side of central
portion 59 from portion 60.
Upper rib section 15 is assembled onto lower rib
section 14 in the following manner. A 2x4 wooden keying member
63 is inserted into tubular portion 46 of upper section 15
(FIGS. 3, :3C, 4, 4B, 5 and 6). Keying member 63 extends from
the top portion 64 to the lower edge 65 of tubular portion 46
when upper section 15 is assembled with lower section 14. The
lower portion 66 of keying member 63 is received in the enlarged
central portion 42 of tubular portion 37 of lower rib section 14
(FIGS. 4, 4C and 5). The lower tubular section 57 of upper rib
section 15 receives the upper tubular section 37 of lower rib
section 14 in complementary mating relationship (FIGS. 3, A and
5). rlOre specifically, flanges 61 fit against side walls 67 of
tubular section 37 (FIG. 5). Side walls 69 of enlarged central
tubular portion 59 of upper section 15 fit against side walls 70
of tubular portion 42. Side walls 68 and 68' (FIGS. 4 and 4D)
of tubular portion 60 fit against side walls 72 of tubular
portion 41 of lower section 14. Side wall 71' fits agains~
side wall 72', and side walls 69' fit against side walls 70'.
Tubular portion 60 terminates at a top wall 73 (FIG. 4B), and
flanges 61 terminate at a top wall 74 (FIGS. 4A and 4B).
Tubular portion 41 terminates at a top wall 75 (FIGS. 4 and 4C)
and tubular portion 40 terminates at a top wall 76. When upper
section 15 is assembled onto lower section 14, top walls 73 and
74 will rest on top walls 75 and 76, respectively, to thereby
define the limit of movement of upper section 15 onto lower
section 14. Screws 77 are installed through the tubular
~76~BS
portions 42 and 59 and into 2x4 member 63 and lock the upper
section 15 and the lower section 14 to member 63.
The use of the keying member 63 in conjunction with
the telescopic connection between the lower portion of the upper
section 15 and the upper portion of the lower section 15
produces an extremely rigid assembly of the rib 13. Further-
more, the combina-tion of the tubular portions and the webs of
the lower rib section 14 in the orientation shown provide
extremely great strength to the rib which permits it to
withstand the lateral hydrostatic pressure of the water in the
pool. The combined tubular and web portions of the upper rib
section 15, as described above, also provide extremely high
strength to the fence which is supported thereby, as described
in detail hereafter.
The rib 10 has been described above as being
fabricated from two separate sections. This is desirable from a
manufacturing standpoint because of the size of the mold which
would be required if it were fabricated as a single unit. It
will be appreciated, however, that it can be fabricated as a
single unit and that a member such as keying member 63 can be
inserted into a tubular portion which is essentially a
combination of the tubular portions of the upper and lower
sections.
As noted above, the lower portions of ribs 13 are
installed in the frame consisting of channels 11. The upper
portions of ribs 13 are secured to each other by an upper
peripheral rectangular frame 80 consisting of elongated metal
frame members 81 (FIG. 11) which are bolted together by bolts 82
at the corners of the pool. Frame members 81 essentially
include angles 83 oriented relative to each other as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 11 and which are welded to a rod 84 which is of a
saw-tooth form and extends between opposed sides of the angle
members. The frame members 80 rest on horizontal upper tubular
portions 32 of ribs 13, and are suitably secured to posts 20, as
by nails which extend through holes 83' (FIG. 3A) in angles 83
and which penetrate the tubular portions 19. Thus, the lower
frame consistiny of channels 11, and the upper frame 80
stabilize the ribs against outward pressure produced by the
water within plastic liner 85 which bears against plywood wall
panels 86 which are secured to posts 20, as by nailing. In this
regard, it is to be understood that the nails penetrate the
tubular portion 19 and are received in posts 20.
A facia board 87 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is nailed to the
member 63 in each upper rib section 15. The nails 89 extend
through the facia board, through the plastic face of tubular
portion 46 and are received in the keying member 63~ A first
wooden beam 90 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is nailed to the tops of posts
20, and a second wooden beam 91 is nailed to the top of the
facia board 87. The tops of beams 90 and 91 lie in the same
plane and serve as a support for the plurality of interconnected
modular solar heating panels or sections 92 which also serve as
deck or walkway 93 (FIG. 1) about the periphery of the pool.
Each modular deck panel 92 (FIGS. 15-25) is of blow
molded plastic and is preferably about four feet long, but it
may be made in any length. Each panel 92 is formed as a
plurality of interconnected elongated compartments arranged in
serpentine fashion through which pool water is pumped by the
pump (not shown) which circulates the pool water, as is well
knol"n.
~27Ei~
Each panel 92 includes a ~op wall 93, and a bottom
wall 94. The left side of panel 92 (FIG. 15) includes a side
wall 95 which connects top and bottom walls 93 and 94. The
panel 92 also includes a side wall 96 which connects top wall 93
and bottom wall 94. End wall 97 connects top and bottom walls
93 and 94 and also connects side walls 95 and 96. An end wall
99 connects top wall 93 and bottom wall 94 and also connects
side walls 95 and 96.
The modular deck panel 92 is divided into a plurality
of interconnected compartments 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106
and 107. Compartment 100 is defined by portion 109 (FIG. 17) of
top wall 93, portion 110 (FIG. 16) of bottom wall 94, portion
111 (FIG. 18) of side wall 95 and portion 112 (FIG. 18) of side
wall 96. It is also defined by wall 113 (FIGS. 15, 16 and 20)
which includes wall portion 114 located above web 115, a wall
portion 116 which forms a side of slot 117 which extends
entirely through the deck panel, and a wall portion 119 which is
located above web 120.
Compartment 100 is in communication with adjacent
compartment 101 through a conduit portion 121 (FIGS. 15 and 20)
which is bordered by side wall 96, top wall 93, bottom wall 94,
and wall 122. Compartment 101 is bounded by portion 123 (FIG.
17) of top wall 93, portion 124 of side wall 96, portion 125 of
side wall 95, and portion 127 (FIG. 17) of bottom wall 94.
Compartment 101 is also bounded by wall 129 which includes a
portion 130 which is the counterpart of wall portion 119 (FIG.
15), a wall portion 131 which is the counterpart of wall portion
116 and wall portion 132 which is the counterpart of wall
portion 114 and which overlies web 115. Compartment 101 is also
bounded by wall 133 which includes a central portion 134 which
forms one side of through-slot 135 and which also includes a
portion 136 which overlies web 137 and a portion 139 which
overlies web 140~ A conduit 141 (FIG. 21), which effects
communication between compartments 101 and 102, is bounded by
side wall 95~ top wall 93, bottom wall 94 and wall 142 at the
end of slot 135r Compartment 102 is bounded by portion 143
(FIG. 17) of upper wall 93, portion 144 of lower wall 94~
portion 145 (FIG. 23) of side wall 96~ and portion 146 (FIG. 22)
of side wall 95~ It is also bounded by wall 147 (FIGS. 15 and
16) which has a portion 149 overlying web 150~ a portion 151
overlying web 152~ and a portion 153 which forms a side of
through-slot 154 (FIG. 17)~ A conduit 155~ which is the same as
conduit 121 effects communication between compartment 102 and
103 ~
Compartments 103 and 105 are identical in all
respects to compartment 101, as described heretofore and as will
be described in greater detail hereafter. Compartments 104 and
106 are identical in all respects to compartment 102~ as
described above and as will be described in greater detail
hereafter. Compartment 107 is the mirror image of compartment
100. Compartments 101 and 102 in combination with conduit 141
joining them, define a U-shaped portion of panel 92 with
elongated slot 135 therebetween. Compartments 103 and 104
comprise a U-shaped portion of the panel with an elongated slot
156 therebetween, elongated slot 156 being identical to
elongated slot 135 in all respects and having webs 157 and 159
at the ends thereof, said webs being identical to webs 137 and
140, respectively. Compartments 105 and 106 also form a
U-shaped portion of panel 92 in combination with conduit 160
therebetween, conduit ]60 being identical to conduit 141~ An
~7~ )5
elongated slot 161, which is identical to elongated slot 135, is
located between compartments 105 and 106. Webs 162 and 163 at
the ends of elongated slot 161 are identical to webs 137 and
140, respectively. A conduit 164, which is identical to conduit
141, effects communication between compartments 103 and 104. A
conduit 165, which is identical to conduit 121, effects communi-
cation between chambers 104 and 105. A conduit 166, which is
identical to conduit 121, effects communication between chambers
106 and 107. An elongated slot 167, which is identical to
elongated slot 117, is located between chambers 106 and 107.
~ebs 169 and 170, which are identical to webs 115 and 120,
respectively, are positioned at the ends of slot 167. Summari-
zing, U-shaped portions 101-102 and 103-104 and 105-106 are
identical to each other in all respects and end compartments 100
and 107 are mirror image counterparts of each other.
An elongated depression 172 (FIGS. 16, 17 and 19) of
oblong-shape has side walls 173 and 174 and end walls 175 and
176. Walls 173, 174, 175 and 176 merge into the underside 177
of top wall 93. Water passageways 179 and 180 are located at
the ends of depression 172 (FIG. 19). The side walls of depres-
sion 172 rigidize compartment 101 which form a part of the deck
around the edge of the pool. Elongated depressions 181, 182,
183, 184 and 185 are identical in all respects to elongated
depression 172 and they serve the same function relative to
their respective compartments. Therefore, a detailed descrip-
tion of these elongated depressions is deemed unnecessary.
Compartment 100 (FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18) includes a
depression 186 having side walls 187 and 189 and end walls 190
and 191. All of the walls extend between bottom wall 94 and top
wall 93. Depression 186 serves the same function as depression
14
~7~05
172. A depression 192 in compartment 107 is identical in all
respects to depression 186 of compartment 100.
A frustoconical depression 193 in compartment 100 has
a side wall 194 which extends between bottom wall 94 and top
wall 93 (FIG. 18). A frustoconical depression 195, which is
identical to depression 193, is located in compartment 107. The
side walls surrounding depressions 193 and 195 provide support
to adjacent portions of top wall 93.
A nipple 197 (FIGS. 16 and 18) extends downwardly
from bottom wall portion 110 of compartment 100. An identical
nipple 199 extends downwardly from the portion of bottom wall 93
associated with compartment 107. Nipples 197 and 199 are
coupled to conduits which conduct pool water relative to each
solar panel 92 from adjacent like panels 92. More specifically,
in FIGS. 24 and 25 nipple 197 is shown associated with compart-
ment 100 of one deck panel 92 and nipple 199 is shown associated
with compartment 107 of an adjacent deck panel 92. A U-shaped
hose 200 has its ends mounted on nipples 197 and 199 by hose
clamps 201. Thus, a plurality of solar deck panels 92 can be
placed in end-to-end relationship and pool water can be passed
sequentially through theM.
Each solar deck panel 92 is attached to beams 90 and
91 by screws. Certain screws pass through apertures 202 and 203
in tabs 204 and 205, respectively, which are formed integrally
with the end wall 97 of compartment 100, and other screws pass
through apertures 206 and 207 of tabs 208 and 209 which are
formed integrally with end wall 99 of compartment 107. In
addition, apertures 210 are formed in webs 140, 159 and 163, and
apertures 211 are formed in webs 137, 157 and 162. Screws are
~7~05
passed through apertures 210 and 211 to firmly attach each
modular deck panel 92 to beams 90 and 91 (FIGS. 3, 24 and 25).
The foregoing description has described the solar
deck panels 92 as being placed in end-to-end relationship as
shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 12 the solar deck panels 92 are shown
in the manner in which they are installed at the corners of the
pool, and they are in liquid communication with each other
through a U-shaped conduit 200' which is similar to conduit 200
(FIGS. 24 and 25), but is longer so as to span the distance
between the adjacent nipples 197 and 199.
The upper surface of the top wall portion oE each
compartment 101 through 107 has a tread formed thereon to
provide more sure footing. Furthermore, the configuration of
the top wall 93 provides a slat-like appearance so that the deck
looks like wooden slats parallel to each other. Preferably the
color of each panel 92 is brown so that it provides a good
sunlight absorbing surface to enhance the solar heating of the
water. The through-slots, such as 117, 135, 154 etc. provide
spaces between adjacent compartments so that side walls of the
compartments bordering the slots are exposed to sunlight, to
thereby improve the solar heating capacity by providing more
surface area to each compartment than if the panel was
unslotted. The walls of the depressions, such as 172 and 186,
also provide greater surface area to the compartment so that
this feature also improves the solar heating effect, especially
since the walls of the depressions 172 and 1~6 are heated by
conductivity because they are in contact with the upper surface
93 of panel 92. In addition, the depressions, such as 172 and
186 trap hot air which rises into the depressions. As the
trapped air is cooled, the hotter ambient air will rise into the
16
~7~4(~5
depressions to perpetuate the heating process. Thus, the
elongated through-slots, such as 117, 135, 154 and 156, with
their walls serve the mull:iple functions of (1) enhancing the
solar heating of the panels 92, (2) providing a slat-like visual
effect, and (3) providing rigidity to the panels. The depres-
sions, such as 172 and 186, also serve the multiple purposes of
enhancing heating of the water in each panel 92 and also
rigidizing the upper surface 93 so that it can bear the weight
of personnel.
The walls of the depressions, such as 186 and 172,
also serve the additional function of dividing flow through each
compartment into two parallel paths. Thus, for example, assume
that pool water enters nipple 199 in FIG. 15 and exits through
nipple lg7. The entering water will be divided into two paths
about the walls of depression 192. Thereafter, the water will
flow through conduit portion 166 joining chambers 107 and 106
and will be divided into two paths on opposite sides of the
walls of the depression 185 in chamber 106. The same action
occurs in each of the remainder of the compartments until the
water exits through nipple 197'. Thus, there is a dual path of
water flow through each chamber, and there is a relatively high
ratio of wall surface to the cross sectional area of the
conduits passing through each chamber, to provide a good heat
exchange effect. This can be readily visualized from FIG. 17
wherein it can be seen that the conduits on the opposite sides
of the depression walls have a relatively large ratio of surface
area to cross sectional area of water flow. As expressed above,
this enhances the rate of heat absorption of the panel 92.
The upper rib portion 15 includes a vertical
slat-like member 212 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 3C) which has its bottom
~ ~7~3S
213 molded integra].ly with tubular portion 46 and its top molded
integrally at 214 with hollow loop-like member 215 (FIGS. 3 and
7). The opposite end of loop-like portion 215 is molded
integrally with the top of tubular portion 47. A shelf 216
(FIGS. 2, 7 and 12) bridges the tops of tubular portions 46 and
47. A space 217 (FIG. 3) is located between slat-like member
212 and the face 219 of tubular member 46. A plurality of
parallel wood slats 220 which form a fence are positioned
between slat-like members 212 and faces 219 (FIG. 6) of tubular
portions 46 and are secured to keying members 63 in tubular
members 46 by nails 221, the nails passing through each slat 220
and through the face 219 of each tubular member 46.
A hand rail 222 consists of a wood core 223 having a
plastic sheet 224 around it. The hand rail 222 passes through
the aligned openings 225 within aligned loop-like members 215
(FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7). Nails 226 (FIG. 7) are driven through
hand rail 222, passed through shelf 216, and are anchored in the
end of keying member 63 (FIG. 7). Thus, the horizontal parallel
slats 220 and hand rail 222 coact with the upper rib sections 13
to provide a well integrated stable structure wherein each
stabilize the other.
As can be visualized from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the
intermediate ribs 13, which are not at the corners of the pool,
are uniformly spaced from each other to support the side panels
86 (FIG. 3) against which plastic liner 227 bears. The full
face 229 (FIG. 2A) of the tubular portion 19 of each inter-
mediate rib 13 bears against the plywood boards 86. However, a
special relationship between ribs 13 is provided at the corners
of the pool as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. In this respect,
one tubular portion 19 (FIG. 9) and the 4x4 therein has its
:~7~4t:)5
corner cut away as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 so as to receive
the corner of the adjacent tubular portion 19 in complementary
mating relationship.
A plastic cap 230 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) of channel-
shaped cross sectional configuration has legs 231 extending
substantially throughout the length thereof which are received
in grooves 232 along the outer edge of tubular portion 47. An
abutment 233 is provided at the end of tubular portion 47 and
act as a stop for cap 230.
In FIGS. 13 and 14 the relationship is shown between
the pooi liner 85 and the inner edge of the pool deck 88
consisting of the solar deck panels 92. The upper edge portion
232 of pool liner 85 overlies the upper edge of plywood panels
86 and a portion of the upper side of beam 90. An elongated
molding 233 of the cross sectional configuration shown in FIGS.
13 and 14 is nailed to beam 90 with the nails 234 extending
through the central portion 235. An elongated plastic cap 236,
having barbed legs 237, is snapped into the central portion of
molding 233 as shown in FIG. 14 to cover the nails.
It can thus be seen that the improved rib and solar
deck construction of the present invention are manifestly
capable of achieving the above-enumerated objects, and while
preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto
but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following
claims.
19
