ACCESS LADDER FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING POOL

ECHELLE D'ACCES POUR PISCINE HORS SOL

English Abstract

A light, retractable ladder for an above-ground swimming pool, which is steady when in the unfolded position thereof and secured to the edge of the above-ground swimming pool while is densely packable for storage when in a retracted position thereof. Moreover, the present ladder may be adapted to fit any above-ground swimming pool.

French Abstract

Échelle légère et rétractable pour piscine hors sol, qui est stable en position dépliée et fixée au bord de la piscine hors sol, tout en se pliant de façon très compacte en position rétractée afin d'être rangée. De plus, l'échelle peut être adaptée pour convenir à n'importe quelle piscine hors sol.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An access ladder for an above-ground swimming pool, comprising:
a number of stair elements having an upper surface allowing a user to
steadily step and stand thereon; and
a hooking part fastened to a top one of said stair elements;
wherein said stair elements are connected together by foldable links,
the access ladder being foldable into a folded position where said stair
elements and
said hooking part are densely packed together for storage, and unfoldable into
an
extended rigid position where said hooking part is securable to an edge of a
wall of
the above-ground swimming pool at a desired point of a perimeter thereof, and
said
stair elements support a user in a steady standing position.
2. The access ladder of claim 1, said foldable links being one of
chain rings, lengths of resilient material and hinged segments.
3. The access ladder of claim of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein
the number of stair elements is selected according to a height of the wall of
the
above-ground swimming pool and to a desired distance between two successive
stair
elements as determined by a length of the foldable links when in an unfolded
position.
4. The access ladder of claim of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
an upper surface of the stair elements is one of: provided with an anti-
skating coating
and made in an anti-skating material.
5. The access ladder of claim of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a
lower surface of a lower one of the stair elements is provided with steadying
elements.
6. The access ladder of claim 1, wherein the hooking part is an
inverted U-type hook with a base width thereof corresponding to a width of the
edge
of the wall of the above-ground swimming pool.

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7. The access ladder of claim 6, wherein the hooking part further
comprises a securing arm securing the ladder to the wall of the above-ground
swimming pool.
8. The access ladder of claim 1, wherein the hooking part is a
round-type hook coming in a fitting engagement with a width of the edge of the
wall
of the above-ground swimming pool.
9. The access ladder of anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stair
elements and the hooking part are made in one of aluminum and plastic
material.
10. The access ladder of anyone of claims 1 to 9, comprising a tie
means provided on a base step element, for tying the stair elements together
once
folded.

Description

CA 02517515 2005-08-30
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
ACCESS LADDER FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING
POOL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to above-ground swimming
pools. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with an access
ladder for an above-ground swimming pool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fixed safety ladders for above-ground swimming pools are
known in the art, as described for example in US patents 3,586,124.
Freestanding ladders are also known, as described in US patents 4,023, 647;
4,997,061 and 6,367,584 for example.
[0003] However, above-ground swimming pool owners are still
facing a time wasting and hazardfull time when they need to access the edge of
their above-ground swimming pool all around a perimeter thereof so as to be
able to reach an inside of the swimming pool, for cleaning purpose for
example.
On the one hand, stepping on the very edge of the above-ground swimming
pool is not a safe solution, since this edge is not intended to support the
weight
of a person, and on the other hand providing a deck portion all around the
perimeter of the above-ground swimming pool results in high expenses.
However, moving the ladders for above-ground swimming pool presently
available around the perimeter thereof proves to be complicated.

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[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art for an access ladder for
an above-ground swimming pool, which may be easily moved around the
perimeter thereof and may support the weight of a person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] More specifically, there is provided an access ladder for an
above-ground swimming pool, comprising a number of stair elements having an
upper surface allowing a user to steadily step and remain thereon; and a
hooking part fastened to a top one of stair elements; wherein the stair
elements
are connected together by foldable links, the access ladder being foldable
into
a folded position where the stair elements and hooking part are densely packed
together for storage, and unfoldable into an extended rigid position where the
hooking part is securable to an edge of a wall of the above-ground swimming
pool at a desired point of a perimeter thereof, and the stair elements support
a
user in a steady standing position.
[0006] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the appended drawings:
[0008] Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a ladder according
to an embodiment of the present invention;

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[0009] Figure 2 is a side view of the ladder of Figure 1; and
[0010] Figure 3 is a side view of the ladder of Figure 1 in a folded
position thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] As illustrated in Figure 1 of the appended drawings, a ladder
for an above-ground swimming pool according to an embodiment of the
present invention comprises a number of stair elements 14 and a hooking part
16.
[0012] The stair elements 14a-14d are connected together by links
18a-18c allowing the series of stair elements to be folded like an accordion
for
storage purpose for example (see Figure 3).
[0013] The links 18a-18c may be chain rings or lengths of rope of
any resilient plastic material for example. They may also be hinged segments,
as illustrated in Figure 2.
[0014] The number of stairs elements 14 is selected according to a
height of a wall 20 of the above-ground swimming pool and to a desired
distance between two successive stair elements 14 as determined by a length
of the links 18a-18c when in an unfolded position.
[0015] Obviously, an upper surface of the stair elements 14a-14d
may be provided with an anti-skating coating or be made in an anti-skating

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material. A lower surface of the lower stair may be provided with steadying
elements 36 (see Figure 2).
[0016] The hooking part 16 is fastened to the top stair element 14d.
[0017] As best seen in Figure 2 of the appended drawings, the
hooking part 16 may be an inverted U-type hook with a base width thereof
corresponding to a width of an edge 30 of the wall 20 of the above-ground
swimming pool and a securing arm 32 securing the ladder 10 to the wall 20.
Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 1, the hooking part 16 may be a round-
type
hook coming in a fitting engagement with the width of the edge 30 of the wall
20 and thereby securing the ladder 10 to the wall 20.
[0018] The stair elements 14a-14d and the hooking part 16 are
made in light and resistant materials, such as aluminum or plastic for
example.
[0019] For storage purpose, a tie mean 34 fitted with adhesive
means such as VelcroT"" or snapping means for example, may be further
provided on the base step element 14a, allowing tying the folded stair
elements
together as illustrated in Figure 3 and storing the ladder 10 in a housing or
a
bag (not shown) for example.
[0020] For accessing the edge of the above-ground swimming pool,
a user simply needs to unfold the ladder if in the folded position of Figure
3,
secure it to the wall of the swimming pool at a desired point of the perimeter
thereof, and step on the step elements. Moving the ladder from a next desired
point of the perimeter of the swimming pool is straightforward, which results
in
the user not taking risks in unsteady far-reaching positions.

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[0021] From the foregoing, people in the art will appreciate that the
present invention provides a light, foldable ladder for an above-ground
swimming pool, which is steady when in the unfolded position thereof and
secured to the edge of the above-ground swimming pool while and is densely
packable for storage when in a folded position thereof. Moreover, the present
ladder may be adapted to fit any above-ground swimming pool.
[0022] Swimming pool owners will appreciate that the ladder
according to the present invention is very convenient, for example for
cleaning
purposes, or for annual opening and closing of the swimming pool.
[0023] Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it may be modified, without
departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as defined in
the appended claims.

Representative Drawing