Seat plate for a pool

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

The present invention does not involve any form of federally sponsored research or development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to swimming pools including, but not limited to, a seat plate that covers a gap between a wall of a swimming pool and an adjacent deck. Devices and methods for constructing swimming pools, particularly aboveground swimming pools that are surrounded by decking, are known. Aboveground pools are typically formed by a perimeter of supported vertical walls. Decks can facilitate pool use and are typically constructed adjacent to aboveground pools. Because of maintenance, repair, and winterization concerns, decks are not securely attached to the pool walls, and generally, a gap exists between pool walls, more specifically a top edge of the pool, and the decking. The gap can be on the order of an inch or more wide. Toes and fingers, particularly of children, can catch in the gap so as to create the potential for tripping and injury. In addition, thighs and buttocks can become pinched in the gap when sitting at the edge of the pool.

Some decking systems avoid exposed gaps by placing the deck below a top rail of the pool wall. The top rail hides the gap, but the top rail protrudes substantially above the surface of the deck and creates a tripping hazard when entering or leaving the pool from the deck. Yet, other decking systems propose decking that is flush with and butts up against the top rail of the pool. These systems limit the desired access to the pool wall for maintenance and repair, and freedom of movement between the deck and the pool, particularly for pools located in cold winter climates.

Accordingly, there is a need for a seat plate that avoids the hazards of an open and accessible gap between the walls of aboveground pools and associated decking while not overly restricting access to pool wall components and movement of the deck relative to the pool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A seat plate includes a member that is capable of accepting a top edge of a pool wall. A generally horizontal bottom surface of the member partially extends over a surface of the deck. When installed, the seat plate covers a gap between the pool walls and decking, and forms a smooth transition from the deck surface to the edge of the pool wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a seat plate on a top edge of a pool wall in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a seat cap for use with adjacent seat plates attached to a common pool support in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an embodiment of the seat plate having a stop for use in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of covering gaps between pool walls and decks with the seat plate in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A seat plate for and method of forming a generally flat and gap-free surface from a top edge of a pool wall to an adjacent deck are described. The seat plate includes a member that attached to a top edge of the pool wall. A flat bottom surface of the member is support on a surface of an adjacent deck. Seat plates, and associated seat caps, cover gaps between the pool wall and adjacent decking so as to form a generally flat surface at the edge of the pool.

A seat plate 100 that is fits on a top edge of a pool wall is shown in FIG. 1. The seat plate 100 includes a member 101 that is capable of accepting and covering a top edge 109 of a pool wall 107 and has a generally flat bottom surface 103 that extends over and is support by decking 105 that is adjacent to the pool wall 107. The member 101 is generally, a straight L-shaped panel that covers the top edge 109 and the gap 111 between the pool wall 107 and the decking 105. Alternatively, the member 101 can be formed as a curved L-shaped panel for use with pool designs having curved walls. An end 113 of the seat plate 100 attaches to a pool support 115. When the seat plate 100 is installed a gapless and smooth surface, for sitting on if desired, is formed at the edge of the swimming pool.

The seat plate 100 can be formed from a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, and preferably metal. Typically, the seat plate 100 is made of metal and has a fist lateral edge 117 and a second lateral edge 119 that can be formed with lips. Lip shaped lateral edges avoid sharp edges that could potentially cut a persons skin. The lips also provide a relatively smooth transition from the surface of the seat plate 100 to the deck surface and the surface of the pool wall. Alternatively, seat plates made of thicker materials, such as wood or plastic, can have lateral edges with sharp corners that are undesirable. To avoid sharp corners for thicker wood or plastic seat plates, the lateral edges 117, 119 can be chamfered or tapered, so as to form curved or beveled surfaces that smooth the transition from the deck 105 and the pool wall 107 to the seat plate 100.

A seat cap 200 for use with adjacent seat plates 101 attached to a common pool support is as shown in FIG. 2. Having observed the detail of the seat plate 100 attention may now be given to the seat cap 200. A seat cap member 201 is capable of covering adjacent ends 113 of adjacent seat plates that are attached to the same pool support (not shown). A generally flat bottom surface 203 of the seat cap member 201 extends over adjacent decking 105 near the pool support. An edge 205 is capable of accepting the lateral edges 117 of adjacent seat plates. For example, a metal seat cap 200 can be formed by bending the metal along the edge 205 so as to form a clip for grasping the lateral edges 117. Alternatively, for plastic seat caps a clipping mechanism can be molded into the edge 205.

The seat cap member 201 is, generally, a flat L-shaped panel that covers the top edge of the pool wall 107 near the pool wall support (not shown). The seat cap member 201 also covers the ends 113 of adjacent seat plates 100, and any opening between adjacent seat plates 100 and the decking 105. Alternatively, the seat cap member 201 can be formed as a curved L-shaped panel for use with pool designs having curved walls. When the seat cap 200 is installed a gapless and relatively smooth surface, for sitting on if desired, is formed next to the swimming pool in the vicinity of the pool supports. Beside metal, the seat cap 200 can be formed from a variety of materials such as wood, and plastic.

An embodiment of the seat plate 100 having a stop 301 is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the stop 301, which attaches to the bottom surface 103, is used to position the seat plate 100 relative to the deck 105. Preferably, the deck 105 is proximately close to the stop 301 to insure sufficient the bottom surface 103 to overlap the deck 105. In addition, the stop 301 may be used to gauge the decking length. If needed, decking 105 can be trimmed as required to properly fit the stop 301 in position.

A flowchart illustrating a method of covering the gap between the pool wall and the deck with the seat plate is shown in FIG. 4. At step 401, the pool wall 107 is installed to adjacent pool supports 115. A deck 105 that surrounds the pool wall 107 is installed at step 403. At step 405, the seat plates 100 are attached to pool supports 115. Each seat plate 100 covers the top edge 109 of the pool wall 107 and extends over and is supported by the deck 105 so as to form a smooth surface from the deck 105 to the edge of the pool. The seat plate 100 also covers the gap 111 between the pool wall 107 and the deck 105. A seat plate is installed for each section of the pool wall that is formed between adjacent pool supports. When a seat plate 100 having a stop 301 attached to the bottom surface 103 is installed, the deck 105 is trimmed as needed to permit proper installation of the seat plate 100. The ends 113 of installed seat plates 100 can be covered by installing seat caps 200. If the seat plates are nail to the pool supports, the seat caps 200 provide a protective covering over the nails.

Although the present invention is illustrated by the example of seat plates for use with aboveground swimming pools, the present invention may be applied to partial in-ground pools, in-ground pools, and other kinds of pools having various types of surrounding decking formed from a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, ceramic, and so forth.

The present invention provides a number of advantages, including the formation of a generally smooth and gapless surface at the edge of the pool. The invention advantageously eliminates raised barriers or open gaps at the edge of the pool that obstruct ingress and egress from the pool or that can cause injury. Because the present invention forms a generally smooth surface with the deck, a person can comfortably sit at the edge of the pool. At the same time, the invention advantageously allows a separation between the pool wall and the deck that facilitates installation, repair, maintenance, and winterization of the pool.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.