AU2002300322B2

AU2002300322B2 - Fastener system for a swimming pool

Info

Publication number: AU2002300322B2
Application number: AU2002300322A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Serge Dubeau; Walter Francovich; Gad Shaanan
Original assignee: Vogue Pool Products Inc
Current assignee: Vogue Pool Products Inc
Priority date: 1997-06-09
Filing date: 2002-07-30
Publication date: 2006-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-08
Also published as: AU2002325598B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: 2679965 CANADA INC.

Invention Title: FASTENER SYSTEM FOR A SWIMMING POOL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:

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2 damaging the last components being connected in order to get the parts to fit.

Another disadvantage that has been found with conventional above ground pool kits, as represented by the above patents, is the number of fasteners that must be manipulated in the field in order to erect the pool. Such manipulation of fasteners, such as nuts and bolts, requires an inordinate amount of labour at the site.

Disclosure of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided an above-ground swimming pool fastener system comprising: at least two swimming pool structural members, each structural member including an opening with inner and outer planar surfaces surrounding said opening, each inner planar surface of a respective structural member opposing and contacting an outer respective planar surface of an adjacent respective structural member; and a fastener for fastening a pair of said at least two structural members, said fastener including a cap portion, a stem portion, at least a first wing projecting radially from said stem portion spaced from the cap, said fastener passing through the respective opening in each structural member of said at least two structural members when the openings are aligned, and when said fastener is rotated, said first wing engages the inner surface of a respective structural member to lock the at least two structural members between the first wing and the cap portion, said fastener substantially reducing a number of parts needed to lock said structural members.

Preferably, the fastener system of the present invention further comprises a second diametrically opposed wing, wherein the wings have camming surfaces for engaging H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 2a and urging structural members together against the cap when the fastener is rotated.

Preferably, the fastener system of the present invention is made of plastics material and injection molded in one piece.

Preferably, the two structural members of the fastener system of the present invention are a first coping member and the upper end of a pool post, and wherein the coping member is secured to the post using the fastener.

Preferably, the fastener system of the present invention further comprises a third structural member being a second coping member oriented opposite to the first coping member, and wherein the first and second coping members oriented opposite to the first coping member, and wherein the first and second coping members are secured to the upper end of the pool post using a single fastener, thus reducing the quantity of fasteners to be used in erecting the pool structure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a kit for an above ground pool comprising: a pool panel; a pool liner; a plurality of posts, each post molded in one piece from resin material and having a base portion and a top portion, each top portion including a substantially planar shoulder portion and a coping seat elevated relative to a respective shoulder portion; a plurality of coping elements, each coping element including a female coupling member and a male coupling member, each male coupling member including a Ushaped slot which telescopingly engages with a respective neighbouring female coupling member; and H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 2b singular means for fastening a respective female coupling member to a respective male coupling member and to a respective coping seat to form a joint, each joint includes portions of the respective male coupling member defining the U-shaped slot disposed within the respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat, said coping elements supporting said pool panel and said pool liner while substantially compensating for tolerances and substantially reducing a number of parts needed to support said pool panel and liner.

Preferably, each coping seat of the kit of the present invention includes an elongated opening; each female coupling member includes an elongated opening corresponding to a respective elongated opening of a respective coping seat; each joint includes openings of a respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat in a substantially aligned manner; each singular fastening means includes a cap portion, a stem portion, and a pair of diametrically extending wings projecting from said stem portion, each singular fastening means is inserted in respective openings of a respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat, and each fastening means locking respective coping elements together upon rotation thereof.

Preferably, each coping element of the kit of the present invention is hollow, blow-molded, one-piece member.

According to the present invention, there is provided an above-ground swimming pool fastener for fastening at least two swimming pool structural members, the fastener having a cap and a camming member longitudinally opposed along a stem portion thereof, with the camming member extending radially therefrom, each structural member having a flat portions with an aperture H,\krystalm\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 2c defined therethrough, the stem and the camming member being inserted through the apertures when they are in alignment, and the fastener is to be rotated along the axis of the stem thus pivoting the camming member into locking position with the flat portions of the structural members between the camming member and the cap.

Preferably, the camming member of the above ground pool fastener of the present invention is a first camming member, and the fastener further comprises a second camming member, diametrically opposed to the first camming member, wherein the first and second camming members cooperate with the cap in sandwiching the structural elements when pivoted into locking position.

According to the present invention, there is provided an above-ground pool structure including peripheral posts, and coping members secured atop and between adjacent posts, the above-ground pool structure being characterised in that a coping member is secured to the post by means of a fastener having a cap, a stem portion extending from the cap, and a camming member extending radially from the end of the stem portion opposite the cap, the stem portion being inserted through aligned apertures in the coping member and an upper end of the post, the camming member being adapted to press the coping member and the upper of the post against the cap when the fastener is pivoted along the axis of the stem.

Preferably, the camming member of the aboveground pool structure of the present invention is a first camming member, and the fastener further comprises a second camming member, diametrically opposed to the first camming member, wherein the first and second camming members cooperate in sandwiching the coping member and upper end of the post when the fastener is pivoted.

H:\krystam\keep\Speci\200200322.doc 15/09/05 2d Preferably, the coping member of the above-ground pool structure of the present invention is a first coping member, and a second coping member is sandwiched with the upper end of the post and the first coping member using the fastener, thus reducing the quantity of fasteners to be used in erecting the pool structure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of erecting a pool structure comprising: erecting a pool post having a flat portion at an upper end thereof, and an post aperture in the post flat portion; placing a coping member having a flat portion with an aperture defined through the flat portion into a position atop the pool post, in a manner for the flat portion of the coping member to be superposed with the flat portion of the post; aligning the aperture of the coping member with the aperture of the post; inserting a camming member and a stem of a fastener through both apertures, the fastener also having a cap portion, said inserting thus leaving the cap of the fastener on one side of the superposed flat portions, and the camming member on the side of the superposed flat portions opposite from the cap, with the stem connecting the camming member and the cap through the apertures; and rotating the fastener for the camming member to sandwich the superposed flat portions between the camming member and the cap.

H\krystal\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05

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3 invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an above ground pool, partly in dotted lines, including elements in accordance with the present invention; THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK \\melb_files\home$\PCiarke\Keep\Petypes\P46678 Div of 77545-98.doc 29/07/02 4 Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of an element shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, similar to Fig. 3, but of another embodiment of the same element; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-section of a detail of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-section showing the detail of Fig. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a detail of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section including the detail of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the detail illustrated in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is an exploded view showing how the ends of a metal band according to the invention are connected together.

Mode For Carrving Out The Invention Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a swimming pool 8 forming an obround loop. The pool is shown with a typical pool liner 66 and a structure including upstanding posts 10 and 11 as well as coping elements 30 extending between each post.

Fig. 2 shows a typical post 10 along with its connection with the coping members 30. The post as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, includes an elongated upstanding blow-molded plastic member having a base 12, a front wall 14 which is a planar flat wall, a rear wall 18, and side walls 16. The post is hollow as shown at 20 in Fig. 3. The post has a coping seat 22 defined by stepped shoulders 24, 24a and an upstanding member having an elongated opening 26 intersecting a circular 5 central opening 26a. The post 10 is designed for a circular pool or the ends of an obround pool, as shown in Fig. i. The post 11, shown in Fig. 4, has a more pronounced flare towards a larger base 12a. Thus, the rear wall 18a has a fairly pronounced concave curve and this to provide a larger base 12a for greater support along the linear sides of the obround pool 8. However, for the purposes of the present invention, the posts and 11 are quite similar in structure. As shown in Fig.

4, a ballast, such as water or sand 21, may be injected into the hollow interior 20 of the posts 10 or 11 once the post has been erected in order to give the post inore stability and to strengthen the column formed.

The coping 30 may also be made from a blowmolding process of a suitable thermoplastic material.

The coping member 30 may be linear or slightly curved depending on its position on the swimming pool, that is, if it is in a radius at the end of the pool or in the straight walls on the sides of an obround pool.

Several coping members having different radii will be manufactured for use with different sized pools.

However, each coping member has a beam structure 32 with a top surface 34 and a bottom surface 36. The top surface 34 is normally smooth without any sharp corners while the bottom structure may be provided with different strengthening ribs and normally a recess for receiving the pool panel and liner.

The coping 30 includes a female coupling member 38 at one end thereof and a male coupling member 44 at the other end thereof. The female coupling member 38, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, includes a recessed portion 42 and an opening 40 which, when mounted to the post 10, will be coincident with the opening 26 in the top of the post The male coupling member 44 at the other end of the coping member 30 includes an elongate open slot 46 and tapered ends 48.

6 The kit for erecting a pool includes several coping members 30a to 30n. The male coupling member 44 of coping member 30n is inserted into the recess 42 of the female coupling member 38 in a telescopic sliding manner. The slot 46 will be aligned with the openings 26 and 40 in order to receive the fastening member As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, fastening member includes a cap 52 with a socket 54 defined therein from the top. A stem 56 extends downwardly from the cap 52, and a pair of diametrically opposed wings 58 extends from the bottom of the stem 56. The wings 58 include camming surfaces 60, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

When it is desired to connect a post with a pair of coping members 30a and 30n, the coping member 30n, with its male coupling member 44, is inserted into the recess 42 of the female coupling member 38, and the male member 44 is adjusted telescopically therein. The fastener member 50 is then inserted through the opening with the wings 58 aligned with the major axes of the elongated openings. The fastener 50 is pushed down until the wings 58 are within the post 10, that is, through the opening 26. The fastener 50 is then rotated by means of a suitable tool inserted in the socket 52. By rotating the fastener member 50, the camming surfaces 60 will engage the interior of the camming seat 24 and the top surface of the female coupling member 38 to tightly sandwich the elements together.

The coupling member 44 is adjustably aligned or telescoped within the female coupling member 38, and it does not matter to what depth the coupling member 44 has been inserted as long as the slot 46 is aligned vertically with the openings 40 and 26.

A bracket 70 is illustrated in Figs. 3, 9, and 10. The bracket has a hook 74 which engages in an opening 72 in the base 12 of a typical post 10. The bracket 70, as seen in Fig. 10, includes an;upstanding portion 78 with opening 79 and narrow slot 79a. The

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7 bracket also includes base member 80 mounting hook 74 at one end and a rail 82 at the front end of the base member Track segments 84 are telescoped in the rail 82. One track segment 84 extends end to end between two posts and is adapted to receive wall 64. Each bracket 70 is insertable within the base 12 of a respective post The upstanding portion fits into the recessed front wall of the post 10 at the rear of the recess 71.

Complementary openings, including opening 79, allow a fastener 50 to be inserted and to lock the bracket 70 with the post An elongated flexible metal panel 64 would typically be inserted in tracks 84, and the top edge would be retained within a recess 76 in the coping 30 when the coping 30 is closed and locked on the posts 10. The ends of metal band or wall 64 are folded over, as shown in Fig.

11 at 64a and 64b. These reinforced edges are perforated at 86a, 86b, and metal strips 88a, 88b overlie these edges 64a, 64b and have corresponding openings 90. Metal fasteners 150, similar to fasteners 50, pass through the openings 90a, 86a, 86b, and 90b, to clamp the ends of wall 64 together.

A pool liner 66 is illustrated with the bead 68 overlapping the top edge of the panel 64 within the recess 76.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described.

It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

H\krystalm\keep\peci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 8 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05

Claims

1. An above-ground swimming pool fastener system comprising: at least two swimming pool structural members, each structural member including an opening with inner and outer planar surfaces surrounding said opening, each inner planar surface of a respective structural member opposing and contacting an outer respective planar surface of an adjacent respective structural member; and a fastener for fastening a pair of said at least two structural members, said fastener including a cap portion, a stem portion, at least a first wing projecting radially from said stem portion spaced from the cap, said fastener passing through the respective opening in each structural member of said at least two structural members when the openings are aligned, and when said fastener is rotated, said first wing engages the inner surface of a respective structural member to lock the at least two structural members between the first wing and the cap portion, said fastener substantially reducing a number of parts needed to lock said structural members.

2. The fastener system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second diametrically opposed wing, wherein the wings have camming surfaces for engaging and urging structural members together against the cap when the fastener is rotated.

3. The fastener system as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastener is made of plastics material and injection molded in one piece.

4. The fastener system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the two structural members are a first coping member and the upper end of a pool post, and wherein the coping member is secured to the post using the H\krystalm\keep\Speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 10 fastener.

The fastener system of claim 4 further comprising a third structural member being a second coping member oriented opposite to the first coping member, and wherein the first and second coping members oriented opposite to the first coping member, and wherein the first and second coping members are secured to the upper end of the pool post using a single fastener, thus reducing the quantity of fasteners to be used in erecting the pool structure.

6. A kit for an above ground pool comprising: a pool panel; a pool liner; a plurality of posts, each post molded in one piece from resin material and having a base portion and a top portion, each top portion including a substantially planar shoulder portion and a coping seat elevated relative to a respective shoulder portion; a plurality of coping elements, each coping element including a female coupling member and a male coupling member, each male coupling member including a U- shaped slot which telescopingly engages with a respective neighbouring female coupling member; and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener including a cap portion, a stem portion and at least a first wing projecting radially from said stem portion spaced from the cap; wherein each fastener fastens a respective female coupling member to a respective male coupling member and to a respective coping seat to form a joint, each joint includes portions of the respective male coupling member defining the U-shaped slot disposed within the respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat, said coping elements supporting said pool panel and said pool liner while substantially compensating for tolerances and substantially reducing a number of parts needed to support said pool panel and liner. H:\Leanne\Keep\2002300322.doc 04/05/06 11

7. The kit as defined in claim 6, wherein each coping seat includes an elongated opening; each female coupling member includes an elongated opening corresponding to a respective elongated opening of a respective coping seat; each joint includes openings of a respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat in a substantially aligned manner; each singular fastening means includes a pair of diametrically extending wings projecting from said stem portion, each singular fastening means is inserted in respective openings of a respective female coupling member and a respective coping seat, and each fastening means locking respective coping elements together upon rotation thereof.

8. The kit as defined in claim 6 or 7, wherein each coping element is hollow, blow-molded, one-piece member.

9. An above-ground swimming pool fastener for fastening at least two swimming pool structural members, the fastener having a cap and a camming member longitudinally opposed along a stem portion thereof, with the camming member extending radially therefrom, each structural member having a flat portions with an aperture defined therethrough, the stem and the camming member being inserted through the apertures when they are in alignment, and the fastener is to be rotated along the axis of the stem thus pivoting the camming member into locking position with the flat portions of the structural members between the camming member and the cap. The above ground pool fastener of claim 9 wherein the camming member is a first camming member, and the fastener further comprises a second camming member, diametrically opposed to the first camming member, wherein the first and second camming members cooperate with the cap in sandwiching the structural elements when pivoted into locking position.

H \Leanne\Keep\2002300322.doc 04/05/06 12

11. An above-ground pool structure including peripheral posts, and coping members secured atop and between adjacent posts, and wherein a flat portion of a coping member is secured to a flat portion of the post by means of a fastener having a cap, a stem portion extending from the cap, and a camming member extending radially from the end of the stem portion opposite the cap, the stem portion being inserted through aligned apertures in the coping member and an upper end of the post, the camming member being adapted to press the flat portion of the coping member and the corresponding flat portion of the post against the cap when the fastener is pivoted along the axis of the stem.

12. The above ground pool structure of claim 11 wherein the camming member is a first camming member, and the fastener further comprises a second camming member, diametrically opposed to the first camming member, wherein the first and second camming members cooperate in sandwiching the coping member and upper end of the post when the fastener is pivoted.

13. The above ground pool structure of claim 11 wherein the coping member is a first coping member, and a second coping member is sandwiched with the upper end of the post and the first coping member using the fastener, thus reducing the quantity of fasteners to be used in erecting the pool structure.

14. A method of erecting a pool structure comprising: erecting a pool post having a flat portion at an upper end thereof, and an post aperture in the post flat portion; placing a coping member having a flat portion with an aperture defined through the flat portion into a position atop the pool post, in a manner for the flat H, \Leanne\Keep\2002300322.doc 04/05/06 1 13 portion of the coping member to be superposed with the flat portion of the post; aligning the aperture of the coping member with the aperture of the post; inserting a camming member and a stem of a fastener through both apertures, the fastener also having a cap portion, said inserting thus leaving the cap of the fastener on one side of the superposed flat portions, and the camming member on the side of the superposed flat portions opposite from the cap, with the stem connecting the camming member and the cap through the apertures; and rotating the fastener for the camming member to sandwich the superposed flat portions between the camming member and the cap.

An above-ground swimming pool fastener system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A kit for an above ground pool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. An above-ground swimming pool fastener at least two swimming pool structural members substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. H:\krystalm\keep\speci\2002300322.doc 15/09/05 I 14

18. An above-ground pool structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15 th day of September 2005 2679965 CANADA INC. By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\2023OO322 .doc 15/09/05