Patent Application
20090044327
Embodiments of the present invention relate to collapsible containers and, more particularly, to a ring swimming pool.
Portable swimming pools, or kiddie pools, are known. A first conventional pool of this type is formed from molded plastic, which permanently takes on the shape of a small, portable swimming pool. These pools exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, and consumers are able to choose the specific portable pool that suits their particular needs.
One problem associated with these types of portable pools is that they are cumbersome. Because the pools often have an awkward size and shape, they are difficult to transport, as they can be larger than many vehicles. Thus, to transport one of these items, a consumer must typically strap it to the roof of a vehicle, or if the pool is too large, the purchaser must make arrangements for oversized vehicle transport. Moreover, such pools are difficult and awkward to handle or carry even for short distances.
In addition to the problem with transporting these conventional portable pools, they are generally so large that they are difficult to store. In fact, among certain consumers, they have become disposable due to the difficulties of storage. Oftentimes consumers, for example, can purchase one of these portable pools at the beginning of the summer swimming season, and simply discard it during the colder months when it would otherwise need to be stored. This practice, however, is viewed by many as wasteful, and is preferably avoided.
Another problem with conventional molded plastic portable pools is that they are easily breakable. Because of this problem, the difficulty in storing such items is exacerbated as they can not easily be bent or manipulated without the risk of breaking the item. Additionally, because of the manner in which children play in and around a portable pool, the fact that they are easily breakable is highly undesirable because it could potentially cause or contribute to injuries.
A conventional pool is illustrated in
To setup the conventional quick set swimming pool 5, the edge of the side wall 20 that is not joined to the base 10 (i.e., the top) can have the rising ring 30 coupled thereto. The rising ring 30 can comprise a variety of different elements capable of aiding the transformation of the swimming pool from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by erecting the side wall 20. For example, the rising ring 30 can be a floating device that floats on the water in the swimming pool 5, causing the side wall 20 to rise as more water is inserted in the swimming pool 5. When the swimming pool 5 reaches fluid capacity, the ultimate shape of the pool is that as shown in
It would be desirable to develop a portable pool that exhibits the portability of an inflatable pool, but which does not require the same time and energy expenditure, or presents the same storage difficulties, as an inflatable pool, and which possesses the ability to be used immediately, such as a molded pool. It would be desirable that such a portable, storable pool be relatively robust, and not be easily broken, or otherwise damaged.
Briefly described, embodiments of the present invention relate to a collapsible container, which are both portable and robust, and which exhibit ease of use. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a collapsible swimming pool that can also be used as a different container and exhibits the portability and ease of storage of an inflatable or portable pool without the need for a great expenditure of time and/or energy prior to use, such as the difficulties that might generally be associated with an inflatable pool. Additionally, the swimming pool is configured to be used immediately, without any need for appreciable set-up time or significant energy. Moreover, the swimming pool is relatively robust, and is not easily broken, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, as is the case with conventional pools.
The pool will be described as incorporating a side wall, as described in an exemplary embodiment comprises a circular-shaped pool having but a single side, but it can be implemented to include more than one side. Further, the side wall of the pool is approximately perpendicular to a base, such that the side wall does not slant inwardly.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a floatation device (which can be inflatable) can be positioned at the top rim of the collapsible pool. The floatation device can provide padding for those entering and exiting the pool, and can also provide a manner by which the pool changes from a collapsed to an expanded configuration with the addition of water within the pool. For instance, the floatation device can rise as the water level rises due to its buoyant properties, extending the material connecting the top of the pool, thereby erecting the side walls of the pool.
The side wall of the pool, when compared to the conventional quick set swimming pool, is inside-out. As a result, the floatation device is positioned over the fluid in the pool, as well as within the perimeter of the side wall, rather than outside the perimeter; moreover, the side wall is preferably approximately perpendicular relative the base and has a generally vertical orientation, rather than being slanted.
The swimming pool further can comprise a plurality of portholes in the side wall of the pool. A porthole is a through-space window-like opening. The porthole enables one to see the inside of the pool from outside the pool, and can include a variety of shapes. The material of the porthole is transparent enabling inside the pool to outside the pool, and/or inside the pool to outside the pool viewing. Conversely, the material of the side wall is opaque.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, supports such as vertical rib supports or frames, can be coupled proximate to the side wall of the pool. For example, the supports can be inserted within the material making up the side wall. These support members can comprise at least a portion of a floatation device or a support member, and can have at least a portion coupled to the top of the side wall and vertically along the side wall to provide buoyancy and/or rigidity to the side wall. These support members can comprise, for example, one or more inflatable bladders, collapsible foam, removable support members, and the like.
Further features of the invention, and the advantages offered thereby, are explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are indicated by like reference designators.
To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of embodiments of the invention, they are explained hereinafter with reference to their implementation in an illustrative embodiment. In particular, embodiments of the invention are described in the context of being a collapsible swimming pool. Because of its collapsible nature, aspects of the invention can be easily stored, and is readily portable.
Embodiments of the invention, however, are not limited to its use as a portable, collapsible, and/or pop-up swimming pool. Rather, embodiments of the invention can be used wherever a collapsible and/or pop-up container that provides for convenient storage is needed or desired. Thus, the container described hereinafter as a portable swimming pool can also find utility as a container for a variety of fluids, liquids, or other substances that require or could make use of such a collapsible container.
Additionally, the materials described hereinafter as making up the various elements of the container are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, materials that are developed after the time of the development of the invention, for example.
Embodiments of the invention provide several exemplarily embodiments of collapsible containers that can be used as a swimming pool. These collapsible containers are generally formed by joining a base, along its perimeter, to an erected side wall at or near one edge (i.e., a bottom) of the side wall.
Along the edge of the side wall not joined to the base (i.e., a top), an upward force providing member or a shape retaining member, or a combination thereof, can be positioned. The upward force providing member or shape retaining member generally has at least a portion coupled proximate to the end of the side wall not joined to the base. The upward force providing member can comprise a variety of different elements capable of aiding the transformation of the collapsible container from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by erecting the side wall. For example, the upward force providing member might be a floatation device that floats on fluid in the container, causing the side wall to rise as additional fluid is deposited in the container. The floatation device can effectively cause the side wall to be approximately normal the base or the surface upon which the base sits. Additionally, the floatation device is positioned within the interior of the container, as it extends inwardly toward a center of the base.
A support member and/or shape retaining member can be formed from one or more support members having at least a portion coupled proximate to the side wall of the pool. For example, vertical rib supports can be used as an upward force providing member, a shape-retaining member, or both. Such vertical ribs can be formed from individual inflatable portions, or can be a foam insert, or the like. According to some embodiments, such vertical ribs can be collapsible, being formed from collapsible inflatable portions, collapsible foam portions, or other suitable compositions.
The pool can also incorporate at least one porthole in the side wall. A plurality of portholes can be provided, each being a translucent portion of the side wall, and being transparent. The portholes provide a window-like mechanism permitting one to see into the pool through the side wall. Similarly, the portholes enable one within the pool to see outside the pool.
The pool can also include a pump device for cleaning and filtration purposes. In some embodiments, if the pump device is present a fountain device can be positioned in the pool to provide decorative movement of the fluid, commonly water.
A container, or portable swimming pool, constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The pool 100 can be a frame pool or a pop-up type of pool, both of which being collapsible in nature. The frame pool is typically pre-fabricated and includes a plurality of external vertical braces or frames for supporting the frame pool above the ground. The vertical braces or frames can be made of plastic, metal, and the like. The pop-up pool is adapted to rise with the amount of water inserted into pool, and can also be outfitted with external braces or frames for additional support. In an exemplary embodiment, the pool 100 can be a combination of the frame and pop-up pools having elements of both devices. As one skilled in the art would appreciate, other types of pools can be used with embodiments of the present invention.
The shape of the pool 100 can be circular, oval, and the like. The pool 100 can be made in a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, rectangular, square, oblong, oval-shaped, elliptical, rectangular with rounded corners, and the like. Different shapes can result in the pool 100 having more than one side wall 120 forming the perimeter of the pool 100. Additionally, the pool 100 can be made in a variety of sizes, depending upon the desired use.
The pool 100 is formed with the base 110 and side wall 120. The base 110 and side wall 120 can be manufactured out of many different materials and can be formed of the same materials or each a different material. For example, the base 110 and side wall 120 of the swimming pool 100 can be formed from a textile (e.g., burlap, etc.) or synthetic material (e.g., plastics, polyurethane, PVC, nylon, etc). Many materials (especially water-permeable textiles, etc.) can be used to construct a pool; the materials, however, are preferably treated to retain water. For example, such materials could be adhered to, laminated with, coated with, or bonded to a material impermeable to water. In accordance with the embodiment shown in
For example, the base 110 can be formed from materials that are more durable than the side wall 120, as this section of the pool 100 would likely be subjected to more wear than that experienced by the side wall 120. Also, as described, the base 110 and side wall 120 can be formed from a combination of materials, which can be adhered or bonded together. The materials used for the various portions of the pool 100, including, for example, the base 110 and the side wall 120, can be joined by way of a number of commonly known suitable techniques, such as sewing, adhesives, bonding, lamination, RF welding, other suitable joining techniques, and the like. The connection of the base 110 to the side wall 120 can be along the bottom 122 of the side wall 120. The base 110 includes a perimeter 112, wherein the bottom 122 of the side wall 120 can be connected thereto.
The side wall 120 can comprise both an inner wall 126 and an outer wall 128. The inner wall 126 can be sealable to the outer wall 128. The side wall 120 is preferably non-inflatable and non-spring activated.
In one embodiment, the inner wall 126 can be made of pliable plastic, while the outer wall 128 is made of hard plastic. Then, the inner wall 126 can limit leakage of fluid should the outer wall 128 crack. Likewise, the material of the inner wall 126 can be made of hard plastic, and the material of the outer wall 128 can be made of pliable material to protect from potential leakage should the hard plastic crack.
In another embodiment, the inner wall 126 can be made of hard plastic, while the outer wall 128 can also be made of hard plastic.
The pool 100 as illustrated in
The floatation device 130 can be made from a variety of materials. For example, the floatation device 130 can be a standard inflatable polyurethane casing, or similar casing that is suitable for retaining air or other gas in an inflated state. Additionally, the floatation device 130 can make use of a variety of chemical or other reactions that would automatically inflate it. The floatation device 130 can be inflated by conventional means, for example by a valve configured for oral inflation or for inflation by a device such as a pump, and the like.
The floatation device 130 can also be made from material that does not require inflation, but provides adequate buoyancy and floats on the water contained within the pool 100 (or other fluid when the pool is used as a general container). For example, special foams, polystyrene, or other materials can be used to create a floatation device 130, which would float with the water line contained in the pool 100, and cause the walls 120 to be erected as the pool 100 fills. In this manner, the pool 100 can automatically change from a collapsed to an expanded configuration. As the pool 100 is a collapsible pool, and adapted to be folded, the floatation device 130 can be made of a material that can be subjected to folding, without becoming damaged. Although some potential materials from which the floatation device 130 can be formed have been mentioned above, other materials including, but not limited to, newly developed materials can be incorporated within the design of the invention, and used to form the floatation device 130 without departing from the invention.
The floatation device 130 can be of a nature other than an inflatable ring. For example, this floatation device 130 can be made of a material that floats, and is bendable, such that it can be folded or bent.
The pool 100 can be conveniently collapsed for storage and/or transport by deflating the inflated floatation device 130 and folding onto itself along with the base 110 and side wall 120 material in a manner that is well known.
Conventional pool designs positioned the floatation device directly over the top of the side wall 120. These conventional designs were defective, and the pools 100 were unable to maintain their shape. The floatation device 130 enables the side wall 120 to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation, or approximately perpendicular relative to the base 110. The generally vertical orientation of the side wall 120 can result from the floatation device 130 being positioned atop the side wall 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the floatation device 130 is turned inside-out, with respect to the conventional quick set pool, causing the side wall 120 to remain more upright. For instance, as illustrated in
In the conventional solution, the floatation device 130 extends outwardly. In the present invention, however, the floatation device 130 is positioned partially over the base 110 (see
Additionally, referring now to
The portholes 150 can have particular shapes. As illustrated in
The portholes 150 can aid in safety, as the portholes 150 can enable viewing into the pool 100 through the side wall 120. If the portholes 150 are removably designed by suitable means, a porthole 150 can also be used as a drainage device, enabling quick emptying of the fluid of the pool 100. The portholes 150 can be integrally formed during manufacturing of the side wall 120, or removable, wherein they are attached via a waterproof/leak resistant means. The portholes 150 can also be included via a non-removable method, wherein the portholes 150 are secured within the side wall 120.
The portholes 150 can be secured in different ways within the side wall 120. In one embodiment, the portholes 150 can be flush with the side wall 120, such as enabling a drainage device. In another embodiment, the portholes 150 can be insertable between the inner wall 126 and the outer wall 128 of the side wall 120. The portholes 150 are sealable between the inner wall 126 and the outer wall 128, wherein there is a hole between the inner wall 126 and the outer wall 128, whereby the porthole 150 seals the hole. The porthole 150, thus, can be sandwiched between the inner wall 126 and the outer wall 128. The porthole 150 can be sealed by conventional compression or heat sealed methods.
As also illustrated in
Fountains are aesthetically pleasing, and are often desired to be positioned within the pool 100. A fountain device 155 or fluid discharge device, can be positioned within the pool 100 for controlling fluid supplied by the pump device 140 in a decorative fashion. The pump device 140 can control the elevation of fluid as it is ejected from the fountain device 155, as well as the rise and fall of the fluid. The fountain device 155 is preferably positioned in the pool 100, and can be in communication with the pump device 140 or other filtering device to control the rise and fall of fluid.
The pool 100 can also have one or more braces or structural supports 160. The support 160 can include vertical rib supports, and can be coupled proximate to the side wall 120 of the pool 100. The support 160 can be inserted within the material making up the side wall 120. The support 160 can comprise at least a portion of the floatation device 130 or a support member, and can have at least a portion coupled to the top of the side wall 120 and vertically along the side wall 120 to provide buoyancy and/or rigidity to the side wall 120. The supports 160 can comprise, for example, one or more inflatable bladders, collapsible foam, removable support members, and the like.
The supports 160 can be used on a frame pool, as well as a pop-up pool for supporting the pool above the ground. In an exemplary embodiment, the support 160 is positioned outside the pool 100. The support members 160 can be made of plastics, metals, and the like.
The pool 100 can include a ladder 170 enabling one to enter and/or exit the pool 100. The ladder 170 can be integral with the brace 160, or not. The ladder 170 can be insertable into the pool 100, enabling one to exit the pool 100 from the inside. Because a rim of the pool 100 is above the ground, the ladder 170 is preferably flush with the rim for easy entry/exit from the pool 100.
Because the pool 100 is collapsible, the fluid in the pool 100 can be drained therefrom. Exemplarily, a drainage assembly 180 is integral with the pool 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the drainage assembly 180 is a cork or like device, that is removeable from the pool 100, such that, when removed the water from the pool 100 can be drained. The drainage assembly 180 can also be a valve enabling control of draining the pool 100. The drainage assembly 180 can be many devices enabling easy draining of the pool 100, safely and environmentally.
The pool 100 can also include a light source 190 for illumination purposes. The light source provides light when energized. The light source can be many types of light sources, including a light bulb, light emitting diode (LED), incandescent lamp, halogen lamp, fluorescent lamp, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the light source 190 is an LED, as they can last longer than a halogen lamp or conventional light bulb, and LEDs can be controlled to emit various color patterns. In an exemplary embodiment, the light source 190 can be secured to or embedded in either the side wall 120 or the floatation device 130. The light source can be powered by either an electrical outlet near the pool 100, or by a temporary power source, such as a battery, positioned within the pool 100.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the invention provides a number of different collapsible containers with generally vertical side walls and a floatation device positioned atop the generally vertical side wall, which can be used as swimming pool. The various embodiments of the invention described above provide collapsible swimming pool that are foldable, enable easy storage, and increase portability when compared with prior approaches. Additionally, according to various embodiments of the invention, the collapsible swimming pool of the invention can be provided with a pop-up mechanism that automatically erects the pool to its full-sized, expanded configuration. Thus, unlike prior approaches, the swimming pool of the invention combines portability and storability with ready access for immediate use. Additionally, the swimming pool of the invention can be constructed from durable, lightweight, foldable materials which are not easily damaged, and therefore contribute to their long life.
Embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. For example, while embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of swimming pool the concepts described herein need not be limited to these illustrative embodiments. For example, swimming pools of larger sizes can be constructed using the same methods, and would enjoy the same benefits as the kiddie pool described above. Additionally, other types of containers, which can be used to contain fluids or other substances could be constructed using the principles of the invention and enjoy similar advantages as those described above.
Additionally, the specific configurations, choice of materials, and the size and shape of various elements can be varied according to particular design specifications or constraints requiring a container constructed according to the principles of the invention. Such changes are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention.
The presently disclosed embodiments are, therefore, considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/956,066, filed 15 Aug. 2007, the entire contents and substance of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60956066 | Aug 2007 | US |
