End cap coping for a swimming pool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6393632
  • Patent Number
    6,393,632
  • Date Filed
    Monday, October 30, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 28, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
An end cap coping for a swimming pool of sufficiently low profile to allow a pool cover to be extended thereover. The end cap coping includes a body having a channel with holes in a bottom thereof for receiving fasteners extending in to a wall of the pool. An enlarged edge of the body includes a slot for retaining a bead of a liner for the pool. The end cap coping is positioned above a target water level for the pool, but below tracks supporting a cover of the pool. A cover is provided for the channel.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to copings for a swimming pool, and, more particularly, relates to coping end caps for a swimming pool.




2. Description of the Related Art




A swimming pool may include a plurality of upright perimeter walls surrounding the pool, adjacent the deck area of the pool. The walls may be metal, plastic or concrete. When plastic or metal walls are used, it is common to lay a vinyl liner along the walls and across the bottom. A target water level is defined, being generally the level at which skimmers and return water lines are provided in the pool walls. The actual water level may, however, vary from the target water level.




A coping is disposed about the periphery of the pool and above water level. It is common for a coping to interconnect the sidewalls, pool liner and walkway or deck area of the pool. For example, a coping may include a bottom surface which is adapted for connection to a sidewall of the pool using appropriate fasteners, and a facia having a slot extending the longitudinal length thereof which receives a bead disposed at the top edge of the liner. The back of the coping, disposed opposite the facia, is adapted to receive and interconnect with concrete forming the walkway.




It is known to provide extruded copings which are formed from metal, e.g., aluminum. Compared to plastic copings, metal copings provide the advantages of increased ability to withstand thermal expansion and contraction, resistance to UV radiation, and relatively high strength and rigidity. Conventional metal swimming pool copings may include a curved facia with a liner bead slot, and may further include a light receiving slot therein for receiving a fiber optic or light emitting diode light source, providing aesthetic appeal.




Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. A pool cover also provides a degree of safety, and reduces chemical usage. An automatic pool cover provides convenience for a user by allowing the cover to be easily extended over the pool during periods of non-use, and retracted during periods of use. Typically, the automatic pool cover is wound around a reel retained within a cover box at an end of the pool, commonly the deep end, opposite from the walk-in steps at the shallow end of the pool. A pair of tracks extend along each side wall of the pool, and can either be mounted to the concrete deck (i.e., deck mounted) or incorporated into the coping (i.e., under-rail mounted) which surrounds the pool. Regardless of whether the track is deck mounted our integral with the coping, the track is always positioned above the target water level in the pool. The cover includes a cable, rope or the like sewn into or otherwise attached to the side edges of the cover material, and retained in the tracks. An electric motor coupled with the reel and ropes selectively moves the cover to a closed or an opened position. When in an extended, or closed, position over the pool, the automatic pool cover hangs from the track and slopes away from the track toward the middle of the pool. The center portion of the cover rests on and is supported by the water in the pool.




The leading edge of the cover should be maintained at a position above the pool water surface as the cover is moved between closed and opened positions. It is known to fasten a leading edge bar to the leading edge of the cover for this purpose. The leading edge bar extends across the width of the pool and may be attached to loops or the like sewn into the leading edge of the cover.




In the design of some pools, the shallow end includes walk-in steps whereby a person may enter the pool. One or more of the steps may be above the target water level, and may extend across the full width of the pool, or may be a more limited entrance, narrower than the pool width. The first step into the pool may take the form of a small platform, several feet wide and as long as the width of the pool. It may be only several inches below the top edge of the pool, less than a conventional step, and is not normally covered by the liner material, which is typically retained at an end coping at the waterside edge of the entrance platform. When an under-rail mounted automatic cover is used, copings of previous designs have prevented the leading edge of the cover from passing thereover, and closing of the cover normally terminates at the coping, leaving the entrance platform uncovered.




While covering a pool in the manner just described accomplishes many of the goals for covering a pool, such as heat retention, chemical conservation and security, when the platform is uncovered, it may leave a visual impression that the pool is not fully covered and the cover not fully extended. Further, while the water area is protected from dirt and debris, the entrance platform is not. Whereas the deck area adjacent the pool may slope away from the pool and is easily cleaned without substantial contamination of the pool water, the same is not true for the entrance platform. The surface of the platform is commonly below the deck and cleaning the entrance platform can result in the dirt and debris thereon being washed into the pool water, where it must be removed by skimmers or other pool water cleaning apparatus.




What is needed in the art is a pool edge coping system which allows a pool to be fully covered, including any entrance platform disposed lower than the pool deck.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a swimming pool including an end cap coping having a low profile, which allows an automatic or manually operated cover to pass thereover and a pool cover which can be extended sufficiently to cover the pool water and any entrance platform lower than the pool deck.




The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a coping for use in a swimming pool, the coping having a longitudinal direction. The coping includes a base having means for connecting to a wall of the pool, an enlarged edge on the base with a slot for receiving and retaining a liner bead therein. The coping is of limited vertical profile.




The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a swimming pool with a plurality of walls including a pair of side walls on opposite sides of the pool and an end wall disposed between the pair of side walls. The plurality of walls define a target water level. A liner extends along the walls. A pair of side copings are associated with the respective side walls and are positioned above the target water level. Each side coping includes means for retaining edges of the liner. A track is associated with each side wall, and a cover includes a pair of longitudinal side edges, the side edges being carried by a corresponding track of the side wall. An end coping is associated with the end wall. The end coping includes means for retaining an end edge of the liner. The end coping is of sufficiently low profile to be above the target water level and below the tracks.




In still another form thereof, the invention comprises an end cap coping for the top of a swimming pool end wall, the end cap coping comprising a base portion extending in a longitudinal direction, the base portion including a channel having a plurality of holes therein for receiving fasteners securable in the end wall. A plurality of supports depend downwardly from the base portion and rest against the end wall top. An enlarged edge extends along the base portion, and includes a nose piece and a base connected by one of the supports. The nose piece and the base define a liner bead slot having an opening thereto.




An advantage of the present invention is that the end coping of the present invention allows pool covers to be passed thereover without interference from the end coping.




Another advantage of the present invention is that an automated pool cover can be passed over an end wall of a pool having an end cap coping of the present invention thereby allowing the cover to protect an entrance platform at an end of the pool below the deck surrounding the pool. Still another advantage of the present invention is providing an end cap coping easily manufactured by extrusion processes.




A further advantage of the present invention is providing an end cap coping having a smooth surface, with means covering fasteners used for attaching the coping to a pool wall.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent, and the invention will be better understood, by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a swimming pool in which the present invention may be used advantageously;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of an end cap coping of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is an elevational of an end of the coping shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a cross sectional view showing an end cap coping of the present invention installed on a swimming pool end wall;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a swimming pool having a cover fully extended thereover;





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view of a side wall of the pool shown in

FIG. 5

, taken along line


6





6


of

FIG. 5

; and





FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view showing an end cap coping of the present invention on an end wall of a pool adjacent a cover box for an automatic pool cover.











Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to

FIG. 1

, there is shown an embodiment of a swimming pool


10


, which includes an end cap coping


12


of the present invention, shown more clearly in FIG.


2


. It should be understood that pool


10


is only an example of a pool structure in which the present invention may be used advantageously, and that an end cap coping according to the present invention may be used advantageously on other types, structures and styles of swimming pools.




Swimming pool


10


includes a plurality of walls


14


,


16


,


18


,


20


; including a pair of opposite end walls


14


,


16


and a pair of opposite side walls


18


,


20


. Each of end walls


14


and


16


can advantageously use end cap coping


12


. End walls


14


,


16


and side walls


18


,


20


form an enclosed region for containing water of pool


10


, and define a target water level


22


within swimming pool


10


. To wit, end walls


14


,


16


and/or side walls


18


,


20


typically include one or more skimmers (not shown) and one or more water returns (not shown). It is usually desirable to fill swimming pool


10


to a specified degree for proper operation of the skimmers, etc. Of course, the actual water level may vary somewhat from target water level


22


and still provide effective operation of swimming pool


10


.




End walls


14


and


16


and side walls


18


and


20


are constructed of metal, plastic, or the like. A vinyl liner


24


is provided as a watertight barrier along end walls


14


,


16


and side walls


18


,


20


and across the bottom of the pool. Each of side walls


18


,


20


includes a side coping


26


, which is fastened to side walls


18


,


20


. A single side coping


26


is illustrated in

FIG. 6

, for side wall


18


. Opposite side wall


20


likewise includes a substantially identically configured side coping


26


. A liner bead slot


28


is provided in each side coping


26


, for carrying an edge bead


30


of vinyl liner


24


, for holding liner


24


in proper position. Side coping


26


further includes a track


32


, above target water level


22


, for carrying a cover


34


, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Side coping


26


defines a facia


36


extending along the top, side edges of swimming pool


10


, and serves to join a top deck area


38


, immediately outside of pool


10


, to sidewall


18


. Deck


38


is commonly an are of poured concrete surrounding pool


10


. A light receiving slot


40


and a fiber optic tube light


42


may be used with side coping


26


, for aesthetic appearance. Individual lengths of side coping


26


are coupled in an end-to-end manner so that side coping


26


extends from one end of pool


10


to the other end of pool


10


. Side coping


26


may be made of plastic, but preferably is of metal such as aluminum, and is formed by a process of extrusion.




Cover


34


includes a pair of longitudinal side edges


44


,


46


(FIG.


5


). Each side edge


44


,


46


is carried by a corresponding track


32


along respective side walls


18


,


20


(FIG.


6


). A rope carrier


48


is sewn into cover


34


along each side edge


44


,


46


. Rope carrier


48


is received within a corresponding track


32


for allowing cover


34


to be extended and retracted over pool


10


. The term “rope carrier”, as used herein, is intended to mean any elongate element which may be coupled with a corresponding side edge


44


,


46


and carried within a corresponding track


32


, such as, for example, nylon, hemp or steel rope.




Cover


34


is an automatic cover, having drive means (not shown) for extending and retracting cover


34


over the water in pool


10


. Cover


34


is stored on a reel


50


in a cover box


52


disposed at one end of pool


10


. In

FIGS. 6 and 7

, cover box


52


is shown positioned immediately outwardly of end wall


14


, and may be constructed of treated lumber or may be a modular structure of extruded thermoplastic, aluminum, or the like. At the opposite end of pool


10


, at end wall


16


as shown best in

FIG. 5

, a walk-in stairway


54


is provided, leading from an entrance platform


56


into pool


10


. Entrance platform


56


extends across the width of pool


10


, and is positioned slightly lower than deck


38


surrounding pool


10


. In the embodiment shown, platform


56


is several feet wide and extends across the width of pool


10


, from a deck-side edge


58


to a water-side edge


60


thereof.




Liner


24


extends lengthwise in pool


10


from end wall


14


to water-side edge


60


of entrance platform


56


, being secured in end coping


12


as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Liner


24


extends across pool


10


from side coping


26


on side wall


18


to side coping


26


on side wall


20


, being secured in liner bead slots


28


thereof. While liner


24


ends at edge


60


, in accordance with the present invention, side copings


26


of side walls


18


,


20


extend beyond edge


60


, substantially the full width of entrance platform


56


to deck-side edge


58


thereof.




End cap coping


12


provides a top for end walls


14


,


16


, and secures liner


24


in place, while allowing cover


34


to be extended thereover. End cap coping


12


, therefore, is of minimal vertical profile, such that, in a preferred arrangement thereof, end cap coping


12


is entirely lower than tracks


32


of side copings


26


. End cap coping


12


is an elongated body


70


, relatively narrow compared to its length, extending in a longitudinal direction along the perimeter of pool


10


. Body


70


may be formed of extruded plastic, metal such as aluminum, or the like, and is generally adapted to sit on top of an end wall


14


,


16


and be secured thereto. The embodiment to be described is particularly suitable to be of a metal construction formed by a process of extrusion, and may be relatively easily fabricated. It is to be understood, however, that end cap coping


12


could be formed by other processes, such as molding. In a typical installation and use of end cap coping


12


, a plurality of individual lengths thereof are secured in end-to-end relationship on end wall


14


,


16


to extend across the width of pool


10


.




An end cap coping


12


properly installed on end wall


16


is shown in

FIG. 4. A

plurality of individual lengths of end cap coping


12


may be secured in end-to-end relationship, to extend the full width of pool


10


. For securing end cap coping


12


to end wall


16


, a channel


72


is provided, and extends the length of end cap coping


12


. Channel


72


includes sides


74


,


76


and a bottom


78


which rests on the top of end wall


16


, thereby forming a support of end cap coping


12


. Channel


72


has an opening


80


thereto, accessible from a top surface


82


of end cap coping


12


. At spaced locations along channel


72


, a hole or opening


84


is provided in bottom


78


, through which a fastener


86


may be inserted from channel


72


into end wall


16


. As shown in

FIG. 4

) fastener


86


is a threaded fastener such as a self tapping screw, compatible with the material of end wall


16


, for anchoring end cap coping


12


to end wall


16


. Securement of an end cap coping


12


to end wall


14


is performed similarly to that shown in

FIG. 4

with respect to end wall


16


.




To establish a smooth, continuous top surface


82


, a cover


90


is provided for channel


72


. Cover


90


includes a top


92


and legs


94


,


96


, and is shaped to seat in channel


72


, closing opening


80


thereof. In a preferred embodiment of cover


90


, legs


94


,


96


depend downwardly from top


92


and include outwardly curved end tips


98


,


100


. Sides


74


,


76


of channel


72


include grooves


102


,


104


, respectively, for receiving tips


98


,


100


therein. Thus, cover


90


can be secured in channel


72


, covering and protecting fasteners


86


and providing a smooth, continuous extension of top surface


82


on either side if top


92


.




End cap coping


12


further includes an inside base portion


106


on the pool side of channel


72


and an outside base portion


108


on the deck side of channel


72


. Inside base portion


106


includes a plate


110


extending laterally from channel


72


, generally at right angles to side


74


thereof. Plate


110


has an enlarged edge, including a nose piece


112


at the inner most edge of end cap coping


12


. Nose piece


112


has a generally arched or rounded upper surface


114


across which cover


34


may slide without snagging. A support


116


depends downwardly from plate


110


, generally under nose piece


112


, but recessed inwardly from an innermost edge


118


of nose piece


112


. Support


116


connects to a base


120


having a flange


122


. Base


120


is spaced from nose piece


112


, thereby defining a liner bead slot


28


between base


120


and nose piece


112


. Base


120


rests on the top of end wall


16


, and flange


122


extends downwardly from base


120


, generally at the top, inner edge surface of end wall


16


. A lip


124


of flange


122


extends upwardly from base


120


, to define a restricted opening


126


of liner bead slot


28


in end cap coping


12


.




Outside base portion


108


has a plate


130


extending laterally from channel


72


, and angles downwardly from side


76


thereof. Plate


130


includes a tail


132


which may flatten against the top of wall


16


and entrance platform


56


. An intermediate support


134


extends downwardly from plate


130


and rests against the top of end wall


16


, thereby providing stabilization of plate


130


between channel


72


and tail


132


. To allow tail


132


to flatten properly against the top of end wall


16


and entrance platform


56


, upper and lower score marks


136


and


138


, respectively, are provided in plate


130


, just outwardly of intermediate support


134


. In a preferred arrangement, end cap coping


12


is slightly wider than end wall


16


, such that tail


132


extends past end wall


16


and covers a seam


140


between end wall


16


and entrance platform


56


.




In

FIG. 7

, an end cap coping


12


installed on end wall


14


is shown. It can be seen that the low profile of end cap coping


12


allows cover


34


, and a leading edge bar


142


thereof to pass over end cap coping


12


as cover


34


is unrolled from reel


50


and extended over pool


10


. Securing an edge of liner


24


, end cap coping


12


is disposed above target water level


22


. Being of minimal vertical profile, end cap coping


12


is disposed below tracks


32


of side copings


26


.




As illustrated in

FIG. 5

, end cap coping


12


installed on end wall


16


is also below tracks


32


of side copings


26


, thereby allowing cover


34


to be drawn thereover for covering entrance platform


56


. Relatively rigid leading edge bar


142


extends substantially linearly between side wall


18


and side wall


20


, and will therefore pass over end cap coping


12


. Even if the material of cover


34


sags behind leading edge bar


142


, cover


34


will slide easily over upper surface


114


of nose piece


112


at either end wall


14


or end wall


16


.




While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A swimming pool, comprising:a plurality of walls including a pair of side walls on opposite sides of said pool and an end wall disposed between said pair of side walls, inner surfaces of said plurality of walls defining a target water level; a liner extending along said walls, said liner having a plurality of edges; a pair of side copings, each said side coping associated with a respective said side wall and positioned above said target water level, each said side coping including means for retaining an edge of said liner; a track positioned adjacent to each side wall inner surface; a cover including a pair of longitudinal side edges, each said side edge of said cover carried by a corresponding said track for movement generally along said sidewall inner surfaces; and an end coping associated with said end wall, said end coping including means for retaining an edge of said liner, said end coping being of sufficiently low profile to be above said target water level and below said tracks and thereby allow said cover to slide thereover.
  • 2. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said plurality of walls includes two end walls disposed between said side walls, each of said end walls having an end coping associated therewith, each said end coping being of sufficiently low profile to be above said target water level and below said tracks.
  • 3. The swimming pool of claim 2, wherein an entrance platform is disposed at an end of said pool outwardly of one said end wall, and said tracks extend outwardly of said one said end wall substantially along said platform.
  • 4. The swimming pool of claim 3, wherein a reel box is disposed outwardly of the other said end wall.
  • 5. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein an entrance platform is disposed at an end of said pool outwardly of said end wall, and said tracks extend beyond said end wall substantially along a width of said platform.
  • 6. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said end coping includes an enlarged edge having a slot therein for receiving a bead on an edge of said liner.
  • 7. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said end coping includes a channel and means in said channel for attaching said end coping to said end wall.
  • 8. The swimming pool of claim 7, wherein a cover is provided for said channel, including means for securing said cover to said channel.
  • 9. The swimming pool of claim 7, wherein said means in said channel includes a plurality of holes in said channel and fasteners for extending through said holes into said end wall.
  • 10. The swimming pool of claim 9, wherein a cover is provide for said channel, including means for securing said cover to said channel.
  • 11. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said end coping includes a nose piece having a curved upper surface.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
2898607 McGuire Aug 1959 A
4059855 Riendeau Nov 1977 A
4158244 Stefan Jun 1979 A
5107551 Weir et al. Apr 1992 A
5134819 Boyack Aug 1992 A