Support for in-ground swimming pool pipes

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6658675
  • Patent Number
    6,658,675
  • Date Filed
    Monday, December 2, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 9, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Huson; Gregory
    • Kokabi; Azy
    Agents
    • Schoonover; Donald R.
Abstract
The pipes associated with an in-ground swimming pool can be supported by a support that includes a base and two telescopingly engaged tubular sections. A U-shaped element is located on one end of the tubular sections and has a pad on which the pipe rests. A lock connects the two tubular sections together once the height of the support is selected.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to the general art of supports, and to the particular field of conduit supports.




2. Discussion of the Related Art




Many residences and municipalities have in-ground swimming pools. These pools are often installed by professionals according to detailed plans and specifications. The swimming pools are generally installed and then backfilled. Once installed, the pools must be maintained.




The inventor has discovered that, in some instances, the final installation and backfilling of a swimming pool may place stress on the fluid conduits and fittings associated with the swimming pool. Some of these stresses are compounded by shifts in the ground. In some cases, the stresses are sufficient to cause a failure or a rupture in a fluid conduit or a fitting. Such failure may occur long after the swimming pool has been installed. A failure in a fluid conduit or a fitting may require extensive and expensive repair work.




Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool.




Since in-ground swimming pools can be designed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and the terrain adjacent to such pools often has a wide variety, any means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings should be easily adjustable and versatile. In order to save labor costs, such supports should also be easy to set up.




Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool which is easily set up and is easily adjusted.




Furthermore, since most in-ground swimming pools are intended to last for a long time, any accessory associated with such pools should also be durable.




Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool which is durable.




PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It is a main object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is easily set up.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is easily adjusted.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for the fluid conduits and fittings associated with an in-ground swimming pool that is durable.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




These, and other, objects are achieved by a combination which includes an in-ground swimming pool which includes a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, fittings, backfill, and concrete; a pipe support associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes, the pipe support including a first tubular element having a cylindrical wall, a proximal end, a distal end, an axial dimension extending between the proximal end of the first tubular element and the distal end of the first tubular element, a bore extending along the axial dimension of the first tubular element from the distal end of the first tubular element toward the proximal end of the first tubular element, the bore having an inner diameter, and a slot defined though the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element, a base on the proximal end of the first tubular element, a second tubular element having a cylindrical wall with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore of the first tubular element, the second tubular element being telescopingly received in the bore of the first tubular element, a lock element on the cylindrical wall of the second tubular element and extending through the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and frictionally engaging the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element adjacent to the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element to lock the second tubular element to the first tubular element, and a pipe engaging element on the second tubular element, the pipe engaging element including a U-shaped body, an inner surface and a pad on the inner surface of the U-shaped body, the at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes resting on the pad when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported by the pipe support.




The pipes associated with the in-ground swimming pool can thus be supported by a support that is easily set up and will reliably hold the pipes during final backfilling of the swimming pool as well as during the pouring of concrete and then after the pool is completed. The supported pipes are less likely to fail than non-supported pipes.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an in-ground swimming pool having fluid conduits, fittings and the like, in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a pipe support for use with the in-ground swimming pool shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an elevational view taken along line


3





3


of FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

is a view of detail A shown in

FIG. 2

, in accordance with the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.




Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a combination that includes an in-ground swimming pool


10


which includes a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, such as pipes


12


and


14


which are used in the manner common to in-ground swimming pools, fittings such as fitting


16


, backfill


18


, and concrete


20


. The operation and functions of the in-ground swimming pool are well known to those skilled in the art and thus will not be discussed herein.




The combination embodying the present invention further includes a pipe support, such as pipe support


30


, or pipe support


32


, associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes. The pipe support supports the pipes during installation of the pool as well as after installation of the pool. The supported pipes are less likely to fail than other unsupported pipes.




The pipe support is best shown in

FIGS. 2-4

and includes a first tubular element


40


having a cylindrical wall


42


, a proximal end


44


, a distal end


46


and an axial dimension


48


which extends between the proximal end


44


of the first tubular element


40


and the distal end


46


of the first tubular element


40


. A bore


50


is defined in the first tubular element


40


and extends from the distal end


46


of the first tubular element


40


toward the proximal end


44


of the first tubular element


40


in the direction of the axial dimension


48


of the first tubular element


40


. The bore


50


has an inner diameter


52


. A slot


54


is defined through the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


and has one end


56


thereof located adjacent to and spaced apart from the distal end


46


of the first tubular element


40


.




A base


60


is on the proximal end


44


of the first tubular element


40


and has a plurality of support bars, such as support bar


62


. Each bar


62


has a proximal end


64


fixed to the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


and extends radially outward from the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


, and has a distal end


66


spaced apart from the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


.




A second tubular element


70


has a cylindrical wall


72


with an outer diameter


74


that is less than the inner diameter


52


of the bore


50


defined in the first tubular element


40


, a proximal end


76


, a distal end


78


and an axial dimension


80


that extends between the proximal end


76


of the second tubular element


70


and the distal end


78


of the second tubular element


70


.




The second tubular element


70


is telescopingly received in the bore


50


of the first tubular element


40


and is slidable in the direction of the axial dimension


48


of the first tubular element


40


as indicated by double-headed arrow


82


. The axial dimension


80


of the second tubular element


70


is co-linear with the axial dimension


48


of the first tubular element


40


when the second tubular element


70


is assembled with the first tubular element


40


.




A lock element


90


is threadably mounted on the cylindrical wall


72


of the second tubular element


70


and extends radially outward from the cylindrical wall


72


of the second tubular element


70


. The lock element


90


includes a body


92


that extends through the slot


54


defined through the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


and a head


94


that frictionally engages the cylindrical wall


42


of the first tubular element


40


adjacent to the slot


54


to lock the second tubular element


70


to the first tubular element


40


.




A pipe-engaging element


100


is located on the distal end


78


of the second tubular element


70


. Pipe-engaging element


100


includes a U-shaped body


102


having an inner surface


104


and an opening


106


. The U-shaped body


102


is bi-axial with a centerline


108


on the axial dimension


80


of the second tubular element


70


. A pad


110


is fixed to the inner surface


104


of the U-shaped body


102


. The pad


110


has an inside surface


112


that engages the at least one polyvinyl pipe when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported on said pipe support.




The pipe support can be oriented in any direction to properly accommodate a pipe and pad


110


is formed of suitable material so the polyvinyl pipe can be properly supported. The second tubular element


70


is moved with respect to the first tubular element


40


until the pipe support element is positioned at the proper height to stably support a pipe. Then, the lock element


90


is tightened to lock the second tubular element


70


to the first tubular element


40


.




It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.



Claims
  • 1. In combination:a) an in-ground swimming pool which includes (1) a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, (2) fittings, (3) backfill, and (4) concrete; and b) a pipe support associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes, said pipe support including (1) a first tubular element having (A) a cylindrical wall, (B) a proximal end, (C) a distal end, (D) an axial dimension extending between the proximal end of the first tubular element and the distal end of the first tubular element, (E) a bore defined in the first tubular element and extending from the distal end of the first tubular element toward the proximal end of the first tubular element in the direction of the axial dimension of the first tubular element, the bore. having an inner diameter, and (F) a slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and having one end thereof located adjacent to and spaced apart from the distal end of the first tubular element, (2) a base on the proximal end of the first tubular element and having a plurality of support bars each having a proximal end fixed to the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and extending radially outward from the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and having a distal end spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element, (3) a second tubular element having (A) a cylindrical wall with an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the bore defined in the first tubular element, (B) a proximal end, (C) a distal end, (D) an axial dimension extending between the proximal end of the second tubular element and the distal end of the second tubular element, the second tubular element being telescopingly received in the bore of the first tubular element and being slidable in the direction of the axial dimension of the first tubular element, the axial dimension of the second tubular element being co-linear with the axial dimension of the first tubular element when the second tubular element is assembled with the first tubular element, and (E) a lock element threadably mounted on the cylindrical wall of the second tubular element and extending radially outward from the cylindrical wall of the second tubular element, the lock element including a body that extends through the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and a head that frictionally engages the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element adjacent to the slot to lock the second tubular element to the first tubular element, and (4) a pipe engaging element on the distal end of the second tubular element, the pipe engaging element including (A) a U-shaped body having an inner surface and an opening, the U-shaped body being bi-axial with a centerline on the axial dimension of the second tubular element, (B) a pad fixed to the inner surface of the U-shaped body, the pad having an inside surface that engages the at least one polyvinyl pipe when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported on said pipe support.
  • 2. In combination:a) an in-ground swimming pool which includes (1) a plurality of polyvinyl pipes, (2) fittings, (3) backfill, and (4) concrete; b) a pipe support associated with at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes, said pipe support including (1) a first tubular element having a cylindrical wall, a proximal end, a distal end, an axial dimension extending between the proximal end of the first tubular element and the distal end of the first tubular element, a bore extending along the axial dimension of the first tubular element from the distal end of the first tubular element toward the proximal end of the first tubular element, the bore having an inner diameter, and a slot defined though the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element, (2) a base on the proximal end of the first tubular element, (3) a second tubular element having a cylindrical wall with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore of the first tubular element, the second tubular element being telescopingly received in the bore of the first tubular element, (4) a lock element on the cylindrical wall of the second tubular element and extending through the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element and frictionally engaging the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element adjacent to the slot defined through the cylindrical wall of the first tubular element to lock the second tubular element to the first tubular element, and (5) a pipe engaging element on the second tubular element, the pipe engaging element including a U-shaped body, an inner surface and a pad on the inner surface of the U-shaped body, the at least one polyvinyl pipe of the plurality of polyvinyl pipes resting on the pad when the at least one polyvinyl pipe is supported by said pipe support.
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3859674 Thomson Jan 1975 A
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4263759 Miller Apr 1981 A
4324009 Hornsby Apr 1982 A
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4610362 Remp et al. Sep 1986 A
4948296 Salter Aug 1990 A
5067275 Constance Nov 1991 A
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5586352 O'Brien et al. Dec 1996 A
6421846 Shaanan et al. Jul 2002 B1