Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6658675
-
Patent Number
6,658,675
-
Date Filed
Monday, December 2, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 9, 200320 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Huson; Gregory
- Kokabi; Azy
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 004 488
- 004 506
- 004 507
- 052 1697
- 138 114
- 248 2001
- 248 2054
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International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (12)