FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to swimming pool equipment, in particular to a device for use with swimming pool ladders.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Many swimming pools, and particularly above-ground swimming pools, include a ladder so people can easily get into and out of the pool. A typical ladder construction 3′ resembles an A-frame (as shown in FIG. 1), with first section 1′ positioned within swimming pool 10′ and second section 2′ positioned outside swimming pool 10′. When swimming pool 10′ is not used, the device of the present disclosure may be used to prevent people from climbing on the ladder.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a housing assembly is provided for a swimming pool ladder. The housing assembly includes a housing having an upper portion, a first panel, and a second panel; a housing cover coupled to the second panel of the housing; a closing member having a first section coupled to the housing cover and a second section coupled to the first panel of the housing; and at least one coupler coupled to the housing. The housing is sized to fit over a portion of the swimming pool ladder to be coupled to the ladder by the at least one coupler and the housing cover is coupled to the housing by the closing member, such that the housing and housing cover are capable of surrounding a portion of the swimming pool ladder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above mentioned and other features of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art swimming pool ladder and pool;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a swimming pool ladder and an exemplary swimming pool ladder housing assembly of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates the housing assembly of the present disclosure mounted to a swimming pool ladder;
FIG. 5 also illustrates the housing assembly of the present disclosure mounted to a swimming pool ladder showing the cover coupled together;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 illustrates the housing assembly of the present disclosure mounted to a swimming pool ladder that is positioned inside an above-ground swimming pool;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the housing assembly of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion C of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the housing assembly.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary housing assembly 10 of the present disclosure. Housing assembly 10 includes housing 1, housing cover 2, closing member 3, and at least one coupler or couplers 4. Housing 1 includes an upper portion 12, a first panel 14, a second panel 16, and an outer portion 18. First panel 14 includes at least a portion of closing member 3. Housing 1 and upper portion 12 are sized so that they may fit over an above-ground swimming pool ladder, such as exemplary ladder 3′. Housing 1 is at least as wide as a ladder 3′, particularly outside section 2′, while upper portion 12 is sized to correspond with the dimensions of upper part 5′ of ladder 3′. That is, upper portion 12 is sized similar to the apex of an A-frame ladder, such as ladder 3′. Accordingly, upper portion 12 is capable of tightly enclosing upper part 5′, while housing 1 is capable of tightly enclosing outside section 2′. Additionally, ladder 3′ includes a plurality of steps 6′ in both inside section 1′ and outside section 2′. Support bar 20 includes feet 22 that act as a base for ladder 3′ and also connects and supports steps 6′. When housing 1 is placed onto ladder 3′, panels 14 and 16 tightly enclose steps 6′ and support 20 of ladder 3′.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, in this exemplary embodiment, closing member 3 is a zipper. As shown in FIG. 2, zippers commonly include two sets of teeth 31, 32 and a sliding member 40 used to attach the two sets of teeth. In this embodiment, one set of teeth 32 and sliding member 40 of closing member 3 is attached to panel 14 while the other set of teeth 31 are attached to housing cover 2. In operation, as best shown in FIGS. 4-5, once housing assembly 10 is placed on ladder 3′, housing cover 2 is pulled toward panel 14 and the two sets of teeth 31, 32 of closing member 3 are connected together, forming housing assembly 10 enclosing around outside portion 2′ of ladder 3′. In this exemplary embodiment where a zipper is used as closing member 3, sliding member 40 of the zipper is moved upward such that the closed position of housing assembly 10 includes sliding member 40 located proximate the upper portion 12 of housing 1. It should be understood that closing member 3 may be any known closing device, such as a zipper, hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro® hook-and-loop fasteners, hooks, loops, buttons, or any other device used to attach two pieces of fabric together.
Coupled to housing 1 is at least one coupler 4. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of couplers 4 are attached to housing 1 and/or panels 14 and 16. Each coupler 4 may be any material suitable for attaching to steps 6′, support 20, or both. For example, each coupler 4 may be a plastic hook sized to hook onto the bottom edge 7′ of step 6′, as shown in FIG. 6. Or coupler 4 may be an elastic ring sized to fit onto support 20. It should be understood that coupler 4 may be any suitable material, and should not be limited by the foregoing description. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, couplers 4 are attached to the bottom of panel 16, the bottom of panel 14, and the bottom of housing 1. When housing assembly 10 of the present disclosure is implemented on ladder 3′, couplers 4 attach to bottom edge 7′ of steps 6′, as best shown in FIGS. 4-6.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, in yet another embodiment, coupler(s) 4 may also comprise at least one male buckle 41 and at least one female buckle 42. In this exemplary embodiment, female buckles 41 are coupled to portion 18 of housing 1 at a position just below the upper step shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, a sheet of material made of the same material as housing 1 is welded or otherwise attached to housing 1 at location just below the upper step. Female buckles 41 are attached to this sheet. Male buckles 42 with straps 43 are coupled to the lower end of portion 18 of housing 1. Straps 43 are coupled to portion 18 at a position just below the lower step shown in FIG. 9. In operation, when buckles 41 and 42 are engaged, housing 1 encloses the steps and straps 43 wrap around the lower step as shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively, female buckles 41 may be coupled to the upper step shown in FIG. 9.
In another embodiment, female buckle 41 may be coupled to the lower step shown in FIG. 9 and male buckle 42 coupled to the lower end of housing 1. To couple housing 1 to the ladder, male buckle 42 is coupled to female buckle 41.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, in operation, exemplary housing assembly 10 is positioned to fit over ladder 3′. In particular, top portion 12 of housing 1 fits over top portion 5′ of ladder 3′, while housing 1 (including panels 14 and 16) fits over and around steps 6′ and support member 20 of outside portion 2′ of ladder 3′. Housing cover 2 is attached to panel 14 via closing member 3, which, in this embodiment, includes a first section attached to housing cover 2 and a second section coupled to panel 14. Coupler(s) 4 attach housing 1 and/or panels 14 and 16 to ladder 3′. Exemplary housing assembly 10 is comprised of a fabric material and is sized such that when placed over ladder 3′ and secured via closing member 3 and coupler(s) 4, the fabric material is taut, and housing assembly 10 tightly encloses outside portion 2′ of ladder 3′. As such, when in operation, housing assembly 10 of the present disclosure prevents persons from using ladder 3′ for its intended use, i.e., to climb into a swimming pool.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may 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.
Patent Application
20110072574
