US20030084503A1

US20030084503A1 - Swimming pool facia

Info

Publication number: US20030084503A1
Application number: US10/007,770
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Epple
Original assignee: Fort Wayne Pools Inc
Current assignee: Splash Holdings Inc
Priority date: 2001-11-08
Filing date: 2001-11-08
Publication date: 2003-05-08

Abstract

A pool cover box assembly for housing a swimming pool cover installed at an end of a swimming pool having a first facia positioned along at least one edge of the swimming pool, including a plurality of vertical walls, including a rear wall, a lid having a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge being removably engaged with the rear wall, and a second facia connected with the front edge of the lid, the second facia being complimentary in shape with the first facia, an end of the second facia in substantial alignment with an end of the first facia.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to swimming pools, and, more particularly, to a swimming pool facia.

2. Description of the Related Art

Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, to preserve chemical treatments in the water, to retain heat in the pool and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. 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, a box is placed in the decking surrounding the pool at a location opposite from the walk-in steps (usually at the deep end of a pool). The box extends across the width of the pool, and houses an electric motor and reel on which the cover is wound.

A problem with conventional automatic pool cover assemblies is that the pool cover assembly is installed as an add on to a swimming pool and as such it is not coordinated with the entire swimming pool design. A piecemeal approach to the installation of swimming pools and automatic pool covers result in a look that may not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This results in less consumer appeal which leads to less economic differentiation.

What is needed in the art is a coordination between the finishing of a swimming pool and the automatic pool cover assembly to provide a continuous finished look.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a swimming pool facia connected to an automatic pool cover box lid and another swimming pool facia disposed along the edges of a swimming pool, each facia being complimentary in shape with the other.

The invention provides, in one form thereof, a pool cover box assembly for housing a swimming pool cover installed at an end of a swimming pool having a first facia positioned along at least one edge of the swimming pool, including a plurality of vertical walls, including a rear wall, a lid having a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge being removably engaged with the rear wall, and a second facia connected with the front edge of the lid, the second facia being complimentary in shape with the first facia, an end of the second facia in substantial alignment with an end of the first facia.

An advantage is the facia installed to the pool cover lid edge support and the facia installed on the peripheral of the pool are substantially similar thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing look.

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: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool including an embodiment of a swimming pool facia of the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1; and [0012]
FIG. 3 is an end, sectional view of the swimming pool facia of FIGS. 1 and 2.[0013]
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. [0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a [0015] swimming pool 10 including walls 11, a deck 12, a cover 14, a leading edge bar 16, a pool cover box assembly 18, facia 20, transitional facia 21 and facia 22 of the present invention.
Walls [0016] 11 are generally vertical walls or sides of swimming pool 10 providing for the containment of the water in swimming pool 10. The top of walls 11 are finished with facia 20 or transitional facia 21 such that deck 12 meets facia 20 or transitional facia 21 to form a continuous aesthetically pleasing look.
[0017] Deck 12 is generally horizontal and is preferably constructed from concrete. Facia 20 serves as an edge to deck 12 along swimming pool 10. The top of facia 20 being installed in a substantially coplanar fashion along the edge of deck 12.
[0018] Cover 14 is attached to leading edge bar 16 which pulls cover 14 from pool cover box assembly 18, through an opening existing between facia 22 and a top edge of swimming pool 10, across the length of swimming pool 10. To prepare swimming pool 10 for use cover 14 retracts into pool cover box assembly 18 pulling leading edge bar 16 to the previously described opening.
[0019] Leading edge bar 16 is connected to cover 14 and provides support along the leading edge of cover 14. Each end of leading edge bar 16 is connected to at least one cable (not shown) and is slidably connected to a track located either in facia 20 or below facia 20. Leading edge bar 16 is shaped in a manner to be unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing when located at either end of swimming pool 10.
Now additionally referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, pool [0020] cover box assembly 18 includes a rear wall 24, a bottom 26, a front wall 28, a coupling 30, brackets 32, lid 34 and lid edge support 36. Pool cover box assembly 18 houses reel 38, cover 14 and a drive mechanism (not shown) which drives reel 38 and a rope and pulley system for the extension and retraction of cover 14. When cover 14 is retracted from swimming pool 10, cover 14 is wrapped around reel 38 a number of times corresponding to the length of swimming pool 10.
[0021] Front wall 28, bottom 26 and rear wall 24 are arranged to form three sides of pool cover box assembly 18 adjacent and generally parallel to one end of swimming pool 10. The top edge of front wall 28 is parallel to a plane formed by deck 12 and is disposed therebelow.
[0022] Coupling 30 has protrusions along a back side to engage the concrete of deck 12 and has an L-shaped upper portion, extending from a front side, to accommodate a portion of lid 34. The top edge of coupling 30 is substantially coplanar with deck 12 and forms part of rear wall 24. Coupling 30 may be formed as an extrusion of metal or plastic.
[0023] Brackets 32 are positioned along and fastened to rear wall 24. Brackets 32 extend over the top of reel 38 and provide support to lid 34. Brackets 32 are vertically positioned such that the top portion of brackets 32 accommodate the thickness of lid 34. Brackets 32 may be situated such that lid 34 is substantially coplanar with deck 12.
[0024] Lid 34 is composed of two substantially identical extrusions having a coupling mechanism to engage the two extrusions. The rear edge of lid 34 is shaped to engage coupling 30 so that lid 34 will not slide from its intended position. The front edge of lid 34 has a C-shaped channel 44 to accommodate latching projections 42 of lid edge support 36. As an alternative to the two piece construction of lid 34, lid 34 may be made of one or more than two piece construction.
According to an aspect of the present invention, [0025] lid edge support 36 is connected with facia 22 by way of an adhesive or mechanical fastener. Lid edge support 36 is fastened to lid 34 and is, along with facia 22 disposed above end cap coping 40 forming an opening therebetween. This opening is generally parallel with the plane of deck 12 and is such that cover 14 may be freely extended over swimming pool 10 and retracted into pool cover box assembly 18. Lid edge support 36 provides support to the front edge of lid 34 reducing the amount of deformation along the front edge of lid 34.
Latching projections [0026] 42 protrude from one side of lid edge support 36 and engage channel 44, snapping into position when pressed into channel 44. Lid edge support 36 connects with channel 44 of lid 34 such that the top edge of lid edge support 36 substantially aligns with the top surface of lid 34.
Latching projections [0027] 42 are only one way in which lid edge support 36 may be fastened to lid 34. For example, lid edge support 36 may omit latching projections 42 entirely and mechanical fasteners such as bolts, screws and rivets may be employed to attach lid edge support 36 directly to lid 34. Lid edge support 36 may be formed using the process of extrusion and may be made of monolithic metal or plastic construction. Further, lid edge support 36 and lid 34 may be formed of a monolithic construction. Although, lid edge support 36, as depicted in FIG. 3, is formed with an opening toward the interior of pool cover box assembly 18, it could also be formed as a closed chamber. Alternatively, facia 22 may be formed as a part of lid edge support 36 as a monolithic metal construct.
[0028] Facia 20 is connected to deck 12 providing a track allowing leading edge bar 16 to slide therein. The general shape of the exposed portion of facia 20 is generally curved such that there are no exposed sharp corners, when installed, and may be of a convex form. Facia 20 has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to transitional facia 21 and facia 22. Facia 20 includes a slot 48 to retain a fiber optic light 50 along the length of facia 20 and above the level of leading edge bar 16 and cover 14. Alternatively, facia 20 may also include a liner bead slot to suspend a vinyl swimming pool liner.
[0029] Transitional facia 21 is positioned between facia 20 and facia 22 providing a transition therebetween. Transitional facia 21 is also used in the corners of pool 10 opposite facia 22 to transition from one side of swimming pool 10 to an adjacent side of swimming pool 10. Transitional facia 21 can be formed to transition from any side of swimming pool 10 to an adjacent side thereof, however transitional facia 21 is usually fashioned as a curve to transition 90° in a horizontal plane. Transitional facia 21 has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to facia 20 and facia 22 including a slot similar to slots 46 and 48 for the retention of fiber-optic light 50. Alternatively, transitional facia 21 may be omitted and facia 20 and facia 22 may meet in a mitered corner.
[0030] Facia 22 has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of facia 22 is shaped in a convex manner and has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of facia 20 and transitional facia 21. The substantially similar cross-sectional shape of facia 20, transitional facia 21 and facia 22 provide an aesthetically pleasing trimmed look when installed as a part of swimming pool 10. Facia 22 includes slot 46 which is substantially aligned with slot 48 when lid 34 is installed as the top member of pool cover box assembly 18. The lower portion of facia 22 is shaped to accommodate the shape of leading edge bar 16. This shape allows leading edge bar 16 to nest with the lower portion of facia 22 when cover 14 is in a retracted position.
[0031] Facia 20 is generally aligned with transitional facia 21 and facia 22 each part having similar shapes over a portion of their exposed surfaces. The similar look between facia 20, transitional facia 21 and facia 22 provide a continuous trimmed look to the edge of swimming pool 10. Alternatively, facia 20 and facia 22 may be identical with no distinctions therebetween.
[0032] Slot 46 and slot 48 each have a substantially circular cross-section and include an inside surface with a high reflectivity. Slots 46 and 48 are configured to accommodate and retain a fiber-optic light 50, also known as a tube light.
To impart a desirable aesthetic look to [0033] swimming pool 10 the installation of facia 20, transitional facia 21 and facia 22 is a coordinated matter. Facia 22 is either integral with lid edge support 36 as a monolithic structure or facia 22 is assembled to lid edge support 36 by way of adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners. Latching projections 42 of lid edge support 36 are oriented relative to channel 44 and pressed together until latching projections 42 are secured in channel 44. Facia 20 and transitional facia 21 are positioned along the edges of swimming pool 10, except for the area where pool cover box assembly 18 is to be located, and concrete is poured to form deck 12
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. [0034]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A swimming pool, comprising:

a plurality of walls surrounding the swimming pool;

a cover configured to cover the swimming pool;

a cover box for containing said cover, said cover box having a lid with a front edge;

a first facia having two ends, said first facia connected with said front edge of said lid; and

at least one second facia at a top of a corresponding said wall, said second facia having an end in substantial alignment with an end of said first facia.

2. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said first facia further comprises a lid edge support connected to said front edge of said lid.

3. The swimming pool of claim 2, wherein said first facia and said lid edge support are formed as a single piece.

4. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein both said first facia and said second facia have an upper portion of similar convex shape.

5. The swimming pool of claim 1, further comprising a leading edge bar connected to one end of said cover, wherein said first facia has a lower portion shaped to allow a nesting of said leading edge bar when said leading edge bar is proximate said first facia.

6. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein both said first facia and said second facia include a slot parallel to a longitudinal axis of each respective said first facia and said second facia, said slot having a substantially circular cross-section, said slot being configured to receive and retain at least one of a tube light and a fiber-optic light, said slot in said first facia and said slot in said second facia being substantially in alignment.

7. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein said first facia is disposed above one said wall of said swimming pool forming an opening therebetween, said opening configured for the passage of said cover therethrough.

8. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first facia and said second facia are formed by the process of extrusion.

9. The swimming pool of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first facia and said second facia are of monolithic, metal construction.

10. The swimming pool of claim 1, further comprising at least one transitional facia located in at least one corner of the swimming pool, at least one said transitional facia disposed at an end of said second facia thereby providing an aesthetic look to the swimming pool.

11. A pool cover box assembly for housing a swimming pool cover installed at an end of a swimming pool having a first facia positioned along at least one edge of the swimming pool, comprising:

a plurality of vertical walls, including a rear wall;

a lid having a front edge and a rear edge, said rear edge being removably engaged with said rear wall; and

a second facia connected with said front edge of said lid, said second facia being complimentary in shape with the first facia.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said second facia further comprises a lid edge support connected to said front edge of said lid.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said second facia and said lid edge support are formed as a single monolithic piece.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein both the first facia and said second facia have an upper portion which is convex in shape.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first facia and said second facia have a lower portion shaped to allow a nesting of a leading edge bar.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein both the first facia and said second facia include a slot parallel to a longitudinal axis of each said facia, said slot having a substantially circular cross-section, said slot being configured to receive and retain at least one of a tube light and a fiber-optic light, said slot in the first facia and said slot in said second facia being in substantial alignment.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said second facia is disposed above a wall of said swimming pool forming an opening therebetween, said opening configured for the passage of a swimming pool cover therethrough.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said second facia is formed as a monolithic metal extrusion.

19. A method of assembling a swimming pool, comprising the steps of:

securing a first facia to an edge of a pool cover box lid;

positioning a second facia along a top edge of said swimming pool; and

orienting said first facia and said second facia in substantial alignment with each other.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the additional step of installing a deck in substantial alignment with said second facia.