Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – Construction details
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-04-03
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
Construction details
C004S585000, C004S499000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209150
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to above-the ground, flexible plastic, inflatable-type swimming pools. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a children's wading pool having a multiple-tier, inflatable sidewall and a bottom wall and includes a sun shade canopy that covers the pool and is supported by a pair of inflatable arched tubes which are attachable to and removable from the top of the wading pool by hook and loop fastener means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is directed to methods and apparatus for above-the-ground inflatable swimming or wading pools typically fashioned from polyvinylchloride sheeting, having a sun blocking canopy, and used in the out-of-doors.
Swimming and wading pools intended for use by children and comprised of inflatable plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride (hereinafter “PVC”) sheeting and having a multiple-tier inflatable sidewall including appropriate air valves and a plastic bottom wall are known in the art. These swimming and wading pools are intended to hold a minimum amount of water to enable one or more small children to play therein and splash the water on warm days.
Likewise, devices intended to shade people from the direct rays of the sun are also known in the art. For example, several aquatic lounge and floatation devices have been known. These devices do not themselves contain water, i.e., they are not a swimming or wading pool, but are designed to float within a larger body of water such as a swimming pool, pond, lake and the like. For example, one known device is an aquatic lounge having a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart longitudinally extending buoyant members intended to float in a swimming pool or the like. The aquatic lounge includes a head rest having a small canopy for shading the face of an individual resting on the lounge. The shade canopy is removable from the head rest via a plurality of threaded mechanical fasteners. The aquatic lounge also includes a serving tray attachment having a small canopy positioned thereover for protecting, for example, soft drinks from direct sun light on warm days.
Another known device is a recreational floating apparatus typically used by small children with the assistance of an adult. This device is also an aquatic floatation mechanism which includes a circular foamed plastic float, a supporting fabric seat and an attached frame collapsible canopy. The supporting seat is adapted to support a small child or infant in an upright position. The collapsible canopy is adapted to partially cover the occupant of the floating apparatus to provide protection from the sun. A third known device includes a similar floatation device which can serve as a seat and includes an umbrella shade mechanism positioned directly over the floatation portion of the device. Yet another similar device discloses an umbrella support for attachment to a recreation floatation device such as a large intertube equipped with seats. The umbrella support includes a socket for mounting the support shaft of a sun shade umbrella therein.
Another device is characterized by an inflatable raft-like floatation device for use in, for example, a swimming pool. The raft-like device includes a series of communicating compartments wherein an outermost compartment pair is extendedly formed into a sun shade support. A sun shade having a fixed portion and an adjustable portion is affixed to the sun shade support. Another known device discloses a floating sun shield which has a rectangular floating frame and an arched sun shield canopy mounted over the rectangular floating frame. The floating frame can be comprised of polyvinylchloride and the sun shield canopy can be preferably formed of nylon fabric or similar materials. The arched portion of the canopy can include structural support rods. Many other sun shade type devices are also known in the art and are used typically with, for example, lounge chairs or the like. These sun shade type devices are also removable and replaceable but only via mechanical attachment means.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a children's wading or swimming pool having a multiple-tier, inflatable sidewall and a bottom wall, and where the swimming pool also includes a sun shade canopy where the canopy is supported by a pair of inflatable arched tubes and is quickly attachable to and removable from the top surface of the wading pool by hook and loop fasteners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved sun shade pool and method therefore typically used by small children as an above-the-ground wading pool. The sun shade pool includes an inflatable pool and a removable sun shade canopy mounted upon the inflatable pool for blocking direct sun light on warm days. The inflatable pool can be multiple-tiered in height, include a bottom wall and be fashioned from polyvinylchloride sheeting, include a plurality of inflation air valves for inflating the pool and a drain plug for rapidly draining water from the pool.
In a preferred embodiment, the removable shade canopy is attachable to and detachable from a top surface of the inflatable pool by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The sun shade canopy is formed from a pair of inflatable arched tubes and a sun blocking fabric suspended therebetween. Each of the inflatable arched tubes are generally identical in form, are separated by a pair of inflatable cross members which provide structural support, include an inflation air valve, and are inflated into a generally U-shaped tubular arch. The pair of inflatable arched tubes are mounted on opposite sides of the top surface of the inflatable pool. The sun blocking fabric is suspended between the inflatable arched tubes and over the inflatable cross members by attaching the fabric to each of the arched tubes by a known method such as by the use of radio frequency sealing or an adhesive. The inflatable arched tubes, inflatable cross members, and the sun blocking fabric can also be comprised of polyvinylchloride sheeting. However, the sun blocking fabric can also be formed of other known natural materials.
In the present invention, the sun shade canopy is attachable to and detachable from the inflatable pool by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The inflatable pool is typically rectangular in shape but is not limited to that geometric form. The top surface of a rectangular-shaped inflatable pool includes four corners. Each hook and loop fastener includes a hook portion and a loop portion. One suitable method of attachment and detachment of the sun shade canopy to the inflatable pool is to affix a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener to each of the two bottom ends of each of the pair of inflatable arched tubes. Likewise, the loop portions of the corresponding hook and loop fasteners are affixed to the top surface of the inflatable pool at each of the four corners. This design layout ensures that the hook portions will intersect with the corresponding loop portions and enables the sun shade canopy to be conveniently attached to and removed from the top surface of the inflatable pool.
The present invention is generally directed to a sun shade pool and method therefore typically used by children in an above-the-ground environment for use in the out-of-doors. The inventive sun shade pool provides an attractive and economic solution to parents with small children who seek relief from hot weather during the warm months of the year. The sun shade pool including the shade canopy enables the small child to enjoy the fun associated with splashing in water but simultaneously be protected from direct sun rays. Further, the sun shade pool provides these features without the necessity of the child being in the vicinity of a conventional swimming pool. In its most fundamental embodiment, the sun shade pool exhibits a construction including an inflatable pool having a sidewall sealed to a bottom wall for containing a fluid. A removable sun shade
Hsu Kun Chao
Hsu Yaw-Yuan
Pan Chin-Hsiang
Huson Gregory L.
Intex Recreation Corp.
Le Huyen
Lewis, D'Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard LLP
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