Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – With handrail or guard for ladder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-03-20
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
With handrail or guard for ladder
C182S033500, C297S440100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202787
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to swimming pools, and more particularly, is directed to multipiece interfitting steps for a swimming pool.
A problem with swimming pools, and particularly, above-ground swimming pools is the accessability for elderly and infirm people. Generally, a ladder is provided for entering and leaving the swimming pool. However, elderly and infirm people find such ladders difficult to manage. In addition, such ladders are not very sturdy, so that such people can easily fall or lose their balance.
In order to overcome these problems, a one-piece plastic molded step assembly has been provided which fits into the pools, and which is weighted down by sand bags or the like. The advantage is that elderly and infirm people can walk down the steps, from a deck into the above-ground swimming pool, or into an in-ground pool, with little difficulty. Such step assembly is relatively sturdy, and generally provides three or four steps, along with one or two handrails secured to the step assembly that can be held by the person.
A problem with such step assemblies, however, is that they are very bulky. Therefore, in addition to being difficult to manage, that is, difficult to set up or insert into the pool, such step assemblies are difficult to ship because of the large size thereof. As a result, the shipping costs are relatively high compared to the cost of the step assembly itself.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools that can be easily handled during set-up.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools that is provided in multiple pieces that interfit with each other.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools in which the pieces can fit within each other, substantially reducing the size and bulk of the step assembly for shipping and storage.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools that has high structural integrity when assembled.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a step assembly for swimming pools that is easy and economical to use and manufacture.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a step assembly for a swimming pool, includes a unitary, one-piece, molded plastic, stand alone, lower step section including at least one lower step, each at least at a first height, an upper platform at least as high as an uppermost one of the at least one lower step, a first supporting structure for supporting the at least one lower step and the upper platform on a ground surface as a stand alone unit without any further supporting structure, a first hollow chamber defined between the first supporting structure, the at least one lower step and the upper platform, and a first opening in a wall of the lower step section for permitting access to the first hollow chamber. A unitary, one-piece, molded plastic upper step section includes at least one upper step, each upper step at a height greater than the upper platform, a second supporting structure for supporting the at least one upper step on the upper platform, a second hollow chamber defined between the second supporting structure and the at least one upper step, and a second opening in the second supporting structure for permitting water access to the second hollow chamber when the step assembly is positioned in a swimming pool. The upper step section has dimensions less than the first opening so as to be inserted through the first opening when disassembled from the lower step section and so as to be entirely removably positioned in the first hollow chamber in a disassembled position for storage and shipping. A securing assembly removably secures the upper step section with the lower step section in an assembled position such that the second supporting structure is removably mounted on the upper platform and such that the steps of the lower step section and the upper step section form a sequential order of steps of different heights from a low height to a higher height.
The at least one lower step includes two steps of different heights which are offset from each other in a horizontal direction and which are connected to each other by a riser.
There is also at least one hand rail, and the lower step section further includes hand rail holding sections for holding the at least one hand rail thereon. Specifically, there are at least two hand rail holding sections, each including a cup-shaped wall for receiving an end of one hand rail therein.
Preferably, the lower step section has a sector shape in plan view, and the first supporting structure includes an arcuate front wall connected with the at least one lower step, and first and second side walls connected with the at least one lower step and having first ends connected with the arcuate front wall and opposite second ends connected with each other. The first supporting structure further includes a bottom wall connecting lower edges of the front wall and the side walls, the bottom wall having the first opening therein, with the first opening being a sector shaped opening.
The upper step section also has a sector shape in plan view, and the second supporting structure includes an arcuate front wall connected with the at least upper step, and first and second side walls connected with the at least one upper step and having first ends connected with the arcuate front wall and opposite second ends connected with each other. The second supporting structure further includes a bottom wall connecting lower edges of the front wall and the side walls. The bottom wall rests on the upper platform in the assembled position.
The securing assembly includes a first securing device on the upper platform; and a second securing device on the second supporting structure for engaging with the first securing device to releasably secure the upper step section with the lower step section. Specifically, the first securing device includes an upper opening in the platform, and the second securing device includes a dowel member integrally formed with the bottom wall as a one-piece member and which removably fits within the upper opening in the assembled position. The first securing device further includes a cup-shaped member at an underside of the upper platform and within the first chamber, the cup-shaped member surrounding the upper opening and being in open communication therewith at an upper edge of the cup-shaped member, for receiving the dowel member inserted through the upper opening. The dowel member has similar dimensions and shape to the cup-shaped member so as to removably fit within the cup-shaped member with a friction fit.
Further, two step assemblies can be connected together to form a larger step assembly.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 934316 (1909-09-01), Jones
patent: 2805703 (1957-09-01), Wise
patent: 3826336 (1974-07-01), Cramer
patent: 4537282 (1985-08-01), Lobdell
Kessler Emerich
Wilensky Arie
Goldberg Richard M.
Skyller Associates L.L.C.
Stodola Daniel P.
Thompson Hugh B.
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