Patent US3720064A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3720064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tie rods system for swimming pools with hopper bottoms
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-02-17
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1992-02-17
Abstract
Abstract This invention pertains to swimming pools and in particular to those swimming pools made with substantially straight sidewalls disposed to generally retain a flexible liner. These sidewalls are usually restrained against outward thrust by tie rods or straps extending from one side to the other when the swimming pool configuration is other than round. These tie rods or straps prevent the sidewalls from moving outwardly from the side thrust of the water pressure in the pool. In the present invention these tie bars or straps for holding the two sidewalls in their erected and spaced condition are disposed to extend from one side to an opposite side while conforming to a hopper contour and with each retained in a depressed condition at its mid-points by means of a pressure pad of determined size which utilizes the weight of the water within the pool to apply a downward force sufficient to keep the pad and the restrained straps from lifting.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:01
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for retaining the sidewalls of a swimming pool and the like against the outward thrust of contained water of a determined depth in the pool in which the restraining is by members such as tie rods, straps and the like, said restraining members extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below a liner member forming at least the water retaining means for the bottom of the pool distinguished by having at least a depressed area, said system including: (a) at least one restraining member extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below at least a portion of the bottom which has been contoured to extend downwardly below the sidewalls to form a hopper, trough, channel and the like, said restraining member being below the liner and at no less than the contoured bottom surface, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to the restraining member at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and above said plate is utilized to maintain the plate and the restraining member in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the retaining member as it retains the sidewalls against outward thrust.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for retaining the sidewalls of a swimming pool and the like against the outward thrust of contained water of a determined depth in the pool in which the restraining is by members such as tie rods, straps and the like, said restraining members extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below a liner member forming at least the water retaining means for the bottom of the pool distinguished by having at least a depressed area, said system including: (a) at least one restraining member extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below at least a portion of the bottom which has been contoured to extend downwardly below the sidewalls to form a hopper, trough, channel and the like, said restraining member being below the liner and at no less than the contoured bottom surface, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to the restraining member at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and above said plate is utilized to maintain the plate and the restraining member in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the retaining member as it retains the sidewalls against outward thrust.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for retaining the sidewalls of a swimming pool and the like against the outward thrust of contained water of a determined depth in the pool in which the restraining is by members such as tie rods, straps and the like, said restraining members extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below a liner member forming at least the water retaining means for the bottom of the pool distinguished by having at least a depressed area, said system including: (a) at least one restraining member extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below at least a portion of the bottom which has been contoured to extend downwardly below the sidewalls to form a hopper, trough, channel and the like, said restraining member being below the liner and at no less than the contoured bottom surface, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to the restraining member at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and above said plate is utilized to maintain the plate and the restraining member in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the retaining member as it retains the sidewalls against outward thrust.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for retaining the sidewalls of a swimming pool and the like against the outward thrust of contained water of a determined depth in the pool in which the restraining is by members such as tie rods, straps and the like, said restraining members extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below a liner member forming at least the water retaining means for the bottom of the pool distinguished by having at least a depressed area, said system including: (a) at least one restraining member extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and below at least a portion of the bottom which has been contoured to extend downwardly below the sidewalls to form a hopper, trough, channel and the like, said restraining member being below the liner and at no less than the contoured bottom surface, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to the restraining member at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and above said plate is utilized to maintain the plate and the restraining member in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the retaining member as it retains the sidewalls against outward thrust.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system for restraining the opposite sidewalls of a pool as in claim 1 in which said pool is formed with at least two substantially straight opposite sidewalls and the bottom is formed with a hopper and with at least one of the restraining members extending across the pool at and below the liner supporting surface of said contoured hopper with each of attaching lengths of said restrAining member being directed downwardly in a substantially straight line from the sidewalls of the pool to its engagement with the hold-down plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for restraining the opposite sidewalls of a pool as in claim 2 in which the hold-down plate is disposed above and in engagement with the lowermost portion of the restraining member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for restraining the opposite sidewalls of a pool as in claim 2 in which the pool has four sides and there are at least two restraining members each passing below the hopper and with the planes of each restraining member being disposed at substantially ninety degrees to each other, each member being retained by the same hold-down plate against upward lifting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
206 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls of a water retaining structure such as swimming pools, canals and the like, said structures having a contoured bottom extending at least in part below the sidewalls and disposed to support a flexible liner for retaining the water in the structure, said system including: (a) at least one tie rod attached to and extending from one substantially straight sidewall to an opposite straight sidewall, said tie rod laying in a plane which is substantially normal to the top surface of the water when in the structure, said tie rod directed downwardly from both sidewalls and arranged to lay below the flexible liner and the contour of the bottom on which the liner rests, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to said tie rod at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made of a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and on said liner above said plate is utilized to maintain said plate and the tie rod in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the tie rod as it retains the sidewalls against the outward thrust load of water against the sidewalls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
206 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls of a water retaining structure such as swimming pools, canals and the like, said structures having a contoured bottom extending at least in part below the sidewalls and disposed to support a flexible liner for retaining the water in the structure, said system including: (a) at least one tie rod attached to and extending from one substantially straight sidewall to an opposite straight sidewall, said tie rod laying in a plane which is substantially normal to the top surface of the water when in the structure, said tie rod directed downwardly from both sidewalls and arranged to lay below the flexible liner and the contour of the bottom on which the liner rests, and (b) at least one hold-down plate secured to said tie rod at substantially its lowermost point, said hold-down plate being made of a determined size and oriented so that the weight of the water in the pool and on said liner above said plate is utilized to maintain said plate and the tie rod in its installed condition and against the upwardly resultant forces developed in the tie rod as it retains the sidewalls against the outward thrust load of water against the sidewalls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A tie rod apparatus for restraining sidewalls as in claim 5 in which those tie rods extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall and which lay in a plane passing through a depressed area in the bottom have those portions of the tie rods which are attached to the sidewalls mounted in a substantially straight line extending from the sidewall attaching point to its retention with a hold-down plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls as in claim 6 in which the hold-down plate is disposed above and in engagement with the tie rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls as in claim 6 in which the structure is a four sided pool and there are at least two tie rods each passing below the hopper and with the planes in which the tie rods are disposed being arranged to intersect at substantially right angles to each other, one tie rod passing the other while each is restrained by a common hold-down plate against upward lifting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls as in claim 8 in which the tie rods extending the length of the swimming pool and passing through the hopper portion has intermediate its length and adjacent the hopper portion a support plate adapted to engage and support the tie rod against downward movement and provide a support for one end of a downwardly directed portion of the tie rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining the sidewalls as in claim 5 in which the structure has the sidewalls arranged in a generally rectangular pattern with a hopper arranged toward one end, and with those tie rods extending from the sidewalls and laying in a plane common to the hopper having the rods directed downwardly from the sidewalls to the hold-down plate at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A tie rod apparatus for retaining sidewalls as in claim 5 in which the water retaining structure is a canal-like structure whose bottom is deepened to provide a regular channel of determined depth and in which the sidewalls are restrained by a plurality of tie rods each attached to at least one hold-down plate at substantially the Lowermost channel portion below which the attached tie rod passes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |