Pool grating and a method of installation

Abstract

The invention pertains to the structure and a method of constructing of a swimming pool grating. The swimming pool has straight and curved edges and a gutter is constructed in the deck of the pool close to the edge including the curves. The grating is made of a multiple of grate bars which extend along the direction of the pool edge including the curves. The multiple grate bars are assembled in a longitudinal direction as well in a lateral direction according to the dimensions of the gutter. Once assembled into a grating in an elevated position, holes are drilled through all of the assembled grate bars in a lateral direction to the edge of the pool and rods are placed through the drilled holes and are fastened therein against any movement in any direction. Thereafter, the thus assembled grating is lowered into the gutter of the pool to be substantially flush with the surface of the pool deck and the level of the water in the pool. The parallel grate bars offer a resistance for the water to flow over the grating to substantially the remainder of the deck to thereby induce the water to flow into the gutter.

What claim is:  
     
         1 . A grating for a swimming pool, said pool having an edge and a gutter spaced therefrom and in a deck of said pool, 
 said grating including a multiple of grate bars, said grate bars are oriented parallel to said edge of said pool including any curvatures, means for connecting a multiple of said grate bars to each other in a longitudinal direction and means for connecting a multiple of said grate bars to each other in a direction normal to said pool edge,    means for spacing said grate bars at a predetermined space from each other,    a top surface of said grating being substantially at a level of said pool deck and with a level of water in said pool.    
     
     
         2 . the grate bars of  claim 1 , wherein said grate bars are formed by injection molding.  
     
     
         3 . The grating of  claim 2 , wherein said means for connecting said grate bars in said longitudinal direction to each other are a recess in one end of said grate bar and a protruding tongue in another end of said grate bar.  
     
     
         4 . The grating of  claim 2 , wherein said means for connecting said grate bars in a direction normal to said edge of said pool is a r o d passing through all of said multiple of said grate bars.  
     
     
         5 . The grating of  claim 4  including means on each end of said rod to prevent a movement of said rod in any direction.  
     
     
         6 . The grating of  claim 2 , wherein said means for spacing are narrow spacing webs protruding from one side of said grate bars.  
     
     
         7 . The grating of  claim 2 , wherein said grate bars are of an I shape.  
     
     
         8 . The grating of  claim 1 , including ribs embedded in a surface of each of said grate bars to induce a resistance to slipping of wet feet.  
     
     
         9 . A method of assembling a grating for a swimming pool, said pool having an edge including curvatures and a gutter spaced from said edge including curvatures corresponding to said edge curvatures constructed in a deck of said pool, 
 said grating including a multiple of grate bars that are connected to each other in a longitudinal direction, said method including the steps of:    assembling a multiple of said grate bars parallel to each other and parallel to said pool edge on said gutter in an elevated position,    clamping said assembled grate bars into a unit and thereafter drilling a hole through all of said clamped grate bars,    passing a rod through all of said drilled holes and fixing the ends of said rod to prevent a movement of said rod in any direction,    thereafter lowering said assembled grating into said gutter to be substantially flush with said deck and a surface of water in said pool.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of bending all of said assembled grate bars to correspond to said curvatures in said gutter prior to the step of drilling said through holes said grate bars.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of assembling said grate bars in an elevated position includes the step of placing a support block in said gutter and placing an adjustment jig on a top surface of said support block, said assembled grate bars are received in said jig.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , including passing a multiple of said rods in a multiple of locations along said assembled grate bars including any of said curvatures.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , including placing clamping bars on top and below said grate bars prior to the step of drilling, clamping said clamping bars together, providing a drilling pilot hole through said clamping bars to assure an exact drilling through said assembled grate bars.