Self-rising swimming pool construction

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a self-rising swimming pool employing side walls sufficiently translucent to allow those outside the swimming pool to monitor the underwater activities of the pool's occupants, as well as to allow more efficient solar beating of the water contained in the swimming pool, compared to swimming pools constructed with totally opaque walls. In one embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may comprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and a flexible wall attached to the top member and attached to the base member, the flexible wall and base member together defining an interior region into which water may be introduced, and at least a portion of the flexible wall is sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the pool's occupants. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible wall may be comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a two layers of translucent polyvinyl chloride.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A self-rising swimming pool comprising 
 an inflatable toroidal top member;    a base member; and    a flexible wall attached to the top member and attached to the base member, the flexible wall and base member together defining an interior region into which water may be introduced, and at least a portion of the flexible wall being sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the underwater activities of the occupants of the swimming pool.    
     
     
         2 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 1 , wherein the translucent portion of the flexible wall is constructed of a first layer of translucent PVC, a layer of mesh, and a second layer of translucent PVC, the layer of mesh being interposed between the first layer of PVC and the second layer of PVC.  
     
     
         3 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 2 , wherein the layer of mesh is constructed of polyester.  
     
     
         4 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the flexible wall has an inner surface facing the interior region, and an outer surface facing away from the interior region;    the top member further comprises a first flexible flap and a second flexible flap extending downward from the underside of the top member; and    the first flap is attached to the outer surface of the side wall member, and the second flap is attached to the inner surface of the side wall member.    
     
     
         5 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 4 , wherein the interior region is at least large enough to contain at least about 286 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.  
     
     
         6 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 5 , wherein the interior region is at least large enough to contain at least about 939 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.  
     
     
         7 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 6 , wherein the interior region is at least large enough to contain at least about 1,759 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.  
     
     
         8 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 7 , wherein the interior region is at least large enough to contain at least about 5,634 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.  
     
     
         9 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the flexible wall is at least about 0.55 mm.  
     
     
         10 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the flexible wall is at least about 0.65 mm.  
     
     
         11 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the flexible wall is at least about 0.70 mm.  
     
     
         12 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the flexible wall is at least about 0.75 mm.  
     
     
         13 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the flexible wall.  
     
     
         14 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible translucent cover is comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC.  
     
     
         15 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the top member.  
     
     
         16 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible translucent cover is comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC.  
     
     
         17 . A self-rising swimming pool comprising 
 an inflatable toroidal top member;    a base member; and    a flexible wall attached to the base member at a base seam, and attached to the top member at the underside of the top member, defining an interior region for receiving water, at least a portion of the flexible wall being comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC.    
     
     
         18 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 17 , wherein 
 the length of the flexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of the top member, is at least about 17.5 inches.    
     
     
         19 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the length of the flexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of the top member, is at least about 23.5 inches.    
     
     
         20 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 19 , wherein 
 the length of the flexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of the top member, is at least about 32 inches.    
     
     
         21 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 20 , wherein 
 the length of the flexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of the top member, is at least about 44 inches.    
     
     
         22 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 17 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the flexible wall.  
     
     
         23 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 17 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the top member.  
     
     
         24 . A self-rising swimming pool comprising: 
 a flexible wall, at least a portion of which is sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the occupants of the swimming pool;    an inflatable toroidal top member affixed to a top edge of the flexible wall;    a base member, affixed to the flexible wall at a base seam, defining an interior region for receiving water; and    a removably attachable flexible translucent cover.    
     
     
         25 . A self-rising swimming pool comprising: 
 a flexible wall, at least a portion of which is comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC;    an inflatable toroidal top member, having a first flexible flap and a second flexible flap extending downward from the underside of the top member, the first flexible flap of the top member being affixed to an inner surface of the flexible wall, and the second flexible flap of the top member being affixed to an outer surface of the flexible wall; and    a base member, affixed to the flexible wall at a base seam, defining an interior region for receiving water.    
     
     
         26 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 25 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the flexible wall.  
     
     
         27 . A self-rising swimming pool as in  claim 25 , further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the top member.