Plastic molding for inground swimming pool

Abstract

A flexible rib for use in conjunction with a vinyl liner clip track. The flexible rib has a clip extension which secures it to the clip track after a cantilever coping is installed. The flexible rib seals the gap created by the clip track and prevents injury by preventing a swimmer from inserting fingers into the gap. The flexible rib has a decorative facia that conceals the clip track. The facia can take a variety of shapes, including conventional shapes such as quarter round, cove, clam shaped, etc. The flexible rib can be fabricated from any flexible material, such as plastic, polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber, etc. The flexible rib can be formed as a single continuous strip that extends around the entire periphery of the swimming pool and sealed together with a single joint. Alternatively, it can be made from precut standard size segments of flexible rib which are installed and joined together at the installation site. The flexible rib will preferably be dyed to match or coordinate with the color selected for the vinyl lining. An optional illumination device is provided for use with the flexible rib. The illumination device can use fiber-optic leads to distribute light throughout the flexible rib. The distributed light may have a particular color, several colors, or periodically changing colors. The illumination device may be an integral part of the flexible rib, or alternatively, it may be secured to the illumination device. When activated, the illumination device will illuminate all or part of the edge of the swimming pool.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A flexible rib for concealing a clip track in a vinyl lined swimming pool, further comprising: 
 a clip extension extending along the length of the flexible rib and having a suitable size such that when inserted within the void in a clip track, it is secured to the clip track; and    a facia extending along of the flexible rib and attached to the clip extension, the facia further extending above and below from the clip extension such that when the clip extension is inserted into the void in the clip track, the clip track is concealed from view;    whereby the flexible rib conceals the clip track.    
     
     
         2 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the clip extension is secured to the clip track via a pressure fit.    
     
     
         3 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the clip extension is secured to the clip track via adhesive.    
     
     
         4 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the clip extension is secured to the clip track via mechanical means.    
     
     
         5 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the facia has a shape which is substantially in the shape of cove molding.    
     
     
         6 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the facia has a shape which is substantially in the shape of quarter molding.    
     
     
         7 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the facia has a shape which is substantially the shape of clam molding.    
     
     
         8 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 illumination means integrated into the flexible rib such that, when activated, the flexible rib is illuminated.    
     
     
         9 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the illumination means is a fiber-optic lamp.    
     
     
         10 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the illumination means is an electroluminescent lamp.    
     
     
         11 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 securing means in the flexible rib to secure an external lamp to the flexible rib;    means to provide power to the external lamp.    
     
     
         12 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the external lamp is battery-powered.    
     
     
         13 . A flexible rib, as in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the external lamp further comprises a chemical illumination source.    
     
     
         14 . A method of concealing a clip track in a vinyl lined swimming pool, including the steps of: 
 securing a facia to the clip track in a vinyl lined swimming pool such that the facia conceals the clip track from view.    
     
     
         15 . A method, as in  claim 14 , including the additional step of: 
 using a clip extension to secure the facia to the clip track.    
     
     
         16 . A method, as in  claim 14 , including the additional step of: 
 illuminating the facia.    
     
     
         17 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional step of: 
 illuminating the facia with a fiber-optic lamp.    
     
     
         18 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional step of: 
 illuminating the facia with a battery powered lamp.    
     
     
         19 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional step of: 
 illuminating the facia with a chemical lamp.    
     
     
         20 . A method, as in  claim 14 , including the additional step of: 
 color matching the facia such that it matches the color of the vinyl lining of the swimming pool.