Collapsible swimming pool

Abstract

A collapsible container that can be used as a swimming pool is provided that can change from a collapsed to an expanded configuration. The swimming pool is constructed of a foldable, durable material, and is shaped by way of tension provided by a base spring, which is a coilable spring constructed from a wire having an oblong cross-section. The wire maintains tension when fully extended, but can be coiled or folded upon itself, allowing the base of the swimming pool, along with the rest of the pool material, to be folded and stored in a compact form. Various support spring configurations are provided to automatically expand the pool to full size upon unfolding it from its collapsed configuration. A flotation device may be provided at the top of the side wall of the pool, which floats on the water used to fill the pool, thereby raising the side wall of the pool as the water level rises.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible container, comprising: 
 a base having a perimeter;    a side wall having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge of the side wall coupled proximate to the perimeter of the base;    a coilable spring coupled proximate to at least one of the perimeter of the base and the first edge of the side wall, the coilable spring being configured to outwardly bias the base; and    a floatation device having at least a portion coupled proximate the second edge of the side wall.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a shape retaining member coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the shape retaining member configured to upwardly bias the side wall.    
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container of  claim 2 , wherein the shape retaining member includes a top spring.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the side wall are water-impermeable materials.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the floating device includes an inflatable member.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one support spring disposed along the side wall, the at least one support spring being configured to provide tension along the side wall.    
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein the support spring includes a spring located approximately midway between the first and second edge of the side wall.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein the support spring includes a spring in the form of a helix.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 8 , wherein the container is configured to automatically erect the side wall in response to spring force from the support spring.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein the support spring includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the support spring includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid; and    the support spring in the form of a sinusoid is slidably attached to the coilable spring.    
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the support spring includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid;    the support spring in the form of a sinusoid is slidably attached to the coilable spring; and    the support spring includes a first portion, a second portion, and a tension member coupled to the first portion of the support spring and the second portion of the support spring.    
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the support spring includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid;    the support spring in the form of a sinusoid is slidably attached to the coilable spring;    the support spring includes a first portion, a second portion, and a tension member coupled to the first portion of the support spring and the second portion of the support spring; and    the container is configured to automatically erect the side wall in response to force from the tension member and spring force from the support spring so that the container is in an expanded configuration.    
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a shape retaining member having at least a portion coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the shape retaining member configured to upwardly bias the side wall, the shape retaining member including a top spring, a support spring, and an edge spring, the support spring including an edge spring assembly having a first cross member and a second cross member each with a first end and a second end, the first cross member being hingedly attached to the second cross member, the first end of the first cross member and the first end of the second cross member of being slidably attached to the edge spring, the second end of the first cross member and the second end of the second cross member being slidably attached to the top spring.    
     
     
         15 . The collapsible container of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second cross members of the support spring are coupled to at least one tensioning member.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 15 , wherein the container is configured to automatically erect the side wall into expand to an expanded configuration in response to force from the at least one tensioning device.  
     
     
         17 . A collapsible container, comprising: 
 a base having a perimeter;    a side wall having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge of the side wall coupled proximate to the perimeter of the base;    a coilable spring coupled proximate to at least one of the perimeter of the base and the first edge of the side wall, the coilable spring being configured to outwardly bias the base; and    a support member having at least a portion coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the support member being configured to bias the side wall away from the base.    
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a shape retaining member coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the shape retaining member maintaining a desired shape to be formed by the side wall.    
     
     
         19 . The collapsible container of  claim 18 , wherein the shape retaining member includes a top spring.  
     
     
         20 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , wherein the support member includes a floatation device.  
     
     
         21 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , wherein the support member includes a spring in the form of a helix.  
     
     
         22 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , wherein the support member includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid that is slidably attached to the coilable spring.  
     
     
         23 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , wherein the support member includes a shape retaining having at least a portion member coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the shape retaining member configured to upwardly bias the side wall, the shape retaining member including a top spring, a support spring, and an edge spring, the support spring including an edge spring assembly having a first cross member and a second cross member each with a first end and a second end, the first cross member being hingedly attached to the second cross member, the first end of the first cross member and the first end of the second cross member of being slidably attached to the edge spring, the second end of the first cross member and the second end of the second cross member being slidably attached to the top spring.  
     
     
         24 . A collapsible container, comprising: 
 a base having a perimeter;    a side wall having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge of the side wall coupled proximate to the perimeter of the base;    a coilable spring coupled proximate to at least one of the perimeter of the base and the first edge of the side wall, the coilable spring being configured to outwardly bias the base; and    a shape retaining member having at least a portion coupled proximate the second edge of the side wall.    
     
     
         25 . The collapsible container of  claim 24 , wherein the shape retaining member includes a top spring.  
     
     
         26 . The collapsible container of  claim 24 , wherein the shape retaining member includes a floatation device.  
     
     
         27 . The collapsible container of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a support member coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the side wall being configured to bias the side wall away from the base.    
     
     
         28 . The collapsible container of  claim 25 , wherein the support member includes a spring in the form of a helix.  
     
     
         29 . The collapsible container of  claim 25 , wherein the support member includes a spring in the form of a sinusoid that is slidably attached to the base spring.  
     
     
         30 . The collapsible container of  claim 24 , wherein the shape retaining member includes a support member having at least a portion coupled proximate to the second edge of the side wall, the support member configured to upwardly bias the side wall, the support member including a top spring, a support spring, and an edge spring, the support spring including an edge spring assembly having a first cross member and a second cross member, each having a first end and a second end, the first cross member being hingedly attached to the second cross member, the first end of the first cross member and the first end of the second cross member of being slidably attached to the edge spring, the second end of the first cross member and the second end of the second cross member being slidably attached to the top spring.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a non-planar membrane having a first portion and a second portion, the non-planar membrane having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;    a coilable spring coupled to the first portion of the non-planar membrane, the coilable spring being configured to lie substantially in a single plane, the coilable spring having an unfolded position associated with the expanded configuration of the non-planar membrane and a folded position associated with the collapsed configuration of the non-planar membrane; and    a support member having at least a portion coupled to the second portion of the non-planar membrane, the support member configured to bias the second portion of the non-planar membrane away from the first portion of the non-planar membrane.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first portion of the non-planar membrane is substantially planar.