Tile and liner bracket structure for swimming pools and swimming pools utilizing the same

Abstract

A peripheral bracket member provided in conjunction with a liner-type pool, having a body whose outwardly facing surface directly substantially engages, and has a contour that substantially conforms to the contour of the inwardly facing surface of the pool wall and which is mounted on the pool wall to form a border adjacent to the top of the pool wall. A channel structure extends along a lower region of the inwardly facing surface of the bracket body at a level below the normal water line of the pool which receives and holds a bead provided at the liner edge. An elongate cap is affixed to the bead-receiving bracket structure. The tile and bracket structure also provides aesthetic junctions with and secure watertight seals at the skimmer openings and other pool wall terminations such as stairs and wall ladders.

1 . A swimming pool comprising: 
 a plurality of wall sections connected to each other in end to end relatonship and defining an inwardly facing pool wall surface;    a tile and liner bracket structure including at least one bracket member, said bracket structure overlying and mounted on said inwardly facing pool wall surface, said bracket structure including a body having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface having a contour substantially conforming to the contour of said inwardly facing pool wall surface to which said bracket structure is mounted, said outwardly facing body surface positioned substantially flush against and in substantial engagement with said inwardly facing pool wall surface, said bracket structure further including a channel structure having a first channel extending along a lower region of said inwardly facing body surface, said first channel being structured and arranged to receive and hold a bead provided at an edge of a flexible liner, said inwardly facing body surface having a tile-mounting region situated above said bead-receiving first channel to which decorative tiles can be affixed;    a flexible liner having a bead provided at an edge thereof, said liner bead received within and held by said bead-receiving first channel; and    said bead-receiving first channel being situated below the normal waterline of the swimming pool.    
   
   
       2 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said tile-mounting region of said bracket extends substantially between said top edge of said body and said channel structure.  
   
   
       3 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said top edge of said body is situated substantially flush with a top edge of said inwardly facing pool wall surface.  
   
   
       4 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  further including an elongate channel cap fixed to and overlying said bead-receiving channel structure.  
   
   
       5 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 4  wherein said channel structure of said bracket structure further comprises a second channel opening from said inwardly facing body surface and extending along said lower region of said inwardly facing body surface adjacent and parallel to said bead-receiving first channel and wherein said channel cap includes a connection flange, said connection flange being received and held within said second channel to fix said channel cap to said channel structure to overlie the same.  
   
   
       6 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 4  wherein said liner bead received and held in said bead-receiving first channel defines an elongate slot, and wherein said channel cap includes an elongate projection received and held within said elongate slot.  
   
   
       7 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 5  wherein said liner bead received and held in said bead-receiving first channel defines an elongate slot, and wherein said channel cap includes an elongate projection situated below said connection flange which is received and held within said elongate slot.  
   
   
       8 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 5  wherein said channel structure includes an inwardly projecting lower flange, an inwardly projecting upper flange and an inwardly projecting intermediate flange situated between said upper and lower flanges, said lower and intermediate flanges defining said bead-receiving first channel and said upper and intermediate flanges defining said cap-receiving second channel.  
   
   
       9 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 5  further including at least one threaded fastener passing through said bracket structure and wall section for mounting said tile and liner bracket structure on said one of said wall sections.  
   
   
       10 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bead is formed on an edge of said liner.  
   
   
       11 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bead is formed on a separate strip of flexible material attached to said liner.  
   
   
       12 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inwardly facing pool wall surface is substantially planar.  
   
   
       13 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inwardly facing pool wall surface is curved.  
   
   
       14 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said body of said bracket structure has a height in the range of between about 7 to 9 inches and a thickness of between about 0.06-0.10 inches.  
   
   
       15 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said body of said bracket structure has a height of about 8 inches and a thickness of about 0.08 inches.  
   
   
       16 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bracket member of said bracket structure comprises an extruded plastic member.  
   
   
       17 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bracket member of said bracket structure has a length of between about 10 to 12 feet.  
   
   
       18 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 1  wherein said tile and liner bracket structure comprises at least two bracket members and means for interconnecting said at least two bracket members with abutting side edges to define continuous top and bottom edges, a continuous body and a continuous channel structure.  
   
   
       19 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 18  wherein said means for interconnecting said at least two bracket members comprises a thin plastic sheet having opposite side surfaces on which pressure-sensitive adhesive coatings are provided.  
   
   
       20 . A swimming pool comprising: 
 a plurality of wall sections connected to each other in end to end relationship and defining an inwardly facing pool wall surface, a top edge and an outwardly facing surface, a skimmer opening formed through a wall section opening onto said inwardly and outwardly facing pool wall surfaces, said skimmer opening being generally rectangular and intersecting said inwardly facing pool wall surface at upper and lower edges, and at a pair of side edges;    a tile and liner bracket structure overlying and mounted on said inwardly facing pool wall surface in the region of said skimmer opening, said bracket structure including a body having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inwardly facing body surface and an outwardly facing body surface having a contour substantially conforming to the contour of said inwardly facing pool wall surface to which said bracket structure is mounted, said outwardly facing body surface positioned substantially flush against and in substantial engagement with said inwardly facing pool wall surface in the region of said skimmer opening, said body having a reduced height section forming, with adjacent body sections an open body area overlying said skimmer opening, said bracket structure further including a channel structure having a first channel extending along a lower region of said inwardly facing body surface and terminating at said open body area, said first channel being structured and arranged to receive and hold a bead provided at an edge of a flexible liner, said inwardly facing body surface having a tile-mounting region situated above said bead-receiving first channel to which decorative tiles can be affixed;    a flexible liner having a bead provided at an edge thereof, said liner bead received within and held by said bead-receiving first channel; and    said bead-receiving first channel being situated below the normal waterline of the swimming pool.    
   
   
       21 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 20  wherein said upper edge of said skimmer opening is spaced below said top edge of said inwardly facing pool wall surface, and wherein said reduced height section of said body overlies a region of said inwardly facing pool wall surface defined between said upper edge of said skimmer opening and said top edge of said inwardly facing pool wall surface.  
   
   
       22 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 20  wherein said open body area formed by said reduced height and adjacent sections of said body is defined by opposed inner side edges and an upper interconnecting edge of said body and wherein said first channel extending along a lower region of said body terminates substantially at said opposed inner side edges of said body.  
   
   
       23 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 22  wherein said inwardly facing pool wall surface includes upper, lower and side edge surface regions bordering said upper, lower and side edges of said skimmer opening, and wherein said outwardly facing body surface includes upper and side edge surface regions bordering said upper and inner side edges of said body open area, said upper and side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface overlying said upper and side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing pool wall surface.  
   
   
       24 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 23  and further including means for forming a water seal between said upper and side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing pool wall surface, and said upper and side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface.  
   
   
       25 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 24  wherein said sealing means include a first seal member at least in part overlying at least one of said overlying upper and side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface and said inwardly facing pool wall surface, to urge said overlying surfaces into sealing engagement.  
   
   
       26 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 25  wherein said sealing means further include a second seal member overlying at least in part and fastened to at least one of said lower and side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing pool wall surface.  
   
   
       27 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 25  wherein said first seal member comprises an inverted U-shaped member having a pair of side sealing legs and an interconnecting upper sealing leg, and wherein said pair of side sealing legs overlie said overlying upper and side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface and said inwardly facing pool wall surface, to urge said overlying surfaces into sealing engagement.  
   
   
       28 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 27  wherein an edge portion of said flexible liner overlies said lower edge surface region of said inwardly facing pool wall surface bordering said skimmer opening, said sealing means further including a second seal member comprising a U-shaped member having a pair of side sealing legs and an interconnecting lower sealing leg, and wherein said pair of side sealing legs overlie the overlying side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface and said inwardly facing pool wall surface to sealingly urge them together, and wherein said interconnecting lower sealing leg overlies said overlying edge portion of said liner and lower edge surface region of said pool wall surface to sealingly urge them together.  
   
   
       29 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 28  wherein said side sealing legs of said first seal member extend downwardly and overlie portions of said side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing body surface terminating in a downward direction prior to said channel structure, and wherein said side sealing legs of said second seal member extend upwardly and overlie portions of said side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing body surface including said channel structure.  
   
   
       30 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 24  wherein an edge portion of said flexible liner overlies said lower edge surface region of said inwardly facing pool wall surface bordering said skimmer opening, and wherein said sealing means include at least one sealing member overlying said lower edge surface region of said inwardly facing pool wall surface and said edge portion of said liner.  
   
   
       31 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 30  further including an inner gasket member having portions situated between said upper and side edge surface regions of said outwardly facing body surface, and said upper and side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing pool wall surface and between said lower edge surface region of said inwardly facing pool wall surface and said edge portion of said liner.  
   
   
       32 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 31  further including an outer gasket member overlying said at least one sealing member and fastened to and overlying said upper, lower and side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing pool wall surface.  
   
   
       33 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 32  further including a skimmer faceplate overlying said outer gasket member.  
   
   
       34 . A swimming pool comprising: 
 a plurality of wall sections connected to each other in end to end relationship and defining an inwardly facing pool wall surface;    a non-wall structure having an inwardly facing surface, a side edge and a side surface, said non-wall structure situated adjacent to one of said wall sections with side surfaces of said wall section and adjacent non-wall structure in contiguous relationship, said inwardly facing pool wall surface and non-wall structure inwardly facing surface together defining an inwardly facing substantially continuous surface assembly;    a tile and liner bracket structure mounted on said inwardly facing pool wall surface and said adjacent inwardly facing non-wall structure surface, said bracket structure including a body having a top edge, a bottom edge, a side edge, an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface having a shape substantially conforming to the shape of said inwardly facing substantially continuous surface assembly, said outwardly facing body surface positioned substantially flush against and in substantial engagement with said inwardly facing substantially continuous surface assembly, said bracket structure further including a channel structure having a first channel extending along a lower region of said inwardly facing body surface proximate to said bottom edge of said body, said first channel opening from said inwardly facing body surface and structured and arranged to receive and hold a bead provided at an edge of a flexible liner, said inwardly facing body surface having a tile-mounting region situated above said bead-receiving first channel to which decorative tiles can be affixed;    said outwardly facing surface of said body including a side edge surface region proximate to said side edge of said body, said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure including a side edge surface region proximate to said side edge of said non-wall structure, said side edge surface region of said outwardly facing body surface overlying and fastened to said side edge surface region of said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure;    sealing means for forming a water seal in the region between said overlying side edge surface regions of said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure and said outwardly facing surface of said body;    a flexible liner having a bead provided at an edge thereof, said liner bead received and held within said bead-receiving first channel; and    said bead-receiving first channel being situated below the normal waterline of the swimming pool.    
   
   
       35 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 30  wherein said sealing means includes an elongate sealing member overlying and fastened to said side edge region of said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure to sandwich said side edge region of said outwardly facing surface of said body therebetween.  
   
   
       36 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 35  wherein said sealing means further includes a gasket member situated between said side edge region of said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure and said side edge region of said outwardly facing surface of said body.  
   
   
       37 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 35  wherein said elongate sealing member extends from above said channel structure of said bracket structure to a position proximate to the top edge of said body and wherein said sealing means further includes a second sealing member overlying said bead-holding channel structure and fastened to said side edge region of said inwardly facing surface of said non-wall structure.  
   
   
       38 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 37  wherein said liner bead received in said first channel defines an elongate slot therein and wherein said second sealing member includes a projection received in said bead slot.  
   
   
       39 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 34  wherein said non-wall structure includes a stair structure.  
   
   
       40 . A swimming pool as recited in  claim 34  wherein said non-wall structure includes a wall ladder.  
   
   
       41 . A tile and liner bracket member for a swimming pool comprising: a body having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface having a contour adapted to conform to the contour of an inwardly facing pool wall surface to which said bracket structure is to be mounted, said outwardly facing body surface adapted to be positioned substantially flush against and in substantial engagement with said inwardly facing pool wall surface, said bracket structure further including a channel structure having a first channel extending along a lower region of said inwardly facing body surface, said first channel being structured and arranged to receive and hold a bead provided at an edge of a flexible liner, said inwardly facing body surface having a tile-mounting region situated above said bead-receiving first channel to which decorative tiles can be affixed.