Adjustable Footing Assembly For Pool Steps

Abstract

An adjustable footing assembly comprising a footing member including a base element and a vertical element. The vertical element is connected to the base portion and the vertical element defines a bore therein. An elongate coupling member has a lower portion positionally adjustably situated within the bore of the vertical portion of said footing member and an upper portion structured and arranged for connection to an end of a stair support member. Rotation of the elongate coupling member results in movement of the elongate coupling member vertically along a vertical axis of the bore.

1 . An adjustable footing assembly comprising:
 a footing member including a base element and a vertical element, said vertical element connected to said base element and said vertical element defining a bore therein; and   an elongate coupling member having a lower portion positionally adjustably situated within the bore of said vertical element of said footing member and an upper portion structured and arranged for connection to an end of a stair support member.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bore is internally threaded and said lower portion of said elongate coupling member is externally threaded. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein rotation of said elongate coupling member results in movement of said externally threaded lower portion vertically along an axis of said internally threaded bore. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said vertical element is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of obliquely extending webs spaced from each other connecting said base element to said vertical element. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said base element is round, octagonal, square-shaped, or rhomboid-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said base element is rhomboid-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said base element has substantially rounded corners. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said base element further comprises apertures structured and arranged to receive reinforcing rods. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said apertures are located at the opposite ends of said base element. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of said vertical element is spaced from an upper surface of the base element. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate coupling member further comprises a shelf located at the junction of said lower portion and said upper portion. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said shelf comprises and upper surface and a lower surface. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein at a lowest height of the adjustable footing assembly, the bottom surface of the shelf segment abuts an upper end of said vertical portion of said footing member. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said shelf comprises a pair of handle portions. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein rotation of said handle portions results in movement of said elongate coupling member vertically along an axis of said bore. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said elongate coupling member has an x-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said elongate coupling member further comprises a pair of upwardly extending fingers structured and arranged to be inserted into an open end of a stair support member. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said fingers are structured and arranged to be urged towards each other. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable footing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said fingers are structured and arranged to spring biased against an interior surface of the stair support member. 
     
     
         21 . A method for supporting and leveling pre-fabricated pool steps comprising:
 attaching a footing member of an adjustable footing assembly to a substrate, said footing member comprising a base element connected to a vertical element, said vertical element defining a bore therein;   connecting an end of a stair support member to an upper portion of an elongate coupling member, said elongate coupling member having a lower portion structured and arranged to be received by the bore of the vertical portion of the footing member;   situating said lower portion of said elongate coupling member within said bore; and   adjusting the elongate coupling member to alter the vertical position of said elongate coupling member to achieve a desired height.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the substrate is an uneven ground surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein adjusting the elongate coupling member comprises rotating the elongate coupling member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the adjustable footing assembly is secured to the substrate by pouring concrete around the base of said footing assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is a bottom surface of a pool stair. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising securing said base member to the substrate using reinforcing rods. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said desired height is the height necessary for the stair support member to firmly abut the bottom of a step surface.