Retainer Frame for a Swimming Pool

Abstract

The present invention provides a retainer frame of an outdoor above ground pool, which includes a plurality of posts and a plurality of sets of beams, connected between pairs of adjacent posts to form a polygonal shaped retainer frame. Each beam has two end portions, and each post has one or more receiving ports for receiving the end portions of a set of beams. The retainer frame also includes a plurality of locking members for locking the end portions of the set of beams in the receiving ports of the corresponding post. The beams are capable of swinging around a longitudinal axis of the posts within a range of swinging motion so that the same components (posts, beams and locking members) can be used to form polygonal shaped retainer frames having different numbers of sides.

1 . A retainer frame for a pool, comprising:
 a plurality of posts;   a plurality of sets of beams connected between pairs of adjacent posts, each beam having two end portions;   wherein each post has one or more receiving ports for receiving the end portions of a set of beams; and   a plurality of locking members for locking the end portions of the set of beams in the receiving ports of the corresponding post;   wherein the receiving ports have inner dimensions larger than outer dimensions of the end portion of the beams interested therein, and wherein the beams are capable of swinging around a longitudinal axis of the posts within a range of swinging motion.   
   
   
       2 . The retainer frame of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the each post is formed of one or more tubes, wherein the receiving ports are formed of two sets of holes arranged longitudinally on two opposite sides of the tubes,   wherein the end portion of each beam has a through hole,   wherein the end portions of the beams including the through holes are inserted through the holes of the post,   wherein the locking members are a plurality of locking pins each inserted into a post and through the through holes of the end portions of the beams, and   wherein the holes of the posts are larger than an outer dimension of the beam inserted therein.   
   
   
       3 . The retainer frame of  claim 2 , wherein each post is formed of two parallel round tubes connected together along a side, each tube having a set of holes. 
   
   
       4 . The retainer frame of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the receiving ports of each post are two longitudinal sliding grooves on two opposite sides of the post, each sliding groove having an opening with a width smaller than an inner width of the sliding groove, the post further having a neck portion between the two sliding grooves,   wherein the locking members are a plurality of sleeves each disposed around a portion of a post, each sleeve having a longitudinal slit and a set of holes arranged longitudinally on an opposite side of the slit, the sleeve having an interior cross-sectional shape corresponding to an exterior cross-sectional shape of a portion of the post such that the locations of the holes and slit of the sleeve correspond to the locations of the sliding groove and the neck portion of the post, respectively,   wherein the end portion of each beam is inserted though a hole of a sleeve and retained in one of the sliding grooves of a post, the end portion of the beam having a neck portion located at the opening of the sliding groove, and   wherein the opening of the sliding groove is larger than the neck portion of the beam and the holes on the sleeves are larger than an outer dimension of the beam inserted therein.   
   
   
       5 . The retainer frame of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the end portion of each beam retained inside the groove has a through hole, and   wherein the retainer frame further comprises a plurality of locking pins each inserted into the through holes of the end portions of the beams.   
   
   
       6 . The retainer frame of  claim 1 , wherein each post is formed of one or more post segments connected at their ends to form a desired height. 
   
   
       7 . The retainer frame of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the post segments have a first end section with outer dimensions smaller than inner dimensions of a second end section thereof, thereby allowing the first end section of a post segment to be inserted into a second end section of another post segment. 
   
   
       8 . The retainer frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover material covering the sets of beams with the end portions of the beams exposed, each set of beams and corresponding cover material forming a panel having an integrated structure, each panel being connected between a pair of adjacent posts. 
   
   
       9 . A method for assembling a retainer frame for a pool, the retainer frame comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of sets of beams connected between pairs of adjacent posts, each post being formed of one or more tubes with two sets of holes arranged longitudinally on two opposite sides, each beam having an end portion provided with a through hole, wherein the holes on the post are larger than outer dimensions of the beam, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting the end portion of a first set of beams into one set of holes on the post such that the through holes of the beam are disposed inside the post;   (b) inserting a first locking pin along a longitudinal axis of the post through the through holes of all of the first set of beams;   (c) inserting the end portion of a second set of beams into the other set of holes on the post such that the through holes of the beam are disposed inside the post;   (d) inserting a second locking pin a longitudinal axis of the post through the through holes of all of the second set of beams; and   (e) adjusting an angle formed between a first plane defined by the first set of beams and a second plane defined by the second set of beams by swinging the first and/or second set of beams around a longitudinal axis of the post.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 repeating the steps (a)-(e) using additional posts and beams to form a polygonal shaped retainer frame.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each post comprises a plurality of post segments, the method further comprising:
 connecting a plurality of post segments at their ends to form posts.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each set of beams is a part of an integrated panel made of the set of beams and a cover material. 
   
   
       13 . A method for assembling a retainer frame for a pool, the retainer frame comprising a plurality of posts, a plurality of sleeves disposed around the posts, and a plurality of sets of beams connected between pairs of adjacent posts, each post having two longitudinal sliding grooves on two opposite sides and a neck portion between the two sliding grooves, each sliding groove having an opening with a width smaller than an inner width of the sliding groove, each sleeve having a longitudinal slit and a set of holes arranged longitudinally on an opposite side of the slit, the sleeve having an interior cross-sectional shape corresponding to an exterior cross-sectional shape of a portion of the post so that the locations of the holes and slit of the sleeve correspond to the locations of the sliding groove and the neck portion of the post, respectively, each beam having an end portion with a neck portion smaller than the opening of the sliding groove, the method comprising:
 (a) sliding the end portions of a first set of beams down along a first sliding groove of a post such that the neck portions of the first set of beams slide along the opening of the first sliding groove, and simultaneously sliding a first sleeve around and along a portion of the post such that the slit of the first sleeve slides along the neck portion of the post, wherein the end portions of the first set of beams have been previously inserted into the holes on the first sleeve;   (b) sliding the end portions of a second set of beams down along a second sliding groove of the post such that the neck portions of the second set of beams slide along the opening of the second sliding groove, and simultaneously sliding a second sleeve around and along another portion of the post such that the slit of the second sleeve slides along the neck portion of the post, wherein the end portions of the second set of beams have been previously inserted into the holes on the second sleeve; and   (c) adjusting an angle formed between a first plane defined by the first set of beams and a second plane defined by the second set of beams by swinging the first and/or second set of beams around a longitudinal axis of the post.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 repeating the steps (a)-(c) using additional posts, sleeves and beams to form a polygonal shaped retainer frame.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each post comprises a plurality of post segments, the method further comprising:
 connecting a plurality of post segments at their ends to form posts.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 (d) before step (a), inserting the end portion of the first set of beams into the holes on the first sleeve; and   (e) before step (b), inserting the end portion of the second set of beams into the holes on the second sleeve.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the end portion of each beam has a through hole, the method further comprising:
 (f) after step (d) and before step (a), inserting a locking pin inside the sleeve through the through holes of all of the first set of beams; and   (g) after step (e) and before step (b), inserting a locking pin inside the sleeve through the through holes of all of the second set of beams.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each set of beams is a part of an integrated panel made of the beams and a cover material.