Swimming Pool Safety Coping Element and Method of Manufacture Thereof

Abstract

Swimming pool safety coping element and method of manufacture thereof The present invention relates to coping elements, in particular to coping elements used around the edge of a swimming pool. A swimming pool safety coping element ( 10 ) comprises an outer layer portion ( 12 ) and an infill portion ( 14 ), the outer layer portion at least partly bounding the infill portion. The coping element is manufactured by forming the outer layer portion from a Low Surface Energy material. A pressure sensitive adhesive ( 16 ) is then applied across a first surface of the outer layer portion. In a further step, a flowable polymer composition is poured onto the first surface of the outer layer, and allowed to set, to provide the infill portion.

1 . A method of manufacturing a swimming pool safety coping element comprising an outer layer portion and an infill portion, the outer layer portion at least partly bounding the infill portion, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming the outer layer portion from a Low Surface Energy material;   applying a pressure sensitive adhesive across a first surface of the outer layer portion; and subsequently   
       pouring a flowable polymer composition onto the first surface of the outer layer; and 
       allowing the flowable polymer composition to set, to provide the infill portion. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the Low Surface Energy material at least one of compound selected from the group consisting of silicone, ethylene vinyl acetate and a block copolymer. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the Low Surface Energy material comprises heat-cured silicone. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , comprising the further step, before the step of applying the pressure sensitive adhesive, of cleaning the first surface of the outer layer portion with an organic solvent. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the organic solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the organic solvent is xylene. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises silicone rubber. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive further comprises a silicate resin. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the flowable polymer composition is prepared using at least one of the following components:
 vegetable oil, urethane, epoxy, latex, block copolymer, polyethylene foam, and/or polypropylene foam. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein one of the starting materials in the preparation of the fiowable polymer composition is castor oil. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein one of the starting materials in the preparation of the fiowable polymer composition is a polyol other than castor oil. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the polyol is a polyether polyol. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the polyol is ethylene oxide tipped. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the polyol has a molecular weight greater than 3000. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the flowable polymer composition includes a filler. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the filler comprises rubber crumb. 
     
     
         17 . A swimming pool safety coping element comprising an outer layer portion and an infill portion, the outer layer portion at least partly bounding the infill portion, wherein:
 the outer layer portion comprises a Low Surface Energy material;   the infill portion comprises a polymer composition; and   a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided between the outer layer portion and the infill portion.   
     
     
         18 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 17 , wherein the Low Surface Energy material at least one compound selected from the group consisting of silicone, ethylene vinyl acetate and/or a block copolymer. 
     
     
         19 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 18 , wherein the Low Surface Energy material comprises heat-cured silicone. 
     
     
         20 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 17  or  18 . wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises silicone rubber. 
     
     
         21 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 20 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive further comprises a silicate resin. 
     
     
         22 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the flowable polymer composition comprises at least one of the following components:
 vegetable oil, urethane, epoxy, latex, block copolymer, polyethylene foam, and/or polypropylene foam. 
 
     
     
         23 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the flowable polymer composition includes a filler. 
     
     
         24 . A swimming pool safety coping element according to  claim 23 , wherein the filler comprises rubber crumb.