Above ground pool

Abstract

An above ground pool is provided. The above ground pool includes a support frame and a pool liner. The pool liner is affixed to and supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool. The support frame includes a series of horizontal support members and vertical support members, each having an elliptical cross-section. The symmetric shape of the cross-section of the elliptical tubes reduces the difficulties inherent in machining tube bends, simplifies the manufacturing of the tubes, effectively improves the support frame's stability, and facilitates quality control. The horizontal support members and vertical support members are coupled together by one or more connectors to form an enclosed or ring structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An above ground pool comprising:
 a support frame including a series of horizontal support members and vertical support members, the horizontal support members and the vertical support members each having an elliptical cross-section; and   a pool liner affixed to the support frame, the pool liner being supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool.   
     
     
         2 . The above ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame further comprises a plurality of T-shaped connectors for coupling the horizontal support members and the vertical support members together, the T-shaped connector including a horizontal tubular member and a vertical tubular member transverse to the horizontal tubular member, the horizontal tubular member and the vertical tubular member each having an elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The above ground pool of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of T-shaped connectors couples two corresponding horizontal support members together in sequence to form a substantially circular ring structure. 
     
     
         4 . The above ground pool of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical tubular member is coupled to a corresponding vertical support member. 
     
     
         5 . The above ground pool of  claim 3 , wherein the ring structure is oval in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The above ground pool of  claim 3 , wherein a first end of the horizontal tubular member is detachably connected to an end of a first corresponding horizontal support member and a second end of the horizontal tubular member is detachably connected to an end of a second corresponding horizontal support member, the first corresponding horizontal support member and the second corresponding horizontal support member being connected to the first end of the horizontal tubular member and the second end of the horizontal tubular member by a retainer located proximal the respective points of attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The above ground pool of  claim 6 , wherein the retainer is a retaining pin configured to pass through a first set of positioning holes formed at the first end of the horizontal tubular member and the second end of the horizontal tubular member, and a corresponding second set of positioning holes formed at ends of the corresponding horizontal support members, the retaining pin locking the horizontal tubular member and the corresponding horizontal support members together. 
     
     
         8 . The above ground pool of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical tubular member is detachably connected to a corresponding vertical support member by a spring-loaded latch coupled to an end of the vertical support member, the latch being configured to engage an aperture formed at an open end of the vertical tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The above ground pool of  claim 8 , wherein the spring-loaded latch includes a pin boss that houses a spring element and detent pin, the pin boss being mounted inside one end of the vertical support member and configured such that the detent pin is outwardly biased by the spring element to engage the aperture, the detent pin locking the vertical tubular member and the vertical support member together. 
     
     
         10 . The above ground pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tensioning devices coupled to an outer surface of the body of the pool and a tensioning belt, wherein each tensioning device is coupled to the outer surface of the body in-between two neighboring vertical support members, the tensioning belt being alternately weaved about the outer surface of the body through the tensioning devices and over the vertical support members to retain the vertical support members close to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The above ground pool of  claim 10 , wherein the tensioning belt is arranged about the body of the pool at a height equal to approximately one-third of the height of the body of the pool. 
     
     
         12 . The above ground pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of support bases coupled to a bottom end of the vertical support members. 
     
     
         13 . An above ground pool comprising:
 a support frame including a series of horizontal support members, connectors and U-shaped support members, the horizontal support members and connectors each having a circular cross-section, the U-shaped support members having an elliptical cross-section; and   a pool liner affixed to the support frame, the pool liner being supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool.   
     
     
         14 . The above ground pool of  claim 13 , wherein the horizontal support members are coupled together in series by the plurality of connectors to form a ring structure. 
     
     
         15 . The above ground pool of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of connectors are each L-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The above ground pool of  claim 14 , further comprising couplings coupled to free ends of the U-shaped support members, wherein the couplings detachably connect the U-shaped support members to the ring structure to support the ring structure in an oblique fashion. 
     
     
         17 . The above ground pool of  claim 13 , wherein the ring structure forms a rectangle or polygon. 
     
     
         18 . The above ground pool of  claim 16 , wherein each free end of the U-shaped support member has a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion having a first set of latching holes spaced apart from a second set of latching holes. 
     
     
         19 . The above ground pool of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling further comprises:
 a flexible V-shaped pin comprising a first pair of studs spaced apart from a second pair of studs; and   a hollow casing comprising a pair of orifices, the flexible pin being disposed within the reduced diameter portion of U-shaped support members such that the first pair of studs extends through the second set of latching holes to engage the pair of orifices, and the second pair of studs extends through the first set of latching holes.   
     
     
         20 . The above ground pool of  claim 19 , wherein the casing is a tube having an oval cross-section corresponding with the cross-section of the U-shaped support members. 
     
     
         21 . The above ground pool of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of support belts coupled to and arranged about a bottom portion of the body of the pool, each support belt being coupled between the bottom portion of the body of the pool and a horizontal portion of a corresponding U-shaped support member. 
     
     
         22 . The above ground pool of  claim 21 , wherein each support belt comprises a sleeve for passing the horizontal portion of the U-shaped support member therethrough. 
     
     
         23 . A support frame for an above ground pool, the frame comprising:
 a plurality of horizontal support members each having an elliptical cross-section; and   a plurality of vertical support members coupled to the plurality of horizontal support members, the vertical support members each having an elliptical cross-section;   wherein a pool liner may be affixed to and supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool.   
     
     
         24 . The support frame of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of T-shaped connectors for coupling the horizontal support members and the vertical support members together, the T-shaped connector including a horizontal tubular member and a vertical tubular member transverse to the horizontal tubular member, the horizontal tubular member and the vertical tubular member each having an elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         25 . The support frame of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of T-shaped connectors couples two corresponding horizontal support members together in sequence to form a substantially circular ring structure. 
     
     
         26 . The support frame of  claim 24 , wherein the vertical tubular member is coupled to a corresponding vertical support member. 
     
     
         27 . The support frame of  claim 25 , wherein the ring structure is oval in shape. 
     
     
         28 . The support frame of  claim 25 , wherein a first end of the horizontal tubular member is detachably connected to an end of a first corresponding horizontal support member and a second end of the horizontal tubular member is detachably connected to an end of a second corresponding horizontal support member, the first corresponding horizontal support member and the second corresponding horizontal support member being connected to the first end of the horizontal tubular member and the second end of the horizontal tubular member by a retainer located proximal the respective points of attachment. 
     
     
         29 . The support frame of  claim 28 , wherein the retainer is a retaining pin configured to pass through a first set of positioning holes formed at the first end of the horizontal tubular member and the second end of the horizontal tubular member, and a corresponding second set of positioning holes formed at ends of the corresponding horizontal support members, the retaining pin locking the horizontal tubular member and the corresponding horizontal support members together. 
     
     
         30 . The support frame of  claim 26 , wherein the vertical tubular member is detachably connected to a corresponding vertical support member by a spring-loaded latch coupled to an end of the vertical support member, the latch being configured to engage an aperture formed at an open end of the vertical tubular member. 
     
     
         31 . The support frame of  claim 30 , wherein the spring-loaded latch includes a pin boss that houses a spring element and detent pin, the pin boss being mounted inside one end of the vertical support member and configured such that the detent pin is outwardly biased by the spring element to engage the aperture, the detent pin locking the vertical tubular member and the vertical support member together. 
     
     
         32 . The support frame of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of tensioning devices coupled to an outer surface of the body of the pool and a tensioning belt, wherein each tensioning device is coupled to the outer surface of the body in-between two neighboring vertical support members, the tensioning belt being alternately weaved about the outer surface of the body through the tensioning devices and over the vertical support members to retain the vertical support members close to the body. 
     
     
         33 . The support frame of  claim 32 , wherein the tensioning belt is arranged about the body of the pool at a height equal to approximately one-third of the height of the body of the pool. 
     
     
         34 . The support frame of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of support bases coupled to a bottom end of the vertical support members. 
     
     
         35 . A support frame for an above ground pool, the frame comprising:
 a plurality of horizontal support members each having a circular cross-section;   a plurality of connectors for coupling corresponding horizontal support members together, each connector having an L-shape and a circular cross-section; and   a plurality of U-shaped support members, each U-shaped support member having an elliptical cross-section;   wherein a pool liner may be affixed to and supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool.   
     
     
         36 . The support frame of  claim 35 , wherein the horizontal support members are coupled together in series by the plurality of connectors to form a ring structure. 
     
     
         37 . The support frame of  claim 36 , further comprising couplings coupled to free ends of the U-shaped support members, wherein the couplings detachably connect the U-shaped support members to the ring structure to support the ring structure in an oblique fashion. 
     
     
         38 . The support frame of  claim 36 , wherein the ring structure forms a rectangle or polygon. 
     
     
         39 . The support frame of  claim 35 , wherein each free end of the U-shaped support member has a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion having a first set of latching holes spaced apart from a second set of latching holes. 
     
     
         40 . The support frame of  claim 39 , wherein the coupling further comprises:
 a flexible V-shaped pin comprising a first pair of studs spaced apart from a second pair of studs; and   a hollow casing comprising a pair of orifices, the flexible pin being disposed within the reduced diameter portion of U-shaped support members such that the first pair of studs extends through the second set of latching holes to engage the pair of orifices, and the second pair of studs extends through the first set of latching holes.   
     
     
         41 . The support frame of  claim 40 , wherein the casing is a tube having an oval cross-section corresponding with the cross-section of the U-shaped support members. 
     
     
         42 . The support frame of  claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of support belts coupled to and arranged about a bottom portion of the body of the pool, each support belt being coupled between the bottom portion of the body of the pool and a horizontal portion of a corresponding U-shaped support member. 
     
     
         43 . The support frame of  claim 42 , wherein each support belt comprises a sleeve for passing the horizontal portion of the U-shaped support member therethrough.