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 comprising horizontal support members and vertical support members, the horizontal support members having a circular cross-section and the vertical support members having an elliptical cross-section; and   a pool liner 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 having a circular cross-section and the vertical tubular member 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 . The above ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the circular cross-section is similar to a round shape. 
     
     
         14 . The above ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the elliptical cross-section is similar to an ellipse shape. 
     
     
         15 . An above ground pool comprising:
 a support frame comprising horizontal support members and vertical support members, the vertical support members having an elliptical cross-section; and   a pool liner supported by the support frame to form a body for holding water within the pool, 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 vertical tubular member having an elliptical cross-section.   
     
     
         16 . The above ground pool of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of T-shaped connectors couples two corresponding horizontal support members together in sequence to form a substantially circular ring structure. 
     
     
         17 . The above ground pool of  claim 15 , wherein the vertical tubular member is coupled to a corresponding vertical support member. 
     
     
         18 . The above ground pool of  claim 17 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . The above ground pool of  claim 18 , 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. 
     
     
         20 . The above ground pool of  claim 15 , 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.