(12) United States Patent
`Wu
`
`US006588028B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,588,028 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`(54) INFLATABLE POOL WITH INFLATABLE
`POSTS ALONG ITS OUTER PERIPHERY
`
`(76) Inventor: Hsin-Tsai Wu, 1F, No. 19, Alley 3,
`Lane 106, Sec. 3, Min-Chuan E. Rd.,
`Taipei City (TW)
`
`* Y Noti
`Otice:
`
`Subj
`y disclai
`h
`f thi
`ubject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`3,631,544. A * 1/1972 Tytel ............................. 4/506
`4,893,362 A * 1/1990 Murphy ..................... 4/585 X
`5,416,932 A * 5/1995 Ventrice .................... 4/506 X
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert M. Fetsuga
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Allston L. Jones
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/195,647
`An inflatable pool includes inflatable first and second annu
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 11, 2002
`lar members, a plurality of inflatable posts, each of which
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. E04H 4/00
`has two ends connected respectively and fixedly to the first
`(52) U.S. Cl. … 4/506
`and second annular members, a bottom wall having a
`(58) Field of Search ...................... 4/506, 585; 220/413
`periphery that is connected sealingly to an inner periphery of
`the second annular member, and an annular upright side wall
`(56)
`References Cited
`unit that abuts against the posts.
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,854,049 A * 9/1958 Wyllie ....................... 4/506 X
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`5 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0001
`PGR2017-00003
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`US 6,588,028 B1
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`
`
`FIG. 1
`PRIOR ART
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0002
`PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 8, 2003
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`US 6,588,028 B1
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`FIG. 4
`PRIOR ART
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0003
`PGR2017-00003
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0004
`PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0005
`PGR2017-00003
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`

`
`1
`INFLATABLE POOL WITH INFLATABLE
`POSTS ALONG ITS OUTER PERIPHERY
`
`2
`members along the full length of the first and second annular
`members. The side wall unit abuts against the posts.
`
`US 6,588,028 B1
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Other features and advantages of the present invention
`will become apparent in the following detailed description
`of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accom
`panying drawings, of which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional inflatable
`pool in a condition for use;
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the inflatable pool of FIG. 1,
`illustrating the arrangement of three ring members after
`water is filled into the pool;
`FIG. 3 is another sectional view of the inflatable pool of
`FIG. 1, illustrating the arrangement of the ring members
`before water is filled into the pool;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another conventional
`inflatable pool;
`FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the
`preferred embodiment of an inflatable pool according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a side wall unit of the
`preferred embodiment; and
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
`in a condition for use.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the preferred embodiment of an
`inflatable pool 500 according to the present invention is
`shown to comprise an inflatable first annular member 51, an
`inflatable second annular member 52 opposite to the first
`annular member 51, a plurality of circumferentially spaced
`apart inflatable posts 53, a bottom wall 57, and an annular
`upright side wall unit 55.
`In this embodiment, each of the inflatable first and second
`annular members 51, 52 has a ring-shaped cross-section
`after inflation.
`Each of the inflatable posts 53 has two ends that are
`connected respectively and fixedly to the first and second
`annular members 51, 52. Each adjacent pair of posts 53
`defines a rectangular window 531 therebetween. If the
`inflatable posts 53 are in fluid communication with the first
`and second annular members 51, 52, inflation done at a
`certain point can inflate the inflatable posts 53 and the first
`and second annular members 51, 52 at the same time.
`However, if a puncture exists, the inflatable posts 53 and the
`first and second annular members 51, 52 will be deflated at
`the same time. If the inflatable posts 53 are not in fluid
`communication with the first and second annular members
`51, 52, it is necessary to inflate the inflatable posts 53 and the
`first and second annular members 51, 52 individually.
`However, a puncture will not affect the inflatable posts 53
`and the first and second annular members 51, 52 at the same
`time.
`The bottom wall 57 has a periphery that is connected
`sealingly to an inner periphery of the second annular mem
`ber 52.
`The posts 53 are disposed around and abut against the side
`wall unit 55. The side wall unit 55 includes a flexible sheet
`member 551, and has upper and lower ends 552, 553 that are
`connected respectively and sealingly to the first and second
`annular members 51, 52 along the full length of the first and
`second annular members 51, 52. The sheet member 551 is a
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates to an inflatable pool, more particu
`larly to an inflatable pool with inflatable posts along its outer
`periphery.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional inflatable. pool
`100 is adapted to be filled with water, and is shown to
`include first, second, and third ring members 11, 12, 13, and
`a bottom wall 15. The ring members 11, 12, 13 are stacked
`and interconnected by a heat-sealing process. The bottom
`wall 15 is heat-sealed to an inner periphery of the third ring
`member 13, and cooperates with the ring members 11, 12, 13
`to define an open receiving space 16.
`When the receiving space 16 is empty, the ring members
`11, 12, 13 can form a vertical row, as shown in FIG. 3. When
`water starts to fill the receiving space 16, the second and
`third ring members 12, 13 are pulled outwardly by water
`pressure, thereby deforming the second and third ring mem
`25
`bers 12, 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the inflatable
`pool 100 is deformed, a push-pull force occurs among the
`ring members 11, 12, 13, thereby weakening their
`connection, and thereby shortening the service life of the
`inflatable pool 100.
`FIG. 4 illustrates another conventional inflatable pool 200
`disclosed in U.S. Design Patent No. D408,546. The inflat
`able pool 200 includes a ring member 21, a bottom wall 23,
`and a plurality of interconnected side walls 25. The bottom
`wall 23 and the side walls 25 are made of a single-layer
`plastic material. Each of the side walls 25 has an upper end
`connected continuously to a lower periphery of the ring
`member 21 by thermal welding, and a lower end connected
`continuously to an inner periphery of the bottom wall 23 by
`thermal welding, thereby defining an open receiving space
`27. When the receiving space 27 is not fully filled with
`water, the side walls 25 cannot completely lift the ring
`member 21 upwardly due to its flexible material such that
`the pool 200 cannot be used at this time. When water is fully
`filled into the receiving space 27, water pressure exerted on
`the side walls 25 will enable the latter to raise the ring
`member 21 completely, thereby permitting use of the inflat
`able pool 200. However, since water level of the inflatable
`pool 200 is relatively high, it can pose danger to small
`children who play in the pool 200.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to
`provide an inflatable pool that is free of the aforesaid
`drawbacks of the prior art.
`According to this invention, an inflatable pool comprises
`an inflatable first annular member, an inflatable second
`annular member, a plurality of spaced-apart inflatable posts,
`a bottom wall, and an annular upright side wall unit. The
`second annular member is opposite to the first annular
`member. Each of the inflatable posts has two ends that are
`connected respectively and fixedly to the first and second
`annular members. The bottom wall has a periphery that is
`connected sealingly to an inner periphery of the second
`annular member. The side wall unit includes a flexible sheet
`member, and has upper and lower ends that are connected
`respectively and sealingly to the first and second annular
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`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0006
`PGR2017-00003
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`

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`3
`multi-layer sheet which includes two sheet layers 5511 and
`a reinforcing net layer 5512 sandwiched between the sheet
`layers 5511. The sheet layers 5511 are made of a transparent
`plastic material. During assembly, the side wall unit 55 is
`formed into a ring shape, after which it is connected to the
`first and second annular members 51, 52 by means of
`thermal welding. Thus, the upper end 552 of the side wall
`unit 55 is heat-sealed to the first annular member 51, and the
`lower end 553 of the side wall unit 55 is heat-sealed to the
`bottom wall 57. The lower end 553 is connected to a junction
`between the posts 53 and the bottom wall 57 so that an open
`receiving space 58 is defined within the side wall unit 55.
`In use, after the first and second annular members 51, 52
`and the posts 53 are inflated with air, water can be filled into
`the receiving space 58. As the water is filled into the
`receiving space 58, the side wall unit 55 is maintained at a
`vertical position due to support of the first and second
`annular members 51, 52 and the posts 53. Furthermore, a
`push-pull force occurring at the connections among the first
`annular member 51, the second annular member 52, the side
`wall unit 55, and the bottom wall 57 is weakened, thereby
`prolonging the service life of the inflatable pool 500.
`Moreover, since the sheet layers 5511 of the side wall unit
`55 are transparent, children playing in the inflatable pool 500
`can be observed by their parents via the windows 531,
`thereby ensuring safety of the children.
`In this invention, the side wall unit 55 of the inflatable
`pool 500 can be replaced by a plurality of separate wall
`members that are mounted respectively and sealingly within
`the windows 531.
`While the present invention has been described in con
`nection with what is considered the most practical and
`preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is
`not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to
`cover various arrangements included within the spirit and
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`US 6,588,028 B1
`
`4
`scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all
`such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
`I claim:
`1. An inflatable pool comprising:
`an inflatable first annular member;
`an inflatable second annular member opposite to said first
`annular member;
`a plurality of spaced-apart inflatable posts, each of which
`has two ends that are connected respectively and fix
`edly to said first and second annular members;
`a bottom wall having a periphery that is connected
`sealingly to an inner periphery of said second annular
`member; and
`an annular upright side wall unit including a flexible sheet
`member, and having upper and lower ends that are
`connected respectively and sealingly to said first and
`second annular members along the full length of said
`first and second annular members, said side wall unit
`abutting against said posts.
`2. The inflatable pool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
`sheet member is a multi-layer sheet which includes two
`sheet layers and a reinforcing net layer sandwiched between
`said sheet layers.
`3. The inflatable pool as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
`sheet layers are transparent.
`4. The inflatable pool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
`of said first and second annular members and said side wall
`unit is shaped as a ring.
`5. The inflatable pool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
`side wall unit is shaped as a ring, each of said first and
`second annular members having a ring-shaped cross-section
`after inflation.
`
`Bestway Exhibit 1009-0007
`PGR2017-00003