3,225,362
`S. E. BARRERA
`Dec. 28, 1965
`SECTIONAL ABOVE GROUND SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION
`Filed Aug. 13, l963
`3. Sheets-Sheet
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`INVENTOR
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`22.2% 4262
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`ATTORNEYS
`
`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 1
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`

`

`3,225,362
`S. E. BARRERA
`Dec. 28, 1965
`SECTIONAL, ABOVE GROUND SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION
`Filed Aug. 3, 1963
`3. Sheets-Sheet 2
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`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 2
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`

`

`3,225,362
`S. E. BARRERA
`Dec. 28, 1965
`SECTIONAL ABOVE GROUND SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION
`Filed Aug. 13, 1963
`
`3. Sheets-Sheet 5
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`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 3
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`

`

`United States Patent Office
`
`3,225,362
`Patiented Dec. 28, 1965
`
`3,225,362
`SECTIONAL ABOVE GR0 JND SWMMNG
`POOL CONSTRUCTION
`Salvatore E. Barrera, Mountaiatop, Pa., assignor to Mus
`kin Manufacturing Co., Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., a cor
`poration of Pennsylvania
`Filed Aug. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 30,790
`9 Claims. (C. 4-172)
`
`0
`
`2
`Before setting up the pool, a proper site is selected,
`and the earth excavated to provide a shallow concavity.
`The center is definitely located at the geometric center of
`the excavation to provide for a drain 4. After the drain
`position is located, the bottom rail 5 of the frame is set
`up. The bottom rail consists of a number of arcuate
`rail sections 6, with the assembled rail sections forming a
`CCC.
`The rail sections are hollow members, generally rec
`tangular in cross-section, with a slot 7 extending the full
`length centrally of the top. The slot may be conven
`iently formed by the inturned edge portions 8 of the sheet
`material from which the rail section is made. Each rail
`Section is cut out in its outer upper edge midway between
`its ends, to provide a notch 9.
`Before the rail sections are laid about the rim of the
`pool excavation, a slide connector 10 is slipped onto each
`rail section and moved to the midsection of the section
`for alignment with the rail notch 9, as will be described.
`The ends of adjacent sections are then slipped into rail
`connectors 1 to join the sections into a circular base rail.
`Rail connectors E are short, open-ended couplings
`having the general cross-sectional shape of the rail sec
`tions. These connectors are generally rectangular in
`cross-section, with a central slot 12 to provide for con
`tinuation of the rail slot 7 across the coupling. If de
`sired, the rail connectors may have a central dimple, or
`obstruction 3, in their bottom walls to provide stops to
`limit the distance the connector may be moved onto a
`rail section end.
`The slide connectors 10 include a box-like base 4 for
`the frame uprights 15, and a rail clip 16. The rail clip
`is C-shaped, having a foot member 17 to underlie the
`rail sections, a vertical leg 18 to extend upwardly along
`the inner side of the rail sections, and an overhanging toe
`19 to overlie the inner rim of the tops of the rail sections.
`The wall of the base 4 contacts the outer face of the
`rail sections to fix the position of the clip radially of the
`bottom rail. The base has an opening 20 in its top wall
`to form a socket for the base of the upright 15. The
`slide connectors should be arranged on the rail sections so
`that each one has its socket opening 20 radially centered
`on the notch 9 of the adjacent rail section.
`After the bottom rail is assembled and the connectors
`properly centered, the wall 2 is set in place with its bottom
`edge within the slot 7 of the bottom rail. Wall 2 is
`formed from one or more lengths forming a sheet of cor
`rugated metal. The sheet is arranged with its corruga
`tions vertically extending, and is formed into a circular
`wall as the bottom edge is introduced into the slot in the
`bottom rail. A suitable connecting assembly 2 joins
`the turned edges of the sheet, to seal the wall and hold the
`edges of the sheet together.
`The flexible tank 3 is then put into position within the
`wall with its channeled upper edge 21 hooked over the
`top of the wall 2. The tank is then spread to lie smooth
`ly along the inner side of the wall and to rest smoothly
`upon the excavated ground. The central grommet of the
`tank will be secured about the drain 4. Top rail sections
`22 are then interconnected by rail connectors 23 slipped
`over the upper edge of the wall to secure the tank to the
`wall. Rail sections 22 are identical to bottom rail sec
`tions 6, with the central slot 24 entering into the bottom
`face of the top rails. Top rail connectors 23 are identical
`to rail connectors 11, and, in fact, the two may be inter
`changeable.
`It is now necessary to tie the top and bottom rails
`together to lock the top and bottom frame elements into
`a rigid whole. This is done by means of uprights 15 and
`top slide connectors 25.
`The uprights 15 are elongated members which are U
`
`This invention relates to swimming pools, or other open
`top tanks, and particularly to such structure which is
`adapted for, but not limited to, use where the pool, or
`tank is to be erected above ground.
`The use of above ground swimming pools constructed
`from prefabricated parts purchased in kits is becoming
`more prevalent. These usually consist of a frame to Sup
`port an outer wall, in which a plastic, or other flexible,
`tank is supported. In most cases, the kit is purchased
`and assembled by persons relatively unskilled in the use
`of tools. It is important, therefore, that the parts be
`assembled in a simple manner. It is desirable that the
`kit be assembled either wholly, or for the most part, with
`out the use of tools.
`The general object of the present invention is to pro
`vide a pool structure which will be easy to assemble, yet
`extremely rigid when set up for use.
`A more specific object is the provision of improved
`means for interconnecting bottom and top rails of a pool
`frame to rigidify the frame and to provide a connecting
`upright.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a simple
`connector to lock the upright to the top rail to Serve as a
`snap lock to tie the assembly together.
`Other objects of the invention will become apparent
`from the following description of one practical emodiment
`thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings
`which accompany, and form part of, this specification.
`In the drawings:
`FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved pool
`structure incorporating the principles of the present in
`vention;
`FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown
`in FIGURE 1;
`FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical section through the
`pool taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and shown on
`an enlarged scale;
`FIGURE 4 is a detail horizontal section through a rail
`connecting vertical post and associated structure, and is
`taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
`FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of
`the vertical posts, the upper and lower rails, and associ
`ated structure;
`FIGURE 6 is a partial vertical section through the
`lower portion of a vertical post and the bottom rail, illus
`trating the manner of seating the vertical post in the bot
`tom rail; and
`FIGURE 7 is a partial vertical section through the up
`per portion of a vertical post and the top rail, illustrating
`the manner of connecting the post and top rail.
`In general, the invention consists of an improved pool
`structure, wherein the frame includes vertically spaced
`rails held in position by uprights, or vertical posts, the
`uprights being connected to the bottom and top rails by
`improved connectors which serve to lock the assembly
`together.
`Referring to the drawings in detail, the pool structure
`includes a circular frame 1 which supports an upright
`wall 2 in which a flexible liner, or tank, 3 is held. The
`liner, or tank, forms the water-receiving element, and,
`when the pool is properly erected, will have its bottom
`resting upon the earth.
`
`5
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`70
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`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 4
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`

`

`5
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`G
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`20
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`30
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`3,225,862
`3
`shaped in cross-section. Near the bottom, each upright
`is indented at the outer edge, which is the bridge of the
`U, to provide a notch 26. The legs of the U are cut
`away at the inner bottom corner of the upright, as at 27,
`but the cut out does not extend to the height of the bot
`tom rail. As mentioned, the bottom rail sections are:
`provided with notches 9 in their upper outer edges, and
`these allow entry of the inner edges of the legs of the
`upright into the rail. This serves to lock the upright
`against sidewise tilting.
`The bottom of the upright is inserted into the socket
`20 of a slide connector while the upright is tilted outward
`ly from the wall to engage the notch 26 of the upright
`at the outer edge of the base socket. The upright is then
`tilted forwardly to a vertical position against the wall
`with the edges of the upright legs seated in the notch 9
`in the bottom rail. In this position, the upright will rise
`parallel to the pool wall with its inner edge closely ad
`jacent the wall. The upper, inner corner of the upright
`is cut away, as at 28, similarly to the bottom, and the
`upright legs fit into notches 29 in the top rail sections 22.
`The top snap connectors 25 are very similar to the
`bottom connectors, previously described. Each has an
`upright cap portion 31 to fit over the top of the upright
`and a rail clip 32. The cap portion has an opening 33
`which snugly embraces the top of upright 15, and there
`is a lip 34 at the opening end to engage a notch 35
`formed in the back edge of the upright.
`When the upright is moved to vertical position after
`engagement with the bottom rail, the leg edges move into
`the notch. 9 in the top rail to fix the upright against
`lateral movement relative to top rail. This rigidifies the
`entire bottom rail, upright and top rail assembly. The
`top snap connector is put on by tilting to project the
`upright top end through the opening 33 and to engage
`the notch 35 in the upright with the lip 34 (see FIGURE
`7). When this is done, the inner end of the Snap con
`nector, that is the clip end, is forced downward over the
`top rail. The downwardly extending inner leg 36 of the
`clip will spread from the cap section to allow the locking
`toe 37 to move down the inner face of the top rail. As
`soon as the toe clears the bottom of the rail, the leg 36
`will spring back to its original position pulling the toe
`under the bottom edge of the rail to lock the connector
`in place.
`In order to provide a finished appearance for the top
`rail connection, a closure 38 is provided to fit frictionally
`within the cap portion of the Snap connector.
`Each of the uprights has a central notch 39 in its inner
`edge, midway between the ends of the upright.
`This
`allows for the use of a central rail to support the wall
`when a wall of considerable height is used. Rail Sec
`tions 40 are inserted in sequence into the notches 39 of
`the uprights. Each rail section has a rail connector 41
`slipped over its trailing end before insertion into notch
`39 of an upright, and the inserting movement is continued
`until the leading end of the rail section seats in the con
`nector 41 on the end of the rail section previously in
`serted. A special connector 42 which will slide wholly
`into a rail section, is placed upon the trailing end of the
`last rail section to be inserted. When this section is in
`place, connector 42 will be slid back to embrace the end
`of the next adjacent section and bridge the gap between
`the ends of the sections.
`If it is desired to disassemble the pool, the locking
`toes 37 of the snap connectors 25 can be forced out
`wardly so as to clear the inner edge of the top rail, and
`the connectors 25 removed. The remaining procedure
`will be a reversal of the erection process.
`The above described frame structure can be assembled
`and disassembled by hand, without tools, and when
`erected will be extremely rigid. The uprights not only
`hold bottom and top rails properly spaced, but they pre
`vent them from vertical separation. The interlocking
`of the uprights and rails prevents tilting of the uprights
`
`4.
`or circumferential shifting of one ring relative to another.
`While in the above one practical embodiment of the
`invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that
`the specific details of structure shown and described are
`merely by way of illustration and the invention may take
`other forms within the scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An above ground pool structure comprising, a
`peripheral base rail having a wall-receiving seat there
`along, an endless wall having a bottom edge Seatable in
`the base rail seat, a pool liner having an upper edge
`formed to fit over the top of the wall, a top rail seatable
`over the liner upper edge and the top of the wall, and
`means to interconnect the base and top rails including
`base rail slide connectors having a rail-engaging clip
`portion and an upright-seating box, the box having a
`socket therein, uprights seatable in the box sockets and
`having portions engageable with the box sockets to pre
`vent movement of the uprights vertically when seated in
`the sockets, and top rail Snap connectors having upright
`cap portions and top rail clip portions, the upright cap
`portions having openings to embrace the upper ends of
`the uprights with interengageable means on the upright
`cap portions and the uprights to hold the top snap con
`nectors against vertical movement when seated on the
`uprights, and the top rail clip portions having means to
`snap over and lockingly engage the top rail.
`2. A pool structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
`uprights and the base rail have interengaging means to
`hold the uprights normal to the base rail, and the up
`rights and the top rail have interengaging means to hold
`the uprights normal to the top rail.
`3. A pool structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
`top and base rails are notched and the uprights fit into
`the notches to hold the uprights normal to the top and
`base rails.
`4. A pool structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
`top and base rails each are composed of a plurality of
`rail sections, and there are rail connectors to join the
`rail sections.
`5. An above ground pool structure comprising, an
`annular base rail composed of a plurality of sections of
`equal length, each section having an arcuate slot in its
`top extending the full length thereof, a plurality of rail
`connectors to seat the ends of adjacent base rail sections,
`an endless wall having a bottom edge seated in the slot
`in the base rail, a top rail composed of a plurality of
`Sections of equal length to the base rail sections each
`having a wall-receiving slot in its bottom, rail connectors
`to seat the ends of adjacent top rail sections, the sections
`of the top rail being seated upon the wall with the top
`edge of the wall in the top rail section slots, the top rail
`Sections being vertically aligned with the base rail sections,
`a plurality of base rail slide connectors each having a
`Tail-encircling clip portion about one of the base rail
`Sections, each base rail slide connector having an upright
`receiving box with a socket therein, uprights supported
`in the base rail slide connector sockets, the uprights and
`base rail sections having means interengageable within
`the base rail slide connectors to prevent movement of
`the base rail sections within the base rail connectors,
`and top rail Snap connectors having upright cap portions
`fitting over the tops of the uprights and top rail clips
`for Snap-over engagement with the top rail sections, the
`upper portions of the uprights and the top rail sections
`having means interengageable within the top rail snap
`connectors to prevent movement of the top rail sections
`Within the top rail connectors.
`6. A pool structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein
`there are interengaging means on the bottom portions
`of the uprights and the base rail slide connector sockets
`to prevent endwise movement of the uprights relative to
`the sockets when the uprights are in vertical position,
`and interengaging means on the upper portions of the up
`rights and the upright cap portions to lock the uprights and
`
`40
`
`5 5
`
`60
`
`75
`
`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 5
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`

`

`5
`top rail snap connectors against relative vertical move
`ment when the cap portions are fitted over the upright
`ends.
`7. An above ground pool structure comprising, an
`annular base rail composed of a plurality of arcuate Sec
`tions of equal length, each section having an arcuate slot
`in its top extending the full length thereof, a plurality of
`rail connectors to seat the ends of adjacent base rail sec
`tions, an endless wall having a bottom edge seated in
`the slot in the base rail, a top rail composed of a plurality
`of arcuate sections of equal length each having a wall
`receiving slot in its bottom, rail connectors to seat the
`ends of adjacent top rail sections, the top rail being seated
`upon the wall with the top edge of the wall in the top
`rail section slots, the base rail sections and the top rail
`sections each having notches in one edge inter
`mediate their ends with the notches of the respective
`base and top rail sections being in vertical alignment, a
`plurality of base rail slide connectors each having a rail
`encircling clip positioned about a base rail section at
`the notch in the base rail section, each base rail slide
`connector having an upright-receiving box with a socket
`therein, uprights supported in the base rail slide connector
`Sockets in engagement with the notches in the base rail
`Sections and in the top rail sections, and top rail snap
`
`3,225,862
`6
`connectors having upright cap portions fitting over the
`tops of the uprights and top rail clips for snap-on en
`gagement with the top rail sections.
`8. A pool structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein
`there are interengaging means on the bottom portions
`of the uprights and the base rail slide connector sockets
`to prevent endwise movement of the uprights relative to
`the sockets when the uprights are in vertical position,
`and interengaging means on the upper portions of the up
`rights and the upright cap portions to lock the uprights
`and top rail snap connectors against relative vertical
`movement when the cap portions are fitted over the up
`right ends.
`9. A pool structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
`uprights have notches intermediate their ends, and there
`are central rail sections seated in the upright notches.
`References Cited by the Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`8/1958 Wallace ------------ 4-172
`2,846,694
`2,864,098 12/1958 Lorimer -------------- 4-172
`3,142,069
`7/1964 O'Connell et al.
`4-172
`LEWIS J. LENNY, Primary Examiner.
`
`10
`
`5
`
`20
`
`BESTWAY EX. 1028; Pg 6
`Bestway v. Intex PGR2024-00036
`
`