Frame Pool

This disclosure claims the benefit of Chinese Utility Model No. CN202421093888.3, filed May 17, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates to the field of pools, and in particular, to a frame pool.

With the improvement of living standards, there is a growing demand for leisure and recreation products. Above-ground pools, as leisure and recreation products, have been widely used to bring convenience to swimming. However, existing above-ground pools, which typically include a liner and a plurality of vertical support members that support the liner on the ground, have struggled to meet consumer needs.

Moreover, in existing frame pools, a fixing band is generally provided on an outer side of the liner, and the fixing band surrounds the sidewall and the vertical support members and is configured to restrict the displacement of the vertical support members. However, when the liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water, the fixing band and the liner form a step-like structure. Users may step on this step-like structure to climb into the frame pool without supervision, which is dangerous in the absence of guardians.

The present disclosure aims to address the shortcomings of existing frame pools in which a step-like structure is formed between a fixing band and a pool liner such that a user may step on the step-like structure to climb into the pool, which increases the risks of accidents, such as drowning. The present disclosure provides a frame pool which can effectively avoid formation of a step-like structure between a fixing band and a sidewall of the pool liner, which may prevent a user from stepping on the fixing band via the step-like structure formed by the fixing band and the sidewall to climb into the pool, thereby ensuring user safety during use of the frame pool.

In embodiments, a frame pool includes: a pool liner including a sidewall; a plurality of horizontal support members, one of which includes a first end and a second end; a plurality of vertical support members; a plurality of T-joints, one of which includes: a first horizontal portion connected to the first end of the first of the plurality of horizontal support members; a second horizontal portion connected to the second end of the second of the plurality of horizontal support members; and a vertical portion connected to one of the plurality of vertical support members; a fixing band disposed on the sidewall of the pool liner; and a plurality of connectors, at least one of which connects one of the plurality of vertical support members to the fixing band.

In these embodiments, the fixing band is provided with the plurality of connectors, each of which connects each of the plurality of vertical support members to the fixing band. In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support members tend to be offset away from the sidewall of the pool liner in a radial direction of the frame pool, each connector can effectively restrict the displacement of each of the plurality of vertical support members away from the sidewall, and the vertical support member can closely fit the sidewall of the pool liner and cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, such that no step-like structure for a user to step on is formed between the fixing band and the sidewall of the pool liner, and thus the user cannot step on the fixing band to climb into the frame pool, which effectively avoids danger to the user during use of the frame pool, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

According to a specific implementation of the disclosure, at least one of the plurality of connectors includes a first patch, wherein the first patch includes a first end and a second end, and the first patch is disposed on the fixing band and forms a sleeve structure.

In these embodiments, the first patch serves as a connector, each first patch and the fixing band form a sleeve structure, and each of the plurality of vertical support members passes through one sleeve structure. In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support members tend to be offset away from the sidewall in the radial direction of the frame pool, each first patch can effectively restrict the displacement of the vertical support member away from the sidewall, and then the vertical support member cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, such that no step-like structure for a user to step on is formed between the fixing band and the sidewall, and thus the user cannot step on the fixing band to climb into the frame pool, which effectively avoids danger to the user during use of the frame pool, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

According to a specific implementation of the disclosure, the first end and the second end of the first patch are both connected to a surface of the fixing band such that the first patch forms the sleeve structure.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, the fixing band includes two second openings spaced apart from each other in an extension direction of the fixing band; and the first end of the first patch extends through one of the two second openings, the second end of the first patch extends through the other of the two second openings, and the first end and the second end of the first patch are connected to each other, such that the first patch forms the sleeve structure on one side of the fixing band.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, at least one of the plurality of connectors includes a sleeve disposed on the fixing band.

In these embodiments, the sleeve serves as a connector, each sleeve is disposed on the fixing band, and each of the plurality of vertical support members passes through one corresponding sleeve, so that the plurality of vertical support members are all connected to the fixing band. In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support members tend to be offset away from the sidewall in the radial direction of the frame pool, each sleeve can effectively restrict the displacement of the corresponding vertical support member away from the sidewall, and then the vertical support member cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, such that no step-like structure for a user to step on is formed between the fixing band and the sidewall, and thus the user cannot step on the fixing band to climb into the frame pool, which can effectively avoid danger, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, the sleeve includes: a sleeve body including an outer wall; a first protrusion, which includes a third opening and extends in a vertical direction on the outer wall of the sleeve body; and a second protrusion, which includes a fourth opening, is spaced apart from the first protrusion and extends in the vertical direction on the outer wall of the sleeve body; wherein the fixing band passes through the third opening and the fourth opening.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, at least one of the plurality of connectors includes: a first vertical portion including a first end and a second end; a first loop portion extending outwardly along the first end; and a second loop portion, which extends outwardly along the second end and is spaced apart from the first loop portion; wherein one of the plurality of vertical support members passes through the first loop portion and the second loop portion in the vertical direction; and the fixing band is disposed between the first vertical portion and one of the plurality of vertical support members.

In these embodiments, each of the plurality of connectors is configured to include the first loop portion, the second loop portion and the vertical portion, each of the plurality of vertical support members sequentially passes through the first loop portion and the second loop portion of one of the plurality of connectors, and the fixing band is disposed between the vertical portion and each of the plurality of vertical support members. In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support members tend to be offset away from the sidewall in the radial direction of the frame pool, the first loop portion and the second loop portion of each connector can effectively restrict the displacement of the corresponding vertical support member away from the sidewall, and then the vertical support member may closely fit the sidewall of the pool liner and cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, such that no step-like structure for a user to step on is formed between the fixing band and the sidewall of the pool liner, and thus the user cannot step on the fixing band to climb into the frame pool, which can effectively avoid danger, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, the frame pool further includes: fixing devices, which are disposed between two adjacent vertical support members of the plurality of vertical support members and connect the fixing band to the sidewall of the pool liner.

The present disclosure further provides a frame pool, including a pool liner including a sidewall, a plurality of horizontal support members, one of which includes a first end and a second end, a plurality of vertical support members, a plurality of T-joints, one of which includes: a first horizontal portion connected to the first end of the first of the plurality of horizontal support members, a second horizontal portion connected to the second end of the second of the plurality of horizontal support members, and a vertical portion connected to one of the plurality of vertical support members, a fixing band, which includes a plurality of limiting portions and is disposed on the sidewall of the pool liner, and a plurality of connectors, at least one of which includes a first opening and connects the fixing band to the sidewall, wherein at least one of the plurality of limiting portions protrudes away from the sidewall and out of the first opening and forms a sleeve structure, and one of the plurality of vertical support members passes through the sleeve structure.

In these embodiments, the fixing band is fixed to the sidewall of the frame pool by means of the plurality of connectors, each of which is provided with a first opening, such that each of the plurality of limiting portions on the fixing band protrudes out of the first opening to form the sleeve structure and that each of the plurality of vertical support members passes through one corresponding sleeve structure. That is, the part of the fixing band close to each of the plurality of vertical support members (i.e., the part close to each of the plurality of limiting portions) may be fastened on the sidewall of the frame pool by means of the connectors, and the remaining part of the fixing band may also closely fit the sidewall of the pool liner.

In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame pool is filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support members tend to be offset away from the sidewall in the radial direction of the frame pool, each limiting portion can restrict the displacement of the corresponding vertical support member away from the sidewall, and then the vertical support member cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, such that no step-like structure for a user to step on is formed between the fixing band and the sidewall, and thus the user cannot step on the fixing band to climb into the frame pool, which can effectively avoid danger, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

The present disclosure further provides a frame pool, including a pool liner including a sidewall, a plurality of horizontal support members, one of which includes a first end and a second end, a plurality of vertical support members, a plurality of T-joints, one of which includes: a first horizontal portion connected to the first end of the first of the plurality of horizontal support members, a second horizontal portion connected to the second end of the second of the plurality of horizontal support members, and a vertical portion connected to one of the plurality of vertical support members, and a plurality of connectors, at least one of which connects one of the plurality of vertical support members to the sidewall of the pool liner.

In these embodiments, after the frame pool is filled with water, although the pool liner expands under water pressure to cause the vertical support members to tend to be offset away from the sidewall in the radial direction of the frame pool, the displacement of the vertical support members away from the sidewall can be effectively restricted by means of the connectors. Moreover, in this embodiment, there is no need to provide a fixing band by which the user may climb to cause danger, so that it is possible to effectively avoid danger to the user during use of the frame pool, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

According to a specific implementation of the present disclosure, at least one of the plurality of connectors includes a second patch, wherein the second patch includes a first end and a second end both connected to the sidewall and forming a sleeve structure with the sidewall.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, and those skilled in the art may readily understand advantages and effects of the present disclosure from the content disclosed in the description. Although the description of the present disclosure will be introduced in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it does not mean that features of the present disclosure are limited to the implementations described herein. On the contrary, an objective of introducing the present disclosure in conjunction with the embodiments described herein is to encompass other options or modifications that may be extended on the basis of the claims of the present disclosure. The following description contains numerous specific details in order to provide deep understanding of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may also be implemented without these details. In addition, in order to avoid confusion of the present disclosure, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that the embodiments and the features thereof in the present disclosure can be combined with each other without conflicts.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that orientation or position relationships indicated by terms such as “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, and “anticlockwise” are based on orientation or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are merely for ease of description of the present disclosure and simplification of the description, rather than indicating or implying that the apparatuses or elements referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

In addition, terms “first”, “second”, etc. are merely for the purpose of description, and should not be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, the features defined with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of the present disclosure, the meaning of “a plurality of” is two or more, unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the present disclosure, it should also be noted that the terms “arrange”, “connected”, and “connection” should be understood in a broad sense, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited. For example, the connection may be a secured connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; or may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or may be a direct connection, an indirect connection by means of an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the terms mentioned above in the embodiments should be understood in specific cases.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the first feature being “above” or “below” the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being not in direct contact but coming into contact through another feature between them. In addition, the first feature being “above”, “over”, and “on” the second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature being “below”, “beneath”, and “on underside of” the second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the level of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

In the description of the present disclosure, the meaning of “a plurality of” is two or more, unless specifically defined otherwise.

Referring to, a frame poolaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The frame poolmay include a support frame(e.g., a support structure of the frame pool) and a pool liner. The support framemay support the pool linerto form the frame poolto store water in a water storage space enclosed by the pool liner.

In these embodiments, the support framemay include a plurality of horizontal support members, a plurality of vertical support members, and a plurality of T-joints. Each horizontal support memberof the plurality of horizontal support membersmay include a first endand a second end.

Referring still to, each T-jointof the plurality of T-jointsmay include a first horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion, and a vertical portion. The first horizontal portionof each T-jointmay be connected to the first endof the first horizontal support memberof the plurality of horizontal support members, and the second horizontal portionmay be connected to the second endof the second horizontal support memberof the plurality of horizontal support members. The first horizontal support memberand the second horizontal support membermay include two adjacent horizontal support membersof the plurality of horizontal support members. That is, the plurality of horizontal support membersmay be sequentially connected to each other by means of the plurality of T-jointsto form a ring-shaped horizontal frame.

In the embodiments described herein, each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay be connected to the vertical portionof one corresponding T-jointof the plurality of T-jointsto support the horizontal frame on the ground. Furthermore, in these embodiments, each horizontal support memberof the plurality of horizontal support membersand each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay each include a tubular structure. Although the plurality of vertical support membersdepicted inare illustrated as including the tubular structure described herein, it should be appreciated that the plurality of horizontal support membersand the plurality of vertical support membersmay include any similar structure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the horizontal support membersand/or the vertical support membersmay also be of a solid rod-like structure or any other similar structure.

Referring still to, the projection of the support frameon the ground may be formed in a circular shape. However, it should be further understood that there is no specific limitation on the shape of the projection of the support frameon the ground. For example, the projection of the support frameon the ground may also be oval, or rectangular, or any other similar shape without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As further depicted in, a bottom end of each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay be connected to a support base, and the support basemay be configured to expand the contact area between the corresponding vertical support memberand the ground to improve the overall stability of the support frame. For example, in these embodiments, the bottom end of each vertical support membermay have a vertical support member contact area (e.g., between the bottom end of the vertical support memberand the ground) with a vertical support member contact area diameter that is less than a support base contact area diameter of the support base contact area. Accordingly, implementing the support basemay ensure that each vertical support membersits flush with the ground, such that the a load acting on each vertical support membermay be distributed over a larger contact area (e.g., the support base) to reduce localized pressure and prevent sinking.

Referring still to, the pool linermay further include a bottom walland a sidewall. The sidewallmay be connected to an edge of the bottom wall, and the sidewallmay extend upwardly in a vertical direction Z. A plurality of connecting sleevesmay be provided at an upper edge of the sidewall, and each horizontal support memberof the plurality of horizontal support membersmay pass through one corresponding connecting sleeveof the plurality of connection sleevesto allow the support frameto support the sidewall.

In these embodiments, a plurality of connectors////(respectively shown in) may be disposed on the outer side of the sidewallof the frame pool. Each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay be disposed on the sidewallby means of the respective connector////. In this way, when the pool liner expands outwardly under water pressure after the frame poolis filled with water such that each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support memberstends to be offset away from the sidewallin a radial direction U of the frame pool, each of the connectors////may restrict the displacement of the corresponding vertical support memberaway from the sidewall, such that the vertical support member is disposed close to the sidewall of the pool liner, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

For example, in the embodiments described herein, each of the plurality of connectors////may form a sleeve-like structure through which a vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay pass. Accordingly, the plurality of connectors////may form a mechanical enclosure about the plurality of vertical support membersthat may prevent the plurality of vertical support membersfrom moving outwardly (e.g., in a radial direction) away from the sidewallof the frame pool. It should be further appreciated that the plurality of connectors////may improve the safety of the frame poolby eliminating the step-like structure that may form adjacent the sidewallwhen the plurality of vertical support membersprotrude outwardly. The specific structure of each of the connectors////will be described in additional detail below with reference to the drawings.

Referring now to, in some embodiments, a sidewallof a pool linerof a frame poolmay be provided with a plurality of connectorsand a fixing band, and the fixing bandmay be fixed to the sidewallby means of the plurality of connectors.

It should be appreciated that, in these embodiments, the number of the connectorsis not specifically limited. For example, althoughdepict the number of the connectorsas being the same as that of vertical support members, the frame poolmay have any number of connectorswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring still to, the plurality of connectorsmay be disposed around the sidewalland spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction Rof the frame pool. Specifically, each connectorof the plurality of connectorsmay include an upper end, a lower endand a middle portion, the middle portionbeing located between the upper endand the lower endin a vertical direction Z. The upper endof each connectorof the plurality of connectorsmay be fixed to an outer surface of the sidewallof the frame pool, and the lower endmay be fixed to the outer surface of the sidewallof the frame pool. In some embodiments, the upper endand the lower endof each connectormay both be fixed to the outer surface of the sidewallof the frame poolby means of high-frequency welding. A first fixing spacemay be formed between the middle portionof each connectorof the plurality of connectorsand the sidewallof the frame pool.

It should be further understood that the method for fixing the upper endand the lower endof each connectorof the plurality of connectorsto the sidewallis not specifically limited. For example, in some embodiments, the upper endand the lower endof each connectorof the plurality of connectorsmay also be fixed to the sidewallby means of sewing, adhesive bonding or any other similar coupling or mating without departing from the scope of the present disclosure

Referring still to, the fixing bandmay pass through each first fixing spacein the circumferential direction Rof the frame poolsuch that the fixing bandis fixed to the outer surface of the sidewall. In these embodiments, the fixing bandmay include a plurality of limiting portions, the plurality of limiting portionsbeing formed on the fixing bandand spaced apart from each adjacent limiting portion of the plurality of limiting portionsin the circumferential direction Rof the frame pool, such that a limiting portion between two adjacent limiting portionsof the plurality of limiting portionsis a first portion. In these embodiments, the first portionmay be attached to the outer side of the sidewall, and each first fixing spacemay hold part of the first portionof the fixing band. That is, a part of the fixing bandadjacent to each limiting portionmay be held in the first fixing space. Furthermore, in these embodiments, the middle portionof each connectormay be provided with a first opening, such that each limiting portionof the plurality of limiting portionsprotrudes away from the sidewalland out of the first opening, and the limiting portionand part of the sidewallenclose a sleeve structure. As depicted in, each sleeve structuremay define a first passage, and each first passagemay extend in a vertical direction Z and through the sleeve structure. Each sleeve structuremay be formed on the outer surface of the sidewall, such that each sleeve structuremay be fixed to the outer surface of the sidewall.

Furthermore, in some embodiment, each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersmay pass through the first passageof one sleeve structure. Each sleeve structuremay limit the position of the vertical support memberpassing through it so as to avoid the displacement of the vertical support memberaway from the sidewall(e.g. in a radial direction).

In this way, when the pool liner expands under water pressure after the frame poolis filled with water such that the plurality of vertical support memberstend to be offset away from the sidewallin a radial direction U of the frame pool, each sleeve structuremay effectively restrict the displacement of the corresponding vertical support memberaway from the sidewall, which may ensure that the vertical support member closely fit the sidewall of the pool liner and cannot pull the fixing band away from the sidewall, which may eliminate formation of a step-like structure upon which a user may step between the fixing bandand the sidewall. Accordingly, it should be understood that eliminating the step-like structure may ensure that the user cannot step on the fixing bandto climb into the frame pool, which may reduce danger to the user during use of the frame pool, thereby improving the safety of the frame pool.

Turning now to, in these embodiments, a sidewallof a frame poolmay be provided with a plurality of fixing devices, a plurality of connectorsand a fixing band. Each connectormay connect one corresponding vertical support memberto the fixing band.

For example, in these embodiments, the plurality of fixing devicesmay be fixed to the sidewall, and the plurality of fixing devicesmay be disposed around the sidewalland spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction Rof the frame pool. Each fixing deviceof the plurality of fixing devicesmay be located between two adjacent vertical support membersof the plurality of vertical support members. The fixing bandmay sequentially pass through each fixing devicein the circumferential direction Rof the frame pool, and each fixing devicemay be configured to fasten the fixing bandto an outer surface of the sidewall.

In the embodiments depicted in, the fixing devicemay be a patch. For example, the fixing devicemay be made of a polymer sheet (e.g., a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sheet), the upper and lower ends of which are both connected to the sidewall, such that the fixing bandpasses through gaps formed between the fixing devicesand the sidewall.

It should be further noted that, in some embodiments, the fixing devicedepicted inmay also be applied to the frame pool depicted into further improve the restraint to each vertical support memberof the plurality of vertical support membersto prevent formation of gaps between the fixing bandand the sidewall.

Referring still to, each connectorof the plurality of connectorsmay be a first patch, and the number of the first patchesmay be the same as that of the vertical support members. However, it should be appreciated that the number of first patchesmay include any number of patches without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the number of the first patchesmay be different from that of the vertical support members.