Fabric children's wading pool and method of use

Abstract

A foldable, portable fabric children's wading pool for installation in the ground and which has improved stability characteristics is provided. The pool includes a base region with a generally circular sheet of water-resistant woven fabric with a thread denier of between 400 denier and 600 denier, a stabilizer region comprising one or more sections of woven fabric with a thread denier of between 200 denier and 400 denier, where the stabilizer region is affixed to the outer edge of the base region, and with a number of sand anchors affixed to the stabilizer region. The pool is set up by digging a hole in the ground and forming berms along the edges of the hole. Then, the pool is unfolded and positioned such that the waterproof fabric base is in the hole, and the sand anchor section extends downwardly and outwardly from the edge of the sand berm. Then, a weighting material is loaded onto the sand anchor section and the pool is filled with water, preferably using the waterproof bag that also serves as a storage and transport bag for the pool when folded.

Claims

1. A portable fabric wading pool comprising: a base comprising water-resistant woven fabric of between 400 denier and 600 denier; a stabilizer comprising woven fabric of between 200 denier and 400 denier; and wherein the stabilizer is affixed to an edge of the base.

2. The wading pool of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer further comprises a plurality of sand anchors.

3. The portable fabric wading pool of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of sand anchors comprise a pocket.

4. The wading pool of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a water-resistant coating.

5. The wading pool of claim 4 wherein the water resistant coating is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane and pigment urethane.

6. The wading pool of claim 1 further comprising a separate fabric bag, into which a user can fold and store the entire wading pool.

7. The wading pool of claim 6 wherein the separate fabric bag is waterproof.

8. The portable fabric wading pool of claim 1 wherein the base and the stabilizer are different colors.

9. A method of making a portable fabric wading pool comprising: selecting a first water-resistant woven fabric of between 400 denier and 600 denier; selecting a second woven fabric of between 200 denier and 400 denier; cutting a pool base from the first water-resistant woven fabric; cutting a stabilizer from the second woven fabric; affixing the stabilizer to an edge of the pool base; and forming a sand anchor pocket on the stabilizer.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the pool base further comprises a water-resistant coating.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the pool base and the stabilizer are different colors.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the pool base further comprises a water-resistant coating.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the water resistant coating is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane and pigment urethane.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising: constructing a separate fabric bag, into which a user can fold and store the entire wading pool.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the separate fabric bag is waterproof.

16. A method of using a portable fabric wading pool, wherein the portable fabric wading pool comprises: a base comprising a water-resistant woven fabric of between 400 denier and 600 denier; a stabilizer comprising a woven fabric of between 200 and 400 denier; wherein the stabilizer is affixed to an edge of the base; and wherein the stabilizer further comprises a plurality of sand anchors; wherein the method of using comprises: digging a hole in a sandy surface, wherein the hole is approximately the same circumference as the base; forming sand berms generally along the edge of the hole; placing the portable fabric wading pool in the hole, wherein the base is generally centered in the hole; placing the stabilizer generally over the sand berms; placing a quantity of weighting material in the plurality of sand anchors; and placing water in the base.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wading pool further comprises a separate waterproof fabric bag, and the step of placing water in the base further comprises using the waterproof fabric bag to transport water from a water source to the wading pool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the descriptions that follow, like parts or steps are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a foldable children's wading pool disclosed herein, that is in use at a beach;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of the foldable children's wading pool of FIG. 1, in use, and along the sectional line marked as II;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the foldable children's wading pool, laid flat and not in use;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the foldable children's wading pool, when in use and illustrating lines of force generated by the balanced weights of water and sand;

(6) FIG. 5 is a close-up, cutaway, top perspective view of a corner sand anchor pocket of the foldable children's wading pool of FIG. 2, where the sand anchor pocket is laid flat;

(7) FIG. 6 is a close-up, cutaway, top perspective view of a corner sand anchor pocket of the foldable children's wading pool of FIG. 2, where the sand anchor pocket is pulled open in preparation for use;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a waterproof bag into which the foldable children's wading pool of FIG. 1 can be folded for transport and storage;

(9) FIG. 8 is another side view of the waterproof bag of FIG. 6, with the top and bottom handle straps held outwardly, in preparation for use of the waterproof bag as a water carrying device;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a step in the deployment of an embodiment of the wading pool disclosed herein; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another step in the deployment of an embodiment of the wading pool disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) One embodiment of a portable children's wading pool 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The pool 10 includes a woven fabric base section 12, a stabilizer section 14, and four sand anchors 16. The woven fabric base section 12 is at least “water-resistant” and is preferably “water-proof”. The base section 12 is preferably a single, circular shaped sheet of fabric. The fabric base section 12 can be comprised of any suitable water-resistant or water-proof material, such as, but not limited to polyester canvas with polyurethane coating, plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or low-density polyethylene (LDPE), so long as it conforms to the thickness parameters discussed further below. Preferably, the fabric base section 12 is comprised of a waterproof fabric material that is durable when repeatedly exposed to water, salt water, sand and sun. Further preferably, the fabric base section 12 is a different color than the fabric stabilizer section 14, to create visually distinct areas for water (the base section 12) and support of the pool (the stabilizer section 14), when the pool is filled with water. This color distinction assists parents with set-up of the pool, and assists children with ingress and egress.

(13) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the stabilizer section 14 is a water-permeable woven fabric. Preferably, the water-permeable woven fabric is resistant to wear and is durable when exposed to water, salt water, sand and sun. The stabilizer section 14 has eight sub-sections 18, each of which is sewn, bonded, or otherwise attached to an adjacent subsection 18. The stabilizer section 14 is, in turn, sewed, bonded, or otherwise attached to an outer edge 20 of the base section 12. The base section 12 fabric is, in one embodiment, sewn to the stabilizer section 14 such that the outer edge of the base section 12 is under the inner edge of the stabilizer section 14, to reduce water leakage at this seam. The stabilizer section also includes a reinforced seam or edge 28 to assist with durability and directing the force vectors discussed below.

(14) The pool 10 also includes four sand anchors 16. The sand anchors 16 may be formed by affixing a pocket top 22 to each of the four corners of the stabilizer section 14. Alternatively, the sand anchors 16 may be separately sewn pockets, which are then affixed to the stabilizer section 14. The sand anchors 16 are generally oriented as the four corners of a square, or put another way, they are radially offset from one another by approximately ninety degrees. Other numbers of sand anchors may be implemented, such as three sand anchors radially offset from one another at approximately one-hundred and twenty degrees; five sand anchors radially offset from one another at approximately seventy-two degrees; six sand anchors radially offset from one another at approximately sixty degrees, etc.

(15) In a preferred embodiment, the base section 12 is generally circular. The round shape enables parents to set the pool limits very easily. Width and depth of the sand hole (and thus the amount of water that can be contained in the base section 12) are both important factors for parents to decide how to safely set up the pool for their infant or toddler, based on factors such as the child's age, coordination, strength and comfort with being in water. The round shape enables this, because it makes it easy for parents to set up the pool as a shallower pool, or a deeper pool, depending on how deeply they dig the hole.

(16) The portable children's pool 10 is stabilized against being blown by the wind and against shifting sand caused by the entry and exist of children into the pool by the integrated action of the base section 12, and the weight of the water in the base section 12, which pulls against the stabilizer section 14 and the weight of the sand 24 (or other weighting material) in the sand anchors 16. In a preferred embodiment, the pool 10 is configured such that the weight of the water and the weight of the sand will create opposing forces, which are roughly balanced against one another, and which pull the stabilizer section 14 over and against the sand of the sand berms 44.

(17) With reference to FIG. 4, a schematic top view of the pool 10, when in use, is shown. When the base section 12 is filled with water, and the sand anchors 16 are each filled with sand or other weighting material, and the stabilizer section 14 is in place over a sand berm, force vectors are created that stabilize the pool 10. Specifically, sand anchor weight force vectors 30 pull outwardly, while water weight force vectors 32 pull inwardly toward the center 34 of the base section 12. In a preferred deployment, the sand anchor weight force vectors and the water weight force vectors are roughly equal, and balance at balance points 36 within the stabilizer section 14. This balance serves to stabilize the pool 10 in the sand hole, to prevent the edges 28 of the stabilizer section 14 from blowing or flipping upward, while at the same time minimizing the time and complexity of the setup effort required of parents deploying the pool 10.

(18) With reference to FIGS. 5-6, further detail of the pockets forming the sand anchors 16 are illustrated. In FIG. 5, the sand anchor 16 pocket is generally flat. In FIG. 6, the sand anchor 16 pocket is opened and ready to receive sand or weighting material. In a preferred embodiment, a seam 38, between two sub-sections 18 of the stabilizer section 14, is generally centered on the outer flap 22 of the pocket forming the sand anchor 16. This seam 38 (on each of the four pockets) serves to direct and focus the opposing forces of the sand anchor weight force vectors 30 and the water weight force vectors 32. The outer flap 22 of the sand anchor 16 also includes a reinforcing seam 42 at the top edge of the pocket 22, which is stitched or bonded in connection with the outer reinforcing seam 28 of the stabilizer section 14. As explained throughout, this “web” of reinforcing seams serves to strengthen the fabric sections of the pool and further to direct the opposing forces of the sand anchor weight force vectors 30 and the water weight force vectors 32 throughout the entire pool 10, and accordingly to create a balance of forces that stabilize the sand sidewalls of the berm 44, stabilize the pool 10 in the sand, smooth the fabric of the base section 12 when filled with water, to make set-up easier, to make ingress and egress easier, and to improve the overall neat and tidy appearance of the pool 10 when deployed.

(19) While not intended to be limiting in any way, one embodiment of the pool 10 has the following dimensions. The pool 10 is approximately ninety inches wide on the diagonal cross-section line II of FIG. 1. That particular embodiment has a circular base section that is approximately sixty inches in diameter. The stabilizer section is approximately seven inches wide at the sub-section seam 40, and approximately fifteen inches wide along seam 38, measured from the seam 20 joining the base section and stabilizer section, to the outer edge of the sand pocket16, along diagonal cross-section line II of FIG. 1. Further, in this embodiment, base section 12 the pool 10 can be filled with between approximately two to forty gallons of water, and each sand anchor can be filled with between approximately one to three gallons of sand or other weighting material. When filled with approximately thirty gallons of water, the base section 12 will contain a depth of between eighteen to twenty-four inches of water, as measured from the center point of the base section 12.

(20) Denier (abbreviated D), a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibers (sometimes referred to herein, for convenience, as “thickness”), is the mass in grams per 9000 meters of the fiber. The denier is based on a natural reference: a single strand of silk is approximately one denier; a 9000-meter strand of silk weighs about one gram. Nylon and polyester fabrics are typically measured in denier. While the disclosure herein addresses embodiments of the fabric wading pool that are made with nylon, polyester and/or polyester/nylon blends of disclosed denier ranges, it should be understood that other fabrics of similar weights and similar water resistance (or permeability) may be used in place of the specific fabric applications addressed herein, and such other fabrics meeting these specifications should be understood to constitute equivalents for purposes of the claims herein.

(21) In certain embodiments, use of particular classes and types of fabric for each section are advantageous. In preferred embodiments, the base section 12 material must be thin enough to form properly to the sand. Proper form to the sand generally means that the base section 12 material does not have significant numbers of wrinkles when in the base section is filled with water. Addressing this problem was necessitated by parents who tested experimental versions of Applicant's pools that had overly thick base section material and who reported that the form of the pool “did not look or feel right” due to the wrinkles and the thickness of the base section material.

(22) Properly thin base section material is also complimentary with the material that forms the sand anchors. In contrast, overly thick material for the base section 12 results in a base section that is too heavy to allow the weight of the sand in the sand anchors to pull the pool into its designed shape, as discussed with respect to FIG. 4.

(23) Properly thin base section material is also able to bundle-up well for storage, and be inserted and stored in a back-pack/bucket (See FIGS. 7-8). In contrast, overly thick base section material is difficult to fold or roll for storage.

(24) Moreover, properly thin base section fabric is also able to dry out quickly after use and either before or after the pool 10 is folded and stored. In contrast, overly thick base section material may trap water, or stay moist, and cause a potential for mold build-up or bacterial growth. Such mold or bacterial growth would make the pool unsightly, or even present a health danger to toddlers.

(25) On the other hand, in preferred embodiments, the base section 12 material must also be thick enough to stabilize the pool 10 sides and bottom. In contrast, overly thin base section 12 fabric did not work well because when a child stepped into the experimental, but overly thin, base section fabric, that fabric compressed into the sand and displaced the pool limits.

(26) Properly thick base section material is also complimentary with the material that forms the sand anchors. In contrast, overly thin material for the base section 12 results in a base section that is too light to pull against the weight of the sand in the sand anchors to pull the pool into its designed shape, as discussed with respect to FIG. 4.

(27) In a preferred embodiment, the portable fabric wading pool 10 includes a base region comprising a generally circular sheet of woven fabric, where the woven fabric of the base region is a fabric with a thread denier of between 400 denier and 600 denier, and is water-resistant. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the woven fabric of the stabilizer region is a fabric with a thread denier of between 200 denier and 400 denier;

(28) In a still further preferred embodiment, the woven water-resistant fabric of the base region comprises polyester, such as, for example, 500 denier canopy polyester. The woven water-resistant fabric may include a waterproof coating of polyurethane, for example, a coating known as “pigment urethane coating.”

(29) In a preferred embodiment, the stabilizer region fabric is water permeable, and is, for example, a 400×300 denier nylon/polyester blend. The water-permeability of the stabilizer region fabric serves to prevent over-filling of the pool, and helps the pool dry quickly prior to storage. The stabilize region fabric may also be a diamond-pattern ripstop fabric.

(30) FIGS. 7-8 illustrates a bag 50 for use with the pool 10. The bag 50 preferably has an assortment of straps 52 and handles 54 for carrying the bag, as well as pouches 56 for carrying beach accessories. The bag is preferably large enough for the entire pool 10 to be folded and stored within the bag 50. Further, preferably, the bag 50 is made of a water-resistant materially, and most preferably, a waterproof material, so that it can be used as bucket for carrying water and filling the pool, as described further below.

(31) In FIGS. 1 & 2, the portable children' pool 10 is shown in use at the beach. With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 9-10, a method for deployment and use of the pool 10 is described as follows. Specifically, as discussed further below, the pool 10 is unfolded, in-place in a hole, side berms of sand are mounded up, sand or other weighting material is put into the sand pockets, and then the base section is filled with water, using the bag. First, a digging tool 60, or even a user's hands, are used to outline a hole 62 in the sand that is roughly circular and the same size as the pool 10. The user then digs the hole 62, which should taper downward and inwardly from the edges of the hole. The user also should form sand berms 44 along the edges of the hole. These sand berms 44 should be taller than the surface of the surrounding ground and generally an extension of the side walls of the hole 62. Alternatively, the user may form the sand berms 44 after the pool 10 is laid in place in the hole 62. The user then unfolds the pool 10 and inserts it into the hole 62. The pool 10 should be oriented so that the base section 12 is in the hole 62. The pool 10 should be further oriented so that the stabilizer section 14 of the pool 10 is placed over the top 68 of each of the sand berms 44. Then, the sand anchors 16 should extend outwardly and down the outside sides of the sand berms 44. This configuration will enable the filled sand anchors 16 and the water 70 in the filled pool 10 to effect the force vector balance discussed herein and illustrated in FIG. 4.

(32) On completion of the setup, the pool is configured as shown in FIG. 1 and a child may begin playing.

(33) When the user is ready to take the pool down, this process can be reversed. Preferably, the weighting material can be dumped or scooped out of the sand anchor pockets 16. Then, any water 70 which has not been dipped out with the bag 50 can be simply dumped out into the hole when the pool 10 is lifted. Finally, the pool 10 is folded, then stored in the waterproof fabric bag 50.

(34) Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.