Granted Patent B2

US 12,359,454 · App. 18/442,725 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Zhi Xiong Huang (Fujian, CN); Ai Ming Tan (Fujian, CN); Yaw Yuan Hsu (Fujian, CN)

Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd.

E04H4/0056F16B7/0406F16B7/042

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A joint for an above ground pool having a frame assembly including a first horizontal frame, a second horizontal frame, and a vertical frame, the joint comprising:

a first horizontal portion having a hollow end that receives a narrowing end of the first horizontal frame;

a second horizontal portion having a hollow end that receives a narrowing end of the second horizontal frame; and

a vertical portion positioned between the first and second horizontal portions, the vertical portion being configured to mate with the vertical frame;

wherein the hollow ends of the first and the second horizontal portions narrow inwardly at a radial step to receive the corresponding narrowing ends.

2. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first and second horizontal portions form an included angle of less than 180 degrees.

3. The joint of claim 1 , wherein:

the vertical portion includes a hollow end that receives a narrowing end of the vertical frame, the hollow end of the vertical portion having an inner elliptical cross-section.

4. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint is made of plastic.

5. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal portion, the second horizontal portion, and the vertical portion are integrally molded together to form a one-piece structure.

6. The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion form an angle of between 120 degrees and 180 degrees.

7. An above ground pool comprising:

a frame assembly comprising:

a first horizontal frame that narrows at a first end;

a second horizontal frame that narrows at a second end;

a vertical frame; and

a T-shaped joint coupled to the first horizontal frame, the second horizontal frame, and the vertical frame; and

a liner supported by the frame assembly;

wherein the T-shaped joint includes a first horizontal portion with a hollow end that narrows inwardly at a radial step to receive the first end, a second horizontal portion with a hollow end that narrows inwardly at a radial step to receive the second end, and a vertical portion configured to mate with the vertical frame.

8. The pool of claim 7 , wherein the liner includes:

an upper sleeve configured to receive the first and second horizontal frames, the upper sleeve defining a first horizontal area; and

a side wall that defines a water cavity, the water cavity having a second horizontal area smaller than the first horizontal area.

9. The pool of claim 7 , wherein the liner includes:

an upper sleeve configured to receive the first and second horizontal frames; and

a side wall that defines a water cavity, the side wall being located radially inward of the upper sleeve.

10. The pool of claim 7 , wherein:

the first horizontal frame, the second horizontal frame, and the vertical frame are made of metal; and

the joint is made of plastic.

11. The pool of claim 7 , wherein the joint is a one-piece structure.

12. The above ground pool of claim 7 , wherein the liner includes a bottom wall, a side wall and an upper sleeve which receives the first and second horizontal frames and includes an opening corresponding to a position of the T-shaped joint, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a water cavity.

13. The above ground pool of claim 7 , wherein the liner includes a side wall that defines a water cavity, the side wall including a water inlet and a water outlet to enable fluid communication between the water cavity and one of an external water filtration system and an external heating system.

14. A method of assembling an above ground pool comprising the steps of:

assembling a frame assembly including a plurality of T-shaped joints, the assembling step comprising coupling each joint to a first horizontal frame that narrows at a first end, to a second horizontal frame that narrows at a second end and to a vertical frame;

positioning a lower end of the vertical frame on a support surface; and

supporting a liner on the frame assembly;

wherein each joint includes a first horizontal portion with a hollow end that narrows inwardly at a radial step to receive the first end of the first horizontal frame, a second horizontal portion with a hollow end that narrows inwardly at a radial step to receive the second end of the second horizontal frame, and a vertical portion with a hollow end that mates with an upper end of the vertical frame.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the supporting step comprises:

inserting the first and second horizontal frames in an upper sleeve of the liner; and

positioning a side wall of the liner radially inward of the upper sleeve.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the first horizontal portion of each joint has a substantially continuous outer wall surrounding the first end of the first horizontal frame;

the second horizontal portion of each joint has a substantially continuous outer wall surrounding the second end of the second horizontal frame; and

the vertical portion is positioned between the first and second horizontal portions, the vertical portion having a continuous outer wall surrounding the upper end of the vertical frame.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the assembling step includes introducing a vertical frame into a vertical open end of each joint, introducing a first horizontal frame into a first open end of a first horizontal portion of each joint, and introducing a second horizontal frame into a second open end of a second horizontal portion of each joint.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein coupling each joint to a first horizontal frame includes causing a lock to move radially into an outer perimeter hole of an outer wall of the first horizontal frame.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the lock is supported by a seat located in the joint.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein assembling the frame assembly includes arranging each joint and the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame coupled to each joint to form a ring shape.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (209)