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US 11,473,323 B2Granted
Container assembly and method for making same
OwnerJason Herring, Shane Gilbreathinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is an assembly of prefabricated metal receptacles forming a swimming pool and a method for constructing the assembly. Among other features, the assembly is characterized by guided clamping structures that allow on-site construction without requiring on-site welding or access to the bottom or interior of the assembly.
Claims13
An assembly for holding water comprising:
- a first hollow rectangular prism receptacle configured to have an open top, a bottom side panel, at least three side panels in addition to and connected to said bottom panel, and a free edge comprising edges of said at least three side panels and forming at least a top edge and a front edge;
- a first frame structure having a top frame interface portion rigidly attached to the top edge of said first receptacle and a front frame interface portion rigidly attached to the front edge of said first receptacle;
- a second hollow rectangular prism receptacle configured to have an open top, a bottom side panel, at least three side panels in addition to and connected to said bottom panel, and a free edge comprising edges of said at least three side panels and forming at least a top edge and a front edge;
- a second frame structure having a top frame interface portion rigidly attached to the top edge of said second receptacle and a front frame interface portion rigidly attached to the front edge of said second receptacle;
- at least one guide structure attached to said second receptacle positioned to guide at least one threaded rod parallel to said bottom panel and perpendicular to said front frame interface portion of said second receptacle;
- one of said at least one threaded rods inserted into said a respective guide structure;
- at least one threaded coupler rigidly attached to said first receptacle and positioned to receive said threaded rod from said second receptacle;
- a seal structure positioned between said front frame interface portion of said first receptacle and said front frame interface portion of said second receptacle;
- wherein said guide structure provides access to said threaded rod from a position adjacent to said second receptacle, when said first and second receptacles are suitably aligned, the threaded rod is rotated within said guide structure in a predetermined direction to thread into said aligned threaded coupler and to clamp the seal structure between the opposing front frame interface portions of said first and said second receptacles, when clamped, said first and said second receptacles and said seal form an open top assembly to hold said water.
6 more elements
A method for constructing an open top assembly for containing water comprising the steps of:
- providing a first hollow rectangular prism receptacle configured to have an open top, a bottom side panel, at least three side panels in addition to and connected to said bottom panel, and a free edge comprising edges of said at least three side panels and forming at least a top edge and a front edge;
- further including a first frame structure having a top frame interface portion rigidly attached to the top edge of said first receptacle and a front frame interface portion rigidly attached to the front edge of said first receptacle;
- providing a second hollow rectangular prism receptacle configured to have an open top, a bottom side panel, at least three side panels in addition to and connected to said bottom panel, and a free edge comprising edges of said at least three side panels and forming at least a top edge and a front edge;
- further including a second frame structure having a top frame interface portion rigidly attached to the top edge of said second receptacle and a front frame interface portion rigidly attached to the front edge of said second receptacle;
- providing at least one guide structure attached to said second receptacle positioned to guide at least one threaded rod parallel to said bottom panel and perpendicular to said front frame interface portion of said second receptacle;
- inserting one of said at least one threaded rods into a respective said guide structure;
- providing at least one threaded coupler rigidly attached to said first receptacle;
- positioning said first and second receptacles to suitably align said front frame interface of said first receptacle with said front frame interface of said second receptacle and thereby aligning said inserted threaded rod and said at least one threaded coupler;
- providing a seal structure positioned between said front frame interface portion of aid first receptacle and said front frame interface portion of said second receptacle;
- turning said inserted threaded rod such that the rod threads into said threaded coupler and thereby pulls said second receptacle and said first receptacle together wherein said pulling together clamps said seal structure producing a watertight seam between said first and second receptacle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.