Molded Pool Step with Interior Decorative Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in constructing swimming pools with vinyl liners is that the pattern on the stairs often appears mismatched with the rest of the pool, leading to an aesthetically displeasing appearance, prompting the use of solid color liners which can look mismatched.
Innovation Solution
The method involves fabricating stairs using a transparent material with a decorative pattern applied to the interior surface, which is then molded to create a pool step with the pattern positioned inwardly from the outer surface, ensuring it matches the pool liner's pattern and remains protected from water and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a patterned liner is used on the stairs to match the rest of the pool, then the aesthetic appearance should be improved, but the pattern becomes distorted and mismatched due to the varied angles of treads and risers
Solution Approach 1:
The pattern is applied to the liner material before the stairs are constructed and installed. This preliminary application allows the pattern to be positioned correctly on the flat material, and then the entire assembly (stairs with pre-positioned patterned liner) is installed as a unit, preventing pattern distortion that would occur if the liner were stretched over already-built stairs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the stairs and the patterned liner into a single integrated assembly. By attaching the patterned liner to the stairs before installation, the two elements become a unified component that maintains proper pattern alignment while achieving the desired aesthetic appearance
2Ease of manufacture
If a solid color liner is used on the stairs to avoid pattern mismatch, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the aesthetic appearance becomes mismatched with the rest of the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patterned liner is selected and prepared in advance to match the pool's overall pattern, then attached to the stairs before installation. This preliminary preparation maintains the simplicity of the manufacturing process while achieving visual cohesion with the rest of the pool
3Shape
If the decorative pattern is applied to the outer surface of the pool step, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the pattern is exposed to water and wear causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative pattern is nested within the structure of the pool step by being applied to the inner surface. This nesting protects the pattern from direct exposure to water and wear while still allowing it to be visible through the transparent outer layer of the step
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the transparency of the outer step material to allow the decorative pattern on the inner surface to be visible. This optical property enables the pattern to remain protected while maintaining aesthetic visibility
Data Source
AI summary
A molded pool step, a method of fabricating the pool step and a method of matching a decorative pattern on the pool step to the decorative pattern on a pool liner is disclosed. The pool step is fabricated by applying a decorative pattern to one surface of a transparent sheet of moldable material; positioning the sheet of material on a pool step mold such that the sheet contacts a molding surface of the pool step mold; molding the sheet of material on the pool step mold such that the decorative pattern is located a distance inwardly from an outer surface of the pool step and is thereby prevented being contacted by pool water or people using the pool. When the pool step is molded and installed the decorative pattern on the three-dimension pool step is substantially continuous with the decorative pattern on the liner adjacent the pool step.