Two-Piece Corner Framing Element for Swimming Pool Extrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Joining pool coping and pool-liner extrusions at the corners of swimming pools is notoriously difficult in field construction, leading to expensive prefabrication of corner pieces and lack of precision in achieving square corners.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece corner framing element comprising a bottom and top plate that utilizes conventional upward projecting liner-anchoring lands to angularly orient and secure longitudinal swimming pool extrusions, allowing for field assembly and precise corner framing with standard fasteners, and facilitating easy removal of damaged pool liners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If corner pieces are prefabricated in the shop using bending machines and notching, then manufacturing precision of corner geometry is improved, but device complexity and construction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The corner assembly is segmented into three separate components: two straight extrusion pieces and one corner connector piece. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using standard extrusion processes without complex bending or notching operations, while the precise corner geometry is achieved through the designed geometry of the connector piece that receives the two straight pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner connector piece is designed with self-aligning features including angled surfaces and positioning elements that automatically guide the two straight extrusion pieces into the correct angular relationship during assembly. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex prefabrication equipment and ensures precise corner geometry through the inherent geometry of the connector rather than through complex manufacturing processes.
2Ease of operation
If corner pieces are prefabricated with extrusion legs in the shop, then ease of operation during field assembly is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional fabrication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The corner assembly is divided into separable components (two straight extrusions and one connector) that can be independently manufactured and then quickly assembled in the field. The connector piece includes integrated fastening features and positioning elements that simplify field assembly while allowing all components to be produced through efficient standard extrusion processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner connector piece is pre-designed with built-in alignment features, positioning elements, and fastening mechanisms that prepare the assembly for quick and accurate field installation. The angled surfaces and geometric features of the connector are preliminary configured to guide the straight extrusions into precise angular relationships, eliminating the need for complex field adjustments or prefabrication operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional bending machines are used to bend extrusions for corner pieces, then manufacturing precision of corner angle is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of bending a single extrusion into a corner shape, the solution segments the corner into three straight pieces where the connector piece is designed with the corner angle built into its geometry. This eliminates the need for bending operations entirely, as all components are produced through straightforward extrusion processes using standard equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than deforming a straight extrusion into a corner shape through bending, the invention inverts the approach by designing a connector piece with the desired corner geometry that receives two straight extrusions. This reverses the traditional method of creating corner geometry, achieving the same result without complex bending equipment or notching operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An two-piece, corner framing element is described for connecting two longitudinal swimming pool extrusions having longitudinal pool-liner channels that utilizes the conventional upward projecting liner-anchoring land along a bottom front edge of the pool-liner channels for angularly orienting and securing the longitudinal extrusions together in the field framing a pool corner wall during construction of a swimming pool.