Foldable Wading Pool with Sand Anchor Stabilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable beach pools are unstable, prone to deformation, and slow to warm up, making them unsafe and uncomfortable for young children, especially in cold water conditions.

Innovation Solution

A foldable children's wading pool with a waterproof fabric base, a middle stabilizer section incorporating a stiffening foam strip, and a sand anchor section with sleeves for weighting material, which provides stability and quick heating through dark-colored materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If an inflatable or molded plastic pool is used, then the pool can be portable, but it takes up significant room in the vehicle and is cumbersome to transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport volumeVSAvoidease of transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pool is divided into multiple collapsible panels that can be folded into a compact configuration for transport, reducing the volume occupied in the vehicle while maintaining the full-size pool structure when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pool structure transitions from a rigid or semi-rigid state during use to a flexible, collapsible state for transport, allowing it to be folded compactly without permanent deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rubber or fabric pool is positioned in a hole dug into the sand, then the pool becomes more stable, but it is prone to deformation and collapse when children enter and exit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepool stabilityVSAvoidstructural reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Sand anchors are installed in the sand before the pool is filled with water, creating a pre-established support system that prevents deformation and collapse when children enter and exit the pool

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sand anchors provide counterbalancing support forces that offset the dynamic loads created by children entering and exiting the pool, preventing structural failure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Stability of the object's composition

If stakes are used to secure the pool into the sand, then the pool achieves stability, but the stakes can be pulled out when children enter and exit, causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepool stabilityVSAvoidsafety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful stakes are completely removed from the system and replaced with sand anchors that provide equivalent stabilizing function without creating safety hazards from protruding elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight of sand in the anchors provides stabilizing force without creating the harmful protruding elements that stakes create, converting the potential harm of needing strong anchoring into a safe solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Illumination intensity

If a light-colored pool is used, then it is more visible, but it takes considerable time to warm up cold ocean water

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidwater temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The pool interior is made dark-colored to maximize absorption of solar radiation and convert it to thermal energy, rapidly heating the water while the pool exterior maintains visibility through its structural form and placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pool remains stable against wind and shifting sand, allows easy entry and exit for children, and warms up quickly due to dark-colored materials, minimizing water loss and sand intrusion.

Implementation Method 1

the pool... warms up quickly due to dark-colored materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9518399B2Foldable children's wading pool and method of use

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 WARES LARRY

AI summary

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 waterproof fabric base, a middle stabilizer section with a foam stiffening strip, and a sand anchor section with sleeves for holding a weighting material such as sand. 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, the middle stabilizer section is on the top of the sand berm, and the sand anchor section extends downwardly and outwardly from the edge of the sand berm. Then, a weighting material is loaded into 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.