Liner assembly and water pool incorporating the same

Abstract

A liner assembly for use with a receptacle, such as a whiskey barrel, is provided. The assembly includes a liner, a plurality of connector elements disposed thereon, and a stiff, yet flexible band securable to the liner via the connectors. The liner is formed of a flexible, water-proof material having a bottom panel portion and a surrounding sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom terminating in a liner edge to define a mouth. When disposed in the receptacle, the liner walls confront the interior walls of the receptacle with the mouth of the liner being maintained in an open condition by the band. The band may be formed of fiberglass and include a first end portion and a second end portion coupled together and maintained in a generally annular configuration of a selected diameter by a coupling member. A water pool assembly, which includes the liner assembly, is also provided.

1 . A liner assembly adapted for use with a portion of a receptacle that has a receptacle bottom and a surrounding receptacle sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a receptacle interior, comprising: 
 (A) a liner formed of a flexible, water-proof material and including a bottom panel portion and a surrounding liner sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge to define a mouth, said liner sized and adapted to fit in the interior of said receptacle with said bottom panel portion confronting the receptacle bottom and with said liner sidewall portion confronting the receptacle sidewall;    (B) a plurality of connector elements disposed on a margin of said liner sidewall portion at a location proximate to the edge thereof; and    (C) a stiff yet flexible and resilient band adapted to be secured to said liner by said connector elements, said band sized and adapted to extend around said liner sidewall portion in spaced-apart relation to said bottom panel portion thereby to hold the mouth of the liner in an open condition.    
   
   
       2 . A liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said connector elements include: 
 (A) a first set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a first distance from said liner edge; and    (B) a second set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a second distance from said liner edge that is different from said first distance.    
   
   
       3 . A liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said band is adjustable in size.  
   
   
       4 . A liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said band has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion.  
   
   
       5 . A liner assembly according to  claim 4  including a coupling member operative to couple said first and second end portions whereby said band is generally annular in configuration of a selected diameter.  
   
   
       6 . A liner assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said coupling member includes 
 (A) a clamp including 
 (1) a head portion having a central opening therethrough; and  
 (2) a pair of spaced-apart jaw portions extending from the head portion in opposed relation to one another thereby to form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second end portions overlap one another in the gap and in the central opening as confronting band sections; and  
   (B) a collar adapted to surround said jaw portions of said clamp and operative to compress said jaw portions toward one another thereby to retain the selected diameter.    
   
   
       7 . A liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said band is formed of fiberglass.  
   
   
       8 . A water pool assembly adapted to hold a selected quantify of water, comprising: 
 (A) a barrel section having a barrel bottom wall and a surrounding barrel sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a barrel interior;    (B) a liner formed of a flexible, water-proof material and including a bottom panel portion and a surrounding liner sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge, said liner sized and adapted to fit in the interior of said barrel section with said bottom panel portion confronting the barrel bottom and with said liner sidewall portion confronting the barrel sidewall;    (C) a plurality of connector elements disposed on a margin said liner sidewall portion at a location proximate to the edge thereof; and    (D) a stiff yet flexible and resilient band adapted to be secured to said liner by said connector elements in a mounted state, said band sized and adapted to extend around said liner sidewall portion in spaced-apart relation to said bottom panel portion, said band having sufficient resiliency to hold the margin against said barrel sidewall.    
   
   
       9 . A water pool assembly according to  claim 8  including a fountain supported by said barrel sidewall and a recirculating pump adapted to be disposed on said bottom panel portion, said fountain including a hose in fluid communication with said pump whereby said pump is operative to pump water through said fountain.  
   
   
       10 . A water pool assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said liner includes a cover piece secured to said bottom panel portion and sized and adapted to conceal a portion of said pump.  
   
   
       11 . A water pool assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said liner includes a first pair of straps secured to said liner sidewall portion and adapted to secure said hose thereto.  
   
   
       12 . A water pool assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said liner includes a second pair of straps secured to said liner sidewall portion in spaced relation to said first pair of straps and adapted to secure said hose thereto.  
   
   
       13 . A water pool assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said connector elements include 
 (A) a first set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a first distance from said liner edge; and    (B) a second set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a second distance from said liner edge that is different from said first distance.    
   
   
       14 . A liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said band is adjustable in size.  
   
   
       15 . A liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said band has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion.  
   
   
       16 . A liner assembly according to  claim 15  including a coupling member operative to couple said first and second end portions whereby said band is generally annular in configuration of a selected diameter.  
   
   
       17 . A liner assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said coupling member includes 
 (A) a clamp including 
 (1) a head portion having a central opening therethrough; and  
 (2) a pair of spaced-apart jaw portions extending from the head portion in opposed relation to one another thereby to form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second end portions overlap one another in the gap and in the central opening as confronting band sections; and  
   (B) a collar adapted to surround said jaw portions of said clamp and operative to compress said jaw portions toward one another thereby to retain the selected diameter.