Corner molding for sealing vinyl liners to pool fixtures

Abstract

A sealing member for securing a vinyl pool liner to a stair system and including a first sealing component which is secured along a side wall defining the stairs; a bottom sealing component secured to the wall beneath the stairs and a corner assembly disposed between the two. All of the first and bottom sealing components and the corner assembly include an inner frame member and an outer frame member which are configured to snap-fittingly engage each other and clamp a portion of the liner between them. The corner assembly is curved and a cover is engaged over the outer frame member of the corner assembly to prevent accidental disengagement thereof. The cover extends for a distance along each of the first and bottom sealing components. The outer frame member defines a plurality of apertures in its upper surface which are configured to receive studs extending outwardly from the cover.

1 . A sealing member for sealing a flexible fabric to a support surface comprising:
 an inner frame member adapted to be disposed in abutting contact with an interior surface of the fabric;   an outer frame member adapted to be disposed in abutting contact with an exterior surface of the fabric; said outer frame member being engageable with the inner frame member, whereby a portion of the fabric is retained thereinbetween; and   a cover engageable with the outer frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame member has a first end, a second end and first and second sides extending therebetween; the cover has first end, a second end and first and second sides extending therebetween; and when the cover is engaged with outer frame member, the first end of the cover extends for a distance outwardly beyond the first end of the outer frame member, and the second end of the cover extends for a distance outwardly beyond the second end of the outer frame member. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each of the outer frame member and the cover are substantially U-shaped and comprise a base having a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom; and wherein the legs of the cover are spaced laterally outwardly away from the legs of the outer frame member when the cover is engaged with the outer frame member. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the inner frame member has a first end, a second end and first and second sides extending therebetween; wherein the first ends of the inner and outer frame members are aligned with each other, the second ends of the inner and outer frame members are aligned with each other; and the first and second sides of one of the inner and outer frame members are disposed laterally inwardly of the first and second sides of the other of the inner and outer frame members. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame member has a first end, a second end and first and second sides extending therebetween; and wherein each of the inner frame member, the outer frame member and the cover are curved between their respective first and second ends; and the curvature of the inner and outer frame members and cover is complementary. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a strip of double-sided adhesive tape, said tape being adapted to be disposed between the inner frame member and the support surface. 
 
     
     
         7 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising one or more apertures defined in one of the outer frame member the cover; and
 one or more studs extending outwardly the other of the outer frame member and the cover; and wherein the one or more studs are engageable in the one or more apertures to releasably secure the cover and outer frame member together.   
     
     
         8 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising silicone sealant applied to the inner frame member; and wherein the silicone sealant is adapted to be disposed between the inner frame member and the flexible fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A corner assembly for securing a portion of a vinyl pool liner to a pool stair system, wherein the corner assembly comprises:
 a curved inner frame member;   an attachment mechanism for securing the inner frame member to a wall defining the stair system;   a curved outer frame member interlockingly engageable with the inner frame member and adapted to clamp a section of the pool liner therebetween; and   a curved cover engageable with the outer frame member.   
     
     
         10 . The corner assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein a first end of the cover extends outwardly beyond a first end of the outer frame member and a second end of the cover extends outwardly beyond a second end of the outer frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The corner assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the cover includes a base which releasably engages the outer frame member, and a pair of legs that extend outwardly in the same direction from the base and are disposed laterally on either side of the outer frame member; and wherein a gap is defined between each leg of the cover and a portion of the outer frame member; and wherein the pool liner is adapted to be received through one or both of the gaps. 
     
     
         12 . The corner assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:
 at least one aperture defined in one of the outer frame member and the cover; and   at least one stud extending outwardly from the other of the outer frame member and the cover; and the at least one stud is removably receivable in the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         13 . A sealing member for securing a vinyl pool liner to a pool stair system;
 said sealing member comprising:   a first sealing component adapted to be secured to a wall which defines the pool stair system;   a bottom sealing component adapted to be secured to the wall of the pool stair system; and   a first corner assembly disposed between the first sealing component and a first end of the bottom sealing component; and adapted to be secured to the wall; and wherein each of the first sealing component, the first corner assembly, and the bottom sealing component are adapted to secure a portion of the pool liner therein.   
     
     
         14 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each of the first sealing component, the bottom sealing component, and the first corner assembly comprises:
 an inner frame member adapted to be secured to the wall; and   an outer frame member interlockingly engageable with the inner frame member and wherein the portion of the pool liner is retained between the inner and outer frame members.   
     
     
         15 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first cover engageable with the outer frame member of the first corner assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a first end of each of the inner and outer frame members of the first corner assembly is disposed adjacent a bottom end of each of the inner and outer frame members of the first sealing component to form a first joining region; and a second end of each of the inner and outer frame members of the first corner assembly is disposed adjacent a first end of the inner and outer frame members of the bottom sealing component to form a second joining region. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a first end of the cover extends for a distance beyond the first joining region and over a portion of the first sealing component; and a second end of the cover extends for a distance beyond the second joining region and over a portion of the bottom sealing component. 
     
     
         18 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first cover assembly is curved between a first end and a second end thereof; and
 wherein the first cover assembly includes a first limb and a second limb separated from each other by a region that curves through 90°.   
     
     
         19 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one aperture defined in one of the outer frame member of the first corner assembly and the cover thereof; and   at least one stud extending outwardly from the other of the outer frame member and the cover of the first corner assembly; and wherein the at least one stud is receivable in the at least one aperture to secure the cover to the outer frame member of the first corner assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one strip of double-sided adhesive tape adapted to be disposed between the sealing assembly and the pool stair system.   
     
     
         21 . The sealing member as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second sealing component adapted to be disposed along the wall of the pool stair system; and   a second corner assembly disposed between the second sealing component and a second end of the bottom sealing component.