Drain plug for an above-ground pool

Abstract

An improved drain for an above-ground pool is disclosed. A variety of above-ground pool types are considered. Above-ground pools must be drained after use before being stored in a lengthy and time-consuming process. The improved drain can advantageously remain open during the draining process allowing for improved drainage. The drain can comprise a plug member and a locking member. The plug member can be configured to attach to the locking member when open. This and other embodiments are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An above-ground pool comprising:
 a base;   at least one sidewall defining an entire interior pool area and joined to the base; and   a drain disposed around an aperture in, and affixed to, one of the base and the at least one sidewall, the drain comprising:
 a drain hole; 
 a locking member; and 
 a drain plug member configured to detachably attach to (i) the drain hole and (ii) the locking member such that, when the drain plug is detachably attached to the drain hole, the drain is in a closed state and a watertight seal is formed between the drain plug member and the drain hole, and when the drain plug is detachably attached to the locking member, the drain is in an open state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1  further comprising a frame comprising a plurality of horizontal pool support members and a plurality of vertical support members. 
     
     
         3 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a unitary sidewall formed from a single sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the base is rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, square, square with rounded corners, circular, oval, oblong, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal. 
     
     
         5 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall and base comprise polyurethane, PVC, nylon, vinyl, or a textile coated with a material impermeable to water. 
     
     
         6 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the drain plug member is configured to detachably attach to the drain hole in the closed state through an interference fit between the drain plug member and the drain hole. 
     
     
         7 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is configured to receive the drain plug member in the open state through an interference fit between the locking member and the drain plug member. 
     
     
         8 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the drain is affixed to the one of the base or the at least one sidewall through one or more welds. 
     
     
         9 . The above-ground pool of  claim 1 , wherein the drain plug member further comprises a flap disposed on an external surface of the drain plug member, the flap configured to allow a user to grip the drain plug member. 
     
     
         10 . A drain for an above-ground pool, the drain comprising:
 a drain hole;   a locking member; and   a drain plug member configured to detachably attach to (i) the drain hole and (ii) the locking member such that, when the drain plug member is detachably attached to the drain hole, the drain is in a closed state and a watertight seal is formed between the drain plug member and the drain hole, and when the drain plug member is detachably attached to the locking member, the drain is in an open state;   wherein the drain is disposed around an aperture in, and affixed to, one of a base and at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         11 . The drain of  claim 10 , wherein the drain plug member is configured to detachably attach to the drain hole in the closed position through an interference fit. 
     
     
         12 . The drain of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member is configured to receive the drain plug member in the open position through an interference fit. 
     
     
         13 . The drain of  claim 10 , wherein the drain is disposed around the aperture with one or more welds. 
     
     
         14 . The drain of  claim 10 , wherein the drain plug member further comprises a flap disposed on an external surface of the drain plug member, the flap configured to allow a user to grip the drain plug member. 
     
     
         15 . The drain of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member comprises a circular prong radially disposed from the drain hole, the circular prong configured for receipt by the drain plug member. 
     
     
         16 . The drain of  claim 15 , wherein the drain plug member comprises a circular indentation configured to receive the circular prong and detachably attach the drain plug member to the circular prong. 
     
     
         17 . A drain for an above-ground pool, the drain comprising:
 a drain hole including a sliding track; and   a drain plug member slidably affixed to the sliding track, the drain plug member configured to slidably engage the drain hole such that, when the drain plug member is slidably engaged to the drain hole, the drain is in a closed state and a watertight seal is formed between the drain plug member and the drain hole, and when the drain plug member is slidably disengaged from the drain hole, the drain is in an open state;   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         18 . The drain of  claim 17 , wherein the drain is configured to be disposed around the aperture with one or more welds. 
     
     
         19 . The drain of  claim 17 , wherein the drain plug member further comprises a flap disposed on an external surface of the drain plug member, the flap configured to allow a user to grip the drain plug member. 
     
     
         20 . A drain for an above-ground pool, comprising:
 a drain hole; and   a drain plug member abutting and attached to the drain hole, the drain plug member configured to rotatably engage the drain hole such, when the drain plug member is rotatably engaged to the drain hole, the drain hole is in a closed state and a watertight seal is formed between the drain plug member and the drain hole, and when the drain plug member is rotatably disengaged from the drain hole, the drain is in an open state;   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         21 . The drain of  claim 20 , wherein the drain is configured to be disposed around the aperture with one or more welds. 
     
     
         22 . The drain of  claim 20 , wherein the drain plug member further comprises a flap disposed on an external surface of the drain plug member, the flap configured to allow a user to grip the drain plug member. 
     
     
         23 . A drain for an above-ground pool, comprising:
 a drain hole; and   a drain valve including a male end, wherein the drain valve is attached to the drain hole, the male end configured to fit a female end;   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         24 . A drain for an above-ground pool, comprising:
 a drain hole; and   a drain valve including a female end, wherein the drain valve is attached to the drain hole, the female end configured to fit a male end, wherein the male end is configured to fill the above-ground pool and the female end is configured to drain the above-ground pool;   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         25 . The drain of  claim 24 , wherein the drain valve comprises a drain cap with a twist tab, the drain cap configured to rotatably engage with the drain valve to close the drain valve and form a watertight seal. 
     
     
         26 . The drain of  claim 25 , wherein the drain cap is further configured to rotatably disengage from the drain valve to open the drain valve. 
     
     
         27 . A drain for an above-ground pool, comprising:
 a drain hole; and   a drain valve including a female end, wherein the drain valve is attached to the drain hole, the female end configured to fit a male end, wherein the male end is configured to fill the above-ground pool and the female end is configured to drain the above-ground pool;   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall inside the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         28 . The drain of  claim 27 , wherein the drain valve comprises a drain cap with a twist tab, the drain cap configured to rotatably engage with the drain valve to close the drain valve and form a watertight seal. 
     
     
         29 . The drain of  claim 28 , wherein the drain cap is further configured to rotatably disengage from the drain valve to open the drain valve. 
     
     
         30 . A drain for an above-ground pool, comprising:
 a drain hole; and   a drain valve, the drain valve including:
 a female end configured to fit a male end, wherein the male end is configured to fill the above ground pool and the female end is configured to drain the above-ground pool; 
 a ball valve; and 
 a valve lever; 
   wherein the drain is configured for being affixed to and disposed around an aperture in one of a base or at least one sidewall of the above-ground pool.   
     
     
         31 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein the drain valve comprises a drain cap with a twist tab, the drain cap configured to rotatably engage with the drain valve to close the drain valve and form a watertight seal. 
     
     
         32 . The drain of  claim 31 , wherein the drain cap is further configured to rotatably disengage from the drain valve to open the drain valve. 
     
     
         33 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein the ball valve is configured to control the flow of liquid into and out of the above-ground pool. 
     
     
         34 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein the valve lever is configured to control the ball valve.