Apparatus and method for retrofitting a body of water with an area of lower depth

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to accessories to be used in bodies of water. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for retrofitting a body of water, such as a swimming pool, with an area of lower depth.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Swimming pools and other bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers or oceans, usually contain an area of deeper water that makes it difficult for a swimmer to stand on the bottom surface while simultaneously keeping their heads above the water surface. This can be problematic if the swimmer needs to rest after a period of strenuous swimming, especially if the swimmer is a child.

One method that exists to attempt to solve this problem is the attachment of a platform onto a side wall of a swimming pool that extends outwardly so that a swimmer can sit on it and rest. This can be inconvenient in larger pools or bodies of water because not all bodies of water have side walls. For those bodies of water that do have side walls, the area of water may be too large and may require the swimmer to exert extra energy just to get to the attached platform. There are size and expense issues with a large apparatus like this as well. The platforms may simply be too large for the swimming pool or body of water.

Another existing method is a floating platform or a blow up raft. These are platforms or blow up devices that float along the top of the water surface. While these methods are effective in that they provide a place for a swimmer to rest, there is also the inconvenience of the floating platform or raft floating away so that it is too far from the swimmer. This problem occurs because these platforms and rafts are freestanding and do not have a stabilization system set in place.

In certain instances, portable structures such as outdoor chairs and barrels may be introduced into a body of water to provide a temporary support for a single swimmer.

An apparatus and method are provided for retrofitting a body of water with an area of lower depth. A depth reducing support structure, which includes a platform and a platform support, is provided to allow swimmers to sit or stand above the water surface of a body of water after swimming in an area of higher depth. The depth reducing support structure is submerged in a body of water, such as a swimming pool, but is separate from the structure defining the limits of the body of water and, therefore, is moveable relative thereto.

One or more of the embodiments of the present invention includes a combination, comprising a swimming pool, comprising a wall, a quantity of water contained in the swimming pool and forming a water surface above the wall, the water having a depth between the wall and the water surface; and a non-buoyant, depth reducing support structure for reducing the depth in the swimming pool, the depth reducing support structure discrete from the swimming pool and moveable relative to the wall, the depth reducing support structure comprising a first platform sized to support a plurality of swimmers, a platform support supporting the first platform above the wall, and a plurality of seatbacks extending from the first platform, whereby each of the plurality of seatbacks forms an individual seating location with the first platform.

In one form thereof, the present invention includes a combination, comprising a body of water, comprising a wall, a quantity of water contained in the body of water and forming a water surface above the wall, the water having a depth between the wall and the water surface; and a non-buoyant, depth reducing support structure for reducing the depth in the body of water, the depth reducing support structure discrete from the body of water and moveable relative to the wall, the depth reducing support structure comprising a first platform sized to support a plurality of swimmers, a platform support supporting the first platform above the wall, and a plurality of seatbacks extending from the first platform, whereby each of the plurality of seatbacks forms an individual seating location with the first platform.

In another form thereof, the present invention includes a method for retrofitting a body of water with an area of lower depth, the body of water formed by a wall, and a quantity of water forming a water surface above the wall, the water having a depth between the wall and the water surface, the method comprising the steps of: providing a non-buoyant, depth reducing support structure for reducing the depth in the body of water, the depth reducing support structure discrete from the body of water and moveable relative to the wall, the depth reducing support structure comprising a first platform sized to support a plurality of swimmers, a platform support supporting the first platform above the wall, and a plurality of seatbacks extending from the first platform, whereby each of the plurality of seatbacks forms an individual seating location with the first platform; submerging the removable depth reducing support structure into the body of water; and positioning the removable depth reducing support structure on the wall of the body of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a depth reducing support structure;

FIG. 2 is plan view of a depth reducing support structure;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a depth reducing support structure completely submerged in a swimming pool;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a depth reducing support structure partially submerged in a swimming pool with the platform surface emerging above the water surface;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the depth reducing support structure from FIG. 4 viewed from above the water surface;

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