Submersible seat for use in a swimming pool   

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/372,772, filed Sep. 7, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention generally relates to outdoor furniture, and more particularly, to seats configured for use in and around swimming pools and other bodies of water.

Various furniture pieces have been proposed for use in and around pools. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,046 to Newberry et al. discloses a table installed on a hot tub, and supported by the edge of the tub. The pedestal of the table can be equipped with water jets fed with water from the water return of the tub. U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,403 to Wheaton discloses a table adapted to be attached to a submerged surface of a swimming pool and equipped with floating chairs. In contrast to Wheaton, U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,434 to Park and U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,026 to Cloutier disclose floating tables, with Park\'s table being self-stabilized as a result of being partially filled with water. U.S. patent application No. 20070236060 to Switzer discloses a submersible table and seat assembly.

Disclosed herein is a portable stool for a swimming pool. Further, the stool\'s height is adjustable using screw threads similar to a piano stool. The stool is submersible and sits on the bottom of the pool. There are water intake holes to allow the stool to fill with water and sink to the bottom of the pool. The stool further comprises an additional ballast weight in the base to afford additional stability and strength. The stool is made of high-density polyethylene that allows the stool to be illuminated at night while being UV, chlorine and salt water resistant.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In one aspect, disclosed herein is a hollow, portable, submergible stool for use in and around a swimming pool comprising a top half and bottom half of the stool which may be screwed into one another to adjust the height and a ballast weight which sits inside the bottom half, wherein said top half and bottom half contain holes to allow water to enter and exit the stool, allowing the stool to sink to the bottom of the pool. The stool may be easily removed leaving total pool capacity for other swimming activities. Use of the stools will create the look and feel of a swim up bar without the expense and commitment of a permanent structure. Additional ballast weight in the base allows for greater stability and strength and keeps the stool stationary while in the pool.

In another aspect, the stool is adjustable. The screw design allows the height to be adjusted from 20 to 30 inches, which is suitable for a water depth of 3 to 4 feet. The height may be adjusted by simply spinning the top of stool using the screw threads. A notch in the threads is provided to prevent a user from overextending the stool and making it unstable.

In further embodiments, the height is adjustable from 23 to 29 inches.

In a further aspect, the stool is made from a plastic.

In another embodiment, the plastic is high-density polyethylene. This affords long-term durability and strength, as well as resistance to salt water, chlorine and UV radiation.

Additionally, the stool is comprises LED lights and is transparent enough to be illuminated by said LED lights contained within the body of the stool for nighttime use. Further, the LED lights may be controlled remotely. Yet further, the light may be powered by rechargeable battery.

Further, the geometry of the stool provides additional strength and stability. This is shown in the top and bottom half of the stool wherein the design is etched out in a pie shape design. This reinforces and strengthens the sides of the stool so it does not collapse on itself.

FIG. 1 shows the stool from a side view. The side of the seat portion (18) of the stool leads to a tapered portion (22) which terminates in screw threads (30) used to adjust the height of the stool. The base (24) of the stool tapers upward and also has screw threads (16) to adjust the height. The height of the stool is adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the threads from the top portion (30) which lay over the top of the threads from the bottom portion (16).

FIG. 2 shows the stool with a view of the top of the seat (26). There are a plurality of holes (12) on the seat (26) which allow water to easily flow into and out of the stool. As the stool fills with water, it will sink to the bottom of the pool. Once all the air is out of the stool and it is completely filled with water, the stool will sit on the bottom of the pool and lack any buoyancy. The screw threads (16 and 30) and the base (24) are also visible in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the bottom of the stool (24). There is a large hole (34) which allow water to easily flow into and out of the stool. Further, this hole acts as a drain when the stool is removed from the pool, allowing water to exit the stool. The base may further comprise a ballast weight to help stabilize the stool in the pool, although the weight would be contained within the base and not visible from the outside.

FIG. 4 shows the top half of the fully unscrewed stool. The side (18) of the seat tapers (22) down to the screw threads (30) used to adjust the height. There is a notch (36) at the bottom of the screw threads that prevents the user from unscrewing the stool too far. This notch will slip into a small hole in the screw threads on the bottom half of the stool and prevent the stool from unscrewing further. If the stool were extended further, the stool may become unstable.

FIG. 5 shows the ballast weight. The weight sits inside the bottom half of the stool and helps stabilize the stool. The body (40) of the ballast may be filled with sand or some other suitable material through the hole in the top (48). There are handles (44) that assist is loading and unloading the weight to and from the stool. There are screw threads (42) towards the top of the body (40) so that the top half of the stool may be screwed onto the ballast as it sits in the bottom half. Further, there is a screw top (46) where the optional lighting may be attached to the ballast weight. The ballast will not be visible when the two halves of the stool are screwed together.

FIG. 6 shows the bottom half of the fully unscrewed stool. The screw threads (16) taper out (24) to the wider base unit (20). The small hole (38) in the bottom half screw threads catches the notch in the top half screw threads and prevents the stool from being unscrewed too far. Again, the base may further comprise a ballast weight to help stabilize the stool in the pool, although the weight would be contained within the base and not visible from the outside.

FIG. 7 shows a transparent view of the entire stool. Similar to FIG. 1, the side of the seat portion (18) of the stool tapers (22) down and terminates in screw threads (30) used to adjust the height of the stool. The base (24) of the stool tapers (20) upward and also has screw threads (16) to adjust the height. The stool further comprises an LED light (32) inside the middle of the stool. It is mounted on the ballast weight (40) contained within the lower half of the stool. Further, there are indentations (50) in the base of the stool that hold the ballast weight in place when moving the stool. The top half still screws down to adjust the height of the stool, as previously indicated. The stool is made from a material that allows the stool to be illuminated by the LED light for use at night. Further, the LED light may be controlled remotely and powered by rechargeable batteries.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.