A swimming pool having sidewalls constructed from a series of prefabricated modular panels connected at the ends to enclose the interior of the pool. The panels are preferably formed of foamed synthetic resinous composition and of a limited number of configurations or modules which are interchangeably adapted for use in forming pools having a plurality of shapes, e.g. a straight panel, a concave curved panel and a convex curved panel. Each panel is adapted to mate and lock with the adjoining panel, and with an upper and with flanges and rib arrangements which are functional as well as serve to strengthen the panel. In a specific embodiment, a tongue is formed on the flange on one side and a mating groove on the flange on the other side of each panel for instant connecting and interlocking of adjacent panels when they are assembled in forming the pool wall. A sealing strip may be placed within the groove and abuts on the tongue of the adjoining panel thereby precluding leakage between the panels. Support is provided for each panel by at least one brace, preferably molded from synthetic resinous composition, which is positioned to extend normal to or radially from the panel. The brace in a preferred embodiment is formed so that it functions also to interlock adjoining panels by means of clamping means formed at the extremities of the brace. The clamping elements secure and lock two adjacent panels at their juncture. The swimming pool wall modules and brace are arranged to accommodate a pool deck also preferably formed of molded plastic modules. Each deck module may comprise a tongue and groove interlock structure similar to that of the wall panels. The inner periphery of the deck is adapted to be supported on wall panels preferably on an integrally formed flange of the wall panel. The deck is arranged, in a preferred embodiment, to be interlocked into a unitary structure with the wall modules by means of braces which are adapted to clamp the depending flanges or extensions of two adjoining deck modules as well as those of two adjoining wall modules. A coping may be attached to the top edge of the panels and may comprise an extension of the deck surrounding the periphery of the pool. The coping includes means for optionally attaching a plastic pool liner. As an alternative embodiment a wall panel module may be formed with a horizontally extending slot in the inner wall adjacent the bottom edge of the modular side panels for receiving and securing a bead of a plastic liner adapted to cover essentially only the bottom (rather than the sidewall also) of the pool. A bow string clamp, pressed into the slot upon the bead secures the liner in place enhancing water tight integrity. The intermediate rib structure of the panel module is in a preferred embodiment designed to allow nesting therein of the brace when the wall panels are shipped. A modular wall panel may incorporate ladder steps facing the inside of the pool which is adapted also to receive a handrail.
Panels used in the construction of swimming pools, each having a rectangular shape with a peripheral frame defining vertical wings to be assembled with adjacent panels. One of the wings has over its entire height centering and sealing devices consisting of a section that overlaps the outer surface of the wing and a lateral sealing lip. Each section cooperates with a matching hollow shape on the other wing. The section and the hollow shape having a triangular cross-section and a catching member for rapid assembly.
A pool wall is formed of resin panels 10 that are reinforced and connected end to end with inward facing walls 11 having peripheral flanges and strengthening ribs 16-19 that extend outward. End flanges 14 and 15 have longitudinal alternating projections 20 along their inner and outer edges, and the alternation of projections is reversed on opposite panel ends to form mating interlocks holding panels 10 against vertical relative movement. Projection free spaces between projections 20 form vertical channels 25 extending up end flanges 14 and 15, and holes 24 on end flanges 14 and 15 are spaced along channels 25. Horizontal channels 26 extend along the top flange 12 to join and extend between vertical channels 25. Strip-shaped lengths of reinforcing material extend along the vertical and horizontal channels, and the vertical strips lock the connected panel ends to resist transverse horizontal movement between panels 10. Holes in the reinforcing strips 30 and 31 or 35 register with holes 24 in the end flanges, and the strips are fastened together by bolts extending through the end flange holes 24 and securing panels 10 in their end-to-end formation.
The invention concerns a method for assembling components for water retention tanks, such as swimming pools for example, characterised in that it consists in: producing parts or elements of the pool or shell (1) with one edge (7) oriented outwards, over at least part of their periphery, and outer structural elements (2, 3a, 3b, 4) with a groove (8) oriented inwards; providing a sealing joint (9) at the bottom of said groove; and engaging therein the adjacent outer edges (7) of two contiguous shell elements (1), such that they are urged to rest on said joint (9), under the pressure of water introduced in the pool thereby assembling the set of shell (1) elements, and thus producing the junction of said shell (1) parts or elements and sealing said junction.
An above ground pool has straight side wall extents with deck members attached to the extent upper edges. Tension members anchored in aligned deck members adjacent their outer edges allow prestressing of the deck members to prevent outward bowing of deck and side wall members under the weight of water.
An improved swimming pool construction and cover includes a swimming pool cover laid on the water of the pool and having a marginal edge provided with one component of the two component elongated locking member. The second component of the locking member is disposed in the pool coping or deck edge accessible at the pool interior for engagement by the locking member component on the pool cover. The locking component associated wit the pool is provided in a retrofit configuration by securing a locking component to a vinyl liner bead lock secured in the vinyl liner bead channel in a pool coping. In a new vinyl-lined pool construction, a coping is provided with a secondary channel with one component of the cover locking member secured therein. In a gunnite pool, a channel is formed in the deck edge and a component of the releasable cover locking member is secured in the channel for securement of the pool cover thereto. Apparatus and methods are disclosed.
