AU721331B2 - Modular swimming pool constructions - Google Patents

Description

1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title:

AHEARNS

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, GPO Box 185, Brisbane, 4001 "MODULAR SWIMMING POOL

CONSTRUCTIONS"

ARTEMON PTY LTD S S 5 5*

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -2- THIS INVENTION relates to swimming pool constructions, and it has more particular reference to pools of fibreglass construction or made from plastics materials such as polythene for example. Thus, while the descriptions herein are directed for convenience to the use of fibreglass, it is to be construed as embracing all suitable alternative or equivalent materials.

Fibreglass pool shells have been used very successfully for many years for both inground and above ground pools, being pre-moulded at the factory and transported to the site as a single moulding or in modules to be joined together. Large one-piece shells are not only overly expensive but are extremely difficult to transport to the site, requiring an escort vehicle for example. Small, easily transported shells may be found to be too small in use, while those which can be transported as modules and assembled on the site currently require considerable bracing for rigidity purposes, with attendant unsightliness or awkwardness in use.

The present invention has been devised for the purpose of 20 overcoming or at least alleviating the disadvantages currently encountered, and it has for its principal object the provision of such improvements in fibreglass swimming pool constructions that a braceless above ground fibreglass shell may be provided to suit any desired requirements, while affording maximum ease in transportation to the relevant site. A number of other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the descriptions herein.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is '0 provided broadly a pool shell of elongated form and figure- 30 eight shape in plan view constituted by abutting part circular end portions of equal or near equal size and part substantially cylindrical shape about vertical axes, the two end portions interconnecting through the common hypothetical geometrical chord portion of the identical segments in plan view, the two end portions being joined sealably about the common chord portion, the shell having at its upper edge a continuous horizontal outer flange, the extreme outer edge of which is substantially tangential to each of the circular end portions and provides a strengthening flange for rigidifying the shell as a whole in use, characterised in that said two end portions have inclined walls joined sealably about the common chord portion where there is interposed on each side an infill member of substantially V-section in side elevation, gasket means being interposed and secured between each inclined edge of the divided portions and the adjacent respective side of the infill means. It is to be understood that the term "part substantially cylindrical shape" as used herein is intended to encompass shapes having slightly tapering walls for nesting purposes. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 shows in perspective view a one-piece pool shell of the type known in the prior art; Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of a two-piece pool shell having the same general shape and dimensions as the pool shell depicted in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows schematically the different wall thicknesses and typical coating layers or laminations by way of example; Figs. 4 to 9 show in perspective view, inverted perspective view, plan view, end view, side elevation and sectional side elevation, respectively, a modification of the pool shown in Fig. 2 having inclined walls and utilising the V-join infill member and gaskets according to a the invention and 30 Figs. 10 and 11 show in perspective view and sectional elevation respectively the components used in the V-join constructions of the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 9.

Referring initially to Fig. i, there is shown a one-piece pool shell of the type known in the prior art, indicated generally at 10 and constituted by a pair of identical end portions 11 and 12 each having a part cylindrical vertical or near vertical wall 13 and 14 respectively, these walls r r -4intersecting at the ends of the respective arcs as indicated by the numerals 15 between which the hypothetical common chord of the two equal segments would extend. However, this provides communication between the two segments or partcylindrical sections or portions 11 and 12, there being moulded integrally a common base plate or portion 16 which will be seen to be of figure-eight shape. The vertical wall portions 13 and 14 have integral top flanges 17 and 18 which adjoin adjacent the positions indicated at 15 and have their outer edges tangential to the portions 11 and 12, thus defining ledge or deck portions 19 and 20 at the opposite sides. The depth of the shell is typically about 1.3 metres or say four feet four inches as is customary. Between the positions 15,15 the distance may for example be 2.74 metres, the total or maximum width of the shell being 4.0 metres approximately and the total length being approximately metres in this instance. The two deck sections 19 and 20 will then be each about 0.625 metres at the widest positions taken on the line through the portions or locations 15,15.

It will be seen that the pool shell 10a of Fig. 2 is identical with that shown at 10 in Fig. 1 except that it is S moulded in two identical portions 1la and 12a which are interconnected about vertical lines as 15a on each side and about a common horizontal chord line 21 joining the two identical parts of the base portion 16a. The peripheral abutting ends are provided with outwardly-directed flanges which abut for connection by bolts or other fasteners which are not shown but extend horizontally through the flanges at spacings of about 100mm or as desired.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 11, inclined walls are used for "nesting" in transport and the end portions lib and 12b have their adjacent edges sloped at 23 and 24 respectively.

Thus the sections can have sloped sides permitting easy nesting and are adapted to be connected by a pair of side infill members 25, each tapering downwardly from a horizontal top portion 26 so that its side edges are parallel to the respective side edges 23,24 of the pool sections. A gasket assembly 27 is provided having a lower horizontal cross piece 28 and upwardly divergent end portions 29 shaped to follow the faces of the pool portions and also the faces of the infill members. It will be seen that the inner face of the infill member is substantially flat thus not obstructing swimmers when using the pool.

Thus, as apparent from Figs. 10 and 11, the spaced edges of the pool sections are flanged at 30 and 31 and provided with bolt holes 32 so that each flange may be secured by bolts 33 to the infill member with the gasket means interposed. It will be appreciated that the purpose of the V-join is primarily to allow the pool sections llb,12b to be nested for transportation purposes being tapered instead of cylindrical and thus nesting in large numbers may be achieved. However, there is the further advantage that the V-join arrangements will ensure a firm connection between larger pool portions so that larger diameter pools can be transported. Because the length of the pool is less than twice its width approximately 1.6:1 in a typical case the pool can be made in two components to provide a considerably larger pool easily 20 transported either flat or vertical with a minimum number of S. escorts.

As will be apparent from the drawings, it is necessary to Shave a flange on both abutting edges of the pool sections for joining purposes, and thus the only way these components can multi-nest is for the peripheral walls at their ends to taper back also in the same way as the walls are tapered out. This will be seen to be the reason why, when the two components are brought close to one another, there is a need for the additional piece or infill member to be added to fill in the 30 gap in the peripheral wall and at the top.

The gasket means 27 can be a seal of one-piece rubber configuration, as shown in the drawings, fitting between all abutting flanges in order to achieve a complete seal when the components are joined to form a single unit, while also providing rigidity. The fastening bolts will be of a strength and spacing chosen according to engineering specifications for the selected pool sizes.

The moulding methods using fibreglass will be readily apparent to persons practised in the use thereof. The manufactured mould is arranged in "inverted" disposition as is -6customary to provide the "hat" over which the materials are sprayed and allowed to set so that when the shell is removed and inverted the undersurface of the moulded shell becomes the inner face of the pool shell. Typically the first mould coating which will be visible in use will be sprayed "GELCOAT" as commercially available from Fiber Glass International Pty.

Ltd. of Australia under the trade mark "fgi". This material, when sprayed on, sets within a few hours (plus or minus according to conditions) and the sprayings are repeated so that a laminate of desired thickness results, each coating of "GELCOAT" being 450 gms/m2, and each coat being say 1mm thick.

The attached sheet marked Fig. 3 tables suggested coatings within standard practice, applied to the several parts marked A, B and C of the shell 10, the deck suitably being 5.00mm thick while the floor can be 4.0mm thick. The table shows the use of woven roving in addition to the coatings of "GELCOAT", while commercially available "DERAKANE" is preferred at the corners where there is overlapping for strength and the thickness may be say 8mm. It will be appreciated that the 20 suggested coatings of Fig. 3 are illustrative only and may be modified as desired.

The invention may be used with other pool constructions such as those described in our further complete patent application filed concurrently herewith, and it will be understood that many other modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments given herein by way of illustrative example only, without departing from the broad scope and spirit of the invention, the general nature of which has' been defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (4)

1. A pool shell of elongated form and figure-eight shape in plan view constituted by abutting part circular end portions of equal or near equal size and part substantially cylindrical shape about vertical axes, the two end portions interconnecting through the common hypothetical geometrical chord portion of the identical segments in plan view, the two end portions being joined sealably about the common chord portion, the shell having at its upper edge a continuous horizontal outer flange, the extreme outer edge of which is substantially tangential to each of the circular end portions and provides a strengthening flange for rigidifying the shell as a whole in use, characterised in that said two end portions have inclined walls joined sealably about the common chord portion where there is interposed on each side an infill member of substantially V-section in side elevation, gasket means being interposed and secured between each inclined edge of the divided portions and the adjacent respective side of 20 the infill member.

2. A pool shell according to claim i, wherein said end portions have slightly tapered side walls to allow for nesting of like end portions.

3. A pool shell according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said two end portions and said infill members have outwardly extending flanges along which the respective parts join. S. 30 4. A pool shell according to claim i, wherein the inner surface of each infill member is substantially flat or gently curved. q .i A pool shell according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the diameter of each end portion is about 4.0 metres.

6. A pool shell as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. -8- Dated this 26th day of July, 1997. ARTEMON PTY-. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys AHEARNS