AU595449B2 - Method of construction - Google Patents

Description

0~i

-MI

G. Ahearn)'- T To: The Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia.

TO-A -34 I -7 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

S.

S

5505

SS

SW 0

S

S.

S

OS..

S

0.5.55 0 55 5 5

OS

S.

5 0 00

S.

S S

S

S 00 S S

S

0SSSSS

S

The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant: T-EH-N-B-A-R-R-Y-MGR-I-A-RT-Y- Address of Applicant: -Bo-7~M~~elaba~ 4 t-he---St-a-t-e-of eeisId;A57- -,Commonwealth- -of- Ax--alia Actual Inventor: JOH BARRY MORIARTY Address for Service: G.R. CULLEN COMPANY, Dalgety House, 79 Eagle Street, BRISBANE. Qld. 4000.

COMPLETE PATENT SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED:-z METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to me: j To: The Commissioner of Patents STgn re of Declar tfs JOHN BARRY MORIARTY .11. 1 +1 7 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a method of constructing a liquid retaining structure such as a swimming pool or the like and to a structure according to the method. In particular the invention relates to a swimming pool construction employing a plurality of precast concrete panels in combination with in situ formed panel supports to form a monolithic swimming pool structure.

Concrete swimming pools usually comprise a pool bottom extending between a peripheral wall, where the peripheral wall has an upper peripheral edging which can include coping and/or extend to form a walkway about the o* pool. The pool can be lined with tiles or a vinyl liner can o* be ,ployed. The edging can be fiished with tiles or another aesthetic finishing may be employed. It is possible

S.

that after an extended period of time movements in the pool S* surroundings can cause cracking of the pool structure which can detract from the aesthetic appeal of the pool.

To avoid or reduce any relative movement between parts of the pool, which might promote cracking, it has been common to construct a concrete swimming pool as a monolithic structure.

This pool structure is formed by tying together reinforcing steel above formwork and spraying or pouring a wet concrete mix onto the steel. The concrete is poured or sprayed in layers and finished to the interior specifications of the pool and after the concrete has cured the formwork is r-r r 3 removed. This structure is monolithic and is unlikely to crack or be damaged by subsidence or other movement of the site on which the pool is located.

The preparation of the reinforcing steel and formwork for this type of pool construction is labour intensive and time consuming and it would be desirable to pro.vide a method of pool construction which is not so labour intensive or time consuming.

This type of pool structure is expensive to make and has largely given way to prefabricated fiberglass, prefabricated concrete or concrete/sheet plastics composite constructions. As these constructions are not monolithic %*see movement in the surrounding ground of the pool site can promote unsightly cracking.

'l6" One construction employing prefabricated panels is *ees exemplified in US Patent No. 3,745,727. In this construction composite fiberglass panels are first secured in watertight side by side relationship to form the pool peripheral wall, then, an in situ swimming pool bottom is poured about the 2p; lower edges of the wall. To complete the structure an in

S

situ edging is poure.;. aibout the upper periphery of the wall.

This construction typifies the problems mentioned above. For example, in order to prevent structural damage to the walls the pool must be formed inground since back filling is required to support the panels against inside water pressure, in addition any relative movement between the i r; ;1 1 4 edging, the pool bottom or one side of the pool relative to another side would result in twisting of panels and/or the generation of unsightly cracks.

It is to be noted that in this construction the only structural link between the relatively massive pool bottom and the pool edging consists of the fiberglass panels.

The fiberglass panels include reinforcing rods that extend through the pool bottom and are not structurally tied to the pool bottom reinforcement. The panels also include es's •I ~reinforcing rods which extend into the pool edging. However, in each case the reinforcement rods which extend from the top o S S of a panel are not common or connected in any way to the rods the ~panel. adto h which extend from the bottom of the panel. In addition the panels are free to slide on the reinforcing rods so the o' panels can be levelled.

C

o While this pool structure employs a minimum number S of components, namely abutting panels and an in situ bottom and edging it would be desirable to make the structure Sstronger and less apt to relative movement between the 555* 2 components.

0 It should be emphasised that the more components which are used in a pool construction the greater the chance of relative movement between the components and it would be desirable to minimise the number of components. Also from the above it would be desirable to make the pool construction monolithic.

Ir "r i It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of constructing a liquid retaining structure and a structure according to the method which avoids the problems of the prior art.

In one broad aspect the invention resides in a method of constructing a liquid retaining structure such as a swimming pool structure or the like having a peripheral wall of upstanding panels, a pool bottom and an upper pool periphery, each said panel having opposed side edges and reinforcing rods or mesh extending through the panels and projecting from opposed upper and lower edges, the method including the steps of; 0: a) preparing a site for said pool structure; b) standing said panels in abutting side by side relationship to form the peripheral wall; c) positioning and fixing reinforcing to engage the lower edge reinforcing of said panels about which a pool bottom can be cast; d) casting the pool bottom about the lower edges of i said panels; e) positioning and fixing peripheral reinforcing to 6 .00% the upper edge reinforcing of said panels, about which said upper pool periphery can be cast; e a of f) casting said upper pool periphery to embed the peripheral reinforcing and the upper edge reinforcing of said panels.

The site can be prepared using any conventional technique, the liquid retaining structure can be formed as an above ground container or can be formed in an appropriate

A,

U-

6 excavation.

The panels are preferably prefabricated concrete panels and can be of any desired shape. The panels may be made of a material other than concrete. Preferably the reinforcement extends cqual distances from the opposed upper and lower edges of each panel. The panels have, opposed inner and outer faces. The side edges preferably include a joining face which is used to facilitate abutment or joining of adjacent panels. The joining face can include grooves or

OSSS

I. protrusions, preferably one groove extends along the full length of the joining face and is alignable with a f.e. corresponding groove of an adjacent panel to form an elongate cavity between the panels. Preferably the cavity is filled with a suitable sealant or filler. The upper and lower panel edges can include steps or shoulders to key the panels into

*G

the respective in situ concrete castings of the pool bottom :and upper pool periphery.

The panels include internal reinforcement which can be metal reinforcement such as reinforcing mesh or rods. The reinforcing extensions can be formed integral with the internal reinforcement before the panel is molded or can be inserted through preformed holes after the panel has been molded. In this latter form the reinforcing extensions can be secured in the preformed holes using a bonding agent or an adhesive.

The panels can be placed in the desired site ;1 r__ 1- 7 orientation by locating each panel on one or more levelling blocks prior to pouring the concrete pool bottom.

It is preferable to maintain adjacent panels in fixed relationship prior to pouring any in situ casting.

Advantageously, a bridging member is employed for this purpose. The bridging member can be a plate or strap securable across the joining faces between adjacent panels.

To facilitate the attachment of the bridging member to the panels fixing means can be provided adjacent the side edges of each panel. The fixing means preferably includes a boos*$ threaded rod extending from the outer panel face.

.o The concrete in situ castings for the pool bottom and upper pool periphery can be poured into a formwork. The upper .pool peripheral casting preferably forms part of an

S.

upper surround for the structure. In the case of a swimming pool the upper surround can be a footpath or pool edging.

Preferably, the in situ castings extend partway along the inner or outer face of each panel. The upper peripheral Scasting preferably extends along the outer face only.

090e It is desirable to tie or link the reinforcing extensions of all oriented panels to the reinforcement of the in situ castings such that all pool panels have a structural link through the in situ casting.

The prefabricated panels may extend to form part of the bottom or upper surround.

Whilst it is preferable to use various components 8 for securing panels together such as the straps mentioned above these may be omitted. For example, removable clamps may be employed instead.

In a further aspect, the invention resides in a liquid retaining structure such as a swimming pool structure or the like having a peripheral wall consisting of upstanding panels, a reinforced pool bottom and a reinforced upper pool periphery, said panels being in abutting side by side relationship and each panel having reinforcing extending esee o through the panel and outwardly of upper and lower edges, *fee* said panel reinforcing being embedded in said upper pool S periphery and said pool bottom adjacent the said respective upper and lower edges.

The pool bottom preferably includes panel footings Y or panel levelling blocks. The levelling blocks are °0 preferably cast in situ.

*In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the following preferred embodiment of the 0000 invention as applied to a swimming pool and to the a accompanying drawings and wherein:- Fig. I is a schematic view illustrating a vertical cross-section through a peripheral wall and part of the bottom of a swimming pool; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the upper peripheral portion of the wall of Fig. 1; I r T-rrsi- i: 9 Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating two adjacent wall panels of the swimming pool of Fig. 1 and; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a wall panel of the swimming pool of Fig. 1 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated in vertical cross-section a portion of a swimming pool wherein excavation 11 has located therewithin a pool structure 12 comprising a pool bottom 13 of in situ formed concrete, a wall panel 14 and an upper pool periphery 15 which forms a pool surround of in situ cast S* concrete. The pool bottom 13 includes a levelling block 19 at this particular cross-section.

The wall panel 14 includes reinforcement 16 which in part extends from the wall panel 14 at upper and lower 4 a ;edges thereof and has extensions 17 and 18 (see also Fig. 4) which are embedded in the upper pool periphery 15 and in the as levelling block 19 respectively of bottom 13. The levelling SO: block 19 represents a footing for levelling the panel 14. A

S

plurality of spaced blocks 19 of this type can be used to level the peripheral wall of the pool in excavation 11. The blocks may be poured in situ such that initial levelling of panels may be accomplished by adjusting the relative height of the blocks before the panels are located thereon. The pool bottom 13 extends up panel 14 for added support. In I s 1 addition further concrete can be poured at 29 and the excavation backfilled as shown at The reinforcing extensions 17 and 18 are preferably tied or otherwise fixed to reinforcement 21 and 30 of the pool bottom 13 and the upper periphery 15 respectively.

Reinforcement 30 extends continuously about the upper periphery of the pool to form a circle, kidney or other desired peripheral shape consistent with the peripheral wall while there is a continuous tying-in of pool bottom reinforcement 21 to extensions 18.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is illustrated an additional arrangement for providing the upper periphery in relation to panel 14 and it will be realised that many variations may be provided on the form of upper periphery S'.I In particular it will be noted that the upper periphery 15 is keyed to the outer face 14a of the panel 14 at shoulder 32.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is illustrated a horizontal cross section of two panels 14 of the pool wall.

The panel! have reinforcing 16 which it will be understood 20 extends upwardly and downwardly out of panels 14 as previously mentioned. The panels 14 are supported by a plurality of nuts and bolts 21 and 22 and a bridging member, in this case a pre-configured plate or strap 23 which extends across the join 24 between the panels 14. An elongated groove 25 in each of the panels aligns with a similar elongate groove 25 in the other panel and the cavity

I

1.1 generated thereby is filled with a suitable sealant or other suitable filler.

The plate or strap 23 may extend the full height of the outer face of panels 14 or there may be provided a plurality of vertically spaced plates 23 at locations from the upper to the lower edges of the assembled panels 14. The inner face of the panels may have secured thereto a vinyl lining or other waterproof lining 26 which may extend down too* onto the bottom of the pool and form a complete container for i0. the water in the pool. The plates may be left in position or removed after pouring of sections 13, 19 and 29 (see Fig. 1).

.,:Referring now to Fig. 4 there is illustrated in vertical cross-section a wall panel 14 in its operatively o secured attitude in respect to an adjacent panel 14 where bolts 22 and plates 23 are illustrated in position in relation to the panel 14. Fig. 4 is useful in understanding one step in the method of the present invention wherein the panel 14 shown in extended cut-away section at 28, would

SS.

normally be prefabricated in a casting to have extending reinforcing 17 and 18 which may be bent into any desired formation to conform to a desired upper pool periphery and pool bottom respectively. The reinforcing 17 and 18 is illustrated in solid outline after having been so conformed.

SIt will be appreciated that the reinforcing 17 and 18 may be curved or placed in any orientation to enable a desired effect to be implemented in the pool bottom or to the upper I I Ime I I ~I -I I 4, 9* r 6 6 c1 periphery. As mentioned previously, the upper periphery of the panel 14 includes a cutout 31 including a shoulder 32 in order to key the upper periphery 15 (see Fig. 1) to the wall panel 14. The upper periphery can be a walkway or part of associated landscaping.

It will be realised that the panels may be planar or contoured. It will be further realised that although a preferred form of the invention has been described in respect of a swimming pool any form of liquid retaining means may be .00 made in accordance with the aforedescribed methods of the present invention.

4.

Whilst the above has been give by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and S variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art S* without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

a 61 I 9 1

Claims (13)

1. A method of constructing a liquid retaining structure such as a swimming pool structure or the like having a peripheral wall of upstanding panels, a pool bottom and an upper pool periphery, each said panel having opposed side edges and reinforcing rods or mesh extending through the panels and projecting from opposed upper and lower edges, the method including the steps of; a) preparing a site for said pool structure, b) standing said panels in abutting side by side relationship to form the peripheral wall; c) positioning and fixing reinforcing to engage the lower edge reinforcing of said panels about which a pool ee bottom can be cast; d) casting the pool >biottom about the lower edges of Ssaid panels; e) positioning and fixing peripheral reinforcing to S the upper edge reinforcing of said panels, about which said 9 C. upper pool periphery can be cast; S ff), f) casting said upper pool periphery to embed the S: peripheral reinforcing and the upper edge reinforcing of said anels.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, said method including the further step of securing adjacent panels together by at least one bridging member extending between adjacent panels.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of panel levelling blooks are cast before casting the pool bottom. I I i- 1 0 0 0 *090 0000 0* 0 00 0 0 #900 0 @0 0.0.0 0

4. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims including the further step of applying a sealant between adjacent panels.

A liquid retaining structure, such as a swimming pool structure or the like, having a peripheral wall Vlk-orcCi ci'±ree comprising a plurality of upstanding panels, a reinforced -~po bottom and a reinforced upper -jae periphery, said I- panels being in abutting side-by-side relationship and each panel having elongate reinforcing members extending through the panel and outwardly of its upper and lower edges, opposite ends of the panel reinforcing members being embedded respectively in the upper p.e periphery and the k4-' bottom adjacent the respective upper and lower edges.

6. A liquid retaining structure as claimed in claim wherein opposite ends of the panel reinforcing members are secured to reinforcing members in the in.- periphery and -p bottom, respectively.

7. A liquid retaining structure as claimed in Claim or 6 wherein the bottom includes spaced levelling blocks in which the lower ends of the panel reinforcing members are embedded.

8. A liquid retaining structure as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the upper edge of each panel includes a step or shoulder to which the upper periphery is keyed.

9. A liquid retaining structure as claimed in any one 7 1 of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the panels are retained in side-by- side relationship by at least one bridging member extending across abutting side edges of adjacent panels.

A liquid retaining structure as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein adjacent panels define a cavity therebetween for a sealant or filler.

11. A swimming pool comprising a pool bottom constructed of reinforced concrete, pool walls formed by a plurality of upstanding concrete panels arranged in abutting side--by-side relationship, and an upper peripheral portion extending around the pool walls and constructed from reinforced concrete, wherein the panels have reinforcing bars .o00 extending therethrough and protruding outwardly from the 6 lower and upper edges of the panels, opposite ends of the reinforcing bars being embedded respectively in the pool bottom and the upper peripheral portion.

12. A method for constructing a liquid retaining structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A liquid retaining structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 00 DATED this twentieth day of September 1989 ,PLANTATION POOLS AND LANDSCAPING PTY. LTD. By their patent attorneys G. R. CULLEN CO. OFFIC. 4 -g