AU721383B2 - Swimming pool constructions - Google Patents

Description

/j 1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 *9

C

C C

C

C

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ARTEMON PTY LTD

AHEARNS

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, GPO Box 185, Brisbane, 4001 "SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTIONS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: THIS INVENTION relates to swimming pool constructions.

The invention has 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.

It is well known that 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, *so.

while those which can be transported as modules and assembled S' on the site currently require considerable bracing for rigidity purposes, with attendant unsightliness or awkwardness in use.

S: 20 Accordingly the present invention has been devised for the purpose of overcoming 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 25 to suit any desired requirements, while affording maximum ease S in transportation to the relevant site and proving strong and durable in use. 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 provided broadly a pool shell of elongated form and figureeight shape in plan view constituted by abutting part circular end portions of equal size and part 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 shell in each case 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 -3flange for rigidifying the shell as a whole in use, characterised in that its floor or base plate has a reinforcing beam therebeneath and extending to or past the apices at the ends of the common chord. In one embodiment of the invention, the two end portions are moulded integrally, whilst in another, they are joined sealably about the common chord portion.

The ends of the beam may be continued up the pool sides to provide a U-shaped strengthening structure and it is preferred that the beam be secured by being fibreglassed in place during manufacture. 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 20 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 and 5 are perspective views showing the pool 25 of Fig. 1 fitted with a single middle transverse cross beam for strengthening purposes; Figs. 6 and 7 show a modification of the pool of Figs. 4 and 5, being a two-piece shell joined along a transverse division; Figs. 8 and 9 show a pool similar to that of Figs. 4 and 5, but having at one end an integral spa bath, and Figs. 10 and 11 show the construction of the pool of Figs. 6 and 7 but having a spa bath at one end as in the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring initially to Fig. 1, 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 4 near vertical wall 13 and 14 respectively, these walls intersecting 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 moulded in two identical portions 1la and 12a which are interconnected about vertical line shown as 15a on each side *25 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 22 which abut for connection by bolts or other fasteners which O :oare not shown but extend horizontally through the flanges at :6 30 spacings of about 100mm. It will be appreciated that the flanges 22 act as a beam across the underside of the pool o shell increasing the strength of the base plate according to oo the invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the use of a cross beam 23 on a 35 one piece pool according to the invention. The advantage of this construction is that it will overcome the natural tendency for the side walls to spread when the pool is full.

The cross beam 23 acts to make more rigid the bottom corners p where the peripheral walls join the floor at the apices at the ends of the common chord. Thus, by placing a reinforcing beam under the pool between the two apices, greater strength will be achieved. The beam may be fibreglassed into position and the channel effect of the peripheral walls extending from the apices will give much greater strength to the upstanding wall at the apex positions. Although not shown in the drawings, the beam 23 may additionally, if desired, be extended beyond the edges of the floor to continue up at the sides of the pools at the apices to provide strength "around the corner" and in effect form a built-in U-section frame. With the strengthening of the corners, the downward pressure of the water on the floor above and adjacent to the beam causes a cantilever action to the outward pressure upon the sides.

In constructing the cross-beam arrangements, layers of uni-directional glass are suitably put in place in the form of twelve-inch wide strips down the sides of the pool at the '0 apices and across the bottom, this in itself being a type of U-frame. This provides great strength for the channel and also makes for sufficient rigidity of the floor to take the 20 downward pressure of the water for the cantilever effect.

The beam in one embodiment may for example be 2 inches by 1 inches box steel section, well fibreglassed in, but in an alternative construction additional fibreglass could be used over simple cardboard tubing with the additional fibreglass 25 providing the extra strength. With the edges of the pool being rounded on a two inch radius curve, for example, there is provided a strong staying effect when the external corner of the pool is "filled in", taking away any pivot point where the channel runs out. It is believed that this will result in very little spreading and easily meet all engineering requirements while avoiding the possibility of the top deck assuming a marked downward slope which would be undesirable.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 are the same as those of Figs. 4 and 5 except that a spa bath 24 has been integrally formed at one end. Although not shown a strengthening beam may be added at the junction of the spa bath and the pool.

The two embodiments illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and -6and 11 are the same as those of Figs. 4 and 5, and 8 and 9 respectively, except that the pool shell is a two piece construction, having a lengthwise division 25. In these embodiments the two identical halves have flanges 25a which extend outwardly from the base plate and which are secured together by bolts (not shown). Suitably, gasket means 26 is interposed between the flanges to-prevent leakage. It will be appreciated that the flanges in these embodiments act as beams so that the effectively a cross beam arrangement is produced.

A major advantage arises with the invention where the dimensions of the shell can minimise transportation problems, especially for long distance cartage to country areas. The one-piece shell of Figs. 4 and 5 can be 4.0 metres width in which case the carrier can provide a single pilot vehicle without supervision by the road or traffic authorities, this being distinct from cases exceeding 4.0 metres in width where S.one motor cycle escort or two pilot vehicles must be in attendance and provided on a professional or outside basis by the traffic authorities. Most importantly, if modules are 20 transported along the lines of Fig. 2, cylindrical portions each 4.0 metres wide have an effective length of about metres to make up a total length of 7.0 metres, and these sections can be transported without an escort when arranged on the vehicle with their 3.5 metres dimension transverse to the 25 road and direction of motion. The interconnected modules of Fig. 2 can utilise fibreglass flanges at the abutting edges, using stainless steel bolts through apertures in register in i abutting flanges about 6mm thick and extending out for about 80mm at right angles from and integral with the main body.

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 customary 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 Imm 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 suggested coatings of Fig. 3 are illustrative only and may be modified as desired.

As shown in the schematic cross-section of Fig. 3, the sides of the shell may be tapered to a small degree as will be found desirable to effect nesting of modules one within S another for ease of transportation. Needless to say, all the 20 standard benefits associated with conventional fibreglass pools will be attained using the constructions according to the invention, being attributes well documented and publicised S"by current suppliers.

The invention may be used with other pool constructions 25 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 is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. 2. A pool shell according to claim i, wherein the beam ~extends up the pool sides to provide a U-shaped strengthening structure.
2. 3. A pool shell according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said beam is fibreglassed to said floor or base plate during manufacture. 25 4. A pool shell according to claim 3, wherein said beam is a tubular member which provides support for layers of fibreglass applied thereover.
3. 5. A pool shell according to claim 4, wherein said tubular member is 64mm x 38mm Rolled Hollow Section steel.
4. 6. A pool shell according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said two end portions are moulded integrally.
5. 7. A pool shell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said two end portions are moulded separately and joined sealably about the common chord portion. -9-
6. 8. A pool shell according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the diameter of each end portion is about 4.0 metres.
7. 9. A pool shell according to claim 6, having a length of about 7.0 metres. A pool shell as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 26th day of July, 1997. ARTEMON PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys AHEARNS *i *ee- i we e