EP1595041B1 - Modular pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The pool has a base (2) composed of a flowing concrete delimiting circumference of the pool. The base receives a vertical concrete post (3) and a pile of front plates (4) in concrete at sealing surfaces (4A). The sealing surfaces are horizontally maintained in ends of the front plates by the concrete post. A ring (5) in wood or in concrete forming a sundeck covers an upper end of the posts and pile of plates.

Description

The present invention relates to a modular pool above ground or buried, of the type mainly consisting of prefabricated reinforced concrete elements.

Pools in the form of a ready-to-assemble set have developed in recent years. Most are, for reasons of simplicity of manufacture or aesthetics, manufactured either from wooden elements or from elements of synthesis.

The wooden pools are prized for their aesthetics. However, there are several disadvantages related to the durability of the wood. These pools therefore require significant maintenance and are ultimately, despite the use of natural materials, little respect for the environment because of the heavy treatments they must undergo to limit their damage over time.

Pools made of synthetic material are generally made from tubular structures maintaining a flexible sheet that make the whole mechanically weak.

In addition, prefabricated concrete pools are known as illustrated by the documents DE-A-1808721 and FR-A-2462532 . In the case of the swimming pool described in the German document DE-A-1808721 , which includes all the features of the preamble of claim 1, the posts are arranged on either side of a stack of plates. These posts rest directly on the ground and not on a sole. The lip is itself composed of a plurality of elements assembled between two posts.

The patent FR-A-2462532 describes a pool in which the posts have feet made in the form of dice or studs. Plates are disposed between the posts extending above the studs of said posts. As a result, again, nothing allows to maintain a constant spacing at the posts. It is the same at the edge.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a modular swimming pool easy to install whose design allows to offer high mechanical strength and reduced maintenance combined with aesthetics suitable for easy integration into an outdoor environment of the garden type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pool whose design allows to obtain an extremely short assembly time in the absence of any specific tool.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a modular pool above ground or buried according to claim 1.

Thanks to the arrangement of the facade plates and their cooperation with both the vertical poles, the sole and the wedge belt, this results in a ready-to-assemble assembly which can be assembled in an extremely short time by an operator unqualified and in the absence of a specific tool. The pool obtained nevertheless has a high mechanical strength and is adapted in its design to allow to offer a wide range of dimensions and shapes.

The sole and the lip are each formed of sections assembled end to end, each cross sectional area being located each time in line with a post. As a result, each sole or lip section forms a continuous element between two posts. This results in a stiffening of the structure. The sections of the curb can thus be assembled end to end between them and the top of the posts while the sections of the sole are assembled end to end between them and at the base of the posts. In addition, at least the visible faces of the plates and poles can be made of treated concrete to give them a natural wood appearance or tinted. These plates can also be grooved longitudinally to give each plate the appearance of two boards assembled. The connection zone between two plates may have a profile identical to the groove to give the assembly the appearance of a stack of boards. A prefabricated swimming pool is thus obtained from elements essentially made of concrete whose appearance is in accordance with a wood pool.

• la figure 1 représente une vue partielle en coupe d'une paroi d'une piscine modulaire conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une autre vue partielle en coupe d'une paroi conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue partielle en coupe de la partie supérieure de la paroi de piscine constituée par la ceinture :
• la figure 4 représente une vue partielle en coupe d'une variante de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue partielle de face côté extérieur de la zone supérieure de la paroi de piscine;
• la figure 6 représente une vue partielle de dessus de la semelle pourvue de poteaux ;
• la figure 7 représente une vue partielle schématique en coupe d'un assemblage de plaques à un poteau
• la figure 8 représente une vue partielle de face côté extérieur de la paroi de piscine ;
• la figure 9 représente une vue partielle de dessus de deux sections de semelle assemblées à un poteau ;
• la figure 10 représente une vue partielle de dessus de deux sections de margelle assemblées à un poteau, la pièce de liaison ayant été représentée en pointillés ;
• la figure 11 représente une vue de dessous d'une pièce de liaison servant à l'assemblage des sections de margelle à un poteau et
• la figure 12 représente une vue en coupe suivant A-A de la figure 11.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents a partial sectional view of a wall of a modular pool according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is another partial sectional view of a wall according to the invention;
• the figure 3 represents a partial sectional view of the upper part of the pool wall constituted by the belt:
• the figure 4 represents a partial sectional view of a variant of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 represents a partial front view of the outer side of the upper zone of the pool wall;
• the figure 6 represents a partial top view of the sole provided with posts;
• the figure 7 is a schematic partial sectional view of a plate assembly at a post
• the figure 8 represents a partial front view of the outside of the pool wall;
• the figure 9 represents a partial top view of two sole sections assembled to a post;
• the figure 10 is a partial top view of two sections of coping assembled to a pole, the connecting piece having been shown in dashed lines;
• the figure 11 is a bottom view of a connecting piece for joining the post-top sections to a post and
• the figure 12 represents a sectional view along AA of the figure 11 .

As mentioned above, the pool 1, object of the invention is a swimming pool consisting mainly of prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. This pool can be a pool type buried or above ground. In order to integrate perfectly into an environment, generally exterior, all prefabricated elements will be treated from an aesthetic point of view. As illustrated by figure 1 this modular pool 1 consists essentially of a concrete sole 2 capable of forming a continuous line delimiting the contour of the pool to be manufactured. This sole 2 is adapted to receive on the one hand vertical posts 3 concrete, on the other hand a stacking of 4 concrete facade plates with 4A horizontal joint plane. These facade plates are held at each end by the posts 3. A belt 5, made of wood or concrete, forming a lip, covers the upper end of the posts 3 and the stack of concrete plates 4 to stiffen, in cooperation with the sole 2, the whole structure.

The sole 2, used to receive the rest of the structure, consists of sections 2A, 2B ... 2N concrete assembled end to end, including riders, or brackets, as illustrated by the figure 9 , or by any other appropriate liaison body. These sole sections are thus assembled end to end between them and at the base of the posts 3 by the brackets. Each section can further be held fixed in the ground by means of a suitable fastener. The connection zone between two sole sections extends in line with a post so that each sole section constitutes a continuous element serving as a stiffening element between two posts. This sole 2 is obviously placed on a floor previously worked to define a flat surface. This sole 2 comprises a groove 15 for the interlocking reception of the bases of the posts 3 and the edge of the lower plate 4 of the stack. The posts 3 thus inserted into the groove 15 of the flanges, in the connection zone between two insole sections therebetween, have, in cross-section, an H profile. Each leg of the H of the post 3 is rectilinear or forms a dihedron. depending on the configuration chosen for the pool. When the two branches of the H are rectilinear, the post is used for the realization of straight wall parts of the pool as illustrated by the figure 6 . Conversely, when the branch on the inner side or pool side of the pool forms a dihedron, this post 3 is used for making portions of non-rectilinear pool walls that form an angle between them. The posts 3 delimit, between the branches of the H, grooves 6 insertion of the ends of the plates 4 of facade. The faceplates 4 are therefore fitted interlockingly in said grooves 6 as illustrated by FIG. figure 7 . For this purpose, the face plates 4 have an end profile of complementary shape to that of the groove 6. For example, these plates delimit a tongue which is inserted into the groove 6. Thus, once 'a post 3 is housed inside the groove 15 of the soleplate, the face plates can be housed in the groove 15 of the sole 2 and in the grooves 6 of the post 3 and are thus held in position in the absence of any other sealing or bonding material. The plate / post / sole assembly forms a self-locking assembly due to the interlocking assembly of the plates, the posts and the sole to each other. The plates are stacked one above the other. The horizontal edges of the front plates 4 serving to delimit the horizontal joint planes 4A in the stacked state of said plates 4 are alternately convex concave profile, as illustrated by FIG. figure 1 , to prevent relative sliding between the songs of the plates 4 under load. The lower edge of the plates in the stacked state of said plates is each time a concave profile song while the upper edge of each plate is a convex profile song. Of course, other embodiments of the songs of the plates, able to establish a connection by positive engagement of complementary geometric shapes, can be envisaged.

In the example shown in figure 1 , the inside of the pool corresponds to the part extending to the right of the plates while the outside of the pool corresponds to the part extending to the left of the plates. Plates 4 front and posts 3 are thus positioned in the sole 2 so that the face of the plates 4, intended to extend pool side of the pool, is in perfect alignment with one of the faces of the post 3. Through the configuration of poles and plates and their connection mode, it is possible to obtain a pool polygonal contour, in particular octagonal or decagonal. In this case, the pool has a shape in which its parallel longitudinal edges are rectilinear while the ends of the pool are constituted by a polygonal contour with four faces. With the prefabricated elements above, a large number of pool sizes can be obtained.

It is noted that with respect to the sole elements there are four types of sole elements depending on the end zone configuration of the groove 15 for receiving the pole 3. There are also two models of posts and a single plate model 4.

The assembly described above is stiffened via a belt 5, made of wood, concrete or composite, forming a lip, styling, that is to say, positioned above the upper end posts 3 and the stack of plates 4. This lip 5 is constituted by sections 5A, 5B ... 5N assembled end to end, between them and at the top of the posts 3, each connection zone between sections 5A, 5B. .. 5N being located at the right of a pole 3. Each post 3 has a thickness greater than that of the plates so as to have a portion of the projecting pole plates outside the pool. The top of the stack of plates 4 exceeds the overall height of the protruding part of the posts 3 to allow a styling mounting of the lip 5 on the upper edge of the last plate 4 of the stack and a fixing of this lip to top of the posts 3 in the area of the projecting portion of said posts. Thus, each post has, in its area in alignment with the plates 4, a height corresponding to that of the stack of plates while, in its projecting portion towards the outside of the basin, it has a lower overall height to stacking. This results in a recess at each post to obtain such a variation in height. This recess can serve on the one hand to receive a portion of the belt 5 so as to constitute a support zone of the lip preventing tilting of the latter, on the other hand, to the passage of a profile 52 or 52 'providing a groove for insertion of a liner which will be described below.

The coping can affect a large number of shapes as illustrated by Figures 2 to 4 . In the example shown in figure 3 , the lip 5 is monobloc and bears directly on the top of the posts 3 and plates 4. The attachment is obtained at the top of the plates 4 by interlocking engaging complementary shapes formed by the convex profile of the plate and the profile concave base of the coping. This lip, which affects substantially the shape of a T in cross section, at the base of the vertical leg of the T, a housing 11 for receiving a screw 10, the screw 10 allowing the attachment of the lip 5 at the top of the pole on the projecting portion thereof. This fixation is invisible. The detail of the rest of the binding is shown more particularly in figure 5 . Each lip is thus fixed to the post 3 by means of brackets 8, themselves fixed to the post 3 by means of a through shaft 9. Finally, the edge sections are assembled together by means of a connecting plate 13 positioned under one of the horizontal branches of the T outer side of the basin, the connecting plate 13 being fixed to each section of the lip by means of a screw nut member shown at 12 in the figures. In the example shown in figure 4 , the lip 5 consists of three elements represented for one at 5A or 5B ... 5N and for the others at 51 and 52. A first section made of aluminum or synthetic material and shown at 52 in the figures comes to cap the top of the last plate 4 of the stack and the pole. This profile is also intended to receive interlocking another profile shown in 5A, 5B ... 5N intended to constitute the surface of the edge traveled by pool users. Another profile 51 is positioned on the projection protruding outwardly of the post 3 and extends between the profile 5A, 5B ... 5N and the top of the projecting part of the post 3. It prevents any tilting to left in the figure 3 profile 5A, 5B ... 5N of the coping. Again, the profiles 5A, 5B ... 5N of the lip are assembled together by means of a plate 13 of connection and a nut screw system 12. The element 51 of the lip is connected to the post 3 by means of brackets 8 extending on two opposite faces of the post 3. A nut screw system 9 passing through the brackets 8 and the post 3 allows the attachment of the latter to the post 3. The other branch of the bracket is intended to receive a screw nut system 14 through the element 51 of the lip. In both cases, this belt 5 must also provide a groove for fastening the liner. In the example shown in figure 3 this groove, shown at 16, is delimited by the section 52 which cap the plates 4 of facade. In the figure 3 , this groove 7 for hooking liner 17 has come to manufacture with said lip 5.

Another embodiment of the lip 5 is shown in FIGS. figures 2 and 8 to 10 . In this embodiment, the lip 5 is again made up of three elements represented for one at 5A or 5B or 5C and for the other two at 51 'and 52'. A first section, made of aluminum or synthetic material and shown at 52 ', cap the top of the last plate 4 of the stack of plates and the post. This profile 52 'is intended to constitute a bearing surface of another profile shown in 5A or 5B or 5N in the figures, this section constituting the section of the edge section intended to be assembled end to end with another section of coping . Another piece, shown at 51 ', is positioned on the protruding portion protruding outwardly of the post and extends between the section 5A or 5B or 5N and the top of the projecting portion of the post 3. This piece 51 is a connecting piece of two sections 5A, 5B ... 5N of coping to the post 3. This piece 51 ', whose detail is shown in FIGS. Figures 10 to 12 , affects the shape of a T whose vertical leg consists of a U-shaped upright intended to at least partially surround the pole 3 while the horizontal leg of the T is formed of a plate. Each wing of the T constitutes a bearing surface of a section 5A, 5B, 5N of the lip fixed by bolting to the piece 51 'of connection. Similarly, the vertical leg of the T is fixed by bolting to the post 3. Thanks to this intermediate connecting piece 51 ', it is found that posts 3, sections 5A, 5B of the lip and sections 2A, 2B of the sole constitute a rigid frame to the inside of which are stacked plates 4. The pool consists of a succession of adjoining frames, the same pole constituting each time a common amount to two adjacent frames.

To complete the set and give the pool an aesthetic similar to that obtained in the case of wooden pools, at least the visible faces of the plates 4 and 3 are made of treated concrete to give them a natural wood appearance or tinted .

The plates 4 are grooved longitudinally, as illustrated by the figures 2 and 8 , to give each plate 4 the appearance of at least two assembled boards, the connection area between two plates having a profile identical to the groove to give the whole appearance of a stack of planks.

As illustrated above, the assembly of such a pool is extremely easy. It is in fact, firstly, to install all sections 2A to 2N for the realization of the sole corresponding to the contours of the pool. Once this soleplate is installed and, preferably fixed to the ground, at least one pole 3A is housed inside the groove 15 of the soleplate. The plates 4 of frontage are then arranged by simply stacking on both sides of the pole 3 coming to fit snugly in the grooves 6 of the post 3. Once the stack is made, a post 3 is fixed to the other end of each stack of plates 4. When the entire contour of the pool has been made by stacking plates and positioning of posts 3, the belt 5 can be fixed. This belt 5, in particular when it is made from a monoblock element as shown in FIG. figure 2 can be fixed very simply on the entire structure previously described by simple bolting. This belt 5 can be made of wood, concrete or composite. In the case shown in figure 2 this wedge belt 5 may be formed by extrusion from a composition consisting essentially of particles or wood fines bound by means of a resin. Although a large number of elements are made of concrete, it must be noted that no sealing material is required for the assembly of said elements. This results in an extremely short assembly time and easy assembly of the assembly. In addition, the weight of the water on the liner tends to tend the liner which, because of the location of its attachment to the pool structure, tends to exert on the plates a vertical pressure reinforcing the maintenance of the latter to the stacked state.

Claims (9)

1. An above-ground or in-ground modular swimming pool (1), mainly consisting of prefabricated elements in reinforced concrete and including a concrete base (2), vertical grooved concrete posts (3), at least one stack of frontage concrete plates (4) with a horizontal jointing plane (4A), and a belt (5) in wood, concrete or in composite, said base delimiting the contour of the pool, this base (2) receiving said posts (3) on the one hand, which cross-sectionally have a H-shaped profile in order to delimit between the branches of the H, said grooves (6), said at least one stack of frontage plates (4) on the other hand maintained at each of their ends in the grooves of said posts (3), the base (2) consisting of concrete sections (2A,2B,...,2N), and said belt (5) forming a sundeck, capping the upper end of the grooved posts (3) and of the stack of concrete plates (4) for stiffening the whole of the structure,
   characterized in that
   said concrete sections (2A, 2B,... 2N) are assembled together end-to-end, by connecting members, each connecting area between base sections (2A, 2B,... 2N), being located at right angles to one of said posts (3), and said base (2) includes a groove (15) for receiving the posts (3) and the edge of the lower plate (4) of the stack fittedly received into said groove (15) so that the grooved base (2), grooved posts (3) and plates (4) are fittedly mounted with respect to each other and form a self-locking assembly.
2. The modular pool according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the sundeck (5) consists of sections (5A, 5B,... 5N) assembled end-to-end, between them and a the top of the posts (3), each connecting area between sections (5A, 5B,... 5N) being located at right angles to a post (3).
3. The modular pool according to any of claims 1 and 2,
   characterized in that at least the apparent faces of the plates (4) and of the posts (3) are made in reinforced concrete in order to give them a natural or stained wood aspect.
4. The modular pool according to claim 3,
   characterized in that the plates (4) are grooved longitudinally in order to give each plate (4) the appearance of at least two assembled planks, the connecting area between two plates having a profile identical with the groove in order to give the assembly the aspect of a stack of planks (4).
5. The modular pool according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that the horizontal edges of the frontage plates (4), used for delimiting the horizontal jointing planes (4A) in the stacked condition of said plates (4), are alternatively with a concave convex profile for preventing relative sliding between the edges of the plates (4) under a load.
6. The modular pool (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that each branch of the H of the post (3) is rectilinear or forms a dihedron.
7. The modular pool (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that each post (3) has a larger thickness than that of the plates so as to have a post portion protruding from the plates on the outer side of the pool and in that the top of the stack of the plates (4) juts out above the overall height of the protruding portion of the posts (3) so as to allow the sundeck (5) to be cappingly mounted on the upper edge of the last plate (4) of the stack and this sundeck to be attached to the top of the posts (3).
8. The modular pool (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the sundeck (5) is in one piece and directly bears upon the top of the posts (3) and of the plates (4).
9. The modular pool (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that the base sections (2A, 2B,... 2N), are assembled together end-to-end and at the base of the posts (3) by corner blocks.

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