EP1899555B1 - Means for access to a pool filled with water such as a swimming pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a means of access to a pool filled with water, the fitting of which is simplified, reliable and provides optimal rigidity, the access means being steps, a slide, ladder or inclined plane for all types of pool, such as a swimming pool, a bath for hydrotherapy etc. The access means (1), for example swimming pool steps, is characterised in comprising openings (11) sealed by closures (12) and support pillars (3) facing the openings (11). Each support pillar (3) comprises a lost form element (30) and a hardenable filler material (31) cast in said form element (30) from outside the access means (1) through the corresponding opening (11).

Description

Technical area :

The present invention relates to a means of access to a pool filled with water, for example a staircase for a private pool or collective, totally or partially buried or above ground.

Prior art:

The staircase of a private or collective swimming pool is commonly made of a skin of variable thickness obtained by molding plastic, synthetic or composite materials, and stiffened from below by means of backfill and / or blocks superimposed or not and sealed with mortar and / or concrete candles and / or pre-fabricated elements. The calibration processes known to date require working under the stairs. Nevertheless, the space available for access under the stairs is limited by the dimensions of the excavation made in the natural terrain to install the basin. These difficult working conditions make the current calibration processes tedious to implement for a result that is not always reliable. Indeed, it is difficult to guarantee that the blocks are well wedged under the steps of the stairs and that there is not a game prejudicial to the rigidity of the stairs, which gives this staircase a feeling of softness and which risk in this case to flex, deform and crack as it is used.

Another calibration solution is described in the publication FR 2,852,045 . This solution corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and consists of a staircase formed of a prefabricated box supported by hollow pillars and provided with rear openings for casting the sealing material to fill the pillars and the box. Access to these rear openings is not easy and the assurance that all pillars are properly filled not guaranteed.

Current calibration processes are therefore not satisfactory.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a means of access to a basin filled with water whose implementation of the setting is greatly simplified, while ensuring a reliability and reproducibility of the wedging for optimum rigidity of said means of access which can be a staircase, a toboggan, a ladder, an inclined plane, etc.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an access means of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that it comprises at least one opening closed by a shutter and at least one retaining pillar disposed opposite this opening, this pillar retaining means consisting of a lost formwork member and a curable filling material cast in the formwork member from outside the access means through said opening, sealing means being disposed between the aperture and shutter.

It may comprise at least one bending reinforcement consisting of an additional lost formwork element arranged transversely under and against the access means and a curable filling material, this bending reinforcement being able to extend between at least two pillars. of support.

It may also comprise centering means arranged to facilitate the positioning of the shuttering element with respect to the opening, these centering means being able to be formed of at least one inverted truncated cone or any other suitable form extending inside said opening.

The opening may comprise fastening means arranged to receive at least sealing members for the retaining pillar.

Preferably, the access means comprises a plurality of openings associated with a plurality of retaining pillars distributed according to the dimensions, geometry and loads to be distributed of said access means.

Each lost formwork may also include at least one orifice provided at its base and arranged to let flow part of the filling material capable of forming a sole for the retaining pillar.

This access means may finally comprise a light source provided in the shutter and / or around the opening. It may also include at least one complementary opening closed by a shutter and arranged to allow access to technical parts of the basin disposed under and / or behind the access means.

Brief description of the drawings:

• la figure 1 est une vue arrière en perspective d'un escalier calé selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de l'escalier de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe de l'escalier de la figure 2 selon l'axe A,
• la figure 4 est une vue agrandie du détail B de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue agrandie du détail C de la figure 3, et
• la figure 6 est une vue similaire à la figure 4 d'une variante de réalisation.

The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a staircase wedged according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a top view of the stairs of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a sectional view of the stairs of the figure 2 along axis A,
• the figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail B of the figure 3 ,
• the figure 5 is an enlarged view of detail C of the figure 3 , and
• the figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 4 of an alternative embodiment.

Best way to realize the invention:

With reference to the figures, the means of access to a basin filled with water according to the invention relates in particular but not exclusively a staircase 1 for private or collective pool, partially or completely buried, or above ground. This means of access may relate to any other means of access such as a slide, a ladder, an inclined plane commonly known as "Californian beach", or the like, making it possible to enter a basin filled with water such as a swimming pool, balneotherapy bath, etc. which can be partially or totally buried in natural terrain. This staircase 1, like the other access means listed, generally consists of a separate part, attached to the pelvis structure, formed of a skin of variable thickness and shaped by molding plastic, synthetic or composite materials, This manufacturing technique allows a variety of colors and shapes to contribute to the overall aesthetics of the pool. This staircase 1 therefore requires a reliable setting relative to the ground 2 to ensure its rigidity, stability and longevity.

This staircase 1 comprises, in the example shown, four steps 10 and three openings 11, including an opening 11 provided in the first step 10 from the top of the stairs 1 and positioned in the axis of symmetry A of the staircase 1 and two openings 11 provided in the second step 10 and positioned symmetrically with respect to this axis of symmetry A. This example is not limiting, the invention extending to any other type of staircase or means of access whose openings can be placed in other places without necessarily respecting a symmetry.

This staircase 1 is supported by retaining pillars 3, three in number, arranged under the openings 11 and each consisting of a formwork element 30 lost extending vertically to the floor 2 and a curable filling material. 31. The number of retaining pillars 3 and therefore openings 11 and their positioning are determined according to the size and geometry of the staircase, its height and its cantilever and the loads to be distributed .

This staircase 1 is also completed by a bending reinforcement 4 consisting of an additional lost formwork member disposed horizontally under the staircase 1, for example under the second step 10 between the two retaining pillars 3, and a material The option of adding a bending reinforcement 4, the number of bending reinforcements 4 and their positioning are also determined according to the dimensions and the geometry of the staircase, its width and its dimensions. bending stresses.

In the example shown, the openings 11 have a circular shape but may have other geometrical or arbitrary shapes. Each opening 11 delimits a first internal diameter, less than the width of the step 10, followed by a shoulder defining a second inner diameter slightly smaller than the first and an outer diameter forming a nesting zone 18. The shoulder defines a recessed housing 14 adapted to receive a shutter 12 to ensure the continuity of the step 10 without rim or extra thickness to avoid the risk of falling or injury. These shutters 12 are formed of a disc whose thickness corresponds to the height of the shoulder, extended at the rear of a cylindrical rim, intended to fit freely or in force in the housing 14. sealing means 13 are disposed in this housing 14 between the opening 11 and the shutter 12 to prevent water infiltration, these sealing means 13 being constituted for example by a flat seal or the like and completed, the where appropriate, a silicone seal or the like around the shutter 12 to make it indémontable. Of course, any other means of sealing and sealing may be suitable.

These openings 11 may also include centering means 15 arranged to facilitate the positioning of the shuttering element 30 with respect to the opening 11 and also to facilitate the casting of the filling material 31. These centering means 15 consist of example of an inverted truncated cone or other suitable shape extending inside the opening 11, towards the bottom of the staircase 1. In the example shown, these centering means 15 are part of integral of the stairs 1, that is to say that they are molded in one piece with the stairs 1. They can also be made of separate parts and reported for example by interlocking and present other forms fulfilling the same function. They comprise lateral cutouts 17 to promote the pouring of the filler material 31 as close as possible to the opening 11, therefore to the steps 10 of the staircase 1.

The openings 11 may also be arranged to receive sealing members 32 for example in the form of sticks, rods, pins or the like, made of metal, intended to ensure a rigid mechanical connection between the filling material 31 of the retaining pillar 3 and the staircase 1. For this purpose, the openings 11 comprise, in the wall of their centering means 15, hooking means 16, in the form for example of orifices or the like, able to receive the end in hook of said sealing members 32.

These openings 11 may include a light source 5 to enhance the aesthetics of the pool, especially at night. This light source may consist of a spot, one or more light-emitting diodes, a neon tube or the like, mounted in the shutter 12 and / or around the opening 11, and fed in very low tension from below the stairs. In the example of the figure 6 , the light source consists of a spot 5 mounted in the shutter 12. In this case, the inverted truncated cone of the centering means 15 is extended beyond the spot 5 and the filling material 31 is cast in the formwork lost 30 substantially to the base of this truncated cone.

Of course, the staircase 1 may comprise complementary openings 11 associated with shutters 12 and with sealing means 13, but not extended by retaining pillars 3. These complementary openings 11 (not shown) are intended to promote access to technical parts of the basin disposed under and / or at the rear of the stairs 1, such as discharge nozzles, balneotherapy nozzles, etc., traditionally very difficult to access.

The shuttering elements 30 and 40 make it possible to create the retaining pillars 3 and the bending reinforcements 4 if necessary. At least the formwork elements 30 are provided to be accessible from outside the staircase 1 through the openings 11 in order to be able to cast the curable filling material 31 easily and without any constraints related to access difficulties such as in traditional techniques.

These formwork elements 30, 40 may consist of separate parts of the staircase 1 or, depending on the technical feasibility, parts integrated in the staircase 1 and molded in one piece.

In the example shown, the formwork elements 30 for the retaining pillars 3 have a rectilinear tubular shape, open at both ends, of circular section, whose inner diameter is complementary to the interlocking zone 18 formed by the opening 11. Other shapes and other sections may also be suitable, the main thing being that the staircase 1 rests on the filling material 31, poured through the openings 11, hardened shaped by the formwork elements 30. The section of the shuttering elements 30 is not necessarily identical to the shape of the openings 11. These shuttering elements 30 may have ribs or longitudinal corrugations forming reinforcing members whose function is to increase the resistance to crushing. of these formwork elements 30.

In the example shown, the formwork element 40 for the bending reinforcement 4 has a rectilinear tubular shape, open at both ends, of square section, whose width is slightly smaller than the diameter of the formwork elements 30. D ' other forms and other sections may also be suitable. It is intended to be arranged transversely under and against the second step 10 and to fit at its ends in the walls of the two corresponding formwork elements 30 so as to be filled simultaneously by the curable filling material 31 during the filling of these formwork elements 30 through the corresponding openings 10.

These formwork elements 30, 40 may be made of a material chosen from the group comprising cardboard, plastic, synthetic, composite, metal or similar materials. They may also consist of sheet materials (strip, cardboard) shaped during implementation of the setting. The cardboard has the advantage of being very economical, lightweight, easy to transport and handle, as well as cut to the desired length depending on the geometry of the ground.

The curable filling material 31 may be based on concrete, resin or the like, reinforced or not with the aid of reinforcement means 33, such as metal reinforcements, reinforcing bars or the like, previously positioned inside said shuttering elements 30, 40 whose function is to improve the shear strength of the retaining pillars 3 and the bending reinforcement 4.

In the example shown, the shuttering elements 30 comprise one or more orifices 34 provided at their base capable of allowing a portion of the curable filling material 31 to flow towards one or more recesses 20 formed in the ground 2 in order to form a seat or a soleplate increasing the ground support surface of the retaining pillars 3. Depending on the configuration, the structure and the compressive strength of the floor 2, it is possible to provide a soleplate extending over the entire surface occupied by the stairs 1, or do not provide any seating.

Possibilities of industrial application:

The staircase 1 provided with its openings 11 is brought to the site and placed on the floor 2 representing the bottom of the excavation for receiving a pool such as a pool and in which three recesses 20 have been made. of the staircase 1, the three shuttering elements 30, of suitable length, are fitted at the rear of the openings 11 on the engagement zones 18, their positioning being facilitated by the centering means 15. It is also fitted with the shuttering element 40 between the two shuttering elements 30 of the second step 10. The staircase 1 is laid on the floor 2, the shuttering elements 30 bearing against the bottom of the recesses 20. From outside the staircase 1 and through the openings 11, is placed in the formwork elements 30 of metal reinforcements forming the reinforcing means 33 and is hooked, if necessary, in the orifices 16 of the butts forming the sealing members 32, before casting the material d The filling material 31 is cast from the outside of the staircase 1 and through the openings 11, the truncated cone of the centering means 15 forming a filling guide. During this operation, part of the filling material 31 escapes from the openings 34 to fill the recesses 20 and form the base of the retaining pillars 3. When filling the formwork elements 30 of the second step 10, a part filling material 31 simultaneously fills the formwork member 40 transverse. The formwork elements 30 are filled up to the steps 10, the filling material 31 infiltrating around the centering means 15 thanks to the cutouts 17 formed in the truncated cone, so that the staircase 1 is entirely supported by the pillars. of support 3 obtained.

After filling and / or hardening of the material 31, the openings 11 are closed by means of the shutters 12 after having placed the flat gasket forming the sealing means 13 in the annular housing 14. The sealing of these openings is completed, if necessary. by filling the clearance existing between the shutter 12 and the opening 11 for example by means of an injected silicone gasket. It is also possible to fill the volume left free under the staircase 1, between the retaining pillars 3, by means of embankment or the like to avoid, for example, the risk of ground subsidence.

It is clear from this description that the access means according to the invention makes it possible to implement a new calibration technique that is simple, fast and reliable, adapted to any type of access means for any type of basin, guaranteeing a rigging of quality, without play and conferring by rigged access means a high rigidity, thus avoiding the sensation of softness encountered with traditional methods and eliminating any risk of displacement, bending and cracking.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described but extends to any modification and variation obvious to a person skilled in the art while remaining within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. Means of access (1) to a pool filled with water, such as a swimming pool, the means of access comprising at least one opening (11) and at least one supporting pillar (3), this supporting pillar (3) being formed by a disposable formwork element (30) and a hardenable filler material (31) poured into the said formwork element (30) from outside the access means (1) through the said opening (11), characterised in that the said opening (12) is closed by a blank flange (12) and the said supporting pillar (3) is disposed facing the said opening (11).
2. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one flexible reinforcing piece (4) formed by an additional disposable formwork element (40) disposed transversally beneath and against the said access means (1) and by a hardenable filler material (31).
3. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises sealing means (13) disposed between the said opening (11) and the said blind flange (12).
4. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises centring means (15) designed to facilitate the positioning of the said formwork element (30) in relation to the said opening (11).
5. An access means according to Claim 4, characterised in that the said centring means (15) comprise at least one inverted truncated cone extending inside the said opening (11).
6. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said opening (11) comprises hooking means (16) designed to receive at least fixing elements (32) for the said supporting pillar (3).
7. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises several openings (11) associated with several supporting pillars (3) distributed as a function of the dimensions, the geometry and the loads to be distributed of the said access means (1).
8. An access means according to Claims 2 and 7, characterised in that the said flexible reinforcing piece (4) extends transversally between at least two supporting pillars (30).
9. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said formwork element (30) comprises at least one orifice (34) provided at its base and designed to allow the run-off of a part of the said filler material (31) that is suitable for forming a base for the said supporting pillar (3).
10. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one light source (5) provided in the said blind flange (12) and/or around the said opening (11).
11. An access means according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one complementary opening (11) closed by a blind flange (12) and designed to allow access to the technical components of the said pool that are disposed beneath and/or at the rear of the said access means (1).

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