EP2674550A1 - Stiffening element for fixing a swimming pool wall, fixing assembly, swimming pool and method of constructing of such a pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The element has two panels (4, 5) comprising external surfaces and interior surfaces (14). An elongated body comprises an opening (15) and another opening (16) for fixing an end of a strut (17), where a slit is formed on a side of the body and receives a bent edge (6) of the panels. Two plane portions are respectively formed on two sides of the slit. External surfaces of the portions are contained in a same plane such that the portions are plated against the interior surfaces of the panels, and the external surfaces of the panels are leveled when the element is assembled on the panels. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a fastening assembly for fastening a portion of a wall of a swimming pool (2) a swimming pool (3) a method for constructing a swimming pool.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a stiffening element and a fastening assembly comprising such a stiffening element, a wall portion of a pool, pond, body of water, the latter being buried or semi-buried.

The present invention also relates to a method of constructing a swimming pool, a pond or body of water implementing such a stiffening element.

Technological background

• excavation d'un terrain aux dimensions supérieures à la forme de la future piscine,
• le bétonnage de la dalle de fond de la piscine,
• la mise en place de parois verticales par la juxtaposition de panneaux typiquement en acier présentant des bords recourbés percés, ces panneaux étant assemblés entre eux au niveau de ces bords recourbés, pour délimiter le bassin de la piscine. Ils sont en outre fixés à la dalle de fond par ancrage, par exemple à l'aide de goujons expansés.

The construction of a semi-buried or underground pool requires the elevation of walls intended to delimit the pool area. The production of these walls according to the prior art typically comprises three successive steps:

• excavation of a lot larger than the shape of the future swimming pool,
• the concreting of the bottom slab of the pool,
• the establishment of vertical walls by the juxtaposition of typically steel panels with curved edges pierced, these panels being assembled together at these curved edges, to delimit the pool basin. They are also attached to the base slab by anchoring, for example using expanded studs.

Moreover, to meet needs of different heights of basin while keeping a good standardization of the structural elements used for the construction of the pool, risers of different heights can be provided under standard panels.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in that the hydraulic pressure exerted on the wall of the basin is linearly proportional to the height of the basin, the resultant efforts being located at one third of this height from the bottom of the basin.

Thus, by choosing appropriate panel heights, it is possible to approximate this resultant efforts with the assembly area of the panel and the standard raised panel, this area being formed by the curved edges contiguous said panels thus assembled.

This assembly zone then constitutes a zone of mechanical reinforcement of the wall structure making it possible to avoid unsightly deformations thereof.

This arrangement also allows the implementation of less thick panels lightening the overall structure and reducing the costs of realization of the pool.

Moreover, in order to firmly anchor the wall structure formed by these panels thus coupled, and to give them the necessary resistance to contain on one side the thrust of the water filling the basin and on the other, the thrust of the earth surrounding the pool, a strut is arranged at the junction of the curved side edges of two consecutive standard panels.

However, the steel panels being covered with a waterproofing membrane to protect them from corrosion, it is not possible to weld these panels together without damaging the waterproofing membrane.

As a result, the angles of the curved edges of the standard and raised panels are not welded together.

However, there is a displacement of the junction of these panels under the effect of the thrust of the water filling the pool and the land surrounding the pool due to the flexibility of the sheet.

This displacement can not only create a deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the basin but also weaken the waterproofing membrane.

Moreover, it is difficult for the operators, during the construction of the pool, to ensure a perfect alignment of the faces of the standard panels and risers intended to be in contact with the water filling the basin, and consequently, ensure a perfect verticality of the pond wall with respect to the bottom slab of the pool.

The present invention aims to overcome these various drawbacks by proposing a post, simple in its design and its operating mode, for connecting the standard panel with its raising panel while facilitating the alignment of these panels to obtain a wall of the basin vertical compared to the bottom slab of the pool.

Another object of the present invention is such a pole for improving the mechanical strength of the wall structure vis-à-vis the thrust forces generated by the water filling the basin and the earth surrounding the basin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention relates to a stiffening element for fixing a portion of pool wall, pond or body of water, said wall portion comprising at least two panels contiguous being placed one above the other, said panels having curved edges having orifices for the passage of the fastener rod, each of said panels having an outer surface intended to be in contact with the water and an inner surface placed on the side of said edges curled.

• un corps allongé comportant des premiers orifices transversaux destinés à venir en regard ou sensiblement en regard d'au moins certains des orifices de bords recourbés latéraux des panneaux de manière à assurer l'assemblage dudit élément raidisseur auxdits panneaux,
• ledit corps allongé comportant un second orifice pour la fixation de l'extrémité d'une jambe de force et au moins une fente sur une face latérale dudit corps, ladite au moins une fente étant destinée à recevoir les bords recourbés accolés desdits panneaux placés l'un au dessus de l'autre lors de l'assemblage dudit élément raidisseur auxdits panneaux, et
• ladite face latérale comportant de part et d'autre de ladite au moins une fente au moins une portion plane, les surfaces extérieures desdites portions planes étant contenues dans un même plan de sorte que lorsque ledit élément raidisseur est assemblé auxdits panneaux, et que chaque portion plane est plaquée contre la surface intérieure d'un panneau correspondant, les surfaces extérieures desdits panneaux sont affleurant.

According to the invention, this stiffening element comprises:

• an elongate body having first transverse orifices intended to come opposite or substantially facing at least some of the lateral curved edge orifices of the panels so as to ensure the assembly of said stiffening element to said panels,
• said elongated body having a second hole for fixing the end of a strut and at least one slot on a side face of said body, said at least one slot being adapted to receive the curled edges contiguous of said panels placed therein; one above the other during the assembly of said stiffening element to said panels, and
• said side face having on either side of said at least one slot at least one flat portion, the outer surfaces of said flat portions being contained in the same plane so that when said stiffening element is assembled to said panels, and each flat portion is pressed against the inner surface of a corresponding panel, the outer surfaces of said panels are flush.

The outer surfaces of the panels are of course level to a few millimeters.

• ladite face latérale dudit corps allongé comporte une aile dont la surface extérieure est plane de part et d'autre de ladite fente ou desdites fentes.

Ledit élément raidisseur a en conséquence une forme en L ou en Z.

• la longueur dudit corps allongé est telle que ledit élément raidisseur étant assemblé auxdits panneaux, son extrémité supérieure est placée à distance du sommet du panneau déterminant l'extrémité supérieure de la portion de paroi,
• ledit élément est d'une seule pièce formée d'une tôle rectangulaire, mince, pliée et percée,
• l'extrémité supérieure dudit élément comporte au moins une encoche pour recevoir un élément d'armature.

In various particular embodiments of this stiffener element, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

• said lateral face of said elongated body comprises a wing whose outer surface is plane on either side of said slot or said slots.

Said stiffening element consequently has an L or Z shape.

• the length of said elongated body is such that said stiffening element is assembled to said panels, its upper end is placed at a distance from the top of the panel determining the upper end of the wall portion,
• said element is in one piece formed of a rectangular plate, thin, folded and pierced,
• the upper end of said element comprises at least one notch for receiving a reinforcing element.

This reinforcing element is purely illustrative a reinforcing iron of the upper chaining, support of the lip and the beach.

The present invention also relates to an assembly for fixing a portion of pool wall, pond or body of water, said wall portion comprising at least two panels contiguous being placed one above the other, said panels having curved edges having orifices for the passage of the rod fasteners.

• un élément raidisseur tel que décrit précédemment,
• une jambe de force, ladite jambe de force étant destinée à être reliée au corps allongé dudit élément raidisseur par au moins un organe de fixation, un desdits organes de fixation de ladite jambe de force ayant sa tige passant au travers dudit second orifice, lequel est distinct desdits premiers orifices, et
• au moins un desdits orifices dudit corps allongé est une lumière de réglage de l'inclinaison de ce corps allongé par rapport à la jambe de force.

According to the invention, this fixing assembly comprises:

• a stiffening element as described above,
• a strut, said strut being intended to be connected to the elongated body of said stiffening element by at least one fastener, one of said fasteners of said strut having its rod passing through said second orifice, which is distinct from said first orifices, and
• at least one of said orifices of said elongated body is a light for adjusting the inclination of this elongate body relative to the strut.

Advantageously, this or these lights allow the final adjustment of the verticality of said wall portion relative to the bottom slab of the pool, pond or body of water.

• la jambe de force a une dimension longitudinale fixe,
• ladite lumière étant le second orifice de fixation de la jambe de force, cette lumière est de forme allongée et transverse à l'axe longitudinal dudit corps allongé.

In various particular embodiments of this fastener assembly, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

• the strut has a fixed longitudinal dimension,
• said light being the second mounting hole of the strut, this light is of elongate shape and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated body.

This embodiment particularly simple and economical, ensures a wide movement of the end of the strut in the light allowing a forward or rearward movement of the stiffening element, and therefore an adjustment of verticality of the assembly formed by the main panels and raises.

Alternatively, this light could be elongated and have a longitudinal axis inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the strut.

où F l'effort de poussée provoqué par la jambe de force reliée au sol et f la force de liaison de la jambe de force audit corps allongé.

• chacun des premiers orifices est une lumière de forme allongée dont l'axe longitudinal est parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du corps allongé de l'élément raidisseur.

For purely illustrative purposes, the angle of inclination Φ maximum of the longitudinal axis of the light relative to the longitudinal axis of the strut is (90 + α) ° where the angle α is given by the next formula $$\mathrm{tan\; \alpha }=\mathrm{f}/\mathrm{F}$$

where F is the thrust force caused by the strut connected to the ground and the binding force of the strut to said elongate body.

• each of the first orifices is an elongate light whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the stiffening element.

The invention also relates to a swimming pool having walls defining the basin, at least one of said walls being constituted by at least two panels placed one above the other by being contiguous, said panels having curved edges perforated with orifices. . According to the invention, said at least one of said walls constituted by at least two panels placed one above the other is assembled to a fixing assembly of said wall as described above.

The invention also relates to a method of constructing a pool, a pond or body of water.

1. a) on coule du béton pour former une dalle de béton constituant le fond de la piscine, ladite dalle ayant des dimensions supérieures aux dimensions dudit bassin d'eau,
2. b) on fixe à ladite dalle de béton ainsi formée des premiers panneaux délimitant la partie inférieure du bassin, ces panneaux comportant des bords recourbés percés,
3. c) on assemble à au moins certains de ces premiers panneaux, des seconds panneaux comportant des bords recourbés percés, ces seconds panneaux étant placés au-dessus des premiers panneaux en étant accolés à ces derniers par un de leurs bords recourbés percés, ces premiers et seconds panneaux étant également solidarisés à au moins un élément raidisseur tel que décrit précédemment,
4. d) pour chaque élément raidisseur, on fixe à la dalle de béton une jambe de force à une de ses extrémités, l'autre extrémité de ladite jambe de force étant reliée au corps allongé de l'élément de fixation correspondant,
5. e) on ajuste l'inclinaison de chaque élément raidisseur par rapport à sa jambe de force correspondante de manière à assurer la verticalité des premiers et seconds panneaux correspondants par rapport à la surface horizontale du sol.

According to the invention, at least the following successive steps are carried out:

1. a) pouring concrete to form a concrete slab constituting the bottom of the pool, said slab having dimensions greater than the dimensions of said water basin,
2. b) is fixed to said concrete slab thus formed first panels delimiting the lower portion of the basin, these panels having curved edges pierced,
3. c) assembling at least some of these first panels, second panels having curved edges pierced, these second panels being placed above the first panels being contiguous to the latter by one of their curved edges pierced, these first and second panels being also secured to at least one stiffening element as described above,
4. d) for each stiffening element, a strut is attached to the concrete slab at one of its ends, the other end of said strut being connected to the elongated body of the corresponding fastening element,
5. e) adjusting the inclination of each stiffening element relative to its corresponding strut so as to ensure the verticality of the corresponding first and second panels relative to the horizontal surface of the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement une vue en perspective d'une piscine selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention,
• la Figure 2 montre une vue éclatée et en perspective d'une portion de la structure de paroi de la piscine de la Figure 1,
• la Figure 3 montre une vue en coupe et de profil de la portion de structure de paroi de la Figure 1,
• la Figure 4 est une vue de dessus de ladite portion de structure de paroi de la Figure 3,
• la Figure 5 représente schématiquement une vue en coupe et de profil d'une portion de structure de paroi d'une piscine selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, for an explanatory and non-limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 schematically represents a perspective view of a swimming pool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
• the Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a portion of the pool wall structure of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 3 shows a sectional and side view of the wall structure portion of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 4 is a top view of said wall structure portion of the Figure 3 ,
• the Figure 5 schematically represents a sectional and side view of a wall structure portion of a swimming pool according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled.

The Figures 1 to 4 shows a swimming pool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

This pool has a buried basin 1 which is delimited on the one hand at its bottom by a bottom slab 2 of concrete and on its periphery by a wall structure 3.

This wall structure 3 is formed by the juxtaposition of main panels 4 assembled together at their respective side edges, each of these main panels 4 being further secured to another panel, said riser 5, attached to it. ci by one of its edges being placed between the bottom slab 2 of the pool and this main panel 4.

Each of these panels is made from a sheet of steel for example, each edge 6 is bent, in particular by folding at right angles, and pierced to form regularly spaced orifices. These curved edges 6 are oriented so as to be placed towards the outside of the pool basin.

The face 7 of each panel intended to be in contact with the water filling the basin, is further covered with a waterproofing membrane (not shown) which is here a liner, for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The raising panels 5 are directly anchored in the base slab 2 by means of anchoring members 8 such as expanded studs.

The main panels 4 and raising 5 are assembled at their curved edges joined by fasteners 9 whose rods pass through the orifices placed vis-à-vis these edges.

Similarly, the orifices of the lateral curved edges 6 of each of the main panels 4 or raising 5 come opposite the orifices of a corresponding adjacent panel so as to ensure their connection by means of fasteners 9 .

These fasteners 9 are for example formed by locking screws and nuts.

In order to ensure the alignment of the faces facing the interior of the pool of the main panel 4 and its corresponding raising panel 5, while mechanically reinforcing the assembly obtained after assembly of these panels, a stiffening element 10 connects a side curved edge of these panels together.

This stiffening element 10 is formed of a folded rectangular sheet to define an elongated body 11 having a Z shape.

This stiffening element 10 thus has on its lateral face a wing 12, obtained by folding at right angles to a lateral edge of the initial flat rectangular sheet.

This flange 12 comprises a slot 13 advantageously designed to receive the insertion of the curved edges 6 contiguous panels 4, 5 placed one above the other. The curved edges 6 contiguous of these panels are thus sandwiched in this slot 13 so as to reinforce their maintenance.

Thus, and while the main part of this elongated body 11 is pressed against the lateral edge 6 of each of the raised and main panels 4 and assembled 4, this wing 12 is pressed against the face 14 of these panels facing outwards. of the swimming pool.

Around this slot 13, the surface of the wing is flat and level so that this wing being pressed against said face, the faces 7 of the raised panels 5 and main turned towards the inside of the pool are aligned and juxtaposed .

The elongated body of this stiffening element 10 has a plurality of holes obtained by drilling the sheet. A set of first regularly spaced holes 15 is intended to come opposite the orifices of the curved edges 6 of the sides of the side panels 5 and main 4 to ensure the attachment of this stiffening element 10 to said panels.

The elongate body of this stiffening element 10 also comprises a second orifice 16 for assembling a strut 17 to this stiffening element 10.

This second orifice 16 thus receives a fixing member ensuring the tightening of the end of the strut 17 with the stiffening element 10.

Advantageously, in order to be able to adjust the verticality of the assembly formed by the raising panels 5 and main 4, with respect to the base slab 2, this second orifice 16 is an elongated light and whose axis main 18 is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 19 of the strut 17.

où F l'effort de poussée provoqué par la jambe de force 17 reliée au sol et f la force de liaison de la jambe de force 17 audit corps allongé. Cette force de liaison f qui s'oppose au mouvement, inclut non seulement la force de serrage maintenant solidaire la jambe de force à l'élément raidisseur 10 mais également le coefficient de frottement des matériaux en contact.In particular, the maximum angle of inclination de of the principal axis 18 of the light with respect to the longitudinal axis 19 of the strut 17 is (90 + α) ° where the angle α is given by the following formula $$\mathrm{tan\alpha }=\mathrm{f}/\mathrm{F}$$

where F the thrust force caused by the strut 17 connected to the ground and f the binding force of the strut 17 to said elongate body. This binding force f which opposes the movement, includes not only the clamping force now solidifying the strut to the stiffening element 10 but also the coefficient of friction of the materials in contact.

By respecting this maximum angle of inclination, it thus advantageously avoids slipping while maintaining a sufficiently ample adjustment of the verticality of the panels 4, 5 with respect to the base slab 2.

The Figure 5 schematically represents a sectional and side view of a wall structure portion of a swimming pool according to another embodiment of the invention. The elements represented on The Figure 5 with the same references as those shown on the Figures 1 to 4 represent the same objects, which will not be described again.

The stiffening element 10 of the Figure 5 differs from that described above in that the second orifice 20 is a simple circular hole while all the first orifices 21 are elongated vertical lights.

This embodiment also allows an adjustment of the verticality of the wall portion formed by the assembly of the main panel 4 and the raising panel 5.

The clamping force provided by all the fasteners is sufficient to prevent slippage between the raising panels 5 and main 4, and the stiffening element 10.

This results in a precise adjustment of the wall structure with only an assembly of static parts without any additional cost.

Claims (11)

Stiffening element for attaching a portion of pool wall, pond or body of water, said wall portion comprising at least two adjacent panels being placed one above the other, said panels (4, 5) having curved edges (6) having holes for the passage of the fastener rod (9), each of said panels (4, 5) having an outer surface (7) intended to be in contact with the water and an inner surface (14) placed on the side of said curved edges (6), characterized in that it comprises: an elongate body (11) having first transverse orifices (15) intended to face or substantially opposite at least some of the lateral curved edge orifices (6) of the panels so as to ensure the assembly of said stiffening element; (10) to said panels (4, 5), said elongated body (11) having a second orifice (16) for fixing the end of a strut (17) and at least one slot (13) on a lateral face of said body, said at least one slot (13) being intended to receive the curved edges (6) contiguous of said panels placed one above the other during the assembly of said stiffening element (10) to said panels, and said lateral face comprising, on either side of said at least one slot, at least one flat portion, the outer surfaces of said flat portions being contained in the same plane so that when said stiffening element is assembled. to said panels (4, 5), and that each flat portion is pressed against the inner surface (14) of a corresponding panel, the outer surfaces of said panels (4, 5) are flush. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that said lateral face of said elongate body (11) comprises a flange (12) whose outer surface (7) is flat on either side of said slot (13) or said slots ( 13). Element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said element is in one piece formed of a rectangular sheet, thin, folded and pierced. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper end of said element comprises at least one notch for receiving a reinforcing element. Fixing a portion of pool wall, basin or body of water, said wall portion comprising at least two panels (4, 5) contiguous being placed one above the other, said panels (4, 5) having curved edges (6) having orifices for the passage of the fastener rod (9), characterized in that it comprises: a stiffening element (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, - a strut (17), said strut (17) being intended to be connected to the elongate body (11) of said stiffening element (10) by at least one fastener, one of said fasteners (9) of said strut (17) having its rod passing through said second orifice (16), which is distinct from said first orifices (15), and in that at least one of said orifices of said elongated body (11) is a light for adjusting the inclination of this elongate body (11) with respect to the strut (17). An assembly according to claim 5 characterized in that said light being the second hole (16) for attaching the strut (17), this light is of elongate shape and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongate body (11). Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said light being the second orifice (16) for fixing the strut (17), this light is of elongate shape and has a longitudinal axis (18) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (19) of the strut (17). Assembly according to Claim 7, characterized in that the maximum angle of inclination de of the longitudinal axis of the light with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strut (17) is (90 + α) ° where the angle α is given by the formula tan α = f / F with F the thrust force caused by the strut (17) connected to the ground and f, the force of connection of the strut (17) to said elongated body (11). An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the first orifices (15) is an elongated light whose axis longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body (11) of the stiffening element (10). Swimming pool having walls defining the basin, at least one of said walls being constituted by at least two panels (4, 5) placed one above the other in contiguous manner, said panels (4, 5) having curved edges (6) perforated orifices, characterized in that said at least one of said walls constituted by at least two panels (4, 5) placed one above the other is assembled to a fixing assembly of said wall according to any of claims 5 to 9. Method of constructing a swimming pool, pond or body of water, characterized in that at least the following successive stages are carried out: a) pouring concrete to form a concrete slab constituting the bottom of the pool, said slab having dimensions greater than the dimensions of said water basin, b) fixed to said concrete slab thus formed first panels (5) delimiting the lower portion of the basin, these panels having curved edges (6) drilled, c) assembling at least some of these first panels (5), second panels (4) having curved edges (6) drilled, these second panels (4) being placed above the first panels (5) being joined to these by one of their bent edges (6) drilled, these first and second panels (4, 5) also being secured to at least one stiffening element (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, d) for each stiffening element (10), a strut (17) is attached to the concrete slab at one of its ends, the other end of said strut (17) being connected to the elongated body (11) the corresponding fastening element, e) adjusting the inclination of each stiffening element (10) relative to its corresponding strut (17) so as to ensure the verticality of the corresponding first and second panels relative to the horizontal surface of the ground.

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