FR2961237A1 - Element for constructing basin in swimming pool, has profile section overlapping upper part of panel, hooking arrangement provided at inner side of basin, and extended part provided at outer side of basin - Google Patents

Abstract

The element (1) has a profile section (1a) overlapping an upper part of a panel (P). A hooking arrangement (1b) is provided at inner side of a basin, and an extended part (1c) is provided at outer side of the basin. The extended part comprises a flat zone to be acted as an extended edge of the basin containing water, where the flat zone is located in an inclined plane at specific degree, and the flat zone is formed above another basin arranged outer side and concentrically with the former basin.

Description

The invention relates to the swimming pool sector.

More particularly, the invention relates to aboveground pools, but finds an application for underground pools, and is particularly applicable to all types of pool pools made from assembled panels, which panels can be wood, metal, plastic, ...

Different solutions have been proposed for making a swimming pool basin from several panels assembled together according to different means and arrangements to obtain a basin of square, rectangular, polygonal or other geometric shape.

In the case of a buried pool, the panels may have, especially at their upper part, arrangements for cooperating with a chaining top. It has also been proposed, also in the case of inground pools, to arrange one of the edges of the pool of a weir, in order to allow the overflow of the water from the pool into a buffer tank, generally subject to a system pumping and filtration. This type of basin says "overflow" or "mirror effect" since the water, in some cases, can overflow from all sides of the pool, requires great precision of construction to ensure, in good conditions, such an overflow.

With regard to above-ground pools, here again various technical solutions have been proposed to realize the structure as such of the basin, most often from wooden panels. A solution emerges, for example, from the teaching of patent EP 1,778,933 which relates to a swimming pool made from flat panels consisting of an assembly of wooden boards. The blades have arrangements for the integration of stiffness inserts at the assembly. The vertical edges of the panels receive mating profiles with adjacent panels in linear and / or angular alignment. With this type of wood frame swimming pool, difficulties may arise for the installation of the liner and the realization of a peripheral rim. Still in the case of an aboveground pool, to ensure the circulation and filtration of water, the basin is usually equipped with a filtration unit disposed astride one of the walls of the pool basin. This block, in a manner perfectly known to a person skilled in the art, has an opening acting as a skimmer for the suction of water and a discharge nozzle.

At the level of the prior art, we can also mention the so-called "freestanding" pools which comprise, for the most part, a basic structure of circular general shape made in a waterproof plastic sheeting and semi-rigid. The structure delimits a wall whose upper edge is secured to an inflatable bead. From this basic principle of self-supporting swimming pool, it has been proposed to create a pool comprising a semi-rigid and watertight fabric structure, delimiting at least two nested open volumes each having an upper edge secured to an inflatable bead to constitute, after filling the said volume with water, an external basin and an internal basin, the water from the external basin being sucked by a pumping and filtration assembly to be discharged into the internal basin so that the water of said internal basin overflows into said basin external. The external basin is a special area for children, while the inner basin is an area especially for adults, on the grounds that the internal pool is generally higher than the external basin. These basins are most often concentric. A solution of this type is known from the teaching of patent FR 2 883 592.

It emerges from the analysis of this state of the art, given as an indication, by no means limiting, that different solutions have been proposed for making pools or underground or above ground swimming pools or freestanding pools.

Whatever the solutions chosen, the latter are relatively rigid in the sense that it is not always possible to modify or adapt them to the user's choice.

From this state of the art, the problem to be solved by the invention is to be able, in the case of a swimming pool made from rigid panels, to obtain different aesthetic and functional possibilities, particularly in the case of an above ground pool.

To solve such a problem, it has been designed an element that has a cross-sectional profile capable of overlapping the section of the upper part of the panel, over its entire length, said element having on the side of the inside of the basin, an arrangement of hooking a liner and, on the outside, an overflowing portion capable of providing a function.

It follows from these characteristics that the insert may have different arrangements necessary for the desired function (s).

In one embodiment, the projecting portion constitutes a flat area capable of acting as an overflow edge of the water contained in the basin, said zone being situated in a plane inclined downwards, a few degrees from the 'horizontal.

These arrangements make it possible to advantageously achieve an assembly consisting of two concentric basins and different heights, from a rigid structure for one and the other basins. For this purpose, the overflowing zone is disposed above a basin formed externally and concentrically to that defined by the panels, said outer pool being of reduced height and less than that of the basin defined by the panels.

Still in the case where the projecting portion constitutes a flat area capable of acting as an overflow rim, certain flat areas may have communication arrangements with a reservoir formed directly by said elements, acting as a buffer tank for recovering the water. from the overflows and return it to the pond via a filtration system.

In another embodiment, but especially in the case where the swimming pool basin must be buried, the flat area is connected to a chute formed directly by said element for pouring a concrete and acting as high chaining.

In a simplified embodiment, the planar area acts as a support for the laying of copings, observing that, in this case, the flat area may optionally directly form a lip.

Advantageously, the element is subject to angular adjustment means for modifying at will the level of the planar zone.

The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the insert element according to the invention before place and attach to the upper end of a panel; FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of the element acting as a buffer tank; FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of an element allowing integration of a chaining top; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool set whose panels constituting basins are equipped with the elements; FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 4.

As indicated, the invention finds an advantageous application in the case of a pool pool buried, semi-buried or above ground made from panels assembled together by any known and appropriate means, and likely to be made of material plastic, metal, wood, ... The structure of the basin as such can also present different geometric shapes (square, rectangular, polygonal, ...).

Whatever its embodiment, the panel for the construction of swimming pool and designated in the following description by (P). According to the invention, it has been desired to equip the upper edge of each panel (P) with an element (1) capable of performing different functions. This element (1) has a sectional profile (la) able to overlap the section of the upper part of the panel (P) along its entire length. For example, this profile (la) has an inverted U-shaped cross section delimiting two parallel wings (lai) and (la2) connected by an upper horizontal branch (la3). The element (1) has, on the considered side inside the basin, a hooking arrangement (lb) of a liner (L). This fastening arrangement is, for example, constituted, in a known manner, by a groove in which is intended to be erected a rod (2) that has the edge of the liner.

This element (1) also has an upper flange which has an overflowing portion (1c) and capable of providing a function, as will be indicated in the following description. Part (lc) overflows the side considered outside the basin.

In one embodiment and as shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2, the projecting portion (lc) constitutes a flat area adapted to act as a rim overflow of the water contained in the basin. In this case, the planar area (lc) is located in a plane that is inclined downwards by a few degrees from the horizontal. Of course, this inclination favors the overflow of water outside the pool. In this embodiment where the zone (1 c) acts as an overflow rim, an advantageous application is found in the production of an assembly consisting of two concentric basins (B1) and (B2) of different heights, as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 4 and 5. The internal basin (B1) is of greater height than the external basin (B2). Both basins (B1) and (B2) are made, one and the other, from solid panels assembled together by any known and appropriate means. For example, basins (B1) and (B2) are assembled from wooden panels.

The elements (1), as defined, are fixed by any means to the upper edges of each of the panels constituting the basins (B1) and (B2). A liner (L) is disposed inside the basin (B1) by being fixed by the arrangements (lb) of the elements (1). Similarly, another liner (L1) is fixed in the basin (B2) of low height, being fixed by the elements (1) and a fastening profile (3) fixed, for example, outside basin panels (B1) in alignment with the attachment profiles of the element (1) of the basin (B2). In this embodiment, the pond water (B1) overflows by the overflow rim (1a) in the shallow basin (B2), which has arrangements for connection to a suction system of a set of pumping and filtration to be repressed, by any known means, in the internal basin (B1). Advantageously, the water is discharged from the top of the basin in the form, for example, of a fountain. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the external basin (B2) acts as a buffer tank according to the principle of so-called "overflow" pools.

Still in this embodiment where the overflowing flat area (1a) constitutes an overflow rim, the latter may have arrangements (1d) in communication with a reservoir (1c) acting as a buffer tank for recovering the water coming from the overflow. This buffer tank (1c) is subject, as indicated above, to a pumping and filtration assembly for discharging the water inside the basin. Referring to Figure 2. Of course, in this embodiment, the communication arrangements (1d) with the casson (1c) can be formed in a removable portion that has the area (1c).

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the planar zone (1c) is connected to a chute (1f) formed directly by the element (1) and acting as a chaining top for pouring a concrete, for example in combination with a reinforcement.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, finds an advantageous application when the pool is buried. Note that in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, all elements can be covered by an insert (4) serving as a lip and able to close the chute (1 f).

The buffer tank (1c) can receive directly filtration means (sand filter, filter cloth, ...).

Of course, the element (1), in particular its portion (lc) can directly serve as a lip or act as a support for the installation of a reported coping.

Advantageously, the element (1) may be subject to angular adjustment means for modifying at will the level of the flat area (lc). For example, as shown in Figure 1, these means are constituted by screws (5) engaged through the element (1) and able to bear on the edge of the corresponding panel.

The advantages are apparent from the description, particularly emphasized and reminded: - The liner is directly used as a sealing means and allows overflow; In an embodiment in accordance with that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water taken in the small pond to be discharged into the large basin, in particular with a fountain effect creating an oxygen supply. - The different functions that can fill the insert, in addition to its liner fastening function, namely in particular an overflow edge that can be combined with a buffer tank.