FR3021338A1 - METHOD FOR RENOVATION OF A BASIN ACCESS AREA AND RENOVATION PART FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of renovating an access zone (1, 10) to a basin, in which the existing access zone (1, 10) is covered with a renovation part (2) of which the shape at least partially conforms to the shape of said existing access zone (1, 10), surfaces (14) of the access zone (1, 10) are used as bearing surfaces for placing said renovation room (2) on said existing access area (1, 10), and said renovation room (2) is fixed on said existing access area (1).

Description

METHOD FOR RENOVATION OF A BASIN ACCESS AREA AND RENOVATION PART FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD Technical field: The present invention relates to a method for renovating an access zone to a basin, such as a staircase for swimming pool or the like, as well as a renovation room for the implementation of said renovation process.

PRIOR ART: In the field of swimming pools, pleasure pools, jacuzzis, and all other bathing and relaxing areas, one or more access zones are generally provided for easy and safe access to the interior. of the basin. These access areas are generally provided with several steps forming a staircase, but can also be simply provided with a single step forming a relaxation area. These access areas can be simple and untouched by any technical function. They can be as complex and integrated various technical functions, such as lighting, balneotherapy nozzles to create jets of air and water under pressure and / or discharge nozzles to create jets of water under pressure, and / or relaxation areas to sit or lie down and enjoy the pressurized jets. These access areas are continuously subjected to a harsh environment (solar radiation, water treatment products, etc ...), their overall aesthetic gradually deteriorates. There is therefore a need to renovate these access areas for example after about fifteen years. The current technique is either to renovate the access area with painting techniques, or to completely replace the access area with a new access zone. The renovation (or even the repair) of the access zone according to its level of alteration does not systematically provide a long-term answer to the problem. The complete replacement of the access zone requires substantial work, carried out by specialized technicians and affecting the structure of the basin and the environment of the access zone, such as the beach that borders it, etc. The access zone which relates to the invention is generally made of polyester coated with a resin-based material commonly called a "gelcoat" or the like, buried, semi or totally above ground. In all cases, it is supported by a load-bearing structure consisting for example of masonry pillars. This bearing structure is then embedded in a backfill on which is formed a beach which may consist of a concrete slab, a stone pavement, a wooden deck, etc. This access zone is often combined with technical accessories such as nozzles fed by water and / or air, lighting, etc. to make it multifunctional. We understand the complexity of the work in the case of the complete replacement of an access zone. This technique requires the removal of the margins at the access zone, dismantling or partially breaking the beach around the access zone, disconnecting the piping and disassembling the technical accessories integrated into the access zone, cutting the raft for clear the base of the access zone, cut the access zone to be able to remove it and access the embankment, disburden the embankment, remove the rubble, replace a new access zone, reconnect the piping and reassemble the accessories techniques, seal the base of the new access zone and make the junction between the basin screed and the slab, seal the rubble, backfill, partially raise or redo the beach around the access zone. If the model of the new access area is different from the worn access area, the fixing distances are generally not the same. In this case, it is necessary, in addition to the operations listed above, to modify the structure receiving the access zone.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at overcoming these disadvantages by proposing a solution for renovating a basin access zone or the like which is simpler, less expensive and faster to implement by technicians who are not necessarily specialized. this solution having the advantage of being non-invasive, without impact on the supporting structure of the access zone, preserving the environment of the access zone, while being able to offer new functionalities, with the possibility of offering it in kit ready to install. For this purpose, the invention relates to a renovation process characterized in that it covers part or all of the existing access area of the basin with a renovation part whose shape at least partially matches the shape of said existing access zone, and in that surfaces of said access zone are used as bearing surfaces for laying said renovation part. Preferably, it fixes said renovation room on said existing access area to bind intimately.

To fix the renovation room on the existing access area, a binder is partially or completely deposited on the bearing surfaces of the existing access area and the renovation piece is placed against the area existing access.

In some cases, it is possible to cut locally said existing access area to install said renovation room. After the fixing operation, an expandable filling material can be injected between the existing access area and the renovation room to fill the spaces left free between them. Thus, we create a monolithic piece with no potential zone of weakness. Preferably, a rigid or semi-rigid renovation part made of synthetic or composite materials is manufactured, and a mold having dimensions slightly smaller than those of the existing access zone is used.

If the existing access zone has a number N of bearing surfaces, then the number of support surfaces identical to the number N of bearing surfaces of the existing access zone is provided in the renovation room. , to ensure the mechanical support of the renovation room on said existing access area. In this case, the height of the bearing surfaces of the renovation part is preferably substantially equal to the height of the bearing surfaces of said access area. Of course, it is possible to integrate into the renovation room technical accessories selected from the group comprising balneotherapy nozzles, discharge nozzles, lighting, at least one relaxation area, at least one technical space. The relaxation space can be achieved in said renovation room by condemning a portion of the steps to form at least one seat and a folder. Similarly, the technical gap can be realized in a space between said renovation room and the access zone and can be intended to receive a technical element selected from the group comprising a power supply, a water pipe, a pipe air.

To renovate an access zone provided with at least one balneotherapy and / or discharge nozzle, said nozzle is kept on the existing access zone, at least one hole is pierced in said renovation room at the same time. right of said nozzle, and one creates a sealed extension of said nozzle between the existing access area and the renovation room. If the pool has a waterproofing lining, compensating shims can be fixed against the compensation piece to make up the difference in thickness between the renovation room and the existing access area, and sealing coating on the side and bottom edges of said renovation part. It is also possible to fix between the existing access zone and the renovation room the peripheral support wedges to compensate for the clearance between the renovation room and the existing access zone. For this purpose also, the invention relates to a renovation part, characterized in that it is made of synthetic materials or composites to form a rigid or semi-rigid access zone arranged to be superposed in part or in full on a existing access area of a basin at least partially marrying it and building on bearing surfaces of said existing access zone.

In a preferred embodiment, the renovation part comprises a number N of bearing surfaces identical to the number of bearing surfaces of said existing access area. It can advantageously receive technical accessories selected from the group comprising balneotherapy nozzles, discharge nozzles, lighting, a relaxation area, a technical vacuum, to offer complementary functions. The relaxation space is preferably integrated in part of the steps of the renovation room and comprises at least one seat and a backrest. Similarly, the technical vacuum is advantageously integrated in a space between the renovation room and the access area. In the preferred embodiment, the renovation piece comprises a peripheral wall delimited by two lateral edges and a lower edge, arranged on the same plane or not, said lateral edges forming fastening elements to the basin structure and the surfaces of support extending inside the peripheral wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of two embodiments given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents an exploded view in perspective of a staircase being renovated according to the method of the invention, showing the existing staircase equipped with a balneotherapy nozzle and a renovation piece of the same shape as the existing staircase, being installed, - the FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the staircase of FIG. 1 after renovation, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view in section along the sectional plane of the balneotherapy nozzle of FIG. 2; FIG. an enlarged perspective view of detail IV of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 represents an exploded perspective view of the staircase of FIG. 1 being renovated according to the method of the invention, showing the existing scalier and a renovation part of different shape of the existing staircase, being laid, - Figure 6 is a perspective view of the staircase of Figure 5 after renovation, and - Figure 7 is a view of perspective enlarged and in section along the sectional plane VII-VII of the renovated staircase of FIG.

Illustrations of the invention and different ways of making it: With reference to the figures, the renovation method according to the invention is described and illustrated for a staircase 10 forming an access zone 1 to a swimming pool (not shown). This example is not limiting, however, and extends to any other form of access zone 1 intended to access any other type of pool, for both private and public use.

Access zone 1 is understood to mean a staircase 10, an expansion zone (not shown) or the like. The access zone 1 may therefore comprise one or more bearing surfaces allowing access to the basin, such as steps 14 in the case of a staircase 10, a relaxation space in the case of a relaxation zone or any technically equivalent support surface. The renovation method according to the invention makes it possible to renovate the staircase 10 of a swimming pool without replacing it, unlike the existing replacement method described above. Thus, it does not touch the supporting structure of the staircase or its environment, which is a non-invasive method, economically more interesting. According to the invention, the existing staircase 10 is covered with a renovation part 2, the shape of which at least partly matches the shape of the existing staircase and the steps 14 of the staircase 10 are preferably used as surfaces mechanical support of the renovation part 2, 20 guaranteeing its resistance. Preferably, the renovation part 2, 20 is fixed on the existing staircase 10 to secure them so that the renovation part 2, 20 is integral with the existing staircase 10 and is not distinguishable. For this purpose, a rigid or semi-rigid renovation part 2 made of synthetic or composite materials, such as, for example, polyester or the like, is manufactured in a mold whose dimensions are slightly smaller than those of the existing staircase. Overall, the renovation part 2 has a format and a profile at least partly identical to those of the existing stair 10 to cover it completely. It can also integrate a new aesthetic, another color, new features, etc. as explained later, to change the overall aesthetics of the pool, customize, add features, etc. without changing pool. It is also possible to manufacture a renovation room 2 which only partly covers said staircase 10.

In the example of FIGS. 1 to 4, the existing staircase 10 has a generally semi-cylindrical shape defined by a semicylindrical peripheral wall 11 terminated by two lateral edges 12 and a lower edge 13 disposed in the same plane, preferably vertical, corresponding to the internal plane of the supporting structure S of the pool. Of course, the lateral edges 12 and the lower edge 13 may be arranged in separate planes depending on the shape of the staircase 10. At least the lateral edges 12 and the lower edge 13 form fastening elements on the supporting structure S of the pool and have for this purpose passage holes for screw members. It comprises four steps 14 forming four bearing surfaces and three risers 15, and a nozzle 16 balneotherapy or discharge in the upper riser 15. The steps 14 and the risers 15 are curved with a radius greater than the radius of the peripheral wall 11. This example of a staircase 10 is in no way limiting. The renovation part 2 of FIG. 1 has a general shape identical to the existing staircase 10, but of slightly smaller dimensions in order to be superimposed on the 10 existing staircase, marrying overall profile. Thus, in the example shown, this renovation part 2 has a semicylindrical general shape defined by a semi-cylindrical peripheral wall 21 terminated by two lateral edges 22 and a lower edge 23 arranged in the same plane. At least the lateral edges 22 form fastening elements on the staircase 10. It comprises four steps 24 and three curved risers with a radius greater than the radius of the peripheral wall 21. In this case, the height of the risers 25 of the renovation part 2 is substantially equal to the height of the risers 15 of the stairs 10. In this example, the renovation part 2 is a true copy of the existing staircase 10, which is not mandatory as explained more far with reference to Figures 5 to 7.

In order to maintain the function of the balneotherapy or discharge nozzle 16 integrated in the existing staircase 10, an orifice is cut in the upper riser 25 of the renovation room 2, this orifice being situated in the axis of the nozzle 16 and having a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the nozzle 16. A spacer 27 is inserted between the renovation part 2 and the staircase 10 to make up the clearance J existing between them, this spacer 27 having a protruding portion inside the orifice 26. Then we close the perimeter of the orifice 26 by fitting a hubcap 28 inside the projecting portion of the spacer 27. This assembly illustrated in detail in Figure 3 can be sealed by any suitable binder , such as for example by means of a silicone bead interposed between the nozzle 16, the spacer 27, the orifice 26 of the renovation part 2 and the hubcap 28. On the other hand, support wedges peripherals 29a peuv be added between the lateral edges 22 of the renovation room 2 and the lateral edges 12 of the staircase 10 and between the lower edge 23 of the renovation room 2 and the lower edge 13 of the staircase 10 to compensate the clearance between the staircase 10 and the renovation room 2, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 4. Compensation shims 29b can also be added against the lateral edges 22 and the lower edge 23 of the renovation room 2 to make up the difference thickness of the fact of the establishment of the renovation part 2, as shown in detail in Figure 4. These wedges 29a, b have a conical section to ensure continuity of contact between the bearing structure S of the pool or the staircase 10 (depending on the type of construction) and the renovation part 2. The compensating wedges 29b allow the connection with the sealing coating (not shown) of the pool such as a liner, and the fixing udit sealing coating on the side edges 22 and the lower edge 23 of the renovation part 2 by a flange 30 or the like. In the example of Figures 5 to 7, the existing stair 10 is identical to that of the previous example without the nozzle 16. The renovation part 20 of Figure 5 has a general shape identical to the existing staircase 10 without to be a true copy, since it offers a different aesthetic as well as complementary functions. This piece of renovation 20 has, as in the previous example, a general semi-cylindrical shape defined by a semi-cylindrical peripheral wall 21 terminated by two lateral edges 22 and a lower edge 23 arranged in the same plane. At least the lateral edges 22 form fastening elements on the supporting structure S of the swimming pool or the staircase 10. It comprises four steps 24 and three risers 25 curved with a radius greater than the radius of the peripheral wall 21, the height risers 25 being substantially equal to the height of the risers 15 of the stairs 10. In this example, the renovation part 20 incorporates an expansion space 31 defined by the rest of the renovation part 20 by a partition wall 34 and defined by a seat 32 and a curved backrest 33 allowing a person to sit comfortably. The relaxation space 31 is obtained by condemning a portion of the steps 24 consecutively in one of the sides of the renovation room 20 to create a seat 32 extending on a surface equivalent to about two steps 24 and a folder 33 extending on a height equivalent to about two risers 25. A balneotherapy or discharge nozzle 36 is added in the renovation room 20, for example in the backrest 33. Similarly, lights 35 are added in one of the risers 35, including two lighting elements 35. located below the seat 32 and lighting located outside the relaxation space 31. The renovation room 20 as just described is only one example of all the possible variants in terms of both the aesthetic and functional features.

Referring more particularly to Figure 7, the relaxation space 31 provides a free space E between the existing staircase 10 and the renovation part 20 creating a technical vacuum 37 for accommodating the aeraulic supply of the nozzle 36 and the power supply of the lighting 35, or any technical body necessary for the added technical accessories.

The renovation process according to the invention can be carried out in the following manner with reference to the example of FIGS. 1 to 4: - Drain the pool, - Undo the liner covering the inside of the pool around the staircase 10, - Place the copings (not shown) of the stairs 10 and the two copings (not shown) on each side of the stairs 10, - Present the renovation room 2 on the steps 14 of the stairs 10, - Mark on the renovation part 2 the location of the nozzle 16 of the staircase 10, - Remove the renovation part 2 to cut the orifice 26 corresponding to the nozzle 16, - Apply a bead of silicone around the spacer 27, - Fix the spacer 27 on the nozzle 16, - Replace the renovation part 2 on the staircase 10 to check the position of the orifice 26 with respect to the spacer 27, - Adjust by sanding if necessary, - Remove the renovation part 2, - Apply a binder to the support surfaces of the staircase 10, namely the steps 14, - Position the renovation room 2 on the staircase 10 by pressing on all the surfaces to activate the binder and secure the renovation room 2 to the staircase 10, - Adjust the spacer 27 at renovation part 2, - If necessary, fill the gap between spacer 27 and orifice 26 of the renovation part 2 with a filling material such as an expandable polyurethane or the like, - Apply a Silicone bead around hubcap 28, - Fix hubcap 28 on spacer 27 and refurbishment part 2 around nozzle 16, - Fix the peripheral support blocks 29a, - Fix the compensation blocks 29b , - Position the liner around the renovation room 2, - Fix the liner on the renovation room 2 by screwing the fixing brackets 30, - Reposition the copings near the staircase 10 by covering the upper body of the room of renovation 2, - Remett re the pool in water.

The order of these different steps may vary depending on the recommended procedure. Likewise, some steps may be replaced by others depending on the type of existing staircase 10 to be renovated and the type of renovation room 2, 20 chosen. Fixing the renovation part 2 on the staircase 10 can be done differently by any type of binder compatible with the materials of both the staircase 10 and the renovation part 2, such as for example a tile adhesive , silicone, polyurethane mastic, silane modified polymer, or the like.

Possibilities of industrial application: To implement the renovation process according to the invention, it is necessary to manufacture a renovation part 2, 20 according to the staircase 10 to be covered. In practice, the stairs 10 to be covered are known models for which it is easy to manufacture molds that will be used to manufacture rigid or semi-rigid skin renovation 2, 20. The renovation part 2, 20 obtained is a part, which may have a relatively small thickness, for example between 2 and 6 mm, since it has no proper mechanical function. Indeed, the supporting structure is provided by the existing staircase 10 and in particular the steps 14. Thus, the renovation part 2, 20 is less expensive because less consuming raw material. In addition, it is lighter and can be easily handled by one or two people. The raw material used to make this renovation part 2, 20 may be polyester, like most of the existing stairs, or any other suitable synthetic or composite material. It can be tinted in the mass to offer a choice of colors to customize the room 2, 20, or to match the liner of the pool or other. This piece of renovation 2, 20 can be offered for sale kit with possibility of technical assistance. It is clear from this description that the invention achieves the goals set, namely a renovation process non-invasive or less invasive than a full replacement of the staircase, not affecting the bearing structure in place, technically simpler and faster to implement, saving time in half, to retain existing sealed parts, such as nozzles 16 balneotherapy, discharge nozzles, etc. and to add new features, such as balneotherapy nozzles, lights, etc. and new shapes, such as a relaxation space 31, etc. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art.