FR3056614A1 - PLASTIC SWIMMING POOL HULL PROVIDED WITH CONNECTING RODS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic pool shell, which shell is delimited by side walls (10) and a bottom wall, said side walls having an inner face (10a), an outer face (10b) and a lip of ledge (11) arranged at their upper end, characterized in that: - Rigid connecting rods (2, 2 ') are arranged on the outer face (10b) of at least one side wall (10) which rods are in use arranged protruding on said outer face and are arranged to form a support support of a metal armature (3), - at least two parallel tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) are arranged horizontally along of the lateral wall (10) on which the connecting rods (2, 2 ') are arranged, which tubular reinforcement elements are coated with a composition of fibrous synthetic material (P) ensuring their attachment to the outer face (10b) of said p lateral aroi, - at least one of the connecting rods (2 ') is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a).

Description

(57) The invention relates to a plastic swimming pool shell, which shell is delimited by side walls (10) and a bottom wall, said side walls having an internal face (10a), an external face (10b) and a coping lip (11) fitted at their upper end, characterized in that:

- rigid connecting rods (2, 2j are arranged on the external face (10b) of at least one side wall (10) which rods are, in use, arranged projecting on said external face and are arranged to form a support support of a metal frame (3),

- at least two parallel tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) are arranged horizontally along the side wall (10) on which the connecting rods (2, 2 j are arranged, which tubular reinforcing elements are coated with a composition of fibrous synthetic material (P) ensuring their joining to the external face (10b) of said side wall,

- At least one of the connecting rods (2 j is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a).

12b

-2b

-1 POOL HULL IN PLASTIC MATERIAL WITH CONNECTING RODS

Description

Technical field of the invention.

The subject of the invention is a plastic swimming pool shell provided with connecting rods and its manufacturing process.

It relates to the technical field of prefabricated swimming pools, and more particularly to devices making it possible to prevent their side walls from being deformed under the effect of the thrust of the embankment elements.

State of the art.

Plastic pool shells are well known in the prior art. These hulls are manufactured in the factory and installed on site, in an excavation provided for this purpose. After installing the shell in the excavation, the operator backfills the latter to a depth of between 30 cm and 40 cm from the lip of the coping. Concrete is then poured over the embankments, up to the lip of the coping, so as to form a concrete belt around the hull which serves as a support for the coping.

As a result of the pushing of the embankments, the side walls of the hull tend to deform. This thrust is substantially horizontal, and directed from the outside to the inside of the hull. It generates two types of

-2flexions: - a bending of the side walls inducing a curvature of the latter in a vertical plane; - another of the side walls inducing a curvature of the latter in a horizontal plane. Such deformations generally lead to a degradation of the physical integrity of the hull.

Several solutions make it possible to fight against these untimely deformations. Walls with a profile having one or more curvatures can allow the thrust of the embankments to be controlled by compensating for it by the thrust of the water contained in the pool.

Reinforcement elements can also be arranged on the external face of the side walls. These reinforcing structures are also called stiffeners and are, in known manner, arranged essentially in two directions:

- horizontal or longitudinal reinforcements extending substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the side walls of the pool, that is to say in the lengthwise direction of the pool for the longitudinal side walls and in the direction of the width of the pool for the transverse side walls of the pool,

vertical reinforcements extending in the direction of the height or the depth of the swimming pool, or more precisely having a median axial plane in their longitudinal direction which is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the upper edge of the swimming pool, that is to say in a substantially vertical plane when the pool is in place horizontally.

Horizontal reinforcements can be placed end to end all around the pool, that is to say successively on its four side walls, even in the case of basins of round, ovoid shape, or free shape throughout periphery, so as to surround it.

-3Vertical reinforcements follow the contour of the side walls of the pool which are not necessarily straight or straight but can follow unevenness, in particular defining stair treads with substantially horizontal plane sections and substantially vertical or inclined plane sections and with junctions between said planes with rounded contours. These vertical reinforcements therefore also follow the rounded contour between the bottom wall of the pool and the adjacent flat part of the side wall.

These reinforcements, both horizontal and vertical, have a stiffening function in that they aim to avoid bending of the side walls of the shell. But these reinforcing structures, or other similar structures, such as those described in patent document FR 2,919,882 (PISCINES GROUPE GA), can also fulfill a function of blocking the positioning of the hull relative to the ground by serving as support for the embankments surrounding the hull in an excavation because the mass of gravel and possibly earth backfilled around the hull is retained in its vertical and longitudinal movements by said embankment support structure.

The effects of these reinforcing elements known from the prior art are limited in the case of flat surfaces of great length (greater than 4 m, and in particular greater than or equal to 8 m) in the vertical side walls. Indeed, it appears that these reinforcing elements do not prevent a certain bulging of the side walls.

To remedy this, some installers recommend integrating a metal reinforcement into the concrete belt. This reinforcement is illustrated in FIG. 1. It is produced all around the external lateral walls 10 of the swimming pool, and is located under the lip of the coping 11. This reinforcement 1 consists of three horizontal chains 1a arranged in an open triangle and maintained between them by stirrups 1b. A vertical connecting element 1c, typically a rigid steel rod, pierces the lip of the coping 11 in order to join the chaining

-41a forming the vertex of the triangle. After pouring the concrete, we obtain a concrete belt perfectly secured to the lip of the coping.

In practice, this type of metal frame is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the establishment of the chaining and their maintenance in position before pouring the concrete, is not easy. It is common for part of the reinforcement to fall into the embankments before pouring the concrete, so that the said reinforcement is not completely embedded in the concrete belt, thereby limiting its effectiveness.

In addition, under the effect of the embankment thrust, the lip of the coping undergoes a shear stress which can lead to tearing.

In addition, drilling the lip of the coping causes a loss of seal at this point. Infiltrations can then occur, which infiltrations, when they reach the embankments, cause swelling of the latter which are soaked in water. This swelling is likely to amplify the thrust phenomenon and the stresses experienced by the side walls and by the lip of the coping.

In any event, if this reinforcement opposes the bending of the lip of the coping, it does not completely prevent the bulging of the side walls below said coping.

The invention aims to remedy this state of affairs. In particular, an objective of the invention is to propose a solution which makes it possible to effectively and durably reduce the deformations of the side walls under the effect of the thrust of the embankment elements.

Another objective of the invention is to be able to easily install, in the concrete belt, a metal frame integral with the shell, and to maintain it in position before pouring the concrete.

An additional objective of the invention is to propose a solution making it possible to secure a metal frame to the shell, while preserving the tightness of said shell, the physical integrity of the side walls and the physical integrity of the lip of the coping. .

Disclosure of the invention.

The solution proposed by the invention is a plastic swimming pool shell, which shell is delimited by side walls and a bottom wall, said side walls having an internal face, an external face and a lip of coping arranged at their level. upper end.

This hull is remarkable in that:

- rigid connecting rods are arranged on the external face of at least one side wall which rods are, in use, projecting from said external face and are arranged to form a support for supporting a metal frame,

- At least two parallel tubular reinforcing elements are arranged horizontally along the side wall on which the connecting rods are arranged, which tubular reinforcing elements are coated with a composition of fibrous synthetic material ensuring their attachment to the external face of said side wall,

- At least one of the connecting rods is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements.

These rigid connecting rods ensure effective anchoring of the metal frame. The latter can act directly on the side walls to effectively counter the thrust of the embankments, especially in the case of vertical side walls and / or very long.

-6Furthermore, an additional stiffening element is obtained which prevents the shell from detaching from the concrete belt. In the prior art, the concrete belt remains not intact due to the deformation of the shell.

Only fixed on the external face of the side walls, they also respect the physical integrity of the hull and its tightness.

Also, these connecting rods now allow the metal reinforcement to be perfectly positioned above the embankments, so that it is fully embedded in the concrete belt. This perfect cohesion of the whole eliminates any risk of separation of the hull with its concrete belt, with the bad consequences of a significant deformation of the side walls that this induces.

This technical solution is particularly effective for rectangular pool shells or having one or more walls, or portions of walls, vertical side walls whose length is greater than 4 m, preferably greater than or equal to 8 m. The reinforced concrete belt obtained thanks to the invention optimizes the resistance of the side walls to thrusts, in particular to external thrusts.

Other advantageous features of the invention are listed below. Each of these characteristics can be considered alone or in combination with the remarkable characteristics defined above, and be the subject, if necessary, of one or more divisional patent applications:

- advantageously, alternately: connecting rods are fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements, and connecting rods are fixed only on the tubular reinforcing element which is furthest from the lip of the coping,

advantageously, the connecting rods are, in use, each arranged in a vertical plane perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the side wall on which they are arranged

advantageously, the connecting rods are, in use, perpendicular to the side wall on which they are arranged,

-7- advantageously, the connecting rods are foldable against the external face of the side wall on which they are arranged,

- in the folded position, the connecting rods can be parallel, or substantially parallel, to the side wall on which they are arranged,

the diameter of the connecting rods and / or the material in which they are made can be chosen so that said rods can be folded down manually against the external face of the side wall on which they are arranged,

the connecting rods are advantageously distributed all around said shell, said rods being fixed on the external face of all the side walls,

the connecting rods preferably have their distal end which is bent upwards,

- The connecting rod which is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements, advantageously has a bent end which bears against the underside of the lip of the coping.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a swimming pool shell in accordance with one of the preceding characteristics, comprising the steps consisting in:

- mold a swimming pool shell to the desired shapes,

- have two tubular reinforcing elements in parallel and on which the connecting rods are arranged,

fix at least one connecting rod together on the tubular reinforcing elements so that said rod secures the two said tubes together,

- Place the two tubular reinforcement elements against the external face of at least one side wall, said tubular reinforcement elements being arranged horizontally along said side wall, so that the connecting rods are arranged on the external face of at least one side wall, which rods are, in use, arranged projecting on said external face and are arranged to form a support for supporting a metal frame,

-8- spraying a composition of fibrous synthetic material on the external face of the side walls so as to coat the tubular reinforcing elements and the part of the connecting rods which is fixed on the latter.

Description of the figures.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which will follow, with reference to the appended drawings, produced by way of indicative and nonlimiting examples and in which:

- Figure 1 above shows schematically the integration of a metal frame in the concrete belt, according to an embodiment known from the prior art,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing, in a partial cross section, the installation of a hull according to the invention in an excavation,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing, in a partial cross section, an example of attachment of the connecting rods to a shell according to the invention, before projection of the composition of fibrous synthetic material,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing, in a partial cross section, the connecting rods arranged to form a support suitable for receiving the metal frame,

- Figure 5 shows the shell of Figure 4, the metal frame being installed on the connecting rods,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing, in a partial cross-section, connecting rods folded against the external face of the side wall,

- Figure 7 shows schematically an arrangement of the connecting rods.

-9 Preferred embodiments of the invention.

The pool shell object of the invention is made of plastic. It is preferably made of composite materials based on fibers and resin, in particular glass fibers and polyester resin of the thermosetting or photocrosslinkable type, in particular of the UV polymerizable type.

This shell is a single piece, obtained by molding. The molding process is known to those skilled in the art, in particular carried out by layering of fibers, mineral or synthetic, in particular glass fibers, applied to a mold making it possible to obtain a shell in the desired shapes: rectangular, square, oval, bean, round, L-shaped, flat or inclined, incorporating stairs etc. The walls of the mold are previously coated with gelcoat. The fibers are linked by hardening resins, in particular polyester. After hardening of the resins, the shell of the swimming pool is obtained by demolding the latter and possibly sanding or buffing if necessary to obtain a shell ready for use and installation.

Conventionally, and as it partially appears in the appended figures, the shell is delimited by side walls 10 and a bottom wall. The side walls 10 having an internal face 10a intended to be in contact with the pool water and an external face 10b which is opposite to said internal face. A coping lip 11 is arranged at the upper end of the side walls 10 and extends over the entire periphery of the hull. This lip 11 is straight and extends horizontally towards the outside of the shell, perpendicular to the side walls 10, over a distance of between 5 cm and 10 cm. The lip 11, combined with the concrete belt, forms a rigid support for receiving the copings.

-10Reinforcement elements 12a, 12b are arranged on the external face 10b of the side walls 10. These reinforcement elements are, in known manner, positioned and amalgamated essentially in two directions: - horizontal reinforcements 12a or longitudinal extending substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 10, in the lengthwise direction of the pool for the longitudinal side walls and in the widthwise direction of the pool for the transverse side walls of the pool, and - vertical reinforcements 12b s' extending in the direction of the height or depth of the pool.

The horizontal reinforcements 12a can be placed end to end all around the pool, that is to say successively on its side walls, or even in the case of basins of round, ovoid shape, or of free shape over their whole periphery, so as to surround it. The vertical reinforcements 12b follow the outline of the side walls 10 which are not necessarily straight or rectilinear but can follow unevennesses, in particular defining stair treads with substantially horizontal plane sections and substantially vertical or inclined plane sections and with junctions between said planes with rounded contours. These vertical reinforcements 12b therefore also follow the rounded contour between the bottom wall and lip 11. In practice, the reinforcing elements 12a, 2b are installed against the external face 10b of the side walls 10, after molding of the shell. They are for example held in position on the side walls 10 by means of hot glue dots.

The reinforcing elements 12a, 12b are preferably of the type described in patent application FR 2,919,882 (POOLS GROUP GA) to which the person skilled in the art can refer. These reinforcing elements have a hollow form consisting of the same sheet or film of thermoplastic material such as PE, PP, Polyester, in particular APET, preferably from 100 μm to 1000 μm in thickness, comprising a succession of grooves in their longitudinal direction, each groove extending in the transverse direction

-11 of said elements so that they are able to deform by bending relative to their longitudinal direction.

In Figures 2 to 6, two parallel tubular reinforcing elements 121a and 122a are arranged horizontally along the side wall 10 on which the connecting rods 2 are arranged. These tubular elements 121a, 122a thus form part of the horizontal reinforcements, in the same way as the other aforementioned reinforcements 12a, and contributes to stiffening the side walls 10. They are more particularly placed against the external face 10b. This pair of tubular elements 121a, 122a makes it possible to further reinforce the side walls 10. They are advantageously each in the form of one or more hollow steel tubes, of circular section, and whose diameter is between 20 mm and 60 mm, preferably 40 mm. Their thickness is for example 1.5 mm. The tubes can be placed end to end all around the pool, that is to say successively on its side walls 10, or even in the case of basins of round, ovoid shape or free shape, over their whole periphery, so as to surround it. They are for example held in position on the side walls 10 by means of hot glue dots. Hotboard collars or hot "bridge" collars that can be used.

The upper tubular element 121a is disposed adjacent to the lip 11. It is thus placed at the intersection between the upper end of the side walls 10 and the lip 11. The lower tubular element 122a is located in below the tubular reinforcing element 121a, at a distance therefrom. This doubles the stiffener system. Good results are obtained, in particular in terms of combating the deformations of the side walls 10 under the effect of the thrust of the embankments, when the two tubular elements 121a and 122a are spaced from each other by 10 cm to 50 cm, preferably 20 cm.

-12 Rigid connecting rods 2, 2 ’are arranged on the external face 10b of at least one of the side walls 10 of the shell. To ensure optimal anchoring, these rods 2, 2 'are preferably distributed all around the shell, being fixed on the external face 10b of all the side walls 10. The rods 2, 2' are advantageously aligned in the same horizontal plane . The rods 2, 2 ’are, in use, arranged to form a support for supporting a metal frame 3 as described later in the description.

The rods 2, 2 ’are advantageously in the form of solid rods, of the concrete iron type, of round section, their diameter being between 6 mm and 50 mm. Good results are obtained with 8 mm steel rods. The material used is preferably a Fe E 500 S steel. These rods 2, 2 ’are ribbed and / or twisted to improve their adhesion to concrete. They have a length of between 5 cm and 50 cm, preferably 20 cm. All the stems 2, 2 ’are regularly spaced at a distance of between 10 cm and 200 cm. Good results are obtained, in particular in terms of combating the deformations of the side walls 10 under the effect of the thrust of the embankments, when the stems 2, 2 ′ are spaced from 30 cm to 90 cm, preferably 40 cm.

In FIG. 4, the rods 2, 2 'are located at a distance from the lip 11. It is understood here that it is the portions of the rods 2, 2' forming a support support which are distant from the lip 11. This arrangement allows not only to preserve the integrity of the lip 11, but also to move the reaction force of the rods 2, 2 ′ down the side walls 10, where they are more likely to deform. The portions of the rods 2, 2 'forming a support support are for example located at a distance "d1" from the lip 1, between 10 cm and 100 cm. Good results are obtained, in particular in terms of combating deformations of the side walls 10 under the effect of the thrust of the embankments, when the distance "d1" is between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably 20 cm.

-13The rods 2, 2 ’have a distal end 2b, 2’b bent upwards. This distal end 2b, 2’b is for example bent at an angle, 90 ° upwards, over a length of between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferably 2 cm. As explained further in the description, this bent distal end 2b, 2’b serves as a stop for the frame 3 (Figures 2 and 5) facilitating the positioning and alignment of the latter. It also makes it possible to resume the thrust forces of the embankments.

At least one of the connecting rods 2 ’is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements 121a, 122a. The tubular reinforcements 121a, 122a are thus joined together, which makes it possible to handle them together, in one piece. Their establishment and maintains them in position against the external face 10b of the side wall 10 are then facilitated.

Preferably, alternately: connecting rods 2 ’are fixed jointly on the two tubular elements 121a, 122a, and connecting rods 2 are fixed only on the tubular element 122a. This alternate configuration is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7, where one rod in two is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements 121a, 122a.

For the joining of the rods 2, 2 ’on the external face 10b of the side walls 10, different solutions can be provided. The preferred solution is illustrated in Figures 2 to 7.

The rods 2 are only fixed on the tubular reinforcing element 122a. More particularly, the proximal end 2a of the rods 2 is fixed to the tubular element 122a. This fixing is ensured by welding (MIG or TIG welding for example). To facilitate this welding operation and ensure that the latter is carried out over a sufficient length of the rod 2, it is advantageous to bend the proximal end 2a of the rods 2. They are preferably bent horizontally at right angles, so that the angled part is parallel to the axis of

-14 the tubular element 122a (Figure 3). Good fixing is obtained when the bent part has a length of between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferably 2 cm. The rods 2 are preferably arranged on the tubular element 122a so that the bent proximal ends 2a are aligned and oriented in the same direction.

The rods 2 'are fixed jointly on the two tubular elements 121a and 122a. More particularly, the rods 2 ′ are bent in L ”, so that a transverse portion 2’c can be fixed jointly on the two tubular elements 121a and 122a. In FIG. 3, this transverse portion 2′c extends vertically upwards, its length corresponding to the distance separating the two tubular elements 121a and 122a. This fixing is ensured by welding (MIG or TIG welding for example).

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the connecting rods 2 'also have a bent end 2'd which comes to bear against the underside of the lip of the edge 11, thus serving as a support for the latter. This configuration tends to limit the deformation of the lip of the edge 11 when it is stressed. This end 2’d is preferably bent horizontally at right angles, so that the bent part is perpendicular to the axis of the tubular element 121a. Good results (in particular in terms of limiting the deformation of the lip of the coping 11) are obtained when the bent part 2’d has a length of between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferably 2 cm.

When the rods 2, 2 ′ are joined to the tubular elements 121a, 122a is carried out, these assemblies are installed against the external face 10b of the side walls 10. A composition of fibrous synthetic material is then projected onto the external face 10b of the side walls 10. This composition is used to coat the reinforcing elements 12a, 12b, the tubular elements 121a, 122a and the part of the rods 2, 2 'which are welded to the tubular elements 121a, 122a. The term “fibrous synthetic material” means any material obtained by applying a

Composition of fibers of synthetic or mineral material and hardening resin of plastic material, which for example mainly consists of glass fibers and polyester binder. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the reinforcing elements 12a, 12b, the tubular elements 121a, 122a and the part of the rods 2, 2 'which is fixed on the latter and are thus laminated, coated with a composite skin P which secures them to the external face 10b.

In use, that is to say when the hull is installed in its excavation and the concrete is ready to be poured to form the concrete belt, the rods 2, 2 ’are arranged projecting from the external face 10b. This configuration is clearly shown in Figures 2 to 5. Preferably, the rods 2, 2 'are each arranged in a vertical plane which is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the side wall 10 on which they are fixed. By "substantially perpendicular" is meant that the angle formed between the plane containing a rod 2, 2 'and the tangent plane containing the side wall 10 at the level of said rod, is not necessarily a right angle, but can be between 80 ° and 100 °.

So that their reaction force acts optimally on the walls 10, the rods 2, 2 ′ are perpendicular to the side wall 10 on which they are fixed. Indeed, the thrust forces of the embankments being perpendicular to the side walls 10, the rods 2, 2 ′ act more effectively against these thrust forces when they are arranged in the same direction. In addition, in this configuration, the reaction force of the rods 2, 2 'causes the lateral walls to work in bending, this bending stress tending to respect the physical integrity of said walls (unlike the shear stress which can be subject lip 11 in the configuration of Figure 1). In the case of vertical side walls 10, or if the rods 2, 2 ’are fixed on a vertical portion of said walls, then said rods are advantageously arranged horizontally.

In use, when the rods 2, 2 ′ are arranged projecting from the external face 10b of the side walls 10, they are arranged to form a support for supporting the metal frame 3. This is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, where the alignment of the rods 2, 2 ′ in the same horizontal plane, delimits a sort of gutter on which the reinforcement 3 will be placed after the backfilling step. The bent ends 2b, 2’b serve as a stop, facilitating the positioning of the frame 3 and its alignment, parallel to the side walls 10.

The frame 3 is typically a sill used in retaining structures and is in the form of a steel beam 3 oriented horizontally. In the appended figures, this beam is made up of four horizontal linkages 3a arranged and held together by stirrups 3b. The beam forming the frame 3 has for example a square section of 10 cm on a side, the chaining 3a being in the form of solid rods of round section, the diameter of which is between 6 mm and 50 mm, preferably 8 mm.

The installation of the hull on site, in an excavation provided for this purpose, is simple and quick.

After placing the shell in the excavation, the latter is backfilled to a depth of between 30 cm and 40 cm from the lip 11. More generally, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the excavation is backfilled to a depth such that the rods 2, 2 'are distant from the upper surface 50 of the embankments 5. The distance between the rods 2, 2' and the surface 50 is for example between 10 cm and 40 cm. This backfilling is carried out in a conventional manner, for example using gravel or crushed aggregates of the 20/27 or 20/40 type.

The rods 2, 2 'are thus located above the embankments 5. If this has not already been done, the rods 2, 2' are oriented so that they are arranged projecting on the external face 10b of the side walls. 10 on which they are fixed and are arranged to form the support of the frame 3. The installation of the latter is done very simply, by placing it on the rods 2, 2 '. The stops

-17 formed by the bent ends 2b, 2’b allow it to be perfectly centered. The frame 3 is also located above the embankments 5, without contact with the latter, which ensures the conformity of its coating of the concrete belt.

After installing the frame 3 resting on the rods 2, 2 ’, it is secured to said rods. To simplify this step, this connection is ensured by iron fasteners, which allow the rods 2, 2 ’to be assembled with the linkages 3a which are supported on the latter.

We can then pour concrete (for example a conventional concrete weighed at 350 kg) above the embankments 5, up to the lip 11, so as to form a concrete belt 6 around the hull and in which the armature 3 and rods 2, 2 '. The concrete belt 6 is thus completely secured to the side walls 10 on which the rods 2, 2 ’are arranged. This total connection makes it possible to compensate for any deformations of the side walls 10 under the pushing force of the embankments 5. The rods 2, 2 ′ which are perfectly anchored in the concrete belt 6, generate a reaction force which opposes and limits , or even cancels, this pushing effort.

When the hull is transported to the site where it is to be installed, the rods 2, 2 ’can hinder its handling. Likewise, when the shell is placed in the excavation, the rods 2, 2 ’constitute obstacles which can hinder the backfilling operation. To remedy this, it is advantageously provided that the rods 2, 2 ’are foldable against the external face 10b of the side wall 10 on which they are fixed. The rods 2, 2 ’are folded down before handling the hull and the rest until the end of the backfilling step.

In FIG. 6, rods 2, 2 ′ are folded back against the external face 10b so that they are parallel, or substantially parallel, to the side wall 10. In this folded position, the rods 2, 2 ′ do not represent any danger for operators handling the hull, who can work in complete safety. In addition, it is possible to install the hull on a trailer by pressing it on its side, without risking damaging the rods 2, 2 ’and / or the

-18 side walls 10 on which they are fixed. Finally, when the hull is placed in the excavation, no obstacle hinders the placement of the embankments.

Several solutions can be envisaged to make the rods 2, 2 ’foldable. It can be provided that the diameter of the rods 2, 2 ’and / or the material in which they are made, are such that said rods can be folded down manually against the external face 10b. 8 mm Fe E 500 S steel rods allow an operator to easily twist them, at their proximal end 2a and at the elbow 2’c, to fold them against the external face 10b. The advantage of this solution is that the rods 2, 2 ’remain in the folded position once they are bent. This manual folding is facilitated, that is to say requires less effort for the operator, when the proximal ends 2a are bent horizontally at right angles, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Another solution consists in securing the rods 2, 2 ’to the side wall 10, and more particularly to the tubular reinforcing element 122a, by means of a hinge allowing their folding against the external face 10b. This hinge can be vertical or horizontal.

After the backfilling step, the rods 2, 2 ’are again manipulated so that they are deployed and protruding on the external face 10b and form a support for supporting the reinforcement 3.

The arrangement of the various elements and / or means and / or steps of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. In any event, it will be understood that various modifications can be made to these elements and / or means and / or stages, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular ;

- The shell can be made up of several molded parts assembled together;

-19- the rods 2, 2 ’are not necessarily aligned in the same plane; they can be staggered, for example in two parallel horizontal planes;

- the rods 2, 2 ’can be flat, oval, square, etc .;

- the stems 2, 2 ’can be hollow;

- the rods 2, 2 ’can be made of other types of rigid materials such as: aluminum, plastic, etc .;

- the distal end 2b, 2b 'of the rod 2, 2' can be bent in a pin or in C;

- The tubular element 121a and / or 122a can be in the form of a solid rod, or a hollow tube of square, rectangular, oval section, etc;

- The tubular element 121a and / or 122a can be made of aluminum, plastic, or any other rigid material suitable for those skilled in the art;

- the rods 2, 2 ’can be fixed on the tubular elements 121a, 122a 15 by screwing, keying, or any other mechanical fixing means suitable for the skilled person;

- The proximal end 2a of the rods 2 can be directly positioned against the external face 10b of the side wall 10, the composition of fibrous synthetic material P ensuring its joining on said external face;

- in use, the rods 2, 2 ’can be arranged horizontally, even if the side wall 10, or the fixing zone on which they are fixed are not vertical;

the metal frame 3 can be in the form of a flat or "hairpin" chain, of chains arranged in a rectangle, in a circle, etc .;

- the connection of the frame 3 to the connecting rods 2, 2 ’can be carried out by welding, by means of a hook, etc.

Claims (11)

Claims 1. Plastic pool shell, which shell is delimited by side walls (10) and a bottom wall, said side walls having an internal face (10a), an external face (10b) and a lip of a coping (11 ) fitted at their upper end, characterized in that: - rigid connecting rods (2, 2 ') are arranged on the external face (10b) of at least one side wall (10) which rods are, in use, arranged projecting on said external face and are arranged to form a support for supporting a metal frame (3), - at least two parallel tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) are arranged horizontally along the side wall (10) on which the connecting rods (2, 2 ') are arranged, which tubular reinforcing elements are coated with a composition of fibrous synthetic material (P) ensuring their joining to the external face (10b) of said side wall, - at least one of the connecting rods (2 ’) is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a). 2. Swimming pool shell according to claim 1, in which alternately: connecting rods (2 ') are fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a), and connecting rods (2) are fixed only on the tubular reinforcing element (122a) which is furthest from the lip of the coping (11). 3. Pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting rods (2, 2 ') are, in use, each arranged in a vertical plane perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the side wall (10) on which they are arranged. -21 4. Pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting rods (2, 2 ’) are, in use, perpendicular to the side wall (10) on which they are arranged. 5. Pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting rods (2, 2 ’) are foldable against the external face (10b) of the side wall (10) on which they are arranged. 6. Pool shell according to claim 5, wherein in the folded position, the connecting rods (2, 2 ’) are parallel, or substantially parallel, to the side wall (10) on which they are arranged. 7. Pool shell according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the diameter of the connecting rods (2, 2 ') and / or the material in which they are made, are such that said rods are manually foldable against the external face (10b) of the side wall (10) on which they are arranged. 8. Swimming pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting rods (2, 2 ') are distributed all around said shell, said rods being fixed on the external face (10b) of all the side walls ( 10). 9. Pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting rods (2, 2 ’) have their distal end (2b) which is bent upwards. 10. Pool shell according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting rod (2 ') which is fixed jointly on the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a), has a bent end (2'd) which abuts against the underside of the lip of the coping (11). 11. Method for manufacturing a swimming pool shell according to claim 1, comprising the steps consisting in: - mold a swimming pool shell to the desired shapes, - have two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) in parallel and 5 on which the connecting rods (2, 2 ’) are arranged, - attach at least one connecting rod (2 ’) jointly to the tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) so that said rod secures the two said tubes together, - placing the two tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) against the external face (10b) of at least one side wall (10), said tubular reinforcing elements being arranged horizontally along said side wall, so that the connecting rods (2, 2 ') are arranged on the external face (10b) of at least one side wall (10), which rods are, in use, projecting on said external face and are arranged to form a support support 15 metal frame (3), - spraying a composition of fibrous synthetic material (P) on the external face (10b) of the side walls (10) so as to coat the tubular reinforcing elements (121a, 122a) and the part of the connecting rods (2, 2 ' ) which is attached to them. 1/5 \ V AT \ 'GO AT AT “V V V \ \ AT \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ - \ \ \ s \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ ·. \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ , \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ % \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (Prior Art)