GB2051572A

GB2051572A - Improvements relating to swimming pool liner supports and coping

Info

Publication number: GB2051572A
Application number: GB8017301A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-24
Filing date: 1980-05-27
Publication date: 1981-01-21

Abstract

A supporting for a pool liner (8) comprises interlocking mouldings (1,2). A slot (3) in one moulding (1) receives the top of the rigid wall (4) of the pool and a locking groove (5) receives the beaded head (7) of the liner (8), whilst an upwardly opening slot (9) receives an elongated rib (10) of the other moulding (2). The two mouldings (1,2) are also linked by a rib (11) and groove (12) formation and mask the fixing of the liner to the moulding (1) and the void space (13) behind the top portion of the liner (8) where the liner could readily become damaged. The two mouldings (1,2A) Fig. 2 (not shown) can alternatively be moulded from aluminium, as opposed to plastics, the member (1) having a locking rib keying it to the concrete pool wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to swimming pool liner supports and coping This invention is concerned with a support arrangement for retaining the top edge of a swimming pool liner. Prefabricated swimming pools are constructed from linked panels and the panels and base are then lined with a preformed plastics liner. Obviously the outer edge of this liner has to be held in place at the top of the panel walls and in one conventional arrangement a liner locking groove projects inwardly of a fitting secured to the top of the panel walls and receives a bead formed at the top edge of the liner. The upper part of the fitting defines the edge of a coping which surrounds the pool edge. With this particular construction the interconnection of the liner bead with the fitting is visible and there is sometimes a void region behind the upper portion of the lining.The general appearance is not very attractive as the liner lock and liner bead are visible and there is also a possibility that the liner on certain designs can be pushed inwardly into the void region, which can result in damage to the liner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a secure support arrangement for a swimming pool liner which is also attractive in appearance yet flexible in design to accommodate freeform pools.

Accordingly this invention provides a swimming pool liner support comprising a first portion having a slot at its lower end to be positioned over the top edge of a pool wall and a liner locking groove for receipt of a top bead on the liner, opening at one side of the first portion, and a second portion, the two portions having mutually interlocking connection parts whereby the second portion will be interconnected to the first portion so as to cover the opening of the locking groove and provide a slot between the lower ends of both portions through which the pool liner will pass.

With the two portions interlocked with one another, the upper part of the liner, including the liner bead, is protected by the second portion of the support and the liner locking groove retaining the liner bead is also hidden from view. This therefore gives an attractive appearance and protects the upper part of the liner from being tampered with or damaged.

In the preferred embodiment, the interlocking connection part of the first portion comprises an upwardly extending second slot.

Ideally the two slots in the first portion are symmetrically positioned to either side of the liner locking groove. With this arrangement, part of the liner locking groove will extend through the vertical axis of the first portion so that the liner bead will be held directly above the top edge of the pool wall so that there will only be a small void between the pool wall and the upper part of the liner (which will in any case be covered by the second portion).

Ideally the second portion has an elongated rib for receipt in the second slot of the first portion. Improved security of interlocking of the two portions may be made by providing that the second portion has a second rib fitting in a retaining groove in the side of the first portion at a position above the liner locking groove.

The lower end of the second portion may be enlarged or otherwise shaped for added strength. Furthermore the support may be so formed that the enlarged lower end of the second portion is provided with a groove and the upper end of the first portion has an extension projecting in a direction opposite to the opening of the liner locking groove such that the extension in the first portion and the groove in the enlarged lower end of a second portion may be interconnected so that that second portion will lie at right angles to the first portion. Thus the support may comprise the combination of a first portion and the second portion, one of which is interconnected with the first portion in the usual way and the second of which extends outwardly from the pool periphery to form part of the pool edging surfaces.

The two portions are preferably formed by a moulding or extrusion process and thus may be formed, for example, from plastics and/or aluminium.

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The invention also extends to the combina- tion of a swimming pool liner and a support as hereinbefore defined wherein a top bead on the liner is received and held within the liner locking groove of the first portion and the top part of the liner is covered by the second portion interconnected with the first portion.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a portion of a swimming pool liner support constructed in accordance with this invention; and Figure 2 is a similar cross-sectional view through another design of swimming pool liner support of the invention.

The support shown in Fig. 1 comprises a first portion 1 and a second portion 2 both formed from a plastics material by an extrusion process. The first portion 1 has a downwardly extending slot 3 which locates over the top edge of a panel 4 forming a rigid wall of the pool. Above the slot 3 there is formed a liner locking groove 5 formed with a rib 6 which holds in place the shaped beaded head 7 of a pool liner 8 by means of a snap-fit. A second slot 9 extends upwardly from the groove 5 and receives an elongated rib 10 forming part of the second portion 2. A sec ond rib 11 on the second portion 2 is received as a snap-fit within a retaining groove 1 2 in the side of the first portion 1 just above the locking groove 5.

When the two parts 1 and 2 are interconnected in the manner illustrated in the drawing the locking of the beaded head 7 of the liner 8 within the liner locking groove 5 is hidden from view as also is the small void space 1 3 between the liner 8 and the part of the first portion 1 forming the slot 3. Indeed in the final construction the only visible part of the support is the portion 2 which can be made to have an attractive appearance and include such formations as the beads 14 which provide improved grip for a user of the swimming pool. The lower end of the portion 2 has a shaped part 1 5 which forms a face tending to hold the liner against the panel 4 of the swimming pool and also providing added strength in this lower edge and limiting access to the space 1 7 between the portions 1 and 2.The formed part 1 5 also serves another purpose in that it enables a portion 2 of identical design to be laid on the ground surface so as to interlock with a flange 1 6 formed on the part 1. This is illustrated at 2B and the result is an attractive coping effect for the edge of the swimming pool. Concrete or some other filling material can be employed to fill the space below the part 2A.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 2 first and second portions 1A and 2A respectively are provided to support the beaded head 7 of the pool liner 8 and to cover over the top edge of each panel 4 which provides the pool wall. In this case whilst the first portion 1A is provided with a slot 9A to receive a rib 1 0A on the second portion 2A, the first portion is also provided with an additional rib 1 8 which is received within a slot 1 9 in the second portion 2A. The two portions 1A and 2A are therefore a push fit together so that the portion 1 A hides and protects the locking of the beaded head 7 of the liner 8 in the locking groove 5A and hides the void space 1 3 from view.The portions 1 A and 2A are extruded from aluminium and when locked together provide a ridged upper surface 20 which provides a good grip for a swimmer. The portion 1A additionally includes a locking rib 21 and a locking groove 22 which will key into the concrete 23 laid around the perimeter of the pool.

Formation of the support in two parts 1/1A and 2/2A creates several advantages, the first of which is the fact that the interconnection between the support and the liner can be hidden from view. Additionally, however, where the pool edge is to be of curved form each of the parts 1/1A and 2/2A may be more readily formed into a curved shape than would a single member of generally similar form to the final support because differential curvature of each of the parts 1 /1 A and 2/2A is made possible. Furthermore, the part 1/1A itself is generally symmetrical about the slot 3/3A so that curvature of this part is also symmetrical to either side of the edge of the top wall 4 of the pool. The added flexibility achieved also enables smooth curvature of relatively small radius to be formed.

Whilst the supports illustrated in the drawings are preferred they may of course be modified as may occur to those skilled in the art. For example, if the top edge of the panel 4 was formed with an out-turned lip the slot part 3/3A of the portion 1 /1A could then lie horizontal with its mouth opening below and just behind the retaining groove 5/5A.

Claims

1. A swimming pool liner support comprising a first portion having a slot at its lower end to be positioned over the top edge of a pool wall and a liner locking groove for receipt of a top bead on the liner, opening at one side of the first portion, and a second portion, the two portions having mutually interlocking connection parts whereby the second portion will be interconnected to the first portion so as to cover the opening of the locking groove and provide a slot between the lower ends of both portions through which the pool liner will pass.

2. A support according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking connection part of the first portion comprises an upwardly extending second slot.

3. A support according to claim 2, wherein the two slots in the first portion are generally symmetrically positioned to either side of the liner locking groove.

4. A support according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second portion has an elongated rib for receipt in the second slot of the first portion.

5. A support according to claim 4, wherein the second portion has a second rib fitting in a retaining groove in the side of the first portion at a position above the liner locking groove.

6. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lower end of the second portion is enlarged or otherwise shaped for added strength.

7. A support according to claim 6, wherein the enlarged lower end of the second portion is provided with a groove and the upper end of the first portion has an extension projecting in a direction opposite to the opening of the liner locking groove, such that the extension in the first portion and the groove in the enlarged lower end of a second portion may be interconnected so that that second portion will lie at right angles to the first portion.

8. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the top edge of one or both portions is formed with ribs or ridges.

9. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the other face of the first portion has a locking rib or groove providing a key for concrete or the like.

10. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the two portions are formed by a moulding or extrusion process.

11. A support according to claim 10, wherein the two portions are formed from plastics and/or aluminium.

1 2. A swimming pool liner support substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 3. The combination of a swimming pool liner and a support is claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a top bead on the liner is received and held within the liner locking groove of the first portion and the top part of the liner is covered by the second portion interconnected with the first portion.