US3072921A

US3072921A - Construction methods for swimming pools

Info

Publication number: US3072921A
Application number: US48613A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Hegerfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-10
Filing date: 1960-08-10
Publication date: 1963-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1963 R. c. HEGERFELD 3,072,921

CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed Aug. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RICHARD C. HEGERFELD ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1963 R. c. HEGERFELD CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1960 INVENTOR RICHARD C. HEGERFELD Jan. 15, 1963 R. c. HEGERFELD CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 10, 1960 warn INVENTOR RCHARD C. HEGERFELD ATTORNEY United States This invention relates to swimming pools and methods of constructing such pools, and particularly to swimming pools having sidewalls of fiber glass or like material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a construction and construction methods for swimming pools wherein the sidewalls are comprised of reinforced fiber glass panels or like material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a construction for swimming pools wherein the fiber glass sidewall panels are securely anchored by supports seated in concrete and the dirt fill on the outer side of the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for swimming pools wherein the fiber glass sidewalls provide great flexibility for various sizes and shapes of swimming pools, and to further provide for simple repair or replacement of sidewalls in the event of damage thereto.

An additional object of my invention is to provide swimnnng pools which are relatively inexpensive and which can be easily installed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction for swimming pools which readily comply with sanitary and safety requirements of various local and other building codes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top view of the swimming pool sidewalls showing the support members and means for securing the fiber glass panels together.

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section of the panel with concrete base and coping and support members.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view partially in section of the panel with concrete base and coping and support members and drain when a scum gutter is provided.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of a fiber glass panel showing the pipe support member secured thereto.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a preferred method of securing the fiber glass panels together.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modified method of securing the fiber glass panels together.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partially in section showing the connection of support members at the upper portion of the panel.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of coping molding for the sidewall panels.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the soil excavation of the pool showing the concrete forming preparatory to placement of the fiber glass side panels.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the erection of the fiber glass panel.

FIG. 11 is an end view of a modified molding material for securing the fiber glass panels together.

The swimming pool may be of any desired shape, such as rectangular, round, oval, kidney-shaped and so forth, because of the flexibility of the fiber glass sheets forming the wall of the pool. After the shape and size of the pool is determined, the soil 10a may be excavated. Near the edge 11 of the entire perimeter of the pool the excavation is preferably a depth of about three feet from the surface 12 of the soil and extends as a gradually sloping ledge -13 for about two feet to a point 13a which has a depth of approximately 3 /2 feet from the surface 12 of soil atent O 3,072,921 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 19a. The exacavation 14 of the soil may then be deepened as desired toward the center of the pool, with recess 15 containing crushed rock, at the lowest depth for the main drain 16 and hydrostatic relief valve 17, with drain pipe 18.

Stakes 19 are then driven in the sloped area 13 as shown in FIG. 9 around the perimeter of the poolexcavation at a distance of about one foot apart. A continuous form 29, preferably of plywood about 3% inches in width and 4 inch thick (i.e., the thickness of the fiber glass) is fastened to the upper ends of stakes 19 by nails 21 and extends around the perimeter of the pool. The lower edge 22 of form 29 is to be on an even horizontal plane. Base shoe mold 23 having a quarter round shape is nailed or otherwise secured to the top of form 20 as shown in FIG. 9. After hooking up the drain pipe 18, reinforcement bars or wire mesh 24 are laid along the bottom of the excavation, the upper end 25 extending outside the periphery of form 20.

The concrete floor 26 of the pool is then laid. It is important that the upper edge 27 of the concrete be approximately level with the top edge 28 of base shoe mold 23. A quantity of concrete 29 from this first pouring should also be placed behind stake 19 as indicated in FIG. 9.

After the concrete of such first pouring has been allowed to set, the top 30 of the stakes 19 which are nailed to form 20 are cut off at 32 from the portion 31 of the stakes 19. The form 20 with the base shoe mold 23 is then carefully removed, leaving an indent 33 at the upper edge 27 of the concrete and a slot 34 between the concrete 26 and the remaining portion 31 of stake 19.

The lower portion 35 of fiber glass panels 36 are then set into the slots 34 between concrete 26 and portion 31 of stake 19. The panels must be level and carefully plumbed. It may be held in position by notched strips 37a which may be driven into the soil bank. The fiber glass panels are set side by side around the perimeter of the excavation, preferably about /2 inch apart.

The panels 36 are spliced together by a splice assembly consisting of a facing strip 39 of aluminum, chrome or other suitable materials that will not readily oxidize or deteriorate, an inner gasket 40 and an outer gasket 41 of neoprene or similar material, a backing plate 42 which may be a channel iron foradditional strength as shown in FIG. 5. Facing strip 39 is secured to backing plate 42 by inset screws 43 at various intervals. When screws 43 are tightened, a water-tight seal is created at the joints of the side edges 36a of fiber glass panels 36.

A modified splice assembly is shown in FIG. 6 wherein facing strip 44 has-a greater curvature or more oval shape than facing strip 39. A further modified means of splicing the fiber glass is illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein as hereinafter described, a double-notched molding 82 is used.

The final or last fiber glass panel to be fitted into the pool sidewall 35 may be cut with a saw to fit the remaining opening in the wall, thereby enclosing the pool area 46.

Fiber glass panel 36 has vertical pipe support members 37, preferably three on each panel, which are secured by a U-shaped fiber glass strip 38 which is fused or otherwise secured to fiber glass panel 36.

Each of the support members 37 is equipped with a reinforcing bar 47, preferably of steel, having curved upper and

lower end portions

43 and 49, respectively, which hook into the respective upper and lower ends 50 and 51 of pipe support members 37. The base portion 52 of reinforcing bar 47 extends horizontally back from pipe support member, turning upward to form a vertical portion 53 and then extending diagonally at 54 to upper end 50 of reinforcing bar 47. Base portion 52 is anchored to wire mesh 24 by wire 54.

.Inorder/to furnish additional support, a strengthening reinforcing bar 55 isused having a long vertical side 56, a short horizontal side 57 and a short projecting end 58 at right angles, and onthe same horizontal plane as side 57. Short projecting end58 extends'under the curvature 59 of reinforcing bar 47, and is wired to the latter by Wire 60. The vertical side of strengthening bar 55 is likewise wired to reinforcing bar 47 by wire 61. Preferably strengthening bars 55 are so used with the support members -37 located nearest the outer edges of glass fiber panels 36, as shown in FIG. 1.

Where as scum gutter is desired, or is required by local ordinance, a scum gutter reinforcing bar 62, which may be partially enclosed in pipe sleeve 63, is secured to strengthening bar 55 by

wires

64 and 65. The scum gutter reinforcing bar 62 has along diagonally extending side 64,.a'horizontal side 65 and a relatively short vertical side ,66. 'Side 66 may be partially enclosed in a collar .67.

After the reinforcing bars 47 and strengthening bars 55, and where desired, scum gutter reinforcing bars 62 have been positioned as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, concrete is .pouredbehind a portion of the glass fiber panels 36 to cover portion 31 of stakes 19, the lower portion 35 of the fiber glass panel, the lower portions of reinforcing bars 47, strengthening bars 55 and scum gutter reinforcing bars'62, and extending above the lower end 51 of pipe support members 37, to the approximate concrete level 68 asshown in FIGS. 2 and. 3.

'Indent 33 is, filled with a grout of water and cement 68a to within about /2 inch from the top. Thereafter the upper portion of indent 33 is filled with a rubber water seal 68b to provide a good water seal.

After concrete 68 has set, the supporting strips 37a may be removed and coping molding 69, which may be plastic, aluminum or other suitable material, is applied around the top 36b of the fiber glass panels 36. The area 70 behind fiber glass panels 36 isthen filled with sand and gravel 70 and compacted. Concrete coping 71 with reinforcement wires 72 is laid on top of the fill 70 against the back face 73 of coping molding 69, to cover the top portions of reinforcing bars 47 and strengthening bars 55, as shown in FIG. 2.

Where scum gutter is provided, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the scum gutter concrete coping 74 is sloped downward from the back face 73 of coping molding 69 toward drains 75 which has outlet 76 to filter (not shown). A strip 77 of fiber glass is located between collar 67 and the inlet 78 of drains 75 and sealed in place by the concrete coping -74 behind and between drain inlets78. After the concrete coping 74 has set the scum gutter coping molding 79, which is similar to coping molding 69, is applied to the top of fiber glassstrips 77. Outer coping 80 having reinforcement wires 81 is then laid against the back face 79a of molding 79 to cover the upper portions of the scum gutterreinforcing bar 62 and collar 67 as shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 11 showsthe end view of a modified molding 82 with a groove 83 between extending

edges

84 and 85, and

V groove 86 between extending

edges

87 and 88. The respective side'edges 36a of the fiber glass panels 36-are extended into

grooves

83 and 86. Molding 82 is composed of plastic, fibercomposition or similar material that will provide awater tight seal between the fiber glass panels 36 and molding 82'extends the length of the panels. It is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to the particular construction, arrangement of parts or methods herein illustrated, but embraces all such modifications and alterations thereof, as may come within the scope of the following claims} claim:

1. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for the swimming pool area, providing 'a sloping ledgearound the perimeter of the said panels,

pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for said panels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concrete form, joining the individualpanels in substantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels, laying concrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower and base portions of the reinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of said panels, providing a coping behind said coping molding.

2. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sides composed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for the swimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter of the pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for the lower portion of said panels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concrete form, joining the individual panels in substantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars which extend the approximate length of said panels to the rear of the panels, laying concrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower and base portions of the panels and reinforcing bars, compacting fill material oversaid concrete behind the panels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of said panels, laying concrete coping behind said coping molding, said concrete coping to incorporate the upper portions of the reinforcing bars, sealing the junction of the lower portion of said panels and the floor of the pool.

3. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sides composed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for the swimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter of the pool area, constructing a concrete formover saidledge for said panels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concrete form, joining the individual panels in substantial vertical ,alignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels, securing scum gutter reinforcing bars to said other reinforcingbars, laying concrete behind they lower portion of said panels to cover the lower and base portions of the reinforcing bars and scum gutter reinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of said panels, providing a coping behind said coping moldin and providing a scum gutter by placing a raised outer coping behind said coping.

4. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sides composed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for the swimming pool area, providinga sloping ledge around the perimeter of the pool area, constructing a pool drain at the deepest part of the excavated pool area, constructing .a concrete form over said ledge for said panels, laying concrete for the fioor of the pool and on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concrete form, holding the panels in position with notched strips driven into the soil bank behind the panels, joining the individual panels in substantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rearof the panels, securing strengthening reinforcement bars to said other reinforcement bars, laying concrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the, lower and base portions of the reinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of providing a coping behind said coping molding.

5. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sides composed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for the swimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter of the pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for said panels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concrete form, joining the individual panels in substantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels, securing scum gutter reinforcing bars to said other reinforcing bars, laying concrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower and base portions of the reinforcing bars and scum gutter reinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of said panels, providing a coping behind said coping molding, constructing a plurality of drains along the rear edge of the coping, providin a scum gutter by placing substantially vertical strips in edge to edge abutment along the rear edge of the coping, attaching scum gutter coping molding to the upper portions of said strips, providing an outer coping behind said scum gutter coping molding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,332 Eichelman et al. May 9, 1933 2,488,708 Clemetsen Nov. 22, 1949 2,873,505 Sheldon Feb. 17, 1959 2,887,759 Brownell May 26, 1959 3,015,191 Lucchesi Jan. 2, 1962

Claims

1. A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL HAVING SIDES COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUAL PANELS COMPRISING, EXCAVATING THE EARTH FOR THE SWIMMING POOL AREA, PROVIDING A SLOPING LEDGE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE POOL AREA, CONSTRUCTING A CONCRETE FORM OVER SAID LEDGE FOR SAID PANELS, LAYING CONCRETE FOR THE FLOOR OF THE POOL AND ON THE FORWARD, REARWARD AND BOTTOM SIDES OF SAID FORM, REMOVING THE CONCRETE FORM AND PLACING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PANELS IN THE SLOT PROVIDED BY THE CONCRETE FORM, JOINING THE INDIVIDUAL PANELS IN SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, SECURING REINFORCING BARS TO THE REAR OF THE PANELS, LAYING CONCRETE BEHIND THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PANELS TO COVER THE LOWER AND BASE PORTIONS OF THE REINFORCING BARS, COMPACTING FILL MATERIAL BEHIND THE PANELS, ATTACHING COPING MOLDING TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID PANELS, PROVIDING A COPING BEHIND SAID COPING MOLDING.