US3820174A

US3820174A - Swimming pool construction

Info

Publication number: US3820174A
Application number: US00300658A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Rozanski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-10-25
Filing date: 1972-10-25
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28

Abstract

A SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION HAS AN OUTER SHELL DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF METAL SECTIONS WHICH ARE SECURED TO EACH OTHER AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALLS DEFINING THE SWIMMING AREA OF THE POOL. EACH METAL SECTION INCLUDES A COPING SUPPORT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE SWIMMING AREA IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION FROM THE UPPER END OF EACH VERTICAL WALL, AND A COPING IS SECURED TO THE COPING SUPPORT ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE SWIMMING AREA. TRANSVERSELY SPACED SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING ONE END OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED HANDRAILS OF A SWIMMING POOL LADDER ARE SECURED TO THE OUTER END OF THE COPING SUPPORT PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF A CONCRETE DECK OR WALK AROUND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE SWIMMING POOL. STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS ARE SECURED TO THE OUTER SHELL OF THE SWIMMING POOL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE CONCRETE DECK OR WALL. THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS EXTEND OUTWARDLY OF THE METAL SECTIONS OF THE POOL AND SUPPORT HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, TOP ANGLE MEMBERS WHICH ARE DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF THE COPING. THE COPING HAS A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL UPPER SURFACE WHICH IS IN HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE TOP OF THE TOP ANGLE MEMBERS. A CONCRETE FORM FOR THE DECK OR WALK IS DEFINED BETWEEN THE COPING, THE TOP OF THE ANGLE MEMBERS AND THE BACKFILL. THE UPPER HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE COPING AND THE TOP OF THE TOP ANGLE MEMBERS FORM HORIZONTAL, SPACED GUIDES FOR DECK SCREEDING PURPOSES.

Description

[ June 28, 1974 United States Patent [191 Rozanski SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION Inventor: Henry A. Rozanski, Box 127, R.D.

No. 2, Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022 Oct. 25, 1972 22 Filed:

mation of a concrete deck or walk around the outer Appl. No.: 300,658

- periphery of the swimming pool. Structural supports are secured to the outer shell of the swimming pool to provide support for the concrete deck or wall. The

[52] US. Cl. 4/172.l9

structural supports extend outwardly of the metal sections of the pool and support horizontally disposed, top angle members which are disposed outwardly of the coping. The coping has a substantially horizontal upper surface which is in horizontal alignment with the top of the top angle members. A concrete form for the deck or walk is defined between the coping, the top of the angle members'and the backfill. The upper horizontal surface of the coping andthe top of the top angle members form horizontal, spaced guides for deck screeding purposes.

3H m w .maw Fmn 0... q dd B mfiwwmm m ,1 tha t 6 .1 x l a k uwte n 9 a 0 nm 0 3 V n m Z .1 fl o s im 0H m. amwaw E4 rL T w ms I An m n m mm m mmm m mw n .I r mm w; H wmmmw mm mm mm m m m n l 8-] c yflw m .r. r h d W0 ms n 0 m. mmw 1 m mm m u C 08 ammh d x n e .If. ind Ila M -f n myo wo IF WM mb dS a .I 0 II ll r lwd .wad n mm w mm [5. PA [Aficwmw from the upper end of each vertical wall, and a coping 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNZB I874 3320 SHEU 3 BF 4 SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to swimming pool constructions, and more specifically, to a structural arrangement for mounting the handrails of a pool ladder, and to a structural support assembly for supporting a concrete deck or walk disposed about the periphery of the pool.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many swimming pools are constructed with ladders to enable users of the pool to enter the pool, or exit from the pool in an easy manner. These ladders commonly have spaced handrails between which the steps of the ladder are secured. One end of each handrail is normally secured to the inner wall of the swimming pool, and the other end of each handrail is nonnally mounted within sockets disposed in the concrete deck or walk formed about the" outer periphery of the pool.

It is common practice to add the ladder to the swimming pool after the concrete deck has been formed. This arrangement requires the accurate positioning of the socket members within the concrete deck, such that-they will be in precise alignment for receiving ends of the handrails. This has been a particularly difficult and time consuming operation because of the difficulty of immobilizing the socket members within the concrete while the concrete is setting. Even when the sockets are spaced in precise alignment for receiving theends of the handrails when the concrete is poured, some misalignment-can occur as a result of forces imposed on such sockets during the setting of the concrete deck. If the handrail receiving sockets shift position as a result of the setting of the concrete, they will not be disposed to properly receive the handrails. The misalignment of the sockets results in added costs to remove the sockets from the set concrete to patch the openings from which the sockets were removed, and to reposition the sockets within the concrete in proper position to receive the ends of the handrails.

Prior art pool constructions utilize structural support assemblies for support of concrete decks or walks formed about the outer periphery of a swimming pool. These structural support assemblies partially support the concrete deck but were unable to prevent such deck from cracking as a result of backfill settlement. In forming a concrete deck or walk on the prior art structural support assemblies, it has been common practice to utilize both the backfill and additional forms for confining the concrete during the pouring and setting thereof. The use of separate forms is undesirable because it increases the costs of forming such a concrete deck and the backfill had a tendency to settle, thereby encouraging concrete cracks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a unique arrangement for mounting spaced handrails of a ladder utilized in swimming pool construction. Specifically, this invention relates to a unique manner for mounting handrail receiving socket members to receive one end of spaced handrails of a ladder such that the sockets will not become misaligned with handrails during the formation and setting of a concrete deck or walk around the outer periphery of of the swimming pool. The sockets for receiving one end of each handrail are firmly secured to the metal wall sections defining the outer periphery of the swimming pool, and are thereby prevented from shifting as a result of forces imposedthereon during the formation and setting of the concrete deck. in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of sockets are mounted in proper spaced relationship to a separate channel member, and this channel member is firmly secured by bolts, screws, or the like, to a horozontal coping support forming a part of the metal wall sections of the swimming pool. The concrete decks can then be poured about the outer periphery of the pool, and the forces imposed on the handrail receiving sockets will notresult in a shifting of said sockets.

This invention also relates to a unique structural support assembly for the concrete deck or walk disposed about the outer periphery of the swimming pool to prevent said concretedeck from cracking as a result of backfill settlement. The structural support assembly of this invention includes a plurality of rods, channels, or the like, disposed outwardly at, and secured to metal wall sections defining the swimming pool area. The structural support assemblycarries a top angle member outwardly of the vertical walls'defining the swimming pool. The metal sections defining the outer shell of the swimming pool includev a coping support extending outwardly at the swimming pool area and a coping is secured about the periphery of the swimming pool to the upper surface of this coping support. The coping has an upper horizontal surface which is in substantially horizontal alignment with the upper margin of the top angle. member. The coping, the structural support assembly, the backfill and the top angle member define the form for the concrete deck. The structural support assembly in conjunction with the backfill defines the bottom of this form. The sides of the form are defined by the coping and the top angle member. The upper surface of the coping and the upper margin of the top angle member are guides for screeding the concrete to form a concrete deck which is level with the upper surface of the coping and the top margin of the angle member. in this arrangement, there is no separate form utilized in constructing the concrete deck and all'members of the structural support assembly, and the top angle members are. retained in position in the completed swimming pool construction. It is noteworthy that the concrete deck is carried entirely by the pool walls and structural support assembly after the concrete has cured, thereby freeing the deck from settlement prob lems should the backfill settle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved swimming pool construction of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swimming pool construction which includes permanent means to position and secure sockets to receive the ends of swimming pool ladders therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swimming pool construction that incorporates a structural steel support to carry a concrete or wooden pool deck.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swimming pool construction which includes means to support a pool deck from the pool wall structural members.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swimming pool construction which includes structural steel deck supports andwhi'ch incorporates self-contained deck forms to permit pouring'a concrete deck Without the need. for additional forms. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swimming pool construction that is rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fullerrunderstanding'of the inven-r tion will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken .in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawin'gs wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE. DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a complete swimming pool construction according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the swimming pool construction shown in FIG. 1, showing the structural framing details.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line.3.-3

- of FIG. 2,-looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the backfill, concrete deck and coping in place.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a portion of the swimming pool construction shown in FIG. lshowing details of a modified type of construction. 7

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along line. 55 of FIG.

4, looking in the direction of thearrows and showing the concrete deck, backfill and coping. a 7

FIG. v6 is a partial top plan view showing the structural arrangement of this invention for mounting sud-1 v der, and partially broken away to expose interiorconstruction details.

'FIG. 7 is an isometric viewofa portion of the swir nfl face 29 extends around the upper margin of the swimming pool 10 and is fastened to the horizontally extending flanges 26 by bolts 30, or other suitable fastening. The swimming pool 10 has a plastic liner 32 with a thickened peripheral top edge. 34. The thickened peripheral top edge 34 is received within an inwardly directed channel 36 which is formed in the coping 28.

v The thickened peripheral edge 34 cooperates with an upstanding rib 38 to firmly retain. the plastic liner 32 in proper position in accordance with well established pool construction techniques.

The top horizontally extending flange 26 extends outwardly beyond the coping. 28 andterminates in a downwardly extending. strengthening lip 40 FIG. 3). A pair of

sockets

42, 44 are spaced from each other and are fastened to a socket supporting channel member 46 in permanent-manner, such as by welding. The socket horizon-tally extending steps 56 are secured. The sock ets 42and 44 are mounted on the socketsupport'ing channel member 46 in precise location for receiving V the outer ends of the

handrails

52, 54 which are disposed outside of the swimming area 13. The opposite, or inner ends of the handrails have flanges 59 secured thereto (only one of which is shown. in FIG. 5 )1 and these flanges are secured to" the vertical wall'24 of a c I metaljsection l6'in the usualmanner. Themethodbf securing the inner ends of the handrailsto thevertical wall ofa metal section does not form-a part of the presming poolcon'struction shown in FIG. 1., showing details of a second modifiedtypeiof construction. 5

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTOF THE INVENTION 'Referring to FIGS..I and2,;a swimming. poolcom struction A includes a swimming pool rowan aladder of the swimmingpool. The'swimming poolhasfan'outer shell formed by a plurality of wall sections 16. In the preferred embodiment, the sections 16 are made of metal such as steel; however, other materials having sufficient strength for the intended purpose of forming the walls of the swimming pool 10 can be utilized in place of steel. Adjacent metal sections 16 are attached to each other by bolts 18, or other suitable fastening means which extend through aligned openings 20 formed in the outwardly extending side flanges 22. If desired, the metal sections 16 can also be welded together in well-known manner. The inner walls 24 of the metal sections 16 define the swimming pool area 12 of the pool. v

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a coping support is defined by a horizontally extending flange 26 which extends outwardly of the swimming area 13 in a horizon tal direction-from the upper margin of the vertical pool walls 24. These flanges 26 are integrally formed with the vertical walls 24. A coping 28 having an upper surcut invention, and other suitable fastening techniques can be utilized. 7 f f, The sockets 4'2 and 44 are firmly secured to the metal sections 16 prior to the pouring of the concrete. deck 1 V 14.. Since the sockets are 'firmly secured'to the metal i Y sections 1 6, through the channel member 416, they :will

not become misalignedas a result of forces encounv A .tered during the pouringandisetting of the concrete" deck 14. According to this invention, theprecise positioning of handrail receiving socket means 42, 4.4L isaccomplished in a simple, reliable and economical manner. Once the concrete deck 14 has set, the outer ends of the handrails can be inserted into the

sockets

42, 44 and the inner ends of the handrails can be secured to the vertical wall 2410f a metal section 16 to secure the ladder 12 in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and.3, a structural support assembly 60 for the concrete deck or walk 14 is illustrated including a plurality of rearwardly' directed generally horizontal, upper bars 62 which are preferably of angle iron constructions. Each upper bar 62 is secured at its forward end to the rearwardly extending side flanges 22' of adjacent metal wall sections 16 by bolts 18. These upper bars '62 outwardly carry the top angle.

members 64 which'may be welded or bolted thereto. Each top angle member 64 serves as a first screening guide and has an upper edge 66 which is below horizontal alignment with the upper surface 29 of the coping 28 for deck sloping purposes, as hereinafter more fully described. The surface '29 forms a second screeding guide to aid in forming the deck 14 when employed together with the first screeding guide.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each upper bar 62 is connected and supported at its remote end 86-by an angularly inclined bracing member 88, which preferably is of angle iron construction. The bracing member 88 connects between the upper support bar 62 at its upper end and the bottom of a side flange 22 to thereby transmit all stresses imposed upon the upper support bar 62 directly upon the wall sections 16.

Bolts

71, 73 maybe employed for bracing member connection purposes or the connections may be otherwise conventionally secured, such as by welding. A stake support block 74 is secured by the bolt 75 to a rearwardly extending lower angle member 70 in substantially horizontal alignment with the bottom surface 90 of the wall section bottom flange 94. It will be appreciated that the pool site must be excavated to a depth equal to the height of the ,wall

sections 16 during pool construction. Accordingly, by

positioning the stake support block in alignment with the bottom'flange 94 of the wall sections, the support block will then rest upon virgin, unexcavated soil 92. A stake 76 is secured to each stake support block'74 for driving into the virgin soil 92.

A second angularly inclined bracing member 96 crosses the firstbracing member 88 to form an xshaped configuration and has its lower end bolted or otherwise secured to"the outboard end of the lower angle member 70, such as by the bolt 72. It is noteworthy that the bracing

members

88, 96 are not interconnected in any manner and are therefore free to stress entirely independentlyof each other. The upper end of the bracing member 96 secures to an upright side flange 22 in a bolted or other secure connection. As illustrated, one of the side flange securing bolts 18 can also be employed to secure the upper end 98 of the bracing member 96,and the inward end 100 of the upper bar 62 in a unitary connection. Thus, all forces and stresses imposed upon the stake support block 74 are carried back and are supported by the wall sections 16. Thus, all stresses in the construction which are either upwardly imposed at the pool deck 14 or downwardly imposed at the stake support block 74' are transmitted to the pool wall sections 16 by the bracing

members

88, 96, the upper bars 62 and the lower angle members 70. After the structural members havebeen properly positioned and secured as illustrated, the excavated area can be restored with backfill 82 in the usual manner complete from the top of the virgin soil 92 to the top surface 102 of the upper bars 62.

. ln'the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the structural support assembly 60. each upper bar 62 connects at its respective remote ends to the upper ends 104, 106 of the bracing

members

58, 68, respectively. The respective lower ends 108,110 of bracing

members

58, 68 which are remote from upper bars 62 are secured to each other and to a rearwardly extending lower angle member 70 by a bolt 72 or other suitable fastening means such as spot welding. A stake support block 74 is secured by the bolt 72 to the bracing

members

58, 68 and the lower angle member 70. A stake 76 is secured to each stake support block 74 and is driven into virgin soil which is not subject to any ap- In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, in the modified structural assembly 60", each upper bar 62 connects at its respective remote end 86 to the upper end of the bracing member 88. The inward end 100 of the upper bar 62 terminates inwardly in an upwardly turned flange 112 which is fastened to the strengthening lip 40 of the wall flange 26 in a secure manner such as by a bolt. Preferably the lip 40 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 116 to facilitate attaching the structural assemblies 60 at any desired location. Similarly, the strengthening lip 118 of the bottom walls section flange 94 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 120 which are vertically aligned below the openings 116. The inward ends 122, 124 of the bracing member 88 and the lower angle member 70 are each flanged or otherwisetreated to facilitate connection'to the lip openings 120 in suitable manner, such as by employing bolts. If desired, reinforcing bars 84 may be positioned into and secured to ploying the coping28, the top angle member 64 and preciable settlement. Backfill 82 is then placed on the top of the upper bars 62.

the backfill 82 as a form as hereinbefore set forth, the concrete is allowed to cure a sufficient length of time to develop full strength. At that time, the entire weight of the deck 14 will be carried by the

structural support assembly

60, 60. 60" and pool wall sections 16 entirely independent of the backfill 82. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a combination wall section 16 and

structural support assembly

60, 60, 60" of sufficient strength to carry the entire weight of the poured concrete deck 14 and any reinforcing members 84, if used. Thus, should the backfill 82 settle after the pool 10 has been in use for a period of time, there will be no tendency for the deck 14 to crack inasmuch as it is not dependent upon the'backfill for support. By providing a swimming pool and deck construction that is entirely self. supporting, most of the structural difficulties encountered by prior workers can be overcome.

Although I have described the present invention with reference 'to the particular embodiments therein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. in a swimming pool construction;

A. a swimming pool shell defining an inner swimming area, said shell having a top and a bottom;

B. a coping secured to said swimming pool shell top adjacent the periphery thereof. said coping having an upper surface;

C. structural support means disposed outwardly of said swimming pool shell for supporting a concrete deck about the outer periphery of said swimming pool shell;

D. a first screeding guide serves as a form for a concrete deck and is secured to said structural support means outwardly of said coping, said first screeding guide having an upper edge and the said upper horizontal surface of said coping forming second screeding guide, said coping serving as a form for a concrete deck;

aconcrete deck disposed over said structural support means and between? said coping and said first screeding guide, said concrete deck having an upper surfacecwhich is in substantial alignment with'the' upper edge of said first screedingg'uide and the upper horizontal surface of said coping. 2. The swimming pool construction according to claim 1 wherein said structuralsupport means includes,

structural support members secured to the swimming" 7 pool shell.

7 y The swimming pool construction according to' claim 2 wherein said structural'support means includes upper bars having an inward end, a remote end and a top surface and means for securingsaid first screeding guide to saidupper bars, said structural support means and said swimming pool shell cooperating to carry the V entire weight of the said concrete deck:

4. The swimming pool construction according to claim 3 wherein each upper barisoutwardly supported by an angularly inclined first bracing membensaid bracing member being connected between the said remote end and the said bottom of the swimming pool shell.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the structural support means includes a bottom positionedastake support block, said stake supportblock beingspaced from the shell by a lower angle member, said lower angle member having an inward end and and outboard end,

said stake'support block being supported: by a second bracing member, said second bracing member being angularly inclined andtbeing connected between the top of the shell and the outboard end of the lowerang'le 7 member.

will not be transmitted to the second, bracing member. 7

7. The invention of claim 6- wherein said swimming pool shell terminates upwardly in a horizontaLoutwardly' extending toptflange and downwardly in ahorizontal, outwardly extending top flange; said top and bottom flanges terminating outwardlyinstrengthening lips,the'saidlips being provided with a'plurality of iongitudinally spaced top and bottom openings, the inward endsof the upper bars being" connected to the top flange at the top openings thereof, the said first bracing members being connected to the bottom of the swim ming pool shell at the said bottom openings and the saidlower angle members being connected to the bottom of the swimming pool shelleat the said bottom openings.

* I! I. l