US3839751A

US3839751A - Modular therapy pool construction

Info

Publication number: US3839751A
Application number: US00364630A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Bressler
Original assignee: Designs for Medicine Inc
Current assignee: Designs for Medicine Inc
Priority date: 1973-05-29
Filing date: 1973-05-29
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

A modular pool tank is shown that utilizes sectional body, frame, rim and channel parts that are fabricated at the plant and are then transported in modular form to a suitable erection site, such as within a building, and are assembled at the site with the body, frame, rim and channel parts being in an endwise-aligned and weld-secured relationship and supported on a suitable floor beam or support member structure. The construction employs a maximum of factory fabrication, simplifies storage and transportation procedures, and eliminates difficulties heretofore involved in introducing or bringing the tank structure to a desired final erection site.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Bressler 1 Oct. 8, 1974 54] MODULAR THERAPY POOL 1,449,897 7/1966 France .Q 52/169 CO O 1,424,121 11/1966 France 52/169 1,914,470 10/1970 Germany 4/l72.l9 [75] Inventor: Peter W. Bressler, Philadelphia, Pa. 1

[73] Assignee: Designs for Medicine, Inc.,

Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 364,630

521 U.S.Cl ..4/172.19,4/172.1s,4/172.21,

52/169, 52/742 51 Int. Cl ..E04h 3/16 [58] FieldofSearch ..4/172,172.17,172.1s,

4/172.19, 172.21, 185 H, DIG. 9; 52/102,

3/1968 Austria 4ll72.l9

Primary ExaminerJohn W. I-Iuckert Assistant Examiner'Stuart S. Levy Attorney, Agent, or FirmParmelee, Miller, Welsh Kratz 5 7] ABSTRACT A modular pool tank is shown that utilizes sectional body, frame, rim and channel parts that are fabricated at the plant and are then transported in modular form to a suitable erection site, such as within a building, and are assembled at the site with the body, frame, rim and channel parts being in an endwise' -aligned and weld-secured relationship and supported on a suitable floor beam or support member structure. The ,COIistruction employs a maximum of factory fabrication,

simplifies storage and transportation procedures, and eliminates difficulties heretofore involved in introducing or bringing the tank structure to a desired final erection site. j

21 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENImnm 8l974 manor? m Fig.3

PATENTEUB'ET M 3.839.751

Fig. 4 (CONTINUED) PATENIED DC] 81974 mum? Fig. 5 F

Fig. 55

Fig. 5D

PATENTED 974 mew? Fig. 10

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the manufacture and on-site assembly and construction of a relatively large tank such as may be used for a pool and particularly, to a modular therapy pool tank of a type that may be built within a nursing home or a hospital. A phase of the invention deals with facilitating the transportation and bringing-in of a pool structure to the desired site and an improved approach to the mounting of it in place at the site.

2. Description of the Prior Art Therapy tanks or pools have heretofore been used in capacities of up to about 100 gallons of water and are usually about eight feet in length, as governed primarily by size limitations dictated by the need for introducing the tank structure into a room of a building, such as a nursing home or a hospital, without the necessity of knocking-down or removing walls, etc. The desiratum has been to provide larger sizes of tank pools that will be capable of not only receiving the patient and therapist, but that will provide graduated depths. There is also the question of excessive costs at the place or site of installation, due at least a part to what is believed to be an archaic approach to the problem of bringing-in and constructing the tank. In addition to the need for providing a structure of a full size desired, irrespective of clearance limitations due to the size' of doors, passageways, -etc., there is a need for a practical construction that may be simply and easily assembled and secured in place by workman of ordinary skillat the site and with minimized danger or improper assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has thus been an object of the invention to devise a solution to the problem heretofore presented and as outlined above.

Another object has been to develop a modular concept of pool tank construction which will be practical in its construction and utilization.

Another object of the invention has been to devise a practical modular'type of pool construction and one which will enable a maximumfabrication of the parts or sections thereof at the fabricating plant and, at the same time, will enable the parts or sections thereof to be readily stored, transported andbrought to the actual site that is desired through ordinary doorways.

A further object of the'invention has been to provide a modular type construction that can be easily and effectively assembled and completed by workmen of ordinary skill at the pool site.

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiments and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, r

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced somewhat schematic top plan view representing a typical operating layout for a pool tank, as particularly applied to a tank of a modular construction of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the tank construction shown in FIG. 1.

FIG 3 is a side view'in elevation on the sale of FIG. 2 of a completed on-the-site installed tank constructed in accordance with the invention and shown positioned within a pit or depressed floor area.

FIG. 4 as shown on two sheets is drawn to the scale of FIGS. 2 and 3 and represents an exploded isometric view of sections or parts of a typical modular tank construction of the invention, in an aligned and ready to be assembled and secured relation. It illustrates the construction of each section, the relationship of the'sections with respect to each other, and the fact that intermediate and end body sections may be substantially completely formed along with associated frame, rim and channel sections at the plant site for assembly at the pool site in an endwise-aligned relation withrespect to each other. v

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in elevation on the scale of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2 for the purpose of further illustrating the construction of and a completed, assembled relation of modular parts of the tank.

FIGS. 5A, SBandSC are enlarged vertical fragmental sections taken respectively from dot and dash circular

line segment areas

1, 2 and 3 of FIG. 5 to show the relationship of wall portions of body sections and of cooperating frame members of frame sections of each tank module, as secured in place at the fabricating plant and then asaligned at the pool site, ready to receive and mount parts of adjacent sections in adesired assembled relationship.

It will be noted that FIG. 5B in addition to being representative of segment area 2 in FIG. 5 is also representative of segment areas 2' and 2", since the latter segments involve similar constructional details.

FIGS. SD, SE and SF are respectively taken from dot and dash circular

line segment areas

1,2 and 3 of FIG. 5 to show the fully assembled and secured relationships that are accomplished at the pool site after the sections have been endwise-aligned, as respectively represented by FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.

FIG. 5E, like FIG. 5B, is also representative of

areas

2 and 2" of FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged vertical end section of a completed tank such, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, and is taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3. This view particularly illustrates the assembled relationship of top rim and channel means that is used with associated body sections of the tank construction as well as of a cover plate means that is utilized with the top rim of the tank and the floor of the site to close-off a pit or depression in the floor within which the tank is positioned.

FIG. 6A is a vertical end sectionin elevation on the scale of FIG. 6 illustrating a modified form of rim and channel means or construction, wherein separate rim and channel parts may be extruded and then secured, as by weld metal, to form a unitary construction, as

compared with the fully unitary or one-piece construction of FIG. 6. 1

FIG. 6B is a vertical end section on the scale of FIGS.

6 and 6A, illustrating a further embodiment using rim' FIG. 7 is a vertical fragmental end section in elevation taken along the line VlI-VII of FIG. 7A and on the same scale as FIGS. 6 and 68 to illustrate a form of hanger means that may be used within the pool tank for adjustably and removably carrying a grab bar.

FIG. 7A is a fragmental side view in elevation on the scale of and of the hanger shown in FIG. 7, further illustrating the construction of each of a pair of hangers that are to be positioned in an opposed and aligned relation along opposite sides of a tank for supporting or carrying a grab bar.

FIG. 8 is a broken-away vertical end view in elevation on the scale of FIGS. 7 and 7A, illustrating a type of adjustable grab bar that may be employed.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views on the scale of and similar to FIG. 8 illustrating further types of grab bars that may be utilized.

FIG. 11 is a vertical end section in elevation on the scale of FIGS. 6 and 7 through the tank construction shown in FIGS. 3 and and illustrating a second form of hanger means for adjustably carrying a grab bar.

And FIG. 11A is a fragmental side view in elevation on the scale of and of the hanger of FIG. 11, further illustrating the construction. It will be noted that this hanger is of somewhat U-shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an overall tank construction of the invention, as assembled and secured together in completed form is shown made up of individual or separate modules that comprise end body sections A and E, intermediate body sections B, C, C and C, top rim and channel sections F, F or F and frame sections. The end body sections A and E, as indicated particularly in FIG/4, have bottom, opposed side and end wall portions, while the intermediate body sections B, C, C and D have only bottom and opposed side wall portions that are preferably fabricated from one piece of plate or sheetlike material and, of course, at the fabricating plant site.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the intermediate body sections, B, C, C and D, are shown provided with side inlet or nipple portions 12 through their side walls for the purpose of introducing or supplying a suitable fluid, such as heated water, to the tank 10 by means of a so-called water flush and inlet pipe line, conduit or header 13. As indicated in FIG. 6, the inlet header 13 is adapted to be enclosed within spacing defined between outer portions of body sections and an outer cover plate 100. The header 13, as shown in FIG. 1, is supplied with water through a control and shut-off valve V from a heater 16, and as conditioned by a chlorine supply unit 14. The chlorine is supplied by the unit 14 in accordance with the requirements indicated by a pH meter 15 that is also connected to the header 13. A disinfectant supply source or unit .18 is shown connected through a dual shut-off and control valve V both to the line 13 and to an inlet secondary pipe 17. The pipe 17 may, for example, be employed to supply disinfectant into a flush channel portion of a top rim and water channel means F, F or F", such as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A and 68.

Fresh water may be supplied through pipe line 19 from source S, through control and shut-off valve V to the water heater 16. A so-called skimmer system is also illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein a pipe 20 may be connected to one of the flow channels of thetop rim and channel part construction to withdraw contaminated water through filters 21 by means ofa pump 22 that is driven when desired by a suitable motor, such as an electric motor 23. When the pump 22 is operating it may be used to provide a return flow of conditioned or filtered water to heater 16 and thence, to the tank 10 through pipe line 13. Line 19 enables water to be supplied to the heater 16 and thus to the line 13 independently of the operation of the pump 22.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tank 10 is made up of factory constructed or fabricated body sections A through E, inclusive, each of which is provided with an individual associated top rim and channel means or section which may be of one-piece or part extruded construction F or of an extruded construction having a pair of parts, see F and F". Each body section is also shown provided with an individual frame section. The end body section A, as shown, has a pair of vertical or upright opposed side walls 25 that are connected by a cross or transversely extending pair of offset, planar

bottom wall portions

27 and 29 and by a back end'wall 26. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the

bottom wall portions

27 and 29 are connected together by an integral riser, apron or intermediate step portion 28 that is positioned therebetween. The outer end of uppermost bottom wall portion 27 is connected by the end wall 26 to top rim and channel structure F which may interfit therewith in a manner such as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11. The end body section A also has a frame section that is assembled and secured therewith by weld metal w at the factory and which utilizes a pair of oppositely positioned, vertically extending, upright leg members, such as angle-shaped members 50, that are connected together at their lower ends by a transversely cross-extending, horizontal angle-shaped, supporting frame member 51 (see FIG. 5).

Intermediate body section B is shown provided with a pair of vertically extending, transversely spacedapart, vertical side walls 30 that are interconnected by a substantially planar bottom .wall 31. The frame section for this body section may have, see FIGS. 3, 4, 5A and 5D, a pair of spaced-apart vertical upright

angleshaped leg members

52 and 54 on each side. A crossextending and endwise projecting, floor supporting, angle-shaped member 53 issecured to the underside of the bottom wall 31 in the factory by weld metal w and also to the upper ends of transversely-aligned and spaced-apart, upright or vertical frame leg members 52 of the side pairs. As shown in FIG. 5D, the projecting portion of the cross-extending floor support member 53 serves as a receiving ledge for the lower planar bottom wall portion 29 of the body section A to which it is secured by weld metal W2 at the pool site. At the fabricating plant, the member 53 is secured to the bottom or floor wall 31 and to opposite vertical frame members 52. The other side leg or vertical member 54 of the frame construction of the body part or section B is secured at the plant as by weld metal to the outside of the opposed side walls 30.

Body sections C, C are of the same general construction. The body section C is also an intermediate unit and has a pair of opposed, substantially planar, transversely spaced-apart vertical side walls 35 that are integrally connected by a planar major bottom wall or floor portion 38. A vertical riser or skirt 37 connects the bottom wall portion 38 to an upper planar bottom wall portion 36 of minor width extent. See also FIG. 5B.

Transversely extending supporting frame member 56 is shown of angle section and as secured by weld metal w, at the plant within the angle defined between 36 and 37 to project therefrom for receiving an edge portion of, for example, the next backwardly adjacent bottom wall portion, such as 31 of body section B. FIG. 5E shows the assembled and secured relation which is attained between sections B and C by the use of weld metal w at the pool site.

Section C, as shown in FIG. 4 and 5, has a pair of opposed vertical side walls 35, a cross-extending planar main bottom wall portion 38, a riser portion 37 and an upper level planar bottom wall or floor portion of narrow extent 36'. Its frame section employs an angleshaped, cross-extending floor support member 59 which at its ends is weld-secured at the plant to a pair of opposed, vertical, angle-shaped leg members 58. Like in the construction of section C, section C- has a pair of side-positioned vertical

upright members

58 and 60, with the members 60 being secured to the outer sides of opposed side walls 35 With reference to body section C, its uppermost bottom wall portion 36 will be secured to the main bottom wall 38 of the section C. The forward edge portion of the wall 38 rests upon and is secured at the tank site by weld metal to crossextending support member 59 ,that corresponds in positioning and utilization to the member 56 of the body section C. I

Although intermediate body section D is of different construction than the C sections, it does have a similar back end construction, as represented by a relatively narrow planar upper bottom wall portion 40, a crossextending, angle-shaped, floor support frame member 62, a riser wall portion 41 and a major, lower level planar bottom or floor portion 42. The angle-shaped cross-extending floor support frame member 62 serves to receive on its backwardly projecting shelf, a forward edge portion of the planar main bottom wall portion 38 of the adjacent section C in the same manner as indicated between sections B and C and illustrated in FIGS. 58 and 5E. The intermediate body section D is also shown provided with a pair of opposed vertical side walls 39 and a front, raised and relatively narrow planar bottom wall portion 44. The bottom wall portion 44 is connected by a relatively high riser, skirt or apron portion 43 to the main bottom wall portion 42,. A-pair of vertical

side frame legs

61, 63 is positioned along each side of the body section D, and oppositely positioned side legs 61 are secured by weld metal at the plant site to opposite ends of the floor supporting frame member 62. Side legs 63 are secured at the plant site to outer sides of the side walls 39.

The front end section E has a pair of opposed side walls 45, an integral closing front end wall 47, as well as a main, planar, cross-extending floor or bottom wall 'At the plant site, asparticularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the verticalframe members of the individual frame sections of the body sections A through E are secured by weld metal W2 to a pair of transversely spacedapart bottom-positioned, longitudinally extending, main support beam member lengths 68. The beam members 68 are shown as of channel shape and as posi tioned in FIG. 6 on the floor 97 of a pit of recess below portion 70b. The latching groove portion 70b may be employed to removably receive thetongue edge of an outer cover plate member 100 that may be of sectioned construction corresponding to the body sections or may be of any suitable length of section, with the edges of adjacent sections welded-together at the pool site, if

desired, to provide a unitary construction. A mounting channel or member 99 may be secured to extend along the floor 98 to serve as a bottom mount for the cover 46. As shown particularly in FIGS. 5, 5C and SF, the

planar bottom wall 46 rests on and is carried by a crossextending, angle-shaped, floor support frame member plates 100 which may be removably by bolts or screws 101.

The inner or forward portion of the rim part is doubled backwardly or curved convexly downwardly at 70c into a downwardly and backwardly inclined front wall or face portion 70d which extends into a front face wall portion 71a of a channel portion of slightly different backward or outward inclination. Channel part 71 of the unit F has a cooperating pair of vertical, slightly backwardly or outwardly upwardly inclined pair of transversely spaced-apart wall portions 71b and 710 which define a longitudinal skimming channel therealong. It will be noted that back wall portion 71b is connected to the face wall portion 71a, and that intermedisecured thereto as ate wall portion 710 cooperates with a rounded, up-

wardly convex, rail-like, inner, lower rail or rim portion 71d to define a second longitudinal channel which may be termed a flush channel. The lower rim or rail portion 71d terminates in an under-positioned, vertical latching edge portion 71 f that is in the form of an offset or recessed edge portion for cooperatively receiving in its recess the upper edge of a wall, such as 35 of an associated body section. As shown in FIG. 6, the unit F is secured to a body section, such as C, by weld metal w at the factory site.

In FIG. 6A, the top rim and channel unit or section F' is formed in two parts at the factory, represented by rim part 70' and channel part 71' and, in this connection, the part 70' has a forward or inner,.backwardly inclined wall portion 70d that terminates in a ledge or planar horizontal edge wall portion 702' to receive a corresponding flat or planar edge portion 712' of the part 71'. The portions 71b, 71c, 71d and 71] are constructed the same as the portions 71b, 7lc,.7ld and 7 1 f of the unit F. To form the extruded construction of this figure into a unit at the fabricating plant forsecuring to an associated body section, weld metal W is shown utilized along the ledge portions 70e' and 7le.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the rim and channel section F" is also formed or extruded in 'two ing groove portion 706 carried by th e lower and inner edge portion of the part 70, and a projecting and complementary interfitting tongue portion 7le of the channel part 71".

Referring particularly to FIG. 7 and 7A, a hanger construction G is illustrated which is adapted to be carried by and to ride on the inner rim portion 71d of a top rim and channel means, such as F, and to also ride along an adjacent side wall, such as 35, of an assembly of body sections. The hanger F has a pair of vertically extending and spaced-apart legs or arms 75 that define a rectangular structure with cross-extending and vertically spaced-apart top and

bottom connecting members

76 and 77. Each leg or arm 75 has an outwardly or backwardly projecting, hood or channel-like, upper head portion 75a that is adapted to rotatably carry a pulley wheel or roller 78, preferably of a somewhat resilient material, such as of resin or hard rubber. As shown particularly in FIG. 7, the pulley 78 is rotatably directly carried on a cross-extending pin shaft 79 and is operatively spaced within the head portion 75a by a spacer block 80. The pin 79 at one end has a head 79a and at the other end has a washer and cotter pin assembly 79b, 790 for removably holding it in a crossextending relation within the head 75a.

Each vertical leg 75 also has a group of vertically spaced-apart, cup-shaped, sockets 750 for receiving the shaft end of a grip or grab bar assembly H, H or H therein. Also, the lower end of each leg 75 has a U- shaped mounting bracket 75b which carries a headed pin 83 similar to the pin 79, and a hard rubber or other suitable form of guide roller or wheel 82 that is rotatably positioned on the pin 79 to engage the inside wall of the completed tank.

From the above description, it will be apparent that a pair of hangers G, one for each longitudinal side of the tank will serve as a means for removably carrying a grab bar H at any suitable vertical heighth with respect to the tank by the alternate use of sockets 750 of a pair of oppositely aligned set or group of hangers G. The construction of the hangers G is such that they may be moved or rolled along the tank by the patient or the attendant and that a pair of bars, one for each of the legs 75 may be used, if desired.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are representative of grip or grab bar assemblies that may be used in connection with hangers such as G in the embodiment of FIGs. 7 and 7A or such as G of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and HA. In FIG. 8 the grab bar H has a primary, solid, cylindrical or round, rod part 90 which, at one end, terminates in a reduced mounting portion 90a that is adapted to fit in one of the sockets 750 of an associated hanger. The other end of the rod 90 is shown as having an enlarged, coarsely threaded male portion 90c that is adapted to be rotated within an inner or female threaded portion 91c of a secondary or cooperating socket part 91. The outer end 91a of the socket part 91 has a reduced, rounded diameter to serve as a mounting end for it within an aligned socket 750. The rod part 90 may be provided with a knurled or roughened handgrip portion 9011. An attendant may screw the two parts and 91 into and out of an expanded relation with respect to each other in mounting the grab bar H in position within a pair of aligned socket portions 750 of a pair of oppositely disposed hangers, such as G or G.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, primary part 90 is shown of sleeve-like or hollow cylindrical construction and as having a reduced, solid plug-like, shaft end portion 90a, secured asby weld metal-w thereto. Secondary part 91 is shown as an outer, thickened sleeve and provided with a reduced shaft end portion 91a. The two parts 90 and 91' .are mounted in a telescopic or slidable relation with each other through the agency of a guide lug or pin 91b that is secured to the part 91' and that is adapted to ride in a longitudinally elongated, closedend slot 90b in the part 90. This permits the two parts to be telescoped or moved inwardly to a contracted position when the grab bar H is to be removed from a pair of aligned hanger sockets, and to be slid into an expanded position when the grab bar H is to be held in a secure position within a pair of sockets. In the latter connection, a headed latch pin 92 is shown carried by a tie chain 93 and a lug 94 on the part 91' and to be capable of being moved into and out of a crossextending locking position with respect to the two parts 90 and 91' when two through-extending holes in such parts are in alignment and, at which time, the grab bar H is in its expanded positioning of FIG. 9. V

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the grab bar H" is also of hollow sleeve-like construction and has a shaft end portion 90a. However, its primary part 90" has a closed inner end against which a spiral-expansion or tension spring 95" is adapted to abut. Secondary, outer sleeve part 91" has a reduced, mounting end portion 91a" that is of plug-like construction and secured by weld metal w therein. The outer sleeve part 91" is shown as having a considerable hollow extent for the telescopic reception of the primary part 90" and for providing an operating chamber for the spring 95. It will be thus apparent that, in this construction, the two

parts

90 and 91" will be normally urged to an expanded, socket-mounted position, and that they can be removed from a pair of aligned sockets by sliding them inwardly against the tension of the spring 95" towards each other or, in other words, telescoping one within the other. If desired, a locking pin, such as 92' of FIG. 9, may also be utilized to positively assure the retention of the bar H in its expanded mounted positioning.

In FIGS. 11 and 11A, hanger construction G is of U- shape and has a pair of spaced-apart vertical legs or arms 85 and a cross-extending connecting bridge or shoulder portion 86 at its lower end. A group of sockets 850 are vertically spaced along each leg 85, and each leg is also shown provided with a rubber bumper knob or button 88 that may be cemented or in any other suitable manner mounted thereon to rest against the side wall portions 35 of a tank. T0 positively retain the hanger G in position when its upper hook end portion 85a extends over inner rim portion 71d of a top rim and channel section F, a latching, hollow nipple or collar 87 is secured centrally on the connector shoulder portion 86 to interfit with or fit within one of the liquid inlet or nipple portions 12 of tha tank. Since the part 87 is hollow, it does not interfere with the normal flow of liquid as desired in supplying the tank. To protect the rim portion 71d, each upper mounting hook'end' portion 85a I of the hanger G may be provided with an inset or inner protective, rubberlike lining or sleeve 85b which may be cemented or secured in any suitable manner to the underside of the portion 85a. I

Summarized briefly, the invention now makes it possible and practical to provide and construct a pool of any desired size or length without encountering difficulties in getting it to or installing it at the site. It assures that critical construction work can be accomplished at the factory or fabrication plant, and that size problems do not arise in shipping or in bringing the tank to the pool site. Minor and less skilled work can be accomplished at the pool site by the use of color coding and a direction chart to enable workmen to assemble the sections, and after assembling them, to accurately place them in an edge-to-edge, endwisealigned relation, and to edge-secure or weld them into a unitary construction. The depth variations, the length extent as well as the width extent of various parts and of the'entire pool are matters that can be suited to individual needs, and appropriate sections can be shipped out from the factory to the site.

Color coding, in addition to being used to facilitate assembly, may also be used to indicate depths with different levels graduated, for example, to represent approximately eight inch differentials for each step. Each level may be defined by a separate one of the sections and, as shown, have a non-sloped planar or flat bottom or floor wall portion. The individual body sections or segments may, for example, be about four by four by twelve feet in dimension. The therapy pool may have its water acclimatized to the temperature of the air, and water and drain connections may be made as desired for a particular installation. In FIG. 1 a bottom drain or outlet opening 11 is shown located at the lowermost floor portion 42 of the tank and as represented by the body section D. See the depth of this section, as compared to the other sections illustrated in FIGS. 3

' and 5.

In the drawings W1 has been used to indicate weld metal applied at the factory or plant sitewhere metal membersare to be fabricated, and w has been used to indicate weld metal applied at the site of the tank installation. Although the illustrated embodiments show the use of fabricated metal members and welded joints, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the sections of the tank construction may also be made of a reinforced resin or plastic material, such as of a fiber glass reinforced resin as used in vehicular bodies, and that the resin sections may be bonded or cemented together.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 5A to SF, inclusive, side support members, such as 52, 55, 58, 61 and 64 and cross-extending bottom support members, such as 53, 56, 59, 62 and 65, serve an important function in the construction. That is, the support members are offlanged or angle shape and are employed in such a manner that at least one flange portion is secured to the underside of a wall of adjacent body sections, such as of sections B, C, C, D and E, and another flange portion thereof projects sidewise therefrom to receive and flush-align a side edge portion of a corresponding wall of an adjacent body section thereon. This provides an accurate method of aligning the walls of the body sections together when they are assembled on the base support structure 68. This is highly important.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A to SF, it enables the provision of a tank assembly'whose inner wall faces are fully flush, planar or smooth along the joints therebetween. This is important in a pool construction from the standpoint that exposed beads and rough projections may be entirely eliminated. As illustrated for example in FIGS. SD, SE and SF, resistance or flush welding W can be accomplished along the inside seams or joints of the tank after underside, ordinary bead welding W and W has been employed to secure adjoining members together. Even if a weld bead is applied along the close abutting edges of two members, such as29 1. In a method of plant fabricating and on site finally constructing and installing a modular pool tank structure, forming a pair of end and a group of intermediate tank body sections each with connected bottomand vertical side walls at the fabricating plant, providing the pair of end sections with end walls connected to their bottom and side walls; securing a flanged reinforcing support member to the underside of one side edge portion of a wall of alternate body sections with a flange portion of the member projecting sidewise therefrom to receive and align'a side edge portion of a wall of an adjacent body section thereon; laying a longitudinally ex= tending base support structure at a site for the tank installation, assemblying intermediate and end body sections into an endwise-aligned assembly on the base support structure with side edge portions of walls of adjacent body sections resting on the sidewise projecting flange portions of the support members in a planar edge-aligned relation with respect to each other, and employing the above-defined assembled relationship of the support members and of the walls of the body sections to maintain the sections in alignment while securing the walls of the assembled sections in an aligned fluid sealed-off relation with respect to each other on the base support structure to provide a tank structure having a continuous wall construction.

2. In a method as defined in claim 1, forming the body sections with downwardly stepped depthgraduated planar bottom wall portions towards what is to be one end of the tank, and at the tank site securing the stepped bottom wall portions of the sections together to define a series of graduated continuously connected and sealed bottom and side wall levels along the tank.

3. In a method as defined in claim 1, forming the intermediate body sections with different side wall depths and step portions along their body walls, and edgewisesecuring the step portions in a fluid sealed-off endwiseconnected relation with respect to adjacent body sections.

4. In a method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing support members are of angle-shape, at the plant securing two flange portions of the support members to the underside of the bottom wall of the associ-' ated alternate body sections, and at the site securing one of the flange portion of the support members to the underside of the bottom wall of the associated adjacent body sections.

5. In a method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing support members are of angle-shape, at the plant securing one flange portion of the support members to the underside of the bottom wall of the associated alternate body sections, and at the site securing the one and a second flange portion of the support members to the underside of the associated adjacent body sections.

6. In a method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing support members are of angle-shape and are secured to the bottom walls of the alternate body sections, a pair of side members also of angle-shape secured to the underside of side walls of the alternate body sections with a flange portion of each projecting sidewise therefrom to receive and align side edge portions of corresponding side walls of adjacent body sections thereon, assembling the body sections at the site also with side edge portions of the side walls of adjacent body sections resting on the sidewise projecting flange portions of the side members in a planar edge-aligned relation with the side walls of the alternate body sections, and employing the defined assembled relation of the support and side members and of the walls of the sections to maintain side edges of the body sections in alignment while securing the walls of the sections together in a unitary flush relation.

7. In a method as defined in claim 1, at the plant forming top rim and water channel sections and securing them in the form of unitary cooperating upper sections to associated individual body sections, and at the site securing the body sections and their rim and water channel sections together in a unitary construction and on the base support structure.

8. In a method of plant fabricating and on site finally constructing and installing a modular pool tank structure, forming a pair of end and a group of intermediate tank body sections each with connected bottom and vertical side walls at the fabricating plant, providing the pair of end sections with end walls connected to their bottom and side walls, forming the intermediate body sections with different side wall depths and step portions along their bottom walls, laying a longitudinally extending base support structure at a site for the tank installation, assembling the end and body sections into an endwise-aligned assembly on the base support structure, and securing the walls of the assembled sections and edgewise-securing the step portions in a fluid sealed-off endwise-connected relation with respect to each other on the base support structure to define a tank structure having continuous bottom, side and end walls.

9. In a method as defined in claim 8, securing crosscxtending bottom support members to the underside of side edge portions of bottom walls and securing side support members to the underside of side edge portions of side walls of alternate body sections with portions of the members projecting sidewise therefrom to receive and support thereunder side edge portions of the bottom and side walls of adjacent body sections thereon and provide a flush relation along the, joints between body sections 10. In a method as defined in claim 8, forming cooperating rim and channel parts for each of said body sections at the plant in the form of individual sections, securing the rim and body channel parts together and along upper edges of individual body sections at the plant and before shipment to the site; at the site securing the rim and channel parts of each section in a sealed-off and endwise continuously connected relation with similar parts of adjacent body sections.

11. in a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a crossextending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwisealigned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top and rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section, said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to'each other along the tank, each said top rim and channel section comprising rim and channel parts for and carried by each of said body sections, and means for securing said rim and channel parts together to provide a unitary top rim and channel means about the assembled body sections.

12. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a crossextending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate bodysections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwisealigned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section,

said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank, each of said top rim and channel sections having rim and water channel parts extending horizontally outwardly from the side walls of each of said body sections, each of said rim parts having a turned-under back wall portion and a turned-under front wall portion, each of said channel parts having an inner backwardly turned portion connected to the front wall portion of an associated said rim part and terminating in forwardly extending compartmentalized portionsfor liquid flow therealong, a set of said rim and channel parts for each of said body sections, each set being of unitary extruded construction, and each of said channel parts having a forward edge that interfits with atop edge portion of an associated body section, the turned-under back wall portion of each of said rim parts having a latching edge therealong, and cover plate means extending vertically upwardly and adapted to engage with said latching edge for closing-off outer reaches of the side walls of said body sections.

13. In a modular tank as defined in claim 12, said body sections having liquid inlet portions open therethrough, and a liquid supply pipe connected to said inlet portions and extending along spacing between the side walls of said body sections and said cover plate means.

14. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a crossextending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having 'a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall;

said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembledendwisealigned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each' body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section, said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank, each of said top rim and channel sections having rim and water channel parts extending horizontally outwardly from the side walls of each of said body sec-- tions, each of said rim parts having a turned-under back wall portion and a turned-under front wall portion,

each of said channel parts having an inner backwardly turned portion connected to the front wall portion of an associated said rim part and terminating in forwardly extending compartmentalized portions for liquid flow therealong, said rim and channel parts being in sections corresponding in length to the length of said body sections and being in an upwardly stacked and welded together relation with respect to each other and in an endwise-welded together relation with respect to adjacent top rim and channel parts along and above said body sections. I

15. In a modular tank as defined in claim 14, said rim and channel parts being separate extrusions and having an interfitting secured relationship with respect to each other and withrespect to upper edge walls of said body sections.

16. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a crossextending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwisealigned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, said body sections being mounted in a-vertically staggered relationalong the tank and being connected by riser step portions therebetween and defining substantially planar bottom areas forthe tank of different depths endwise along the tank.

17. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate. and end tank body sections in an endwise-assembled and secured relation to define a tank body, a group of frame sections, one for each of said body sections, said frame sections having frame members extending and secured to adjacent body sections along parting lines therebetween, support means for the tank body to i which said frame sections are secured, toprim and water channel means extending about and surmounting and secured on said body sections, said rim and channel means having an inner rim portion, a pair of opposed side hangers, each hanger having finger means adapted to be removably positioned on said inner rim portion to suspend one of. said hangers in in a downwardly extending position within and along one side wall of the tankbody and to suspend the other'of said hangers in a downwardly extending position within and along an opposed side wall of the tank body and in .a transversely aligned and opposed relation with respect to said one hanger, a grab bar, and said pair of hangers having vertically spaced-apart socket portions with those of said one hanger being transversely aligned with those of said other hanger for receiving opposite ends of said grabbar therein.

18. in a modular tank as defined in claim 17, at least one of said body sections having a liquid inlet portion in each of its side walls, and each of said hangers having a collar adapted to engage the inlet portion of an adjacent side wall of said one body section to hold said hanger in position within the tank body' 19. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17 each of said hangers having roller means adapted to ride along an adjacent side wall of the tank body.

20. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17 each of said hangers having a pair of spaced-apart and crossconnected vertical legs, said legs having finger means aligned socket portions of said pair of hangers.

Claims

1. In a method of plant fabricating and on site finally constructing and installing a modular pool tank structure, forming a pair of end and a group of intermediate tank body sections each with connected bottom and vertical side walls at the fabricating plant, providing the pair of end sections with end walls connected to their bottom and side walls; securing a flanged reinforcing support member to the underside of one side edge portion of a wall of alternate body sections with a flange portion of the member projecting sidewise therefrom to receive and align a side edge portion of a wall of an adjacent body section thereon; laying a longitudinally extending base support structure at a site for the tank installation, assemblying intermediate and end body sections into an endwise-aligned assembly on the base support structure with side edge portions of walls of adjacent body sections resting on the sidewise projecting flange portions of the support members in a planar edge-aligned relation with respect to each other, and employing the above-defined assembled relationship of the support members and of the walls of the body sections to maintain the sections in alignment while securing the walls of the assembled sections in an aligned fluid sealed-off relation with respect to each other on the base support structure to provide a tank structure having a continuous wall construction.

2. In a method as defined in claim 1, forming the body sections with downwardly stepped depth-graduated planar bottom wall portions towards what is to be one end of the tank, and at the tank site securing the stepped bottom wall portions of the sections together to define a series of graduated continuously connecTed and sealed bottom and side wall levels along the tank.

3. In a method as defined in claim 1, forming the intermediate body sections with different side wall depths and step portions along their body walls, and edgewise-securing the step portions in a fluid sealed-off endwise-connected relation with respect to adjacent body sections.

4. In a method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing support members are of angle-shape, at the plant securing two flange portions of the support members to the underside of the bottom wall of the associated alternate body sections, and at the site securing one of the flange portion of the support members to the underside of the bottom wall of the associated adjacent body sections.

9. In a method as defined in claim 8, securing cross-extending bottom support members to the underside of side edge portions of bottom walls and securing side support members to the underside of side edge portions of side walls of alternate body sections with portions of the members projecting sidewise therefrom to receive and support thereunder side edge portions of the bottom and side walls of adjacent body sections thereon and provide a flush relation along the joints between body sections.

10. In a method as defined in claim 8, forming cooperating rim and channel parts for each of said body sections at the plant in the form of individual sections, securiNg the rim and body channel parts together and along upper edges of individual body sections at the plant and before shipment to the site; at the site securing the rim and channel parts of each section in a sealed-off and endwise continuously connected relation with similar parts of adjacent body sections.

11. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a cross-extending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top and rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section, said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank, each said top rim and channel section comprising rim and channel parts for and carried by each of said body sections, and means for securing said rim and channel parts together to provide a unitary top rim and channel means about the assembled body sections.

12. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a cross-extending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section, said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank, each of said top rim and channel sections having rim and water channel parts extending horizontally outwardly from the side walls of each of said body sections, each of said rim pArts having a turned-under back wall portion and a turned-under front wall portion, each of said channel parts having an inner backwardly turned portion connected to the front wall portion of an associated said rim part and terminating in forwardly extending compartmentalized portions for liquid flow therealong, a set of said rim and channel parts for each of said body sections, each set being of unitary extruded construction, and each of said channel parts having a forward edge that interfits with a top edge portion of an associated body section, the turned-under back wall portion of each of said rim parts having a latching edge therealong, and cover plate means extending vertically upwardly and adapted to engage with said latching edge for closing-off outer reaches of the side walls of said body sections.

14. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a cross-extending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending bottom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, top rim and water channel means extending along upper edge portions of said body sections in a surmounting relation with respect thereto, said top rim and water channel means comprising a top rim and channel section for each of said body sections, each of said top rim and channel sections having an interfitting and secure mounting on an associated body section, said rim and channel sections being secured in an endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank, each of said top rim and channel sections having rim and water channel parts extending horizontally outwardly from the side walls of each of said body sections, each of said rim parts having a turned-under back wall portion and a turned-under front wall portion, each of said channel parts having an inner backwardly turned portion connected to the front wall portion of an associated said rim part and terminating in forwardly extending compartmentalized portions for liquid flow therealong, said rim and channel parts being in sections corresponding in length to the length of said body sections and being in an upwardly stacked and welded together relation with respect to each other and in an endwise-welded together relation with respect to adjacent top rim and channel parts along and above said body sections.

15. In a modular tank as defined in claim 14, said rim and channel parts being separate extrusions and having an interfitting secured relationship with respect to each other and with respect to upper edge walls of said body sections.

16. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate tank body sections of plate-like material having a cross-extending bottom wall and a pair of upwardly extending side walls; a pair of end body sections having a cross-extending boTtom wall, a pair of upwardly extending side walls and an upwardly extending end wall; said intermediate body sections being in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with respect to each other along the tank and at one end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with one end body section of the pair and at the other end in an assembled endwise-aligned relation with the other end body section of the pair; reinforcing frames secured along outer reaches of the walls of said body sections and having for each body section at least one cross-extending bottom wall supporting frame member and a pair of transversely spaced-apart upright side frame members secured to opposite ends of said bottom wall supporting frame member; longitudinally extending base members along opposite sides of the tank, said side frame members positioning said body sections in an upwardly spaced and secure relation on and with respect to said base members, said body sections being mounted in a vertically staggered relation along the tank and being connected by riser step portions therebetween and defining substantially planar bottom areas for the tank of different depths endwise along the tank.

17. In a modular pool tank, a group of intermediate and end tank body sections in an endwise-assembled and secured relation to define a tank body, a group of frame sections, one for each of said body sections, said frame sections having frame members extending and secured to adjacent body sections along parting lines therebetween, support means for the tank body to which said frame sections are secured, top rim and water channel means extending about and surmounting and secured on said body sections, said rim and channel means having an inner rim portion, a pair of opposed side hangers, each hanger having finger means adapted to be removably positioned on said inner rim portion to suspend one of said hangers in in a downwardly extending position within and along one side wall of the tank body and to suspend the other of said hangers in a downwardly extending position within and along an opposed side wall of the tank body and in a transversely aligned and opposed relation with respect to said one hanger, a grab bar, and said pair of hangers having vertically spaced-apart socket portions with those of said one hanger being transversely aligned with those of said other hanger for receiving opposite ends of said grab bar therein.

18. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17, at least one of said body sections having a liquid inlet portion in each of its side walls, and each of said hangers having a collar adapted to engage the inlet portion of an adjacent side wall of said one body section to hold said hanger in position within the tank body.

19. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17 each of said hangers having roller means adapted to ride along an adjacent side wall of the tank body.

20. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17 each of said hangers having a pair of spaced-apart and cross-connected vertical legs, said legs having finger means in the form of first roller means adapted to ride on an associated said inner rim portion, and said legs having a second roller means operatively carried in a vertically downwardly spaced relation with respect to said first roller means to ride against an adjacent side wall of the tank body.

21. In a modular tank as defined in claim 17, said grab bar having a pair of telescopic parts, and means for removably retaining said parts in an expanded relation with respect to each other within a pair of cross-aligned socket portions of said pair of hangers.