US3904717A

US3904717A - Apparatus for and method of equipping swimming pools and the like with a tile band and cantilever deck

Info

Publication number: US3904717A
Application number: US438018A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Stegmeier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-01-29
Filing date: 1974-01-30
Publication date: 1975-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-09

Abstract

Concrete swimming pools are usually provided with a band of ceramic tile at the waterline and with a deck that overlies the pool wall and tile band. The present invention is concerned with apparatus for and a method of equipping such pool with a band of tile and with a poured concrete cantilever deck. The apparatus includes an elongated holder in the form of a spring rod anchored intermediate its ends to the pool wall by a fulcrum effective to develop a bending moment thereabout urging the upper end portion of the holder toward the pool wall and against an elongated board structure to force the same into frictional engagement with the wall so as to be supported therealong. Such board structure selectively takes the form of a ledger board used in attaching the tile band to the pool wall and a form disposed along the tile band and against which the concrete deck is poured. The method includes the steps of attaching the holder intermediate its ends to the pool wall at a location below the ledger board, and then developing a bending moment about the attachment to urge the holder adjacent its upper end portion toward the pool wall and, in one instance, against the ledger board to force the latter into frictional engagement with the pool wall and, in another instance, to urge such upper end portion into engagement with the form to force the same into frictional engagement with the tile band so as to be supported therealong. The ledger board is removed after it has been used in attaching the tile band to the pool wall and before the form is located along the tile band, and the holder is shifted to an elevated position for purposes of holding the form but is attached to the pool wall at the same location in each instance.

Description

United States Patent Stegmeier Sept. 9, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF EQUIPPING SWIMIVIING POOLS AND THE LIKE WITH A TILE BAND AND CANTILEVER DECK Related US. Application Data Primary ExaminerAlfred C. Perham Attorney, Agent, or F irm-C. Michael Zimmerman, Esq.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Concrete swimming pools are usually provided with a band of ceramic tile at the waterline and with a deck that overlies the pool wall and tile band. The present invention is concerned with apparatus for and a method of equipping such pool with a band of tile and [63] Continuation-impart of S r. N 327,671, Jan, 29, with a poured concrete cantilever deck. The apparatus 1973, and acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 299,207, includes an elongated holder in the form of a spring P 20, 1972, Pat 31850903 and a rod anchored intermediate its ends to the pool wall by continuation-in-part of Seri No. 299,208, Sept. 20, a fulcrum effective to develop a bending moment 1972 and a contmuanon'm'part thereabout urging the upper end portion of the holder of Sept 1972 abandoned toward the pool wall and against an elongated board structure to force the same into frictional engagement [52] with the wall so as to be supported therealong. Such Int Cl 2 E04B l/16 1 H02 board structure selectively takes the form of a ledger board used in attaching the tile band to the pool wall [58] held of Search 52/98 2 23 and a form disposed along the tile band and against 9 which the concrete deck is poured. The method in- R 1 6 5 4/ cludes the steps of attaching the holder intermediate 35 31 29/428 its ends to the pool wall at a location below the ledger board, and then developing a bending moment about the attachment to ur e the holder adjacent its u er [56] References C'ted end portion toward th e pool wall and, in one insta ii e,

UNITED STATES PATENTS against the ledger board to force the latter into fric- 2,493,264 1/1950 Records 249/9 tional engagement with the pool wall and, in another 2,729,093 1/1956 y--- 52/390 X instance, to urge such upper end portion into engage- 2,750,647 6/1956 Kried 1. 249/19 ment with the form to force the Same into frictional 2,887,867 5/1959 Burchenal ct 52/388 X engagement with the tile band so as to be supported therealong. The ledger board is removed after it has 32,48,801 10/1967 Deason 249mm 3 been used in attaching the tile band to the pool wall 3,526,070 9/197O Deason I 52/169 and before the form is located along the tile band, and 3,588,082 6/197] 52/489 x the holder is shifted to an elevated position for pur- 3,776,50l 12/1973 Loftin .1 249/2 poses of holding the form but is attached to the pool wall at the same location in each instance.

4 29 21 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures 59' f 6/ ise SHEET 1 n 5 PATENTEB 35? 91975 PATENTED SE? 9 SHEET 3 0F 5 PATENTED SEP 9 SHEET 5 Fla/7 I I I I a APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF EQUIPPING SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE WITH A TILE BAND AND CANTILEVER DECK RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending patent application, Ser. No. 327,671, filed Jan. 29, 1973, and of applications, Ser. Nos. 299,207, now US. Pat. No. 3,850,403 299,208, now US Pat. No. 3,850,404 and 299,209, each filed Oct. 20, 1972 and now abandoned; and the disclosures of such copending patent applications are incorportated herein by this reference thereto,

This invention relates to swimming pools and the construction thereof and, more particularly, to concrete swimming pools and to apparatus for and a method of equipping such pools and the like with a tile band at the waterline and with a poured concrete cantilever deck that overhangs the pool wall and tile band therealong.

As explained in one or more of the aforementioned copending patent applications, a vast number of swimming pools are constructed today by a gunnite process in which cement, aggregate, and water are mixed at a nozzle and ejected toward a stop structure against which the concrete builds to form the requisite wall thickness. To a great extent, the stop structure constitutes the earthen mass defining the boundaries of the excavation made for the pool, and a network of steel reinforcing bars is usually erected therealong for purposes of being embedded within the pool walls to reinforce the same. The walls of the pool usually have a thickness of approximately four inches except that the upwardly extending wallsare enlarged adjacent their upper edge portions to a lateral width of about twelve inches to define what is referred to in the industry as a bond beam.

After the concrete walls have cured sufficiently, a band of ceramic tile is attached to the wall along the upper edge portion thereof, and the purpose of such band of tile is to provide a hard, stain-resistant wall surface at the waterline of the pool to enable body oils and other debris that collect along the waterline and adhere to the pool wall thereat to be cleaned readily therefrom, which the tile permits whereas the more porous concrete would become stained and resist cleaning. After the tile band has been attached, a mold form is positioned therealong such that a configurated surface portion of the form projects upwardly above the tile and defines the inner boundary of the pool deck against which the concrete is poured which cures to define the deck. When the concrete deck has cured sufficiently, the mold form is removed and the deck may then be provided with a surface texture of any conventional type. Finally, the inner surface of the concrete pool walls below the band of tile are covered with a finish coating which is essentially an admixture of cement and sand and is referred to in the industry as a plaster finish.

A number of difficulties are incident to providing the band of tile along the pool wall, and these difficulties including maintaining the tile in a planar disposition (i.e,, obviating surface waves therealong) and establishing a proper elevation so that the upper edge of the tile band is in close proximity to the upper edge of the pool wall but does not project thereabove which can cause the tile to be cracked and displaced from the pool wall upon movement of the deck as a consequence of thermal expansions and contractions thereof, moisture-induced heaving of the earthen mass supporting the deck in part, temblors, etc. Since the gunnite poolforming process is relatively crude as respects the establishment of finite dimensions and elevations, it is usually necessary for a workman to fill in depressions along the upper surface of the bond beam after or as the tile is attached to the pool wall to make sure that no portion of the tile projects above the upper surface of the wall and bond beam, and also to smooth the inner surface of the pool wall to which the tile band is attached by filling depressions and by chipping out projections in an effort to have the tile maintain a generally planar progression along the pool wall.

Problems can also develop in use of the forms unless steps are taken to obviate the consequences of the large quantities of water used about the bond beam to wet the same prior to the deck being poured and to compact and wet the soil bordering the bond beam along the outer extremities thereof and over which the concrete is also poured. The same problem of moisture is further aggravated by pouring the concrete deck itself because of the moisture and chemical slurries present in the concrete and especially in wet or highslump concrete.

In view of all of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for and method of equipping a swimming pool or the like with a tile band and with a poured concrete deck which in the usual instance will be a cantilever deck having an overhang projecting inwardly toward the center of the pool in overlying relation with the pool wall and tile band therealong.

Further objects, among others, of the present invention are in the provision of an elongated spring-type holder and fulcrum therefor to engage the holder intermediate the ends thereof and develop a bending moment along the holder and about the fulcrum effective to urge the upper end portion of the holder toward the pool wall and against an elongated board structure to force the latter toward frictional engagement with the pool wall so as to be supported by the holder therealong; an improved ledger board adapted to be held in position along the pool wall by the holder and usable in applying the tile band to the pool wall; a backing wall member adapted to be removably secured to the ledger board and against which a concrete mass can be poured to provide the pool wall with an outer surface along which the tile band can be attached, or which member is used to support tile components forming such band while they are secured in position along the pool wall; a holder and fulcrum arrangement selectively usable in supporting such ledger board in position along the pool wall and in supporting the form along the tile band while the concrete deck is poured; and a method of equipping a swimming pool wall or the like with a band of tile and with a cantilever deck, the method including attaching the holder intermediate the ends thereof to the pool wall at a location below the ledger board and developing a bending moment about the attachment effective to resiliently urge the upper end portion of the holder toward the pool wall and against the ledger board to force the latter into frictional engagement with the pool wall and be supported therealong, thereafter removing the ledger board and elevating the holder to a higher position for engagement with the mold form which has been placed along the tile band, and developing a bending moment along the holder about the same or previously-used point of attachment effective to urge the upper end portion of the holder toward the pool wall and against the mold form to force the same into frictional engagement with the tile band and be supported therealong.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification continues.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention, the holder component being shown in association with a ledger board and backing wall member;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken transverse sectional view taken.

along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a broken perspective view illustrating the backing wall member and tile surfacing material in spaced apart relation;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged, broken end view in elevation of the fulcrum illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a broken top plan view of the fulcrum taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a broken perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1, illustrating the holder in association with a form against which a cantilever concrete deck is to be poured;

FIG. 8 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a broken perspective view illustrating a modified fulcrum component;

FIG. 10 is a broken vertical sectional view of the modified fulcrum and associated side wall of a swimming pool wall;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the modified fulcrum shown in association with the reinforcing bars of the swimming pool wall;

FIG. 12 is a broken perspective view illustrating a further modified fulcrum in position in a swimming pool wall;

FIG. 13 is a broken perspective view showing the modified fulcrum of FIG. 12 with a spring holder in association therewith prior to the fulcrum being tightened thereagainst;

FIG. 14 is a broken perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 3, but illustrating the modified fulcrum in operational engagement with the spring holder;

FIG. 15 is a broken vertical sectional view illustrating the spring holder in functional association with a form in position for receipt of a concrete mass poured thereagainst, the ledger bar shown in FIG. 1 being interposed between the form and tile surfacing of the pool wall;

FIG. 16 is a broken vertical sectional view illustrating a modified spring holder in functional association with a modified backing wall member;

FIG. 17 is a broken front view in elevation of the structural assembly shown in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a broken perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1, but illustrating a modified strap component for aligning the backing wall member with respect to a pool wall.

The structural assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an upwardly extending wall which, in particular terms, constitutes the generally vertical wall of a swimming pool and is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 20. Adjacent its upper end, the wall 20 is enlarged outwardly in transverse directions to provide a wall section generally known as a bond beam which is designated with the numberal 21. Ordinarily, the pool wall 20 and bond beam 21 thereof are formed integrally, and they may be fabricated by any conventional technique which usually entails a gunnite process in which concrete is spread against an earthen form having reinforcing (not shown in FIG. 1 but see FIG. 9) bars positioned therealong which are therefore embedded within the concrete after it cures to reinforce the same. The wall 20 adjacent the bond beam 21 thereof is trimmed along its upper inner edge to form an upwardly and outwardly inclined perimetric edge portion 22 which facilitates subsequent steps in the tilesecuring process, as explained in detail hereinafter.

As respects fabrication of the pool and wall 20 thereof, it may be completely conventional and forms no part of the present invention with the exception of the inclined surface 25 which is not found in the usual pool construction. As is well known, the concrete walls of a pool are equipped along the upper edge thereof with a hard stain-resistive coating that is usually ceramic tile. The band of tile is disposed at the water line of the pool to prevent body oils and similar debris from adhering tenaciously thereto which would be the case were a porous material located along the waterline. Below the tile band, the concrete pool wall is covered with a finishing material that is generally referred to as a plaster coating but comprises a coating of concrete finished to a smooth esthetically attractive appearance. The particular tile used to form the band thereof may constitute 6 inch squares, for example, or mosaic tile sheets which comprise a plurality of relatively small ceramic tiles having spaces therebetween which ultimately will be filled with a suitable grout. Initially, the small mosaic tiles are held in position with respect to each other by a porous fiber backing. Mosaic tiles are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and are generally denoted with the numeral 24 and the porous backing strip with the numeral 25.

As previously indicated, the present invention is concerned in part with positioning the tile band with respect to the pool wall and with securing the tile thereto, and with providing the pool with a poured concrete deck along the upper surface of the pool wall and bond beam 21 thereof. In this latter respect, swimming pools traditionally have relatively wide decks disposed in bordering relation about the upper edge portion thereof which provide an attractive finish about the pool, that provide a walkway thereabout, and that also provide a water-collecting means by which water splashed from the pool is recovered and returned directly to the pool or recirculated thereto via a filter and heater. A popular deck used extensively in the construction of swimming pools is a poured concrete cantilever deck having an overhang that projects inwardly toward the center of the pool in covering relation with the side walls thereof, as indicated in FIG. 15. Both in the positioning of the tile 24 and subsequent pouring of a cantilever deck, an elongated board structure is used which extends along the wall 20 with surface portions of the board structure disposed in facing relation therewith.

In the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1, the elongated board structure takes the form of a ledge board 26 which is disposed along the wall in substantially horizontal disposition, as illustrated in this FIG. The ledger board 26 is supplied in elongated sections that are usually from eight to ten feet in length and have a thickness approximating two inches and a vertical height of six inches. The ledger board 26 in the particular embodiment being considered is a reusable component and is fabricated of a resilient and flexible plastic material such as polyethylene. The ledger board is also rectangular in cross section and has essentially planar wall surfaces, with those opposite each other being substantially parallel. The requisite number of ledger board sections are disposed in end-to-end succession along the pool wall 20, and are bent in conformity with the configuration of the pool wall since they are relatively flexible. They can also be cut to any desired length by a knife or saw.

The ledger board 26 is disposed a predetermined distance downwardly from the highest elevation of the pool wall 20 and bond beam 21 thereof. The spacing between such point along the bond beam and upper edge of the ledger board 26 depends upon the vertical dimension of the particular tile being used which, in the usual instance, will be approximately six inches. The ledger board 26 is removably held in place by a plural ity of longitudinally spaced holders 27 that are elongated components and are oriented in generally transverse relation with the ledger board, as shown in FIG. 1. Each holder 27 is rod-like in character and is an elongated spring formed, for example, from tempered steel. Each holder has a lower end portion 28 located below the ledger board 26 in bearingjuxtaposition with the pool wall and, in the particular form of the invention being considered, in bearing relation with the wall, as is most evident in FIGS. 7, I5, and 16. Each holder 27 projects upwardly to an elevation substantially above the upper edge of the ledger board 26 and defines a handle-section 29 that enables the holder to be removed from engagement with the ledger board 26, as subsequently explained in greater detail.

Each holder 27 is associated with a fulcrum component 30 that is secured along the pool wall 20 intermediate the ledge board 26 and lower end portion 28 of the holder 27, as shown in FIG. I. The fulcrum 30 is fixedly related to the wall 20, and engages the holder 27 to force the same toward the ledger board 26 to support the latter positionally along the wall 20. In this respect, the fulcrum 30 may be removably secured to the wall 20 by any suitable means as, for example, by means of a quick-setting epoxy or other suitable adhesive. As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 30 may have a base 31 equipped with a plurality of spaced apart openings 32, and an adhesive interposed between the surface of the pool wall 20 and base 31 of the holder 30 is pressed through the openings 32 and defines a good adhesive securance between the fulcrum 30 and wall 20. Many commercially available, quick-setting adhesives are suitable for this purpose and, when used, the fulcrum 30 is readily removed by striking the adhesive body either directly or indirectly through the base 31 with one or more sharp hammer blows.

The fulcrum 30 engages the holder 27 intermediate the end portion 28 thereof and ledger board 26, and forces the holder toward and into engagement with the ledger board 26 to support the latter in position along the wall 20. The holder 27 may seat within the resilient ledger board 26, as is indicated in FIG. 1, and the holder 27 is advantageously equipped with a longitudinally extending cross bar 34 which may be welded thereto, and has laterally turned end portions 35 adapted to dig into the ledger board, as shown in FIG. 1. The cross bar 34 may have a total length of approximately twelve inches, and if successive holders 27 are spaced apart longitudinally along the ledger board 26 by approximately 18 inches center-to-center, the board 26 will be supported by engagement with a holder 27 at six-inch intervals therealong.

The fulcrum 30 has a leg 36 extending outwardly from the base 31 in generally normal dispositonwith respect thereto, and the leg 36 is provided with a plurality of openings therealong in the form of notches or slots 37 respectively adapted to seat the associated holder 27 therein. The particular notch 37 within which the holder is seated is selected so that the holder is forced by the fulcrum into tight bearing engagement with the ledger board 26. The ledger board may be precisely adjusted to the appropriate elevation simply by grasping the handle 29 of a holder 27 and displacing the holder transversely away from the ledger board 26 to free the same, whereupon the ledger [board can be raised or lowered, as necessary, to enforce the proper correction thereon. Accordingly, precise adjustment of the ledger board 26 is readily accomplished with ease and facility.

in this reference, the ledger board 26 should have a relatively accurate horizontal disposition because it is used to establish both the elevation and horizontal linearity of the tile 24. The procedure usually followed is to locate the highest position along the deck 21, measure downwardly therefrom to establish the location of the bottom edge of the tile band 24 and upper edge of the ledger board 26, and draw a guide wire taut along the pool wall 20 at the proper elevation. The guide wire is carefully leveled so that an accurate reference line is defined thereby. Workmen thereafter bring each ledger board 26 into touching engagement along the upper surface thereof with the guide wire, which thereby de fines the reference for all of the ledger boards.

After the ledger boards are in place, a reference line (a chalk line, for example) is struck along the upper surface of the ledger boards 26 a predetermined distance from the pool wall 20 adequate to accommodate the thickness of the tile 24 and a backing wall member 38 used to support tile, as subsequently described. The spacing between the wall and the chalk line is usually measured from the greatest outward protuberance along the wall so that the tile will be perfectly straight and not distrubed by irregularities appearing along the wall 20. It may be observed that in certain instances the backing wall member 38 may be used not as a tile holder but as a form against which concrete is poured directly to fill the space between the inclined surface 22 of the wall and backing wall member. In this instance, the chalk line along the upper edge of the ledger board 26 establishing the outer edge of the backing wall 38 will be closer to the pool wall 20 since the thickness of the tile 24 will not be accommodated.

The tile board 38 may be formed of various materials and have any appropriate lengths as, for example, lengths of eight to ten feet. The boards 38, which are placed along and supported upon the ledger boards 26 and extend upwardly therefrom, are disposed in end-toend succession and may be cutwhen necessary to provide the requisite over-all length in any particular pool installation. As a specific example, the backing wall members 38 may be polystyrene such as styrofoam and beadboard or closed-cell expanded polystyrene foam having a vertical dimension of approximately 6 /2 inches and a thickness of approximately inch. Expanded polystyrene of this character is sufficiently stiff in the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1 to provide the functions desired, and is nevertheless adequately flexible to enable the members 38 to be curved in conformity with the configuration of the pool wall 20.

As respects bending of the members 38, it is desirable to provide reinforcing at particular locations along the backing wall members 38 to maintain the same in a straight-line disposition along linear stretches of the pool wall 20 and to enforce a more accurate curvature thereon along arcuate sections of the pool wall. Such reinforcing may include an elongated pressuresensitive tape strip 39 secured to the member 38 along the bottom edge thereof, and in the reference of the reinforcing contributing to the uniformity of curvature when the member 38 is bent, the tape strip 39 is sometimes referred to as bending tape. A similar tape strip 40 may be provided along the upper edge of the backing wall member 38. Advantageously, the tape 39 is a double-faced, filamentreinforced tape which is relatively strong in tension because of the longitudinanally extending fiberglass or other filaments embedded therein, which therefore tends to prevent bulging (either inwardly or outwardly) of the backing wall member 38 intermediate the plurality of fasteners in the form of nails 41 used in conjunction with the tape 39 to secure the member 38 along the ledger board 26. The nails 41 are pressed downwardly in the manner of toenailing' through the lower edge of the backing wall member 38 which is relatively soft and into the ledger board 26. The double-faced tape strip 39 is secured by the pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side thereof to the wall member 38 and on the other side to the ledger board 26. Usually, the tape 39 will be positioned along the backing wall members 38 when they are supplied to the user who then removes the protective covering from the outer side of the tape when ready to position the member 38 along the ledger board 26. The tape, especially a filament tape, also serves to prevent cracking and stretching of the backing wall member 38 along the long radius thereof as it is curved along the pool wall 20, but does not inhibit compression along the inner or shorter radius of any such curve.

Each backing wall member 38 may also be provided with a tape strip 40 along its upper edge to serve the same function as the tape strip 39, and for this purpose the tape strip 40 can be a filament tape. However, in the assemblage illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the tape 40 is also used to attach the tile sheets 24 to the backing wall member 38; and for this purpose, the tape strip 40 is sufficiciently wide to have a downwardly turned edge portion 40a that extends along the upper edge portion of the face of the backing wall member 38. For purposes of attaching the mosaic tile sheets 24 to the wall member 38, the tape strips 40 may be a double-faced, pressure-sensitive tape such as No. 415 industrial tape sold by the 3M Company of Minneapolis, Minn. In the case of a double-faced tape constituting the strip 40, it will be apparent that the exposed surface thereof along the upper edge of the wall member 38 is not necessarily used in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, but does perform an advantageous function in other forms of the invention, as explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 18.

The backing wall members 38 along their lower edges are secured to the ledger board 26, as previously explained, and they are stabilized or supported in transverse directions adjacent their upper edge portions by support mechanism connected with each backing wall member 38 adjacent its upper end to relate the same positionally with respect to the pool wall 20. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, such support mechanism includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced strap components 42 operative between the backing wall members 38 and the holders 27. In the assemblage of FIG. 1, the strap components 42 are connected integrally with the holders 27 through a support 44 disposed in generally parallel relation with the pool wall 20 and backing wall member 38 in spaced relation with the latter. The support 44 may take various forms, and in the particular arrangement illustrated, it constitutes an elongated hollow tube which may be a conventional /2 inch-diameter polyvinyl chloride pipe. Such supports can be readily cut, when necessary, to the requisite lengths, and they are connected one to another in endto-end succession by couplings (not shown) provided for pipes of this type.

The supports 44 are arranged with the holders27 so as to be carried thereby and, in this respect, each holder 27 is equipped along the handle section 29 thereof with a concave or generally U-shaped receiver 45 into which the support 44 seats. The receiver-45 is formed by bending the holder 27 into the desired configuration adjacent its upper end, as is most evident in FIG. 2. Also as seen in this Figure, the receiver 45 may be slightly smaller across the mouth 46 thereof than the outer diameter of the support 44 so that the support will be firmly confined within the receiver 45 when pressed thereinto.

The strap components 42 include a relatively flat strap 47 equipped at one end with a fastener 48 adapted to seat upon and engage the support 44, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 3. The fasteners 48 are inverted, generally U-shaped spring clips having mouths 49 that may be slightly smaller than the supports 44 to enable the spring clips to firmly engage the latter when positioned thereon. The spring fasteners 48 may be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the associated straps 47, and the straps may be provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 50 therealong adapted to pass a nail 51 therethrough which is pressed into the backing wall member 38 to fixedly secure the strap thereto. It will be apparent that the location of the support 44 is fixed and is determined by the holders 27. Accordingly, the location of the upper edge portion of the backing wall member 38 at requisite positions therealong can be maintained by pressing the nail 51 through the appropriate opening 50 so that the upper edge of the backing wall member 38 will be essentially of linear or straight-line orientation. As many strap components 42 may be used as necessary to maintain the straight-line disposition of the backing wall member; and should realignment be required at any particular location, the nail 51 is withdrawn thereat and repositioned therein through the appropriate aperture 50.

The structural assemblage illustrated in Flg. 1 is used after the pool wall 20 and bond beam 21 thereof have been formed, usually by a gunnite process, and the first step is for a workman to secure the various anchors 30 at the appropriate locations therefor, which usually will be about 14 inches below the upper surface of the bond beam 21 and at about 16 to 18-inch spacing along the wall 20, although neither dimension is any sense critical. A workman first places a patch of adhesive on the wall 20 at each such location, and the base 31 of the fulcrum 30 is then pressed into the adhesive to effect a good interconnection therewith. As noted hereinbefore, a quick-setting epoxy resin is advantageously used for the adhesive, and a specific example of such adhesive is one sold commercially under the traade name Bondo. This adhesive sets in about ten minutes and becomes guite brittle after it has hardened, a characteristic which is used in removing the fulcrum 30, as subsequently explained.

Once the fulcrums 30 are in position, the work man brings the ledger boards 26 to the appropriate elevation, places one of the holders 27 in an opening 37 provided therefor in the fulcrum while gripping the handle 29 of the holder to bend it away from the ledger board 26, and he then releases the holder 27 to enable the cross bar 34 thereof to engage the ledger board and press it tightly into frictional engagement with the pool wall 20. This procedure is repeated at each location along the wall 20 having a fulcrum 30 located thereat. Should the ledger board 26 be either high or low with respect to the reference elevation therefor, the workman flexes the holder 27 outwardly to release the cross bar 34 from the ledger board, thereby enabling the board to be raised or lowered to correctly position it after which it is held in such position by release of the holder 27 to permit re-engagement of the cross bar 34 thereof with the ledger board.

As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 27 is engaged within an opening 37 of the fulcrum 30 at a location intermediate the surface of the pool wall 20 and outer face of the ledger board 26 so that the spring-like resilience of the holder causes it to engage the ledger board tightly along the lower edge thereof and actually depresses the ledger board tending to embed itself therein, as shown at 52. The turned end portions 35 of the cross bar 34 also embed themselves into the resilient ledger board 26 so that a three-point engagement is defined of significant contact between the ledger board and holder. This three-point contact is enhanced by the continuous engagement of the cross bar 34 with the ledger board 26 intermediate the turned ends 35 of the cross bar. A general three-point contact occurs along the holder 27 since it engages at its lower end the wall 20, engages the fulcrum 30 a spaced distance thereabove, and then engages the ledger board 26 and resiliently urges it into engagement with the pool wall 20.

Once the ledger board 26 is properly positioned, a reference line is established along the upper surface thereof, as previously explained, and a workman removes the protective covering from the tape 39 to enable the workman to position the backing wall member 38 in upwardly extending relation along the ledger board 26. The nails 41 are pressed through the backing wall member 38 and into the ledger board 26, as shown in FIG. 1 and as previously explained. The tubular supports 44 are placed within the receivers 45, and the strap components 42 have the fasteners 48 thereof snapped into engagement with the support 44 at appropriate locations therealong. Since the ledge board 26 provides a true horizontal surface to which the backing wall member 38 is attached, the backing wall member can be oriented in a vertical plane simply by use of a square between the upper surface of the ledger board 26 and outer face of the backing wall member. The nail fasteners 51 are then pressed downwardly into the upper surface of the backing wall member 38 through an appropriately located opening 50 in the strap component. This procedure is repeated wherever it is believed necessary to have a strap component operative between the backing wall member 38 and pool wall 20 via the holders 27 and supports 44. Readjustment of the backing wall member 38 wherever required is accomplished by removing one or more of the nail fasteners 51 and re-engaging the same with the backing wall member after it has been properly oriented.

The title units 24, whether large individual tiles or mosaic sheets, can be secured in position along the backing wall member 38 at various times such as after the backing wall member 38 has been connected with the strap components 42 in the manner described, or prior to the strap components being connected with the backing wall member, or before the backing wall member is positioned along and secured to the ledger board 26. In any case, the interconnection of the tile 24 with the backing wall member 38 is effected by removing the protective covering from the tap 40 along the outer exposed faces thereof, and then pressing the tile units or sheets into intimate contact with the tape. It will be evident that the tile units 25 will not be attached to the backing wall member 38 in those cases in which it is being used as the backing member for concrete poured into the space along the inclined face 22 of the pool wall and the backing wall member. In any case, once the backing wall member 38 is properly secured in position, the space intermediate the backing wall member and trimmed or inclined surface 22 of the pool wall is filled with concrete, usually quick-setting. The upper edge of the backing wall member 38 is, evidently, a true horizontal line and is therefore usable as a guide which the workman may use as a reference for troweling the fill to the proper level.

After the concrete fill has cured sufficiently, workmen remove the strap components 42 from the backing wall member 38 and support 44, and remove the nails 41 to partially free the backing wall member from the ledger board 26. The depending edge portion 40a of the tape is then released from the tile components 24 at one location, and the backing wall member 38 is then peeled from its engagement with the tile units so as to leave the same remaining in attachment to the pool wall via the quick-setting fill.

The precise order in which the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is disassembled may depend, to a great extent, upon the preferences of any particular contractor or his workmen. That is to say, any particular workman may desire to permit the ledger boards 26 to drop free or be removed prior to the backing wall members being peeled from the tile sheets 24. If it is desired to follow such sequence, the workman simply releases the holders 27 after the support 44 and strap components 42 have been removed in the manner previously explained. Release of each holder 27 is effected by withdrawing the same from the associated opening 37 in the fulcrum 30 as, for example, by pressing a knee against the holder below the fulcrum 30, while at the same time deflecting the holder away from the ledger board 26 to withdraw the cross bar 34 therefrom, whereupon a slight lateral force applied to the holder will cause the same to exit the associated opening 37. The ledger boards 26 are then free to drop from the backing wall members 38 or to be urged downwardly therefrom to initiate release of the tape 39. The backing wall members 38 are then completely free and unobstructed so that it is relatively easy to initiate a peelingtype release thereof from the tile components 24, which is preferred to obviate the possibility of distrubing the bond between the tile and concrete fill (not shown in FIG. 1) which usually has only commenced to strengthen because of the economic advantage of completing the tile-mounting and deckpouring procedures as quickly as practicable.

The desribed procedure is that followed when the tile units 24 are secured to the backing wall members 38, and are therefore secured in position along the wall by filling the tapered cavity along the inclined wall surface 22 of the bond beam 21. In the case in which the backing wall members 38 are used simply as a form to contain the concrete fill and the tile units 24 are not supported along the backing wall members, the tile units are positioned in a separate operation after the ledger boards 26 and backing wall members 38 have been removed, in the manner previously described. In this type of construction technique, the tile units 24 are mounted in a conventional manner using standard materials and techniques as, for example, the use of conventional thin-set materials for this purpose. In this procedure, it usually will be desirable to retain the ledger boards 26 in position along the pool wall 20 so as to use such ledger boards as the reference or base to establish the proper elevation of the tile units. Accordingly, the disassembly of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 will usually entail only removal of the strap components 42, supports 44, and nails 41, whereupon the backing wall members 38 can simply to lifted from the ledger boards 26 since there is essentially no bond between the poured concrete and backing wall members.

In any event, once the tile units 24 are in position along the pool wall 20, the subsequent procedure in forming a cantilever deck along the upper edge of the pool wall and bond beam 21 thereof is illustrated in FIG. 7. Turning thereto in particular, it is seen that an elongated board structure 54 extends along the wall 20 with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith. In more particular terms, the board structure 54 is a form member against which a mass of concrete is poured to form a cantilever pool deck similar to the deck 55 indicated in phantom view of FIG. 15. The form 54 is a light-weight, bendable member adapted to conform to arcuate configurations of the wall 20, and it may be fabricated from expanded polystyrene foam, as explained in my aforementioned patent applications and in an earlierfiled copending patent application, Ser. No. 761,726, filed Sept. 23, 1968, to which reference may also be made for details concerning this form.

In brief summary, the form 54 has a base comprised of vertically spaced feet 56-and 57 defined in part by a bending notch 58 located therebetween. The feet 56 and 57 are adapted to be disposed in facing juxtaposition with the tile units 24, and extending upwardly above the base and above the surface of the bond beam 21 is a configurated or shaped area 59 against which the concrete mass is poured so that the overhang of the cantilever deck has the shape imposed thereon of the configurated section 59 of the form 54. The notch 58 constitutes a removal of material that facilitates bending the form both along inside and outside radii; and bending tape (not shown), for essentially the same purposes as the bending

tape

39 and 40 heretofore described, may be located along the form 54 at appropriate locations whenever the form is to traverse curvatures along the pool wall 20.

For purposes of positioning the form members 54 (which are elongated and may have lengths, for example, of from eight to twelve feet), the form sections are placed at the appropriate elevations in horizontal disposition along the tile units 24, and each holder 27 is engaged with an opening 37 in the associted fulcrum 30 with the cross bar 34 disposed a spaced distance above the lower edge of the form so as to urge the latter into engagement with the tile. It will be apparent that the holders 27 will be raised to a higher elevation than that employed to secure the ledger boards 26 in position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the form 54 is located at a higher position along the pool wall 20. An opening 37 is selected in each fulcrum 30 so that the lower end portion of the holder 27 is located intermediate the wall 20 and outer surface of the form 54 so that the requisite holding force is developed by each holder 27. Such force causes the holder to embed itself slightly into the form 54 along the lower outer edge thereof, as shown at 60 in FIG. 7, and the end portions 35 of the holder embed themselves into the form at a location above the indentation 60. Thus, each holder 27 defines a three-point engagement with the form 54 to fixedly hold the same in its appropriate location along the pool wall, and the cross bar 34 engages and further reinforces the form intermediate the turned end portions 35 of the cross bar.

The forms 54 are disposed in end-to-end succession about the pool wall 20, and should repositioning of any form 54 (either throughout its entire length or at selected locations therealong) be required, a workman simply grasps the appropriate holder 27 at the handle portion 29 thereof to deflect the holder away from the form, thereby releasing the latter to enable it to be raised or lowered, as the case may be, whereupon it is constrained in its location by releasing the holder so that it again engages the form in supporting relation. If desired, and where appropriate, the forms 54 may be further confined along their upper edges for purposes of reinforcing and/or straightening the same by introducing wedges or spacers in the opening or gap between each holder 27 and the upper edge of the form 54. Such spacers may be of any type such as the aforementioned tubular supports 44 which are simply dropped into the gaps intermediatethe upper edge of the form and the successive holders 27, as shown in FIG. 7. Use of the supports 44 provides a continuous reinforcement of the forms 54 along the entire lengths thereof.

After the forms 54 are set, a water-stop or seal structure 61 is inserted into position in overlying relation with the upper edge of the tile band defined by the successive tile units 24 and in overlying relation with the concrete body 62 intermediate the inclined surface 22 of the pool wall 20 and inner surface of the tile band, as shown in FIG. 7. The sealstructure 61 is fixedly secured to the bond beam 21 including the filler section 62 thereon by a mastic body 64 that overlies the concrete and seal structure along the contiguous surfaces thereof. The mastic 64 bonds itself tightly to both the concrete and'seal structure, the latter of which may be a plastic component fabricated from polyvinyl chloride, and it maybe an elastomeric material such as polyurethane poured or otherwise spread as a liquid which quickly cures to form a solid though resilient bond sealingly interconnecting the concretemass and structure 61. The seal structure 61 and mastic 64 per se form no part of the present invention, and they are disclosed in my issued US. Pat. No. 3,605,357, to which reference may be made for further details concerning the same.

It sometimes may be desirable to interconnect the seal structure 61 and form 54 along the adjacent edges thereof by a band of mastic 65 which bond establishes an interconnection between the form and concrete bond beam 21 via the seal structure 61 and mastic body 64 and tends to inhibit downward migration of liquids from the wet concrete mass poured against the form 54 and of the water used to wet the bond beam and earthen mass thereabout prior to the concrete deck being formed. The mastic body 65 may be the same as the body 64, and it is also disclosed in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No, 3,605,357. It should be observed herein, however, that the holders 27 establish a confin ing force of sufficient magnitude against the forms 54 to obviate the holding advantages of the mastic body 65 during a concrete pour. After the forms 54 are in place and the seal structure 61 appropriately positioned, as heretofore explained, the concrete deck (see the deck 55 in FIG. is poured against the forms in overlying relation with the bond beam 21, seal structure 61, and tile band 24. The poured deck is then tamped and troweled, and after it has cured sufficiently to be selfsustaining, the forms 54 are removed. Thereafter, the deck is provided with a surface finish in a conventional manner such as a broomed or roughened surface texture having a covering of heat-resistive surface material known as Kool Deck, etc.

Removal of the forms is accomplished quickly and easily simply by releasing each holder 27 from the form and from its associated fulcrum 30, in the manner previously described. The supports 44 may first be removed or simply permitted to fall to the bottom of the pool during the holder-removal step. The forms 54 are then essentially free and may fall from position since there is no substantial adherence between the concrete and configured surface 59 of the forms. Should the mastic body 65 be used, it may tend to hold each form in position, thereby requiring a workman to initiate form-separation. Since the seal structure 61 in the particular embodiment shown has a break-away tear strip associated therewith, it may be removed concurrently with the form 54 in the manner disclosed in my aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,605,357.

Each fulcrum 30 is then removed from the wall 20, which is readily accomplished by delivering impact to the adhesive mass 66 (see FIG. 6) such as by striking a chisel held against the adhesive mass. The adhesive is brittle, and therefore shatters readily so that one or more sharp blows is sufficient to remove each fulcrum 30 and the adhesive patch. Each fulcrum 30 may be recovered for reuse in a subsequent installation, and the same is true of each holder 27, the tubes 44, and the strap components 42. The ledger boards 26 are intended for reuse, as previously explained, and the backing wall members 38 and form members 54 may or may not be reused depending uponthc amount of damage thereto and the desires of any particular contractor. After all of the components have been removed and the pool cleared, the wall 20 is coated below the tile band 24 and to approximately the thickness thereof with a concrete finish referred to as plaster, all in the manner conventional and well known in the art.

The fulcrums 30 heretofore described are set in position along the wall 20 after the wall has been constructed, but fulcrums may be provided as part of the wall-forming process. An example of fulcrums of this type is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, and a description of such modified fulcrums will now be presented with particular reference to these Figures. In this respect, FIG. 9 depicts a typical gunnite pool wall 20a having the usual thickness of approximately four inches and provided at its upper end portion with an enlargement of about twelve inches defining the bond beam 21a. Before the concrete is ejected into position, a reinforcing network of steel bars is disposed and tied in position in the usual manner, and such network of reinforcing bars includes horizontally disposed bars 67 and vertically disposed bars 68. Although the backing against which the concrete is ejected constitutes the earthen fill defining the cavity of the pool for the most part, it is conventional to provide a backing or batter board 69 establishing the outer edge of the bond beam 21a, and this backing board is held in place by a plurality of stakes 70.

The modified fulcrum has the same general characteristics as the fulcrum 30 heretofore described, and for this reason the same numerals are used to identify respectively corresponding elements thereof except that the suffix a has been used with the modified fulcrum for purposes of specific differentiation. Thus, the fulcrum 30a is seen to be provided with a leg 36a having a generally normal orientation relative to the pool wall 201:, and the leg has a plurality of slot-type openings 37a thercalong which are angled outwardly in the manner of the openings 37 shown in FIG. 6 to facilitate positioning and anchorage of the holders 27 in such openings. At its inner end, the leg 36a is equipped with a hook-shaped base 31a of generally C-shaped configuration having a recess 32a defined thereby of sufficient size to seat a vertical reinforcing bar 68 therein.

The fulcrums 30a may be mounted before the concrete wall 20a is constructed, and such mounting is effected simply by seating each fulcrum upon a generally horizontal bar 67 to establish the vertical location of the fulcrum with an upwardly extending reinforcing bar seated within the recess 32a to confine the fulcrum at the selected location. When the concrete is then ejected from the gunnite nozzle in the usual manner, each fulcrum 30a has an inner end portion thereof embedded within the concrete so as to be held firmly thereby, as shown in FIG. 10. The gunnited concrete sets very rapidly, as is well known and one of the advantages of this procedure, and the fulcrums 30a may be used whenever the concrete is sufficiently cured for all other purposes. In any event, the strain imparted to the fulcrum 30a by an associated holder 27 tends to be transmitted through the leg 36a directly to the reinforc ing bars of the concrete.

The modified fulcrums 30a may be formed from various materials such as plastic or aluminum that do not rust or tend to bleed through the plaster finishing coating applied to the wall 20a, as previously explained. In the form shown, the fulcrums 30a are made from plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride, and after they have performed their function, they are cut or broken off adjacent the outer surface of the pool wall 200, thereby leaving a portion of each fulcrum permanently embedded in the concrete wall but covered with the plaster coating (not shown).

A further modified fulcrum is illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14, and although it is similar to the fulcrum 30a in the sense that it is embedded within the concrete pool wall, it is inserted thereinto following or as a part of the gunnite process and is not connected directly to the reinforcing bars of the concrete. For convenience, the same numerals with the suffix 1; added thereto are used to identify the elements respectively corresponding to those of the

fulcrums

30 and 30a previously described.

The modified fulcrum 30b is in the form of a generally U-shaped wire loop having spaced legs 36b establishing an opening 37b therebetween. The terminii of the legs 37b may be turned laterally to form hooks 31b. The fulcrum 3017 must have bleed-resistive characteristics so that the finished pool wall is not stained thereby, and it must be sufficiently strong and malleable to enable it to be twisted into engagement with an associated holder 27, as shown in FIG. 14, the twisted portion of the fulcrum being denoted with the numeral 71 and being enforced thereon by a suitable lever arm implement such as a long nail 72. A material suitable for the fulcrum 30b is aluminum wire.

The holders 30!; may be inserted intothe concrete wall either by simply pressing the fulcrum thereinto before it has cured sufficiently to resist penetation, and any concrete tending to be displaced by such insertion is simply smoothed along the outer wall surface adjacent the points of penetration. In some instances, it may be advantageous to insert the holder at a slight angle from the horizontal disposition illustrated and then rotate the fulcrum a few degrees after insertion so that the ends 31b engage a mass of concrete which will provide a positive abutment constraining the fulcrum against withdrawal from the wall. Another technique that may be used to insert each holder 31b is to form a small cavity 74 in the wall while the concrete is still uncured as by inserting a stiff tool into the concrete to displace the same laterally. For example, a short length of reinforcing bar or similar type instrument may be placed against the concrete wall and struck sharply with a hammer to drive the instrument into the wall to the desired depth. Thereafter, the fulcrum 30b is inserted into the cavity 74, which is then refilled with a concrete filler 75 that is pressed into the cavity by hand and may constitute a small mass of gunnited concrete. In either instance, the holder 30b is embedded directly into the concrete wall 2012 which, after it has cured sufficiently, resists withdrawal of the fulcrum 30b.

In use of the fulcrum 30b, a holder 27 is inserted into the opening 37b between the legs 3617 (as shown in FIG. 13), and the wire then twisted by means of the levertype implement 72 to draw the holder 27 into tight frictional engagement with the pool wall 20b and with the particular board structure with which it is being used. Considering theprogression respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, the wire is first twisted sufficiently to cause the holder 27 to engage the ledger board 26 in the manner previously explained, and each holder may be manipulated to release the ledger board for adjustment purposes in the same manner as with the

fulcrums

30 and 30a. When the holder 27 is subsequently elevated to a location to engage-the form 54, the fulcrum 30b may be further twisted to tighten the same against the holder 27 and force the latter into frictional engagementwith the wall 20b and form 54.

After the tile-mounting and deck-pouring operations have been completed and the various components disassembled, as previously described, the legs 36b of the holder 30b are severed adjacent the surface of the pool wall 20b so as to be substantially flush therewith. The pool wall 20b is then provided with a plaster finish, as previously described, that overlies the leg portions of the holder 30b that remain embedded in the concrete pool wall 20b. Since the holder 30b is formed of aluminum (or other comparable material that does not rust or bleed through), the presence of the fulcrum legs creates no esthetic or functional problems.

In some localities, the building codes require a different amount of overhang for a cantilever deck depend ing upon whether the deck is for a domestic or public swimming pool a greater overhang being required for the latter. A difference in the vertical thickness of the deck may also be required as between these two types of pool constructions. The mold form 54 illustrated in FIG. 7 and the manner in which it is disposed with respect to the pool wall 20 and tile band 24 is generally applicable to domestic pools, whereas the modifled form 54' shown in FIG. 15 and its positional relationship with the pool wall generally depicts a public pool construction. In FIG. 15, the same numerals are used to identify all of the pool, holder, fulcrum, and any other components as those used in FIGS. 1 through 8 because all of such components may be identical. On the other hand, the form itself is somewhat different as is its positional relationship with the pool wall 20, and the primed form of the same numerals is used to identify these respectively corresponding components.

The overhang of the deck 55 is approximatelly two inches greater than the overhang of the deck (not shown) configurated and defined by the form 54. This additional 2 inch-overhang can be obtained by inserting the ledger board 26 intermediate the tile strip 24 and legs 56' and 57 of the form 54', as shown in FIG. 15. The form 54' is otherwise held in place by the various holders 27 in the same manner as previously explained with reference to the form 54, and the holding 1 force imparted to the form 54 by each holder 27 is adequate also to confine the ledger board 26 in position. The upper edge of the form 54 may be aligned and reinforced, if necessary, by insertion of the supports 44 intermediate the form and upper end portions of the holders 27, as shown in FIG. 15. The seal structure 61 is used in the same manner as heretofore explained, in association with the mastic 64 (and 65 when used) except that the depending flange of the seal structure is located intermediate the tile strip 24 and facing juxtaposed surface of the ledger board 26, rather than intermediate the tile and adjacent surface of the leg 57 of the form 54 as in FIG. 7. Assembly and disassembly of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 15, and the preceding operation illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the tile strip 24 is properly located, are the same as previously described and need not be further considered.

A modified holder, backing wall member, and support mechanism are illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 and will now be described the primed form of the same numerals being used where appropriate to identify respectively corresponding components because of their general similarity with those heretofore considered in detail.

The modified backing wall member 38 has a somewhat U-shaped configuration, although turned on its side, and has laterally projecting ledges or edge portions 76 and 77 that are generally parallel and may be continuous (as shown in FIG. 17) or discontinuous components spaced longitudinally along the length of the member 38. In either instance, the edge portions 76 and 77 have apertures therethrough at longitudinally spaced locations. In this respect, the edge portion 76 seats upon the ledger board 26 and is secured thereto by nail fasteners 41' that extend through such openings in the edge portion and penetrate the ledger board in the manner of the nails 41 heretofore considered. The openings in the edge portion 77 at the top of the backing wall member 38 are adapted to receive the downwardly turned legs or ends 51 of straps 47 form ing a part of the modified strap components 42. The modified strap components 42 are associated with anchors 45' mounted upon the modified upper end or handle portion 29 of the hollders 27'. The anchors 45 have an opening therethrough that slidably receives the holder 27 and is fixedly secured thereto at any selected location therealong by a set screw 46 equipped with a relatively large head to enable the same to be readily manipulated.

The anchor 45' further has an opening therethrough offset from the holder-receiving opening and disposed in transverse relation therewith that slidably passes the strap 47' therethrough which, in the form shown, is of cylindrical or wire-like configuration. The strap 47 can be secured in any adjusted location relative to the anchor 45 by means ofa set screw 48 having an enlarged head to facilitate its manipulation. It will be evident that the modified holder 27' does not require the pres ence of the recess-type anchor 45 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and that the anchor constitutes the functional equivalent thereof referenced to the modified support component 42.

The modified backing wall member 38 is a strong and relatively rigid member that can be curved to conform the same to arcuate pool walls. It is sufficiently strong to resist bowing between successive nail fasteners 41, and does not require the use of bending tape to resist undesirable elongation along the side of greater radius when curved. The members 38' may be formed from various materials, the synthetic plastics such as polyvinyl chloride being advantageously used. The mosaic tile or other tile components 24 may be at tached to the backing member 38 in the manner heretofore described using a tape strip 40 having a depending edge portion, as previously explained. t

The assemblage shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is used in essentially the same manner as the assemblage shown in FIG. 1, the ledger boards 26 first being positioned at the properIelevation in end tQ-end succession by coaction of the modified holders 27 therewith and with their respectively associated fulcrums 30. The tile-.

equipped members 38 are then disposed along the upper surface of the ledger boards 26 in alignment with the line established for this purpose, and they are se 18 77 of the member 38",, and the set screw 46 is then tightened to fixedly locate the anchor 45 along the handle portion 29' of the holder 27 It will be apparent that precise alignment of eaclh holder with an opening in the edge portion 77 is not required since the anchor 45.is free to rotate adjustably along the holder 27 as well as to move vertically therealong. The upper edge of the member 38 can then be adjusted and fixed in any position of adjustment to obtain the requisite vertical disposition by moving'the: strap 47' relative to the anchor 45 and then securing the strap in the proper location by means of the set screw 48.

Disassembly is effected much in the manner heretofore described, by releasing the strap component 42' from the member 38', and then removing each of the holders 27. The nail fasteners 41 are then removed, whereupon the ledger board 26 is freed from the board 38 which may then be peeled from the tile strip 24. The backing wall member 38 is intended to be reused in the form thereof depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17.

A further modification in the strap component is illustrated in FIG. 18, and it is shown in association with the structural assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1, wherefore the same numerals are used to identify respectively corresponding components wherever appropriate. In the modified arrangement of FIG. 18, the tubular support 44 is provided along the upwardly facing segment of the outer surface thereof with a double-faced, pressure-sensitive tape strip 78 which is advantageously continuous along the length of the support or may be segmented and disposed at appropriate locations therealong. A plurality of longitudinally spaced support mechanisms in the form of strap components 79 are located along the support 44 and backing wall member 38, and are secured to each by being pressed into engagement with the upwardly facing pressure-sensitive surfaces of the tape strips 40 and 78. The strips 79 are relatively stiff and rigid, thereby firmly relating the backing wall member 38 to the support 44 and pool wall 20. The strap components 79 may be metal, plastic, wood, or any other sufficiently stiff material, and a specific example of one that provides satisfactory results is polystyrene foam constituting, for example, pieces of backing wall member 38 which may be broken into suitable lengths for this purpose.

The modified strap components 79 are advantageously used because they are quickly and easily assembled anddisassembled, are simple, and can be positioned wherever necessary or desirable. Once in position, they establish a firm support for the backing wall member 38, and they may be loosened and reposi tioned for adjustment purposes for proper alignment of the backing wall member, all as previously explained.

In all forms of the invention, the holders 27 are adjustably positionable relative to their associated fulcrums to provide whatever holding force is necessary in application of the particular elongated board structure with which they are being used. The lower ends of the holders 27 may be relatively sharp, although they need not be pointed, to enable them to dig into the relatively rough surface of the associated pool wall. The

holders establish an almost continuous engagement 19 r. these procedures, in the event that any pool contractor desires to follow a variant form of construction. The three-point engagement of the holders 27 with each board structure, and especially with the form 54, constrains the same against tilting both upon initial installation and as the concrete deck is poured thereagainst. The holders and fulcrums also have the advantage of being essentially immune to environmental problems created by the presence of substantial quantities of moisture in and about the pool wall and bond beam thereof and which is necessarily inherent in the wet concrete poured to form the pool deck especially with a wet or high-slump concrete.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an upwardly extending swimming pool wall and the like: an elongated board structure extending along said wall with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith; an elongated holder oriented in generally transverse relation with said board structure and having an end portion located therebelow in bearing juxtaposition with said wall; and a fulcrum secured along said wall intermediate said board structure and holder end portion and engaging said holder to force the same toward said board structure to support the latter in position along said wall, said holder being a spring component providing a spring force along the length thereof effective to develop a bending moment about said fulcrum to force the holder toward said board structure as aforesaid.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said holder has a cross bar fixedly related thereto intermediate the ends thereof to engage such board structure.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the outer end portions of said cross bar are turned laterally to enable the same to become embedded in said board structure.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said fulcrum extends outwardly from said wall and provides an opening through which said holder extends to establish the engagement therewith as aforesaid.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said holder has a cross bar fixedly related thereto intermediate the ends thereof to engage such board structure.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the outer end portions of said cross bar are turned laterally to enable the same to become embedded in said board structure.

7. In combination with an upwardly extending swimming pool wall and the like: an elongated board structure extending along said wall with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith; an elongated holder oriented in generally transverse relation with said board structure and having an end portion located therebelow in bearing juxtaposition with said wall; and

a fulcrum secured along said wall intermediate said 6 g I strap component being connected with said backing board structure and holder end portion and engaging said holder to force the same toward said board structure to support the latter in position along said wall, said holder being equipped adjacent one end thereof with anchor means for cooperative engagement with strap mechanism to connect the same with said holder said anchor means comprising a body slidably mounted on said holder and equipped with releasable. friction means for selectively adjusting the position of said body along said holder.

8. In combination with an upwardly extending swimming pool wall and the like: an elongated board strue ture extending along said wall with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith; an elongated holder' oriented in generally transverse relation with said board structure and having an end portion located therebelow in bearing juxtaposition with said wall; and a fulcrum secured along said wall intermediate said board structure and holder end portion and engaging said holder to force the same toward said board structure to support the latter in position along said wall, said board structure being a ledger board extending along said wall a spaced distance downwardly from the upper edge thereof; a backing wall member supported upon said ledger board and extending upwardly therefrom; and support mechanism connected .with said backing wall member adjacent the upper end portion thereof to relate the same positionally with respect to said pool wall. I

9. The combination of claim 8 and further comprising means for releasably securing said backing wall member to said ledger board at predetermined locations therealong. I

10. The combination of claim 8 in which said backing wall member is a bendable foam plastic structure equipped along the upper and lower edge portions thereof with bending tape effective to resist substantial elongation of the backing wall member therealong on the side of longer radius upon bending of the backing wall member along any curved section of said wall.

11. The combination of claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of tile units supported along said backing wall member intermediate the same and said wall.

12. The combination of claim II in which said tile units are adhesively and releasably secured to said backing wall member.

13. The combination of claim 12 and further ineluding an elongated strip of double-faced pressuresensitive tape extending along said backing wall member adjacent the upper edge portion thereof and defining the aforesaid adhesive seeurance of said tile units to said backing wall member.

14. The combination of claim 8 in whieh said support means, and in which said strap component is connected with said anchor means.

16. The' combination of claim 15 in which said'anchor means are integralwith said holder and provide a support-receiving seat, and further including a support seated within said seat and extending along said backing wall member in spaced relation therewith, said wall memberas aforesaid and with said support to effect therethrough the aforesaid connectionwithsaid holder.

17. The combination of claim 16 in which saidsupport and backing wall member are provide with pressure-sensitive adhesive therealong, and in which said strap component is secured to each of said support and backing wall member by said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

18. In a method of equipping a swimming pool wall and the like with a band of tile adjacent its upper edge and with a cantilever deck overlying the wall in overhanging relation with the tile band, the steps of: providing a ledger board and an elongated spring holder for securing said ledger board to the pool wall; locating said ledger board along said pool wall at a predetermined elevation; attaching said holder to said pool wall and developing a bending moment about such attachment effective to urge said holder toward the pool wall and against said ledger board to force the latter into frictional engagement with the pool wall so as to be supported therealong; supporting a band of tile along said ledger board in upwardly extending relation therewith and securing the tile in position along said pool wall; and releasing said ledger board from said holder and removing the ledger board from said pool wall.

19. In a method of equipping a swimming pool wall and the like with a band of tile adjacent its upper edge and with a cantilever deck overlying the wall in overhanging relation with the tile band, the steps of: providing an elongated board structure and an elongated spring holder for securing said board structure to the pool wall; locating said board structure along said pool wall at a predetermined elevation; attaching said holder to said pool wall and developing a bending moment about such attachment effective to urge said holder toward the pool wall and against said board structure to force the latter into frictional engagement with the pool wall so as to be supported therealong; said board structure being an elongated form having a configurated portion in the shape to be imposed thereby upon the overhanging edge portion of such deck, locating said form along said wall to dispose the configurated form portion thereabove; and after a concrete mass has been poured against said form and cured sufficiently to be self-sustaining, releasing said form from said holder and removing the form and holder.

20. In a method of equipping a swimming pool wall and the like with a band of tile adjacent its upper edge and with a cantilever deck overlying the wall in overhanging relation with the tile band, the steps of: providing an elongated board structure and an elongated spring holder for securing said board structure to the pool wall; locating said board structure along said pool wall at a predetermined elevation; attaching said holder to said pool wall and developing a bending moment about such attachment effective to urge said holder toward the pool wall and against said board structure to force the latter into frictional engagement with the pool wall so as to be supported therealong; said holder being attached intermediate the ends thereof to said pool wall at a location below said board structure, the bending moment about such attachment being effective to urge the upper end portion of said holder toward such pool wall.

21. The method of claim 20 in which said board structure is an elongated ledger board, and further providing an elongated form having a configurated portion in the shape to be imposed thereby upon the overhang ing edge portion of such deck; supporting a band of tile along said ledger board in upwardly extending relation therewith and securing the tile in position along said pool wall; releasing said ledger board from said holder and removing the ledger board from said pool wall; locating said form along said band of tile to dispose the configurated form portion thereabove; moving said holder to a higher elevation for engagement with said form and attaching the holder intermediate the ends thereof to the same aforesaid location and developing a bending moment about such attachment effective to urge the upper end portion of the holder toward said pool wall and against said form to force the latter into frictional engagement with the tile band so as to be supported therealong; and after a concrete mass has been poured against said form and cured sufficiently to be self-sustaining, releasing said form from said holder and removing the form and said holder.

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Claims

7. In combination with an upwardly extending swimming pool wall and the like: an elongated board structure extending along said wall with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith; an elongated holder oriented in generally transverse relation with said board structure and having an end portion located therebelow in bearing juxtaposition with said wall; and a fulcrum secured along said wall intermediate said board structure and holder end portion and engaging said holder to force the same toward said board structure to support the latter in position along said wall, said holder being equipped adjacent one end thereof with anchor means for cooperative engagement with strap mechanism to connect the same with said holder said anchor means comprising a body slidably mounted on said holder and equipped with releasable friction means for selectively adjusting the position of said body along said holder.

8. In combination with an upwardly extending swimming pool wall and the like: an elongated board structure extending along said wall with surface portions disposed in facing relation therewith; an elongated holder oriented in generally transverse relation with said board structure and having an end portion located therebelow in bearing juxtaposition with said wall; and a fulcrum secured along said wall intermediate said board structure and holder end portion and engaging said holder to force the same toward said board structure to support the latter in position along said wall, said board structure being a ledger board extending along said wall a spaced distance downwardly from the upper edge thereof; a backing wall member supported upon said ledger board and extending upwardly therefrom; and support mechanism connected with said backing wall member adjacent the upper end portion thereof to relate the same positionally with respect to said pool wall.

9. The combination of claim 8 and further comprising means for releasably securing said backing wall member to said ledger board at predetermined locations therealong.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which said tile units are adhesively and releasably secured to said backing wall member.

13. The combination of claim 12 and further including an elongated strIp of double-faced pressure-sensitive tape extending along said backing wall member adjacent the upper edge portion thereof and defining the aforesaid adhesive securance of said tile units to said backing wall member.

14. The combination of claim 8 in which said support mechanism includes a strap component connected with said backing wall member adjacent the upper edge portion thereof and with said holder to relate the backing wall member to said wall as aforesaid.

15. The combination of claim 14 in which said holder is equipped adjacent one end thereof with anchor means, and in which said strap component is connected with said anchor means.

16. The combination of claim 15 in which said anchor means are integral with said holder and provide a support-receiving seat, and further including a support seated within said seat and extending along said backing wall member in spaced relation therewith, said strap component being connected with said backing wall member as aforesaid and with said support to effect therethrough the aforesaid connection with said holder.

17. The combination of claim 16 in which said support and backing wall member are provide with pressure-sensitive adhesive therealong, and in which said strap component is secured to each of said support and backing wall member by said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

20. IN A METHOD OF EQUIPPING A SWIMMING POOL WALL AND THE LIKE WITH A BAND OF TILE ADJACENT ITS UPPER EDGE AND WITH A CANTILEVER DECK OVERLYING THE WALL IN OVERHANGING RELATION WITH THE TILE BAND, THE STEPS OF: PROVIDING AN ELONGATED BOARD STRUCTURE AND AN ELONGATED SPRING HOLDER FOR SECURING SAID BOARDTRUCSTRUCTURE TO THE POOL WALL, LOCATING SAID BOARD STRUCTURE ALONG SAID POOL WALL AT A PREDETERMINED ELEVATION, ATTACHING SAID HOLDER TO SAID POOL WALL AND DEVELOPING A BENDING MOMENT ABOUT SUCH ATTACHMENT EFFECTIVE TO URGE SAID HOLDER TOWARD THE POOL WALL AND AGAINST BOARD STRUCTURE TO FORCE THE LATTER INTO FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POOL WALL SO AS TO BE SUPPORTED THEREALONG, SAID HOLDER BEING ATTACHED INTERMEDIATE BE THE ENDS THEREOF TO SAID POOL WALL AT A LOCATION BELOW SAID DATE BOARD STRUCTURE, THE BENDING MOMENT ABOUT SUCH ATTACHMENT BEING EFFECTIVE TO URGE THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID HOLDER TOWARD SUCH POOL WALL.

21. THE METHOD OF CLAIM 20 IN WHICH SAID BOARD STRUCTURE IS AN ELONGATED LEDGER BOARD, AND FURTHER PROVIDING AN ELONGATED FORM HAVING A CONFIGURATED PORTION IN THE SHAPE TO BE IMPOSED THEREBY UPON THE OVERHANGING EDGE PORTION OF SUCH DECK, SUPPORTING A BAND OF ILE ALONG SAID LEDGER BOARD IN UPWARDLY EXTENDING RELATION THEREWITH AND SECURING THE TILE IN POSITION ALONG SAID POOL WALL, RELEASING SAID LEDGER BOARD FROM SAID HOLDER AND REMOVING THE LEDGER BOARD FROM SAID POOL WALL, LOCATING SAID FORM ALONG SAID BAND OF TILE TO DISPOSE TH CONFIGURATED FORM PORTION THEREABOVE, MOVING SAID HOLDER TO A HIGHER ELEVATION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FORM AND ATTACHING THE HOLDER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF TO THE SAME AFORESAID LOCATION AND DEVELOPING A BENDING MOMENT ABOUT SUCH ATTACH-SAID MENT EFFECTIVE TO URGE THE UPPER END PORTION OF THE HOLDER TOWARD SAID POOL WALL AND AGAINST SAID FORM TO FORCE THE LATTER INTO FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TILE BAND SO AS TO BE SUPPORTED THEREALONG, AND AFTER A CONCRETE MASS HAS BEEN POURED AGAINST SAID FORM AND CURED SUFFICIENTLY TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING, RELEASING SAID FORM FROM SAID HOLDER AND REMOVING THE FORM AND SAID HOLDER.