WO2021250622A1

WO2021250622A1 - Device for producing a reinforced and insulated swimming pool

Info

Publication number: WO2021250622A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/055137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Paul Saccucci
Original assignee: Veni Vidi Vici Limited
Priority date: 2020-06-12
Filing date: 2021-06-11
Publication date: 2021-12-16
Also published as: EP4121620A1; FR3111369A1; FR3111369B1

Abstract

A device (1) for producing a swimming pool comprising panels (2) each comprising a peripheral frame (5) forming upper (5a) and lower (5b) edges and vertical edge faces (5c) sealably assembled by coupling profiles (3) in order to form a closed volume of any geometric shape corresponding to said pool, the peripheral frame (5) of each panel (2) internally comprises at least one vertical (6) or horizontal (7) profile for defining at least two zones (8) inside the frame. According to the invention, each zone (8) is devoid of a cellular reinforcement structure.

Description

Device for creating a reinforced and insulating swimming pool basin

Technical area

The invention relates to the technical sector of swimming pools and relates more particularly to a device for producing a reinforced and insulating swimming pool basin, above ground, semi-buried or buried.

Prior art

Different solutions have been proposed for making a swimming pool basin from several panels assembled together, using different means and arrangements to obtain a basin of any geometric shape, square, rectangular, polygonal, or the like.

It is known from document FR 3 030 599 a device for producing a swimming pool comprising panels, said panels comprising an outer face and an inner face, between which the foam is placed. This solution gives the panels thermal insulation properties which are advantageous.

However, this device has the drawback of having limited mechanical characteristics, which makes it necessary to manufacture panels of greater thickness to obtain the necessary rigidity. This solution is therefore likely to be improved.

It is also known from document FR 3 070 176 a device for producing a swimming pool basin comprising panels having an internal structure of the honeycomb type and each comprising a peripheral frame constituting upper and lower edges, and assembled vertical edges. '' in a sealed manner by coupling profiles to constitute a closed volume of form any geometric corresponding to said basin. The peripheral frame of each panel internally comprises at least one upright and at least one cross member to define at least four reception zones inside the frame each receiving an independent structure of the honeycomb type.

It emerges from the prior art that the internal structure of the panels ensures very high rigidity, preventing them from any phenomenon of bending or buckling under the effect of a strong pressure exerted by the water in the pool basin, or by field.

Document EP2894278 is also known, which proposes another solution for constructing a swimming pool basin with panels comprising a honeycomb structure.

This type of solution gives complete satisfaction with regard to the rigidity obtained, but does not however exhibit satisfactory thermal insulation.

Disclosure of the invention

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device for producing a swimming pool basin comprising panels whose rigidity and thermal insulation are optimal, while having minimum thickness.

To this end, a device has been developed for producing a swimming pool basin comprising panels each comprising a peripheral frame constituting upper and lower edges, and vertical edges assembled in a sealed manner by profiles of 'coupling to constitute a closed volume of any geometric shape corresponding to said basin, the peripheral frame of each panel internally comprises at least one vertical or horizontal profile to define at least two zones inside the frame. According to the invention, each zone is devoid of an alveolar reinforcement structure. In this way, the thermal insulation of the panels is optimal, while maintaining optimal rigidity. It is in fact known that the walls of the honeycomb structure each constitute a thermal bridge allowing the heat accumulated in the water of the basin to be evacuated towards the outside of the panel.

Removing the honeycomb structure therefore constitutes an improvement in thermal insulation, but goes against what a person skilled in the art would have considered.

In fact, since the internal structures of the honeycomb type contribute to the rigidity of the panels, a person skilled in the art would not have attempted to eliminate them. On the contrary, to improve the insulation, the skilled person would rather have been encouraged to fill these cells with insulating material. This would have made the production of the panels more complex and their cost increased, this type of operation not being foreseen by the manufacturers of honeycomb-structure panels. Furthermore, that would not have eliminated the presence of thermal bridges.

Removing alveolar-type structures is therefore a defeated prejudice.

Like double glazing, the void left by the shrinkage of the honeycomb structure can be filled with an insulating gas, such as air or any other gas whose thermal insulation properties would be preferred.

The invention therefore makes it possible to save material, reduce the weight of the assembly as well as the volume occupied before assembly, which is advantageous for logistics. In fact, we see that the panels of a basin made up of such a device, before assembly, can be delivered in a pallet.

The void left by the shrinkage of the honeycomb structure may also contain an insulating material, this material may be organic or inorganic in nature.

The insulating material may, depending on the choice made by a person skilled in the art, have advantageous mechanical characteristics with regard to the rigidity of the panels. It is therefore possible to produce panels in which each zone inside the frame is:

- either completely filled with gas,

- either completely filled with insulating material,

- or part by gas and the other part by insulating material, so as to obtain, for example, a multilayer assembly.

Thus, a person skilled in the art is able to design panels so as to optimize the necessary mechanical and thermal characteristics.

The insulating material can be rigid or elastic. It can be made from organic material such as an insulating foam chosen from, for example, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, or be made from cardboard or even textile, or else from mineral material, such as wool. rock or glass wool.

Preferably, each panel internally comprises a plurality of profiles arranged vertically or horizontally defining a plurality of zones.

The profile (s) arranged horizontally or vertically inside said panel may be solid bars or hollow tubes, the cross section of which is round, square, rectangular or of any other known shape. They can also be rails, commonly referred to in the prior art as "I", "H", or "L".

Preferably, each panel comprises two parallel plates constituting internal and external faces of the panel, fixed to the peripheral frame, but also preferably to the profile (s).

These plates are preferably made of aluminum, which makes it possible to lighten the weight of the panel while maintaining a certain rigidity.

The plates constituting the external faces of the basin can receive different types of facing, while optimally resisting the weight of said facing. According to a particular embodiment, each section comprises a section in the shape of an "F1" to define two housing for receiving the edges of the structures of the possible insulating material.

Finally, it can be envisaged that the insulating material adheres to at least one of the internal walls of the panel, in order to prevent, over time, said insulating material settling at the bottom of the panel by the effect of gravity, and that consequently the panel no longer has the thermal insulation properties initially desired. This adhesion can be obtained by various known means, which can be the use of glue or adhesive tapes, or even by using an insulating material which is naturally adherent, as can be certain foams projected onto a surface which serves as their support.

Brief description of the figures

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge better from the description of the invention which follows, given by way of non-limiting example, from the accompanying drawings in which:

[Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of a swimming pool made according to the device of the invention;

[Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a panel partially cut away to show the interior of the insulating material structure;

[Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the panel seen from the front;

[Fig. 4A] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the panel taken along line A-A of FIG. 3, according to a first embodiment;

[Fig. 4B] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the panel taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3, according to a second embodiment;

[Fig. 4C] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the panel taken along line A-A of FIG. 3, according to a third embodiment;

[Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the assembly in linear alignment of two panels by means of the coupling profiles according to the invention; [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a partial sectional view showing the angular assembly of two panels by means of the coupling elements according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the device (1) according to the invention finds an advantageous application for the production of all types of structures, in particular for the production of a basin of any geometric shape with the objective of producing a swimming pool. buried, semi-buried or above-ground type.

In a known manner, the basin, the geometric shape of which illustrated in FIG. 1 is given as an indication, in no way limiting, comprises panels (2) coupled in a sealed manner by a set of coupling profiles (3).

Referring to Figure 3, and in order to improve the rigidity of the panels (2), the peripheral frame (5) of each panel (2) internally comprises at least one profile which can be vertical (6) or horizontal (7) to define at least two zones (8) inside the frame (5), each possibly receiving an insulating material (4).

This considerably improves the rigidity as well as the thermal insulation of the panels (2), while making it possible to reduce its thickness and therefore to minimize its weight and its logistical size before assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, and depending on the size of the panels (2), each panel (2) comprises a plurality of profiles arranged horizontally (6), for example two, and vertically (7), for example two. , to define a plurality of reception areas (8), for example nine.

Each zone (8) can therefore be left empty so as to benefit from the thermal insulation of the air or of a gas which would be chosen and inserted into this zone (8) sealed for this purpose. Referring to Figure 4A, the profiles (6, 7) comprise rectangular sections. However, in order to facilitate assembly, and to optimally maintain the insulating material (4) inside the receiving areas (8), each profiles (6, 7), with reference to FIG. 4B, may include an “H” -shaped section for each defining two housing for receiving the edges of the insulating material (4). More precisely, each sections (6, 7) comprises a central core bordered by two portions parallel to the internal (2a) and external (2b) faces of the panel (2), and extending orthogonally and on either side of the central core to define the "H" shape. As indicated, the edges of the insulating material (4) are therefore inserted inside the housings defined by the "H" shape, between the two portions of parallel walls of each section (6, 7).

Referring to Figure 4C, it is also possible to arrange the insulating material (4) in a particular way so as to obtain a multilayer assembly consisting of several alternating layers of insulating material (4) and air layers. Preferably, these layers are parallel to the walls (2a) and (2b) of the panel, and the insulating material (4) is preferably held in position at the level of the frame (5) and of the profile (s) (6, 7) by means of any device deemed appropriate by those skilled in the art, whether it be glue, adhesive tape, or additional parts such as cleats, bars or strips which would themselves be attached and fixed to said frame (5) and section (s) (6, 7).

In this way, after assembly, the insulating material (4) is held in the plane of the panel (2).

Preferably, a heating mat or fabric can be integrated into the thickness of the panel (2), for example positioned and fixed on one of the internal (2a) and external (2b) faces of the panel (2) with a view to heating or maintain the temperature of the pool water. This heating sheet or fabric can also be attached to one side of the insulating material. This forms heating means integrated directly into the panel (2). These heating means are supplied electrically, preferably at 24 V. The internal structure of the panel (2) consisting of the frame (5), the profile (s) (6, 7) and any insulating material (4) is then sandwiched between two parallel and non-contiguous plates constituting the internal faces. (2a) and external (2b) of the panel (2). These plates (2a, 2b) are fixed, for example by rivets or by gluing, on the peripheral frame (5). Preferably, and to improve rigidity, the plates (2a, 2b) are also fixed to the profiles (6, 7). In this way, the plates (2a, 2b) are fixed in an optimal way, and can resist and support any type of facing.

The vertical edges (5c) of the panels (2) as defined according to the characteristics of the invention, cooperate with all of the coupling profiles (3) to constitute the closed volume having a geometric shape corresponding to that desired for the realization of the swimming pool. The coupling profiles (3) have parallel covering wings (3a) able to grip the section of the panel (2), that is to say the faces (2a, 2b) of the latter at the level of each of their vertical edges (5c). Each of the profiles (3) has at the level of the wings (3a), outside the vertical edges (5c) of the panels (2), coupling shapes (3b) able to cooperate with complementary shapes (9a) of a intermediate connecting element (9). In other words, the intermediate element (9) provides the connection between the profiles (3) of two adjacent panels (2) for their coupling. This intermediate element (9) may be straight, see FIG. 5, to allow alignment in alignment of two adjacent panels (2), or else bent, see FIG. 6, to allow angular coupling of two adjacent panels (2). Note that the fixing of the coupling profiles (3) to the ends of the panels (2) can be carried out by any known and appropriate means such as gluing, screwing, riveting. Preferably, the wings (3a) of the coupling profiles (3) are riveted on either side of the peripheral frame (5) in order to ensure optimum hold and sufficient rigidity to take account of the thrust forces of the 'water and possibly land.

Finally, after assembling the panels (2) as indicated above, the latter can be fitted at their upper edge with an added element (10) suitable for allowing the attachment of a liner. This element (10) can also have an upper rim comprising an overhanging part capable of also acting as a rim by projecting from the side in question to the outside of the basin.

The advantages are clear from the description, in particular we underline and recall the design of the panel (2) whose internal structure (4) in insulating material ensures, in combination with the profiles (6, 7) of the frame, sufficient rigidity to take into account the thrust forces of the water and possibly the ground, while having a lightness and a reduced thickness compared to the panel (2) of the state of the art as well as a significant thermal insulation. The plates (2b) constituting the external faces of the panels (2) are more resistant and can support any type of facing. Obviously, the connection of the panels (2) with the bottom of the pool basin is carried out by all known and appropriate means. Likewise, in the case of an in-ground swimming pool, the panels (2) are able to cooperate in particular with any stability element such as props.

Claims

1. Device (1) for producing a swimming pool comprising panels (2) each comprising a peripheral frame (5) constituting upper (5a) and lower (5b) edges, and vertical edges (5c) assembled from in a sealed manner by coupling profiles (3) to constitute a closed volume of any geometric shape corresponding to said basin, the peripheral frame

(5) of each panel (2) internally comprises at least one vertical profile

(6) or horizontal (7) to define at least two zones (8) inside the frame, characterized in that each zone (8) has no honeycomb reinforcement structure.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each zone (8) is occupied at least in part by a layer of gas, such as air.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each zone (8) is occupied at least in part by a layer of organic or inorganic material.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the layer of organic or inorganic material completely fills each zone (8).

5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the inorganic material is rock or glass wool, and the organic material is foam, such as an insulating foam chosen from those of polystyrene or polyurethane or of expanded polypropylene.

6. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each panel (2) internally comprises a plurality of profiles arranged vertically (6) or horizontally (7) defining a plurality of zones (8).

7. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each panel (2) comprises two plates, preferably aluminum, constituting parallel internal (2a) and external (2b) faces of the panel (2), fixed to the peripheral frame (5).

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the parallel plates (2a, 2b) are also fixed on the profiles arranged vertically.

(6) or horizontally (7).

9. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each section (6, 7) comprises an "H" section.

10. Device according to claims 3 and 7, characterized in that the layer of organic or inorganic material adheres to at least one of the internal (2a) or external (2b) faces of the panel (2).