Structural foam swimming pool wall and brace and method of erecting same

The specification discloses a pool wall assembly including first and second pool wall panels and a brace supporting the panels. Structure is included for securing the brace to only the first panel so that the first panel and brace may be aligned together prior to the securement of the second panel. Structure is also included for securing the second panel to at least one of the first panel and the brace. An anchor assembly secures the brace in position. The anchor assembly includes a stake which extends through and slidingly engages the brace and a wedge, telescopically received in the stake, which can be moved with respect to the stake into forcible engagement with the brace to maintain the brace in position. Each panel includes an integral bead extending from the lower portion of its face to define the line to which the pool side wall overlap extends. Also disclosed is a method of erecting a pool wall using the structure disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to swimming pool walls and braces and methods 
of erecting same. 
Below-ground pools comprising a pool liner, supported by a modular wall and 
brace structure, have gained popularity due to their low initial 
installation cost and easy maintenance. Such a pool is usually installed 
by digging a pool shaped excavation including a perimeter ledge; erecting 
a modular support wall on this ledge; pouring a concrete footing onto the 
ledge so as to anchor the wall; backfilling behind the support wall; 
mounting a coping on the upper surface of the wall; and lining the 
excavation with a pool liner, suspending the liner from the coping. 
Filling systems, draining systems, and filtering systems are also 
installed. 
Prior support wall assemblies require, as a practical matter, at least two 
installers to erect and assemble the modular components. Usually, these 
walls comprise a plurality of pool wall panels arranged in end-to-end 
relationship and a plurality of braces supporting the panels. The braces 
are supported on, and anchored to, the perimeter ledge to support the 
panels. Often one brace is provided at each abutment of adjacent wall 
panels and is secured to the panel assembly by aligning apertures in both 
panels with apertures in the brace and inserting fasteners through all 
three pieces. All of the apertures in all three pieces of prior assemblies 
must be aligned prior to the installation of the fasteners. Therefore, two 
installers are required to support and align all three pieces. The panels 
and bracket may optionally be clamped together after being aligned to 
facilitate fastener installation. 
Preferably, each brace in the modular construction is anchored to the 
perimeter ledge to maintain the brace and associated panels in proper 
alignment. There are two problems associated with this operation. First 
the brace must be carefully aligned before the anchor is driven into the 
ledge. Second the brace must be carefully and securely maintained in 
alignment as the anchor is secured in the ledge. 
The modular support wall typically defines only the upper portion of the 
pool side wall. The remainder of the pool side wall, as well as the pool 
bottom, is a compacted, vermiculite or earthen surface. To insure a smooth 
junction between the support wall and the vermiculite, the vermiculite 
extends partially over each wall panel section, preferably a uniform 
distance, to provide a clean, neat appearance. With prior constructions, a 
chalk line must be placed on each panel section after same has been 
installed to provide a guideline for the upper edge of the overlap. 
However, installing such a chalk line is a time consuming nuisance and as 
above, requires two men. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprises a pool wall assembly which may be erected 
by a single installer. This is achieved by providing first and second pool 
wall panels, a supporting brace, structure for securing the brace to only 
the first panel, and structure for securing the second panel to at least 
one of the brace and the first panel. Consequently, the brace may be 
secured to only the first panel allowing the brace and first panel to be 
aligned as a unit. After the brace and first panel are aligned in desired 
orientation, the second panel is secured to at least one of the brace and 
the first panel. Because the panels may be selectively, and individually 
secured to the brace, only one installer is required to assemble the pool 
wall assembly. 
In another aspect of the invention, a unique anchor system, comprising a 
stake and wedge, is provided to secure the brace to an earthen ledge upon 
which the brace rests. The stake portion of the anchor system extends 
through, and slidingly engages, the brace. Because the brace and stake 
only slidingly engage one another, the brace may be plumbed, or aligned, 
after the stake has been driven therethrough. After the brace is plumbed 
into its desired orientation, a wedge member which is telescopically 
received in the stake is driven downwardly with respect to the stake until 
it forcibly engages the brace to secure the brace in position. 
In yet another aspect of the invention, each pool wall panel includes an 
integral, generally linear bead extending from the lower portion of its 
front surface. The bead defines the line to which the vermiculite extends 
so that the vermiculite may be accurately extended over the lower portion 
of the pool wall assembly. The necessity of chalk-lining each panel is 
eliminated, thereby eliminating a time consuming, two-man operation. 
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be 
more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the written 
specification and appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the preferred embodiment, pool wall assembly 10 comprises a plurality of 
straight panels 12 (e.g. 12a and 12b) abutting one another in end-to-end 
relationship and supported by a plurality of braces 14 (FIGS. 1 and 9). 
Abutting side walls 46a and 48b on panels 12a and 12b, respectively, 
define rearwardly opening pockets 50 into which extend studs 66 from brace 
14 (FIGS. 3, 9, and 10). A plurality of slotted pegs 28 extend through 
studs 66 and side walls 46a and 48b at pockets 50 and are secured therein 
by forcing a wedge 30 into each slotted peg to secure panels 12a and 12b 
and brace 14 together. Additionally, stud 68 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 11) which 
extends into a half-pocket 54 (FIGS. 8 and 11) defined in side wall 46a, 
includes an integral slotted peg 20 extending through the side wall of 
half-pocket 54 and is secured therein by forcing another wedge 30 through 
slot 80 in integral peg 20. When brace 14 is secured only to wall panel 
12a using integral slotted peg 20 and wedge 30, this single panel and 
brace assembly may be aligned as a unit into a desired orientation. Panel 
12b may then be moved into abutting relationship with panel 12a so that 
front surfaces 26a and 26b of the panels define a generally continuous 
surface and so that side walls 46a and 48b define pockets 50 receiving 
studs 66 of brace 14 (FIGS. 9 and 10). Slotted pegs 28 are inserted 
through pockets 50 and studs 66, and a wedge 30 is forced into each 
slotted peg to tightly draw panels 12a and 12b and brace 14 together. 
Thus, assembly 10 can easily be erected by one installer working alone. 
After assembly 10 has been erected on ledge 16 as described, an anchor 31 
is inserted in aperture 82 in foot 62 of each brace 14 and is driven into 
ledge 16 (FIGS. 1 and 15). Anchor 31 comprises a stake 32 which only 
slidingly engages brace 14 (FIG. 15) so that the two elements may move 
relative to one another. Consequently, brace 14 and panels 12a and 12b 
associated therewith may be plumbed after stake 32 has been secured within 
ledge 16. Wedge 34 which is slideably but frictionally carried in stake 32 
is then driven down stake 32 and into forcible engagement with brace 14 
and secure brace 14 in its plumbed orientation (FIGS. 1, 14 and 16). 
Molded bead 36 extends outwardly from front surface 26 of each panel 12 
approximately an inch and a half from the bottom thereof (FIG. 2) to 
provide an easily recognizable line to which overlap portion 38 of 
vermiculite layer 40 should be extended over surface 26 of panel 12 (FIG. 
17). Bead 36 eliminates the necessity of marking each panel 12 with a 
chalk line during pool construction. 
Each panel 12 (FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9) is preferably injection molded of high 
impact structural foam plastic such as polystyrene. Other equivalent 
plastics could be used. Each is generally rectangular, having a front 
surface 26, top wall 42, bottom wall 44, side walls 46 and 48, and 
supporting rib structure 49. Side walls 46 and 48 each include deviations 
projecting inwardly towards the opposite side wall to define four 
generally identical half-pockets, or recesses, 50a and 50b, each of which 
is delineated by top wall 51a (FIGS. 8 and 9), bottom wall 51b (FIGS. 2 
and 10), and vertical wall 51c (FIGS. 2, 8, 9, and 10) extending between 
the top and bottom walls. An irregular, specifically trapezoidally shaped 
aperture 52 (FIGS. 2, 8, and 10) extends through each of side walls 51c in 
half-pockets 50a and 50b to receive one of slotted pegs 28. 
Side wall 46 includes another inwardly directed deviation defining 
half-pocket 54, identical to half-pockets 50a, located approximately 
midway along the height of panel 12 (FIGS. 2 and 11). No mating 
half-pocket is found in side wall 48. Half-pocket 54 is delineated by top 
wall 55a (FIG. 8), bottom wall 55b (FIGS. 2 and 11), and side wall 55c 
(FIGS. 2, 8, and 11) extending therebetween and defining aperture 22 in 
side wall 55c to receive integral peg 20. 
Integral projections 56 (FIG. 2) extend from side wall 46 into receiving 
apertures 58 (FIG. 9) defined in side wall 48 of an abutting panel to 
align panels 12a and 12b as same are brought together. Half-pockets 50a of 
panel 12a generally align, or mate, with half-pockets 50b (FIG. 10) to 
define pockets 50 opening rearwardly when the two panels are placed in 
abutting relationship as shown in FIG. 9. Each of half-pockets 50a and 50b 
defines one-half of pocket 50 to accommodate one-half of stud 66 so that 
each pocket 50 receives one entire stud. Further, apertures 52a in side 
wall 46 are also generally aligned, or coaxial, with apertures 52b defined 
in side wall 48 when the two panels are in end-to-end relationship. 
Brace 14 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) is also preferably injection molded of 
polypropylene or other suitable plastic material. Each brace 14 includes 
vertical upright 64, foot 62, cross-brace structure 60 interconnecting 
upright 64 and foot 62. Foot 62 (FIGS. 3, 14, 15, and 16) of brace 14 is 
oriented generally horizontally on ledge 16 when brace 14 is in its 
desired orientation. Foot 62 defines a generally triangular aperture 82 to 
receive anchor 32 (FIGS. 15 and 16). Part of cross-brace structure 60 is 
an upwardly sloping member 61 joining foot 62 to upright 64. It includes 
an aperture 61a therein for receiving rebar therethrough. At the top of 
cross-brace structure 60 is a top cross piece 63 having a forward aperture 
63a therein, also for receiving rebar, and a rearward aperture 63b for 
receiving adjusting rod 102 (FIG. 8). 
Four studs 66 and integral peg stud 68 extend forwardly (i.e. towards 
panels 12) from upright 64. Integral peg stud 68 has a width approximately 
one-half the width of one of studs 66 and includes an integral slotted peg 
20 extending laterally from the stud (FIGS. 4 and 11). Slot 80 in integral 
peg 20 opens horizontally rearwardly (i.e. away from panels 12) to 
facilitate convenient insertion of peg 24 thereinto. Each of studs 66 
includes an aperture 70 extending laterally therethrough which is 
generally aligned, or coaxial, with apertures 52a and b rearwardly opening 
pockets 50 in abutting panels 12a and 12b (FIG. 10). 
Slotted pegs 28, preferably injection molded of the same material as brace 
14, (FIG. 6) are designed to extend through each set of aligned apertures 
52a and b and 70 in panels 12a and 12b and studs 66 of brace 14, 
respectively, (FIGS. 9 and 10). Each of slotted pegs 28 (FIG. 6) includes 
a head 72, an elongated body portion 74 extending from head 72, and a slot 
76 extending through elongated portion 74 generally laterally from side to 
side thereof. Each slotted peg 28 is trapezoidal in cross section 
conforming to the shape of apertures 52. The reason for this trapezoidal 
fit is to insure that each peg 28 can only be inserted through apertures 
52a, b and 70 with its lateral slot 76 opening rearwardly (with respect to 
panels 12) to facilitate insertion of wedges 30 through slot 76 (FIGS. 9 
and 10). 
Wedge 30, also preferably injection molded of the same material as brace 
14, (FIG. 7) is a generally wedge-shaped body including a plurality of 
teeth 78 along one side thereof to aid in retaining the wedge within 
slotted peg 28. 
Anchor assembly 31 for brace 14 includes a stake 32 and a wedge 34 
slideably, but frictionally carried thereby. Stake 32 is formed of a metal 
wall defining a generally triangular void 86 within spaced side walls 33 
joined by a base wall 33a. Stake 32 is slightly smaller than aperture 82 
and hence only slidingly engages foot 62 of brace 14 so that the two 
elements may be moved relative one another after the stake 32 has been 
driven into ledge 16. The apex of the triangle defined by the cross 
section of stake 32 is open so that wedge 34 can be slideably carried 
within void 86 and still project from stake 32 (FIG. 14). Wedge 34 is 
generally V-shaped in cross section with the "V" being deeper at the top 
of wedge 34 than at the bottom. The width of the "V" is such that the "V" 
walls frictionally engage the terminal edges of side walls 33 of stake 32. 
Preferably, wedge 34 is located within stake 32 about an inch and one-half 
below the top of stake 32 before stake 32 is driven into ledge 16. 
FIGS. 12 and 13 show a corner panel 92 secured to a straight panel 12. Side 
wall 94 of corner section 92 includes deviations outwardly to define four 
projections 96. These extend into half-pockets 50a when panels 12 and 92 
are placed in abutting relationship. Each of projections 96 includes top 
wall 97a, bottom wall 97b, and side wall 97c extending therebetween. Side 
wall 97c includes a trapezoidally shaped aperture (not visible) which is 
aligned with the corresponding aperture 52 defined by half-pocket 50a in 
panel 12. Short slotted pegs 28a extend through side walls 46 and 94 and 
are secured in position using wedges 30. Short pegs 28a are similar to peg 
28 shown in FIG. 6, except they are shorter. Brace 14 is not included at 
the junction of straight panel 12 with corner panel 92. 
Assembly 
Pool wall assembly 10 greatly facilitates the installation of a 
below-ground swimming pool. Pool installation is begun by digging 
excavation 18, forming circumferential ledge 16 around the entire 
periphery of the excavation (FIG. 1). Brace 14 is secured to side wall 46 
of a panel 12a by inserting integral slotted peg 20 through aperture 22 
defined in half-pocket 54 and securing the peg therein by driving brace 
retainer wedge 24 through the integral peg (FIGS. 8 and 11). With brace 14 
so secured to panel 12a, each of studs 66 is partially positioned within 
one of half-pockets 50a. At this point, brace 14 and panel 12a are 
preferably at a corner of the pool and wall 48 of panel 12a is abutted to 
wall 94a of corner panel 92, and the two panels are secured together using 
short pegs 28a and wedges 30. 
After the first brace and single panel assembly have been properly 
oriented, panel 12b, with its brace 14 preferably attached (not shown) is 
placed into position abutting panel 12a with projections 56 extending into 
apertures 58 to align the panels (FIG. 9). Brace 14 need not be removed 
from panel 12a in order to place panel 12b in position. With panels 12a 
and 12b so aligned, half-pockets 50a and 50b in flanges 46a and 48b mate 
to define pockets 50, and apertures 52a and 52b in panels 12a and 12b are 
coaxial with each other and with apertures 70 defined by studs 66 (FIG. 
10). Pegs 28 are then inserted through each set of aligned apertures 52 
and 70 and secured therein by driving one of wedges 30 through each 
slotted peg 28 (FIGS. 9 and 10). Succeeding straight panels 12 are 
similarly attached. When the installer approaches the next succeeding 
corner, he or she installs a panel 12 without a brace 14 attached. The 
corner panel 92 may or may not be preattached. 
When all of straight panels 12 and corner panels 92 have been erected, the 
corners of the pool are squared and walls 12 are aligned at their bottoms 
and leveled in a conventional manner. As is conventional, pieces of steel 
rod 44b are also driven into ledge 16 through holes 44c in bottom walls 44 
of panels 12. Lower rerod 112 (FIG. 1) is inserted through holes 61a in 
braces 14. Stake 32 of one anchor assembly 31 is driven through each foot 
62 into ledge 16 so that approximately six inches of each stake 32 extends 
above its respective foot. As each panel 12 is plumbed, the hooked end of 
adjusting rod 102 is inserted into aperture 63b in cross piece 63 and the 
connected anchor stake 98 is driven into overdig 100. Some installers use 
such stake and adjusting rod combinations to facilitate wall plumbing. 
Once stake 98 is anchored in the ground, two nuts, one on each side of 
stake 98, are threaded on the end of adjusting rod 102, which extends 
through stake 98. These nuts are adjusted in or out to pull wall 12 
towards overdig 100 or allow it to fall away, as required. Where the 
sub-surface soil is sandy and anchor assemblies 31 will not hold, such a 
stake 98 and adjusting rod 102 are required. 
Once the wall 12 is plumb, wedge 34 is tapped down into forcible engagement 
with foot 62 (FIG. 16). Anchor 98, adjusting rod 102, and anchor assembly 
31 securely maintain each brace 14, and accordingly pool walls 12a and b, 
in their desired orientation. 
After all of braces 14 have been leveled, plumbed, and anchored, a concrete 
footing, or bonding beam, 104 is poured, encapsulating braces 14 and lower 
rerod 112 to further secure braces 14 in position. Backfill 106 is then 
filled in between pool wall assembly 10 and overdig 100. 
Vermiculite layer 40 is then compacted onto the pool bottom, extending 
upwardly (see also FIG. 17) over the lower portion 90 of front surface 26 
of pool wall 12 to bead 36. 
Coping 108 is then mounted on pool wall assembly 10 using 
self-drilling/self-tapping screws and concrete apron 110 is poured behind 
coping 108. Finally, pool liner 98 is suspended from coping 108 to cover 
panels 12 and 98 and bottom 40. With the additional installation of 
filling systems, draining systems, and filtration systems, installation of 
the pool is complete, and, after being filled with water, the pool is 
ready for enjoyment. 
The pool wall assembly of the present invention can be easily, readily, and 
rapidly assembled by a single installer working alone, primarily due to 
the fact that each supporting brace may be secured to only one panel in 
such a way as to not interfere with subsequent securement of an adjacent 
panel. A second man is only required to sight a transit during leveling 
and to assist in plumbing and squaring. This enables the 
single-panel-and-brace assembly to be aligned into a desired orientation 
prior to the securement of the second abutting panel. Further, because 
only two pieces need be aligned for interconnection at a time, i.e., (1) 
brace to first panel and (2) second panel to first panel, the single 
installer may easily align and interconnect all parts. Finally, the bead 
defining the lower portion of each panel over which the pool side wall 
must extend enables the installer to rapidly compact the vermiculite over 
the lower portion of each panel to the desired level without first having 
to snap a chalk line. 
It should be understood that the above description is intended to be that 
of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and 
alterations might be made without departing fron the spirit and broader 
aspects of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, which are to 
be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law, including 
the doctrine of equivalents.