Abstract:
Modular pool constructive design whose walls are constituted by metallic panels ( 17, 18, 19 ), made up by folding metallic sheets, comprising a bottom including a structure that supports a plurality of metallic panels-tiles ( 16 )—said walls ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) are connected to said bottom&#39;s structure, making up a unique and non-deformable structure, all the pool&#39;s elements are interlinked by semi-permanent connecting means, such as screws and nuts. The dimensions of the pool&#39;s elements allow its easy transport in small vehicles or buildings&#39; elevators.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention refers to the construction of pool and, more specifically, to pools made up of standardised dimension modules.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE STATE OF THE ART  
       [0002]     The growing popularity of pools for recreational, therapeutic and domestic use has resulted in the creation of a plurality of types and models, intended to meet the market&#39;s large variety expectations. Among others, the following can be mentioned as the most widely spread:  
         [0003]     concrete pools, lined with tiles, miniature tiles or vinyl linings;  
         [0004]     fibreglass pools, manufactured according to standardised dimensions and shapes;  
         [0005]     mixed type pools, with concrete base (bottom) and blocks, clay bricks or metallic sheets, usually waterproofed with vinyl lining or fibreglass skin.  
         [0006]     However, constructing pools of the above mentioned types is a relatively complex, slow and expensive process, since, in addition to requiring specialised labour, they have disadvantages inherent to their nature.  
         [0007]     In fact, it is known that concrete structures require the manufacture of moulds that, once used, are disposed of, resulting in a substantial waste of material.  
         [0008]     The fibreglass pools, although they do not have this inconvenience, they require digging a hole in the ground with the proper dimensions, as well as the provision of a concrete support bottom.  
         [0009]     Additionally, both concrete and fibreglass pools cannot be moved to another location, and can they have their dimensions (length, width, shape, depth) altered, having no choice but to live with the original dimensions forever. In the case of a pool built at a certain time for small children to use, for example, it is impossible to increase the depth when these children grow.  
         [0010]     Conventional pools have even other inconveniences, such as the need of special techniques to install underwater lighting (that must be planned during the construction), not being possible to alter the number or position of the lights once the construction has ended.  
         [0011]     The above mentioned inconveniences have resulted in the search of solutions based on modular techniques, in order to make their costs more accessible, as well as reducing assembly time and making it easier. That trend is exemplified by the patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,857, U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,174 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340, which describe techniques based on the use of standardised modules.  
         [0012]     However, the inventions described in the above mentioned documents have inconveniences that limit their usefulness, as is shown below. The document U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,857 describes a pool which walls are made up by steel sheets modules, equipped with couplings between the vertical borders of the adjacent modules, whose assembly results in the pool&#39;s sidewall, according to  FIG. 1 . Nevertheless, the illustrated pool has to be embedded into the ground, therefore, requiring as occurs with fibreglass pools—the digging of a hole for its construction.  
         [0013]     In addition, the invention does not take into account the bottom of the pool, which requires specialized and, therefore, costly labour. The same labour is needed too manufacture the concrete blocks that provide support to the walls&#39; anchor beams. As well as that inconvenience, the execution time is long, because of the time necessary for the concrete to harden.  
         [0014]     The document U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,174 describes a pool whose walls are made up by steel sheet modules, complemented by a trellised structure, as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The objective of this invention is to provide a structural array for assembling the ladder&#39;s handrails, as well as the support of a concrete deck or pavement surrounding the pool. As in the previous example, the bottom of the pool requires specialized labour, which is also necessary to lay the concrete pavement, these operations that involve the delay necessary for the concrete to harden.  
         [0015]     Patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340 describes a pool which walls are made up by modular plate shaped elements that have, in their vertical borders, groove and tongue joints, those plates being supported by horizontal thrust provided by “X” shaped pre-moulded parts, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The array shown requires the use of a concrete bottom (referenced as  90  in  FIG. 5 ) to support the wall modules  32 , on which they lean, as well as the module internal borders of the deck  20 . The distal end of the latter is supported by one of the arms  50  of the “X” shaped part, which bottom arm  50   d  leans on a metallic bracket  80  that is secured to the ground or—according to the document—a concrete base, not shown in the figure, this base is necessary due to the fact that the stress, resulting from the water&#39;s thrust on the walls, are unloaded on to this bracket. In the object of this patent the same considerations regarding the delay introduced in the time of construction due to the time necessary for the concrete to harden, are also applicable.  
         [0016]     The three examples of the state of the arte described above also suffer common inconveniences, of which one of the most evident consists of the fact that the pools have fixed depths, since the walls are constituted by predefined size modules. Another serious inconvenience of these models is in the possibility of the occurrence of structural damages in the case of differential pressure of the ground on which the pool lies.  
         [0017]     In fact, in the objects described in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,857 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340, any deformation of the ground, on which the brackets or concrete blocks lie, will result in the deformation of the pool walls. Additionally, the differential pressure on the soil on which the bottom lies will produce stress that could result in the appearance of cracks with probable fissures lining and consequent infiltrations that speed up the wear and tear process of the pools.  
       OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Due to the above, the first objective of the invention is to provide a constructive design that results in a pool in which the effects of irregularities in the soil compression strength.  
         [0019]     A second objective is to provide a building method that allows an easy and fast assembly of pools whenever possible disposing of specialized labour.  
         [0020]     Another objective is to provide a constructive design that allows the easy disassembly and reassembly of the pool.  
         [0021]     Yet another objective is to provide a constructive design that does not require the use of concrete walls or bottom, blocks or bricks.  
         [0022]     Yet another objective is to provide a constructive design that includes the structure of a deck.  
         [0023]     Another additional objective is to provide a constructive design that allows easily altering the pools dimensions and shape.  
         [0024]     Another objective is to provide a constructive design that allows assembling the pool both under and above the ground level.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The above mentioned objectives, as well as others, are attained by the invention through a constructive design, in which the modules that constitute the bottom and walls are interlinked by semi-permanent connecting means in order to make up a unique and non-deformable structure.  
         [0026]     According to another feature of the invention, said modules are manufactured of steel sheets, which bestows them lightness, portability and easy assembly According to additional feature of the invention, the modules that make up the walls are manufactured of different standardised heights, all having the same horizontal dimension, making it possible to obtain several depths by piling the proper modules.  
         [0027]     According to yet another feature of the invention, the pool&#39;s internal lining is of Vinyl, applied once the pool&#39;s structure assembly has been finished.  
         [0028]     According to another feature of the invention, the pool&#39;s bottom is comprised by a base structure covered by closing modular panels.  
         [0029]     According to another feature of the invention, the deck is comprised by standardised elements and is part of the structure.  
         [0030]     According to another feature of the invention, the pool&#39;s assembly disposing the use of soldering or concreting, all of its components being joined to one another by means of standardised dimensions screws and nuts.  
         [0031]     According to another feature of the invention, the set of modules comprises modules with opening for underwater light fittings, proper modules for skimmer and modules for bottom drain. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]     The other advantages and features of the invention will be easier understood through the description of a preferred embodiment and of the drawings that refer to it, in which:  
         [0033]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  show pools built according to the known art.  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows, through a perspective view, the structure&#39;s aspect of a pool built according to the principles of the invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows, by means of top views, various combinations of side modular panels corresponding to different depth pools.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  shows the manufacturing of a typical panel, according to the principles of the invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows, by means of a perspective view, details of the assembly of the panels that make up the wall in one of the pool&#39;s corners.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  shows, by means of a perspective view, the features of the wall panels in a corner with an angle that is not of 90°.  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  shows, through a blown up view, the elements that comprised the pool&#39;s bottom structure, according to the principles of the invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 12  shows, by means of a perspective view, part of the pool&#39;s bottom structure once assembled.  
         [0041]      FIG. 13  shows, by means of a cross section view, the joint of the side panels with the bottom&#39;s structure, according to the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]     Now, referring in more detail to  FIG. 6 , which shows a pool exemplifying the invention, not limiting it, comprises the pool  10 , with rectangular shape and uniform depth, two sidewalls  11  and  12 , two head ends  13 ,  14  as well as the bottom  15 , all these elements being constituted by constructive modular panels as described below.  
         [0043]     Since in the example embodiment described the pool has a standard depth of 1 meter, the sides  11 ,  12  and the head ends  13 ,  14  are comprised by panels  17  overlaid on panels  18  that, in turn, are overlaid on panels  19 . All these panels have the same length, corresponding to a standard module, which can have any convenient measurement, in the present embodiment the value of 1 meter is being adopted. Panels  17  have a useful height of 500 mm, panels  18  the height of 300 mm and panels  19 , 200 mm. Adding these heights the total depth of 1 meter is obtained. The total height of panels  17  is 630 mm, in order to leave a clearance of 130 mm between the water surface and the pool&#39;s border.  
         [0044]     Yet according to  FIG. 6 , the pool&#39;s bottom  15  is made up by panels  16 , hereinafter called “tiles”, which completely line the bottom&#39;s surface, and that are supported by a base (not shown in the figure) comprised by an array of standardised dimension, modular, crossed beams.  
         [0045]     Additionally, according to the principles of the invention, all the pool&#39;s components have dimensions that allow loading them in pick-ups or small trucks, offering easy and low cost transport.  
         [0046]     In the example embodiment herein described, the dimension of the largest part, corresponding to the beams of the base of the bottom, is only 2 meters. This allows them to be transported in buildings&#39; elevators; substantially reducing vertical transport costs to assemble pools in penthouses.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows some example assortments of different height side panels that allow building pools with various depths. In drawing  7   a,  the depth of 1 meter is obtained by overlaying a panel  17 , with useful height of 500 mm, a panel  18 , 300 mm high and a panel  19 , 200 mm high.  
         [0048]     In drawing  7   b,  the depth of 1.2 meter results from overlaying a panel  17  of 500 mm, a panel  21  with 400 mm high and a panel  18  of 300 mm.  
         [0049]      FIG. 7   c  shows a depth of 1.3 meter obtained by overlaying a panel  17 , two panels  18  and a panel  19 , whilst in  FIG. 7   d  the depth of 1.5 meter results from overlaying a panel  17  (500 mm), a panel  21  (400 mm) and three panels  19  (200 mm each).  
         [0050]     A general rule adopted to build the pool&#39;s walls is using higher panels next to the surface, adopting progressively shorter panels at greater depth.  
         [0051]     It is also noted, in the present embodiment, that the height of panel  17  is greater than 500 mm, the excess  21  corresponds to the clearance between the water&#39;s surface  23  and the top of said panel  22 .  
         [0052]     The drawings of  FIG. 8  show, in details, how a pool&#39;s panel is formed from a metallic sheet  30 . As  FIG. 8a  shows, the developed sheet comprises a rectangular central portion  31  having stripes  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  contiguous to the sides of said rectangle, and separated from the latter by folding lines  31   a  . . .  31   d.  These stripes have a standardised width and through holes  36 , all of the same diameter and located at predefined positions according to the standard adopted. Once these rims have been folded in the direction indicated by the arrows  37 , the panel acquires the aspect shown in  FIG. 8   b,  where the rectangular central portion  31  will make up the pool&#39;s sidewall. The hydrostatic pressure  38  is applied on this central portion  31 , producing horizontal and vertical bending stresses. The horizontal rims  32  and  34 , which act as a beam&#39;s vanes, absorb the former. The vertical rims  33  and  35  provide the necessary rigidity against the bending stresses on the vertical plan. In addition to the structural role, the said rims provide connecting means with the rest of the wall&#39;s adjacent panels.  
         [0053]      FIG. 9  shows a layout of the elements that constitute part of the walls and a pool&#39;s rectangular corner, formed by the meeting of said walls at 90 degrees. The first wall that comprises sets  41  and  42 , each one of which formed by piling the modules  17 ,  18  and  19 . According to the invention, the vertically adjacent modules are joined through the screw-nut elements  44 - 45 , which traverse the through holes  35  in the juxtaposed horizontal rims, for example in the present case, rim  34  of module  17  with rim  32  of module  18 . Horizontally, the same type modules are joined, i.e., module  17  of set  41  with module  17  of set  42 , and so on, the same elements  44 - 45  providing the permanent joint between said modules.  
         [0054]      FIG. 9  also shows how the joint in a right angle between the first set  43  of the second wall and the first wall of the pool, is structured. According to this figure, rims  33  and  35  of the same type modules make an angle a between them, which, in the present example embodiment, is equal to 90°. The connection between these elements is provided by angle iron  46 , which rims also make an angle α=90°, and whose drilling coincides with the holes of said rims. The same screw-nut elements  44 - 45  are used to provide the connection of said elements.  
         [0055]     It is important to point out that the layout shown is not limited to right angles, the angle between the walls can have different measurements to 90°, such as for example 120°, for hexagonally shaped pools. In this case, the side rims  33 ′ and  35 ′ turned towards the corner between walls will be folded at angles different to 90°, since it is convenient maintain the right angle between the rims of angle iron  46 , in order to preserver the necessary rigidity of the structure. In the present example, the said angles are equal to a 75°, as  FIG. 10  shows.  
         [0056]     The pool&#39;s floor is constituted by a support structure on which the closing panels called “tiles”, are placed. The structure is comprised by rectangular grid formed longitudinally by the sleepers, having crossbeams placed between them; all these elements are modularly dimensioned de forma modular.  FIG. 11  shows, by means of a blown up view, the elements that make up said support structure, comprising:  
         [0057]     sleepers  51 , formed by one or more intermediary modular beams  52  at the central portion, having at both ends the point modular beams  53 ;  
         [0058]     scarves  54  to connect said beams, by way of top joints, formed by short “U” section beams, dimensioned in order to fit in the modular beams;  
         [0059]     modular crossbeams  56  placed between said sleepers by means of angle irons  55 .  
         [0060]     Screws and nuts  44 - 45  (not shown in this figure), of the same type and dimensions used in assembling the walls, connect said structural elements to each other.  
         [0061]      FIG. 12  shows part of the structure assembled on the pool&#39;s floor, forming a rectangular grid with the same pitch as module m. This grid supports the floor&#39;s smooth tiles  57 , which lean on beams  56 . As shown in figure, said tiles have side rims  57   a  that act as vanes providing the necessary rigidity to resist the bending resulting from the hydrostatic pressure on the bottom. In addition to the smooth tiles  57 , special tiles are provided for various functions, such as tile  58  that has a central opening  59  to assemble the bottom&#39;s drain.  
         [0062]      FIG. 12  also shows angle irons  61  that constitute the side panel assembling elements, providing the necessary link between the pool&#39;s walls and bottom. These angle irons  61  have through holes  62   a  on their vertical rims, co-operatively aligned with holes  62   b  located on the base structure perimeter beams (crossbeams and sleepers), to which they are attached by means of screws  44  and nuts  45 . According to the schematic cross section view of  FIG. 13 , the wall lower, such as, for example, panels  19 , are attached to the horizontal rims of said angle bars, by means of screw-nut sets  44 - 45  and through holes  63 , resulting in the formation of a unique block by said link. Consequently, the horizontal stress applied to said panels by the hydrostatic pressure are unloaded on the floor&#39;s structure.  
         [0063]     Although the above description referred to pools, the constructive features of the invention offer a wide range of applications. One of these refers to the building of iced water reservoirs for air conditioning systems in existing buildings, without requiring civil works or structural alterations. In fact, the invention allows assembling a reservoir on existing floors, for example in garages or patios, thermal isolation being provided by polyurethane or polystirene sheets interlaid between the walls and bottom and the vinyl lining.  
         [0064]     Therefore, it is understood that modifications can be introduced by technicians in the subject, keeping within the conceptual limits of the invention, the latter being limited by the list of claims below.