Patent GB-1290823-A (GB)
IPC: E04H4/00
Filed: 1971-01-14
Abstract: 1290823 Swimming baths KDI-SYLVAN POOLS Inc 14 Jan 1971 1882/71 Heading A4N A modular swimming-pool structure comprises a plurality of interlocked metal wall-boards A, each extending vertically for the full depth of the pool to define the perimeter thereof, each of said boards having a male tongue 14 on one vertical edge thereof and a matching female channel 17 on the other vertical edge thereof, said male tongue being slidingly mounted in said female channel by vertical insertion only, and said boards despite their interlocked relationship being transversely articulable with respect to each other, and a water-impermeable liner H, Fig.4, mounted within the cavity defined by said boards. In an above-ground embodiment of the invention, the swimming-pool structure is provided with a coping beam B having a first slot 20 on its underside to receive the tops of the boards A, a vertical transition face 21 provided with a lip 22 at the top thereof over which the liner H is drawn taut, a first groove 23 for receiving the end of the liner, and a resilient spline to secure said end of the liner therein. A coping trim C includes a leading edge 30 which secures the liner H against the transition face 21, an internal snubber 32, and a split detent 33 which is frictionally received in a second groove 24 in the coping beam B. The bottoms of the boards A are received in a slot 45 in a ground-bearing beam D. The pool structure is also provided with a deck about the perimeter thereof, said deck being assembled from boards A, one end of each board being received in a slot 25 in the coping beam B, the opposite end of each board being received by a beam E which is supported by a plurality of braces 61. In an in-ground embodiment, Figs. 5, 6 and 9 (not shown), the peripheral deck, beam E, and braces 61 of the above-described embodiment are omitted, the coping beam (B<SP>11</SP>) and groundbearing beam (D<SP>1</SP>) being secured in place by means of a plurality of vertical channels (105) bolted thereto. Proximate the top of the channel (105) is fitted a cantilevered arm (106) which terminates at its free end in a socket (107). During assembly of the structure, a spike (108) having a flared top is mounted in the socket (107) and driven into the ground to support the pool walls in a plumb configuration. When rectangular poolshapes are required, special corner-sections may be used. An example of such a section of a coping beam (B<SP>1</SP>), Fig.8 (not shown), comprises a centre panel (90) and end panels (91), (92) set at 45 degrees to said centre panel, the total assembly giving a 90 degree corner. The method of erecting the in-ground pool structure described above comprises excavating a hole which follows the desired contour of the pool and exceeds it in depth by less than one foot, inserting and interlocking the wall boards, seriation, into the excavation from the top thereof and supporting their weight from the floor of the excavation, maintaining the wall boards A plumb by means of the cantilevered arm (106) and spike (108), and backfilling the excavation to cover the exterior of the cavity-defining wall boards A and the arm (106) and spike (108). A concrete peripheral deck (113) may then be poured.