Patent Publication Number: US-6904724-B1

Title: Piling based pool system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a swimming pool that is associated with a private residence wherein the residence is located in a coastal area and the swimming pool is formed by pre-cast hollow core concrete panels supported by a piling system. 
   2. Background of the Prior Art 
   As water front living has become more and more desirable, the coastlines of various bodies of water have become ever more crowded. While living on or near the water is found by many to be an ideal way of life, placing homes proximate a body of water is not without problems. Large bodies of water such as the Atlantic ocean or the Gulf of Mexico produce hurricanes and tropical storms that can wreak havoc onto entire coastal communities. Smaller bodies of water, such as large lakes and rivers, can also produce crippling weather systems that can cause substantial damage to homes located in the vicinity. In order to protect against adverse weather systems that can impose upon buildings located in a storm&#39;s path, building techniques have been improved to help such buildings better withstand strong storms. Many such techniques are mandated by building codes and ordinances. 
   Modern building construction uses stronger construction materials and better construction techniques to help minimize the damage occasioned upon a building during a storm. Using 2×6 inch studs (as opposed to 2×4 studs) for structural walls, designing 2 one car garages instead of a single 2 car garage, and anchoring the roof of the building to its foundation are all examples of construction techniques that are used to help a building withstand the winds that are imposed upon the building by a fierce storm system. 
   In addition to constructing the building proper with advanced construction techniques, the building is also be anchored to the ground with improved techniques. The old form of construction was similar to standard residential building construction techniques. A footer-based monolithic slab was poured and served as the foundation for the rest of the building. Although this standard construction method was satisfactory for many buildings, it is not ideally suited for building on a coastline. 
   Although the wind produced by a severe storm can cause substantial damage to a building, oftentimes, the storm surge produced by the storm causes the bulk of the damage. Although a monolithic slab will typically not fail due to a strong wind (we have yet to see a storm that can lift several yards of poured concrete in the same way that the wind can lift a relatively lite wood and shingle roof) such a slab if subjected to a strong storm surge, especially a sustained surge that lasts several hours, can have the substrata upon which the slab is placed undermined and eventually washed away causing the slab to collapse resulting in substantial damage, if not outright collapse, of the building which is anchored to the slab. 
   Furthermore, the soil that is found along many coastlines tends to be less than ideal for placement of monolithic slabs. Such soils tend to have compositions that include silty and loose sands as well as peat. Even with the best compaction methods, such soil compositions tend to have unusually pronounced and relatively unpredictable settlement patterns which can cause uneven settlement of the slab. In minor situations, this can result in slab cracking which can cause cracking of rigid floor coverings such as ceramic tile. In extreme situations, a portion of the slab can settle a relatively large amount relative to the remainder of the slab, which can result in a portion of the entire building shifting, causing substantial damage to the building or even causing the building to be uninhabitable. 
   In order to overcome the problem with slab construction in coastal areas, pilings, such as wood pilings or pre-cast concrete pilings, are used. Such pilings are either drilled or driven into the ground below the level where loose and silty soils and peat are found and into a relatively firm soil foundation. Beams extend between the pilings and the building is built onto the beams. As the pilings are driven deep into the ground below the unstable soils, typically 20 feet or more, a powerful storm surge that wrecks havoc on the unstable soils will not unduly impact the pilings and the building thereon. While a particularly powerful storm surge may leave such a building an island, it is far easier to replace the soil around a building than to replace the building itself. Additionally, as the pilings are anchored in stable soils, soil settlement issues tend to be minimal and the building upon the pilings tends to settle within expected parameters. 
   Although the use of pilings protect the foundation upon which the building rests from a storm surge, the pilings do not protect the building proper from the storm surge. Accordingly, many piling-based buildings are built above the ground, with a building being built 8 feet or more above grade not uncommon. While such off grade building construction protects the building from all but the most catastrophic storm surges, it does create some inconveniences. 
   Many coastal residences are owned by relatively affluent people who have swimming pools. Unlike the building proper, the swimming pool is placed into the ground. As the swimming pool is much smaller than a building and as the ground itself acts as structural support for the pool, both settlement and storm surge issues with a pool tend to be muted. Additionally, it tends to be far less expensive to fix a pool than to fix the home associated with the pool. However, an in-ground pool that is associated with a pilling-based house located 8 or more feet above grade presents some very real inconveniences. Users of the pool have to descend a flight a stairs to use the pool and thereafter ascend a flight of stairs to go into the house to retrieve a cold beer, for example. While not an insurmountable problem, such ascent and descent can take some fun out of using the pool, especially for a home owner hosting a pool party who must make frequent trips between pool and house. 
   Therefore, there exists a need in the art for system that eliminates the inconveniences associated with an in-ground pool and a house that supported on pilings and is located above ground. Such a system must be of relatively simple design and construction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The piling based pool system and method of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The piling based pool system eliminates the inconveniences associated with an in-ground pool and a house that is supported on pilings and is located above ground by allowing the placement of the pool at the same elevation as the foundation of the house that is associated with the pool. The piling based pool system is of relatively simple design and construction. 
   The piling based pool system and method of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of first pilings drilled or driven into the ground such that a portion of each of the first pilings is located under ground. A plurality of first beams are provided such that each first beam connects between at least a respective two of the plurality of first pilings. A swimming pool shell is secured to the plurality of first beams and the plurality of first pilings. The swimming pool shell is comprised of a plurality of hollow core concrete panels which form the sides and the base of the swimming pool shell. The plurality of first pilings and the plurality of first beams may be pre-cast concrete, cast and place concrete pilings, steel driven pilings, wood pilings, etc. A plurality of second pilings is provided and drilled or driven into the ground such that a portion of each of the second pilings is located under ground. A plurality of second beams are provided such that each second beam connects between at least a respective two of the plurality of second pilings (or a second piling and a first piling). A building is secured to the plurality of second beams and the plurality of second pilings. The building may also secured to at least some of the plurality of first beams and/or the plurality of first pilings. The building is a house. The plurality of second pilings and the plurality of second beams may be pre-cast concrete, cast and place concrete pilings, steel driven pilings, wood pilings, etc. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental view of the piling based swimming pool system and method of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the piling based swimming pool system and method of the present invention. 
   

   Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the piling based swimming pool system and method of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a plurality of first pilings  12  drilled or driven into the ground G using any appropriate technique known in the art, such that a portion of each of the first pilings  12  is located under ground G. A plurality of first beams  14  are provided such that each first beam  14  connects between at least a respective two of the plurality of first pilings  12 , the connection being made in any appropriate technique known in the art. A swimming pool shell is secured to the plurality of first beams  14  and the plurality of first pilings  12  in standard fashion, the swimming pool shell being made of a plurality of hollow core concrete panels  16  such that each side of the pool is made from one or more panels  16  and the base is also formed from one or more panels  16 , the number of panels  16  used being dependent on the size of the pool desired, as well as the size of the individual panels  16 . Each panel  16  is secured to the appropriate first pilings  12  and to adjoining panels in appropriate fashion. Once the swimming pool shell  16  is formed from the panels  16 , a standard pool liner  30  (vinyl liner, fiberglass liner, etc.), is inserted into and secured within the swimming pool shell. The swimming pool shell has associated with it all appropriate swimming pool items such as a pump, a filter, a ladder, a pool light, etc., none of which are illustrated. The plurality of first pilings  12  and the plurality of first beams  14  may be pre-cast concrete, cast and place concrete pilings, steel driven pilings, wood pilings, etc. The specific size of the first pilings  12  and the depth that the pilings  12  are driven into the ground G depend on various factors including the soil composition, the number of pilings  12  used, the size of the swimming pool shell formed, the specific structure of the pilings  12  and beams  14 , the amount of decking  18  which encompasses the swimming pool shell, the expected load conditions to which the system  10  is to be subjected to, etc. The swimming pool decking  18  is also formed from a plurality of hollow core concrete panels. 
   A plurality of second pilings  20  is provided and drilled or driven into the ground G such that a portion of each of the second pilings  20  is located under ground G. A plurality of second beams  22  are provided such that each second beam  22  connects between at least a respective two of the plurality of second pilings  20  and may also connect to some of the plurality of first pilings  12 . A building  24  is built upon a foundation  26 , the foundation being formed from hollow core concrete panels  16  similar to the panels  16  used to form the swimming pool shell and the deck  18  respectively. The panels  26  used to form the foundation of the building  24  are secured to the appropriate ones of the plurality of second pilings  20  and second beams  22  (and if appropriate some of the first pilings  12  and first beams  14 ) in appropriate fashion. The building  24  is a house. The plurality of second pilings  20  and the plurality of second beams  22  may be pre-cast concrete pilings, cast and place concrete pilings, steel driven pilings wood pilings, etc. The specific size of the second pilings  20  and the depth that the pilings  20  are driven into the ground G depend on various factors including the soil composition, the number of pilings  20  used, the size of building  24 , the specific structure of the pilings  20  and beams  22 , the amount of foundation  26  associated with the building  24  (the term foundation being used to encompass any decking that extends beyond the footprint of the building  24 , the expected load conditions to which the system  10  is to be subjected to, etc. 
   In order to use the piling based pool system and method  10  of the present invention, the plurality of first pilings  12  and the plurality of second pilings  20  are each drilled or driven into the ground G as appropriate, typically under the supervision of a geo-technical engineer. The plurality of first beams  14  and the plurality of second beams  22  are connected to their respective pilings  12  and  20 , as appropriate. Foundation panels  26  are provided and attached to the plurality of second pilings  20  and second beams  22  (and if appropriate some of the first pilings  12  and first beams  14 ) in appropriate fashion to form the foundation of the building  24  and the building  24  is built upon the foundation panels  26  in standard fashion and the swimming pool shell is formed from the swimming pool panels  16  and secured to the plurality of first pilings  12  and first beams  14 . Once the swimming pool shell is formed, a liner  30  is secured within the swimming pool shell. Decking panels  18  for the swimming pool shell are secured to the first pilings  12  and the first beams  14  as appropriate and can be cantilevered thereto by appropriate braces  28 . The particular configuration of the pilings  12  and  20 , and the beams  14  and  22  is dependent on the particular design of the swimming pool and the building  24 . 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.