Title:
OCTAGONAL SWIMMING POOL
United States Patent 3840908
Abstract:
A swimming pool comprises a polygonal enclosure wall for a pool liner, which includes vertical extruded angular metal sections at the corners between which are straight sections, the lower edges and the top edges of said wall being seated in and clamped between an upwardly facing base channel and a downwardly facing cap channel, respectively. The vertical edges of said wall sections are formed to provide for assembly and separable direct interlocking of said sections without fasteners or welding before the cap is applied and upon vertical relative sliding of the sections. A walk bordering the top edge of the enclosure wall and a sundeck include extruded interlocking sections supported on horizontal bars connected to the wall and to vertical posts whose lower ends are seated on and interlocked with a flange of the base channel without fasteners or welding. A picket fence is rigidly but separably mounted on the walk or deck.
US Patent References:
Portable swimming pool
Kascle - December 1949 - 2490272
SWIMMING POOL WALL CONSTRUCTION
Adam et al. - April 1969 - 3440780
/3579665.html
Barker - May 1972 - 3579665
SWIMMING POOL
Hosmer - March 1972 - 3648301
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING A MIXTURE OF AT LEAST TWO LIQUIDS
Katzman - April 1972 - 3653640
Portable swimming pool
Kascle - December 1949 - 2490272
SWIMMING POOL WALL CONSTRUCTION
Adam et al. - April 1969 - 3440780
/3579665.html
Barker - May 1972 - 3579665
SWIMMING POOL
Hosmer - March 1972 - 3648301
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING A MIXTURE OF AT LEAST TWO LIQUIDS
Katzman - April 1972 - 3653640
Application Number:
05/278400
Publication Date:
10/15/1974
Filing Date:
08/07/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
52/586.200, 4/506
International Classes:
E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H3/16; E04H3/18
Field of Search:
4/172,172.19 52/169,588,300,495
US Patent References:
| 3736599 | SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION | June 1973 | Kessler |
Primary Examiner:
Artis, Henry K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Rook, Esq. Harry B.
Claims:
I claim
1. A swimming pool comprising:
2. A swimming pool comprising:
3. A swimming pool as defined in claim 2, wherein said upper portions of the posts are secured to said bracket by bolts passing through the posts with their heads in said recess in the bracket abutting said lips, the lower rail sections having a separable outer vertical wall, and nuts on the last-mentioned bolts abutting said outer vertical wall.
4. A swimming pool as defined in claim 2, wherein said base channel has inner and outer flanges, and each post has a slot in its lower end fitted over and receiving the outer flange of said base channel, whereby said lower end portion of the post is separably connected to and seated on said outer flange of said base channel.
5. A swimming pool comprising:
6. A swimming pool comprising:
7. A swimming pool as defined in claim 6 wherein a tubular lower fence rail comprises sections each of which is secured to the outer side of said bracket between and abutting two adjacent posts, an upper fence rail comprises sections connected between and to said posts and having a bottom wall, said upper and lower rails having vertically alined holes therein, and pickets having their upper and lower ends set in said holes in the respective upper and lower rail and wherein said support bracket includes a plurality of sections, and the means for securing said lower fence rail sections to the support bracket section includes a longitudinal channel opening outwardly from the support bracket section and having projecting flanges projecting inwardly from the sides of the channel, bolts, each having its head in said channel abutting said flanges, its shank extending outwardly between said flange and through a hole in the wall of the rail section abutting the support bracket, and a nut on its shank screwed against said wall.
8. A swimming pool comprising:
9. A swimming pool comprising:
10. A swimming pool comprising:
1. A swimming pool comprising:
2. A swimming pool comprising:
3. A swimming pool as defined in claim 2, wherein said upper portions of the posts are secured to said bracket by bolts passing through the posts with their heads in said recess in the bracket abutting said lips, the lower rail sections having a separable outer vertical wall, and nuts on the last-mentioned bolts abutting said outer vertical wall.
4. A swimming pool as defined in claim 2, wherein said base channel has inner and outer flanges, and each post has a slot in its lower end fitted over and receiving the outer flange of said base channel, whereby said lower end portion of the post is separably connected to and seated on said outer flange of said base channel.
5. A swimming pool comprising:
6. A swimming pool comprising:
7. A swimming pool as defined in claim 6 wherein a tubular lower fence rail comprises sections each of which is secured to the outer side of said bracket between and abutting two adjacent posts, an upper fence rail comprises sections connected between and to said posts and having a bottom wall, said upper and lower rails having vertically alined holes therein, and pickets having their upper and lower ends set in said holes in the respective upper and lower rail and wherein said support bracket includes a plurality of sections, and the means for securing said lower fence rail sections to the support bracket section includes a longitudinal channel opening outwardly from the support bracket section and having projecting flanges projecting inwardly from the sides of the channel, bolts, each having its head in said channel abutting said flanges, its shank extending outwardly between said flange and through a hole in the wall of the rail section abutting the support bracket, and a nut on its shank screwed against said wall.
8. A swimming pool comprising:
9. A swimming pool comprising:
10. A swimming pool comprising:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to swimming pools of the type which include a water retaining element, for example, a liner formed of synthetic plastic material, supported by and within a rigid-walled enclosure, and which can be transported in disassembled condition as a package and thereafter easily and quickly assembled for use.
Known rigid-walled enclosures include metal wall sections connected together either by welding or by bolts or clips, and leave much to be desired in that either they are too expensive or require excessive time and skill for assembly, or the connections between the sections are weak or unreliable.
Some pool constructions include walks or walkaround decks and also extension sundecks, which also have disadvantages that they are too expensive, or possess insufficient strength to ensure the safety of persons walking or lying thereon, or are too difficult to assemble; and where rails or fences are included, either they cost too much, or are difficult to assemble, or the connections thereof to the pool wall sections or the deck are not sufficiently strong and rigid to ensure the safety of persons leaning against the fences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool which overcomes the objections to and disadvantages of the prior pools, and which includes a plurality of separably connectable parts that are simple in construction, can be easily and quickly assembled or installed to produce a relatively inexpensive pool. The enclosure wall deck or walk and fence or rail are strong and durable.
In accordance with the invention, a rigid-walled enclosure for a water-retaining liner comprises a plurality of extruded metal panel sections set and clamped between a base and a cap with the vertical edge of each section directly interlocked with the vertical edges of next adjacent wall sections without welding, bolts or clips so that said sections can be assembled or erected by simple relative sliding of the sections.
The invention further contemplates means for firmly holding the assembled wall sections between the base and cap with the base at their lower edges and the cap at their upper edges, by simple hooked tie bolts which have their lower ends hooked onto the base and have nuts at their upper ends tightened on the cap.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rigid-walled polygonal swimming pool of this character wherein the enclosure includes wall sections at the corners or angles of the wall which comprise angular one-piece extruded metal sections between and with which are interlocked straight extruded sections.
Another object of the invention is to provide in such a swimming pool a base comprising a plurality of sections secured together in a novel and improved manner including a system of trusses, so as to effectively resist bending or separation by the pressure exerted on the base and enclosure sections by the water in the liner.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool of the general character described which includes a novel and improved construction and combination of posts having their lower ends notched and fitted over a vertical flange on the base to eliminate gussets and fastening elements, and a deck or walk comprising extruded sections interlocked at their longitudinal edges and supported by purlins secured on and between a flange on said cap and a bracket strip fastened on said posts.
Another feature of the invention is a novel and improved construction and combination of a picket fence such that the fence is rigidly and strongly connected to and supported by the walk or deck and the walk-supporting posts to reduce the danger of accidental falling of persons from the walk.
The invention also provides a novel and improved extension sundeck or platform at one side of the enclosure wall including extruded sections separably directly interlocked at their longitudinal edges, and supporting structure therefor rigidly but separably connected to the enclosure wall.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an octagonal swimming pool embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pool viewed from the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged transverse vertical sectional view approximately on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in more detail than FIG. 3 the connection of the lower end of the post to the base;
FIG. 3B is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the purlins for supporting the walk-around deck floor;
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional perspective view of one corner of the pool, showing wall sections vertically disposed in the base;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 6--6 illustrating the wall sections in horizontal section and the base in top plan view;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the walk-around deck and a portion of the sun deck, illustrating the manner of connecting the two decks;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the cap and a portion of the support bracket for the walk-around deck, at a corner of the pool detached from the pool showing the manner of trussing the corner sections of the cap and the support bracket;
FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged schematic sectional perspective view approximately on the plane of a portion of the supporting bracket with a walk-around deck and the means for connecting the fence structure to said bracket and the supporting posts which are indicated in dot and dash lines;
FIG. 9A is a vertical sectional view through the connection between the support bracket and a post;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of one of the posts, the associated fence rail sections and pickets, with portions broken away and shown in section for clearness in illustration;
FIG. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of line 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of connection of the fence rail to a post.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention it has been shown embodied in a pool which is octagonal in plan and has both a walk-around deck and a sun deck, but it should be understood that the invention contemplates polygonal pools of other shapes with or without complete walk-around decks and sun decks.
As shown the pool has an enclosure wall for a water-retaining liner and comprises eight sides, each of which includes a plurality of elongated extruded metal panel sections set and clamped between a base and a cap with the vertical longitudinal edges of each section formed TO interlock directly and separately with the juxtaposed vertical longitudinal edges of adjacent sections, eight of said sections being angular, having angular body portions to correspond to and form one corner of the octagonal pool, and each of the other sections being straight having a flat body portion with both its edges in the same general plane.
The floor of the walk-around deck and the sun deck also includes similar elongated extruded sections having their longitudinal edges parallel to the corresponding side of the enclosure wall and each with one longitudinal edge directly separably interlocked with the juxtaposed edge of the next adjacent section.
Now referring more specifically to the drawing, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the enclosure wall of the pool is generally designated A and it has eight sides generally designated a. At each corner of the enclosure wall is an angular wall section B and between the corner sections B are straight sections C, all of said sections being preferably formed of extruded metal and having their lower edge portions set in the upwardly facing channel 1 of a base D which is preferably formed of sections of equal length having mitered ends rigidly connected together in any suitable manner as by truss plates 2 (See FIG. 5) and truss bars 3 that are riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the main horizontal body portions 4 of the base sections. The longitudinal edges of the angular corner sections are separably interlocked with the juxtaposed edges of the straight sections, preferably by tongue and groove connections generally designated E as best shown in FIG. 6.
The tongue of each section is shown as comprising two spaced and parallel fins 5 extending longitudinally of the section, and each groove is formed by two parallel fins 6 spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the tongue fins 5 to permit the latter to frictionally slide into the groove. The fins preferably have some inherent resiliency and desirably at least one fin of each groove has a longitudinal bead at its edge such as designated 7 in FIG. 7 to snap into a corresponding recess 8 in one fin of the juxtaposed tongue.
Preferably, in assembling the enclosure wall sections B and C, the sections are slid longitudinally with the tongues of each section fitted in the groove of the next adjacent section, whereby a rigid octagonal annular wall is set up in the upwardly facing channel 1 of the base, with the upper edges of the sections in a common plane and with the body portions 9 of the angle sections B at each side of the wall in the same vertical planes with the body portions 10 of the straight sections C. Said body portions form the smooth inner vertical surface of the pool wall and support the side wall of the usual plastic liner F which retains the water.
Capping and holding together the sections C and D of the enclosure wall is a cap G formed of a plurality of identical elongated sections g of equal length, one for each of the eight sides of the wall, having their ends mitered and rigidly secured together by angle truss plates 11 bolted or riveted to the bodies 12 of the abutting sections, as best shown in FIG. 8. One longitudinal edge portion of each body 12 is formed into a downwardly facing channel which snugly seats on and embraces the upper edge portion of the pool wall (see FIGS. 3 and 4) with the body 12 and a flange 13 abutting the outer side and the inner side of the pool wall, respectively. Projecting outwardly from the other longitudinal edge portion of the body is a horizontal flange 14 which coacts with the outer flange 15 of the base and a plurality of tie bolts 16 to firmly clamp the wall sections C and D together and between the base and the cap. In the present case each tie bolt has a hook 17 at one end hooked into a hole 18 in the base flange with its other end portion passing through a hole 19 in the flange 14 and having a nut 20 thereon screwed tightly against the flange 14.
A coping H for the top of the pool wall is formed of a plurality of elongated extruded metal sections h of equal length, each for one side of the pool and comprising a body 21 which has a convex longitudinal portion disposed near its inner edge that is adjacent the inner surface of the pool wall and to which is connected a seat flange 22 to seat on the cap and from which extends perpendicularly an anchor flange 23 to anchor the coping to the flange 13 of the cap G. Preferably a groove 24 is provided between the flange 23 and the convex portion for holding the edge 26 of the plastic pool liner F in known manner. The outer longitudinal edge of the coping section has a tongue formed of two spaced horizontal fins 27 separably frictionally interlockable with a groove, comprising two spaced fins 28, on a longitudinal edge of one of a plurality of sections of the floor for a walk-around deck J. This interlocking connection preferably is the same as the interlocking connections E between enclosure wall sections B and C.
The walk-around deck includes a plurality of posts K spaced apart around and outwardly from the periphery of the pool enclosure wall, each preferably formed of metal tubing rectangular in cross-section and having one end rigidly connected to the base, for example, by a slot 29 in the end of the post fitted over or snugly receiving the upper edge portion of the outer flange 15 of the base, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. In some cases supplemental bolts, screws or other fastening means could be used. Each post has an outwardly inclined intermediate portion and a vertical upper portion k to which is secured a support bracket L comprising a section l for each side of the pool wall with its ends mitered and rigidly secured to the next adjacent sections by angle truss brackets 30 bolted or otherwise secured to the bodies 31 of the sections as best shown in FIG. 8. At the lower longitudinal edges of the bodies 31 are horizontal flanges 32 which when the pool is constructed are in a common plane with the flanges 14 of the cap sections as shown in FIG. 3. The body 31 has at its edge opposite the flange 32 a larger horizontal flange 33 which serves as a part of the walk-around deck floor and has a tongue and groove connection E' with the longitudinal edge of the next adjacent one of a plurality of identical floor sections M whose longitudinal edges are parallel to the corresponding side of the pool wall and whose end edges are mitered to abut the ends of the corresponding sections that extend along the adjacent sides of the pool wall. The interlocking connections between adjacent floor sections may be the same as the connection E'.
The support bracket sections l are shown as secured to the posts by bolts 35 (FIGS. 3 and 9A) whose heads are non-rotatable in but slidable longitudinally of a groove 36 in the body that opens outwardly of the body and has inwardly projecting edge flanges 37 abutted by the bolt head. The bolt shank passes between the edge flanges, through holes in the post and holes in a tying and facing strip 38 which abuts the outer sides of the posts and ties them together, the bolt shank having a nut 39 tightenable against said tying strip thereby to clamp the support bracket on the post and to tie the posts together.
The floor sections M are supported by purlins or beams N which are set upon and span the space between the flanges 14 of the cap sections and the flanges 32 of the support brackets (FIGS. 1, 3, 3B and 8). Preferably, but not necessarily, the purlins or beams are metal channels best shown in FIG. 3B, and with their bottom walls 41 disposed vertically and with one side wall 42 set on the flanges 14 and 32 and their other walls 43 abuttingly underlying the floor sections M. Desirably some means is provided for fastening the floor sections to the beams and for preventing accidental separation of the interlocking connections E' between the floor sections, and a preferred means comprises tongues 44 struck up from the wall 43 and bent or clinched over flanges 45 and 46 project from the floor sections in the opposite directions from the tongue fins and groove fins, respectively.
The purlins may be identical and disposed perpendicularly to the bodies of the cap and the support bracket except at the corners of the pool where the purlins N 1 and N 2 are disposed diagonally, one at each side of the vertical plane of the mitered corners of the cap sections and bracket sections, and have their ends beveled to abut the bodies of the cap and the support bracket as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The horizontal walls of the purlins are secured at their ends to flanges 14 and 14 1 on the cap and flanges 32 and 33 on the support bracket, for example, by rivets 50, and tie bolts 51 with adjustable nuts 53 connect the vertical walls of the purlins whereby a ring truss is provided so that upon tightening of the nuts the joints between the cap sections g and the joints between the bracket sections l are firmly trussed. Preferably, the upper walls of the purlins N, and N 2 have struck-up tongues 54 similar to the tongues 44 to hold down the floor sections M.
The invention also contemplates the provision of a sun deck along at least one side of the pool and firmly connected to the walk-around deck. While two of the support bracket sections l may be utilized "back-to-back" that is, with their bodies in abutting relation and with their grooves 36 facing each other and with a key 60 slid into said grooves having a longitudinal grooves 61 in their opposite faces receiving the flanges 37 as shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that special support bracket sections be provided whose bodies 31a and 31b respectively, have their purlin supporting flanges modified as shown at 32a and 32b in FIG. 7 so as to provide a lipped locking flange x on the body 31a to separably resiliently interlock with a locking groove y in the flange 32b. The floor of the sun deck is composed of sections M 1 that may be identical with the sections M of the walk-around deck except as to length and metered corners and interlocked together by connections like the connections E 1. The perimetral support bracket sections l 1 in the sun deck may be identical with the bracket sections l, and posts K 1 for the sun deck are identical with the posts K and connected to the support brackets and an extension D 1 of the base in the same manner. However, it is desirable that the sections l 1 at the side of the sun deck be bolted to the sections l 1 of the walk-around deck, for example by angle plates 63 and to the outermost section l 1 by similar angle plates 64.
The sun deck may be of the desired size by varying the number of the support bracket sections l 1 , the sections being coupled or keyed together as shown in FIG. 7, and by varying the number of the floor sections M 1 . These sections are laid on purlines N 3 identical with the purlins N, and the purlins are set on the flanges 32b and 32a of the inner and outer bracket sections respectively. Desirably supplemental supporting structure is provided as indicated by the standards 65 and the braces 66.
An important feature of the invention is a fence O encircling the pool at the outer edge of the walls around deck and the sun deck. Included in the fence, are the posts K and K 1 and a lower rail which is shown as comprising channel-shaped sections o opening outwardly or horizontally, each interposed between two adjacent posts, FIGS. 1, 9 and 9A and having its bottom wall bottled to the adjacent section of the support bracket (FIG. 9) by bolts 67 whose heads 68 are non-rotatably but slidably adjustable along the channel 34 and abutting the flanges 37 of said channel with their shanks passing between said flanges through openings in the bottom wall of the rail section o and having nuts 70 to clamp said bottom wall 69 tightly against the body of the support bracket section l, the bolts and nuts being accessible between the top and bottom flanges o 1 and o 2 . Each rail section o also has a plurality of holes 71, preferably rectangular, in its top flange, each to freely receive a tubular picket 72 with one end resting on the lower flange of the rail section o and the upper end held in the upper rail P which includes sections p each interposed between two posts as best shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. Each section p includes a bottom strip 73, which may be like one of the facing strips 38 and is fastened by a bolt 74 at each end to one end of a connector plate 75 which extends through slots in the post and may be bolted by the same bolt to the angle bracket 76 secured to the post. If desired, one or the other of the connector plate and the bracket 76 may be omitted.
A cap bar 77 has longitudinal side flanges 77a fitted between side flanges 73a of the strip 73, and is separably secured to the bottom strip by cap screws 78 passed through holes in the bottom strip and screwed into a longitudinal groove 79 in an inner longitudinal rib 80 of the cap bar having grooves and ribs as shown at 81 to mesh with the threads of the screw, thereby to firmly secure the cap on the bottom strip with the upper ends of the pickets abutted by said rib 80.
Instead of using bottom strip 73 for the rail, a simpler strip 82 shown in FIG. 12 could be used. This is merely an extruded channel having inturned flanges 83 on its side walls between which are fitted the flanges 77a of the cap in straddling relation to the connector plate 75.
The facing and tying strips 38 serve to close the channels of the lower rail sections o and are secured in position by the same bolts 35 that fasten the posts to the support brackets; and they preferably have longitudinal grooves 84 to nicely fit over the edges of the flanges o, and o 2 of the rail sections as best shown in FIG. 9. The strips 38 also preferably have longitudinal inturned edge flanges 85 to slidably receive a finishing cover strip 86 to conceal the bolts 35 and also to serve as name-plates or to carry any desired inscriptions.
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to swimming pools of the type which include a water retaining element, for example, a liner formed of synthetic plastic material, supported by and within a rigid-walled enclosure, and which can be transported in disassembled condition as a package and thereafter easily and quickly assembled for use.
Known rigid-walled enclosures include metal wall sections connected together either by welding or by bolts or clips, and leave much to be desired in that either they are too expensive or require excessive time and skill for assembly, or the connections between the sections are weak or unreliable.
Some pool constructions include walks or walkaround decks and also extension sundecks, which also have disadvantages that they are too expensive, or possess insufficient strength to ensure the safety of persons walking or lying thereon, or are too difficult to assemble; and where rails or fences are included, either they cost too much, or are difficult to assemble, or the connections thereof to the pool wall sections or the deck are not sufficiently strong and rigid to ensure the safety of persons leaning against the fences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool which overcomes the objections to and disadvantages of the prior pools, and which includes a plurality of separably connectable parts that are simple in construction, can be easily and quickly assembled or installed to produce a relatively inexpensive pool. The enclosure wall deck or walk and fence or rail are strong and durable.
In accordance with the invention, a rigid-walled enclosure for a water-retaining liner comprises a plurality of extruded metal panel sections set and clamped between a base and a cap with the vertical edge of each section directly interlocked with the vertical edges of next adjacent wall sections without welding, bolts or clips so that said sections can be assembled or erected by simple relative sliding of the sections.
The invention further contemplates means for firmly holding the assembled wall sections between the base and cap with the base at their lower edges and the cap at their upper edges, by simple hooked tie bolts which have their lower ends hooked onto the base and have nuts at their upper ends tightened on the cap.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rigid-walled polygonal swimming pool of this character wherein the enclosure includes wall sections at the corners or angles of the wall which comprise angular one-piece extruded metal sections between and with which are interlocked straight extruded sections.
Another object of the invention is to provide in such a swimming pool a base comprising a plurality of sections secured together in a novel and improved manner including a system of trusses, so as to effectively resist bending or separation by the pressure exerted on the base and enclosure sections by the water in the liner.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool of the general character described which includes a novel and improved construction and combination of posts having their lower ends notched and fitted over a vertical flange on the base to eliminate gussets and fastening elements, and a deck or walk comprising extruded sections interlocked at their longitudinal edges and supported by purlins secured on and between a flange on said cap and a bracket strip fastened on said posts.
Another feature of the invention is a novel and improved construction and combination of a picket fence such that the fence is rigidly and strongly connected to and supported by the walk or deck and the walk-supporting posts to reduce the danger of accidental falling of persons from the walk.
The invention also provides a novel and improved extension sundeck or platform at one side of the enclosure wall including extruded sections separably directly interlocked at their longitudinal edges, and supporting structure therefor rigidly but separably connected to the enclosure wall.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an octagonal swimming pool embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pool viewed from the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged transverse vertical sectional view approximately on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in more detail than FIG. 3 the connection of the lower end of the post to the base;
FIG. 3B is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the purlins for supporting the walk-around deck floor;
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional perspective view of one corner of the pool, showing wall sections vertically disposed in the base;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 6--6 illustrating the wall sections in horizontal section and the base in top plan view;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the walk-around deck and a portion of the sun deck, illustrating the manner of connecting the two decks;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the cap and a portion of the support bracket for the walk-around deck, at a corner of the pool detached from the pool showing the manner of trussing the corner sections of the cap and the support bracket;
FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged schematic sectional perspective view approximately on the plane of a portion of the supporting bracket with a walk-around deck and the means for connecting the fence structure to said bracket and the supporting posts which are indicated in dot and dash lines;
FIG. 9A is a vertical sectional view through the connection between the support bracket and a post;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of one of the posts, the associated fence rail sections and pickets, with portions broken away and shown in section for clearness in illustration;
FIG. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of line 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of connection of the fence rail to a post.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention it has been shown embodied in a pool which is octagonal in plan and has both a walk-around deck and a sun deck, but it should be understood that the invention contemplates polygonal pools of other shapes with or without complete walk-around decks and sun decks.
As shown the pool has an enclosure wall for a water-retaining liner and comprises eight sides, each of which includes a plurality of elongated extruded metal panel sections set and clamped between a base and a cap with the vertical longitudinal edges of each section formed TO interlock directly and separately with the juxtaposed vertical longitudinal edges of adjacent sections, eight of said sections being angular, having angular body portions to correspond to and form one corner of the octagonal pool, and each of the other sections being straight having a flat body portion with both its edges in the same general plane.
The floor of the walk-around deck and the sun deck also includes similar elongated extruded sections having their longitudinal edges parallel to the corresponding side of the enclosure wall and each with one longitudinal edge directly separably interlocked with the juxtaposed edge of the next adjacent section.
Now referring more specifically to the drawing, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the enclosure wall of the pool is generally designated A and it has eight sides generally designated a. At each corner of the enclosure wall is an angular wall section B and between the corner sections B are straight sections C, all of said sections being preferably formed of extruded metal and having their lower edge portions set in the upwardly facing channel 1 of a base D which is preferably formed of sections of equal length having mitered ends rigidly connected together in any suitable manner as by truss plates 2 (See FIG. 5) and truss bars 3 that are riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the main horizontal body portions 4 of the base sections. The longitudinal edges of the angular corner sections are separably interlocked with the juxtaposed edges of the straight sections, preferably by tongue and groove connections generally designated E as best shown in FIG. 6.
The tongue of each section is shown as comprising two spaced and parallel fins 5 extending longitudinally of the section, and each groove is formed by two parallel fins 6 spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the tongue fins 5 to permit the latter to frictionally slide into the groove. The fins preferably have some inherent resiliency and desirably at least one fin of each groove has a longitudinal bead at its edge such as designated 7 in FIG. 7 to snap into a corresponding recess 8 in one fin of the juxtaposed tongue.
Preferably, in assembling the enclosure wall sections B and C, the sections are slid longitudinally with the tongues of each section fitted in the groove of the next adjacent section, whereby a rigid octagonal annular wall is set up in the upwardly facing channel 1 of the base, with the upper edges of the sections in a common plane and with the body portions 9 of the angle sections B at each side of the wall in the same vertical planes with the body portions 10 of the straight sections C. Said body portions form the smooth inner vertical surface of the pool wall and support the side wall of the usual plastic liner F which retains the water.
Capping and holding together the sections C and D of the enclosure wall is a cap G formed of a plurality of identical elongated sections g of equal length, one for each of the eight sides of the wall, having their ends mitered and rigidly secured together by angle truss plates 11 bolted or riveted to the bodies 12 of the abutting sections, as best shown in FIG. 8. One longitudinal edge portion of each body 12 is formed into a downwardly facing channel which snugly seats on and embraces the upper edge portion of the pool wall (see FIGS. 3 and 4) with the body 12 and a flange 13 abutting the outer side and the inner side of the pool wall, respectively. Projecting outwardly from the other longitudinal edge portion of the body is a horizontal flange 14 which coacts with the outer flange 15 of the base and a plurality of tie bolts 16 to firmly clamp the wall sections C and D together and between the base and the cap. In the present case each tie bolt has a hook 17 at one end hooked into a hole 18 in the base flange with its other end portion passing through a hole 19 in the flange 14 and having a nut 20 thereon screwed tightly against the flange 14.
A coping H for the top of the pool wall is formed of a plurality of elongated extruded metal sections h of equal length, each for one side of the pool and comprising a body 21 which has a convex longitudinal portion disposed near its inner edge that is adjacent the inner surface of the pool wall and to which is connected a seat flange 22 to seat on the cap and from which extends perpendicularly an anchor flange 23 to anchor the coping to the flange 13 of the cap G. Preferably a groove 24 is provided between the flange 23 and the convex portion for holding the edge 26 of the plastic pool liner F in known manner. The outer longitudinal edge of the coping section has a tongue formed of two spaced horizontal fins 27 separably frictionally interlockable with a groove, comprising two spaced fins 28, on a longitudinal edge of one of a plurality of sections of the floor for a walk-around deck J. This interlocking connection preferably is the same as the interlocking connections E between enclosure wall sections B and C.
The walk-around deck includes a plurality of posts K spaced apart around and outwardly from the periphery of the pool enclosure wall, each preferably formed of metal tubing rectangular in cross-section and having one end rigidly connected to the base, for example, by a slot 29 in the end of the post fitted over or snugly receiving the upper edge portion of the outer flange 15 of the base, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. In some cases supplemental bolts, screws or other fastening means could be used. Each post has an outwardly inclined intermediate portion and a vertical upper portion k to which is secured a support bracket L comprising a section l for each side of the pool wall with its ends mitered and rigidly secured to the next adjacent sections by angle truss brackets 30 bolted or otherwise secured to the bodies 31 of the sections as best shown in FIG. 8. At the lower longitudinal edges of the bodies 31 are horizontal flanges 32 which when the pool is constructed are in a common plane with the flanges 14 of the cap sections as shown in FIG. 3. The body 31 has at its edge opposite the flange 32 a larger horizontal flange 33 which serves as a part of the walk-around deck floor and has a tongue and groove connection E' with the longitudinal edge of the next adjacent one of a plurality of identical floor sections M whose longitudinal edges are parallel to the corresponding side of the pool wall and whose end edges are mitered to abut the ends of the corresponding sections that extend along the adjacent sides of the pool wall. The interlocking connections between adjacent floor sections may be the same as the connection E'.
The support bracket sections l are shown as secured to the posts by bolts 35 (FIGS. 3 and 9A) whose heads are non-rotatable in but slidable longitudinally of a groove 36 in the body that opens outwardly of the body and has inwardly projecting edge flanges 37 abutted by the bolt head. The bolt shank passes between the edge flanges, through holes in the post and holes in a tying and facing strip 38 which abuts the outer sides of the posts and ties them together, the bolt shank having a nut 39 tightenable against said tying strip thereby to clamp the support bracket on the post and to tie the posts together.
The floor sections M are supported by purlins or beams N which are set upon and span the space between the flanges 14 of the cap sections and the flanges 32 of the support brackets (FIGS. 1, 3, 3B and 8). Preferably, but not necessarily, the purlins or beams are metal channels best shown in FIG. 3B, and with their bottom walls 41 disposed vertically and with one side wall 42 set on the flanges 14 and 32 and their other walls 43 abuttingly underlying the floor sections M. Desirably some means is provided for fastening the floor sections to the beams and for preventing accidental separation of the interlocking connections E' between the floor sections, and a preferred means comprises tongues 44 struck up from the wall 43 and bent or clinched over flanges 45 and 46 project from the floor sections in the opposite directions from the tongue fins and groove fins, respectively.
The purlins may be identical and disposed perpendicularly to the bodies of the cap and the support bracket except at the corners of the pool where the purlins N 1 and N 2 are disposed diagonally, one at each side of the vertical plane of the mitered corners of the cap sections and bracket sections, and have their ends beveled to abut the bodies of the cap and the support bracket as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The horizontal walls of the purlins are secured at their ends to flanges 14 and 14 1 on the cap and flanges 32 and 33 on the support bracket, for example, by rivets 50, and tie bolts 51 with adjustable nuts 53 connect the vertical walls of the purlins whereby a ring truss is provided so that upon tightening of the nuts the joints between the cap sections g and the joints between the bracket sections l are firmly trussed. Preferably, the upper walls of the purlins N, and N 2 have struck-up tongues 54 similar to the tongues 44 to hold down the floor sections M.
The invention also contemplates the provision of a sun deck along at least one side of the pool and firmly connected to the walk-around deck. While two of the support bracket sections l may be utilized "back-to-back" that is, with their bodies in abutting relation and with their grooves 36 facing each other and with a key 60 slid into said grooves having a longitudinal grooves 61 in their opposite faces receiving the flanges 37 as shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that special support bracket sections be provided whose bodies 31a and 31b respectively, have their purlin supporting flanges modified as shown at 32a and 32b in FIG. 7 so as to provide a lipped locking flange x on the body 31a to separably resiliently interlock with a locking groove y in the flange 32b. The floor of the sun deck is composed of sections M 1 that may be identical with the sections M of the walk-around deck except as to length and metered corners and interlocked together by connections like the connections E 1. The perimetral support bracket sections l 1 in the sun deck may be identical with the bracket sections l, and posts K 1 for the sun deck are identical with the posts K and connected to the support brackets and an extension D 1 of the base in the same manner. However, it is desirable that the sections l 1 at the side of the sun deck be bolted to the sections l 1 of the walk-around deck, for example by angle plates 63 and to the outermost section l 1 by similar angle plates 64.
The sun deck may be of the desired size by varying the number of the support bracket sections l 1 , the sections being coupled or keyed together as shown in FIG. 7, and by varying the number of the floor sections M 1 . These sections are laid on purlines N 3 identical with the purlins N, and the purlins are set on the flanges 32b and 32a of the inner and outer bracket sections respectively. Desirably supplemental supporting structure is provided as indicated by the standards 65 and the braces 66.
An important feature of the invention is a fence O encircling the pool at the outer edge of the walls around deck and the sun deck. Included in the fence, are the posts K and K 1 and a lower rail which is shown as comprising channel-shaped sections o opening outwardly or horizontally, each interposed between two adjacent posts, FIGS. 1, 9 and 9A and having its bottom wall bottled to the adjacent section of the support bracket (FIG. 9) by bolts 67 whose heads 68 are non-rotatably but slidably adjustable along the channel 34 and abutting the flanges 37 of said channel with their shanks passing between said flanges through openings in the bottom wall of the rail section o and having nuts 70 to clamp said bottom wall 69 tightly against the body of the support bracket section l, the bolts and nuts being accessible between the top and bottom flanges o 1 and o 2 . Each rail section o also has a plurality of holes 71, preferably rectangular, in its top flange, each to freely receive a tubular picket 72 with one end resting on the lower flange of the rail section o and the upper end held in the upper rail P which includes sections p each interposed between two posts as best shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. Each section p includes a bottom strip 73, which may be like one of the facing strips 38 and is fastened by a bolt 74 at each end to one end of a connector plate 75 which extends through slots in the post and may be bolted by the same bolt to the angle bracket 76 secured to the post. If desired, one or the other of the connector plate and the bracket 76 may be omitted.
A cap bar 77 has longitudinal side flanges 77a fitted between side flanges 73a of the strip 73, and is separably secured to the bottom strip by cap screws 78 passed through holes in the bottom strip and screwed into a longitudinal groove 79 in an inner longitudinal rib 80 of the cap bar having grooves and ribs as shown at 81 to mesh with the threads of the screw, thereby to firmly secure the cap on the bottom strip with the upper ends of the pickets abutted by said rib 80.
Instead of using bottom strip 73 for the rail, a simpler strip 82 shown in FIG. 12 could be used. This is merely an extruded channel having inturned flanges 83 on its side walls between which are fitted the flanges 77a of the cap in straddling relation to the connector plate 75.
The facing and tying strips 38 serve to close the channels of the lower rail sections o and are secured in position by the same bolts 35 that fasten the posts to the support brackets; and they preferably have longitudinal grooves 84 to nicely fit over the edges of the flanges o, and o 2 of the rail sections as best shown in FIG. 9. The strips 38 also preferably have longitudinal inturned edge flanges 85 to slidably receive a finishing cover strip 86 to conceal the bolts 35 and also to serve as name-plates or to carry any desired inscriptions.