US3015191A - Swimming pool and method for erecting same - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1962 L. LuccHEsl SWIMMING Poor. AND METHOD FOR ERECTIMG SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1956 SWIMMING Poor. AND METHOD FOR ERECTING SAME L. LUCCHESI Jan. 2, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec.

III/lll) United dtates @sont 3,015,191 Svi/EMMEN@ PL AND MEETHD FR ERECTNG SAME Leo Lucchesi, Chicago, ill. Filed Dec. 27, i956, Ser. No. 6343544 o Claims. (til. il-ltltl) This invention relates in general to storage vessels and in particular to swimming pools and a method for erecting same.

A well known method of constructing an open-type vessel embedded in earth, such as a swimming pool, is to excavate a suitable opening in the earth, erect a shell or mold of suitable material to define a space between the earth and the shell, and pour a form-setting material, such as cement, into the space. After the poured material has set, the shell is removed and the vessel made ot' the form-setting material is then available for use. This type of construction is time consuming and expensive with the result that prefabricated swimming pools, which are assembled at the site of installation, are finding a popular following. yPrior to the installa-tion of a prefabricated pool, a suitable excavation is made in earth, slightly larger than the pool. The pool is then assembled piece by piece within the excavation. Inasmuch as the pool is supported by the earth and serves essentially as a liner to prevent absorption of water by the earth, it is constructed of thin sheath material, such as metal or plastic material. Therefore, it is imperative that a lirm foundation afforded by earth exist immediately adjacent the pool structure, otherwise, the pool, in places of non-support, will be stressed beyond the yield point ot the fabricated material and will deform with possible subsequent rupture. The conventional type of prefabricated pool usually comprises vertical walls which curve inward toward the center ot the pool to form a rounded bottom, the pool having a predominantly iiat bottom in the central portion thereof. During the installation of the pool within the excavation, it is relatively simpre to direct proper till adjacent to the vertical wall sections of the pool to provide a iirm backing, but it is extremely difiicult to obtain proper support underneath the bottom'o the pool, said bottom of the pool supporting practically the entire body of the water when filled.

it is the object of this invention to provide a method for installing a pool having a tirm and proper foundation thereunder.

Ano-ther object of the invention is to provide a pool which can be assembled easily with proper till undern neath.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for containing uids in an excavation, said means serving as a liner to prevent absorption of the fluid by the excavation and having a bottom portion adapted for facilitating obtaining a hrm foundation therefor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon the perusai of the specification in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a swimming pool having incorporated in the bottom thereof insertable bottom members for facilitating erection;

FlGURl-E 2 is a longitudinal section View of the swim ming pool taken along the line Z--2 of PEG. l;

FlGURE 3 is a transverse section View of the swimming pool taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FlGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a section of the swimming pool taken along the line l--t of FIG. 1;

FGURE 5 is a cross section View alor'U the line S-S of FlG. 4 to show the structure of a joint;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a section of the swimming pool taken along line tti-6 of PEG. 1 to show the details of assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a joint between two structure members, taken alo-ng the line '7-7 of FG. 1; and

FlGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view oi a joint between two structure mem-bers taken along the line g-S of FIG. 1.

in accordance with the teachings of this invention there is provided a method of erecting a shell-type vessel, such as a swimming pool, in an excavation in earth. The vessel is erected from prefabricated wall members which are assembled together in the excavation in such manner that an enclosure is erected having at least one open ing in the bottom thereof presenting an access to the bottom of the excavation. Since it is essential that the erected vessel have a solid foundation to rest upon, suitable material is filled into the excavation around the enclosure. To obtain a solid foundation for the bottom of the vessel, material is filled through the opening in the -bottom of the vessel and tamped, and finally, the opening is completed to effect a duid-tight vessel. Essentially, the method of erecting a vessel comprises initiating the wall structure and building downward to complete the bottom of the vessel.

Furthermore, in accordance with the teachings of this invention there is provided a Vessel structure adapted to be erected in an excavation in earth. The vessel is erected from preformed wall members which have curved sections sloping downward and toward the centrum of the Vessel to define an opening therebetween adapted to admit an insertable botto-m member. The members defining the opening have depressed flanges adapted to support the bottom member at the same level as the surrounding members. Suitable means are provided for rigidly securing the members in the spaced apart relationship to provide the opening which is completed by the bottom members.

if reference be had to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, an opentype vessel 26, such as a swimming poo-l7 is shown erected in an excavation 28 in earth. The vessel 26 comprises wall lmembers 3Q specifically designated as fitta, 3%, 3de, 3nd, Sile, lty, 3tlg, 30h, Zilli, 30j, tlk and Stil and bottom members 5d specifically designated as 54a, lb, and 54e.

The bottom members Sila and Selb, called insertable bottom members, are adapted to oe placed centrally in the bottom of the vessel 26 during the iinal stages of erection, as will be described later. The stationary bottom member 5de is disposed centrally in the bottom of the vessel 26 and couples together the two bottom members 54o and 54h. The stationary bottom member 54C is permanently attached at two of its opposing sides to the wall members Suf and 3tlg.

Each wall member 30, such as the wall member 30e, as shown in FiGURES 4 and 5 comprises a thin wall 6l) which terminates laterally in a flange 62 and forms at top thereof a coaming 64. The flange 62 extends exterior to the vessel 2d so that a smooth uninterrupted interior surface is obtained within said vessel. Each wall member fr@ has a straight section 55, which forms the vertical side of the vessel 26, and a convex on curved section 56 which slopes downward and toward the bottom centrum of the vessel 26. The wall members 3@ are constructed of any suitable material, preferably material which does not corrode upon contact with liuids such as water. Furthermore, the material preferably has to be amenable to mold fabrication to obtain desired shapes and contours in the fabricated structures. For example, the wall members 3i? may be constructed of several plies of synthetic liber or glass cloth impregnated and combined together with a resinror plastic binder such as polyester, phenolic or poly- III-*"1"* styrene. The adjoining wall members, such as 39e and 36e, 4are secured to each other by bolt-nut assemblies 66 which include washers 68 on both sides of the coupled iianges 62 to prevent gouging by said bolt-nut assemblies. Prior to bringing the flanges 62 to mate with each other, a layer of sealing compound 7@ or resin is spread on the mating surfaces to obtain a liuid-tight joint after the boltnut assemblies 66 are tightened.

The wall member 3011 has an opening 72 in the straight section 55 thereof for admitting a sealed lamp 76 connected to an electrical conduit '78 which may be connected to a source of electrical power. The lamp 76 provides underwater illumination. The wall member Silk has an opening S in its straight section 55, which opening may be connected through a pipe 82 to an overliow drain for maintaining constant the level of the water in the vessel 26. The bottom member 54a has an opening 84 adjacent to a screened drain Se which is connected to a drain pipe 88 used for draining the water out of the tank 26.

As was brought out earlier in reference to the method of erection of the vessel, certain bottom members, namely 54a and 'db, are installed during the final stage of erection. The wall members Stlb, 30a' and 3de together with the stationary bottom member 54C define an opening 58a therebetween for admitting the insertable bottom member 54a. Similarly, the wall members 30h, 301' and 30k together with the stationary bottom member 54C define an opening 5817 therebetween for ladmitting the iusertable bottom member Sb.

If reference be had to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the manner of support of the bottom members 54a and 54h is indicated. The wall members 30h and Sti/c together with the stationary bottom member 54C have depressed extensions 94 adapted to support the insertable bottom members 54a and Sb on the same level as the abutting wall members. Similarly, the wall members Sd, 39e, 30h and 301 have depressed extensions 96 for supporting the bottom members 54a and Sib. The extensions 96 terminate in vertically disposed flanges 98 which have openings lil@ for admitting studs IGZ adapted to span across the opening between two oppositely disposed wall members 3d, such as 36d and 30e. The studs 102, nuts 164 and washers 106 serve to maintain a rigid opening between the oppositely disposed wall members 30 so that there will be no outward movement Iaway from the centrum of the vessel 26 when it is filled with water. The insertable bottom members 54a and 54h are secured to the depressed lianges 94 and 95 by self-tapping screws i498. The joints between the mating surfaces of the bottom members 54a and 54h and the depressed flanges 94 and 96 are filled with a sealing compound liti to insure a duid-tight joint. rl`he sealing compound llt) is also used to cover the heads of the screws 168 and to effect a smooth covering over the assembly joints to present the appearance of a single continuous surface on the interior of the vessel 26. It is to be understood that although only two bottom members 54a and Sib have been described in the present embodiment of the invention as being insertable in the final stage of erection of the vessel 26, additional bottom members can be made insertable near the end of erection, if it is found to be desirable.

The method of erection of the various structural com ponents comprising the vessel 26 will be brieiiy described hereinbelow. The erection is commenced in an excavation 28 which is larger than the size of the intended vessel 26 to permit freedom of movement during assembly. The assembly work is usually started at the deep end of the excavation with the assembly of the wall members 3tlg, iib and Sile by introducing the sealing compound 7@ between the mating surfaces of adjoining flanges d2 and drawing them together with bolt-nut assemblies do to eiiect fluid-tight joints. Since the wall members 3i? are fabricated of comparatively low density material, some of the assembly work can be performed outside of the excavation 28 `and then lowered into said excavation. For example, the wall members 36j, 30g and the bottom member 54C may be assembled exterior to the excavation and then introduced thereafter as an integral unit into the excavation to be coupled with other, already erected members, thus expediting erection of the vessel 26. During the time of erection when the wall members 39d and Sile, as well as Sil/1 and 3th", are disposed opposite each other in the excavation 2S, studs N2 are inserted through the openings 1li@ in the flanges 93 of said oppositely disposed wall members to provide rigidity between the members even though openings 58a and SSI; exist therebetween for the admission of the insertable bottom members 54a and 541), respectively.

At the iinal stage of erection, the wall members 30a, 3017, 30C, 36d, Sile, 36j@ 3tlg, Silit, 3oz', Zilli,- Sik and Sill together with the stationary bottom member Stic define a shell-type enclosure having an incomplete bottom presenting the two openings SSa and 5821. Any suitable niaterial such as sand is filled into the excavation Zd adjacent to the exterior of the straight sections 5S and the convex sections 56 of the wall members 39 to provide a solid foundation. The two openings 58a and S311 in the bottom of the vessel 25 which are adapted to receive the insertable bottom members 54a and 54k, respectively, are utilized for lilling sand under the rounded bottom of the vessel 26 to provide a solid foundation under the lowermost portions of the convex sections 56. Finally, the sand is tamped to proper height in the bottom openings 58a and 5311 to provide a irm support for the insertable bottom members 54a and Sill). Then the bottom members 54a and ftb are placed over the bottom openings, 53a and Stb, respectively, with a sealing compound 1li) between the mating surfaces 'and secured with the screws E03. Thereafter, the sealing compound il@ is applied over the various assembly joints to conceal the screws and to present a continuous surface. A cement walk M2 is constructed about the vessel 26 in abutting relationship to the coaming 64, said cement walk being `adapted to support a ladder M4 introduced into the interior of the vessel 26.

What is claimed is:

l. A prefabricated swimming pool adapted to be assembled in an excavation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of straight and curved wall members constructed of low strength material and disposed rigidly in relation to each other to form an open bottom enclosure, some of the straight and curved wall members oppositely disposed to each other being shorter than the others, said shorter straight and curved wall members sloping downward and inward toward each other with their edge portions defining an opening therebetween in the bottom of said enclosure, said edge portions having depressed extensions which cooperatively define a bezel, means for maintaining oppositely disposed extensions in a predetermined rigid relation to each other, and a detachable means supported by the depressed extensions and cooperatively delining with the bezel a fluid-tight bottom enclosure to provide access underneath the pool.

2. A swimming pool as claimed in claim l, said meansl for maintaining the predetermined rigid relation of the flanges comprising elongated rod members extending through substantially vertical ange walls of the oppositely disposed edge portions, said rod members having threaded ends with nuts abutting against the iiange walls exteriorly of the bottom enclosure.

3. A prefabricated sectional vessel comprising, in com-l bination a plurality of straight and curved wall members constructed of low strength material and positioned sideby-side, some of the straight and curved wall members oppositely disposed to each other being shorter than the others, said straight and curved wall members sloping downward and inward and defining an opening therebetween at the bottom of the vessel, the straight and curved wall members terminating in edge portions having substantially horizontal and substantially vertical flanges, the horizontal flanges defining therebetween a support for an insertable and removable bottom member closing said opening, threaded spacing members, individually adjustable, disposed between oppositely facing vertical flanges for maintaining the associated wall members in rigid disposition, and means for detachably securing the bottom member to the horizontal flanges to provide a fluidtight seal.

4. A prefabricated swimming pool adapted to be assembled in an excavation, comprising in combination, a plurality of preformed wall members constructed of low strength material and arranged alongside of each other, each wall member having a straight and curved section, the wall members having lateral flanges extending outwardly of the wall members, means for securing adjacently disposed flanges exteriorly of the wall members, said curved sections sloping downward and inward toward each other with their lowermost edges defining an opening therebetween in the bottom of the pool, said edges having depressed portions cooperatively dening therebetween a seat, said depressed portions terminating in substantially vertical anges, rod members adjustably extending through the anges for maintaining rigid relationship therebetween, and a removable plate supported by the depressed portions and cooperatively defining therewith a Huid-tight bottom enclosure but permitting access thereunder.

5. A swimming pool according to claim 4, said preformed wall members comprising at least three groups of sections having predetermined symmetric relationships, one group forming arcuate corners of the pool, the second group forming transverse and longitudinal sides of the pool, and the third group forming the bottom of the pool, the size of the pool being determined by the plurality of the members used in the second and third groups.

6. A method of assembling a Prefabricated vessel in an excavation, said vessel being made of material of low strength, comprising the steps of making a rough excavation for substantially containing the vessel, attachably disposing preformed straight and curved wall members adjacent each other to form substantially a complete enclosure with a small opening in the bottom thereof rigidifying the opening exteriorly of the wall members to predetermined dimensions, lling material exteriorly of the wall members to effect sound foundation therefor, filling material through said opening and tamping said material underneath the bottom-most portions of the wall members, lilling the opening to substantially the level of the bottom-most portions of the wall members, and detachably securing a bottom member to the bottom-most portion of the wall members to effect a fluid-tight closure of the opening thereby providing access to the underneath of the bottom of the vessel at all times.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 503,913 Rasner Aug. 22, 1893 741,351 Loeb Oct. 31, 1903 1,231,091 Straight June 26, 1917 1,637,423 Miller Aug. 2, 1927 2,488,708 Clemetscn Nov. 22, 1949 2,617,764 Hauber et al. Nov. 11, 1952 2,662,391 Neil Dec. 15, 1953 2,858,693 Levert Nov. 4, 1958 2,864,098 Lorimer Dec. 16, 1958 2,887,759 Brownell May 26, 1959 FOREiGN PATENTS 560,861 reat Britain 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Concrete, pages 24 and 25, January 1950. American Builder, August 1955, p. 198.

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