US3735427A

US3735427A - Semi-portable swimming pool

Info

Publication number: US3735427A
Application number: US00164726A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Ancewicz; O Marsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-21
Filing date: 1971-07-21
Publication date: 1973-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-29

Abstract

A semi-portable low profile readily expandable therapy pool or swimming pool is disclosed in which the side wall height is reduced while desirable pool depth is maintained by using virgin ground as a portion of the side wall and in which side wall structural strength requirements are reduced by constructing the side walls partially above and partially below ground level.

Description

United States atent [191 Ancewicz et a1.

SEMI-PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL Inventors: Walter J. Ancewicz, 4828 Kingwood Way, San Jose, Calif. 95124; Orville H. Marsh, 6125 Prospect Road, San Jose, Calif. 95129 Filed: July 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 164,726

US. Cl ..4/l72.l9, 52/169 Int. Cl ..E04h 3/16, E04h 3/18 Field of Search ..4/172, 172.19, 172.21;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gabrielli et a1 ..4/172. 19

Schwarz et a1 ..4/172.21 X

[451 May 29, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Stern et a1. ..4/172 10/1970 Germany ..4/172 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Norman E. Reitz and Hubert E. Dubb [5 7] ABSTRACT A semi-portable low profile readily expandable therapy pool or swimming pool is disclosed in which the side wall height is reduced while desirable pool depth is maintained by using virgin ground as a portion of the side wall and in which side wall structural strength requirements are reduced by constructing the side walls partially above and partially below ground level.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I SEMI-PORTABLE SWIMMING POOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to semi-portable reservoirs, tanks or pools and, more particularly, relates to a low profile readily expandable swimming pool or therapy pool constructed partially above and partially below ground level.

A traditional method of constructing swimming or therapy pools has been to excavate a volume of earth to form a cavity. Reinforced cement walls or other structural means are used to shore up the sides of the cavity so that the earth surrounding the cavity does not collapse into the cavity. The reinforced walls also had to be strong enough to prevent water in the swimming pool from rupturing the sides. This type of construction involved the utilization of costly materials and labor. Furthermore, once a traditional swimming or therapy pool is constructed, it is impossible to readily vary its size.

Above ground or portable swimming or therapy pools were introduced to reduce the cost of construction and the elfort involved in setting up a pool. Above ground pools could be moved from place to place and consequently, were less expensive than sunken pools. The walls of such pools however were necessarily shored up to support the weight of the water within the pool. Furthermore, such pools were subject to washout around the bottom edge of the pool where the exterior of the pool came in contact with the ground. Such pools presented a safety problem since swimmers could fall from walkways built around the pool to the ground outside the pool, adults could not readily see into the pools to determine whether children were in trouble inside the pools, and neighbors can look over fences and observe swimmers or therapy patients using the pool.

It is therefore an object of this invention to reduce the wall height of a semi-portable swimming or therapy pool and still obtain the desirable depth by employing virgin ground as a portion of the side wall.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a low profile swimming or therapy pool in which the structural strength required for the pool walls is minimized by constructing the walls partially above and partially below ground level.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a semiportable swimming or therapy pool which can be readily expanded by removal of a watertight plastic liner and further excavating the bottom of the pool or by extension of the height of the swimming pool walls.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a low profile semi-portable swimming pool wherein washout of the ground surrounding the exterior of the pool is eliminated.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a swimming pool having steps on the interior thereof wherein the shelf on which the recessed side wall rests serves as a step support.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a semi-portable swimming pool which employs horizontally disposed rather than vertically disposed structural supports for the portion of the swimming pool walls extending above the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A cavity of sufficient depth to constitute a significant portion of the height of a tank, reservoir, swimming pool or the like is excavated. The contour of the cavity is dependent upon the purpose the tank or pool is designed to serve, the type of ground encountered, and the presence or absence of a firm filler material. A shelf is excavated in the ground around the perimeter of the cavity to a slight depth on the order of one foot. A side wall fabricated from wood or lightweight metal is placed on the shelf around the pool. The flush fitting of the side wall with the virgin ground adjacent the shelf eliminates the settling problems encountered with the uncompacted earth left by excavate and fill construction methods. The height of the side wall above the ground typically ranges from 1 to 3 feet.

The contoured bottom of the semi-portable swimming pool is covered with a layer of a flexible plastic material such as polyvinylchloride which is detachably attachable to a track running along the inside edge of the perimeter of the side wall. Structural strength requirements for the wall are reduced by the fact that earth pressure against the bottom of the side wall is not especially great since the wall is set to only a slight depth in the ground and by the fact that only the small portion of the side wall above the ground is subject to pressure due to the enclosed volume of water. The portion of the wall above ground is supported preferably by a horizontally disposed external clamping means such as a cable, series of bolted planks, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cut-away perspective view of the readily expandable semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of a traditional low profile swimming pool including shoring members illustrating the refilled ground around the pool.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of one side of the semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the readily expandable semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention illustrating in phantom a number of potential bottom contours.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a horizontally disposed wall support and a series of interim steps incorporated in the semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the upper end of a retaining wall of the semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention illustrating an anti-splash coping, vinyl liner track and vinyl liner bead.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 it can be seen that side wall 13 which spans the perimeter of the semi-portable swimming pool accommodates only a portion of the total depth of the pool. The upper portion of side wall 13 extends above ground level 12 while the lower portion rests on a shelf 14 which has been excavated from virgin ground around the perimeter of the swimming pool cavity. Widely spaced, conventional A-frame supports 11 are sufficient to support the outward force of water within the pool since the major portion of the volume of water within a filled pool presses against the vinyl liner and thence against the surrounding virgin ground. The evident low profile of the swimming pool creates easy access to the pool and visibility of activities taking place within the pool.

FIG. 2 illustrates a low profile swimming pool of the prior art. The prior art low profile pool is constructed by excavating a cavity and placing a side wall 21 on the bottom with surrounding supporting structures 9. Then, typically, the excavated earth is replaced to provide additional support for the walls of the pool. This method of construction requires considerably more excavation than the method of the present invention and leaves refilled ground 22 surrounding the low profile swimming pool. This refilled ground can become soggy and unstable and may subsequently settle. Ifthis occurs side wall 21 can rupture inwardly when the pool is drained.

Side wall 27 of the readily expandable semi-portable swimming pool of the present invention is shown in detail in FIG. 3. A cavity is excavated and a compacted filler material 26 such as sand, zonolite or other similar material is thinly spread over a portion of the cavity. A shelf 8 is then excavated around the perimeter of the cavity to support retaining wall 27. Exterior side 7 of retaining wall 27 abutts virgin ground. The inside surface of retaining wall 27 fits flush with the outer surface of the filler material 26 so that a unitary plastic liner 28 may be fitted over the inside of the swimming pool. The bulk of the weight of the water is directed toward the virgin ground surrounding the cavity and the above ground portion of retaining wall 27 experiences minimal forces so that external supports need not be especially strong. Indeed, in an embodiment of the invention, described infra, a horizontally disposed external structural support is adequate to counteract these outward forces. There is virtually no washout problem since retaining wall 27 is snuggly fitted into virgin rather than refilled ground. And there will be no tendency for the ground surrounding the pool to cave inwardly when the pool is drained since the surrounding ground cannot become supersaturated with water.

FIG. 4 illustrates a number of contours for the bottom of the semi-portable readily expandable swimming pool of the present invention. If an unconsolidated filler material such as sand is used underneath the plastic liner then contours A and C represent, respectively, the contours of the shallow end and the deep end of the swimming pool. Curved corners are not possible because the unconsolidated filler material will not remain in a stable curved position. If a consolidated filler material such as zonolite is used then contours B and C represent, respectively, the possible contours for a shallow end and a deep end of a swimming pool. The advantage of an unconsolidated filler material is that it is easier to apply and remove than a consolidated material so that the readily expandable feature of the semi-portable swimming pool is more easily realized. However, the consolidated filler material may still be incorporated with the subsequent realization of the readily expandable feature.

A great advantage of the semi-portable readily expandable swimming pool of the present invention is that the depth of the pool can be readily increased or decreased and the structural supports of the pool can be removed to another location for subsequent construction. Since the retaining wall is not permanently sunk into the ground, the pool may be drained, the plastic liner removed and the wall taken apart in sections and removed to another location. It can then be set on a similar shelf and incorporated into another swimming pool. If it is desired to leave the swimming pool in the same location and to expand or contract the size of the pool, e.g., from a wading to a standard sized pool, then the liner and filler material are removed and further excavation or filling in is conducted. A new layer of filler material is then applied and a newly sized liner is placed in the pool. An additional method of increasing or decreasing the height of the pool is to add or cut off a portion of the retaining wall, although this procedure is more cumbersome than the further excavation or filling in of the swimming pool bottom. Also, if additional height is added to the retaining wall the exterior structural supports must be strengthened.

FIG. 5 illustrates the incorporation of a series of interior steps into the swimming pool of the present inven' tion. The existence of the elongated shelf 39 facilitates the construction of

steps

31 and 32. Shelf 8 of FIG. 3 is extended so that a step 32 can be supported on the exterior edge thereof. A slab of compacted material is used to construct step 32. Filler material 34 is placed flush with the outer edge of this compacted material so that liner 33 can be fitted smoothly around the filler material, compacted material and wooden or metal steps. A heavy stabilizing material 36 such as crushed rock is placed in an interior cavity underneath step 31 to add stability to the wall of the swimming pool.

In lieu of A-frame or vertically constructed external supports for side wall 30 horizontal shelf 37 can be used since no great outward pressures exist even with a filled pool. External support is provided by a series of horizontal planks 37 which are bolted together along the exterior surface of side wall 30 and at the comers of the pool so that no vertical supports are required. If the horizontal shelf 37 is to be used as a step to reach the top of the swimming pool, as shown in FIG. 5, then a series of upright supports 38 should be added.

FIG. 6 shows the detachably attachable characteristic of the plastic liner of the swimming pool of the present invention. Bead 25 of plastic liner 33 fits into track 24 which extends around the perimeter of the swimming pool. When the opening of track 24 is pressed together the bead 25 is held in place and the weight of the water in the pool will hold the plastic liner taut. The inside portion of coping board 23 serves to protect the upper portion of plastic liner 33 from ultraviolet degradation. The portion of liner 33 which is covered by water is not reached by direct sunlight but the portion of liner 33 between the top of the water and track 24 is reached by direct sunlight and therefore is susceptible to degradation. Coping board 23 serves to provide significant protection.

The side wall height of the swimming or therapy pool of the present invention should be kept to a minimum to lessen construction costs, enhance portability and to insure the low profile character of the pool. The side wall should extend below ground level only far enough for it to rest securely on the shelf along the perimeter of the excavated cavity and to solidly abut virgin ground. In practice one foot or less has been found satisfactory. The side wall should extend above ground far enough to accommodate a portion of the height of the pool and yet not so fare that cumbersome external supports are required or the low profile character of the pool is lost. In practice two feet or less has been found to be a satisfactory above ground extension of the side wall.

A specific set of features for the semi-portable readily expandable swimming pool of the present invention have been disclosed herein but they are intended as examples only and the scope of this application for Letters Patent is intended to be limited solely by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

11. A readily expandable low profile semi-portable reservoir, tank or pool, comprising a continuous vertical side wall adapted to rest on a recessed shelf surrounding an excavated cavity, the lower exterior portion of said vertical side wall abutting virgin ground below ground level, said vertical side wall forming an extension of a vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground around the side of said excavated cavity, the above ground exterior portion of said vertical side wall being supported by external supports, a uniform layer of a filler material covering said excavated cavity including said vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground, and a plastic liner detachably attachable with the upper portion of the interior side of said vertical side wall and form fitting the inside of said vertical side wall and the contour of said filler-covered cavity including said vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground.

2. The readily expandable semi-portable tank or pool of claim 1 wherein said filler material is a consolidated material such as zonolite.

3. The readily expandable semi-portable tank or pool of claim 2 wherein said horizontally disposed member comprises a series of horizontally disposed planks which are attached to each other and to said side wall,

said planks being in turn supported by upright supports.

4. A readily expandable semi-portable swimming or therapy pool for expeditious and uncomplicated backyard construction, comprising a rigid upright side wall adapted to sit on a horizontal earthen shelf formed around the perimeter of the cavity excavated in a generally horizontal ground surface, said rigid upright side wall extending above ground level about 2 feet and extending below ground level about 1 foot, the exterior portion of said upright side wall which extends below ground level abutting said ground, said upright side wall forming an extension of a vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground around the side of said excavated cavity, a horizontal coping member attached to the upper end of said upright side wall in perpendicular relationship to said side wall and extending beyond the interior side thereof, a filler material spread evenly over the contour of said cavity including said vertical earthen side wall below the bottom of said upright side wall at a thickness of 1 inch to 4 inches, and a vinyl liner detachably attachable with a longitudinal track member which runs along the inside rim of the upper portion of said upright side wall, said vinyl liner adapted to conform to said side wall and said fillercovered contoured bottom including said vertical earthen side wall.

5. The readily expandable semi-portable swimming or therapy pool of claim 4 in combination with a series of steps adapted to rest interiorly of said side wall on an extension of said horizontal earthen shelf.

Claims

1. A readily expandable low profile semi-portable reservoir, tank or pool, comprising a continuous vertical side wall adapted to rest on a recessed shelf surrounding an excavated cavity, the lower exterior portion of said vertical side wall abutting virgin ground below ground level, said vertical side wall forming an extension of a vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground around the side of said excavated cavity, the above ground exterior portion of said vertical side wall being supported by external supports, a uniform layer of a filler material covering said excavated cavity including said vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground, and a plastic liner detachably attachable with the upper portion of the interior side of said vertical side wall and form fitting the inside of said vertical side wall and the contour of said filler-covered cavity including said vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground.

3. The readily expandable semi-portable tank or pool of claim 2 wherein said horizontally disposed member comprises a series of horizontally disposed planks which are attached to each other and to said side wall, said planks being in turn supported by upright supports.

4. A readily expandable semi-portable swimming or therapy pool for expeditious and uncomplicated backyard construction, comprising a rigid upright side wall adapted to sit on a horizontal earthen shelf formed around the perimeter of the cavity excavated in a generally horizontal ground surface, said rigid upright side wall extending above ground level about 2 feet and extending below ground level about 1 foot, the exterior portion of said upright side wall which extends below ground level abutting said ground, said upright side wall forming an extension of a vertical earthen side wall formed in virgin ground around the side of said excavated cavity, a horizontal coping member attached to the upper end of said upright side wall in perpendicular relationship to said side wall and extending beyond the interior side thereof, a filler material spread evenly over the contour of said cavity including said vertical earthen side wall below the bottom of said upright side wall at a thickness of 1 inch to 4 inches, and a vinyl liner detachably attachable with a longitudinal track member which runs along the inside rim of the upper portion of said upright side wall, said vinyl liner adapted to conform to said side wall and said filler-covered contoured bottom including said vertical earthen side wall.