SWIMMING POOL ALIGNMENT

Abstract

A pool unit including a pool shell, which has a wall, and a bracing structure bracing the wall to curve inwardly. The pool shell is fillable with water to straighten the wall to form a straight wall.

Claims

1. A pool unit comprising: a pool shell comprising a wall; and bracing structure bracing the wall to curve inwardly; wherein the pool shell is fillable with water to straighten the wall to form a straight wall.

2. The pool unit of claim 1 wherein the bracing structure comprises upright supports to act in compression between a rim of the pool shell and an underlying support surface.

3. The pool unit of claim 2 wherein each upright support comprises: an upright strut portion; and an upright plate portion connecting the upright strut portion to the pool shell.

4. The pool unit of claim 3 wherein a height of the upright plate is at least one quarter of a height of the upright support.

5. A method, of forming a pool unit, comprising: bracing a wall of a pool shell to curve inwardly; wherein the pool shell is fillable with water to straighten the wall to form a straight wall.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising seating the pool shell on a planar support surface.

7. The method of claim 5 comprising loading a loading system to curve the wall then bracing the wall with bracing structure.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising unloading the loading system to load the bracing structure.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising unloading the loading system to load the bracing structure, then checking a straightness of the wall.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising adjusting the bracing of the wall in response to the checking.

11. The method of claim 7 comprising unloading the loading system to load the bracing structure; then at least partly filling the pool shell; then checking a straightness of the wall.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising adjusting the bracing of the wall in response to the checking.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pool shell;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower end of an upright;

[0029] FIG. 3 is an upwards perspective view of the attachment of the upright to coping; and

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of bracing structure on a wall of the pool shell.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The present inventors have recognised that a pool shell can deform and curve outwardly when filled with water. In particular, straight walls of the pool can be outwardly deformed so that they are unsightly. In preferred implementations of the invention, a wall of the pool shell is braced to an inward curvature in anticipation of the outward deformation that will come when the pool is filled with water so as to produce a more attractive end product.

[0032] The wall to be curved may be one or two walls to be curved. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rectangular pool shell 1 fitted with a loading system 3 by which the opposed long walls are loadable.

[0033] This example of the loading system 3 comprises four tensionable elements made up of two pairs of tensionable elements symmetrically opposed to each other. The tensionable elements of each pair attach at one point on a wall and diverge to respective points of attachment on the other wall. In this way, there are three loading points along each wall. Other implementations are possible. By way of example, there might only be one wall to be curved and it might only be loaded at one point, although preferably each wall to be curved is loaded at two or more points.

[0034] In this example, the tensionable elements each comprise a turnbuckle in series with a length of timber, although any convenient pulling system may be used, e.g. ratchet straps may be convenient. Loading systems that push rather than pull on the wall(s) are also possible.

[0035] In a preferred implementation of the method, the shell 1 is placed on a support surface which preferably comprises pavement. The support surface is most preferably a concrete test slab, and is preferably both horizontal and planar. Preferably, the support surface is horizontal and planar within tolerances tighter than typical of concreting.

[0036] Once on the test slab, the loading system can be applied to curve the two opposed walls. The curvature is preferably checked. Most preferably, this is achieved with a string line. Preferably, the turnbuckles are individually adjusted to produce a defined inward deflection. In the context of the illustrated 6 m pool, the deflection may be about 15 mm. Most preferably, the turnbuckles are also adjusted so as to produce a relatively steady radius along the side wall of the pool. It is also preferred to centralise the maximum point of deflection along the wall.

[0037] The target degree of deflection may vary in positive relation to the length of the target wall. By way of example, in the context of a 4 m long version of the 6 m wall described above, a target displacement of 10 mm may be appropriate, whereas if the same wall was extended to 10 m the target displacement may be about 30 mm.

[0038] With the walls inwardly loaded, the external bracing can be completed. Separate elements of the bracing structure may be attached at any convenient time, although preferably the support structure is not configured to take load until after the target wall has been loaded and inwardly curved.

[0039] In this example, inboard uprights 5 are adhered to the lower reaches of an exterior of the shell 1. The illustrated uprights 5 run from about ground level up to about the step ledge (or other elongate stiffening formation) although there are other options. Portions 5 are preferably plastic, e.g. glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). In this example, they are 76 mm×76 mm tubular section.

[0040] Mounting brackets 7 in the form of simple L-shaped brackets are fixed to an underside of the rim of the pool. The rim is also known as “coping”. In this example, the brackets 7 are adhered and screwed to the underside of the rim. FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of brackets 7. A plurality of such pairs are spaced along the side of the pool. The brackets within each pair are mutually spaced to accommodate the upper end of an upright 9. The uprights are preferably formed of plastic, most preferably of GRP. In this example, they are formed of 76 mm×76 mm tubular section.

[0041] In this example, the uprights 9 are vertical and extend downwardly to sit in a channel 11, sitting on the support surface and running along the side wall of the pool. The channel 11 is an example of connecting structure mutually connecting lower portions of the uprights 9. There are other options.

[0042] Reinforcing webs 13 are then attached to both the upright 9 and the lower upright 5. The plate may be attached with adhesives and/or screws. In this example, the plate runs from ground level up to the step ledge, thereby vertically spanning about half of a height of the pool shell. With the plate 13 in place, this lower region of the pool shell upright support combination becomes stiff. The brackets 7 and posts 9 can then be horizontally drilled and bolted to effect a connection at the upper end of the upright 9. In this way, the bracing structure is configured to take load as the loading system is unloading.

[0043] The lower upright 5, upright 9 and plate 13 together constitute an upright support. Preferably, the upright supports are spaced at centres in the range of 600 mm to 1,200 mm along the wall to be curved. Other forms of upright support are possible, e.g. upright 9 and plate 13 might be replaced by an integral component comprising corresponding upright and plate portions. The lower upright 5 is a convenient means of attaching the plate to the side wall of the shell, although other means of attachment are possible.

[0044] Preferably, once the bracing is made rigid to brace the side wall, the loading system 3 is unloaded. In the illustrated example, as the turnbuckles are relaxed, the inward curvature of the target walls is reduced to a non-zero inward curvature.

[0045] Preferably, the shell 1 is then filled with water (most preferably filled to about 200 mm below the top of the coping as would be typical in use). The initial applicant proposes a tolerance of +/−5 mm in the straightness of the side wall at this stage. If adjustment is called for, the bolt at a bracket 7-upright 9 interface can be removed and the side wall realigned (e.g. by reattaching one or more loading devices). The bolt-hole can then be redrilled and the bolt replaced. Additional fasteners may be placed to reinforce in the vicinity of the now-slotted bolt-hole, e.g. Tek screws may be used.

[0046] In this way, variations in the stiffness of the pool shell can be adjusted to produce a neat end product. Variations in stiffness can come about from, for example, variations in the density of the hand-applied rovings during the initial pool shell forming operation.

[0047] In a preferred method, the pool shell is labelled with a unique identifier and a photograph of the string line test is taken and permanently associated with the pool, e.g. associated in a database and/or documentation that may be delivered physically and/or electronically along with the pool. The present inventors have found that by maintaining straightness within a tolerance of +/−5 mm on their flat and level test slab, a pool delivered to a customer's site and installed on a concrete slab having more usual flatness tolerances usually has side edges within a tolerance of +/−10 mm.

[0048] The bracing structure comprising components 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 is preferably predominantly plastic, e.g. GRP. Most preferably, each of components 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 is formed of GRP. In a preferred version of the swimming pool unit, the only metallic components are the fasteners. This results in a dramatic weight advantage over various other options which is particularly advantageous in the context of prefabricated pool units. Not only does lower weight lead to lower road transport costs, but it can also lead to dramatically lower installation costs. In some installations, a crane is necessary to move the pool unit into position, e.g. the unit may need to be craned over a house. In the context of craning over a significant distance, weight reduction can lead to dramatic cost savings.

[0049] The uprights 9 may serve as convenient mounting points for attaching a decking adjacent to a pool. Alternatively, they may be covered over with cladding.

[0050] Prefabricated pool units may be supplied with cladding in place on one or more sides.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the examples discussed herein. Rather, the invention is defined by the claims.

[0052] The term “comprises” and its grammatical variants has a meaning that is determined by the context in which it appears. Accordingly, the term should not be interpreted exhaustively unless the context dictates so.