Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NARROW BUTTRESS SYSTEM STRUCTURE
FOR SWIMMING POOLS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to swimming pool construction and in particular to a
swimming pool structure utilizing a narrow buttress system to support the
walls of the
pool from pressure of water in the pool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Swimming pools of the above-ground type conventionally utilize a plurality of
vertical buttresses to support the walls of the pool and these buttresses form
part of an
integrated side-bracing system which utilizes rigid steel buttress braces at
suitable
intervals about the outer periphery of the pool. These braces may be anchored
into
the ground but, more likely, they will be triangulated with the bottom end of
the
buttress brace and, in some instances, they may be attached to steel straps
that run
underneath the pool.
While the above-ground pools referred to above having integrated,
triangulated side bracing systems are quite effective in providing a strong
wall
support, the outside bracing systems can be somewhat unsightly and do require
additional space around the periphery of the pool for their installation.
Additionally,
the outside brace systems can get in the way of users of the pool and people
sometimes trip over the angled side braces with the result of possible,
injuries.
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BACKGROUND PATENTS
Numerous patent specifications are directed to above-ground swimming pool
construction. Several examples of these are as follows:
U.S. Patent 4,283,804 discloses an above-ground pool having structural strips
extending across the pool that are bolted to the bases of the sidewall for
preventing
bowing of the sidewalls caused by the water weight;
U.S. Patent 5,398,351 discloses an above-ground pool having a group of
modular planar structural foam sections laid on the ground underneath the pool
liner;
U.S. Patent 4,782,538 discloses a reservoir assembly having transversely
extending frame assemblies supporting opposed sidewalls that are integral with
a base
member that is disposed beneath the bottom wall of the reservoir;
U.S. Patent 3,553,744 discloses an above-ground pool wherein each support
frame is interconnected with a corresponding support frame at the opposite
side of the
pool by cable disposed under the pool liner;
U.S. Patent 5,884,347 discloses a support system for an above-ground pool
having one or more buttresses supporting the vertical height of the sidewall;
U.S. Patent 5,488,745 discloses an above-ground pool with opposing sides of
base members being retained by a plurality of base straps;
U.S. Patent 3,409,916 discloses an above-ground pool having strips extending
under the pool and beyond each side that attach to and support the sidewalls;
and
U.S. Patent 6,389,616 discloses a swimming pool for having extension strips
that engage a crossbar at the foot of each leg.
U.S. Patent 3,274,621 Diemond et al illustrates a pool structure made up of a
plurality of curve linear patterns in which the vertical support members
located at
apices between circular components extend vertically of the outer surface of
the support
panel and coupling means extend beneath the pool to engage vertical support
members
at other apices.
U.S. Patent 3,522,614 Gould (corresponding Canadian Patent 839,456)
discloses L-shaped supporting posts having a leg of the L extending beneath
the floor
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of the pool with the upper ends of the legs being interconnected by top rail
portions or
sections.
U.S. Patent 3,315,278 Schatzki et al shows a pool structure not unlike that
shown in U.S. Patent 3,274,621 in that the wall of the pool is of generally
circular
section or sections and these sections are joined at the apices by support
members such
as 12 in Figure 1 and which have leg members 14 that extend beneath the floor
of the
pool to interconnect with a support member on the other side thereof.
U.S. Patent 3,256,532 Lindsey et al shows an above-ground pool having outer
support members with extension straps 25, 27 and 29 that extend below the
floor of the
pool to connect with support members on the opposite side of the structure.
The outer,
vertical support posts have upper and lower perimeter bracing beams that go
around the
periphery of the structure.
U.S. Patent 3,789,435 Heisner illustrates horizontal connecting members
interconnecting outside bracing means that rests on support plates.
U.S. Patent 6,378,144 deals with support systems, the specific arrangement of
the base members located beneath the pool. The system provides support for the
walls
using an arrangement of buttresses, cross-members, vertical beams and a plate
that
supports the walls against the pressure of the water in the pool.
Several of the above-described patents show the general concept of having
upright support members with means extending beneath the floor of a pool to
interconnect with support members on the outer side of the pool. However, the
form of
the buttress/base assembly of the present invention is now shown in the prior
art.
Specifically, the structure of the support posts, the associated base members
and
the splice braces that interconnect them are important improvements in the
art.
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the above-described
conventional forms of above-ground pools by providing a narrow buttress wall
support
system which maintains the desired shape of the pool but does not have any
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outside triangulated buttress supports on the exterior of the pool. In
accordance with
the invention, all of the buttress supports are within the buttress posts and
under the
pool itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a broad aspect, a swimming pool structure according to the
invention comprises a plurality of buttress assemblies spaced about the
perimeter of
the pool. These assemblies are laterally connected one to another in side-by-
side
relation and also linearly in that-each assembly on one side of the pool is
connected to
an opposing assembly on the other side. Each buttress assembly includes a foot
beam
which extends inwardly under the pool floor and a vertical buttress post on
the outside
of the pool and which is connected to, the foot beam by splice angle brackets.
These
splice angle brackets give the buttress posts the strength.to support the wall
of the
pool without outside, triangulated bracing. The composition of the buttress
assemblies ensure their easy handling and erection in the field.
According to a fiu-ther broad aspect the invention relates to a buttress
support
structure for a swimming pool wall comprising a plurality of buttress
assemblies
spaced about the periphery of the pool, said buttress assemblies being
laterally
connected one to another in side-by-side relation and each buttress assembly
being
linearly connected to another buttress assembly directly across the pool
therefrom;
each said buttress assembly including a (a) foot beam extending inwardly of
the pool
beneath the floor thereof, (b) a vertical buttress post on the outside of the
pool wall
and (c) brackets connecting said buttress post to said foot beam.
According to a still further broad aspect the invention relates to a composite
support assembly for use in supporting the wall of a swimming pool, said
assembly
comprising a base member adapted to lay horizontally beneath the floor of the
pool,
an upright post member to be located on the outside of the pool wall, and
means
interconnecting the post and base members; said interconnecting means
comprising a
pair of spaced, generally L-shaped angle brackets having a first pair of legs
secured to
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each base member, one on either side thereof and with their other, second pair
of legs
extending vertically at right angles therefrom
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings
in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates an example of an excavation plan for a pool construction
according to the invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of an incomplete buttress assembly showing a
pair of splice angle brackets and a foot beam;
FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of a buttress assembly including a buttress
post;
FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of a buttress assembly;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the buttress assembly of Fig. 4;
FIGURES 6 and 7 are end and elevation views similar to Figures 4 and 5 but
show the assemblies positioned in an excavation of the type shown in Fig. 1;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of several buttress assemblies with support
plates interconnecting them;
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of several buttress assemblies with their
interconnecting support structure;
FIGURE 10 is an elevation view of a splice angle bracket;
FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a foot beam in blank form;
FIGURE 12 is an end view of the foot beam of Figure 11 but after it is formed;
FIGURE 13 is a plan view of a toe beam in blank form;
FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a formed toe beam;
FIGURE 15 is an end view of the toe beam shown in Figure 14;
FIGURE 16 is a plan view of a support plate;
FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 are plan, side elevation and end views respectively of
a buttress post;
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FIGURE 20 is a plan view of a buttress post in blank form;
FIGURES '21A through 21E are plan views of different forms and lengths of
buttress tension straps;
FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of the central portion of an assembled pool
support structure showing the interaction of the various support components;
FIGURES 23 and 24 are perspective views of a partially erected test structure;
and
FIGURES 25, 26 and 27 illustrate three phases of a testing procedure on a test
pool incorporating the present invention.
General Description of the Main Components
Figure 1 illustrates one possible pattern of excavation to be made prior to
assembling the pool wall support structure. In this pattern, a series of
parallel
channels 2 are excavated to approximately 3 1/4 inches or 8 centimetres deep
and they
extend inwardly from the outside line of the eventual pool structure inwardly
towards
one another for a distance of approximately 36 inches or 91 to 100
centimetres. These
excavations are joined by a series of parallel excavated channels 4 which run
at right
angles to and intersect excavated channels 2. These channels 2 and 4 serve to
accommodate several of the. main components of the pool wall support structure
in
accordance with the following description.
This excavation pattem is an example only as the length and width of the pool
to be erected will determine a specific channel pattern to be excavated.
Referring initially to Figures 7, 8 and 9, the buttress post assemblies are
illustrated in their erected form and, in Figure 7, being located in one of
the
excavations of Figure 1. These assemblies are spaced along each side of the
pool
wall, being laterally connected to one another in side-by-side relation as
shown in
Figures 8 and 9 and also linearly connected as shown in Figure 9 in that each
assembly on one side of the pool is connected to an opposing assembly on the
other
side of the pool by means of strapping.
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The main components of the buttress assemblies 10 include foot beams 12
which extend inwardly of the pool floor towards the center thereof in
excavated
channels 2, the foot beams from one side of the pool being connected to the
opposing
foot beam by means of a tension strap. These tension straps 24 are
manufactured in a
variety of lengths to suit pools of varying width. They interconnect the inner
ends of
the foot beams from opposing sides of the pool as shown in Figures 9 and 22.
Toe beams 26 consist of an inverted "V" shaped beam which extends laterally
between the inner or distal ends of the foot beams and serve to space the foot
beams
one from another and to provide some vertical stability to those beams at the
inner
ends thereof. Toe beams 26 are located in excavated channels 4 as seen in
Figure 1.
Splice angle brackets 14 consist of a series of L-shaped metal brackets which
interconnect the buttress posts 22 to the associated foot beams 12. Each post
assembly has a pair of splice brackets, one on either side of the foot beam
and with
their upper, vertical ends providing support to its associated buttress post.
Each of the buttress posts 22 has a somewhat sharp, U-shaped cross-section
and is secured to and extends upwardly from the foot beam to support the wall
of the
pool. Each buttress post is held in its vertical position by the upper legs of
the splice
angle brackets.
Support plates 28 extend laterally between the foot beams and are fastened to
the flanges thereof, the foot beam flanges providing a broad footing for the
overall
structure together with the flanges of the toe beams. Connectors 18 and 20
consist of
self-tapping screws and are used for connecting the tension straps, toe beams
and
support plates to the foot beams. Additionally, bolts, nuts, washers and spool
sleeves
are used for connecting the splice angle brackets to the foot beams and to the
buttress
posts. The spool sleeves surround the bodies of the bolts and serve to
properly space
the sides of the foot beams; the sides of the buttress posts and each pair of
parallel
splice angle brackets from themselves.
Bottom rails 37 are open-top rails that extend between the feet of the
buttress
posts on the inside thereof and their ends rest on the upper surface of the
foot beams.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, exploded views of the components that make up
the buttress assemblies are illustrated generally at 10 in Figure 3 and, as
shown in
Figure 2, the base of the assembly is a foot beam 12, shown in detail in
Figures 11 and
12 and which carries a pair of parallel, splice angle brackets 14 (Figure 10).
One of
splice angle brackets is.mounted on each side of the foot beam 12 and secured
thereto
by a bolt-nut-washer assembly 18, several of these utilizing spool spacer
sleeves 20 to
maintain the proper spacing between the upper and lower legs, 15, 17
respectively, of
the angle brackets 14 and their associated components.
As shown in Figure 10, the upper leg 15 of the bracket 14 is substantially
longer than the lower, horizontal leg 17 and the brackets are provided with
the
required number of apertures 11 for reception of the bolt assemblies 18. As an
example only, the material used for the production of the brackets 14 may be
galvanized steel having a thickness of 0.168 inches.
Figures 11 and 12 show the foot beam 12 in its blank and formed layout
respectively. The blank 7, formed, for example, from 12 or 14 gauged
galvanized
steel, is drilled at 9 to provide apertures for reception of the fastener
assemblies 18
and are also drilled at locations indicated at 8 for eventual reception of
fasteners
connecting the toe beam 26 thereto.
When formed, as shown in Figure 12, the foot beam has a top surface 3, side
surfaces 5 and a pair of flanges 6 extending horizontally from those side
surfaces.
The foot beams 12 and specifically their flanges 6 eventually are located in
the
channels 2, excavated in the ground surface for their reception.
Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which a pair of angle brackets 14 are
positioned on the outside of the side panels 5 of the foot beam 12 and are
secured
thereto using the bolt-nut-washer assemblies 18 together with the spool sleeve
spacers
20. High tensile bolts are used in the assemblies 18 and the spool sleeves 20
are of a
suitable strength so that they will not collapse when the bolts are torqued to
the
required figures.
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Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which a buttress post is fastened to the
outside of the pair of spaced angle brackets 14 now secured to the foot beam
12.
Buttress post 22 may be formed, by example, from 23 gauge steel and, as
illustrated in Figures 17-20 inclusive, the item is originally prepared in
blank form 19
and subsequently formed as in Figures 1.7-19 to have side panels 21, a front
or outer
panel 23 and flanges 25 extending outwardly from the side panels 21.
As shown in Figure 3, the buttress post 22 is positioned so that its side
panels
21 overlie the splice angle brackets 14 and the post 22 is then secured to
those angle
brackets by the combination of the bolt assemblies 18 and spool sleeve spacers
20 as
illustrated.
Subsequent to their assembly as shown in Figure 3, the buttress post
assemblies 10 are then placed in the excavated channels (Figure 1) and the
remaining
elements that make up the pool structure are added to them. As shown in the
elevation views of Figures 4-7 as well as the perspective and plan views of
Figures 8
and 9, these elements include support plates 28, toe beams 26 and tension
straps 24.
Figure 16 shows the form of one of the support plates 28 cut for example from
18 gauge steel and drilled at 27 so that, when the support plates are
positioned
intermediate the buttress post assembles 10 and transverse thereto as shown in
Figure
9, they are secured to the flanges 6 of the foot beams 12 by suitable
fastening means
such as self-tapping screws 29. It will be noted from Figure 9 that support
plates 28
engage the foot beam flanges adj acent to the location where the distal ends
of the
splice angle brackets 14_ are secured to the foot beams 12.
Another element interconnecting the buttress post assemblies 10 are the toe
beams 26. Figures 13, 14. and 15 show the toe beam in its blank and formed
configurations. As shown, the blank is drilled at 30 for the reception of
fastening
means and, when the blank is crimped into its desired form, shown in view in
Figure
15, it -includes an elongated, central inverted V-shaped beam 34, throughout
its length
and is flanked by side flanges 36.
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As shown in Figure 9, a toe beam 26 is located between juxtaposed sides of
buttress assemblies 10 at the distal ends thereof which eventually lie beneath
the
finished pool. Thus, each toe beam 26 is secured to a flange 6 of a foot beam
12 by
means of suitable fasteners such as self-tapping screws 31: It will be
understood
from Figure 9 that the toe beams 26 serve to space the foot beams 12 one from
another at their distal ends and to provide some vertical stability to those
beams at the
inner ends thereof.
The tension straps 24 extend; between and are secured to the upper surfaces 3
of the foot beams 12 at their inner or distal ends. These straps extend
between the
inner end of the foot beam 12 on one side of the pool to the same element on
the foot
beam on the opposite side of the pool. If more than one tension strap is
required
between foot. beams, they would both be fastened together with suitable
securing
means such as machine screws.
As illustrated in Figures 21 A through 21 E inclusive, the tension straps 24
are
manufactured so that they are available in a variety of lengths to suit pools
of varying
widths. Figure 7, which shows a buttress post assembly located in an excavated
channel in the ground, would have the tension strap 24 being located at or
slightly
above ground level. Figure 24 gives a good illustration of this. It will also
be
appreciated that the surface area of the tension straps and the associated
foot beams 12
are subject to the full weight of the contents of the pool and, through the
connections
of the foot beams to the buttress posts 22, ensures that those posts are
maintained in
the desired orientation, notwithstanding the pressure on the pool walls
against them.
Figures 4, 5 and 8 illustrate the location of the bottom track 37 which is in
the
form of an open-topped rail that extends between the foot of the buttress
posts on the
inside thereof and its ends rest on the upper surface of the foot beams 12.
This track
is used for supporting the lower end of outer pool wall panelling.
Figures 23 and 24 are perspective views of a partially erected pool structure
for testing purposes. In the foreground of Figure 23 and on the right side of
Figure
24, the spaced, upper legs 15 of the splice.angle brackets 14 are clearly
shown while,
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in the background of Figure 23 and the left side of Figure 24, more complete
series of
buttress post assemblies 22 are shown with the posts 22 being secured to the
splice
angle brackets 14.
The top surfaces of the foot beams 12 are visible at ground level in Figure
24.
Figures 25, 26 and 27 is a sequence of three illustrations relative to a
pressure
test for an erected pool.
Figure 25 shows a weighted drum 40 being suspended at a substantial height
from a test poo142 which has been filled with water. In Figure 26, the
weighted drum
has been released and dropped into the pool thereby subjecting the walls of
the pool ta
an instantaneous, sharp increase in internal pressure. However, as illustrated
in
Figure 26 and in Figure 27, notwithstanding the increase pressure, the walls
of the
pool remain unaffected.
While the invention has been described in connection with a specific
embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various modifications thereof will
occur to
those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as
set forth in the appended claims:
The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are
used as terms of description and not of limitations, and there is no intention
in the use
of such terms and expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features shown
and
described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications
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