Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BEACH ENTRY FIBERGLASS POOL SYSTEM
Technical Field
The present novel technology relates generally to the field of fiberglass
materials,
and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a beach entry
area for in-
ground fiberglass pool bodies.
Background
[0001] Preformed fiberglass swimming pools offer many advantages over vinyl
liner
and in-situ formed shotcrete or concrete walled swimming pools. Fiberglass
pool bodies
may be quickly and inexpensively formed and require considerably less effort
to put into
the ground. Recently, there has been increased interest in swimming pools
having a
preformed shallow entry area beginning flush with the outside ground at the
pool edge and
extending into the pool at a shallow angle, such that a swimmer may walk into
the pool
enjoying a slow and steady entry into the pool as the water gradually becomes
deeper. Such
an entry area is commonly known as a 'beach entry'. Beach entries are
relatively easy to
form in concrete pools, as the concrete may be poured and spread to yield a
shallow angled
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beach entry floor extending from the outer edge or lip of the pool into the
main pool body.
However, such a beach entry area has been elusive in preformed pools, as the
lip/flange has
to perform other functions, such as engaging poured concrete forming an upper
sidewalk
around the pool that partially anchors the fiberglass pool in place, engaging
and directing
backfill around the exterior of the preformed pool body, providing structure
to the pool
body and/or providing a level surface for orienting the pool body in the
excavation.
[0002] Thus, there remains a need for a method and apparatus that would
allow easy
installation of a prefointed fiberglass swimming pool body with a preformed
unitary, or
after-market, accessory allowing beach entry. The present novel technology
addresses this
need.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present novel technology relates to a method and apparatus for
providing
shallow angle beach entry into a fiberglass swimming pool body. One object of
the present
novel technology is to provide an improved fiberglass swimming pool system.
Related
objects and advantages of the present novel technology will be apparent from
the following
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation view of a first embodiment fiberglass pool
assembly
of the present novel technology.
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FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of a second embodiment fiberglass pool
assembly of the present novel technology.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a third embodiment fiberglass pool assembly of
the
present novel technology.
FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of the pool assembly of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a partial top perspective view of the pool assembly of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the flange/riser portions of
FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a bond beam foul _____________________
ied around an emplaced pool
body.
FIG. 8 is a partial top perspective view of the pool assembly of FIG. 3
including a top
insert member.
FIG. 9A is an enlarged partial perspective view of the flange and truncated
riser
portions of FIG. 3.
FIG. 9B is an enlarged partial perspective view of the flange and truncated
riser
portions of FIG. 3 without a lip extending therefrom.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the flange and truncated
riser and
built in deck portions of FIG. 3.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial cutaway side view of another embodiment of the
fiberglass pool assembly of the present novel technology having a sloped deck
transitioning
to a similarly sloped pool floor.
FIG. 12 is a partial top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.
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FIG. 13A is a schematic view of an embodiment pool assembly having a flange
riser
extending from the top of the flange.
FIG. 13B is a schematic view of an embodiment pool assembly having a flange
with a
truncated or shortened top wall.
FIG. 13C is a schematic view of an embodiment pool assembly having a flange
with
an elongated top wall.
FIG. 13D is a schematic view of an embodiment pool assembly having a flange
with
an elongated top wall and a truncated vertical inner wall connecting to the
beach entry
ramp.
FIG. 13E is a schematic view of an embodiment pool assembly having a flange
with
an elongated top wall without a lip extending therefrom.
DETAILED DESCRIPHON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[00041 For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of
the novel
technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation,
reference will
now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific
language will be
used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no
limitation of the scope
of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further
modifications
in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of
the novel
technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur
to one skilled
in the art to which the novel technology relates.
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. .
[0005] The present novel technology relates to an assembly 10 for
allowing gradual
entry into a fiberglass bodied swimming poo115, as illustrated in FIGs. 1-13E.
The
assembly 10 includes a shallow ramp member 20 connected to and extending from
an
endless upper flange member 25. The endless upper flange member 25 is part of
the flange
assembly 30 defining the upper perimeter of the swimming pool body 15 as
emplaced in the
ground. Flange 25 typically has a generally rectangular cross-section with an
inner wall 35
(relative the swimming pool body) and outer wall 40, and a top wall 45
extending
therebetween. The inner and outer walls 35,40 are typically oppositely
disposed and may
be parallel or angled relative one another, and more typically extend
generally upwardly
when the swimming pool body 15 is emplaced in the ground. Inner and outer
walls are
typically between 2 and 3 inches in length, and top wall is likewise typically
between 2 and
3 inches in length, although in many embodiments inner wall is truncated to
the width or
thickness of the flange 25.
[0006] Flange assembly 30 includes a (typically elongated) flange riser
50 (see FIG. 13A),
which extends generally parallel with the inner wall 35 and perpendicular to
the top wall 45,
typically extending between 1 and 5 inches, more typically between 2 and 4
inches, beyond
top wall 45. The flange riser 50 is typically not endless. Flange riser 50 is
typically formed
flush with inner wall 35, and may be formed as an extension of inner wall 35.
Flange riser
50 typically extends beyond the top wall 45 of the flange 25 an equal distance
to the
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thickness of bricks, concrete, pavers, wood, combinations thereof, or like
finishing material
55 to be emplaced around the perimeter of the swimming pool body 15 once
positioned in
the ground to define a deck 57. The finishing material 55 is typically
positioned over the
bond beam 65 (which envelops lip 60 extending perpendicularly from outer wall
45,
typically several inches), so as to assist in anchoring the pool body 15 in
place and providing
a counter-force opposing groundwater buoyancy forces that may act to push the
pool body
15 out of the ground 67 when water levels are low. The pool body 15 is first
anchored in
place by a concrete pour over the lip 60 to define an anchoring bond beam 65
that surrounds
and locks the pool body 15 in place. The additional finishing material 55 is
positioned over
the bond beam 65 and defines a deck, walkway, or the like 57 leading to the
edge of the pool
body 15. Flange assembly 30, riser 50, and shallow ramp 20 are typically
formed of
fiberglass, and are more typically integrally formed with the pool body 15.
[0007]
Beach entry ramp 20 extends from the top edge 75 of the riser 50 into the
pool at a
shallow angle of decline into the pool, typically between four and ten
degrees, more
typically between six and eight degrees, and still more typically about seven
degrees,
although any convenient angle may be elected, for a predetermined distance,
typically at
least three feet, more typically between four and twelve feet, more typically
between six and
ten feet, still more typically about eight feet, and then drops off at a
greater angle, often
about ninety degrees, defining deeper water and mimicking a shelf drop-off.
Put another
way, the ramp typically experiences a 1 foot vertically drop for each 7 feet
it extends
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horizontally, with a range of dropping 1 foot for evdry 6 feet extension to
dropping 1 foot for
every 14 feet extension.
[0008] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a top insert member
90 may be
positioned over the beach entry ramp 20, covering the riser 50 and extending
therefrom over
the shallow ramp portion 20 to adjust the effective coping height of the riser
50 to
accommodate variations in deck 57 thickness. Thus, a riser 50 designed to
accommodate a
two-inch concrete pour may be modified to instead accommodate four-inch pavers
or a
thicker concrete pour. The insert member 90 is typically adhered to the ramp
20, such as
with a fiberglass bond or adhesive material, and finished to blend virtually
seamlessly with
the underlying pool body 15. In some embodiments, the insert 90 is placed into
the mold
before the pool body 15 is formed, resulting in a pool body 15 with the riser
50 and ramp 20
adjustments made prior to pool body formation.
[0009] In some embodiments, a support structure/bacicfill eliminator body
100 is
positioned beneath the shallow ramp 20 to increase stability, increase ease of
installation,
and decrease the amount of backfill required to install the pool body 15. The
support
structure 100 also reduces or eliminates flexure of the shallow ramp when in
use.
[0010] The support structure 100 is typically a generally hollow housing or
body with
one or more apertures 105 fonned therethrough and is typically made of a
lightweight
structural material, such as fiberglass, aluminum, or the like, although the
support structure
100 may simply be one or more structural members or pillars. Typically, at
least one, and
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more typically a plurality, flexible, tough sheet segment 110 is securely
bonded to one or
more exterior sidewalls 115 of the support structure 100 for extension
therefrom. The
support structure 100 is more typically an open-topped enclosure, with the
shallow ramp
portion, when connected thereto, defining an enclosing top.
[0011] Typically, an anchor member 110, such as one or more flexible sheets
of
geotextile, fiberglass, or like material and/or a rigid anchoring flange
formed from
fiberglass, aluminum, or like material, or the like, is operationally
connected to the support
structure 100 to extend therefrom for burial with backfill to assist in
anchoring and
stabili7ing the support structure 100 and the pool body 15. Likewise, anchor
members 110
are typically operationally connected to the pool body 15 for extension
therefrom and burial
with backfill to likewise anchor the pool body 15 in place.
[0012] In operation, the pool body 15 is emplaced in an excavation, with a
support
structure 100 optionally positioned beneath the shallow ramp 20, and the
remaining
excavation is backfilled with gravel, sand, dirt, and/or the like. In some
embodiments,
anchor members 110 operationally connected to the pool body 15 and/or the
support
structure 110 are extended therefrom and buried in the backfill. A bond beam
65 is poured
to operationally connect to the pool body 15 and help hold the body 15 in
place, and
finishing materials are positioned to further assist in anchoring the pool
body 15 as well as
to define a generally horizontal deck 57 operationally connected to the pool
body 15. The
deck connects to the top edge 75 of the riser 50 and thus to the shallow ramp
20, to allow a
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smooth walking transition from the deck 57 into the pool 15 and down the ramp
20 to
gradually enter the water.
[0013] The pool body 15 may be of any convenient shape, including
rectangular,
generally rectangular, kidney shaped, round, oval, or the like. The ramp 20 is
typically
textured to be slip resistant, and may accommodate waders, tanners, as well as
chairs and
loungers. In some embodiments, the ramp 20 completely replaces stairs for pool
entry.
[0014] In another embodiment, as illustrated more particularly in FIG. 9,
the system 10 is
identical to the above embodiment, except wherein flange riser 50 is truncated
to extend
flush with, or slightly above or below, topwall 45. Deck 57 approaches topwall
45 at a
shallow angle and intersects pool ramp at the topwall 45. Pool ramp 20 extends
from
topwall 45 into the pool body 15 at the same or similar shallow angle. Bond
beam material
65 still covers and engages lip 60 to secure pool body 15.
[0015] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 10, a built in, generally
horizontal tanning
ledge or deck 131 extends between the top wall 45 and the ramp 20.
[0016] In yet another embodiment (see FIGs. 11 and 12), similar to that of
FIG. 9, the
system 10 is again identical to the above embodiments, except wherein flange
riser 50 is
truncated to extend flush with, or slightly above or below, top wall 45, and
top wall 45 is
shortened to about an inch. Deck 57 approaches topwall 45 at a shallow angle
and intersects
pool ramp at the topwall 45. Pool ramp 20 extends from topwall 45 into the
pool body 15 at
the same or similar shallow angle. Bond beam material 65 still covers and
engages lip 60 to
secure pool body 15.
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[00171 In some embodiments, the flange 25 is truncated with a foreshortened
topwall 45
(see FIG. 13B), a foreshortened inner wall (see FIGs. 13B, 13C), and/or a
foreshortened outer
wall 40 with a truncated or eliminated lip 60 (see FIG. 13E).
[0018] While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in
detail in the
drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as
illustrative and not
restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been
shown and
described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and
enablement
requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could
readily make a
nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-
described
embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such
embodiment
variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that
all changes and
modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired
to be protected.
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