A removable swimming pool comprising at least one membrane supported by at least one load-bearing structure made up of an assembly of openwork modules.
The swimming pool design with an openwork module structure addresses aesthetic and handling issues, enhances membrane protection, and simplifies assembly, ensuring a flat membrane surface and watertight seal.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LINCKIA
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing removable swimming pools face issues with aesthetics, membrane protection, ease of access, and handling of heavy panels, as well as difficulties in achieving a watertight seal.
A swimming pool design featuring a load-bearing structure composed of openwork modules with perforated modules connected by removable elements, a membrane with a specific stiffness, and a modular assembly that allows for easy handling and installation, ensuring a flat membrane surface.
The design provides improved aesthetics, enhanced membrane protection, easier access, and simplified assembly, while maintaining a watertight seal and reducing the need for heavy lifting equipment.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: A removable swimming pool comprising at least one membrane supported by at least one load-bearing structure made up of an assembly of openwork modules
[0001] The present application relates to a removable swimming pool comprising at least one membrane supported by at least one load-bearing structure made up of an assembly of openwork modules.
[0002] According to a first embodiment of the prior art, a removable above-ground type swimming pool comprises a membrane (also called a liner in English), a substantially horizontal tubular frame positioned at the level of the upper edge of the pool and struts supporting the tubular frame from which the upper edge of the membrane is suspended.
[0003] This first embodiment is economical. However, this type of pool is not very aesthetically pleasing (the side walls of the pool are curved) and the membrane is not protected on its outer surface. Finally, access to it is relatively difficult and requires a double ladder.
[0004] According to a second embodiment of the prior art described by document US2490272, a swimming pool comprises plates assembled together in a watertight manner to form the side walls and the bottom of the pool, a rigid structure positioned around the side walls of the pool and a platform supported by the rigid structure.
[0005] This second embodiment facilitates access to the pool. However, it is not entirely satisfactory because the panels are relatively heavy and difficult to handle. Furthermore, achieving a watertight seal between the panels is difficult.
[0006] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a swimming pool which includes a basin with a peripheral upper edge, at least one first substantially horizontal platform located at or near the peripheral upper edge, at least one supporting structure which delimits the basin and at least one membrane pressed against the supporting structure and connected to the latter; the supporting structure comprising at least one lower face resting on the ground or a second platform, at least one upper face forming the first platform or supporting at least one facing forming the first platform and at least one substantially vertical inner side face against which the membrane is positioned.
[0008] According to a particular feature of the invention, the load-bearing structure comprises a plurality of perforated modules connected to each other by removable connecting elements, each perforated module having a first longitudinal face which corresponds to at least a portion of the inner lateral face of the load-bearing structure, as well as several stringers located at the level of the first longitudinal face, substantially parallel to each other and spaced less than 30 cm apart. In addition, the membrane has a given stiffness which, combined with the spacing between the stringers, allows it to be almost flat.
[0009] According to other features taken individually or in combination: a. the membrane has a modulus of elasticity between 10 and 15 MPa; b. Each openwork module is a welded mechanical structure; c. Each openwork module is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and comprises at minus four amounts; d. Each openwork module comprises several substantially horizontal crossbars, connecting the uprights in pairs, positioned at the level of the first and second transverse faces; e. at least one openwork module includes at least one lower plate connected to a lower end of at least one of the uprights, said lower plate being adapted to fix the openwork module to the ground or to the second platform; f. at least one openwork module includes at least one upper plate located at the level of a second horizontal face and forming at least one part of the upper face of the load-bearing structure, said upper plate being adapted to fix elements forming the first platform; g. Each perforated module includes through holes to allow the installation of removable connecting elements; h. The load-bearing structure includes a small number of openwork module variants.
[0010] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:
[0011] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a swimming pool illustrating one embodiment of the invention,
[0012] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a load-bearing structure illustrating one embodiment of the invention,
[0013] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of zone III of the load-bearing structure visible in [Fig.2],
[0014] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of zone IV of the load-bearing structure visible on the [Fig.2],
[0015] [Fig.5] is a top view of the supporting structure visible in [Fig.2],
[0016] [Fig.6] is a side view of the supporting structure visible in [Fig.2],
[0017] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of an openwork module illustrating a mode of realization of the invention,
[0018] [Fig.8] is a front view of the openwork module visible in [Fig.7],
[0019] [Fig.9] is a side view of the openwork module visible in [Fig.7],
[0020] [Fig. 10] is a top view of the openwork module visible in [Fig. 7],
[0021] [Fig. 11] is a section of a wall of the pool visible in [Fig. 1].
[0022] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], a swimming pool 10 comprises a basin 12 having a peripheral upper edge 12.1 and at least one first substantially horizontal platform 14 located at or near the peripheral upper edge 12.1.
[0023] Depending on one configuration, the basin 12 rests on the ground or on a second platform 16.
[0024] As illustrated in [Fig.1 1], the basin 12 is delimited by a bottom 12.2 resting on the ground or the second platform 16 and by side walls 12.3. According to one arrangement, the basin 12 has a square or rectangular horizontal section and includes four square or rectangular side walls 12.3.
[0025] The pool 10 includes at least one supporting structure 18 (visible in Figures 2 to 6 and 11) which delimits the basin 12 and at least one membrane 20 (visible in [Fig. 11]) pressed against the supporting structure 18 and connected to the latter at the level of the upper peripheral edge 12.1 of the basin 12.
[0026] The supporting structure 18 comprises at least one lower face 18.1 resting on the ground or the second platform 16, at least one upper face 18.2 forming the first platform 14 or supporting at least one facing forming the first platform 14, at least one substantially vertical inner side face 18.3, connecting the lower and upper faces 18.1, 18.2, against which the membrane 20 is positioned, as well as at least one substantially vertical outer side face 18.4 parallel to the inner side face 18.3.
[0027] The supporting structure 18 includes at least one peripheral belt 22 delimiting the periphery of the basin 12.
[0028] According to a preferred arrangement visible in figures 2 and 5, the load-bearing structure 18 includes a peripheral ring 22 and a partition 24 which delimits with the peripheral ring 22 on one side the basin 12 and on the other side a housing 26 adapted to house at least one piece of equipment such as filtration, treatment and / or heating equipment for the water contained in the basin 12.
[0029] To give an order of magnitude, the supporting structure 18 has a height (distance separating the lower and upper faces 18.1, 18.2) of between 70 and 150 mm, preferably in the order of 90 to 100 cm, and a thickness (distance separating the inner and outer lateral faces 18.3, 18.4) of between 20 and 40 cm, preferably in the order of 25 cm. For illustrative purposes only, and not as a limitation, the pool 12 has a length of between 3 and 8 m and a width of between 2 and 4 m. The housing 26 has a first dimension equal to the width of the pool 12 and a second dimension of between 0.6 and 2 m.
[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.1 1], the pool 10 includes at least one attachment profile 28 attached to the supporting structure 18, positioned at the level of the upper peripheral edge 12.1, which extends around the entire perimeter of the pool 12 to connect the membrane 20 and the supporting structure 18. This attachment profile 28 is not described further as it may be identical to those of a prior art pool.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the membrane 20 is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has a thickness of between 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.75 and 0.85 mm. The membrane 20 may be reinforced with a polyester mesh. The membrane 20 has a given stiffness corresponding to a modulus of elasticity of between 10 and 15 MPa, preferably between 12 and 15 MPa.
[0032] According to a particular feature of the invention, the load-bearing structure 18 comprises a plurality of openwork modules 30 connected to each other and positioned next to each other, on at least a part of the perimeter of the peripheral belt 22, to form at least a part of the load-bearing structure 18 as well as removable connecting elements 32 (visible in figures 3 and 4) connecting the openwork modules 30.
[0033] According to one arrangement, the openwork modules 30 are aligned around the entire perimeter of the peripheral belt 22 and along the entire length of the partition 24. According to one embodiment, the load-bearing structure 18 is obtained by assembling only openwork modules 30 or almost only openwork modules 30.
[0034] Depending on one configuration, the removable connecting elements 32 are bolts, screws, or rivets. Of course, the invention is not limited to this configuration. Thus, the removable connecting elements 32 may be single-use and changed each time they are disassembled / reassembled (like rivets, for example) or reusable (like screws or bolts, for example). Regardless of the configuration, the removable connecting elements 32 must be able to be assembled and disassembled quickly with a limited number of simple tools.
[0035] According to another feature, each openwork module 30 is configured so that it can be handled by a maximum of two people. This solution allows the openwork modules 30 to be positioned without lifting equipment.
[0036] According to a preferred configuration, the openwork modules 30 of the same load-bearing structure 18 are all identical. Alternatively, the load-bearing structure 18 is obtained from a small number (at most three or four) of variant modules 30. Thus, from this small number of variants of openwork modules 30, it is possible to obtain load-bearing structures 18 and swimming pools 10 of different dimensions and configurations.
[0037] According to one embodiment, each openwork module 30 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and has: a. of the first and second longitudinal faces FL30.1, FL30.2 substantially parallel to each other, the first longitudinal face FL30.1 corresponding to at least a part of the inner lateral face 18.3 of the supporting structure 18, the second longitudinal face FL30.2 corresponding to the outer lateral face 18.4 of the supporting structure 18; b. of the first and second horizontal faces FH30.1, FH30.2 substantially parallel to each other, the first horizontal face FH30.1 forming at least a part of the lower face 18.1 of the load-bearing structure 18, the second horizontal face FH30.2 forming at least a part of the upper face 18.2 of the load-bearing structure 18; c. of the first and second transverse faces FT30.1, FT30.2 perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal faces FL30.1, FL30.2.
[0038] When two openwork modules are assembled, they can be aligned. In this case, the first longitudinal faces FL30.1 of the first and second openwork modules 30 are coplanar and the first transverse face FT30.1 of the first openwork module is pressed against the second transverse face FT30.2 of the second openwork module and connected to the latter by removable connecting elements 32.
[0039] When two openwork modules are assembled, they can form an angle. In this case, the first longitudinal faces FL30.1 of the first and second openwork modules 30 are perpendicular to each other and the first or second transverse face FT30.1, FT30.2 of the first openwork module is pressed against the first longitudinal face FL30.1 of the second openwork module and connected to the latter by removable connecting elements 32.
[0040] According to an arrangement visible in figures 2, 5 and 6, the load-bearing structure 18 comprises two lines of six openwork modules 30 to form the two long sides of the load-bearing structure 18 as well as two openwork modules 30 at each of the short sides and the partition of the load-bearing structure 18.
[0041] Each openwork module 30 has a height (distance separating the first and second horizontal faces FH30.1, FH30.2) equal to the height of the structure load-bearing 18 and a width (distance separating the first and second longitudinal faces FL30.1, FL30.2) equal to the thickness of the load-bearing structure 18. Without limitation, each openwork module 30 has a length (distance separating the first and second transverse faces FT30.1, FT30.2) of the order of 1 m.
[0042] According to one embodiment, each openwork module 30 comprises at least four uprights 34.1 to 34.4 positioned at the level of four vertical sides of the openwork module 30, the first and second uprights 34.1, 34.2 being positioned at the level of the first longitudinal face FL30.1, the third and fourth uprights 34.3, 34.4 being positioned at the level of the second longitudinal face FL30.2, the first and third uprights 34.1, 34.3 being positioned at the level of the first transverse face FT30.1, the second and fourth uprights 34.2, 34.4 being positioned at the level of the second transverse face FT30.2.
[0043] Each openwork module 30 comprises several substantially horizontal crossbars 36, connecting the uprights 34.1 to 34.4 in pairs, positioned at each of the first and second transverse faces FT30.1, FT30.2. According to one configuration, each openwork module 30 comprises, for each of the first and second transverse faces FT30.1, FT30.2, a first crossbar 36 located at the level of the second horizontal face FH30.2 as well as a second crossbar 36' located approximately equidistant from the first and second horizontal faces FH30.1, FH30.2.
[0044] Each openwork module 30 comprises several substantially horizontal stringers 38, connecting the uprights 34.1 to 34.4 in pairs, positioned at the level of the first and second longitudinal faces FL30.1, FL 30.2. According to one configuration, the second longitudinal face FL30.2 comprises a first stringer 38 located at the level of the second horizontal face FH30.2 as well as a second stringer 38', located approximately equidistant from the first and second horizontal faces FH30.1, FH30.2, positioned in the same horizontal plane as the second cross member 36'.
[0045] According to a particular feature of the invention, each openwork module 30 comprises, at the level of its first longitudinal face FL30.1 against which the membrane 20 is pressed, several stringers 38.1 to 38.5 substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart by a distance of less than 30 cm.
[0046] According to one configuration, each perforated module 30 comprises, at its first longitudinal face FL30.1 against which the membrane 20 is pressed, a first longitudinal member 38.1 located at the second horizontal face FH30.2, and a second longitudinal member 38.2 located approximately equidistant from the first and second horizontal faces FH30.1 and FH30.2 and positioned in the same plane. horizontal than the second cross member 36', a third longeron 38.3 located at the level of the first horizontal face FH30.1, a fourth longeron 38.4 located equidistant from the first and second longerons 38.1, 38.2, and a fifth longeron 38.5 located equidistant from the second and third longerons 38.2, 38.3. According to this configuration, the longerons 38.1 to 38.5 are spaced less than 25 cm apart, on the order of 20 cm. These various longerons 38.1 to 38.5 are substantially horizontal and connect the first and second uprights 34.1, 34.2.
[0047] The combination of a limited spacing between the stringers 38.1 to 38.5 of the first longitudinal face FL30.1 in contact with the membrane 20 and the range of stiffness of the latter makes it possible to keep the membrane 20 in a substantially vertical, almost non-curved plane.
[0048] According to one embodiment, the uprights 34.1 to 34.4, the crossbeams 36, 36', and the stringers 38, 38', 38.1 to 38.5 are tubes with a square or rectangular cross-section, joined together by welding. According to this embodiment, each openwork module 30 is a welded structure. Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment for the openwork module 30.
[0049] According to one configuration, at least one openwork module 30 includes at least one upper plate 40, located at the level of the second horizontal face FH30.2, adapted for fixing elements forming the first platform 14. According to one arrangement, at least one openwork module 30 has several upper plates 40, the latter being adapted for fixing elements forming the first platform 14.
[0050] According to one configuration, at least one openwork module 30 comprises at least one lower plate 42 connected to the lower end of at least one of the uprights 34.1 to 34.4, this lower plate 42 being adapted to fix the openwork module 30 to the ground or to the second platform 16. According to one arrangement, at least one openwork module 30 comprises first and second lower plates 42, 42', positioned at the lower ends of the uprights 34.1 to 34.4, perpendicular to the latter, the first lower plate 42 being located at the lower ends of the first and third uprights 34.1 and 34.3, the second lower plate 42' being located at the lower ends of the second and fourth uprights 34.2, 34.4.
[0051] According to one embodiment, each openwork module 30, more particularly the cross members 36, 36' and the longitudinal members 38, 38', 38.1 to 38.5, includes through holes 44 to allow the installation of the removable connecting elements 32.
[0052] The invention is implemented in the following manner.
[0053] Depending on the desired pool configuration, the geometry of the supporting structure 18 is determined, then depending on the geometry determined for the load-bearing structure 18, the number of openwork modules 30 and their arrangement are determined.
[0054] Next, the openwork modules 30 are assembled together using the removable connecting elements 32 so as to obtain the load-bearing structure 18. The openwork elements 30 are fixed to the ground or the second platform 16.
[0055] When the supporting structure 18 is assembled, the membrane 20 is connected to the supporting structure 18 by means of the hook profile 28. The membrane 20 is in contact against the inner lateral face(s) 18.3 of the supporting structure 18 and the ground or the second platform 16.
[0056] The filtration, treatment and / or heating equipment is installed as well as the facings forming the first platform 14 and / or covering the external lateral faces 18.4 of the supporting structure 18.
[0057] The basin 12 can then be filled with water. During the filling of the basin 12, the membrane 20 is pressed against the stringers 38.1 to 38.5 of the openwork modules 30. Given the stiffness of the membrane 20 and the limited spacing between the stringers 38.1 to 38.5, the membrane 20 is almost flat and hardly curves between the stringers 38.1 to 38.5.
Claims
Demands
1. Swimming pool comprising a basin (12) which has a peripheral upper edge (12.1), at least one first platform (14) substantially horizontal and located at or near the peripheral upper edge (12.1), at least one supporting structure (18) which delimits the basin (12) and at least one membrane (20) pressed against the supporting structure (18) and connected to it, the supporting structure (18) having at least one lower face (18.1) which rests on the ground or a second platform (16), at least one upper face (18.2) forming the first platform (14) or supporting at least one facing forming the first platform (14) and at least one inner side face (18.3) substantially vertical against which the membrane (20) is positioned; characterized in that the supporting structure (18) comprises a plurality of openwork modules (30) connected to each other by removable connecting elements (32), each openwork module (30) having a first longitudinal face (FL30.1) which corresponds to at least a part of the inner lateral face (18.3) of the supporting structure (18) as well as several stringers (38.1 to 38.5) located at the level of the first longitudinal face (FL30.1), substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart by a distance of less than 30 cm, and in that the membrane (20) has a given stiffness which, combined with the spacing between the stringers (38.1 to 38.5), allows it to be almost flat.
2. Swimming pool according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the membrane (20) has a modulus of elasticity between 10 and 15 MPa.
3. Swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each openwork module (30) is a welded mechanical structure.
4. Swimming pool according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each openwork module (30) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and comprises at least four uprights (34.1 to 34.4).
5. Swimming pool according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second uprights (34.1, 34.2) are positioned at the level of the first longitudinal face (FL30.1) and in that the third and fourth uprights (34.3, 34.4) are positioned at the level of a second longitudinal face (FL30.2) substantially parallel to the first longitudinal face (FL30.1), the first and third uprights (34.1, 34.3) being positioned at the level of a first transverse face (FT30.1), the second and fourth uprights (34.2, 34.4) being positioned at the level of a second transverse face (FT30.2).
6. Swimming pool according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each openwork module (30) comprises several substantially horizontal cross members (36), connecting the uprights (34.1 to 34.4) in pairs, positioned at the level of each of the first and second transverse faces (FT30.1, FT30.2).
7. Swimming pool according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that at least one openwork module (30) comprises at least one lower plate (42) connected to a lower end of at least one of the uprights (34.1 to 34.4), said lower plate (42) being adapted to fix the openwork module (30) to the ground or to the second platform (16).
8. Swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one openwork module (30) comprises at least one upper plate (40) located at the level of a second horizontal face (FH30.2) and forming at least one part of the upper face (18.2) of the supporting structure (18), said upper plate (40) being adapted to fix elements forming the first platform (14).
9. Swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each openwork module (30) includes through holes (44) to allow the installation of removable connecting elements (32).
10. Swimming pool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (18) comprises a small number of variants of openwork modules (30).