Modular panels for making a swimming pool

Abstract

Panels for making a swimming pool have a globally rectangular planar prefabricated structure delimited by a peripheral frame consisting of vertical and horizontal wings, one of the vertical wings having, suitably distributed over its height, fixing arrangements adapted to cooperate with matching arrangements of the other vertical wing of an adjacent panel. The matching arrangements are selected to enable the panels to be automatically assembled after said arrangements have been engaged under a pressure force exerted in a plane parallel to the vertical wings and to ensure tightness in combination with a profiled shape arranged over the whole length of the vertical wings at their connecting portion with the planar surface of the structure.

1 . Panels for producing swimming pools, having a prefabricated flat structure ( 1 ) of rectangular overall shape and delimited by a peripheral surround consisting of vertical flanges ( 1   b ) and ( 1   c ) and horizontal flanges ( 1   d ) and ( 1   e ), one of the vertical flanges ( 1   c ) has, suitably distributed over its height, fixing arrangements ( 1   f ) able to collaborate with complementary arrangements ( 1   g ) on the other flange ( 1   b ) of an adjacent panel, 
 characterized in that:    the complementary arrangements ( 1   f ) and ( 1   g ) consist, in the case of one of the flanges ( 1   c ), of tabs ( 1   f ) formed in the thickness of the said flange ( 1   c ) and able to be engaged in centring and guiding shapes ( 1   g ) belonging to the other flange ( 1   b ),    each of the tabs ( 1   f ) has, on its outer face, anchoring roughnesses ( 1   f   3 ) able to collaborate with complementary roughnesses ( 1   g ) after engagement in the said shapes, to ensure non-dismantleable self-locking,    the centring and guiding shapes ( 1   g ) constitute a well or sleeve formed as an overspill from the bearing face of the flange ( 1   b ) and the cross section of which corresponds approximately to that of the tabs ( 1   f ),    the part of the flange from which the said sleeves are formed have anchoring roughnesses ( 1   g   1 ) so that when the tabs ( 1   f ) have been engaged in the sleeves ( 1   g ) a wedging effect is produced for imbricating the roughnesses,    a profiled shape ( 1   k ) is established over the entire height of the vertical flanges ( 1   b ) and ( 1   c ) at their part for connection with the flat face ( 1   a ) of the structure ( 1 ), to ensure sealing once the tabs ( 1   f ) have been engaged in the sleeve ( 1   g ).    
     
     
         2 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the anchoring roughnesses ( 1   f   3 ) and ( 1   g   1 ) consist of a number of straight and parallel very closely-packed teeth of the gullet tooth type.  
     
     
         3 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the anchoring tabs ( 1   f ) result from two parallel cut-outs ( 1   f   1 ) and ( 1   f   2 ) formed at right angles from the longitudinal edge of the corresponding flange ( 1   c ), the length of the said tabs ( 1   f ) being less than the width of the said flange ( 1   c ).  
     
     
         4 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the anchoring tabs ( 1   f ) are of flat cross section, the internal cross section delimited by the edges of the sleeve ( 1   g ) being rectangular, the free end of the anchoring tabs ( 1   f ) is chamfered.  
     
     
         5 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the profiled sealing form consists of a bead ( 1   k ) resulting from an additional thickness of material.  
     
     
         6 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the width of the anchoring tabs ( 1   f ) is less than the width of the internal section of the sleeves ( 1   g ) except for the sleeve situated at the upper part of the structure ( 1 ) considered in a vertical position, of which the width of its internal section corresponds approximately to that of the tabs ( 1   f ) so as to allow heightwise adjustment of the said panels.  
     
     
         7 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the entirety of the structure ( 1 ) is obtained directly by the injection-moulding of a plastic.  
     
     
         8 . Panels according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the internal face of the structure ( 1 ) is equipped, directly at the time of its manufacture, with studs ( 1   j ) having a head and a centring part able to collaborate with a necked aperture ( 2   a ) exhibited by an independent reinforcing element ( 2 ) acting as wall tie and hollow shaft for the pouring of concrete, the said studs ( 1   j ) and apertures ( 2   a ) being distributed over the entire height of the structure ( 1 ).