Vertical pool

Abstract

An exercise and therapy pool has a plurality of structural modules providing a tub bottom, an intermediate section connecting to and extending upwardly from the tub bottom and an upper section connecting to and extending upwardly from the intermediate section. The intermediate section additionally expands laterally from the tub bottom. The assembled modules provide a vertical depth sufficient for total vertical immersion of a user to the user's neck. The intermediate and upper section expand laterally sufficiently to accommodate the user in a horizontal swimming position. A removable liner for sealing the modules after assembly completes the pool. An equipment module is removably connected to the pool to provide water conditioning.

1 . An exercise and therapy pool comprising: 
 a plurality of structural modules providing a tub bottom, an intermediate section connecting to and extending upwardly from the tub bottom, said intermediate section additionally expanding laterally from said tub bottom, an upper section connecting to and extending upwardly from said intermediate section, 
 said assembled modules providing a vertical depth sufficient for total vertical immersion of a user to the user's neck and  
 said intermediate and upper section expanding laterally sufficiently to accommodate the user in a horizontal swimming position; and,  
 means for sealing the modules after assembly.  
   
   
   
       2 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the sealing means comprises a liner.  
   
   
       3 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the lateral expansion of the intermediate section provides a substantially flat base.  
   
   
       4 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  further comprising an equipment module removably connected to provide water conditioning for the pool.  
   
   
       5 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  further comprising at least one chaise seat extending from the flat base.  
   
   
       6 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 5  further comprising an overflow reservoir within the chaise seat and connected to an overflow port in the upper section.  
   
   
       7 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a coping connected to and extending from the upper section, said coping having a profile curved inwardly from the periphery of the upper section to direct water displaced by nominal wave action back into the pool.  
   
   
       8 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 7  wherein the coping further incorporates rope lighting within the curved profile.  
   
   
       9 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a second chaise seat positioned in space relation from the at least one chaise seat to provide a horizontal kick area the depth of the intermediate and upper sections above the flat base.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 6  further comprising means for pumping water received in the overflow reservoir back into the pool.  
   
   
       11 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 3  wherein the flat base incorporates means for receiving supports for a Hoyer lift.  
   
   
       12 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a trapeze bar extending from the upper section substantially vertically over the tub bottom.  
   
   
       13 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a movable floor in the tub bottom for adjusting the vertical depth of the pool.  
   
   
       14 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the intermediate section comprises a second plurality of separate modules for assembly and further comprising engagement moieties integrated with at least a portion of the second plurality of separate modules for interengagement of mating moieties on the tub bottom.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 14  wherein the upper section comprises a third plurality of separate modules for assembly and further comprising engagement moieties integrated with the third plurality of separate modules for engagement of mating moieties on the second plurality of separate modules.  
   
   
       16 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 15  wherein the second and third plurality of separate modules each incorporate exterior recesses proximate the engagement moieties and further comprising tension bands circumferentially received within the recesses.  
   
   
       17 . An exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 4  wherein the equipment module incorporates integrated entry steps.  
   
   
       18 . An exercise therapy pool as defined in  claim 7  further comprising an over the surface flow recirculating device positionable at a desired point on the coping, a feed line for the flow recirculating device positionable within the curved profile of the coping.  
   
   
       19 . A method for installing a modular exercise and therapy pool comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of structural modules including a tub bottom, an intermediate section, said intermediate section additionally expanding laterally from said tub bottom, and an upper section,    connecting the intermediate section to and extending upwardly from the tub bottom,    connecting the upper section to and extending upwardly from said intermediate section, said assembled modules providing a vertical depth sufficient for total vertical immersion of a user to the user's neck,    inserting a liner in the assembled sections, and,    attaching a removable equipment module to the assembled sections for water conditioning.    
   
   
       20 . A method for installing a modular exercise and therapy pool as defined in  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting the tub bottom on a support column, and    mounting the flat base on a horizontal deck.