Under ground swimming pool modular wall structure

Abstract

The modular wall structure for underground swimming pools comprises a number of wall panels each comprising an upright portion defining opposite inner and outer sides, opposite first and second edges and opposite top and bottom ends. The wall panel also has a shelf portion generally perpendicular to the upright portion and attached thereto at the top end in cantilevered fashion. The wall panel includes an inclined bracing portion linking the outer side of the upright portion to the shelf portion in an inclined fashion. The wall panel further has complementary attachment members provided on the upright portion first and second edges to allow the wall panel to be edgewisely attached at its first edge to the second edge of an adjacent the wall panel and along its second edge to the first edge of an adjacent the wall panel.

1 . A modular wall structure for underground swimming pools comprising a number of wall panels each comprising: 
 an upright portion defining opposite inner and outer sides, opposite first and second edges and opposite top and bottom ends;    a shelf portion generally perpendicular to said upright portion and attached thereto at said top end in cantilevered fashion;    an inclined bracing portion linking said outer side of said upright portion to said shelf portion in an inclined fashion; and    complementary attachment members provided on said upright portion first and second edges to allow said wall panel to be edgewisely attached at its first edge to the second edge of an adjacent said wall panel and along its second edge to the first edge of an adjacent said wall panel.    
   
   
       2 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said wall panels are hollow for allowing concrete to be poured therein.  
   
   
       3 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said shelf and upright portions are not integrally linked, but are attached to each other, with said shelf portion resting against said upright portion along an inclined abutment surface transversal to said bracing portion, with said bracing portion being formed in part by a wall of said upright portion and in part by a wall of said shelf portion.  
   
   
       4 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said complementary attachment members comprise interlocking tongue and groove members comprising a first tongue on said first edge and a first groove on said second edge complementary to said first tongue, whereby said first tongue of one said wall panel can be inserted in said first groove of another said wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said first groove retaining said first tongue for preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.  
   
   
       5 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise a second tongue on said second edge and a second groove on said first edge complementary to said second tongue, whereby said second tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said second groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said second groove retaining said second tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.  
   
   
       6 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise: 
 a third tongue on said first edge and a third groove on said second edge complementary to said third tongue, whereby said third tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said third groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said third groove retaining said third tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart; and    a fourth tongue on said second edge and a fourth groove on said first edge complementary to said fourth tongue, whereby said fourth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said fourth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said fourth groove retaining said fourth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.    
   
   
       7 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said first and second tongues are inwardly-oriented, said first and second grooves are outwardly-opened, said third and fourth tongues are outwardly-oriented and said third and fourth grooves are inwardly-opened.  
   
   
       8 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise: 
 a fifth inwardly-oriented tongue on said first edge and a fifth outwardly-opened groove on said second edge complementary to said fifth tongue, whereby said fifth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said fifth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said fifth groove retaining said fifth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart; and    a sixth inwardly-oriented tongue on said second edge and a sixth outwardly-opened groove on said first edge complementary to said sixth tongue, whereby said sixth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said sixth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said sixth groove retaining said sixth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.    
   
   
       9 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said first and fifth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge, said first and fifth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, said second and sixth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, and said second and sixth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge.  
   
   
       10 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise: 
 a seventh outwardly-oriented tongue on said first edge and a seventh inwardly-opened groove on said second edge complementary to said seventh tongue, whereby said seventh tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said seventh groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said seventh groove retaining said seventh tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart; and    an eighth outwardly-oriented tongue on said second edge and an eighth inwardly-opened groove on said first edge complementary to said eighth tongue, whereby said eighth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said eighth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said eighth groove retaining said eighth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.    
   
   
       11 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said third and seventh tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge, said third and seventh grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, said fourth and eighth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, and said fourth and eighth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge.  
   
   
       12 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said upright portion of each said wall panels comprises at said bottom end a base with a foot member of adjustable length that is extendable away from and retractable towards said base in a direction opposite said top end.  
   
   
       13 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said foot member threadingly engages said base and can thus be screwed or unscrewed to adjust its length.  
   
   
       14 . A modular wall structure as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a filter wall panel comprising: 
 a filter panel upright portion defining opposite inner and outer sides, opposite first and second edges and opposite top and bottom ends;    a top clearance at said top end for allowing a filter to be installed near said top end;    a filter opening extending through said filter wall panel near said top end; and    complementary attachment members provided on said filter panel upright portion first and second edges to allow said filter wall panel to be edgewisely attached at its first edge to the second edge of an adjacent said wall panel and along its second edge to the first edge of an adjacent said wall panel.    
   
   
       15 . An underground swimming pool comprising a modular wall structure comprising a number of wall panels each comprising: 
 an upright portion defining opposite inner and outer sides, opposite first and second edges and opposite top and bottom ends;    complementary attachment members provided on said upright portion first and second edges to allow said wall panel to be edgewisely attached at its first edge to the second edge of an adjacent said wall panel and along its second edge to the first edge of an adjacent said wall panel, whereby all said wall panels are consecutively edgewisely attached to form a continuous peripheral wall of said swimming pool; and    an inner chamber at least partly filled with concrete;    wherein at least some of said wall panels further comprise:    a shelf portion generally perpendicular to said upright portion and attached thereto at said top end in cantilevered fashion; and    an inclined bracing portion linking said outer side of said upright portion to said shelf portion in an inclined fashion;    said swimming pool further comprising a flexible sheet carried by said peripheral wall and extending within said peripheral wall to form an enclosure for containing water, and a deck comprising a number of deck slabs, at least some of said deck slabs being at least partly supported by said shelf portions and extending away from said modular wall structure for being partly supported on the ground.    
   
   
       16 . An underground swimming pool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said complementary attachment members comprise interlocking tongue and groove members comprising a first tongue on said first edge and a first groove on said second edge complementary to said first tongue, whereby said first tongue of one said wall panel can be inserted in said first groove of another said wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said first groove retaining said first tongue for preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.  
   
   
       17 . An underground swimming pool as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise a second tongue on said second edge and a second groove on said first edge complementary to said second tongue, whereby said second tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said second groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said second groove retaining said second tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.  
   
   
       18 . An underground swimming pool as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise: 
 a third tongue on said first edge and a third groove on said second edge complementary to said third tongue, whereby said third tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said third groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said third groove retaining said third tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart; and    a fourth tongue on said second edge and a fourth groove on said first edge complementary to said fourth tongue, whereby said fourth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said fourth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said fourth groove retaining said fourth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart.    
   
   
       19 . An underground swimming pool as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said first and second tongues are inwardly-oriented, said first and second grooves are outwardly-opened, said third and fourth tongues are outwardly-oriented and said third and fourth grooves are inwardly-opened.  
   
   
       20 . An underground swimming pool as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said tongue and groove members further comprise: 
 a fifth inwardly-oriented tongue on said first edge and a fifth outwardly-opened groove on said second edge complementary to said fifth tongue, whereby said fifth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said fifth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said fifth groove retaining said fifth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart;    a sixth inwardly-oriented tongue on said second edge and a sixth outwardly-opened groove on said first edge complementary to said sixth tongue, whereby said sixth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said sixth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said sixth groove retaining said sixth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart;    a seventh outwardly-oriented tongue on said first edge and a seventh inwardly-opened groove on said second edge complementary to said seventh tongue, whereby said seventh tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said seventh groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said seventh groove retaining said seventh tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart; and    an eighth outwardly-oriented tongue on said second edge and an eighth inwardly-opened groove on said first edge complementary to said eighth tongue, whereby said eighth tongue of said one wall panel can be inserted in said eighth groove of said another wall panel when said first edge of said one wall panel is disposed side-by-side with said second edge of said another wall panel, with said eighth groove retaining said eighth tongue for further preventing said one and another wall panels thus attached to each other from being pulled apart;    wherein said first and fifth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge, said first and fifth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, said second and sixth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, said second and sixth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge, said third and seventh tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge, said third and seventh grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, said fourth and eighth tongues extend for a fraction of the length of said second edge and are longitudinally offset along said second edge, and said fourth and eighth grooves extend for a fraction of the length of said first edge and are longitudinally offset along said first edge.