Pool panel connector system

Abstract

The inventive system interconnects molded resin panels to form a secure and reliable pool wall. Each panel 10 has a facing wall 11, base flange 12, and top flange 13, and each end of facing wall 11 has vertical margins 15 approximately aligned with wall 11 and juxtaposed between adjacent panels. Each margin has an outer groove 16 and an inner groove 17 that extend for the vertical length of margin 15 and are spaced laterally and disposed obliquely to each other. Panels 10 are positioned in a predetermined orientation to each other and are joined together at their margins by vertical locking strips 20. Locking strips 20 have an H-bar shape with a cross web 21 positioned between juxtaposed margins 15 and inner span 22 and outer span 23 overlapping margins 15. Acutely in-turned ribs 14 on the vertical edges of inner and outer spans 22 and 23 engage in margin grooves 16 and 17 and secure margins 15 together. Bottom flange 12 and top flange 13 extend beyond margins 15 and overlap outside margins 15 where they are bolted together to maintain the predetermined orientation of the panels.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.