US 5,277,004 AGranted

Apparatus and method for reinforcing swimming pool wall structures

OwnerHans Freiinventor

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Abstract

A structural wall unit for retaining wall structures of in ground swimming pools, whereupon assembly of a plurality of wall units in series, a circuitous pathway is formed which defines the swimming pool shape. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, each unit includes end surfaces comprising folded portions at the corners thereof for reinforcement of the wall unit, at least one of the surfaces being formed for engagement with a corresponding end surface of an adjacent unit. The units are fastened one to the other so as to form the circuitous wall structure. Each unit includes a base or lower wall for supporting the unit in an upright position and a gusset plate having apertures adapted for cooperation with matching holes on a pair of adjacent folded portions of an end surface, each of the folded portions being adapted to overlie the gusset plate. Upon engagement of the plate with the folded portions, complementary connectors formed in the folded portions engage the apertures so as to secure the plate to the folded portions and reinforce the wall unit.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An improved retaining wall structure for swimming pools comprising:

a plurality of structural units assembled in series, each unit having relatively planar end surfaces;
at least one of said surfaces being formed to facilitate engagement with a corresponding end surface of an adjacent unit;
means for fastening the units end to end so as to form a circuitous wall structure;
means mounted to each unit for supporting the unit in an upright position;
a gusset plate engaged with at least one of said end surfaces;
and
means for securing said gusset plate to said end surface so as to provide reinforcement to said wall structure;
at least one of said end surfaces comprises a pair of folded portions adjacent to one another, said portions forming a corner of one of said structural units, each of said portions overlying said gusset plate in a manner which provides reinforcement to said structure upon securing said gusset plate to each of said portions proximate to a corner of one of said structural units, said portions being configured so as to form a drainage hole adjacent to said corner;
at least one of said end surfaces including a plurality of holes for receiving said fastening means and oriented so as to enable the attachment of retaining wall structures one to the other;
said end surfaces having complementary connector means for securing said gusset plate to said end surface so as to provide reinforcement to said wall structure;
said gusset plate including apertures receiving said connector means for reinforcement of said structure;
and
said connector means including bent edges about the periphery of openings in said end surfaces, the openings being aligned with said apertures so as to enable engagement of said edges with said apertures.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.