US 8,215,069 B2 · Swimming pool system with reinforced composite structural components

Abstract

A swimming pool assembly having a plurality of side wall panels certain adjacent ones of which have juxtaposed apertured edge flanges joined together by compression plates each having planar blade and a first plurality of pre-alignment fasteners extending away from the plane of the blade through aligned apertures in each juxtaposed flange and engaging a flange plate surface opposite the blade to temporarily align the side wall panels. Each compression plate further includes a second plurality of alignment towers passing through additional aligned apertures in each juxtaposed flange terminating in wedge receiving slots. Wedges, upon being forced into respective slots, clamp the flanges tightly together. Adjacent panel flanges may further include FML flat surfaces oriented to compensate for panel flange draft angle whereby adjacent panels when clamped together present generally coplanar pool surfaces.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A compression plate assembly for use in a swimming pool, said compression plate assembly comprising:

an elongated generally planar blade;
an elongated lip extending from one blade edge along the length thereof and in a direction generally orthogonal to the blade plane;
a plurality of fasteners extending from one blade surface in the direction of the elongated lip for joining a juxtaposed pair of swimming pool components, said plurality of fasteners of the compression plate assembly being fixed to said blade surface;
and
at least two pre-alignment tabs extending from said one blade surface, each said pre-alignment tab including a bifurcated protuberance having a pair of flexible legs extending from said one blade surface with latching pawls near respective free leg ends.

2 more elements

A swimming pool having a plurality of wall panels secured together in an edge-to-edge relation to define the perimeter of said pool, certain adjacent ones of the wall panels each comprising a generally rectangular main body having a generally planar face forming a portion of a pool side wall, and a pair of opposed edge flanges for juxtaposition with edge flanges of adjacent wall panels, the swimming pool further including at least one compression plate for joining two adjacent panels, comprising:

an elongated generally planar blade;
a plurality of fasteners fixed to and extending generally orthogonally from one blade surface for extending through respective aligned edge flange apertures to join adjacent flanges of a juxtaposed pair of swimming pool wall panels, said plurality of fasteners of the compression plate being fixed to said blade surface;
and
at least two pre-alignment tabs extending from said one blade surface, each said pre-alignment tab including a bifurcated protuberance having a pair of flexible legs extending from said one blade surface with latching pawls near respective free leg ends.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Swimming pool system with reinforced composite structural components

Life of this patent

Swimming pool system with reinforced composite structural components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14