FIELD
The present teachings relate to swimming pools, and more particularly to floating swimming pools.
BACKGROUND
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many homes and businesses are built on waterfront property such that the home is located in relative close proximity to the water. Often the owners of such homes and businesses desire to have an in-ground swimming pool on their property. However, many cities and/or counties have ordinances in place that stipulate in-ground swimming pools can not be built within a ‘critical zone’ around the respective body of water. That is, such ordinances stipulate that an in-ground swimming pool can be constructed within a zone of the waterfront property that begins at the shoreline and extends a designated lateral distance, e.g., 100 feet, into the respective property. Or, as in the case of many businesses, e.g., yacht clubs, there simply is not sufficient space on the respective property to build an in-ground pool.
SUMMARY
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a floating pool system comprising a hull that includes a composite shell attached to a structural support skeleton, wherein the skeleton included a bottom grid and a plurality of side ribs extending upward from the bottom grid, and a pool insert disposed within an interior space of the hull. Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings.
DRAWINGS
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a floating pool system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a hull of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the hull shown in FIG. 2 having a pool insert of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, disposed within an interior of the hull, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view a portion of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, illustrating deck and pool support structures of the floating pool system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, having a portion of a skin of the hull removed to illustrate a portion of a structural support skeleton of the floating pool system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view a portion of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, illustrating an equipment platform and control council mounting panel disposed within the interior of the hull, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view a portion of the floating pool system, shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a ballast tank and a bilge pump disposed within the interior of the hull, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements.
Referring to FIG. 1, in various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a water based floating pool system 10 that is structured and operable to provide a floating swimming pool that can be moored and operate in generally any desired body of water and in generally any depth of water. For example, the floating pool system 10 can be moored and operate properly in a lake or ocean marina and in approximately 1 foot of water, 5 feet of water, 25 feet of water, or more. The floating pool system 10 generally includes a pool insert 14, a substantially water-tight hull 18, and a deck 22. Generally, the pool insert 14 is disposed within an interior space of the hull 18, the deck 22 surrounds a top edge of the pool insert 14 and covers a top of the hull 18, and the hull 18 is structured to support the pool insert 14 and float in a substantially shallow amount of water. That is, the hull 14 is structured, as described below, such that when the pool insert 14 is disposed within the hull 18 and filled with water, the floating pool system 10 will float within any suitable body of water and, moreover, will draw a substantially low amount of water such that the floating pool system 10 can be placed in relatively shallow depths of water, e.g., 1 foot to 3 feet or more.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the hull 18 is constructed to be a lightweight, substantially water-tight barge-like vessel structured to retain and support the pool insert 14 while floating in a body of water. In various embodiments, the hull 18 includes a shell 26 attached to a structural support skeleton 30 that comprises a bottom grid 34 and a plurality of side ribs 38 extending upward from the bottom grid 34. The shell 26 can be constructed of any lightweight non-porous material having material properties that provide substantial structural strength and durability suitable for maintaining the integrity of the hull 18. For example, in various embodiments, the shell 26 can be constructed of a composite such a fiberglass and resin composite or any other suitable composite. The structural support skeleton 30 can be constructed of any suitable structural framing material such as wood boards or aluminum (or other metal) beams. For example, in various embodiments, the structural support skeleton can be constructed of 2″×6″ wood boards that are connected to form a cross-hatched bottom grid 34 having wood plank side ribs 38 extending upward from opposing distal ends of each board of the bottom grid 34.
Referring particularly to FIG. 2, in various embodiments, to construct the hull 18, the shell 26 is fabricated to have the desired dimensions, i.e., any desires shape and size, and then disposed on a suitable surface or support base. The skeleton 30 is then laid out and assembled within the interior of the shell 26. More specifically, after the shell 26 is disposed on a suitable surface or support base, the bottom grid 34 is laid out and assembled within the shell 26 on the interior bottom surface of the shell 26. In various implementations, the bottom grid 34 is laid out and assembled to comprise a plurality of longitudinal beams 46 that extend substantially the length of the bottom of the shell 26, and a plurality of lateral beams 50 that intersect the longitudinal beams 46 at various locations and extend substantially the width of the bottom of the shell 26, thereby forming the cross-hatched bottom grid 34. Once the bottom grid 34 is assembled, the side ribs 38 are connected to the distal ends of each of the longitudinal and lateral beams 46 and 50, thereby forming the skeleton 30. The shell 26 is then fastened to the skeleton utilizing any suitable fastening means such as screws, nails, rivets, and/or glue.
In the various embodiments wherein the skeleton 30 is constructed of wood, e.g., 2″×6″ pressure treated wood boards are used to form the bottom grid 34 and pressure treated wood planks are used to form the side ribs 38, the resulting wood skeleton 30 can be covered with a fiberglass and resin coating to attach the skeleton 30 to the shell 26 and form a unified hull 18.
The hull 18 can be constructed to have generally any size dimensions suitable to accommodate the size dimensions of the respective pool insert 14 and to provide the desired size deck 22. Moreover, depending on the size dimensions of the respective pool insert 14 and deck 22, the hull 18 can be constructed as a solitary unit, or for larger pool inserts 14 and/or decks 22, the hull 18 can be constructed in multiple sections (each section being constructed as described above) that are subsequently joined together to form the resulting completed hull 18.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A, once the hull 18 is constructed, a pool bottom support framework 54 is constructed to support at least a portion of a bottom 14A of the pool insert 14. More specifically, depending on the grade of the bottom 14A of the pool insert 14, when the pool insert 14 is placed within the hull 18 at least a portion of the pool insert bottom 14A may rest on and be supported by the support framework 54. For example, in various embodiments wherein the pool insert 14 has substantially a consistent depth over the entire length of the pool insert 14, the bottom 14A of the pool insert 14 can be entirely supported by the bottom grid 34, or be entirely supported by support framework 54, depending on the depth of the pool insert 14 with respect to the interior depth of the hull 18. Alternatively, in various embodiments wherein the pool insert 14 has a graded bottom 14A such that the depth of the pool insert 14 is greater at one end of the pool insert 14 than at the opposing end of the pool insert 14, a portion of the bottom 14A of the pool insert 14 can be supported by the support framework 54 while another portion of the bottom 14A of the pool insert 14 can be supported by bottom grid 34. Still in other embodiments wherein the pool insert 14 has a graded bottom 14A, the support framework 54 can be constructed to support the entire graded bottom 14A of the pool insert 14.
The pool bottom support framework 54 generally includes a plurality of vertical blocking supports 58 that are mounted on top of the bottom grid 34 and a plurality of stringer support joists 62 that are attached to the blocking supports and extend across substantially the entire width of the hull 18. In various implementations, each stringer support joist 62 is connected at opposing distal ends to opposing side ribs 38 and connected at various locations along an intermediate portion of the respective stringer support joist 62 to upper ends of the blocking supports 58. Hence, the pool bottom support framework 54 provides support to the bottom 14A of the pool insert 14, particularly when the pool insert 14 is filled with water.
Once the pool bottom support framework 54 is constructed within the interior of the hull 18, the pool insert can be placed within the hull 18 and secured in a desired location and orientation to the support framework 54. Subsequently, the deck 22 can be constructed around the upper edge of the pool insert 14, i.e., around an upper lip 14B of a sidewall 14C of the pool insert 14. In various embodiments, the deck 22 includes a plurality of floor joists 66 that are each connected at a proximal end to a top end of a respective one of the hull side ribs 38 and at an opposing distal end to a top end of a deck support brace 70. In various implementations, a bottom end of each deck support brace 70 is connected to a respective one of the hull side ribs 38 such that all the load/weight bearing of the deck 22 is exerted on the hull side ribs 38, as opposed to being exerted on the hull bottom grid 34. Alternatively, in various other implementations, the bottom end of each deck support brace 70 can be connected to a respective one of the stringer support joists 62 and/or a respective one of bottom grid longitudinal or lateral beams 46 or 50 and/or a respective one of the hull side ribs 38. The deck 22 additionally includes decking 74, i.e., the deck subfloor and surface covering, that is connected to the top edges of the floor joists 66.
Hence, once the pool insert 14 is secured to the support framework 54 in the desired location and orientation, the deck floor joists 66 and support braces 66 and 70 can be installed around the entire perimeter of the pool insert upper lip 14B. Additionally, concurrent with, or subsequent to, constructing the deck 22, a plurality of pool insert sidewall support braces 78 can be installed around an exterior of the sidewall 14C of the pool insert 14. The sidewall support braces 78 provide lateral support to the pool insert sidewall 14C to counter, or equalize, the lateral, i.e., outward, pressure on the sidewall 14C created by the hydrostatic pressure of water within the pool insert 14 when the pool insert 14 is filled with water. Hence, the sidewall support braces 78 prevent the hydrostatic pressure applied to the sidewall 14C of water in the pool insert 14 from damaging the sidewall 14C. The sidewall support braces 78 can be constructed of any suitable structural framing material such as wood boards or aluminum (or other metal) beams. For example, in various embodiments, the sidewall support braces 78 can be constructed of 2″×6″ wood boards. Each sidewall support brace 78 is connected at an upper end to the distal end of a respective one of the deck floor joists 66 and at a lower end to a respective one of the stringer support joists 62 and/or a respective one of the bottom grid longitudinal or lateral beams 46 or 50 such that at least a substantial portion of a longitudinal edge of the respective sidewall support brace 78 is flush with and in contact with the exterior of the pool insert sidewall 14C.
Referring now to FIG. 4, in various embodiments, the floating pool system 10 includes an equipment platform 82 disposed on and mounted to a top surface of the hull skeleton bottom grid 34 within the interior space of the hull 18 between the pool insert sidewall 14C and the skeleton side ribs 38. The equipment platform 82 is structured to have pool operation devices 86, such as a pool chlorinator, water filter, water pump, water heater, etc., mounted thereto. The equipment platform 82 can be constructed of any material suitable for attaching to the bottom grid 34 and for having the pool operation devices 86 mounted thereto. For example, in various embodiments, the equipment platform 82 can be constructed of wood boards anchored to the bottom grid 34. Additionally, in various embodiments, a control council 90 that is structured and operable to control the operation of the pool operation devices 86 can be mounted to a control council mounting panel 94 attached to one or more of the skeleton side ribs 38 within the interior space of the hull 18. The control council mounting panel 94 can be constructed of any material suitable for attaching to one or more of the side ribs 38 and for having the control council 90 mounted thereto. For example, in various embodiments, the equipment platform 82 can be constructed of a wood panel attached to one or more of the side ribs 38.
Furthermore, in various embodiments, one or more of the hull side ribs 38 can include a plumbing access aperture 98 that is structured to allow plumbing components 102 of the floating pool system 10, e.g., PVC pipes through which water is pumped to and from the pool insert 14 when filled with water, to extend therethrough. Hence, the plumbing components 102 can be disposed within the interior space of the hull 18 between the pool insert sidewall 14C and the hull shell 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 5, in order to provide ballast for the floating pool system 10, in various embodiments, at least two ballast tanks 106 are secured to the hull bottom grid 34 within the interior space of the hull 18 between the pool insert sidewall 14C and the skeleton side ribs 38. The ballast tanks 106 are structured and operable to retain water, or other suitable ballast material, to provide stability and leveling to the floating pool system 10 when the floating pool system 10 is placed in a body of water. Additionally, in various implementations, the floating pool system includes at least one bilge pump 110 disposed within the interior space of the hull 18 between the pool insert sidewall 14C and the skeleton side ribs 38. Each bilge pump 110 is structured and operable to evacuate bilge water from within the interior space of the hull 18.
Referring again to FIG. 4, once the deck floor joists 66, the deck support braces 70, the pool insert sidewall support braces 78, the equipment platform 82, the pool operation devices 86, the plumbing components 102, the control council mounting panel 94, the control council 90, the ballast tanks 106 and the bilge pump(s) 110 are installed within the interior space of the hull 18, between the pool insert sidewall 14C and the shell 26, the decking 74, i.e., the deck subfloor and surface covering, can be connected to the top edges of the floor joists 66. Once the decking 74 is connected to the top edges of the floor joists 66, the pool operation devices 86, the plumbing components 102, the control council 90, the ballast tanks 106 and the bilge pump(s) 110 will be enclosed within the interior space of the hull 18. Hence, to provide access to the pool operation devices 86, the plumbing components 102, the control council 90, the ballast tanks 106 and the bilge pump(s) 110, in various embodiments, an access port and door 114 (shown in FIG. 1) can be disposed within the decking 74. Accordingly, utilizing the access port and door 114, one could easily access and enter the interior space of the hull 18 to service and/or maintain all the disposed equipment and systems within the interior space of the hull 18, e.g., the pool operation devices 86, the plumbing components 102, the control council 90, the ballast tanks 106 and the bilge pump(s) 110.
Hence, the floating pool system 10, as described herein, provides a pool insert 14 securely disposed within a substantially light-weight hull 18 that is structured and operable to draw a substantially low amount of water such that the floating pool system 10 can be placed in relatively shallow depths of water, e.g., 1 foot to 3 feet or more. Additionally, the floating pool system 10, as described herein, provides a system wherein all the equipment and systems of the floating pool system 10, e.g., the pool operation devices 86, the plumbing components 102, the control council 90, the ballast tanks 106 and the bilge pump(s) 110 are disposed within the interior space of the hull 18. Hence, all the equipment and systems are protected from the environment and other abuse, and are easily accessible via the access port and door 114.
Furthermore, in the embodiments wherein the shell 26 is constructed of a composite such a fiberglass and resin composite, the hull 18 will require only minimal maintenance, i.e., cleaning and repair, and such maintenance can be performed without removing the floating pool system 10 from the respective body of water. For example, to clean the composite hull 18 can be easily wiped down and cleaned without removing the floating pool system 10 from the respective body of water. Additionally, the composite hull shell 26 will typically require no repairs due to exposure to the water, as opposed to a metal hull that would typically need yearly maintenance and repair that would require the system to be removed from the water scraped down to remove rust, have rust holes patched and then be repainted.
The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.
Patent Application
20120054955
