Not applicable.
The present general inventive concept relates to a swimming pool radius panel, and, more particularly, to a swimming pool radius panel for which reinforcement ribs may be more conveniently formed.
Forming walls for in below-the-ground swimming pools may typically involve the use of prefabricated modular walls that may be joined together on site. Some of these prefabricated walls are formed with panels that are designed to be made into either concave or convex panels that are held in shape by reinforcing members attached to the base panel. Thus, it is desirable to provide such a panel that has a more efficient construction to aid in maintaining the proper shape of the panel.
According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a modular wall structure to form a swimming pool radius is provided with flanges having support bands connected thereto to maintain the structure in a predetermined arcuate configuration, the support bands extending continuously and substantially from end to end of the structure such that support ribs may be conveniently located after the application of the support bands.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a modular wall structure to form a swimming pool radius, the wall structure including a wall panel having a front surface and rear surface defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, at least one side surface member extending back from each of the two side edges of the wall panel, a plurality of top surface members extending back from the top edge of the wall panel, a plurality of bottom surface members extending back from the bottom edge of the wall panel, a plurality of upper flange members respectively extending downward from a distal end of each of the top surface members, a plurality of lower flange members respectively extending upward from a distal end of each of the bottom surface members, a top support band coupled to each of the upper flange members, and a bottom support band coupled to each of the lower flange members, wherein the top and bottom support bands are configured to maintain the wall panel in a predetermined arcuate configuration.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method of manufacturing a modular wall structure used to form a swimming pool radius, the method including forming, from a substantially flat metal body, a wall panel having a front surface and rear surface defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, at least one side surface member extending back from each of the two side edges of the wall panel, a plurality of top surface members extending back from the top edge of the wall panel, a plurality of bottom surface members extending back from the bottom edge of the wall panel, a plurality of upper flange members respectively extending downward from a distal end of each of the top surface members, and a plurality of lower flange members respectively extending upward from a distal end of each of the bottom surface members, bending the wall panel to a predetermined arcuate configuration, connecting a top support band to each of the upper flange members, and connecting a bottom support band to each of the lower flange members, wherein the top and bottom support bands maintain the wall panel in the predetermined arcuate configuration.
Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.
The following example embodiments are representative of example techniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.
The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of fabrication operations described are merely examples, however, and the sequence type of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions may be simplified and/or omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.
Note that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a modular wall structure to form a swimming pool radius is provided with flanges having support bands connected thereto to maintain the structure in a predetermined arcuate configuration, the support bands extending continuously and substantially from end to end of the structure such that support ribs may be conveniently located after the application of the support bands. With such support bands extending essentially from end to end of the wall structure, support ribs may be easily added at desired positions along the length of the support bands, providing an improved structure with a more convenient construction than with the related art, which typically applies a plurality of the support bands around rib locations.
Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a modular wall structure to form a swimming pool radius, the wall structure including a wall panel having a front surface and rear surface defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, at least one side surface member extending back from each of the two side edges of the wall panel, a plurality of top surface members extending back from the top edge of the wall panel, a plurality of bottom surface members extending back from the bottom edge of the wall panel, a plurality of upper flange members respectively extending downward from a distal end of each of the top surface members, a plurality of lower flange members respectively extending upward from a distal end of each of the bottom surface members, a top support band coupled to each of the upper flange members, and a bottom support band coupled to each of the lower flange members, wherein the top and bottom support bands are configured to maintain the wall panel in a predetermined arcuate configuration. The modular wall structure may further include at least one support rib member coupled at an outer portion thereof to the top and bottom support bands, and coupled at an inner portion thereof to the rear surface of the wall panel. The at least one support rib member may include an inner flat member configured to contact the rear surface of the wall panel, an outer flat member configured to contact the top and bottom support band, and a connecting portion extending between the inner and outer flat members. The top and bottom support bands may be respectively coupled to inward facing surfaces of the upper and lower flange members. Gaps may be formed between any adjacent top surface members and between any adjacent bottom surface members such that the panel may be curved to a concave or convex shape without contact between adjacent top surface members or adjacent bottom surface members. The top surface members and bottom surface members may be tapered so as to be narrower at the distal ends thereof. The wall panel, side surface members, top surface members, bottom surface members, upper flange members, and lower flange members may be continuously formed.
Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a method of manufacturing a modular wall structure used to form a swimming pool radius, the method including forming, from a substantially flat metal body, a wall panel having a front surface and rear surface defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, at least one side surface member extending back from each of the two side edges of the wall panel, a plurality of top surface members extending back from the top edge of the wall panel, a plurality of bottom surface members extending back from the bottom edge of the wall panel, a plurality of upper flange members respectively extending downward from a distal end of each of the top surface members, and a plurality of lower flange members respectively extending upward from a distal end of each of the bottom surface members, bending the wall panel to a predetermined arcuate configuration, connecting a top support band to each of the upper flange members, and connecting a bottom support band to each of the lower flange members, wherein the top and bottom support bands maintain the wall panel in the predetermined arcuate configuration. The predetermined arcuate configuration may be concave or convex. The method may further include attaching at least one support rib member, at an outer portion thereof, to the top and bottom support bands, and, at an inner portion thereof, to the rear surface of the wall panel. The at least one support rib member may include an inner flat member configured to contact the rear surface of the wall panel, an outer flat member configured to contact the top and bottom support band, and a connecting portion extending between the inner and outer flat members. The method may further include connecting the top and bottom support bands to inward facing surfaces of the upper and lower flange members. The method may further include forming gaps between any adjacent top surface members and between any adjacent bottom surface members such that the panel may be curved to a concave or convex shape without contact between adjacent top surface members or adjacent bottom surface members. The method may further include tapering the top surface members and bottom surface members so as to be narrower at the distal ends thereof. The method may further include forming the wall panel, side surface members, top surface members, bottom surface members, upper flange members, and lower flange members from a continuous sheet of metal. The top and bottom support bands may extend continuously and substantially between the side edges.
Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated.
It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings included in the present application do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modification, and additional embodiments are possible, and, accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.
While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200332545 A1 | Oct 2020 | US |