The present invention is concerned with a method of pool wall construction and a pool constructed by said method.

There are many known methods of pool wall construction using hollow polystyrene blocks, hollow concrete blocks and other prefabricated wall systems; however, many of the prior arrangements lack stability, which may lead to the collapse of the pool walls due to the pressure of the water when a pool is filled to the required level.

The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements.

Thus the present invention conveniently provides a method of pool construction comprising the steps of:

a) locating peripheral wall panels in edge to edge relationship with lower end portions of the panels supported in 'IF shaped channels;

b) capping upper end portions of the wall panels within inverted 'U' shaped channels; and,

c) pouring concrete ballast about the inner and outer lower end portions of th&wall panels,

characterised in that each of the panels is provided with apertures extending there-through at the lower end portions thereof so that the concrete ballast flows through said apertures to secure, when set, the panels in situ.

In one preferred method provided by the present invention, reinforcing bars are located in each aperture to add strength and stability to the pool construction.

Conveniently, in the method of pool construction provided by the present invention, concrete ballast may be strengthened by the inclusion therein of glass and/or metal fibres.

The present invention conveniently provides a pool construction comprising peripheral wall panels located in edge to edge relationship, 'U' shaped channel 11 001364

-2- members for receiving lower end portions of the wall panels and inverted 'U' shaped channel members for capping, in use, upper end portions of the wall panels,

characterised in that the wall panels each comprise apertures extending there-through at lower end portions thereof for reinforcing bars and concrete ballast, whereby the pool construction has added strength and stability.

Preferably, the wall panels are of extruded polystyrene with outer layers of fibreglass, steel, timber, or any suitable material commensurate with adding to the integrity of the wall panels.

There now follows by way of example of the invention a detailed description that is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a pool wall panel;

Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of an assembly of two pool wall panels;

Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of a modified pool wall panel;

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of the pool wall panel of Figure 3 with added elements of the invention; and,

Figure 5 is a perspective part section view of a swimming pool provided by the

present invention.

The swirnrning pool of the present invention comprises a plurality of wall panels 10 each of which is made up of an inner core 2 of insulation material and outer skins 1 and la bonded or laminated to opposite sides of the inner core 2, see Figure 1. Thus, the panels 10 have good insulation properties and acceptable rigidity for purpose.

In use, the panels 10 are butted together in a tongue and groove, or biscuit joint,

thereby adding rigidity to the assembly in a similar manner to that used for partition wall systems. The panels 10 of the wall system are placed in 'LP shaped channels 4, which enables the panels 10 to be aligned one with the other and to be tightened to make a continuous wall, see Figure 2. The wall panels 10 are topped by inverted 'LP shaped channels 4a, which further assist in aligning the panels 10 and add further rigidity to the construction of the aligned panels 10.

The 'U' shaped channels and the inverted 'U' shaped cannels 4a are fixed to the wall panels 10 by screws, not shown, the screws passing partway or wholly through the wall panels 10; this also adds further rigidity to the assembled wall panel structure.

It will be appreciated that the above construction is a quick and easy way of erecting the walls of a swimming pool. In conventional arrangements used hitherto, bracing may be used inside or outside of the pool walls to ensure that the wall panels 10 remain in place.

Each panel 10 is provided with a plurality of holes 3 that are drilled through lower end portions 10a of the panels 10, which holes 3, when a swiniming pool is being constructed enables poured concrete to pass through the holes 3 from one side to the other of the panels 10 whereby, when the concrete has set, the panels 10 will be secured in place thereby negating the need for further internal and/or external bracing although such provision may be made in certain circumstances.

A reinforcing bar 8 is inserted into the holes 3 before pouring the cement to add further stability to the structure; in addition, glass or metal fibres may be added to the concrete mix giving added strength to the finished structure.

It is believed that the concrete acts as a brace and prevents the wall structure from toppling over; in addition, the use of the reinforcing bars 8 and the glass/metal fibres adds further strength and rigidity that may negate the need for further bracing.

It may be necessary depending upon the length and width of a swimming pool being constructed that some form of bracing may be required; however, from work 001364

-4- completed on prototype designs, the results indicate that little or no such bracing is required.

At the top of the wall panels 10, holes 7 are cut into each panel at intervals, see Figure

3 and mitred outwardly to form grooved apertures 7a to provide keying points for concrete ring beams, not shown. When poured, concrete will flow under the inverted 'U' shaped channels filling the grooved apertures 7a thus binding the ring beams to the top of the wall panels 10.

Typically, the walls panels 10 would be made of extruded polystyrene and have outer sides 1 and la of fibreglass, steel, wood or other suitable materials.

The 'LP shaped channels 4 and the inverted 'U' shaped channels 4a may be made from various materials including steel, plastic, aluminium or any other materials commensurate with providing a utile product.

In addition the insulation core 2 of the wall panels 10 may be made from various materials including honeycomb, polyurethane or other suitable materials.

The described wall panel system may be used above ground on set into the ground and may be utilised indoors or outdoors.

The wall system may have any suitable finishes applied to either side of the panels 10 as required, the finishes consisting of one or more layers.

For a PVC lined swimrning pool, one fibreglass sheet applied to each side of the insulation core 2 would suffice and enable the application of the PVC liner, see Figure 5, which liner would hold the water in a filled swimming pool.

However, in an alternative arrangement tiles or a paint surface finish may be specified which would then require added layers to be applied to the insulation core 2. In this instance, a cement tile backer board could be laminated on one side of the insulation core 2. 2011/001364

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When the wall of the swimming pool structure has been assembled in situ and the concrete mix is poured to pass through the holes 3, as it sets the concrete holds the panels 10 in place. An insulation render coat and mesh material would be applied to the tile backer levelling the surface ready for tiles or other surfaces to be applied to the inner walls of the swimming pool.

The 'U' shaped channels 4 and the inverted 'U' shaped channels 4a may be made from steel for locating and aligning the insulation panels 10. However, the panels could be seated in the 'U' shaped channels 4 and 4a without any fixings, bonding or screws if the rigidity of the assembled walls was sufficient for purpose.

A biscuit joint element 5 is shown in Figure 2, which joint may be made from wood, steel or any other suitable material. The biscuit joint element 5 is used to conjoin juxtaposed wall panels 10 as shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the panels 10 may be conjoined by a suitable adhesive.

Mitred grooves 6 are provided in opposite ends of the insulation cores 2 in order to facilitate the conjoining of the panels 10 using the biscuit joint elements 5, see Figures 1 to 5.

Modifications may be made to the panels 10 of the present invention, for example, the apertures provided by the holes 3 may be of any shape such as letterbox or rectangular configurations.