The invention relates to a swimming pool frame comprising interconnected frame panels, each frame panel comprising substantially vertically extending hollow aluminium support sections, which connect a substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium bottom edge section to a hollow aluminium top edge section.

The invention further relates to a method for constructing such a swimming pool frame.

A swimming pool known from GB-1,451,324 comprises two frame panels interconnected by a tension member {see figure 1, reference numeral 16). Each frame panel comprises substantially vertically extending, hollow aluminium support sections (13), which connect a substantially horizontally extending aluminium bottom edge section(12) to an aluminium top edge section (11).

A drawback of the known frame sections panels is that the sections comprise relatively complex connectors formed in an extrusion process, by means of which connectors the sections are interconnected, so that connecting said sections together is a relatively labour-intensive process. Another drawback is the fact that only an oval or a curved swimming pool can be formed by means of said panels.

The object of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention is to form a swimming pool frame which is light in weight and which can be assembled in a quick and simple manner, and which, once erected, forms a reliable swimming pool frame for a rectangular and/or square swimming pool that is to be constructed.

This object is accomplished with the swimming pool frame according to the present invention in that a rectangular or square swimming pool frame can be formed by means of at least four frame panels interconnected by means of fasteners, such as bolts, for example.

The swimming pool frame according to the invention comprises aluminium sections of simple design, which sections form a strong frame panel. By connecting at least four frame panels at an angle of 90 degrees relative to each other, using bolts, a simple swimming pool frame which is easy to assemble is provided. The use of said panels makes it possible to select the dimensions of the swimming pool. The mere use of aluminium on the one hand ensures that the swimming pool frame will have the strength required to withstand the water pressure, whilst on the other hand the weight of the sections used to form the panels is very low. In particular in gardens and the like, swimming pools are constructed at positions which are difficult to reach, possibly intentionally so, from the road. By using lightweight aluminium sections for the swimming pool frame, said sections can be easily carried to the correct positions. Moreover, it is possible to form compact packages comprising relatively many sections, which packages can still be easily carried by one person. Using said sections of relatively simple design, It is possible to construct rectangular swimming pools in a low-cost manner.

One embodiment of the swimming pool frame according to the invention is characterised in that each frame panel further comprises at least one substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium stiffening section positioned between the bottom edge section and the top edge section.

The use of such stiffening sections makes it possible to form relatively high, in excess of 1 m, frame panels which can easily withstand enormous water pressures.

Another embodiment of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention is characterised in that the support sections comprise main support sections as well as stiffening support sections, which main support sections have a length dimension at least substantially twice that of the stiffening support sections. The main support sections are provided with a recess at the ends thereof, in which recess a bottom edge section or a top edge section can be positioned and be fixed in said position, in this way the main support sections can be connected and be fixed to the bottom edge section and the top edge section in a relatively simple, reliable and strong manner.

Preferably, an outer side of each frame panel is made up of a main support section, whilst another outer side of each frame panel is made up of a stiffening support section, which stiffening support section of a first frame panel can be connected to a main support section of the second frame panel, for example by means of bolts or the like, when the frame panels are being interconnected. In this way a compact but also strong connection between several frame panels is realised, without additional stiffening means being required, for example at the corners.

Another embodiment of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention is characterised in that several further support sections are disposed between the main support section forming the outer side of a frame panel and the stiffening support section forming the other outer side of the frame panel, which further support sections are connected to the horizontally extending stiffening sections via notch joints.

By using such notch joints, which are formed by providing at least one of two sections to be connected together with a recess at the positions where said sections are to be connected, which recess has a dimension which, because of the required rigidity, equals at most half the width dimension of the section, it is possible to form a strong frame panel in a simple and quick manner. Preferably, both sections are provided with such a recess, so that the connection will take up a minimum amount of space.

Yet another embodiment of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention is characterised in that at least two further main support sections are provided between the main support section forming the outer side of a frame panel and the stiffening support section forming the other outer side of the frame panel for the purpose of stiffening the part of the frame panel located therebetween.

Said stiffening is necessary, for example, in the case of panel parts in which parts of a swimming pool, such as a skimmer or a lighting fixture, for example, are mounted. Said panel parts are additionally stiffened in that said at least two further main support sections of each frame panel are provided with supports.

Preferably, aluminium wall parts are attached to the various sections of the swimming pool frame, thus providing a reservoir, which can be provided with a watertight liner, if desired. Not only are the aluminium wall parts light in weight, they also provide in particular sufficient resistance against the forces exerted by the water in a filled swimming pool.

The invention further relates to a method for constructing a swimming pool frame as set forth above in a relatively quick and relatively simple manner.

Although the swimming pool frame is suitable for being installed on the ground, i.e. at ground level, it is often preferable for aesthetic reasons to install the swimming pool at least partially in a pit that has been dug.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment of swimming pool frame as shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool frame according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention as shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the swimming pool frame according to the invention as shown in figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a frame panel of a swimming pool frame according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a swimming poo) frame according to the present invention, which is provided with a gutter construction;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a frame panel of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention as shown in figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail view of the swimming pool frame according to the present invention as shown in figure 5.

Like parts are indicated by the same numerals in the figures.

Figures 1-4 show a swimming pool frame 1 according to the present invention or parts thereof. The swimming pool frame 1 comprises six interconnected frame panels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 , 13. Two pairs of frame panels 3, 5, 7, 9 are arranged parallel to each other, whilst the other two frame panels 11 , 13 extend substantially transversely to said two pairs of frame panels 3, 5, 7, 9. The four frame panels 3, 5, 7, 9 are substantially identical to each other, whilst the two end side frame panels 11 , 13 are configured differently. The frame panels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 , 13 together form the rectangular swimming pool frame 1 for a swimming pool to be constructed. Each frame panel 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 , 13 comprises substantially vertically extending hollow aluminium support sections 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, which connect a substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium bottom edge section 31, 35 to a hollow top edge section 33, 37.

Each frame panel 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 further comprises at least one substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium stiffening section 41, 43, 45, 47, 49 disposed between the bottom edge section 31, 35 and the top edge section 33, 37.

The support sections comprise main support sections 10, 17, 19, 25, 29, 32, 34, 36 as well as stiffening support sections 12, 15, 21, 23, 27, 30 connecting the bottom edge section 31, 35 to the top edge section 33, 37, which main support sections 10, 17, 19, 25, 29, 32, 34, 36 have a length dimension at least substantially twice that of the stiffening support sections 12, 15, 21, 23, 27, 30. Furthermore, vertical sections 14, 16, 18 may be provided, which, on account of accessories to be fitted, such as lighting fixtures, filter systems and stairs, are shorter than the stiffening support sections 12, 15, 21, 23, 27, 30, and which consequently extend only along part of the height of the swimming pool frame 1.

The length and width dimensions of the square stiffening support sections 12, 15, 21, 23, 27, 30 are preferably 50 mm x 50 mm, whilst the height dimension depends on the desired depth of the swimming pool. The length and width dimensions of the beam-shaped main support sections 10, 17, 19, 25, 29, 32, 34 are 100 mm x 50 mm, whilst the height dimension likewise depends on the desired depth of the swimming pool.

The main support sections are provided with a recess 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 at the respective ends 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 thereof, in which recess a bottom edge section 33 or a top edge section 31 can be positioned and be fixed in said position by means of a bolt or a similar type of fastener. Prior to the assembly, the recesses are oriented to face inwards. An inner wall to be formed will exhibit practically no differences in level or, in other words, practically no relief.

A first outer side of each frame panel 7 (see figure 4, for example) is formed by a main support section 10, whilst another outer side of each frame panel 7 is formed by a stiffening support section 30, which stiffening support section 30 of a first frame panel 7 can be connected, for example by means of bolts or the like, to a main support section 10 of a second frame panel 9 when the frame panels 7, 9 are being connected together.

For stability reasons, each frame panel 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 comprises several further support sections 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and further vertical sections 14, 16, 18 between the main support section 10 forming the outer side of a frame panel 5 and the stiffening support section 25 forming the other outer side of the frame pane! 5, which further sections are connected to the horizontally extending stiffening sections 41, 43, 45, 47 by means of notch joints 70.

Between the main support section forming the outer side of the frame panel and the stiffening support section forming the other outer side of the frame panel, each frame panel 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 comprises at least two further main support sections for stiffening the part of the frame panel that is located therebetween.

Said main support sections 17, 19, 25, 29, 32, 34 of each frame panel, which are disposed around the centre of each panel, are provided with support 81 attached thereto, which impart sufficient stability to the swimming pool frame 1 according to the present invention to withstand the pressure exerted by the water in a filled swimming pool. Each support 81 is made of three aluminium sections, which are connected in the shape of a right-angled triangle.

Finally, as shown in figure 1 , aluminium wall parts are attached to the swimming pool frame, which wail parts may be provided with recesses as may be needed for lighting fixtures and skimmers, for example. Stairs may be mounted in the opening 100 in the illustrated swimming pool frame 1.

The swimming pool frame 1 shown in the figures has a length of 6 metres, a width of 3 metres and a height of about 1 metre.

The dimensions of the swimming pool frame 1 can be variably selected, they are not limited to the configuration of the swimming pool frame as shown in the figures. The same obtains with regard to the dimensions of the swimming pool frame panels assembled in the manner described above.

The swimming pool frame 200 shown in figures 5-7 comprises frame panels which are configured differently, each frame panel in any case comprising substantially vertically extending hollow aluminium support sections which connect a substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium bottom edge section to a hollow aluminium top edge section, as well as at least one substantially horizontally extending hollow aluminium stiffening section disposed between the bottom edge section and the top edge section. Parts that have already been described with reference to figures 1-4 are not indicated by reference numerals in figures 5-7.

The difference with the swimming pool frame shown in figures 1-4 is that the swimming pool frame 200, besides having different dimensions and differently configured corner panels, is provided with a gutter construction 201.

The gutter construction 201 extends along the entire circumference of the swimming pool frame 200. The gutter construction 201 comprises two main parts, the gutter section 203 as well as a gutter support 205.

The gutter section 203 comprises a first edge 209 provided with holes 207, which first edge 209 is secured to the top edge sect/on 233 by means of bolts. The gutter section 203 further comprises a second edge 211 , which extends parallel to the first edge 209 and which is not provided with holes. The gutter 213 extends between said first edge 209 and said second edge 21 1.

The gutter support 205 is relatively flat, it is secured to the vertical support sections by means of bolts. The inner shape of the gutter support 205 corresponds to the shape of the gutter 213, and the gutter support 205 comprises a supporting portion 220 which is configured so that the second edge 211 is supported by the supporting portion in the mounted condition.

The gutter 213 is further provided with a discharge opening 221.

The supports 281 are triangular in shape, comprising an intermediate support 283, so that each support is A-shaped, seen in side view. Each intermediate support 283 comprises two circular recesses 285, in which discharge pipes can be positioned, which discharge pipes can be connected to the discharge opening 221.

An advantage of the gutter construction according to the invention is that it can be mounted in a quick, simple and low-cost manner. In addition, the gutter construction is easy to align by using adjusting means, such as the aforesaid bolts, and any connecting pieces to be provided between the edges and the top edge sections 233, so that levelling the gutter will be easy.

The swimming pool frame 200 is also provided with stairs 230 constructed from aluminium panels and sections.