This invention relates to a pool and, more specifically, to a swimming pool.

Known swimming pools, in particular those of the "above ground" type, used for recreational purposes, include a load-bearing frame made, for example, of masonry, defining the bathing pool proper, and on which a liner, for example a wooden liner, is mounted.

Also known are above ground swimming pools with a metal frame and a water containing liner made from a sheet of suitable flexible plastic material. Pools of this kind are relatively inexpensive and can be easily assembled and dismantled by users themselves, without having to call specialised personnel.

These pools have a very light structure and, although practical in many respects, they are not entirely satisfactory from an aesthetic viewpoint since the load hese and other technical characteristics of the invention are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept. bearing frame and the water containing liner are open to view and not very attractive.

D1:US2005/0132487 discloses a modular spa that comprises a spa shell that includes at least one support member integrally molded therewith.

D2:US 3 518 705 discloses an above ground swimming pool comprising a flexible plastic liner disposed within a rigid frame.

D3: FR2843989 discloses a polygonal swimming pool.

D4: FR2785003 discloses a wall structure for swimming pools.

It is provided a pool comprising the features of the independent claim 1. Thus it is possible to obtain a pool of the above ground type that may be advantageously covered to obtain very good aesthetic results at any time the user likes. In practice, this jacket can be used to cover the swimming pool at any time, even after the swimming pool has been purchased and assembled. An advantageous jacket for swimming pools and an advantageous method for fitting the jacket to the swimming pool is also referred to.

The technical characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, and in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a pool according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the pool according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the pool according to the invention, showing in particular the supporting structure of the jacket;
• Figure 4 is a perspective detail view showing the pool supporting structure;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a detail of the upper portion of the preferred embodiment of the pool jacket according to the present invention;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the inside of the upper portion of the present preferred pool jacket;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a supporting member of the preferred pool jacket;
• Figure 8 is a side view of the supporting member of Figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a top view of the supporting member of Figures 7 and 8;
• Figure 10 is front view showing a detail of the top of the supporting member of Figures 7 to 9;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of an upright element that can be associated with the supporting member of Figures 7 to 10;
• Figure 12 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a pool jacket according to the present invention;
• Figure 13 is a side view of a detail of the jacket illustrated in Figure 12;
• Figure 14 is a perspective view showing an upper transversal or horizontal jacket retaining strap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 15 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the strap of Figure 14;
• Figure 16 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the upper horizontal portion of the jacket;
• Figure 17 is a perspective view of a profile supporting the jacket according to the invention on the ground;
• Figure 18 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the ground supporting profile of Figure 17;
• Figure 19 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the pool according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment 10 of a pool, in particular in the form of a swimming pool for recreational purposes.

As shown also in Figure 2, this swimming pool 10 is defined by a lining sheet 12, shown in dashed line style in Figure 2, made of a flexible plastic material, designed to contain a liquid, and having an inside surface labelled 12' in Figure 1.

The lining sheet 12 is hung on a metal supporting structure which, as clearly shown in Figure 2, comprises a plurality of peripherally distributed supporting members 13 comprising props 14 for supporting tubular crossbars 16 extending circumferentially and from which the lining sheet 12 hangs directly.

As illustrated, the props 14 supporting the lining sheet 12 extend from flat bases 18 resting on the ground, connected to each other by peripheral tubes 19 on the inside of each base 18, while oblique or curved uprights 20 are provided for further connecting each prop 14 to the respective flat base 18 on the side opposite that on which the props extend, that is, on the inside of the bases 18.

In this way, it is possible to construct a swimming pool above ground quickly and easily and just as easily and quickly dismantle it.

The pool according to the invention advantageously comprises an outer jacket, denoted in its entirety by the numeral 22 in the drawings, designed to cover the means 13 that support the containing means 12 and the containing means 12 themselves.

Thus, the above ground swimming pool can be advantageously covered in such a way as to considerably improve its appearance and make it more attractive for consumers. Manufacturers of swimming pools of this kind can therefore fully meet users' requirements, since users are not bound by aesthetic requirements which might condition their choice of swimming pool or dissuade them from purchasing and installing a swimming pool of this kind, causing them to forego the functional and economic advantages that swimming pools of this kind can bring.

The jacket 22 according to the invention has particularly advantageous supporting means that can be connected to the pool supporting means.

In practice, means are provided for connecting the means that support the jacket 22 directly to the above mentioned pool supporting means or to the lining sheet 12.

In this way, the pool can be advantageously covered at any time the user likes to obtain very good aesthetic results.

The provision of a jacket 22 connected to the pool supporting means 13 is particularly advantageous and relatively inexpensive since the jacket does not require excessively complex, cumbersome structures.

Advantageously, as will become more apparent below, the jacket according to the invention can also be used to cover only certain parts of the swimming pool, for example, parts that are most in view or particularly unattractive, without having to bear the costs of covering the entire swimming pool.

In particular, the means for supporting the jacket 22 are connected to the props 14 and to the tubular crossbars 16 of the structure that supports the lining sheet 12, as described in more detail below.

The invention advantageously contemplates that the means for supporting the outer jacket 22 have a respective portion or means by which they rest on the ground and further means for engaging the pool supporting means, in particular, for fastening to the pool supporting means themselves.

As will become more apparent below, the means for supporting the jacket have means for engaging the pool supporting means, where said means for fastening to the pool supporting means take the form of abutting means which exert on the pool supporting means 13 a thrust force directed in a substantially horizontal direction.

According to another aspect, which will become more apparent below, the means for supporting the outer jacket 22 advantageously have means for engaging the pool supporting means in such a way as to retain the means that support the jacket 22, thereby preventing the jacket supporting means from rotating in any way about their lower support point.

Means are advantageously provided for connecting the outer jacket to the respective means that support the jacket. More specifically, the means for connecting the outer jacket to the respective means that support the jacket are of the engageable and disengageable type.

With particular reference to the present preferred embodiment of it, the peripheral outer jacket comprises a lateral jacket 24, which extends in a substantially vertical direction, and an upper transversal jacket 25, which extends in a substantially horizontal direction and defines a tread surface running around the pool 12 and on which the user can walk.

Advantageously, the jacket supporting means take the form of a plurality of supporting members 23 that are peripherally distributed around the pool and spaced from one another.

In practice, the jacket 24 extends peripherally around the outside of the pool, covering the sides of it. As described in more detail below, the jacket 26 in turn covers the tops of the side walls of the pool and the means 13 that support the pool.

Advantageously, the means that support the jacket are located at the pool supporting means 13.

In practice, the jacket supporting means are aligned with the pool supporting means 13 in a transversal direction T or a longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal and transversal directions are indicated by respective arrows L and T in Figures 1 and 2. If the pool to be covered had a circular or similar shape, the jacket supporting means would therefore, advantageously, be positioned in radially aligned fashion with respect to the pool supporting means 13.

As illustrated, parts of the jacket 24 and 25 are mounted between respective adjacent supporting members 23, as will become more apparent below.

Means are also advantageously provided for connecting the lateral jacket 24 to the respective means that support the jacket. More specifically, the means for connecting the lateral jacket 24 to the respective means that support the jacket are of the engageable and disengageable type and comprise respective cavities on the supporting means 23 and at least one end of the jacket 24 that fits into a respective cavity.

More specifically, each supporting member 23 has respective means that support the substantially vertical or lateral jacket 24 and comprise an upright portion 26 which defines lateral grooves 28, 30 into each of which a respective end of the lateral jacket element 24 can be inserted.

As may be inferred also from Figures 7 to 11, the upright portion 26 comprises a first part 32, designed to remain on the inside, and a second part 34, designed to remain on the outside and to be attached to the first part 32 by fastening screws, only one of which is shown, labelled 37 in Figure 5, these two parts defining the lateral grooves 28, 30 into which a respective part of the jacket 24 is inserted.

In practice, as illustrated in particular in Figures 4 and 5, this upright portion 26, forms opposite lateral grooves 28, 30 between the inside part 32 and the outside part 34, for receiving respective peripheral portions or sections of the vertical jacket 24.

As illustrated, the lateral grooves 28, 30 are cavities extending vertically and open on the side of the upright 26 and at the top end to enable the respective side engagement portion of the jacket 24 to be easily inserted from above.

The inside and outside parts 32 and 34 of the upright 26 each consist of a metal profile having a generally U-shaped core and oblique side walls, the core having a respective central or bottom wall, respectively labelled 32a and 34a in the drawings, and oblique side walls in turn labelled 32b, 32c and 34b, 34c.

Each profile 32, 34 also has opposite lateral wings 32e, 32f, 34e, 34f, which are perpendicularly spaced from the central wall or bottom 32a, 34a and which extend in a direction parallel to the central wall 32a, 34a itself, to which they are connected by the oblique portions 32d, 32c and 34b, 34c.

As illustrated, in use, the central or bottom walls 32a, 34a of the inside and outside parts 32 and 34 of the upright are face to face and in contact with each other and extend symmetrically in opposite directions. The facing central or bottom walls 32a, 34a, are attached to each other and for this purpose, have respective holes 33 and 35 for receiving fastening screws 37.

As illustrated in particular in Figures 7 and 8, the first part 32 of the upright has, at its lower end, which rests on the ground, a portion 30' curved towards the inside of the swimming pool, that is to say, in a direction parallel with the crossbar portion 38, to form a foot by which the upright 26 is supported on the ground.

Advantageously, the means for supporting the top outer jacket 25 also comprise a horizontal or substantially horizontal crossbar 38 extending in a direction perpendicular to the respective side of the pool, and, more specifically, in a direction perpendicular to the tubular elements 16 that support the lining sheet 12. In practice, the crossbar 38 extends in a transversal direction T or in a longitudinal direction L, depending on where it is positioned.

In practice, means are advantageously provided for connecting the transversal jacket 25 to the respective means that support the jacket. More specifically, the means for connecting the transversal jacket to the respective means that support the jacket are of the engageable and disengageable type and comprise respective cavities formed between the supporting means 38 and the fastening means 40, and at least one end of the jacket 25 that fits into a respective cavity.

As illustrated, the crossbar 38 extends from the upright 32 and consists of a profile 38 comprising a generally U-shaped core with oblique side walls, said core having a central or bottom wall 38a and oblique side walls 38b, 38c, from the lateral edges of which there extend opposite lateral end wings 38e, 38f, defining respective supporting surfaces for corresponding lateral portions of the horizontal or transversal jacket 25, said lateral wings 38e, 38f, extending in a direction parallel with, and perpendicularly spaced from, the central wall 38a. In use, the lateral wings 38e, 38f extend in a horizontally or substantially horizontal direction.

The reference numeral 328 in Figures 9 and 10 denotes an opening in the central part of the profile which enables it to be easily bent so as to obtain the upright portion 32 and the crossbar portion 38 from a single profile element. A similar opening 388 is made on the opposite side of the crossbar 38 to facilitate bending of the same single profile to form an engagement portion 48, described in more detail below, from the crossbar portion 38.

The reference numeral 39 in Figure 7, denotes holes made in the bottom or central wall 38a of the crossbar 38 for receiving respective screws for fastening to upper retaining means of the horizontal or transversal jacket 25, which is thus supported at the wings 38e, 38f of the crossbar 38.

As may be inferred also from Figure 5, the horizontal jacket 25, on its outer side, extends in cantilever style from the horizontal jacket 24 and, on its inner side, over and projecting towards the pool with respect to the tubular elements 16 of the respective support 13 of the lining sheet 12.

In practice, the transversal jacket, or pool border walkway 25 extends over the means 16 that support the containing means 12, while the transversal jacket supporting means 38 extend at a level above the means 16 for supporting the containing means 12 or at the same level as the latter.

As may be inferred also from Figures 14 and 15, the means, on the crossbar 38, for retaining respective edges of opposite portions of the upper or horizontal jacket 25 comprise a respective strap 40 in the form of a substantially flat plate having holes 41 for receiving respective screws that attach it to the crossbar 38.

As illustrated, the fastening plate 40 also has a bent or curved end 42 defining means for retaining, in a horizontal or perpendicular direction, a respective end of the transversal jacket 25, and, more specifically, an end of the jacket 25 facing the outside of the swimming pool, as shown in Figure 3.

On the inside, the fastening plate 40 has a lightly curved end portion 44 that retains the jacket 25 in a horizontal or perpendicular direction on the side opposite the downwardly protruding engagement portion 42, that is to say, on the end of the jacket 25 towards the inside of the swimming pool, as shown in Figure 3, and in such a way as to exert a retaining force in a direction opposite to that of the engagement portion 42.

As illustrated, means are provided for engaging the jacket supporting means with pool supporting means, said engagement means comprising a perpendicular, transversal portion 48 abutting against the circumferential tubular elements 16 that support the lining sheet 12.

As illustrated, the engagement portion 48 extends in a vertical or substantially vertical direction, parallel to the upright 32, on the inside of the crossbar 38, that is, on the side of the latter opposite that on which the upright 32 extends.

As illustrated, the perpendicular extension portion 48, also in the form of a metal profile, has a U-shaped core having a bottom wall 48a and inclined side walls 48b and 48c from which opposite lateral or end wings 48e, 48f extend in a direction parallel with and perpendicularly spaced from the central or bottom wall 48a.

As illustrated, in use, the central protruding wall 48a of the perpendicular engagement portion 48 abuts against the tubular element 16.

Advantageously, the engagement means also comprise, at the bottom end of the perpendicular engagement element 48, a bottom engagement portion 50 that extends obliquely, being inclined slightly towards the upright element 32, that is to say, towards the outside of the swimming pool.

As illustrated, the oblique portion 50 also has a bottom or central wall 50a and opposite, parallel lateral wings 50e, 50f that are perpendicularly spaced from the bottom or central wall 50a, to which they are connected by intermediate, suitably inclined side walls of the plate portion, labelled 50b and 50c in the accompanying drawings. The reference numeral 480 in Figure 7 denotes an opening that facilitates bending of the oblique element 50 from the vertical element 48, that is to say, to form the entire element from a single profile.

As illustrated, holes 51 are made in the wings 50e and 50f of the oblique portion 50 in order to receive screws for fastening to the respective prop 14 of the structure that supports the pool lining sheet 12.

As illustrated in particular in Figure 6, means 52 are advantageously provided for fastening the means that support the jacket to the pool supporting means.

Advantageously, the fastening means 52 take the form of means for attaching the jacket supporting means to the pool supporting means 13 such as to apply a retaining action in a substantially horizontal direction.

More specifically, the fastening means 52 take the form of hook-up means and are located at the bottom end 50 of the means that abut against the supporting means 13 and consist of a generally U-shaped portion that hooks onto a respective upright or prop 14 that supports the pool.

As illustrated, the strap 52 is fastened by respective screws 55 to the pool supporting means at the oblique portion 50 of the abutment means.

For this purpose, the hook-up means 52 have opposite wings 52e, 52f having holes 53 for receiving respective screws 55 that are inserted into the holes 51 of the oblique portion 50.

As may be inferred also from Figures 17 and 18, means are advantageously provided for supporting the jacket on the ground.

These ground supporting means comprise a U-shaped profile 54 having a bottom wall 54a, on which the bottom of the jacket 24 rests, a vertical outside wall 54b, which extends from one end of the bottom wall 54a, and a vertical inside wall 54c, which is parallel with the outside wall 54b and which is designed to hold the jacket on the inside. The inside wall 54c is slightly smaller in height than the outside wall 54b.

As shown in particular in Figure 18, the ground support profile 54, viewed from above, has, on the part of it facing the inside of the pool, lateral recesses 54d, 54e which extend all the way along the respective vertical wing portion 54c and a part of the bottom wall 54a and which are such as to enable the profile itself to be positioned, in use, at the bottom supporting end of the upright 26.

As illustrated, these outer jacket supporting means also comprise a plurality of supporting elements, labelled 23 as a whole, which are peripherally distributed and spaced from one another around the pool, with respective jacket elements mounted between the supporting elements 23.

In particular, the outer jacket preferably comprises a plurality of jacket elements located at respective areas of the peripheral profile of the pool.

More specifically, in a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the lateral jacket of the pool is comprised of a plurality of slats 24a, in particular, superposed wooden slats.

As illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, each superposed slat 24a has an upwardly projecting protrusion 24b approximately half way along the edge of the slat itself, said protrusion 24b slotting into a respective groove 24c made in the bottom edge of the slat above it or adjacent slat 24a.

As shown in Figure 16, the jacket may also comprise a wide panel 25a adapted in particular to form the upper horizontal pool border walkway, or, more simply, means for supporting the user, affording respective holes 25b made only at one end of the panel where the panel itself is fastened by screws between the upper fastening strap 40 and the central wall 38a of the crossbar 38.

The jacket may also comprise a wide panel 25, similar to the panel 25a and adapted in particular to form the upper horizontal pool border walkway, but without the holes 25b, and designed to be held between the upper fastening strap 40 and the respective side wall 38e or 38b of the upper crossbar 38, as shown in Figure 5.

The jacket supporting structure is made preferably from suitably cut and bent metal profiles, and, in particular, from a single metal profile having a U-shaped core and lateral wings parallel to the bottom wall of the profile core.

As illustrated, the swimming pool according to the invention has a generally quadrangular shape, in particular, rectangular, and at one end has a wide sunbathing area or platform 70 extending at substantially the same height as the pool border where it is fitted.

As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 3, the sunbathing platform 70, which is composed of a horizontal panel, is obtained using supporting members that rest directly on the supporting members 16d of the lining sheet at one end of the pool, on similar transversal members 16c appropriately spaced from the corresponding end of the pool and on similar longitudinal members 16a, 16b on the extension of the pool side walls.

More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, for supporting the end platform 70, the pool supporting structure is suitably modified and, for that purpose, there are provided tubular elements 16a, 16b supported by respective props 14 and constituting an extension of the similar lateral tubular elements 16 that support the pool lining sheet 12, and also provided are corresponding tubular elements 16c which connect the tubular extension elements 16a, 16b on each side, extending in a direction parallel to the tubular elements 16d defining one end of the pool, and which are supported by respective props 14.

Figure 3 shows how a suitable profile 72 is rested on peripheral end members 16d supporting the pool. A strap 74 forming respective surfaces 76, 76 for supporting the platform 70 is associated with the profile 72.

The reference numerals 78, 80 and 82 denote suitably shaped boards that rest on respective tubular elements 16a, 16b, 16c and define respective surfaces on which the platform 70 is placed.

A shed or storage room 90 for tools, swimming pool accessories or other objects can be created between the outer jacket at one end 124 of the structure, the lateral parts of it at the same end of the structure (only one of these parts, labelled 124a in Figure 1, being shown) and the corresponding end of the swimming pool.

Access to the inside of the storage shed 90 could be provided by making a door in the outer jacket 24 at the end 124.

In an advantageous method for providing an outer jacket for a pool 10, in particular a swimming pool, according to the invention, means for supporting the outer jacket 22 are applied to the pool supporting means 13, 16 and the jacket 22 then applied to the jacket supporting means.

In practice, means for supporting the outer jacket 22 are fitted to means 13, 16 for supporting the pool and then, once the means for supporting the jacket 22 have been secured to the pool supporting means 13, 16, the jacket 22 itself is fitted to the means for supporting it.

In particular, for assembling the pool according to the invention, containing means 12 are fitted to means 13, 16 for supporting said containing means, and an outer jacket 22 is fitted to the jacket supporting means once the containing means 12 have been secured to the means 13, 16 for supporting the containing means themselves.

The jacket assembling method also involves fitting a transversal jacket after fitting a lateral peripheral jacket around the pool.

Briefly, assembling the jacket according to the invention involves positioning the L-shaped element 32, 38, 48, 50 to a respective prop 14, and fastening its oblique member 50 to the prop 14 using screws 55 and a strap 52. Next, the outside upright 34 is fastened with screws 37 to the upright member 32 of the L-shaped element 32, 38, 48, 50.

At this point, slats 24a can be inserted from above into the grooves 28, 30 of adjacent L-shaped elements, and the horizontal panel 25 can be placed on the crossbar member 38 of the L-shaped element, and the horizontal strap 40 can then be placed on the panel 25 and fastened to the latter using screws.

This provides a convenient and easy method of assembling the jacket according to the invention to cover the structure of an existing above ground swimming pool.

As shown in Figure 19, in a second preferred embodiment of the swimming pool, a protective rail or parapet 60 can be provided.

Advantageously, the protective rail or parapet 60 prevents swimming pool users from falling and, as illustrated, comprises respective uprights and upper peripheral longitudinal members, labelled 62 and 64, respectively, at least some of the uprights 62 extending from the respective straps 40' used for fastening the upper part of the jacket.

The protective rail or parapet 60 is provided at the outside edge of the upper jacket 25 and of the respective fastening strap 40'.

In the embodiments described, the jacket according to the invention is made of wood, and, in particular, is made from wooden slats or panels. It will be understood, however, that the jacket may be made from any other suitable material such as, for example, plastic.

The jacket according to the invention does not require any alterations to be made to the swimming pool supporting structure. In particular, no new holes have to be made in order to fit fasteners. The jacket can thus be easily assembled and dismantled at any time.

The numeral 91 in Figure 19 denotes a ladder, used in particular for climbing onto the platform 70 and having arms 93'a, 93'b, 93"a, 93"b connecting it to the jacket, in particular, to the means 26, 40 that support the jacket.

In particular, the lateral arms comprise respective first arms 93'a, 93'b, that extend on the sides of the ladder 91 and are connected to the vertical supporting members 26 of the jacket, and respective second arms 93'a, 93'b which extend in front and at the sides of the ladder 91 and are connected to the transversal fastening elements 40 of the jacket.

The invention described has evident industrial applications and can be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept as disclosed by the appended claims.