Insulated pools and methods for the construction thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an insulated, in-ground pool are disclosed. In some cases, the pool includes one or more basin floors or one or more basin walls. In some implementations, at least one of the basin floor and one or more basin walls include one or more layers of concrete, such as a first outer layer of concrete and a second outer layer of concrete. In some implementations, the pool includes an inner insulating core. In some cases, the inner insulating core is positioned generally between the first outer layer of concrete and the second outer layer of concrete such that the first outer layer of concrete, second outer layer of concrete, and inner insulating core form a unitary whole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated, in-ground pool comprising:
 a basin floor and one or more basin walls, with at least one of the basin floor and one or more basin walls comprising:
 a first outer layer of concrete; 
 a second outer layer of concrete; and 
 an inner insulating core, wherein the inner insulating core is positioned generally between the first outer layer of concrete and the second outer layer of concrete such that the first outer layer of concrete, second outer layer of concrete, and inner insulating core form a unitary whole. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pool of  claim 1 , wherein the pool further comprises:
 a rebar construction joint having a generally horizontal floor section and a generally vertical wall section, wherein the generally horizontal floor section is at least partially embedded in the basin floor and the generally vertical wall section is at least partially embedded in the one or more basin walls such that the rebar construction joint, basin floor, and one or more basin walls form a unitary whole.   
     
     
         3 . The pool of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer layer of concrete is at least three inches in thickness, the second outer layer of concrete is at least one inch in thickness, and the inner insulating core is at least three inches in thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The pool of  claim 1 , wherein the pool further comprises:
 a shelf, wherein the shelf comprises:
 an insulated shelf panel comprising:
 a third outer layer of concrete; 
 a fourth outer layer of concrete; and 
 a second inner insulating core, wherein the second inner insulating core is positioned generally between the third outer layer of concrete and the fourth outer layer of concrete such that the third outer layer of concrete, the fourth outer layer of concrete, and the second inner insulating core form a unitary whole; 
 
 wherein the shelf has a height of less than a height of the one or more basin walls. 
   
     
     
         5 . The pool of  claim 1 , wherein the inner insulating core further comprises:
 two grid mats of longitudinal and transverse wires crossing one another, the wires attached together at a point of cross, the grid mats spaced apart from each other by a gap; and   a piece of insulating material having a thickness that is less than the gap, wherein the piece of insulating material is disposed within the gap between the grid mats.   
     
     
         6 . The pool of  claim 5 , wherein the inner insulating core and the two grid mats are provided as a plurality of segments spliced together to form a unitary whole. 
     
     
         7 . A method for constructing an insulated, in-ground pool such as a swimming pool, hot tub, or fountain, the method comprising:
 placing or assembling a rebar construction joint in an in-ground space, wherein the rebar construction joint has a generally horizontal floor section and a generally vertical wall section extending from the generally horizontal floor section;   applying a first layer of floor concrete, wherein the first layer of floor concrete at least partially overlaps with the generally horizontal floor section of the rebar construction joint;   laying a generally horizontal insulating core on the first layer of floor concrete before the first layer of floor concrete has set, wherein the generally horizontal core has a top side and a bottom side;   securing one or more generally vertical insulating cores to the generally vertical wall section of the rebar construction joint, wherein the one or more generally vertical insulating cores have an outer surface and an inner surface;   applying an outer layer of wall concrete between the outer surface of the one or more substantially vertical insulating cores and a surrounding earth wall; and   applying an inner layer of wall concrete to the inner surface of the one or more substantially vertical insulating cores; and   applying a second layer of floor concrete, wherein the second layer of floor concrete substantially covers the generally horizontal insulating core.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the generally horizontal core and the one or more generally vertical insulating cores are comprised of:
 two grid mats of longitudinal and transverse wires crossing one another, the wires attached together at a point of cross, the grid mats spaced apart from each other by a gap; and   a piece of insulating material having a thickness that is less than the gap, wherein the piece of insulating material is disposed within the gap between the grid mats.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to laying the generally horizontal insulating core on the first layer of floor concrete, securing together a first plurality of insulating core panels to form the generally horizontal insulating core using a first piece of wire mesh by securing the first piece of wire mesh to the bottom side of the first plurality of insulating core panels, such that when the generally horizontal insulating core is laid on the first layer of floor concrete the first piece of wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the first layer of floor concrete; and   after laying the generally horizontal insulating core on the first layer of floor concrete, attaching a second piece of wire mesh to the top side of the first plurality of insulating core panels, such that the second piece of wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the second layer of floor concrete when such second layer of floor concrete is applied.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to applying the outer layer of wall concrete, securing together a second plurality of insulating core panels to form the generally vertical insulating core using a third piece of wire mesh by securing the third piece of wire mesh to the outer surface of the second plurality of insulating core panels, such that when the outer layer of wall concrete is applied, the third piece of wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the outer layer of wall concrete; and   prior to applying the inner layer of wall concrete, attaching a fourth piece of wire mesh to the inner surface of the second plurality of insulating core panels, such that when the inner layer of wall concrete is applied, the fourth piece of wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the inner layer of wall concrete.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to applying the second layer of floor concrete, attaching a piece of a corner wire mesh between the generally vertical insulating core and the generally horizontal insulating core, such that when the second layer of floor concrete is applied, the piece of corner wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the second layer of floor concrete, and such that when the inner layer of wall concrete is applied, the piece of corner wire mesh becomes at least partially embedded in the inner layer of wall concrete.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises excavating the in-ground space so as to form a floor and a wall, wherein there is a gap between the wall and the outer surface of the one or more substantially vertical insulating cores, and wherein the method further comprises:
 when applying the outer layer of wall concrete to the outer surface of the one or more substantially vertical insulating cores, applying such outer layer of wall concrete by filling with cement the gap between the wall of the in-ground space and the outer surface of the one or more substantially vertical insulating cores.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the first layer of floor concrete is pouring, applying the outer layer of wall concrete is pouring, applying the second layer of floor concrete is pouring, and applying the inner layer of wall concrete is applying using a projectile applicator. 
     
     
         14 . An insulated, in-ground pool such as a swimming pool, hot tub, or fountain, utilizing construction panel components within a concrete structure, the pool comprising:
 an insulated basin floor and one or more insulated basin walls, with such insulated basin floor and insulated basin walls each comprising:
 an outer layer of concrete; 
 an inner layer of concrete; and 
 an insulating core comprising:
 two grid mats of longitudinal and transverse wires, the wires crossing one another and attached together at a point of cross, the grid mats spaced apart from each other by a gap; and 
 a piece of insulating material disposed within the gap between the grid mats; 
 
 wherein the piece of insulating material is positioned between the first outer layer of concrete and the second outer layer of concrete, wherein a first of the grid mats is at least partially embedded in the outer layer of concrete and a second of the grid mats is at least partially embedded in the inner layer of concrete such that the outer layer of concrete, the inner outer layer of concrete, and the insulating core form a unitary, insulated whole. 
   
     
     
         15 . The pool of  claim 14 , wherein the insulating core further comprises:
 a plurality of linking structural elements at least partially embedded in the piece of insulating material disposed within the gap between the grid mats, wherein the plurality of linking structural elements are generally attached to each of the grid mats to join the grid mats and piece of insulating material into a unitary whole.   
     
     
         16 . The pool of  claim 15 , wherein the pool further comprises:
 a rebar construction joint having a generally horizontal floor section and a generally vertical wall section, wherein the generally horizontal floor section is at least partially embedded in the insulated basin floor and the generally vertical wall section is at least partially embedded in the one or more insulated basin walls such that the rebar construction joint, insulated basin floor, and one or more insulated basin walls form a unitary whole.   
     
     
         17 . The pool of  claim 16 , wherein the insulating core is further comprised of an insulating wall core that is joined to an insulating floor core. 
     
     
         18 . The pool of  claim 16 , wherein the insulated basin floor and insulated basin walls are formed of a plurality of panel segments attached together to form a unitary whole. 
     
     
         19 . The pool of  claim 18 , wherein the panel segments are attached together with a piece of wire mesh, wherein the piece of wire mesh is attached to at least one of the two grid mats on at least two of the panel segments. 
     
     
         20 . The pool of  claim 18 , wherein the pool further comprises:
 a piece of corner wire mesh attached to the insulating core in the insulated basin floor and to the insulating core in the one or more insulated basin walls, such that the piece of corner wire mesh is at least partially embedded in the inner layer of concrete in the insulated basin floor and at least partially embedded in the inner layer of concrete in the one or more insulated basin walls.