Freeform pool
A swimming pool consisting of a plurality of panels that withstands water pressure in both a concave and convex configuration to create any freeform shape or size. Each panel consists of an adhered wall of skinning of metal or plastic over expanded polystyrene or expanded urethane foam. The density of the foam is adjusted as necessary to increase the strength of the wall based on static loading of water when swimming pool is assembled as a whole and fully filled with water.
1. A swimming pool comprising:
a plurality of insulated panels, each of the plurality of insulated panels having an inner external skinning, an outer external skinning, and an internal insulating expanded foam between the inner external skinning and the outer external skinning;
a plurality of supports adapted to support at least some of the plurality of insulated panels;
wherein at least one of the plurality of insulated panels of the swimming pool comprises an insulated panel having an internal convex surface exposed to water pressure due to contact with water and an external exposed concave surface, wherein the external exposed concave surface comprises a substantially smooth and uninterrupted surface between two of the plurality of supports; and
wherein the internal insulating expanded foam of the at least one of the plurality of insulated panels having the internal convex surface exposed to water pressure comprises an insulating expanded foam having a density adapted to withstand water pressure on the internal convex surface of the panel without failure of the panel.
2. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of insulated panels having the internal convex surface exposed to water pressure comprises at least two insulated panels having the internal convex surface exposed to water pressure.
3. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of insulated panels exposed to water pressure is supported by two of the plurality of supports.
4. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the insulating expanded foam comprises one of an expanded polystyrene foam and an expanded urethane foam.
5. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the external exposed concave substantially smooth and uninterrupted surface is not in contact with a support.
6. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the swimming pool comprises an above ground swimming pool.
7. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the swimming pool comprises a semi above ground swimming pool.
8. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulated panels are connected by a plurality of panel joints, and wherein each of the plurality of panel joints comprises an elongated beam adapted to connect each of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel, and wherein the elongated beam comprises an elongated flanged I-beam comprising a double web.
9. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein two of the plurality of supports are positioned at opposite ends of the at least one of the plurality of insulated panels having an internal convex surface exposed to water pressure.
10. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the external, substantially smooth and uninterrupted, exposed concave surface is further devoid of backfill.
11. The swimming pool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner external skinning and the outer external skinning each comprise one of a metal and a plastic.