Pool cleaning device with improved bottom topography

Abstract

The pool cleaning device of the invention has a housing bottom with an elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet and optional topographical features that facilitate smooth flow of water to and into the suction hole so as to improve capture of tree leaves and other debris. The optional topographical features include a sloped bottom along the leading edge to minimize the possibility of debris catching on the outer edge of the housing bottom, a bottom suction cavity with or without partitions designed to direct debris toward the elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet, and a fender that partially wraps around a cylindrical rotary brush along the leading edge of the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 455,163 to Dewing (filed 29 May 2009), the teachings of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention is concerned with swimming pools and spas, and in particular with means of cleaning and removing debris from swimming pools and spas.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Swimming pool suction cleaning devices of the prior art typically comprise a rectangular housing having a substantially planar bottom with a centrally located suction hole connected to a suction means via a hose attached to a tubular outlet on the housing top. The cleaning device is moved along the pool bottom so that the housing bottom remains substantially parallel and in close proximity with the bottom of the swimming pool while water from the swimming pool is sucked through a small bottom gap...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present invention provides a pool cleaning device having an elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet and optionally other topological features on the bottom of the device housing that facilitate smooth flow of water to and into the suction hole so as to improve capture of tree leaves and other debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool or a spa. Optional topographical features that may be included in a device of the invention having a rectangular housing, comprise: sloped edges along each of the housing long sides such that the spacing between the housing bottom and the submerged surface of the pool is increased on the outside edges of the housing perpendicular to the direction of motion to minimize the possibility of debris catching on the outer edge of the housing bottom; and a bottom suction cavity designed to channel debris toward the elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet. The bottom suction cavity may comprise sloped sides, especially along the short housing sides, and / or partitions to improve uniformity of water flow along the long housing sides. Sloped suction cavity sides may be flat, curved or have segments with different slopes. A device according to the invention comprising a cylindrical rotary brush mounted outside the housing along a housing long side may further comprise a curved fender that partially wraps around the top of the rotary brush so as to increase water flow through the bottom portion of the rotary brush to enhance capture of debris.

[0015]In a preferred embodiment, the device of the invention comprises: a rectangular housing with two transport wheels attached to each short side of the housing; a centrally-located suction hole with a hemiellipsoidal inlet whose long axis is substantially parallel with the housing long sides; a suction cavity on the bottom of the housing having sides that are sloped along the short housing sides to improve the uniformity of water flow along the housing long sides, and partitions to direct debris toward the hemiellipsoidal suction hole inlet; a tubular outlet for connecting the suction hole outlet to a suction means via a hose; a pole attachment fitting enabling the pool cleaning device to be rolled along the submerged surface of the pool with the long housing sides perpendicular to the direction of motion; two cylindrical rotary brushes rotatably attached along the outside edges of the housing long sides; two rotary drive mechanisms whereby rotation of the transport wheels as the cleaning device is manually moved along the pool bottom drives rotation of the cylindrical rotary brush on the leading edge of the pool cleaning device in the same rotational direction as the transport wheels; sloped edges along each of the housing long sides such that the spacing between the housing bottom and the submerged surface of the pool is increased adjacent to the cylindrical brushes; and two curved fenders each attached along one of the housing long sides so as to partially wrap around the top of one of the cylindrical rotary brushes and increase water flow through the bottom portion of the brush.

[0016]The hemiellipsoidal suction hole inlet of the pool cleaning device of the invention is simple but highly effective for removing tree leaves and other debris, especially when combined with the other bottom topographical features of the invention and a rotary brush along the leading edge of the device. The device may be designed to be manually-operated or motor-driven so that it is well-suited for cleaning both large and small swimming pools and spas.

Problems solved by technology

Such devices are reasonably effective for removing dirt from the pool bottom but cannot efficiently capture debris larger than the bottom gap of the device.

Such brushes tend to push debris along the pool bottom rather than direct it to the suction hole.

Such prior art devices are ineffective for removing bits of debris that are too large to pass through the narrow bottom gap between the housing bottom perimeter and the pool surface.

Tree leaves are particularly difficult to capture using the devices of the prior art since the leaves are often highly non-planar so that they do not readily pass through the small bottom gap needed to vacuum dirt from pool surfaces.

Furthermore, tree leaves and other debris tend to hang up and accumulate at the inlet to the suction hole and other sharp edges of prior art pool cleaner devices.

The Sebor '275 device is relatively complicated and does not provide continuous capture of debris.

The Parenti '800 device is relatively complicated and is not well suited for use in small residential swimming pools.

This device is relatively complicated and is not well suited for use in small residential swimming pools.

Consequently, rotary brushes incorporated in prior art devices have typically been located within the suction cavity where they are ineffective as aids for capturing debris too large to directly pass through the bottom gap of the device.

Prior art pool cleaning devices also tend to be powered by an electric or hydraulic motor and often include steering mechanisms, making them too bulky, complicated and expensive for use in small residential swimming pools.

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