Angled Pool Skimmer Debris Guard with Elastomeric Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pool skimmer debris guards do not effectively inhibit debris entry while allowing continuous water flow and are not easily removable for cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A foraminous debris guard with angled bottom and top portions, an elastomeric band, and a hook attachment to a basket, ensuring debris is prevented from entering the skimmer while maintaining water flow and facilitating easy removal for cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a planar screen is used to cover the intake, then debris is blocked, but water flow continuity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris entryVSAvoidwater flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The debris guard is divided into a top portion and a bottom portion that are segmented and angled relative to each other. This segmentation allows the top portion to block debris while the bottom portion remains submerged to maintain water flow continuity into the intake, resolving the contradiction between debris blocking and water flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a fixed debris guard structure is used, then debris is blocked, but ease of removal for cleaning is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris entryVSAvoidremoval for cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The debris guard incorporates an elastomeric band that provides flexibility and elasticity, allowing the rigid foraminous structure to be dynamically attached and removed from the skimmer intake. The elastomeric band enables easy installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity during use, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure for debris blocking and ease of removal for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid structure is used to block debris, then debris entry is prevented, but adaptability to different skimmer configurations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris entryVSAvoidattachment to different baskets

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric band acts as a flexible element that can adapt to different skimmer basket configurations and sizes. This flexible band allows the rigid foraminous debris guard to be universally attached to various skimmer types, resolving the contradiction between rigid structure for debris blocking and adaptability to different configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents debris from entering the pool skimmer while allowing continuous water flow and enables easy cleaning by attaching to the skimmer basket.

Implementation Method 1

a foraminous debris guard (12) to pass water through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

An elastomeric band (50) is attached to the debris guard (12)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250109602A1Pool Skimmer Debris Guard Device

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 WOOD CONNIE

AI summary

A pool skimmer debris guard device for inhibiting debris from entering a pool skimmer includes a debris guard that is foraminous to pass water through the debris guard. The debris guard has a bottom portion that is oriented at an angle with a top portion. The debris guard is positionable against an intake of a pool skimmer to inhibit debris from entering the pool skimmer. The bottom portion is submerged when the debris guard is positioned to cover the intake to facilitate water to continuously flow into the intake. An elastomeric band is attached to the debris guard and a hook is attached to the elastomeric band. The hook is engageable to a basket located in the pool skimmer for retaining the debris guard on the intake of the pool skimmer.