Automatic Pool Cleaner Lift Systems for Easy Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs) are heavy and difficult to remove from and deploy into pools, often requiring strenuous effort and risking damage during deployment.

Innovation Solution

A lift and extraction system comprising a frame, engagement feature, and motive elements, which facilitates the selective engagement and positioning of APCs relative to the frame, allowing for easy removal and deployment without moving parts or requiring manual labor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If APCs are made heavy-duty for robust cleaning performance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ease of removal and deployment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidease of removal and deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A lift system acts as an intermediary device between the user and the heavy APC. The system includes a frame with a lifting mechanism that engages with the APC's lifting eye, allowing the APC's own drive motor to assist in the lifting process. This mediator enables easy removal and deployment of heavy APCs without requiring manual strenuous effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The APC's drive motor is utilized to assist in its own lifting process. When the lift system engages with the APC, the APC's motor can be activated to help pull itself out of the pool, reducing the burden on the user and enabling hands-free or minimal-effort operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If manual handling of heavy APCs is used, then device complexity is reduced, but risk of damage during deployment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidrisk of damage during deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lift system serves as a protective intermediary that provides controlled support during APC deployment. The frame and engagement features guide the APC smoothly out of the pool, preventing drops and impacts that would occur with direct manual handling, thereby reducing damage risk while maintaining relatively simple system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If APCs are designed for robust construction to withstand pool environments, then reliability is improved, but weight increases making handling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability in pool environmentVSAvoidAPC weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lift system is designed to accommodate and support the full weight of robustly constructed APCs. The frame structure and engagement features are configured to securely grasp the APC's lifting eye, distributing the weight load appropriately and enabling easy manipulation of heavy, durable cleaners without compromising their structural integrity or pool environment resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12454298B2Lift and extraction systems for automatic swimming pool cleaners

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A lift and extraction system for an automatic swimming pool cleaner may facilitate removal from the of the automatic swimming pool cleaner from a swimming pool, deployment of the automatic swimming pool cleaner into a swimming pool, and/or storage of the automatic swimming pool cleaner outside of the swimming pool. The lift and extraction systems may include a frame, motive elements, and one or more engagement features for selectively engaging and positioning the automatic swimming pool cleaner relative to the frame.