Pool Cleaner Edge Engagement Assembly for In-Pool Filter Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool cleaners require removal from the pool for filter servicing, leading to potential injuries and aesthetic issues due to bulky housings or garages, and pose safety risks with tripping hazards and debris collection.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous pool cleaner with an edge engagement assembly that secures to the pool edge, allowing filter access without removal, featuring extendable arms for stable positioning and onboard control for deployment at the water line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pool cleaner is removed from the pool for filter servicing, then the filter can be accessed and serviced, but the process becomes inconvenient and may lead to injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an edge engagement assembly as an intermediary device that couples the pool cleaner to the pool edge. This assembly includes engagement members that attach to the pool edge and support the pool cleaner body, allowing the filter to be serviced without completely removing the cleaner from the pool. The intermediary structure transfers the weight and positioning task from the user to the engineered engagement mechanism, thereby reducing injury risk while maintaining servicing accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The pool cleaner is designed with self-positioning capabilities through the edge engagement assembly. The engagement assembly automatically positions the cleaner at the pool edge when deployed, and the filter is oriented for easy access. This self-service design reduces the physical effort and awkward positioning required from users, eliminating the need for users to manually lift and position waterlogged cleaners, thereby preventing back injuries.
2Ease of operation
If a housing or garage is installed at the pool edge to hold the pool cleaner, then filter servicing becomes easier, but it creates tripping hazards and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The edge engagement assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: engagement members that attach to the pool edge, support structures that hold the cleaner body, and deployment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to be integrated into the existing pool environment without requiring large, protruding housings or garages. The distributed, modular design reduces tripping hazards while maintaining servicing accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge engagement assembly serves multiple functions: it positions the pool cleaner at the edge, supports the cleaner body during filter servicing, and can be deployed or retracted as needed. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate, dedicated housing structures that would create aesthetic issues and tripping hazards. The universal design integrates servicing capability directly into the cleaner system itself.
3Ease of operation
If the pool cleaner is held at the water line for filter servicing, then the filter is accessible, but it requires unnatural positioning and may cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The edge engagement assembly acts as a counterweight system by providing mechanical support from the pool edge structure. The engagement members anchored to the pool edge create a stable support point that bears the weight of the cleaner body, eliminating the need for users to support the cleaner in awkward positions. This weight distribution prevents the unnatural bending and lifting that causes back injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly creates an equipotential working position where the filter is oriented horizontally and easily accessible from the pool deck, while the cleaner body is supported at a stable height. This eliminates the need for users to bend over or reach into awkward positions, creating a ergonomically sound servicing position that prevents back injury while maintaining filter accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous pool cleaner includes a main body, a filter that is removably coupled to the main body, and an edge engagement assembly. The main body includes a top, a bottom, and one or more peripheral walls that extend between the top and the bottom. The filter is accessible for removal or installation via a particular peripheral wall of the one or more peripheral walls. The edge engagement assembly is configured to extend beyond the particular peripheral wall of the main body and removably secure the autonomous pool cleaner to an edge of a swimming pool so that the filter is accessible and vertically removable when the autonomous pool cleaner is secured to the edge.