Pool Net Retaining Clip With Rigid-Flexible Debris Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool cleaning tools face challenges in effectively retaining debris on smooth and slippery surfaces due to the rigidity of elongated clips, which leads to reduced cleaning efficiency and potential damage to vinyl liners, and struggle to balance stiffness and flexibility for modular assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A retaining clip made from coextruded plastics with varying rigidity characteristics, featuring a rigid U-shaped portion for gripping the frame and a flexible contact portion for conforming to surface variations, allowing for improved debris retention and reduced abrasion on pool surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elongated clip is made rigid to securely retain the net on the frame, then the net retention is improved, but the ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated clip is segmented into two distinct portions: a rigid gripping portion for retaining the net on the frame, and a flexible contact portion for interacting with pool surfaces. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between retention reliability and assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the elongated clip have different material properties: the gripping portion is made rigid for secure net retention, while the contact portion is made flexible for ease of assembly and gentle surface interaction. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate rigidity only where needed.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the contact portion of the elongated clip is made rigid to last longer on hard surfaces, then the durability is improved, but the ability to conform to surface variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is specifically designed with flexible material properties to conform to smooth and textured pool surfaces, while the gripping portion maintains rigidity for durability on hard surfaces. This local quality differentiation allows the clip to adapt to surface variations without compromising overall durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of different portions of the clip are changed to achieve optimal performance: the contact portion uses flexible material for surface conformity, while the gripping portion uses rigid material for durability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between durability and adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the elongated clip is made flexible to ease assembly and disassembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the net retention security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is segmented into a flexible contact portion for ease of assembly and a rigid gripping portion for secure net retention. This segmentation ensures that flexibility is provided only where needed for assembly operations, while retention security is maintained by the rigid portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping portion is made rigid to provide secure net retention, while only the contact portion is made flexible for ease of assembly. This local quality approach ensures that flexibility does not compromise retention security, as the rigid gripping portion maintains its holding capability.
4Strength
If the contact portion is made rigid to provide structural support, then the structural integrity is improved, but the abrasion on vinyl liners increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is made of flexible material that reduces abrasion on vinyl liners, while the gripping portion maintains rigidity for structural support. This local quality differentiation allows the clip to protect sensitive surfaces without sacrificing overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the contact portion are changed to be more flexible and less abrasive, while the gripping portion maintains its rigid structural properties. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between structural integrity and reduction of harmful abrasion effects.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for cleaning debris from swimming pools includes a frame, a corresponding net, and retaining member for retaining the net on the frame. The preferred retaining member is an elongated strip of resilient, flexible material, having a generally U-shaped cross-section. The web portion of the cross-section includes an exterior surface smoothly shaped between its two edges to urge debris from the pool into the net. The leg portions of the cross-section include gripping portions to assist in engaging and/or disengaging the retaining member from the frame, to permit the net to be assembled, changed or replaced. Preferably, the retaining member is formed from at least two different materials. The preferred frame of the tool is fabricated from aluminum and includes an elongated, curved frame portion with its ends permanently assembled into the end of a tubular attachment member, to permit attachment of the tool to a handle, pole or similar structure. The preferred net of the tool includes one or more anti-slip devices to prevent the edge of the net or bag from slipping between the frame portion and retaining member. A corresponding preferred method of use is also disclosed.