Skimmer Basket Handle With Adjustable Post And Foot
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skimmer basket handles require users to place their hands in the water to access, exposing them to potential hazards like snakes, insects, and dead animals when removing debris, as they lack a mechanism to elevate the handle above the water line.
Innovation Solution
A modular handle system with a crossbar, upward post, and downward leg that attaches to the skimmer basket, allowing the handle to be installed without direct hand contact with the water, featuring adjustable knobs and a foot to maintain upright position, accommodating different basket sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional handle is used that attaches directly to the basket, then the handle is simple and easy to manufacture, but the user must place their hand in the water to access the handle, exposing them to hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple segments: a crossbar that attaches to the basket, a vertical post that extends upward, and a grip portion. This segmentation allows the grip to be positioned above the water line while the attachment mechanism remains on the basket, eliminating hand exposure to water hazards while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The handle transitions from a horizontal attachment (crossbar to basket) to a vertical extension (post rising above water line). This dimensional change elevates the grip portion above the hazardous water environment while keeping the attachment mechanism in the original plane, resolving the contradiction between safety and simplicity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the post is made long enough to extend the grip above the water line, then user safety is improved, but the handle becomes taller and more prone to interference with the skimmer well cover
Solution Approach 1:
The handle design allows for adjustable post lengths or interchangeable post sections that can be selected based on the specific skimmer well configuration. This dynamic adaptability enables the post to be long enough to clear the water line for safety, while being short enough or positioned such that it does not interfere with the skimmer well cover operation
3Strength
If the crossbar extends the full diameter of the basket, then the handle provides stable support, but the attachment knobs become harder to align with the basket openings
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into removable knobs that can be independently positioned and aligned with the basket openings. This allows the crossbar to maintain its full diameter for stability while the segmented knobs can be easily aligned and installed without requiring the entire crossbar to be positioned at once
Solution Approach 2:
The knobs are pre-positioned or pre-aligned on the crossbar before attachment to the basket. This preliminary action allows the installer to prepare the attachment mechanism in advance, making the actual installation process easier even though the crossbar spans the full basket diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A skimmer basket handle with a horizontal crossbar, a post that extends upwardly from the crossbar to a grip, and a leg that extends downwardly from the crossbar to a foot. The crossbar extends the diameter of the basket. Horizontal knobs at each end of the crossbar fit into openings in the sides of the basket. The post maintains the grip above the water line. The leg and foot are sized and shaped so that the bottom of the foot rests on the floor of the basket when installed to maintain the handle in the upright position. To make the length adjustable for different depth baskets, the leg is relatively short and the foot has a tubular upward extension with an internal stop located at the desired position during manufacture to suit the distance to the floor of the basket.