Patent ID: 9388594
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: E04H

Claim Text:
1. A swimming pool access and filtering apparatus for use in a swimming pool comprising: a staircase assembly having opposing vertical sidewalls, each sidewall having an interior surface, a plurality of steps positioned between the interior surface of the opposing vertical sidewalls, each step having a lower surface and positioned in a spaced-apart arrangement from an adjacent step, the lower surfaces of the plurality of steps and the interior surfaces of the opposing sidewalls defining an interior portion of the staircase assembly; and a filter assembly mounted within the interior portion of the staircase assembly, the filter assembly comprising a filter cartridge housing for receiving a removable filter cartridge, a pool skimmer having a first end forming a water inlet that is mounted through one of the opposing vertical staircase sidewalls and a second end coupled to the filter cartridge housing, a pump assembly having a first end coupled to the filter cartridge housing and a second end forming a water discharge outlet and mounted to the opposing vertical staircase sidewall, the pump assembly including a submersible water pump for drawing water through the filter cartridge and pumping filtered water through the water discharge outlet, in which a first step of the plurality of steps is at least partially movable to permit access to and removal of the filter cartridge at or via the first step.