Patent ID: 7145074
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
1. A power conduit for supplying energy to a pool cleaner body to cause said body to travel through a water pool along a substantially random travel path and to capture debris as it moves along said path, while avoiding the formation of persistent coils or knots in the conduit, said conduit comprising: first and second axially stiff elongate members each having first and second ends spaced by greater than one foot, each of said stiff elongate members configured to transfer energy therealong from its said first to its said second end; a first axially flexible elongate member having first and second ends and configured to transfer energy therealong from its said first to its said second end; said first and second axially stiff members being respectively connected to said first and second ends of said axially flexible member to form an energy transfer path for transferring energy from said first axially stiff member first end through the first axially flexible elongate member to said second axially stiff member second end to avoid the formation of persistent coils or knots in the conduit; a proximal coupling means for coupling said first axially stiff member first and to a stationary fitting; a distal coupling means for coupling said second axially stiff member second end to said cleaner body; a first connector for coupling said first axially stiff member second end to the first axially flexible elongate member first end; a second connector for coupling said first axially flexible elongate member second end to the second axially stiff member first end; and wherein said proximal and distal coupling means includes (1) swivel means for enabling at least one of said axially stiff members to swivel axially relative to said fitting and said cleaner body and (2) axially flexible means for enabling at least one of said axially stiff members to variably angulate relative to said fitting and said cleaner body.