Abstract:
A portable cleaning device that is configured to receive an unclean fluid and discharge a substantially clean fluid includes a canister configured to receive the unclean fluid and a housing coupled to the canister. An inlet portion is formed as part of the housing and includes an inlet flow path having an inlet, an outlet, and a tapered portion between the inlet and the outlet. An outlet portion is formed as part of the housing and includes an outlet flow path having an inlet defining an inlet area and an outlet defining an outlet area that is smaller than the inlet area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/373,577, filed Feb. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an apparatus and method for collecting waste and cleaning water retained within an enclosure.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Some enclosures retain water and are maintained for productive, recreational, decorative or aesthetic purposes. Some enclosures may require cleaning to remove sediment, waste or debris from the enclosure. Some cleaning devices use a vacuum source to draw the water through a filter to clean the water within the enclosure.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a cleaning device for removing particles, sediment, debris or waste from an enclosure retaining water. The cleaning device includes a housing and a receptacle removably connected to the housing. The housing includes an inlet passage and an outlet passage defined within the housing. The inlet passage receives the fluid flow from the enclosure and empties the fluid flow into the receptacle. The inlet passage includes an inlet aperture at the end of the inlet passage emptying into the receptacle. The outlet passage receives fluid flow out of the receptacle. The outlet passage includes an outlet aperture at an end of the outlet passage receiving fluid flow from the receptacle.  
         [0005]     The receptacle includes a bottom surface at an end of the receptacle opposite the housing. In some constructions, the inlet aperture and outlet aperture are both disposed vertically above the bottom surface of the receptacle, and may be disposed completely vertically above the entire receptacle. Particles within the water may be gravitationally drawn downwardly within the receptacle toward the bottom surface.  
         [0006]     In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a tube connected to the inlet passage. The tube extends outwardly from the inlet passage into the enclosure. The fluid from the enclosure may be drawn into the inlet passage through the tube.  
         [0007]     In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a filter connected to the outlet passage that prevents relatively large particles in the water from entering the outlet passage. The filter may include several apertures that permit fluid to pass through the filter, but prevent particles from passing through the filter.  
         [0008]     In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a pump that creates a fluid flow through the cleaning device. The fluid flow flows through the cleaning device along a flow path at least partially defined by the inlet passage, the receptacle and the outlet passage.  
         [0009]     In some constructions, the cleaning may include an outlet tube connected to the housing and the pump. The outlet tube is in fluid communication with the outlet passage and the pump. The outlet tube may include a valve that controls fluid flow through the outlet tube and the cleaning device.  
         [0010]     In one construction, the invention provides a portable cleaning device for cleaning an enclosure retaining water. The device includes a single-piece housing defining an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a threaded portion that are each fixed with respect to one another. The inlet passage receives water from the enclosure. A receptacle is removably connected to the threaded portion of the housing. The receptacle is in fluid communication with both the inlet passage and the outlet passage. The housing also includes an inlet aperture at an end of the inlet passage near the receptacle, and an outlet aperture at an end of the outlet passage near the receptacle.  
         [0011]     In another construction, the invention provides a portable cleaning device that is adapted to pump a fluid. The cleaning device includes a canister configured to contain the fluid. The canister includes an aperture and a first threaded portion surrounding the aperture. A housing defines a first flow path, a second flow path, and a second threaded portion that are all fixed with respect to one another. The threaded portion is selectively engageable with the first threaded portion.  
         [0012]     In yet another construction, the invention provides a portable cleaning device that is configured to receive an unclean fluid and discharge a substantially clean fluid. The cleaning device includes a canister configured to receive the unclean fluid and a housing coupled to the canister. An inlet portion is formed as part of the housing and includes an inlet flow path having an inlet, an outlet, and a tapered portion between the inlet and the outlet. An outlet portion is formed as part of the housing and includes an outlet flow path having an inlet defining an inlet area and an outlet defining an outlet area that is smaller than the inlet area.  
         [0013]     Independent features and independent advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a cleaning device for cleaning an enclosure retaining water.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaning device taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an elevation view of a cleaning device for cleaning an enclosure retaining water, the cleaning device having a faucet pump.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the faucet pump of the cleaning device of  FIG. 7  having a valve in an open condition.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the faucet pump of the cleaning device of  FIG. 7  having a valve in a closed condition.  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the valve of the faucet pump taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cleaning device of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
       [0025]     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0026]     Although references may be made below to directions, such as left, right, up, down, top, bottom, front, rear, back, etc., in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cleaning device  10  for cleaning an enclosure retaining a fluid and removing particles from the fluid retained within the enclosure. The cleaning device  10  may also be used empty the enclosure and refill the enclosure. The enclosure may include a pond, aquarium, pool, spa, fountain or other similar structures that retain a fluid. Such enclosures generally retain water.  
         [0028]     In the illustrated construction, the cleaning device  10  includes a housing  14  and a receptacle  18 . The receptacle  18  may be removably connected to the housing  14 . In the illustrated construction, the receptacle  18  and the housing  14  include threads, and the receptacle  18  threadably engages the housing  14 , similar to ajar and a lid, to create a seal between the receptacle  18  and the housing  14 . The receptacle  18  generally includes an opening  20  near an upper portion, and the housing  14  is positioned over the opening  20  to enclose the volume within the receptacle  18 . The cleaning device  10  may include an O-ring, gasket, or other similar sealing mechanism to improve the seal between the housing  14  and the receptacle  18 . The cleaning device  10  generates a fluid flow through the cleaning device  10 , and collects particles within the fluid flow in the receptacle  18 .  
         [0029]     The housing  14  defines an inlet passage  22  and an outlet passage  26 . The receptacle  18  generally defines a volume, and the inlet passage  22  and outlet passage  26  are in fluid communication with the receptacle  18 . The receptacle  18  includes a bottom surface  28  positioned near a lower portion of the receptacle  18  opposite the housing  14 . The bottom surface  28  generally supports the contents of the receptacle  18 . Particles collected within the receptacle  18  are generally gravitationally drawn downwardly and collect near the bottom surface  28 .  
         [0030]     The inlet passage  22  includes an inlet aperture  30  positioned at an end of the inlet passage  22  near the receptacle  18 . The inlet passage  22  opens into the receptacle  18  through the inlet aperture  30  and empties fluid flow into the receptacle  18  through the inlet aperture  30 . The outlet passage  26  includes an outlet aperture  34  positioned at an end of the outlet passage  26  near the receptacle  18 . The outlet passage  26  opens into the receptacle  18  through the outlet aperture  34  and receives fluid flow from the receptacle  18  through the outlet aperture  34 . The inlet aperture  30  and outlet aperture  34  are disposed vertically above the bottom surface  28  of the receptacle  18 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inlet aperture  30  and outlet aperture  34  may be positioned completely above the receptacle  18 . The inlet aperture  30  and outlet aperture  34  generally remain above the receptacle  18  while the cleaning device  10  is in the orientation of normal operation. Separating the inlet aperture  30  and outlet aperture  34  from the bottom surface  28  of the receptacle  18  helps prevent particles collected within the receptacle  18  from obstructing the inlet passage  22  or outlet passage  26 .  
         [0031]     In the illustrated construction, the housing  14  may be solidly formed, and the inlet portion  22  and outlet portion  26  may be integrally formed within the housing  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inlet passage  22  and outlet passage  26  are integrally formed passages within the housing  14 , and define at least a portion of a flow path for fluid through the housing  14 . In some constructions, the housing  14  may be solidly formed from a molded plastic material, cast from a metal material, or solidly formed by other similar means.  
         [0032]     In the construction shown in  FIG. 5 , the cleaning device  10  includes a filter  36  connected to the outlet passage  26 . In  FIG. 5 , the filter  36  includes a tube filter extending downwardly from the outlet passage  26  through the outlet aperture  34  and into the receptacle  18 . The filter  36  restricts particles, sediment, debris or waste in the water from passing through the outlet aperture  34  into the outlet portion  26 . The water flows through the filter  36  and into the outlet portion  26 , and the particles, sediment, debris and waste remains in the receptacle  18 . The filter  36  may include a mesh structure forming several apertures. The apertures may block particles that are larger than the apertures from entering the outlet passage  26 .  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the cleaning device  10  includes a tube  38  connected to the housing  14  near an outer end  42  of the inlet passage  22 . The outer end  42  is at the end of the inlet passage  22  opposite the inlet aperture  30 . The tube  38  is in fluid communication with the inlet passage  22 . The tube  38  may be relatively rigid and includes an intake  46  at an end of the tube  38  opposite the housing  14 . In the illustrated construction, the tube  38  extends outwardly from the housing  14  beyond the receptacle  18 .  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the tube  38  may extend into the inlet passage  22  of the housing  10 . The inlet passage  22  may include a curved portion  50  and a straight portion  54 . The curved portion  50  extends upwardly from the inlet aperture  30  and curves around to a mid-portion of the inlet passage  22 . The straight portion  54  extends downwardly from the curved portion  50  to the outer end  42  of the inlet portion  22 . In the illustrated construction, the straight portion  54  and the tube  38  are generally co-linear and extend at an angle relative to the receptacle  18 . In the illustrated construction, the straight portion  54  has a generally cylindrical shape having a diameter.  
         [0035]     The tube  38  extends into the straight portion  54  through the outer end  42 . The inlet passage  22  includes an inner wall  58  that engages the tube  38 . The inner wall  58  defines the straight portion  54  and the curved portion  50 . In the illustrated construction, the straight portion  54  includes a slanted portion  62  in which the inner wall  58  slants inwardly. The diameter of the inlet passage  22  decreases along the slanted portion  62  as the inlet passage  22  progresses along the straight portion  54  toward the curved portion  50  and the inlet aperture  30 . When the tube  38  is inserted into the inlet passage  22 , the inner wall  58  along the slanted portion  62  provides an interference fit with the tube  38  and creates a seal between the tube  38  and the inlet passage  22 .  
         [0036]     In the illustrated construction, the tube  38  may include a collar  66  that connects the tube  38  to the housing  14 . The collar  66  includes threads  70  on an inner surface  74  of the collar  66 , and the housing  14  includes threads  78  on an outer surface  82  near the outer end  42  of the inlet passage  22 . The collar  66  threadably engages the housing  14  to create a seal between the tube  38  and the inlet portion  22 . The collar  66  slides over the tube  38  and frictionally engages the tube  38 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the collar  66  may include a flange  86  adjacent the tube  38 . As the inner surface  74  of the collar  66  is threaded onto the outer surface  82 , the flange  86  extends into the inlet passage  22 , between the inlet passage  22  and the tube  38 . The flange  86  may be angled and may deflect radially inwardly and clamp the tube  38  to hold the tube  38  in place and improve the seal between the tube  38  and inlet passage  22 .  
         [0038]     The length of the tube  38  may vary depending on the desired application for the cleaning device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tube  38  extends downwardly beyond the receptacle  18 . In some applications, such as cleaning a pond, an operator may hold the cleaning device  10  at approximately waist level, and the tube  38  extends into the water, which is relatively low in relation to the operator&#39;s feet. In some constructions for these applications, the tube  38  may extend between about three and six feet. It should be understood that the length of the tube  38  may vary and may be greater or less than that range. In some constructions for other applications, such as cleaning an aquarium, the tube  38  may be relatively shorter. The tube  38  may be removed and replaced with a tube  38  having the desired length.  
         [0039]     In other constructions, the tube  38  may include telescoping portions (not shown) that may be positioned to adjust the tube  38  to a desired length. In yet other constructions, the tube  38  may be integrally formed with the housing  14 .  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the housing  14  may include a handle  90  to facilitate operation of the cleaning device  10 . An operator may hold onto the handle  90  to maneuver the cleaning device  10  relative to the enclosure. The handle  90  may include a first gripping portion  94  and a second gripping portion  98 . In  FIGS. 1-5 , the first gripping portion  94  is substantially D-shaped, and is positioned on the housing  14  vertically above the inlet passage  22  and outlet passage  26 . The second gripping portion  94  is substantially T-shaped, and projects outwardly from the housing  14  forward of the first gripping portion  94  beyond the connection of the of the inlet passage  22  and tube  38 . The two gripping portions  94 ,  98  of the handle  90  permit an operator to grip the cleaning device  10  with two hands and increase control of the cleaning device  10 . In some constructions, the handle  90  may be integrally formed on the housing  14 .  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cleaning device  10  may include a pump  102  connected to the outlet passage  26 . In the illustrated construction, an outlet tube  106  connects the outlet passage  26  and the pump  102  in fluid flow communication. The outlet tube  106  may include a valve  110  that selectively regulates fluid flow through the outlet tube  106 .  
         [0042]     The pump  102  creates a vacuum or negative pressure within the cleaning device  10  that generates a fluid flow through the cleaning device  10  that draws water from the enclosure into the cleaning device  10 . The pump  102  may include a conventional pump, such as a cylinder pump, a rotary pump, a centrifugal pump, a screw pump, or other similar pumps that generate a fluid flow or create a pressure differential. As shown in  FIGS. 7-11 , the pump  102  may also include a faucet pump  114  having a venturi section  118 . The faucet pump  114  may be connected to a faucet that provides a water flow. The faucet pump  114  directs the water flow from the faucet through the venturi section  118 , which creates a vacuum or negative pressure within a portion of the faucet pump  114 . The vacuum draws the fluid flow through the cleaning device  10 .  
         [0043]     The faucet pump  114  may also be used to reverse the fluid flow through the cleaning device  10  and refill an enclosure. The faucet pump  114  includes a valve  120  that directs fluid flow through the faucet pump  114 . As shown in  FIGS. 8-9  the valve  120  is disposed below the venturi section  118 , and is movable between an open condition, in which water flows through the valve  120  and out of the faucet pump  114 , and closed condition, in which the valve  120  restricts the water flow and the water flow is directed back through the outlet tube  106  toward the cleaning device  10 . In  FIG. 8 , the valve  120  is open and the venturi section  118  of the faucet pump  114  is generating a fluid flow from the cleaning device  10 . In  FIG. 9 , the valve  120  is closed, and water flow from the faucet is directed toward the cleaning device  10 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the valve  120 . Another example of a faucet pump is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,784, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0044]     In operation, the cleaning device  10  removes particles, sediment, debris, and waste from fluid flowing through the cleaning device  10 . The pump  102  generates a fluid flow that draws fluid from an enclosure and flows through the cleaning device  10 . The fluid flow through the cleaning device  10  flows along a flow path  122  through the cleaning device  10 . In  FIG. 5 , arrows indicate the flow path  122  through the cleaning device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inlet passage  22  and outlet passage  26  define at least a portion of the flow path for fluid through the housing  14 . The flow path  122  generally flows from the enclosure, into the intake  46 , through the tube  38 , through the inlet passage  22  and the inlet aperture  30 , through the receptacle  18 , through the outlet aperture  34  and outlet passage  26 , and toward the pump  102 . The pump  102  may discharge the fluid flow into a drain, into a second receptacle, back into the original enclosure, into a second enclosure, onto the ground, or various other places.  
         [0045]     The cleaning device  10  draws fluid from the enclosure through the tube  38  and the fluid follows the flow path  122  into the inlet passage  22  of the housing  14 . The inlet passage  22  empties the fluid into the receptacle  18  through the inlet aperture  30  near the top of the receptacle  18 . In the receptacle  18 , particles, sediment, debris, and waste within the fluid may be gravitationally drawn downward toward the bottom surface  28 . The flow path  122  proceeds through the filter  36 . The filter  36  may include multiple apertures sized to permit fluid to pass through the filter, but may prevent particles, sediment, debris, and waste that is larger than the apertures from entering the outlet passage  26 . The particles that do not pass through the filter  36  are collected in the receptacle  18 .  
         [0046]     The outlet passage  26  then receives the fluid flow through the outlet aperture  34  near the top of the receptacle  18  and the flow path  122  reenters the housing  14 . The inlet passage  22  and outlet passage  26  are both enclosed within the housing  14 . From the outlet passage  26 , the flow  122  path continues through the outlet tube  106  and into the pump  102 . The valve  110  may control fluid flow through the outlet tube  106 .  FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the valve  110 . When the valve  106  is open, fluid may flow through the outlet tube  106  and cleaning device  10 . When the valve  106  is closed, fluid flow through the outlet tube  106  and cleaning device  10 .  
         [0047]     The foregoing detailed description describes only a few of the many forms that the present invention can take, and should therefore be taken as illustrative rather than limiting. It is only the claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of the invention.