Abstract:
The present invention provides a tool designed to remove a swimming pool skimmer basket for cleaning without having to touch the debris trapped therein. The tool provided for herein takes the general appearance of a pair of tongs having a uniquely constructed grasping portion. The grasping portion of the tongs provides several ways to remove the skimmer basket from the skimmer for cleaning and facilitates removal of debris directly from the skimmer basket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention generally relates to tools used for pool maintenance. More particularly, the present invention related to tools used to handle and clean the skimmer basket of a swimming pool skimmer. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Swimming pools require constant maintenance for them to remain sanitary for recreational use. The least labor intensive method, and arguably the most effective way, of removing floating debris from a pool is through the use of a static skimmer. Static skimmers generally rely on a skimmer basket which is housed within a well of the skimmer. The well is covered by a lid. As water is drawn through the skimmer and skimmer basket, floating debris is trapped therein. Floating debris typically includes leaves, twigs, insects, small animals, pollen and generally any foreign object which floats long enough to be sucked into the skimmer basket. The animals may be alive or in a stage of decay. As a result of debris build up the skimmer basket must be periodically cleaned out; an undesirable task considering what is trapped therein. Without some type of purpose built tool the skimmer basket has to be removed by hand, an unsanitary task. 
         [0005]    The prior art has provided various tools to remove swimming pool skimmer baskets. One such example is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0243318A1 to Pratt. This design provides a tool which is designed to remove a skimmer basket without the user needing to lay hands on the basket itself. Some of the obvious shortcomings of this design are as follows. The Pratt design relies on the presence of a skimmer basket handle which may be broken or not present on some designs. It also lacks any utility to assist the user in removing the lid typically covering the skimmer well which houses the skimmer basket. Further, no provision has been made for the tool to assist the user in the removal of live animals. 
         [0006]    Therefore in consideration of what is available in the prior art, there exist a need for a skimmer basket removal tool that remedies the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings in the design of skimmer basket removal tools as described above. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a skimmer basket removal tool which is capable of grasping and removing a skimmer basket having a handle. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a skimmer basket removal tool in accordance with preceding objects which has a provision to facilitate the removal of a skimmer basket having no handle. 
         [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimmer basket removal tool capable of removing the lid of the skimmer well where the skimmer basket is housed. This prevents the user from having the blindly use a finger or a secondary tool to remove the lid. 
         [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a skimmer basket removal tool in accordance with the preceding objects which allows the user to grasp specific objects for removal from the pool or skimmer basket, an example of which is live animals. 
         [0012]    In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to a tool used to remove a skimmer basket. The tool provides a mechanical means to remove the skimmer basket, remove objects from the skimmer basket and/or pool and facilitate the removal of the lid covering the skimmer basket well. This tool is designed to work with static skimmers and could be readily adapted to work with other water skimmers which rely on a removable skimmer basket. 
         [0013]    The skimmer basket removal tool provided for herein takes the general shape and appearance of a pair of tongs and is generally referred to herein as “tongs” or “modified tongs”. The grasping portion of the tongs has been heavily modified and consists of two grasping elements. An exterior portion of both grasping elements located oppositely each other is serrated. These exterior portions are configured so that each grasping element rest against the other when the tongs are closed. This portion of the tool is configured to aid in the removal of specific debris from the skimmer basket or pool, but could be used to grasp a portion of the basket for handling purposed. 
         [0014]    The forward most end of each grasping element has two hooks formed thereon, sometimes referred to herein as lid removal hooks. These hooks are configured to be received within the nearly ubiquitous circular opening found in the lid used with most skimmers. Once received within the lids top opening the tongs are opened allowing the hooks to catch on the underside surface of the lid, thereby facilitating its removal. 
         [0015]    Located on the exterior of each of the tongs grasping elements is a hook, sometimes referred to herein as the basket removal hooks. These hooks are constructed so that either hook may be individually used to snag the handle of a skimmer basket, thereby facilitating is removal from the skimmer well. 
         [0016]    Found near the distal end of each basket removal hook is a single spring pin which extends therefrom. The provided spring pin protrudes past the adjacent hook. Placing the tongs into the interior of a skimmer basket and opening it will result in the spring pins passing through openings in the skimmer basket. With the spring pins now in position, the skimmer basket may be removed by the user from the skimmer well. 
         [0017]    These together with other improvements and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention, together with further advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the tongs in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of the tongs of  FIG. 1  assembled and in the open position. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3  is another view of the tongs shown in  FIG. 2  in the closed position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective side view of the tongs being inserted into the opening of a skimmer lid. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is another perspective side view of the tongs and skimmer lid illustrated in  FIG. 4A , in particular it is shown how the tongs engage with the opening of the skimmer lid during routine use. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4C  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 4B  showing how the tongs engage with the opening through the skimmer lid. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective side view of the tongs and skimmer basket. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is another perspective view of the tongs and skimmer basket shown in  FIG. 5A , the skimmer basket has been cutaway to revel how the spring pin located near the distal end of each basket removal hook interacts with the skimmer basket. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 5B  showing how the spring pin located on the end of the basket removal hook interacts with the openings through the skimmer basket. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective side view of the tongs being used to lift a skimmer basket by a handle provided thereon. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a skimmer basket housed within a skimmer well. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0031]    The present invention is directed towards a tool that may be used to remove a swimming pool skimmer basket from its housing. As used herein, the phrases tongs, pair of tongs and tool are used interchangeably. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the term debris as used throughout this specification includes trash, pollen, insects, animals, leaves, grass, sticks and any particle, material or object that floats. 
         [0033]    Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, as used herein, the word “front” or “forward” corresponds to the end of the tongs where the grasping portion is located (i.e., at the bottom as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 ); “rear” or “rearward” or “back” corresponds to the direction opposite the end of the tongs where the grasping portion is located (i.e., at the top as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 ). 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is directed to a tong, generally designated by reference numeral  10 , having two arms  30 A and  30 B. Each arm  30 A and  30 B has a handle  20 A and  20 B at its back end and a grasping element  42 A and  42 B at its forward end, respectively. It will be understood that the tongs  10  are intended to be employed in the removal of a swimming pool skimmer basket  91  and the removal of debris from the skimmer well  92  and skimmer basket  91 ; however with minor modification, some of its features could be used for other aspects of swimming pool maintenance. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a swimming pool skimmer  90  having a well  92  constructed to receive a removable skimmer basket  91 . A lid  93  is used to cover the skimmer well  92 . Static skimmers  90  are typically mounted near a swimming pools deck  96  with an opening  98  and a drain  99  that facilitates the circulation of water  97  therethrough. 
         [0036]    In  FIGS. 1-6 , the preferred embodiment of the tongs  10  are shown. The tongs  10  have two arms  30 A and  30 B which together define an interior side wall  31 A and  31 B and an exterior side wall  32 A and  32 B, respectively. At the back end of each arm  30 A and  30 B is a handle  20 A and  20 B configured to be grasped by the user. At the front end of each arm  30 A and  30 B is a grasping element  42 A and  42 B, respectively. The grasping elements  42 A and  42 B are collectively referred to herein as the “grasping portion”  40 . 
         [0037]    The two arms  30 A and  30 B are joined together at a joint  60  which allows the two arms to pivot about a fixed axis relative to each other. The joint  60  contains an internal compression spring  62  which biases the tongs into the closed position when not in use (see  FIG. 3 ). The two arms  30 A and  30 B are secured together at the joint  60  through the use of a snap button  63 . The snap button  63  has both a male portion  64 A and a female portion  64 B. The snap button  63  is received through an opening  34 A and  34 B found on each arm  30 A and  30 B, respectively ( FIGS. 2-6 ). 
         [0038]    The grasping portion  40  of the tongs  10  provides a series of structures which allow the user of the tool to perform a variety of task related to the maintenance of a swimming pool and more specifically a swimming pool skimmer. 
         [0039]    Each of the grasping elements  42 A and  42 B each have an exterior portion  41 A and  41 B which defines thereon a series of serrated surfaces. When the tongs  10  are in the closed position, the serrations of each exterior portion  41 A and  41 B form a series of peaks and valleys which are complemented and received by those found on the opposing exterior portion (See  FIG. 3 ,  4 A &amp;  6 ). The grasping elements  42 A and  42 B are ideal for grabbing an individual item of debris from the skimmer basket  91  or pool during maintenance. The number, shape and orientation of the serrations may be altered without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0040]    Located on the exterior side wall  32 A and  32 B of each arm  30 A and  30 B is a hook  45 A and  45 B, respectively ( FIGS. 1-3 ). These hooks  45 A and  45 B are sometimes referred to herein as “basket removal hooks”. The hooks  45 A and  45 B each define a ledge having a right angle bend at one end forming a lip. The lip also defines the distal end  47 A and  47 B of the hooks  45 A and  45 B. A lip formed from a non-right angle bend could perform equally as well and is not outside the scope of the present invention. 
         [0041]    The ledge and lip portion of the basket removal hooks  45 A and  45 B are intended to facilitate “hooking” the handle  94  of a skimmer basket  91  so as to facilitate its removal from a skimmer (see  FIGS. 6-7 ). By placing either hook  45 A or  45 B under a skimmer basket  91  handle  94  the user need only pull up to remove the basket from the skimmer well  92 . 
         [0042]    Located below and adjacent to the distal end  47 A and  47 B of each basket removal hook  45 A and  45 B is an opening which receives a spring pin  50 A and  50 B, respectively. An opening  51  on hook  45 A for spring pin  50 A is shown in  FIG. 1 . Not shown but also present is an identical opening on hook  45 B for spring pin  50 B. When secured within there respective openings, each of the spring pins  50 A and  50 B protrudes past the distal ends  47 A and  47 B of each hook  45 A and  45 B, respectively ( FIGS. 4B ,  5 B &amp;  5 C). The spring pins  50 A and  50 B may be substituted with dowels or other objects of appropriate shape and strength without departing from the scope of the invention described herein. 
         [0043]    In use, the tongs  10  are initially inserted into the dirty skimmer basket. The user then grasps the handles  20 A and  20 B, squeezing them together in order to cause the arms  30 A and  30 B to spread apart ( FIG. 2 ). Eventually the distal end  47 A and  47 B of each hook  45 A and  45 B will come into contact with the interior of the skimmer basket  91 . Occurring as a result of the arms  30 A and  30 B opening, the spring pins  50 A and  50 B are received through two separate openings of the skimmer basket  91 . At this time the skimmer basket  91  may be removed from the swimming pool skimmer in which it is housed ( FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C &amp;  7 ). 
         [0044]    The length of the spring pins  50 A and  50 B is selected so that they may be received within the myriad of openings in the skimmer basket  91  ( FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C). The spring pins  50 A and  50 B, or there substitute, may not be of such a size (length or diameter) as to be impossible to insert into the openings of the skimmer basket  91 . 
         [0045]    Two hooks  43 A and  43 B extend from the front of the tongs  10  arms  30 A and  30 B, respectively ( FIGS. 1-3 ,  4 B &amp;  4 C). Hooks  43 A and  43 B are also referred herein as “lid removal hooks”. In the tongs  10  closed position the two hooks  43 A and  43 B come to rest against each other. Each hook  43 A and  43 B defines a lip at it&#39;s distil end having a right angle bend or an approximate right angle bend. A lip formed from a non-right angle bend may perform equally as well and is not outside the scope of the present invention. The hooks  43 A and  43 B in combination have an exterior diameter which does not prevent them from being inserted into the opening  95  through the skimmer lid  93  ( FIGS. 4A ,  4 B &amp;  4 C). 
         [0046]    To use the hooks  43 A and  43 B present on the front end of the tongs  10  to remove the skimmer lid  93 , the tongs  10  must be in the closed position. The two hooks  43 A and  43 B are then inserted into the opening  95  of the skimmer lid  93  as shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C. The user will then grasp the handles  20 A and  20 B of the tongs  10  and squeeze them together. This results in the arms  30 A and  30 B and the hooks  43 A and  43 B spreading apart. As the hooks  43 A and  43 B spread apart the lip portion of each “hooks” under the lid  93  allowing the user to simply pull the lid  93  off of a swimming pool skimmer  90  well  92  (see  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C &amp;  7 ). 
         [0047]    The tongs  10  are manufactured entirely from an injection molded polymer, except for the spring pins  50 A and  50 B and the compression spring  62 . The advantage of this material selection is that the tong will float if dropped into water during use. Other suitable materials may be substituted without departing from the entire scope of the present invention. 
         [0048]    The tongs  10  is assembled as follows. The compression spring  62  is inserted into one half of the joint  60  while the two halves of the joint  60  are placed against one another. The female portion of the snap button  64 B is inserted through the openings  34 A and  34 B of each arm  30 A and  30 B. Next, the male portion  64 A of the snap button  63  is inserted into the female portion  64 B. By assembling the snap button  63 , the compression spring  62  is secured within the joint  60  and the two arms  30 A and  30 B of the tongs  10  are secured together. 
         [0049]    To disassemble the tongs  10 , simple reverse the steps outline above. 
         [0050]    The shape and texture of the handles  20 A and  20 B may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0051]    In an alternate embodiment, the tongs could omit the serrations present on the exterior portion  41 A and  41 B of the grasping elements  42 A and  42 B. Instead the grasping elements  42 A and  42 B could be shaped and contoured to facilitate grasping foreign objects. 
         [0052]    The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the general principles of the invention. This invention is not limited for use with static skimmers affixed to the side of a swimming pool; rather it may be used with any water skimmer which relies on a removable skimmer basket to collect debris from the water. The invention may be constructed with a variety of dimensional variation and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment unless otherwise specified. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. 
         [0053]    Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.