Abstract:
A pool net mounting device is disclosed. The mounting device includes a pool net holding portion having a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive and secure a pool net in a plurality of angular orientations. The pool net mounting device also includes a mounting portion adapted to be removably attached to a cylindrical object such as a pool ladder rail. The net holding portion and the mounting portion are removably attached to each other in a variety of angular positions so that a wide range of configurations is achieved for orienting a pool debris net at a desired angular orientation and height. The net holding portion includes a number of apertures and slots therein for receiving a spring loaded pin, a common feature of pool nets. Alternative pool net attachment features are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates in general to pool cleaning devices and more particularly to a device that enables convenient attachment of a pool debris skimming net to a cylindrically shaped object. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for skimming debris off the surface of a body of water and, more particularly, for skimming debris such as dead leaves, twigs, insects and scum off of the surfaces of pools prior to their sinking and forming a sludge at the bottom of the pool. 
         [0003]    Skimming debris from the water surface of pools is done either manually, by hand, using a net attached to a long handle and manipulated by a person, or by positioning a debris skimming net in a location where water currents flowing around the pool urge the floating debris to move along fairly well defined paths created by the moving currents. A generally circular flow of water from pump inlet to outlet creates the current flows in the pool. 
         [0004]    A variety of devices are known in the prior art for mounting a pool debris skimming net over a swimming pool. In many instances, the net mounting devices are bulky, lacking in flexibility to orient the net at a desired attitude or angle, difficult to install and some are quite expensive to produce. Ideally, a pool net mounting device is adaptable for use with all pool installations be they in-ground or above-ground pools. In addition the ideal device should include net positioning features that enable a multitude of net positioning options, is small and lightweight, is easily removed for storage purposes, and is inexpensive to produce. What is needed is a pool net mounting device that incorporates all of these desirable features. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A device for removably mounting a pool net having a tubular shaft, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises mounting means adapted to be removably attached to a cylindrical mounting surface, net holding means for securely receiving the tubular shaft of the pool net and maintaining the shaft at a desired angular orientation, and attachment means for attaching the mounting means to the net holding means in one of a plurality of predetermined angles, the attachment means having a portion thereof disposed on the mounting means and a portion thereof disposed on the net holding means. 
         [0006]    One object of the present invention is to provide an improved pool net mounting device. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a pool net mounting device that is less expensive yet provides enhanced configurations over the prior art. 
         [0008]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pool net mounting device that is easily installed and removed from a cylindrical object such as a pool ladder. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pool net mounting device that may be removably attached to a cylindrical object and provides multiple angular and height positioning features for attaching a debris net shaft thereto. 
         [0010]    These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following figures and description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a pool net mounting device according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut-away front elevational view of the pool net mounting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the ladder clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the net mount adapter shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the spline connector. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an end elevational view of the spline connector 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an illustration depicting the pool net mounting device of  FIG. 1  attached to a pool ladder and including a debris skimming net attached thereon. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a pool net mounting device according to another aspect of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away exploded front elevational view of the pool net mounting device of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plan view ( FIG. 1 ) and a front elevational view ( FIG. 2 ) of a pool net mounting device  10  according to the present invention is shown. Pool net mounting device  10  includes ladder clip  12 , net mount adapter  14 , and spline connector  16  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) used to internally attach or join clip  12  to adapter  14 . Cylindrical portion  18  defines a partial cylindrical aperture  20  that is sized to receive and securely snap onto a cylindrical object such as the metal tubing used in the fabrication of a pool ladder. Adapter  14  includes a cylindrical aperture  22  therethrough sized to receive the shaft of a debris skimming net (see  FIG. 7 ). A number of circular apertures  24  extend through the cylindrical portion  26  of adapter  14 . Apertures  24  are in fluid communication with aperture  22  and are sized to receive a spring-pin (shown in  FIG. 7 ) of a debris net. Slots  28  are also size to receive a spring-pin of a debris net. Anti-slip material  30 , typically made of a rubber-like compound, is adhesively attached to cylindrical portion  18  to provide an anti-rotational gripping force between cylindrical portion  18  and pool ladder tubing (shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , a side elevational view of clip  12  ( FIG. 3 ), a side elevational view of adapter  14  ( FIG. 4 ) and a front ( FIG. 5 ) and side elevational view ( FIG. 6 ) of spline connector  16  are shown. Spline connector  16  includes a plurality of splines that serve to define a multitude of angular positions for connecting clip  12  to adapter  14 . Spline  16  is inserted into mating spline apertures  34  and  36  to assemble or connect clip  12  to adapter  14 . Spline connector  16  is sized so that insertion of connector  16  is achieved with a moderate insertion force into apertures  34  and  36  attributable to a fairly small interference fit. It is contemplated that connector  16  may be formed or molded as a part of either clip  12  or adapter  14  rather than as a separate component part of device  10 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  is set screw  31  installed in a threaded aperture in adapter  14 . Set screw  31  is useful when the debris net does not include a locating pin or spring-pin feature. The threaded aperture into which screw  31  is inserted may require additional reinforcement such as a threaded metal insert (not shown) to increase the mounting thread strength and thereby enable larger forces created when rotating set screw  31  into the threaded aperture of adapter  14 . Set screw  31  may be replaced by a nut and bolt, wherein the nut and bolt assembly extends through opposing apertures  24  and the shaft of the net when the net is disposed in aperture  22 . 
         [0023]    It is also contemplated that a number of design approaches may be taken for attachment of clip  12  to adapter  14  to achieve a device that provides a multitude of angular configurations of various relationship between clip  12  and adapter  14 . Spline connector  16  may be integrally formed or molded as a part of either clip  12  or adapter  14  thereby eliminating a molded part. Alternatively, the spline engagement design of device  10  could be replaced by a concentric cylindrical sleeve design with an engaging spring-loaded locking pin quite similar to the manner that a debris net shaft extension slides over and clips onto a pool debris net. Such an embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Further, a simple concentric cylindrical interface with a small molded protrusion (such as a plastic dimple) on one concentric cylinder and small indentations sized to receive and engage the dimple in the other concentric cylinder would enable multiple assembly positions for clip  12  versus adapter  14 . In practice, a large number of multi-angular assembly approaches could be taken for the clip  12  to adapter  14  connection, the important aspect being to provide flexibility in the angular assembly relationship between clip  12  and adapter  14 . It is also contemplated that clip  12  and adapter  14  may be machined or molded as a single piece unit without any angular adjustment therebetween. Velcro, wire-ties, hose clamps, nylon tie-wrap straps, and rubber o-ring grommets (a rubberized gripping device) may also be used to more securely attach clip  12  to a cylindrical object such as a pool ladder. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , and operationally speaking, device  10  is shown attached to a cylindrical object such as pool ladder  32  (also shown in cross-section in  FIG. 1 ). Device  10  conveniently and easily snaps onto ladder  32  by positioning the c-shaped cross-sectional aperture  20  of ladder clip  12  against ladder  32  and applying a horizontal force thereto. It should be readily recognized that ladder clip  12  is easily removed at a later time by applying a horizontal force to separate ladder clip  12  from ladder  32 . Anti-slip material  30  provides a frictional gripping force between clip  12  and ladder  32  preventing undesirable rotation of clip  12  versus ladder  32 . Ladder  32  is attached to the pool wall  33  (shown in cross-section). Clip  12  may be rotated to any desired angular position versus ladder  32  to position debris net  38  in a desired location such as a current flow path in the pool water  42 . The angular orientation of clip  12  versus adapter  14  is selected by the user during assembly of the clip  12  and adapter  14  using spline connector  16 . The handle of debris net  38  is inserted into aperture  22 , and the angular orientation of debris net  38  is established by rotating the net so that a spring-pin  40  extending radially outward from within the pool net shaft engages one of the circular apertures  24  or one of the slots  28 . As shown, spring-pin  40  is located in one of the slots  28 , however it should be readily recognized that spring-pin  40  may also be situated in any of the apertures  24  to angularly position the net at a desired angle and depth in the pool water  42 . 
         [0025]    The standard outer diameter of debris net poles is known to be 1.125 inches, thus aperture  22  is typically dimensioned to 1.15 inches. It is contemplated that other net shaft diameters may be accommodated with corresponding dimensional changes to adapter  14  and the diameter at aperture  22  wherein a small clearance spacing is provided to allow the net shaft to slide easily in and out of aperture  22 . Debris nets  38  typically include internal spring-pins  40  to engage mating holes in tubular extension shafts. 
         [0026]    Ladder clip  12  and net mount adapter  14  are preferably manufactured from thermoplastic materials such as PVC (polyvinyl cholride) or any other suitable material having some resiliency and rust resistance. Alternative materials include polyethylene and polypropylene. Anti-slip material  30  is made of rubber or man-made equivalent. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , another embodiment of a pool net mounting device  50  according to the present invention is shown.  FIG. 8  is a plan view of device  50  and  FIG. 9  is an exploded cut-away front elevational view thereof. Features of device  50  that are identical to those shown in device  10  are numbered with like numerals in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Mount device  50  replaces the spline connector with a spring-pin and concentric cylindrical mating member. Mounting device  50  is comprised of a ladder clip  52  and a net mount adapter  54 . Clip  52  and adapter  54  are shown in exploded fashion in  FIG. 9  so that the details of spring-pin  56  and spring  58  are readily seen. Spring-pin  56  is attached to spring  58  via a rivet  60 . Rivet  62  attaches spring  58  to the internal surface of cylindrical portion  66  of adapter  54 . Assembly of device  50  requires insertion of hollow cylindrical member  66  of adapter  54  into hollow cylindrical member  68  of clip  52 . Spring  58  enables pin  56  to be displaced radially inward on cylindrical member  66  so that cylindrical member  66  is insertable within cylindrical member  68 . Upon insertion of cylindrical mating member  66  into cylindrical mating member  68 , adapter  54  is rotated to a desired angular relationship versus clip  52  and spring-pin  56  engages one of apertures  70  sized to receive spring-pin  56 . Apertures  70  are equi-angularly spaced about the cylindrical surface of cylindrical member  68  for a total of twelve apertures, yet more or less apertures  70  are contemplated. Spring  58  is a rectangular flat metal spring that urges pin  56  into the position shown in  FIG. 9 . A circular recess is formed in cylindrical member  66  at  66   a  so that rivet  62  does not interfere with mating of cylindrical mating members  66  and  68 . Also shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are apertures  20  and  22 , cylindrical portion  18 , cylindrical portion  26 , apertures  24 , slots  28 , and anti-slip material  30 , each having identical properties and characteristics as the identically numbered items in  FIGS. 1-7 . Device  50  functions identically to device  10  with the sole differences residing in the manner in which the two primary components, clip  52  and adapter  54 , are attached to one another. Materials used in the construction of device  50  are identical to those used in the fabrication of device  10 . 
         [0028]    The embodiments shown utilize two different approaches for attaching clip  12  to adapter  14 , yet it should be readily apparent that screws, nuts and bolts or pop rivets are equally suitable to attach these two components to one another. The embodiments shown are more convenient in that no tools are required for assembly of the two primary components of the invention. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description of the preferred embodiments, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.