Abstract:
An effective skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system that is cost effective, simple and light weight such that the consumer would find it reliable, easy to install, easy to remove, lightweight, affordable, adaptable, and assists in the removal of debris from the surface of the liquid regardless of the liquid level and assists in the removal of debris below the surface of the liquid.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application pends form provisional application 60/427285. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program.  
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to liquid maintenance devices, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for eliminating debris from a contained body of liquid, such as a swimming pool.  
         [0006]     2. Prior Art  
         [0007]     Skimming and vacuuming devices have been developed to eliminate debris from contained bodies of liquid. Skimming devices are typically used for contained bodies of liquid, although, they may be used for open bodies of liquid, such as the ocean, such as when an environmental cleanup is required. Said contained bodies of liquid are generally maintained by a filtering system which circulates water through skimming and vacuuming devices that separate debris from the liquid. Said skimming devices are generally connected to said filtering system and generally remove debris from the surface of the liquid. Said vacuuming devices are also generally connected to the filtering system and generally remove debris from the bottom of the liquid container. For said skimming device to be effective, they must generally remain near the surface of the water and therefore must move up or down as the water level fluctuates. For said vacuuming devices to be effective they must create enough suction to pull debris from the bottom of the liquid container. Skimming and vacuuming devices are typically used in swimming pools, as well as other contained bodies of liquid.  
         [0008]     Although adjustable skimming devices have been developed to accommodate said fluctuations in water level, they are, however, cumbersome, complex and expensive. Furthermore, although various types of vacuums have been developed to remove debris from the bottom of the liquid container, they are also cumbersome, tend to be complex and may be expensive. And still further, skimming and vacuuming devices have not been combined into one simple unit.  
         [0009]     Therefore, said skimming and vacuuming devices have some drawbacks.  
         [0010]     Firstly, the skimming and vacuuming devices are cumbersome, i.e., large, bulky and heavy, making the installation and removal of the skimming or vacuuming device a chore that may require more than one person.  
         [0011]     Secondly, the skimming and vacuuming devices are complex, i.e., many moving parts with connections to various intakes and outtakes, making the installation and removal of the skimming device time consuming for the maintainer. Said complexity may necessitate the assistance of an expert to aid in the installation and removal.  
         [0012]     Thirdly, the skimming and vacuuming devices may be expensive due to their complexity. Said expense will limit the number of consumers who will purchase said skimming and vacuuming devices.  
         [0013]     Fourthly, the skimming and vacuuming devices may require modifications to the existing filtering system, thus increasing the complexity and cost of said skimming and vacuuming devices.  
         [0014]     Fifthly, the skimming devices do not assist in the removal of debris from the liquid below the surface, thus requiring the user to rely on the additional task of vacuuming to remove debris below the surface to the liquid.  
         [0015]     Sixthly, said skimming and vacuuming devices are not specifically designed for low liquid levels, such as when the liquid level is below the skimming intake six inches or more, as is usually the case when the a body of liquid, typically a swimming pool, has been closed for a period of time or there has been a drought or water ban.  
         [0016]     There is therefore a need in the art for an effective skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system that is cost effective, simple and light weight such that the consumer would find it reliable, easy to install, easy to remove, lightweight, affordable, adaptable, and assists in the removal of debris from the surface of the liquid regardless of the liquid level and assists in the removal of debris below the surface of the liquid.  
         [0017]     It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system which functions regardless of the liquid level and eliminates the need for the user to: 
        1) add liquid to the contained body of liquid when the liquid level is too low for the filtering system, and thus the vacuuming system, to function, therefore permitting swimming pool owners to wait for rain to fill the swimming pool, saving the pool owner time, effort and money, and saving environmental resources, especially when there is a drought or water ban; or     2) pump water from the contained body of liquid when the liquid level is too high for the skimmer to be effective.        
 
         [0020]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is simple in design.  
         [0021]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is lightweight and easy to use.  
         [0022]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is affordable.  
         [0023]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that connects to most filtering systems without modification.  
         [0024]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming device that will assist in the removal of debris below the surface.  
         [0025]     With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     A novel approach to liquid maintenance has now been discovered, thus providing the maintainer with improved modes of maintaining contained bodies of liquid. The present invention achieves a simpler, effective, affordable, adaptable and less cumbersome way of maintaining a body of liquid regardless of the water level. By practicing the disclosed invention, the skilled practitioner will now enjoy easy installation, easy removal, a reduced need for water level monitoring and a less cumbersome way of maintaining a body of liquid. The advantages of using the present invention include: affordability, adaptability, ease of set up, ease of installation, ease of removal, the ability to remove debris from the surface of the water and below the surface at the same time, and the ability to run the skimmer/vacuum when the water level is low, especially for swimming pools which permits the pool owner to wait until it rains to fill the swimming pool, thus saving the swimming pool owner time effort and expense as well as conserving environmental resources, especially in the event of a drought or water ban. The present invention will hereinafter be referred to as the Low Water Skimmer Vac.  
         [0027]     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, along with advantages and features of the invention disclosed herein, will be made more apparent from the description, drawings and claims that follow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the cleaning means used in conjunction with the present invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of skimmer attachment  10 . 
     
    
     NUMBERING OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]      2 . Skimmer  
         [0033]      4 . Connecting Means  1   
         [0034]      6 . Sealing Means  
         [0035]      8 . Low Water Skimmer Vac  
         [0036]      10 . Skimmer Attachment  1   
         [0037]      12 . Connecting Means  2   
         [0038]      14 . Flexible Hose  
         [0039]      16 . Skimmer Attachment  2   
         [0040]      18 . Skimming Basket  
         [0041]      20 . Open End  
         [0042]      22 . Closed End  
         [0043]      23 . Sidewalls  
         [0044]      24 . Openings  
         [0045]      26 . Mounting Means  
         [0046]      28 . Liquid Squeegee/Broom  
         [0047]      30 . Handle  
         [0048]      32 . Debris Moving Means  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0049]     In the broadest aspects, the present invention provides the skilled artisan with the analytical tools and technical know-how sufficient to make and use the disclosed invention. The present invention provides contained liquid maintenance persons with a liquid maintenance system that is affordable, adaptable, lightweight, easy to set-up, use and store and removes debris at the liquid&#39;s surface and below. Said system utilizes a simple design, thus making it easy to use by most contained liquid maintainers.  
         [0050]     Referring first to  FIG. 1  and  3 , wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, the present invention, in its most basic form, is generally indicated by the reference numeral  8 , and comprises a skimmer attachment, generally indicated by reference numeral  10 , a flexible hose, generally indicated by reference numeral  14 , and a skimmer, generally indicated by reference numeral  2 . The Low Water Skimmer Vac  8  is shown in functional form and may be disassembled for easy storage and transportability.  
         [0051]     In further detail, said skimmer attachment  10  is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools and generally comprises a connecting means  4  and a sealing means  6 . Said skimmer attachment  10  is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter. Said connecting means  4  is located at the top of said skimmer attachment  10  and the sealing means  6  is on the bottom of said skimmer attachment  10 . Said connecting means  4  is in the shape of a tube and facilitates connection between the skimmer attachment  10  and the flexible hose  14 . In the preferred embodiment, said connecting means is elongated with a 90° bend to eliminate upward bending of flexible hose  14 . Said sealing means  6  is attached along the base perimeter of the skimmer attachment  10  to facilitate a seal between said skimmer attachment  10  and the pool filter. Said skimmer attachment  10  is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimmer attachment  10  is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may vary in shape and size to accommodate various filtering systems. In some cases the skimmer attachment  10  may be eliminated and replaced with an adaptor to accommodate various filtering systems. Said adaptors are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0052]     Said flexible hose  14 , is comprised of a length of tubing with connecting means  12  sealably connected to both ends. Said flexible hose  14  may comprise several lengths of hose or be one complete unit. Said flexible hose  14  is of the length to facilitate the removal of debris from a body of liquid, and is generally just below the liquid line. Said flexible hose  14  connecting means  12 ′ connects to said skimmer  2  and said flexible hose  14  connecting means  12 ″ connects to said skimmer attachment  10 . Said flexible hose  14  facilitates the movement of liquid between said skimmer  2  and said skimmer attachment  10 . Said flexible hose  14  is generally made of rubber or plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said flexible hose  14  is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0053]     Said skimmer  2  is comprised of a skimmer attachment  16 , a skimming basket  18  and a mounting means  26 . Said skimmer attachment  16  is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools and generally comprises a connecting means  4 ′ and a sealing means  6 ′. Said skimmer attachment  10  is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter. Said connecting means  4 ′ is located at the top of said skimmer attachment  16  and the sealing means  6 ′ is on the bottom of said skimmer attachment  16 . Said connecting means  4 ′ is in the shape of a tube and facilitates connection between the skimmer attachment  16  connecting means  12 ′ and the flexible hose  14 . Said sealing means  6 ′ is attached along the base perimeter of the skimmer attachment  16  and is generally intended to facilitate a seal between said skimmer attachment  16  and the pool filter. In the present case, the sealing means of said skimmer attachment  16  creates a seal between said skimmer attachment  16  and said skimming basket  18 . Said skimmer attachment  16  is generally one piece and is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent configurations and substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimmer attachment  16  is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may vary in shape and size to accommodate various skimming baskets  18 .  
         [0054]     Said skimming basket  18  is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools. Said skimming basket  18  is generally cylindrical in shape and is comprised of an open end  20 , a closed end  22  and a side walls  23 . Other shapes would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said open end  20  is located at the top of skimming basket  18 . Said closed end is located at the bottom of skimming basket  22 . Said sidewalls  23  are the body of skimming basket  18 . Said sidewalls  23  are connected to said closed end  22  along the perimeter of said closed end  22  and sealed where the ends of said sidewalls  23  meet. Said sidewalls  23  and said closed end  22  are generally manufactured as one unit in a seamless manner. Said skimming basket  18  is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimming basket  18  is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0055]     Said skimming basket  18  is attached to said skimmer attachment  16  by mounting means  26 . Said mounting means  26  may be as simple as electrical tie wraps connecting said skimmer attachment  16  to said sidewalls  23  of skimming basket  18 . In the preferred embodiment the mounting means  26  utilizes a hinge and latch means. Said hinge means is attached to one side of said sidewalls  23  of open end  20  of the skimming basket  18  and the same side of said skimming attachment  16 . Said latch means is connected 180° away from the hinge means on said sidewalls  23  of open end  20  of the skimming basket  18  and skimming attachment  16 . Said skimming hinge and latch means are generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said hinge and latch means are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Said hinge and latch means facilitates the opening and closing of said skimmer  2 . Such opening and closing facilitates the removal of debris within said skimmer  2  and permits placement of chlorine tablets within said skimmer to facilitate liquid maintenance.  
         [0056]     Said skimmer  2  may also include a flotation component. Said flotation component may be in the shape of a ring and attached to said skimming basket  18 , or said flotation component may be incorporated into said skimmer  2  material. Other equivalent means would also be suitable.  
         [0057]     Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation.  
         [0058]     The Low Water Skimmer Vac  8  may also be constructed of materials known by one of ordinary skill in the art that are lightweight, flexible, rustproof and suitable for outdoor use. In the preferred embodiment, said Low Water Skimmer Vac  8  is molded and comprised of thee elements, the skimmer attachment  10 , the flexible hose  14  and the skimmer  2 , which allow the Low Water Skimmer Vac to be easily collapsed at the intersection of said connecting means  4  of said skimmer attachment  12  and said connecting means  12 ″ of said flexible hose  14 , and the intersection of said connecting means  12 ′ of said flexible hose  14  and said connecting means  4 ′ of said skimmer attachment  16  of said skimmer  2 . Said collapsibility allows for quick and easy set-up and breakdown, i.e., less than one minute.  
         [0059]     In practice the system works as follows: 1) The maintenance person sets up the Low Water Skimmer Vac by connecting said connecting means  4  of said skimmer attachment  10  to said connecting means  12 ″ of said flexible hose  14  and connecting said connecting means  12 ′ of said flexible hose  14  to said connecting means  4 ′ of said skimmer attachment  16  of said skimmer  2 . Said flexible hose  14  length is dependant on the distance between the filtering system and the surface of the liquid level in conjunction with the depth the maintenance person desires to skim/vac. 2) The maintenance person then fills said Low Water Skimmer Vac with liquid and connects said bottom of said skimmer attachment  10  to the filtering system. 3) If a flotation device or chlorine is desired, the maintenance person may add either at any step in the process. The Low Water Skimmer Vac functions as follows: 1) The liquid is pulled through the Low Water Skimmer Vac via suction from the filtering system, is filtered and returned to said source. Larger debris are kept out of the Low Water Skimmer Vac by the skimming basket  18 . 2) The maintenance person may opt to use a broom or squeegee as shown in  FIG. 2  [not part of the claimed apparatus] to push the debris toward the Low Water Skimmer Vac to be pulled through the filtering system. The Low Water Skimmer Vac may be left connected to the filtering system unattended once the vacuuming is complete or removed and broken down for storage.  
         [0060]     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting of the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced herein.