Abstract:
A pool protection device for preventing leaves and large debris from entering a pool filtration system may include a front panel; a first angled panel connected to the front panel; a second angled panel opposing the first angled panel and connected to the front panel; and a top panel connected to the front panel, the first angled panel and the second angled panel, extending beyond the first angled panel and the second angled panel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to pool filters and more particularly to a pool protection device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Summer windstorms—and breezes throughout the swimming pool season, result in the placement of leaves, dust, and other debris into the pool. Pool re-circulating filters remove the majority of small suspended materials. The same re-circulating pump is used as part of a vacuum system to remove the larger materials that are deposited on the pool bottom and sides. 
         [0003]    A swimming pool water circulation system includes the pool itself, a motor driven pump, a flow duct from the pool to the inlet or suction side of the pump, a return flow duct from the discharge or pressure side of the pump to the pool, and a system filter unit in the return flow duct. If desired, a water heater can be installed in the return duct. The system filter is of the kind which removes sand, dust and other finely divided solid matter from water passed through it; many system filters use a diatomaceous earth filtering medium. System filters are not well suited for the removal from water of larger things such as leaves, flower petals, pine needles and the like. 
         [0004]    A flexible hose attached to the skimmer intake at one end extends to a vacuum head at the other; upon activation of the pool pump the latter is maneuvered over the pool side and bottom surfaces to retrieve water-soaked leaves, branches, and grass—and other low density materials found resting thereon, resulting in water entrainment that carries the debris through the flexible hose for return to the pool pump. A pre-filter is usually employed at an in-line position along the flexible hose, separating out the larger particles to prevent premature fouling of the pool filter and pool pump, which is designed for use in separating out the finer particles of soil and silt from the re-circulating pool water. The leaves and larger particles may cause the filter or prefilter and the pool pump to clog due to the accumulation of the leaves/larger articles. Without water flowing through the filter/prefilter/pool pump, the water may be denied the benefits circulation which in wintertime may cause the water to freeze resulting in damage to the pool and expensive repairs. 
         [0005]    Swimming pool cleaning has received much attention in the last few decades and automated pool cleaners are well established, powered by water that is circulated by a pump that is installed at the pool. These cleaners clean the bottom and side walls of the pool below water level to a greater or lesser extent. Suction type pool bottom cleaners are connected at the pool weir but their effectiveness is steadily reduced as debris is accumulated in the leaf basket that is located in the skimmer. This type of arrangement is subject to the same disadvantages as described above. 
         [0006]    Pool protection devices which operate on pump suction are also known; they include vacuum heads which are coupled to long poles and are moved manually across the pool bottom, and they also include automatic devices which move across the pool bottom—the former are used for short periods, whereas the latter can be operated for long periods measured in hours or days. Such devices are coupled by flexible suction hoses to the circulation pump inlet via the pool skimmer or wall outlet; they operate to suck from the pool bottom accumulations of dirt, leaves and the like, and to introduce them to the pool filter and pool pump for removal there. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A pool protection device for preventing leaves and large debris from entering a pool filtration system may include a front panel; a first angled panel connected to the front panel; a second angled panel opposing the first angled panel and connected to the front panel; and a top panel connected to the front panel, the first angled panel and the second angled panel, extending beyond the first angled panel and the second angled panel. 
         [0008]    The first angled panel may include a first notch to mate with a lip of the pool edge. 
         [0009]    The second angled panel may include a second notch to mate with the lip of the pool edge. 
         [0010]    The pool protection device may be formed from transparent material. 
         [0011]    The top panel may extend to a deck of the pool. 
         [0012]    The pool protection device may be formed from nontransparent material. 
         [0013]    The angled panel may be angled at an obtuse angle with respect to the front panel. 
         [0014]    The angled panel may be angled at an acute angle with respect to the front panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the pool protection device of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the pool protection device of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of the pool protection device of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the pool protection device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The pool protection device  100  of the present invention prevents leaves and other floating debris which may be floating near or at the surface of the pool water from entering the filtration system and clogging the device for filtering the pool water and consequently, allows the water to flow past the heater preventing the pool from freezing when the outside temperature is below the freezing level. The pool protection device  100  of the present invention also prevents clogging of the circulation system in the fall, winter and spring seasons when most larger debris and are the pool from harsh weather and. The pool protection device  100  of the present invention includes a cavity  108  which may facilitate the flow of water to the filter by an open bottom which may be several inches below the surface level of the water. Furthermore, the pool protection device  100  may be movable and relocatable to different locations. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the pool protection device  100  of the present invention which may be formed from transparent material such as plastic, glass and which may be formed from nontransparent material such as wood, metal or other appropriate material. The pool protection device  100  may be formed from rigid or flexible material and may include a front panel  101  and a pair of opposing angled panels  103  which may connect to the front panel  101 . The pool protection device  100  may include a top panel  107  which may be connected to the front panel  101  and the angled panels  103 , and additionally, the top panel  107  may extend over the pool edge  119  and may cover a portion of the deck  121  which may extend around the perimeter of the pool. A weight (not shown) may be positioned on the top panel  107  in order to secure the pool protection device  100  at a fixed position. 
         [0022]    The angled panel  103  may be angled at an acute or obtuse angle with respect to the front panel  101  and may include a notch  105  in the edge of the angled panel  103  to cooperate with a lip  119  at the edge of the pool. 
         [0023]    The pool protection device  100  may be placed alongside the pool wall  111 , and the open back achieves a substantially flush fit with the edges of the angled panel  103  mating with the pool wall  111 . The open bottom of the pool protection device allows the pool water substantially without large leaves or debris from entering the pool protection device  100  and subsequently entering the filter of the pool cleaning system. The notches  105  formed in the angled panel  103  cooperates with the lip of the pool edge  119 . Leaves on the surface of the pool water may float for a period of time and pass by the open bottom of the pool protection device  100  by virtue of the position near the surface of the pool water. The leaves will eventually become waterlogged and sink to the bottom of the pool where the leaves and debris no longer be a danger to clogging the filter or pump and of course will not enter the pool protection device  100  because of the limited distance from the surface of the pool water. The pool protection device  100  of the present invention achieves large leaf and debris filtration without a filter and prevents the filter and pump of a pool filtration system from becoming clogged with the large leaves and debris. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the pool protection device  100  of the present invention which may be formed from transparent material such as plastic, glass and which may be formed from nontransparent material such as wood, metal or other appropriate material. The pool protection device  100  may be formed from rigid or flexible material and may include a front panel  101  and a pair of opposing angled panels  103  which may connect to the front panel  101 . The pool protection device  100  may include a top panel  107  which may be connected to the front panel  101  and the angled panels  103 , and additionally, the top panel  107  may extend over the pool edge  119  and may cover a portion of the deck  121  which may extend around the perimeter of the pool. A weight (not shown) may be positioned on the top panel  107  in order to secure the pool protection device  100  at a fixed position. 
         [0025]    The angled panel  103  may be angled at an acute or obtuse angle with respect to the front panel  101  and may include a notch  105  in the edge of the angled panel  103  to cooperate with a lip  119  at the edge of the pool. 
         [0026]    The pool protection device  100  may be placed alongside the pool wall  111 , and the open back achieves a substantially flush fit with the edges of the angled panel  103  mating with the pool wall  111 . The open bottom of the pool protection device allows the pool water substantially without large leaves or debris from entering the pool protection device  100  and subsequently entering the filter or pump of the pool cleaning system. The notches  105  formed in the angled panel  103  cooperates with the lip of the pool edge  119 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the pool protection device  100  of the present invention which may be formed from transparent material such as plastic, glass and which may be formed from nontransparent material such as wood, metal or other appropriate material. The pool protection device  100  may be formed from rigid or flexible material and may include a front panel  101  and a pair of opposing angled panels  103  which may connect to the front panel  101 . The pool protection device  100  may include a top panel  107  which may be connected to the front panel  101  and the angled panels  103 , and additionally, the top panel  107  may extend over the pool edge  119  and may cover a portion of the deck  121  which may extend around the perimeter of the pool. A weight (not shown) may be positioned on the top panel  107  in order to secure the pool protection device  100  at a fixed position. 
         [0028]    The angled panel  103  may be angled at an acute or obtuse angle with respect to the front panel  101  and may include a notch  105  in the edge of the angled panel  103  to cooperate with a lip  119  at the edge of the pool. 
         [0029]    The pool protection device  100  may be placed alongside the pool wall  111 , and the open back achieves a substantially flush fit with the edges of the angled panel  103  mating with the pool wall  111 . The open bottom of the pool protection device allows the pool water substantially without large leaves or debris from entering the pool protection device  100  and subsequently entering the filter of the pool cleaning system. The notches  105  formed in the angled panel  103  cooperates with the lip of the pool edge  119 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates the front panel  101 , the angled panel  103 , the notch  105 , the top panel  107  and the lip of the pool wall  111 . 
         [0031]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.