Water level control device

A portable swimming pool water level maintenance device for releasible attachment to a swimming pool having a built-in skimmer. The device includes an upright conduit open at each end and having a conventional toilet ball cock valve and vertically slidable float assembly mounted therewithin. The water inlet of the valve is connectable to the water discharge end of a garden hose, fill water being supplied from the garden hose through the valve to raise the water level sufficiently for the float to close the valve. The conduit is held in upright orientation and vertical position by three spaced, parallel elongated horizontal support members and an elongated upright support member connected to the side of the conduit and arranged to releasibly engage against the deck, inside upper surface of the skimmer and the pool wall surface just below the skimmer. A small visual flow outlet discharges some of the water flowing into the valve out from above the pool water level to visually advise of when the valve is open and the pool is being filled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Scope of Invention 
This invention relates generally to water level control devices for 
swimming pools, and more particularly to a portable device for maintaining 
swimming pool water level which is releasibly engageable with the swimming 
pool skimmer. 
2. Prior Art 
Modern swimming pools lose water in several ways on a daily basis. Swimming 
pool water is lost through evaporation, splashing the water out of the 
pool, leaks in the swimming pool lining and drain valves and leaks in the 
water filtration system. The water lost in these ways must be replenished 
on a frequent basis so as to maintain a desired water level in the 
swimming pool. 
Maintaining this desired water level is of utmost importance in maintaining 
pool cleanliness as built-in skimmers positioned at the desired water 
level function most efficiently, if at all, in removing debris from the 
water surface when the swimming pool water is at the desired height. 
One simple method of maintaining swimming pool water level is to 
periodically simply manually open a fill valve or a garden hose so as to 
flow fresh water into the pool. Applicant is also aware of a number of 
patented prior art devices which are intended to accomplish a similar 
function automatically as listed below: 
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Inventor Patent No. 
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Gibbs 5,203,038 
Yovanofski 4,607,399 
Tams 4,574,405 
Hodge 4,342,125 
St. Ledger 4,621,657 
Kinkead, et al. 4,724,552 
Snyder 4,972,530 
Diemond, et al. 3,616,918 
Maxhimer 4,445,238 
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However, none of these devices provide a portable system for releasible 
engagement with the skimmer which is connectable to the discharge end of a 
conventional garden hose. The present invention providing such features is 
also very economical to manufacture, preferably utilizing a toilet ball 
cock valve and float assembly to control water flow and p.v.c. tubular 
components. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a portable swimming pool water level 
maintance device for releasible attachment to a swimming pool having a 
built-in skimmer. The device includes an upright conduit open at each end 
and having a conventional toilet ball cock valve and vertically slidable 
float assembly mounted therewithin. The water inlet of the valve is 
connectable to the water discharge end of a garden hose, fill water being 
supplied from the garden hose through the valve to raise the water level 
sufficiently for the float to close the valve. The conduit is held in 
upright orientation and vertical position by three spaced, parallel 
elongated horizontal support members and an elongated upright support 
member connected to the side of the conduit and arranged to releasibly 
engage against the deck, inside upper surface of the skimmer and the pool 
wall surface just below the skimmer. A small visual flow outlet discharges 
some of the water flowing into the valve through a separate tube 
positioned above the pool water level to visually advise of when the valve 
is open and the pool is being filled. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a portable swimming 
pool water level control device for automatically maintaining a desired 
swimming pool water level which is easily engageable between the deck and 
a built-in skimmer of the swimming pool for temporary or more permanent 
use. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable swimming 
pool water level control device which is easily adaptable in a single form 
to a wide range of swimming pool designs and built-in skimmer dimensions. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable swimming 
pool water level control device utilizing a conventional toilet ball cock 
valve and vertical float assembly connectable to the discharge end of a 
conventional garden hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is shown 
generally at numeral 10 and includes a conventional toilet ball cock valve 
and vertical float assembly 14 shown in detail in FIG. 3. The valve 
assembly 14 includes an upright valve 24 extended at its lower end by 
flexible conduit 26 and connectable by threaded fitting 52 to discharge 
end 54 of a conventional garden hose as shown in FIG. 2. 
The valve 24 is held in position by elongated upright member 18 being 
rigidly connected and spaced from an inner surface of an elongated tubular 
conduit 12 by a tubular spacer 20 and threaded fasteners 22. One 
embodiment of the elongated conduit 12 is formed by conventional p.v.c. 
tubing open at either end. The other conduit embodiment 12' is formed of 
ribbed plastic conduit material. 
A generally cylindrical float 16 of each embodiment 10 or 10' is slidably 
engaged on upright guide member 18 through a longitudinal mating opening 
formed through the float 16. By this arrangement, when float 16 is moved 
in the direction of arrow A relative to valve 24, adjustable arm 32 acting 
on shut off valve lever 28 in the direction of arrow C opens and closes 
valve 24 in a well-known manner. 
When the valve 24 is opened by downward displacement of float 16 an lever 
28, water discharges through outlets 36 and through tube 38. Thus, a 
portion of the inlet water exits through flexible tube 40 which extends 
laterally from a hole formed in the upper side of the conduit 12. Being 
positioned well above the water level W.L., flexible tube 40 provides a 
this discharge stream that is an easily visible indication that the pool 
is being filled. 
To support and maintain a desired orientation and vertical positioning of 
the conduit 12 or 12' with toilet ball cock assembly 14 secured 
therewithin as above described, an upright length of plastic tubing 42 is 
rigidly connected by threaded fasteners 22 and extending longitudinally 
along the side of the conduit 12 or 12' as best seen in FIG. 3. Clearance 
slots 46 and 46', which extend longitudinally from the upper end of 
conduit 12 or 12', are provided as clearance for t-fitting 44. A 
horizontal tubular member 48 extends by t-fitting 44, radially away from 
the conduit 12 or 12' to interengage with a support assembly 50 having 
three parallel, elongated slender horizontal support members 48, 52 and 54 
held in the respective positions shown by the conventional p.v.c. cross 
fittings and elbows shown. Horizontal support members 52 and 54 are 
vertically adjustably positionable as shown in FIG. 2 with respect to 
support member 48 and held in any desired spacial adjustment by threaded 
screws 56 and 58. The lower support member 48 thus engages into the 
skimmer to contact the upper inner surface thereof while the upper support 
members 52 and 54 contact against the pool deck surface by downward 
adjustment and securement thereof as previously described so as to tightly 
span against these corresponding pool surfaces. The upright legs 62/64 
contact against the wall surface W of the swimming pool immediately below 
the skimmer so as to stabilize the conduit from tipping or rotation away 
from the wall W. 
In FIG. 3, all of the components are identical to that with respect to 
FIGS. 1 and 2 except that this embodiment 10' includes a ribbed plastic 
conduit member 12' in lieu of a smooth surface p.v.c. tubing 12 of FIGS. 1 
and 2 as previously described. 
Water level W.L. adjustment to a predetermined or desired level is 
accomplished in two ways. The entire conduit 12 or 12' may be adjusted 
vertically in the direction of arrow E or E' in FIGS. 2 and 3, 
respectively, and secured by thumb screw 60. Alternately, the float 16 may 
be repositioned vertically along guide member 18 by releasing spring clamp 
34 on arm 32 while effecting the repositioning. 
While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is 
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the 
invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed 
herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to 
embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.