POOL CLEANING DEVICE

A pool cleaning device (1) for cleaning debris from the floor of a pool without the use of suction and/or a pool pump and an interchangeable netting system that allows a user to change the net (10) on the pool cleaning device or on a pool skimmer from a mesh size used for capturing small debris to a mesh size used for capturing large debris as necessary.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pool maintenance and more particularly to a pool cleaning device used for cleaning debris off of the floor of a pool without the use of suction and/or a pool pump and an interchangeable netting system that allows a user to change the net on the sweeper or on a pool skimmer from a mesh size used for capturing small debris to a mesh size used for capturing large debris.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Debris on the bottom of a swimming pool is commonly cleaned using a vacuum head attached to an elongated pole. The vacuum head is attached to a pump and filter system via a hose that provides suction to the vacuum head to suck up debris. The use of conventional pool vacuums is time consuming as the hose must be unrolled and secured to the pump system and then to the vacuum head. Then, the hose and vacuum must be disassembled and stored.

This is a laborious task especially when there is minimal debris, such as a few leaves, that need to be cleaned off of the pool floor. Some try to capture debris off of the floor of a pool using a conventional pool skimmer. However, it is difficult to capture debris under water without the debris escaping from the net. In addition, conventional skimmers have permanently integrated nets each having a specific mesh size for capturing fine debris, such as gnats, dirt and so forth, or for capturing larger debris, such as leaves. Each mesh size has certain advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it may be necessary for a pool owner pool maintenance worker to own more than one skimmer head to capture the various sizes of pool debris.

Therefore, a need exists for a pool cleaning device used for cleaning debris off of the floor of a pool without the use of suction and/or a pool pump and an interchangeable netting system that allows a user to change the net on the pool cleaning device or on a pool skimmer from a mesh size used for capturing small debris to a mesh size used for capturing large debris as necessary.

The relevant prior art includes the following references:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pool cleaning device used for cleaning debris off of the floor of a pool without the use of suction and/or a pool pump.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable netting system that allows a user to change the net on the pool cleaning device of the present invention or on a pool skimmer from a mesh size used for capturing small debris to a mesh size used for capturing large debris as necessary.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a pool cleaning device for cleaning debris from a pool floor wherein the net is connected to a perimeter frame and covered by a trap door. The trap door is pushed open by the force water when the device is pushed forward. A mechanism, such as one or more springs and/or floats, pushes the trap door into a closed position when the debris capturing net is stationary or moved in a reverse direction, thereby trapping debris inside the net and preventing the debris from floating out of the net. A scoop on a front edge of the frame scrapes the surface of the pool floor and directs debris into the net. One or more rollers may be located below the scoop to allow the device to move freely along the surface of the pool floor.

The net of the present invention is preferably interchangeable by means of a band located around an upper perimeter of the net, said band preferably having a hook and loop fastener located on an outer surface that engages a hook and loop fastener located on an inner surface of the perimeter frame. The interchangeable net system of the present invention may be used with the debris capturing device and/or with a skimmer frame having a hook and loop fastener located on an inner surface thereof.

FIG. 7is a perspective side view of a perimeter frame of a pool cleaning device of the present invention with no covering panel and having a removable net detached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:1. pool cleaning device, generally2. perimeter frame3. inner surface of perimeter frame4. outer surface of perimeter frame5. upper edge of perimeter frame6. lower edge of perimeter frame7. front section of perimeter frame8. side section of perimeter frame9. rear section of perimeter frame10. net11. cover panel12. top surface of cover panel13. bottom surface of cover panel14. cover panel entrance hole15. trap door16. closing means17. scoop18. front edge of scoop19. top surface of scoop20. bottom surface of scoop21. rolling means22. wheel23. band24. upper perimeter of net25. hook and loop fastener26. attachment means27. tubular extension28. weight29. support arm30. spring31. float

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, perspective side views of a pool cleaning device1of the present invention wherein a trap door15is in an open position and in a closed position, respectively, are illustrated. The pool cleaning device1of the present invention comprises a perimeter frame2having a rounded and/or rectangular shape. Said perimeter frame2comprises an inner surface3(as illustrated inFIG. 5), an outer surface4, an upper edge5, a lower edge6, a front section7, side sections8and at least one rear section9. A net10extends downward from the perimeter frame2to form a bag for trapping debris that enters the pool cleaning device1. The net10may be permanently attached to the perimeter frame2or removeably attached (as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7). A covering panel11having a top surface12and a bottom surface13(as illustrated inFIG. 5) extends across the perimeter frame2covering an opening to the bag-shaped net10created by the perimeter frame2. A preferably rectangular-shaped entrance hole14is centrally located on the covering panel11and covered by a trap door15, which is hingedly attached to the covering panel11and or perimeter frame2. The trap door15is pushed open by the force of water when the pool cleaning device1is pushed forward. A substantially rectangular-shaped scoop17having a front edge18, a top surface19, and a bottom surface20(as illustrated inFIG. 5) extends from on the front section7of the perimeter frame2and scrapes the surface of the pool floor to direct debris into the net10. A tubular extension27extends from the rear section9of the perimeter frame and acts as a handle or an attachment point for an elongated handle.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, side views of a pool cleaning device1of the present invention wherein a trap door15is in an open position and in a closed position, respectively, are illustrated. The pool cleaning device1of the present invention comprises a perimeter frame2having a rounded and/or rectangular shape. A net10extends downward from the perimeter frame2to form a bag for trapping debris that enters the pool cleaning device1. The net10may be permanently attached to the perimeter frame2or removeably attached (as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7). The net may be held in an expanded position by at least one weight28and or at least one support arm29. The trap door15is pushed open by the force of water when the pool cleaning device1is pushed forward (as illustrated inFIG. 4). A closing means16, such as at least one spring30, at least one float31and so forth, pushes the trap door15into a closed position and maintains the trap door15in the closed position when the pool cleaning device1is not being pushed forward through the water, thereby capturing debris within the net10. A substantially rectangular-shaped scoop17having a front edge18, a top surface19, and a bottom surface20extends from on the front section7of the perimeter frame2and scrapes the surface of the pool floor to direct debris into the net10. At least one rolling means21, such as at least one wheel22, roller, caster and so forth, may be located on the bottom surface21of the scoop17and or perimeter frame2to allow the pool cleaning device1to move freely along the surface of the pool floor. A tubular extension27extends from the rear section9of the perimeter frame and acts as a handle or an attachment point for an elongated handle.

With reference toFIG. 5, a bottom view of a pool cleaning device1of the present invention wherein a trap door15is in a closed position and no net10attached is illustrated. The pool cleaning device1of the present invention comprises a perimeter frame2having a rounded and/or rectangular shape. Said perimeter frame2comprises an inner surface3, an outer surface4, an upper edge5(as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2), a lower edge6, a front section7, side sections8and at least one rear section9. A covering panel11having a top surface12(as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2) and a bottom surface13extends across the perimeter frame2covering an opening created by the perimeter frame2. A preferably rectangular-shaped entrance hole14is centrally located on the covering panel11and covered by a trap door15, which is hingedly attached to the covering panel11and or perimeter frame2. The trap door15is pushed open by the force water when the pool cleaning device1is pushed forward (as illustrated inFIG. 4). A closing means16, such as at least one spring30, at least one float31and so forth, pushes the trap door15into a closed position and maintains the trap door15in the closed position when the pool cleaning device1is not being pushed forward through the water, thereby capturing debris within the net10. A substantially rectangular-shaped scoop17having a front edge18, a top surface19(as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2), and a bottom surface20extends from on the front section7of the perimeter frame2and scrapes the surface of the pool floor to direct debris into the net10. At least one rolling means21, such as at least one wheel22, roller, caster and so forth, may be located on the bottom surface21of the scoop17and or perimeter frame2to allow the pool cleaning device1to move freely along the surface of the pool floor. A tubular extension27extends from the rear section9of the perimeter frame and acts as a handle or an attachment point for an elongated handle.

With reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, perspective side views of a perimeter frame2of a pool cleaning device1of the present invention with no covering panel11and having a removable net10attached thereto and a the removable net10detached, respectively, are illustrated. The net10of the present invention is preferably interchangeable wherein a band23is located around an upper perimeter24of the bag-shaped net10. The band23preferably has a hook and loop fastener25located on an outer surface24thereof that engages a hook and loop fastener25located on the inner surface3of the perimeter frame2. Said perimeter frame2having a rounded and/or rectangular shape. Said perimeter frame2comprises an inner surface3, an outer surface4, an upper edge5, a lower edge6, a front section7, side sections8and at least one rear section9. The net10may be removeably attached to the perimeter frame2via any attachment means26, such as hook and loop fastener25, clips, hooks, snaps and so forth. A tubular extension27extends from the rear section9of the perimeter frame and acts as a handle or an attachment point for an elongated handle.