Pool cleaner

A pool cleaner for swimming pools comprising a body (10) which includes a first inlet end (12), a second outlet end (14) and an intake portion (16). The intake portion (16) has a roof (22), a pair of side walls (24) which depend from the roof and an open front which provides the first inlet end (12), but no floor. A removable water-pervious collection receptacle (28) is mounted on the body (10) about the second outlet end (14) thereof. A coupling means (30) is mounted on the body (10) for coupling a handle (32) to the body (10).

This invention relates to a pool cleaner. 
Over a period of time a substantial amount of debris such as leaves from 
nearby trees, accumulates in swimming pools. The debris is not only 
unsightly but is also detrimental to pool cleanliness and should therefore 
be removed regularly. Some debris floats to the surface of the pool and 
can be fairly readily collected therefrom by known methods. However, other 
debris sinks to the floor of the pool and cannot be readily recovered, 
except by using complex and expensive suction devices connectable to the 
pool filtration system. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a simple but effective means 
for removing debris from floors of pools, which may also be used for 
removing debris from surfaces of pools. 
In one form the invention resides in a pool cleaner comprising: a hollow 
body having a first inlet end, a second outlet and an intake portion; the 
intake portion including a roof, a pair of side walls depending from the 
roof, an open front providing said first inlet end, and an open bottom; 
coupling means for coupling a handle to the body; and a water-previous 
collection receptacle mountable on the body about the outlet end thereof. 
Preferably, the intake portion of the body tapers inwardly from the inlet 
end. 
Preferably, the body includes an outlet portion extending upwardly and 
rearwardly of the intake portion adjacent the rear end thereof and 
terminating in said outlet end, said outlet portion providing a wall at 
the rear end of the intake portion. The outlet portion preferably opens 
into the intake portion at the rear end thereof and at a portion of the 
roof thereof adjacent the rear end. 
The coupling means preferably incorporates a pivotal joint to permit 
relative movement between the handle and the body. It is preferred that 
the pivotal joint be in the form of a universal joint, so as to permit 
relative pivotal movement in all directions between the handle and the 
body. 
Preferably a locking means is provided for selectively locking the handle 
and the body against said relative movement.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the pool cleaner according to 
the first embodiment comprises a hollow body 10 having a first inlet end 
12, a second outlet end 14, an intake portion 16 and an outlet portion 18. 
A passage 20, which exists because of the hollow nature of the body, 
extends through the body between the inlet end 12 and outlet end 14. 
The intake portion 16 has a roof 22, a pair of side walls 24 depending from 
the roof, an open front providing said first inlet end 12, and an open 
bottom (i.e. no floor). At the lowermost edge of each side wall 24 there 
is an inturned flange providing a runner 26 which facilitates sliding 
movement of the body along the floor of a swimming pool, in a manner to be 
described hereinafter. 
The intake portion 16 of the body tapers inwardly from the inlet end 12, as 
can be best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. It is described that the inlet 
end 12 of the intake portion of the body has a flow area which is not too 
great in relation to the flow area of the smallest section of the outlet 
portion 18; for preference, the two flow areas are approximately equal. If 
the flow area of the smallest section of the outlet portion is too small 
in relation to that of the inlet end, then water may be prevented, in use, 
from entering the intake portion. This in turn may impede normal flow of 
debris through the body (as will be described hereinafter). 
The outlet portion 18 extends rearwardly and upwardly of the intake portion 
16 at the rear end thereof and terminates at said outlet end 14. In this 
way the outlet portion in effect provides a wall 27 at the rear end of the 
intake portion 16, as best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The outlet 
portion opens into the intake portion at the rear end thereof and at the 
portion of the roof 22 adjacent said rear end, again as best seen in FIG. 
4. 
A collection receptacle 28 is removably mounted on the outlet portion 18 of 
the body about the outlet end 14. The collection receptacle 28 is 
water-pervious, but capable of retaining debris such as leaves and other 
solid matter which is not too finely divided. In the illustrated 
arrangement the collection receptacle is in the form of a flexible mesh 
bag. 
Mounted on the body 10 is a coupling means 30 for coupling an elongated 
handle 32 to the body. The coupling means 30 includes a universal joint 34 
one end of which is secured to the roof 22 of the intake portion of the 
body and the other end of which is secured to a sleeve 36 which is adapted 
to securely receive one end of the handle 32. The universal joint 34 
permits relative movement between the body and the handle in all 
directions. 
A locking means 38 is provided for selectively locking the handle against 
movement relative to the body. In the illustrated arrangement the locking 
means 38 is in the form of a clip mounted on the body. The clip is adapted 
to grip and hold the sleeve 36 when the latter is urged into engagement 
with the clip, so as to retain the sleeve (and hence the handle) against 
pivotal movement relative to the body. The locking means 38 may be of any 
suitable form other than the clip, if desired. In addition, in an 
alternative arrangement the locking means may be adapted to lock the 
handle in a selected one of a multiplicity of positions relative to the 
body. 
The operation of the pool cleaner according to the first embodiment will 
now be described. The pool cleaner is lowered to the floor of the pool and 
with the runners 26 resting thereon, the cleaner is swept across the floor 
of the pool by means of the handle 32. As the pool cleaner travels across 
the floor, water flows relative to the body through the passage 20 and 
into the water-pervious collection receptacle 28. Any debris over which 
the intake portion of the body passes is carried along the passage 20 in 
the body and into the collection receptacle. The debris is retained in the 
collection receptacle, while the water passes therethrough. The inturned 
flanges which provide the runners 26 at the lowermost edges of the side 
walls 24, assist in guiding the flow of water and debris along the section 
of the passage 20 within the intake portion 16. 
As the pool cleaner is advanced along the floor of the pool, the drag force 
imposed by the water on the part of the pool cleaner rearward of the 
universal joint 34 (and in particular the collection receptacle), acts to 
cause the pool cleaner to assume an orientation in which the inlet end 12 
faces the forward direction. 
After completion of the cleaning operation or when the collection 
receptacle requires emptying, the collection receptacle can be detached 
from the body to permit removal of collected debris therein, and then 
replaced for further use. 
In circumstances where the collection receptacle is in the form of a 
flexible bag, it will assume a collapsed position in which it lies across 
the outlet end 14 of the body, when it is lifted from within the pool. In 
this way the collapsed bag closes the outlet end so as to prevent the 
escape of debris collected therein. 
The handle 32 may be locked against pivotal movement relative to the body 
by way of the locking means 38. This converts the pool cleaner from a pool 
floor sweeper to a surface cleaner capable of removing debris from the 
surface of a pool. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the sidewalls 24 are provided with all 
apertures 40.