POOL CLEANER

Abstract: 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).

Description: "Pool Cleaner" 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 com¬ prising: a hollow body having a first inlet end, a second outlet end and an intake portion; the intake portion in¬ cluding 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-pervious 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 intake portion preferably opens into the intake portion at the rear end thereof and at a por¬ tion 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 pivo¬ tal 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 movemen . The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pool cleaner according to the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the pool cleaner of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pool cleaner of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of the pool cleaner of Fig. 1, with the collection receptacle omitted; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pool cleaner according to the second embodiment. 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. OMPI 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 draw¬ ings. 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 termina¬ tes 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. OMPI The collection receptacle 28 is water-pervious, but cap¬ able of retaining debris such as leaves and other solid matter which is not too finely divided. In the illustra¬ ted 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 a 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 collec¬ tion receptacle 28. Any debris over which the intake por- 7/?0 tion 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 posi¬ tion 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 esgape 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 sur¬ f ce of a pool. ? _ 1_--. Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings, the pool cleaner according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts. The pool cleaner of Fig. 5 differs from the pool cleaner of Figs. 1 to 4 in that a plurality of small apertures 40 are formed in each side wall 24 of the intake portion of the body. The apertures 40 are of a size which permits the passage of water therethrough but which blocks debris such as leaves and other solid matter which is not too finely divided. The presence of the apertures 40 permits the flow area of the inlet end 12 to be increased without the need to in¬ crease the flow area of the smallest section of the outlet portion to avoid impeding flow of debris through the body and into the collection receptacle. Although the invention has- been described with reference to two specific embodiments, it is-not limited thereto and various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. /

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A pool cleaner comprising: a hollow body having a first inlet end, a second outlet end and an intake por¬ tion; 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-pervious collection receptacle mountable on the body about the outlet end thereof. 2. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intake portion of the body tapers inwardly from the inlet end. 3. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein 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. 4. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 3 wherein said intake portion opens into the intake portion at the rear end thereof and at a portion of the roof thereof adjacent to said rear end. 5. A pool cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein small apertures are formed in each side wall of the intake portion. 6. A pool cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a runner is provided on the lowermost end of each side wall. OMPI_ 7. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 6 wherein an in- turned flange on the lowermost end of each side wall provides the respective runner. 8. A pool cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the collection receptacle comprises α mesh bag. 9. A pool cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling means incorporates a pivotal joint to permit rela ' tive movement between the handle and the body. 10. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pivotal joint comprises a universal joint. 11. A pool cleaner as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein a locking means is provided for selectively locking the handle and the body against said relative movement. 12. A pool cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -

Inventors: DIBB TERENCE LESTER, DIBB, TERENCE, LESTER
Applicants: DIBB TERENCE LESTER, DIBB, TERENCE, LESTER
Application year: 1984
Main classification: E04H3
IPC codes: E04H4