Abstract:
A mobile filter for removing solid contaminants from water such as swimming pools. The mobile filter has a handle maneuvered chassis, a powered propeller housed in a tubular body, which propeller propels water through a removable bag mesh filter installable on the tubular body. A submersible battery pack is slidably coupled to the handle, and is readily removable therefrom. The submersible battery pack has a cord terminating in a submersible connector matingly compatible with a corresponding submersible connector accessible on the tubular body containing the propeller and its submersible electric motor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to manually maneuvered, wheeled, powered mobile filters for swimming pools and the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Swimming pools and other water filled structures periodically collect contaminants. In the case of structures open to the atmosphere, particularly outdoors, leaves and trash may settle on the water. Operators of water filled structures must periodically remove such contaminants. 
     Mobile filters have been proposed for this task. However, most mobile filters are encumbered with objectionable electrical or vacuum connections, and are hard to maneuver manually. There remains a need for improved mobile filters. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing a mobile filter which is powered, readily maneuvered, and free from the above noted encumbrances. To this end, there is disclosed a mobile filter having a wheeled chassis, a powered propeller contained within a body, and a removable bag mesh filter installable on the body. Notably, the propeller is powered by a submersible electric motor. A submersible battery pack is slidably coupled to a handle of the mobile filter. The submersible battery pack has a cord terminating in a submersible connector matingly compatible with a corresponding submersible connector accessible on the body containing the propeller and submersible electric motor. 
     Locating the submersible battery pack on the handle mitigates objectionable weight of the submersible battery pack, which might otherwise interfere with maneuverability. In addition, the submersible battery pack is designed to work with various sized batteries thereby allowing a user to change the battery pack design and still use the existing mobile filter having a wheeled chassis via the corresponding submersible connector head or an IP68 underwater connector. The batter pack may be adapted to slide along the handle, so that the submersible battery pack is easy to install and remove. This is an advantage when the submersible battery pack is depleted, and must be replaced with a different submersible battery pack, or removed for recharging. The submersible connectors obviously contribute to ease of installation and removal of the submersible battery pack. 
     It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic environmental side view of a mobile powered filtering appliance, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic top view of the appliance of  FIG. 1 , with a bag filter shown in  FIG. 1  omitted in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side detail view of the lower portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective detail view of a mechanical connection usable with the appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side detail view of an alternative to the mechanical connection of  FIG. 4 , shown partly in cross section; 
         FIG. 6  is a side detail view of still another alternative to the mechanical connection of  FIG. 4 , shown partly in cross section; 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross sectional detail view of a manual detent which may be incorporated into the structure shown in, for example,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective detail view of a battery shown at the lower left of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective detail view of the center of  FIG. 1 , with a bag type filter omitted to reveal detail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown a mobile powered filtering appliance  100  for filtering solid objects (not shown) from a structure  10  containing water. Mobile powered filtering appliance  100  comprises a chassis  102  including a tubular body  104  fixed thereto. Referring also to  FIG. 3 , tubular body  104  is open to the underside  106  of chassis  102  at a first end  108  and to water  12  surrounding chassis  102  at a second end  110  when chassis  102  is fully immersed in water  12 . A filter  112  is attachable to second end  110  of tubular body  104 . A propeller  114  is mounted within tubular body  104 . Propeller  114  is adapted to draw water  12  from first end  108  of tubular body  104  and to discharge water  12  from second end  110  of tubular body  104 . A submersible electric motor  116  is drivingly connected to propeller  114 . 
     An elongated handle  118  is coupled to chassis  102 . A submersible battery pack  120  is mountable to elongated handle  118 . An electrical conductor assembly  122  electrically connects submersible battery pack  120  to submersible electric motor  116 . 
     Mounting of submersible battery pack  120  to elongated handle  118  minimizes burden of maneuvering mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . 
     Submersible battery pack  120  may be a lithium ion type. Lithium ion batteries minimize the weight contribution of submersible battery pack  120 , thereby helping to minimize effort of maneuvering mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . Submersible battery pack may have a nominal voltage rating between 12 and 20 volts. Voltages in this range contribute to inherently safe usage characteristics while still providing sufficient power capacity to avoid requiring frequent battery recharging or replacement. 
     Elongated handle  118  may be removably coupled to chassis  102  at a socket  128  ( FIG. 2 ) which may be permanently mounted to chassis  102 . In the absence of socket  128 , elongated handle  118  may be directly coupled to chassis  102 , or as illustrated, may engage socket  128 . In the latter case, socket  128  engages chassis  102 . Mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a flex joint  130  connecting elongated handle  118  to chassis  106 . Flex joint  130  may comprise a universal joint  132  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). As seen in  FIG. 4 , universal joint  132  comprises two perpendicular pivot axes  134 ,  136  provided by axles  138 ,  140  supported in a yoke  142  or the tubular portion of socket  138 , respectively ( FIG. 4 ). 
     As an alternative to a universal joint, and referring to  FIG. 5 , flex joint  130  may comprise a ball and socket assembly  144 . Elongated handle  118  may be coupled to ball  146  by a suitable detent device, such as a threaded coupling (not shown), a bayonet connection (not shown), a through pin such as through pin  148  of  FIG. 6 , or a deflectable, spring mounted interference finger such as spring mounted interference finger  150  of  FIG. 7 , which will be further described hereinafter. Other types of detent devices (none shown) may be provided if desired. In  FIG. 5 , socket  128  is coupled to chassis  102  by a tang  152 , which tang  152  may be secured by a fastener such as a nut and bolt combination  154 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , flex joint  130  comprises a flexible link  156  spanning and connecting chassis  102  and elongated handle  118 . Flexible link  156  may comprise any flexible material, such as stranded metallic or polymeric cable, flexible rubber or plastic, or a chain (not shown), among others. In the example of  FIG. 6 , flexible link  156  may be secured to either or both of elongated handle  118  and socket  128  by a through pin (i.e., nut and bolt combination  158 ,  160 ), by crimping, or in any other suitable way. In  FIG. 6 , socket  128  is coupled to chassis  102  by tang  152  by nut and bolt combination  154 . 
     As a further alternative, elongated handle  118  may engage socket  128  by friction fit (not shown). 
     In  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 , chassis  102  is depicted as a planar platform, but may of course take other forms, such as for example a skeleton (not shown) having openings which would be visible for example in the top view of  FIG. 2 . 
     Tubular body  104  is depicted as being cylindrical herein. However, tubular body could if desired take on other configurations, internally, externally, or both. 
     Structure  10  may be a swimming pool (only the floor portion is shown in  FIG. 1 ). Propeller  114  is arranged to propel water  12  upwardly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so that water  12  enters filter  112 . 
     It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as “upwardly” refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in appliance position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. 
     The above is not to imply that mobile powered filtering appliance  100  can only be used with chassis  102  horizontally oriented. It would be possible to operate at an incline relative to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 , particularly since thrust arising from propeller  114  will tend to urge mobile powered filtering appliance  100  in the opposite direction of discharge of water  12  from tubular body  104 . 
     Filter  112  is a bag type filter having an opening  124  capable of closing over tubular body  104 . Tubular body  104  may comprise an outward projection  126  about a circumference of tubular body  104 . The bag type filter may be retained on tubular body  104  by tightening opening  124  of the bag type filter on tubular body  104  between outward projection  126  and chassis  102 . The bag type filter may include a drawstring about the neck of the bag. When constricted by the drawstring, the neck of the bag will be prevented from sliding off tubular body  104  by interference with outward projection  126 . Outward projection  126  is depicted herein as extending along the entire circumference of tubular body  104  (see  FIG. 9 ). However, it will be recognized that outward projection  126  may be discontinuous, for example, comprising two or more separated sections or individual outward projections (this option is not shown). 
     Elongated handle  118  may be manually removable from chassis  102 . Manually removable signified that no tools need be provided to release elongated handle  118  from engagement with socket  128  or alternatively from direct engagement with chassis  106 .  FIG. 7  illustrated an arrangement wherein elongated handle  118  is manually removable from socket  128 . Interference finger  150  is fixed to a deflectable spring arm  162  fixed to the interior of elongated handle  118 . When holes  164  passing through elongated handle  118  are axially aligned with holes  166  passing through socket  128 , interference finger  150  occupies two holes  164 ,  166  to establish interference preventing elongated handle  118  from disengaging from socket  128 . Spring arm  162  is arranged to bias interference finger  150  into the interference position shown in solid lines. Spring characteristics of spring arm  162  are such that finger pressure is sufficient to move interference finger  150  out of the interference position, as indicated by dashed lines. 
     Manual removal of elongated handle  118  enables submersible battery pack  120  to be readily replaced. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , submersible battery pack  120  is mounted to elongated handle  118 . Submersible battery pack  120  is located between the geometric center point  168  of elongated handle  118  and chassis  102  when submersible battery pack  120  is mounted to elongated handle  118 . This location minimizes adverse effects of the mass of submersible battery pack  120  on maneuverability of mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , submersible battery pack  120  further comprises a yoke which slidably engages elongated handle  118 , whereby submersible battery pack  120  is slidably mountable to elongated handle  118 . The yoke may take the form of a sleeve  170  which can be slipped over elongated handle  118 . 
     Slidable engagement of elongated handle  118  expedites removal and installation of submersible battery pack  120 . It is to be appreciated that the submersible battery pack  120  is adaptable to operate with various sized batteries. It is to be further appreciated that the submersible battery pack  120  can be retrofitted with different submersible battery pack designs (not shown). Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the mobile powered filtering appliance  100  is further adapted to cooperate with various battery pack designs by utilizing the submersible electrical connector  188 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a plurality of wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  rotatably mounted to chassis  102 . Wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  facilitate travel of mobile powered filtering appliance  100  along solid surfaces such as the floor of structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The plurality of wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  may include a first wheel  176  and a second wheel  180 , both located on a side  182  of chassis  102  opposite elongated handle  118 . The plurality of wheels  172 , 174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  may be limited to first and second wheels  176 ,  180 . Two wheels located as described above would provide maximal maneuverability if the number of wheels were limited to two wheels (i.e., first and second wheels  176 ,  180 ). 
     The plurality of wheels may be increased from two wheels (first and second wheels  176 ,  180 ). To this end, mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a third wheel  178  located on side  182  of chassis  118  bearing elongated handle  118 . Provision of third wheel  178  further stabilizes chassis  102  as mobile powered filtering appliance  100  traverses structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The plurality of wheels may be increased from two wheels (first and second wheels  176 ,  180 , or from three wheels (first, second, and third wheels  176 ,  178 ,  180 ). To this end, mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may further comprise a fourth wheel  172  and a fifth wheel  174  located on a side  184  of chassis  102  bearing elongated handle  118 , wherein the track of the first and second wheels  176 ,  180  is greater than the track of the fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174 . Track is the distance between first and second wheels  176 ,  180 , or between fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174 . Fourth and fifth wheels still further improve stability of chassis  102  as mobile powered filtering appliance  100  traverses structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174  may be present in the absence of wheel  178 . Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , second end  110  of tubular body  104  is oriented to discharge water  12  upwardly relative to the direction of motion of chassis  102  along structure  10  containing water  12 . Direction of motion is indicated by an arrow  186 . Discharge of water  12  upwardly will prevent side thrusts which might influence the direction of motion in an unintended way. 
     It would also be possible to arrange second end  110  to be directed such that a degree of thrust assists mobile powered filtering appliance  100  to move in the direction of motion (this option is not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 , submersible electric motor  116  comprises a submersible electrical connector  188  electrically connected to submersible electric motor  116  and accessible from the exterior of tubular body  104 . Electrical connector assembly  122  comprises a flexible power cord  190  permanently attached to submersible battery pack  120  and including a submersible terminal  192  configured to electrically connect submersible battery pack  120  to submersible electrical connector  122  of submersible electric motor  116 . Flexible power cord  190  enables ready connection of submersible battery pack  120  to submersible electric motor  116  even though submersible battery pack  120  might be variably located along elongated handle  118  within a limited range. Submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible electric motor  116  and submersible terminal  192  of flexible power cord  190  meet IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard IP68. Conformity to standard IP68 both assures reasonable protection of ingress of water to energized electrical components, and also enables use of established or conventional electrical connectors. 
     While the disclosed concepts have been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred implementation, it is to be understood that the disclosed concepts are not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but are intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 
     It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
     Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.