Abstract:
Flexible valves principally (although not necessarily exclusively) for automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The valves have generally parabolic closure regions and do not present linear transverse cross-sections to water flowing through them. The closure regions may extend substantially below the transverse center lines of the valves, which additionally may include teeth at or near hinges of the closure regions. Including the hinges reduces likelihood of undesired wear at or near the outlets of the valves.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/922,602 filed on Apr. 10, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates principally to components of devices for cleaning fluid-containing vessels and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to valve assemblies for water interruption-type automatic cleaners for swimming pools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,833 to Stoltz, et al. (the “Stoltz Patent”), whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses various valve assemblies useful for automatic swimming pool cleaners. These assemblies typically include flexible, generally tubular diaphragms surrounded by chambers, with the diaphragms interposed in the main fluid-flow paths through the cleaners. In response to variation in pressure internally and externally, the diaphragms contract and expand transversely along at least part of their lengths, thereby controlling fluid flow therethrough. 
         [0004]    Mentioned in the Stoltz Patent is that versions of the diaphragms may have “substantially oval-shaped or diamond-shaped cross section . . . when a total fluid flow interruption is to be achieved.” See Stoltz Patent, col. 3, ll. 36-38. Also detailed in the Stoltz Patent is use of longitudinal ribs “along that part [of a diaphragm] which contracts to the greatest extent.” See id., col. 5, ll. 32-33. According to the Stoltz Patent, such ribs enable a diaphragm to contract to an X-shaped pattern depicted in  FIG. 7  of the patent. See id. ll. 33-35. 
         [0005]    Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,593 to Kallenbach (the “Kallenbach Patent”), the contents of which also are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses additional valve assemblies for use with automatic swimming pool cleaners. These assemblies too are generally tubular in shape and made of flexible material. As noted in the Kallenbach Patent:
       The body [of the tubular valve] has an intermediate section between the ends that assumes a substantially collapsed condition over a segment thereof in absence of a pressure differential between the interior and exterior. The section preferably is collapsed transversely over a segment.   Along the collapsed segment, the body has diverging interior walls in the direction of water flow therethrough. The walls diverge from a substantially constant diameter that extends for a portion of the section adjacent the first end to a substantially constant, but larger, diameter that extends for a portion of the section adjacent the second end. Further, the divergence is a substantially linear function of the distance along the segment.       
 
       See Kallenbach Patent, col. 1, ll. 28-42. 
       [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,228 to Chang (the “Chang Patent”), entitled “Pool Cleaner Diaphragm Valve,” likewise addresses diaphragm-style valves and ancillary assemblies for automatic swimming pool cleaners. Apparently, however, these valves are of the type specified in the Kallenbach Patent. Indeed, according to the Chang Patent, this type of valve “is ideal” for the purposes described therein. See Chang Patent, col. 6, ll. 60-65. 
         [0009]    Commonly-owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0054229 of van der Meijden, et al. (the “van der Meij den Publication”), whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, addresses further generally-tubular valve assemblies. Preferred embodiments of the assemblies include mouths divided into three parts. As stated in the van der Meij den Publication, this division “admits a larger through hole within the valves, in turn enabling larger debris to pass.” See van der Meijden Publication, p. 1, ¶ 0008. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides alternatives to the valves of the Stoltz and Kallenbach Patents and the van der Meijden Publication. Included in the present valves is a closure region substantially larger than those in existing flexible valves. This region advantageously is shaped substantially in the form of a parabola or “V,” thus causing it to resemble the beak of a duck. At least in part because of its generally parabolic shape, the closure region does not present linear transverse cross-section to water flowing toward it. 
         [0011]    Additionally, at least a portion of the closure region is closer to the inlet of the valve than in conventional valves. This portion, including the “tip” part (vertex) of the “beak” (parabola), may extend significantly below the lateral center line of the flexible valve. By contrast, for example, section  98  of valve  14  of commonly-owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0032539 of van der Meijden, et al. appears at or near the lateral center line of valve  14  of that publication. 
         [0012]    By reshaping the closure region, flexible diaphragm-type valves of the present invention change their hinging action as well. In particular, substantial surface area is now included as the hinge, reducing the flexure load on the outlet from that experienced in existing valves. Valves of the present invention thus are expected to have more durable hinges than conventional flexible valves and thereby reduce wear at their outlets. 
         [0013]    Present valves also may include teeth at or near the hinges of the closure region. Such teeth, together with corresponding recesses, function to reduce the likelihood of lateral movement of one portion of the valve relative to another. This decreased lateral movement further reduces wear in the vicinity of the hinging area. Reinforcing material, moreover, may be provided either internal or external to the valve walls. 
         [0014]    It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide novel valves for devices such as automatic swimming pool cleaners. 
         [0015]    It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flexible valves having closure regions of substantially parabolic or “V” shape. 
         [0016]    It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flexible valves, in the form of diaphragms, having closure regions extending closer to the fluid inlets of the valves. 
         [0017]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves with hinging areas for enhanced durability. 
         [0018]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves including teeth and corresponding recesses for limiting lateral movement of one portion of the valves relative to another. 
         [0019]    It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves which do not present linear transverse cross-section to water flowing toward them. 
         [0020]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide reinforcing material for the valve walls. 
         [0021]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the appropriate field with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of one side of a valve of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of  FIG. 1  with the valve having been rotated approximately ninety degrees. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve as rotated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the valve of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  is exemplary valve  10  of the present invention. Valve  10  comprises body  14  together with inlet  18  and outlet  22 . Body  14  has exterior surface  26  and interior surface  30  and preferably, although not necessarily, is generally tubular in shape. Body  14  typically is formed of a flexible, rubbery material and molded as a single part; those skilled in the appropriate art will, however, recognize that other types of body  14  may be suitable instead. 
         [0028]    Depicted as well in  FIGS. 1-5  are collars  34  and  38 , recess  42 , and one or more flexible sealing rings  46  of body  14  useful for, among other things, connecting valve  10  to other components of an automatic swimming pool cleaner. Collar  34  and recess  42 , forming part of exterior surface  26  at or adjacent outlet  22 , typically interlock directly or indirectly (or are co-molded with) extension pipes of the cleaner so as to fix the position of outlet  22  relative to the pipes (which in turn typically connect directly or indirectly to a flexible hose). Conventional valves are subject to wear in the region where the interlock occurs. 
         [0029]    Collars  38  and rings  46  likewise form part of exterior surface  26 . Near inlet  18 , collar  38  and rings  46  connect body  14  of valve  10  to components within a head of the cleaner adjacent the mouth thereof. None of collars  34  or  38 , recess  42 , or rings  46  need necessarily be present on body  14 , however, as other connecting mechanisms may be used instead. 
         [0030]    Preferably, valve  10  is positioned in the main fluid flow path within the cleaner. If so positioned, fluid in the form of water entering the mouth of the cleaner must pass through body  14  of valve  10  before exiting via the extension pipes. Entrained in the water stream typically will be debris (e.g., sticks, leaves, etc.), some or all of which also must pass through valve  10  and may tend to clog the passage defined by interior surface  30  of body  14 . 
         [0031]    Intermediate inlet  18  and outlet  22  of valve  10  is section  66 . As illustrated in each of  FIGS. 1-5 , section  66  beneficially is collapsed transversely so as to form mouth  70  of body  14 .  FIG. 3 , especially, details a preferred mouth  70  having somewhat of a parabolic, or “V,” shape (shown in dashed lines) extending generally from a (nominally) upper portion  74  of valve  10  toward inlet  18 . Vertex  78  of mouth  70 , further, is positioned well below lateral center line LCL of body  14 , substantially closer to inlet  18  than are mouths of conventional valves. 
         [0032]    Hence, rather than presenting an essentially linear transverse cross-section to fluid flowing through body  14 , mouth  70  presents a curved, non-linear cross-section effectively tailing away toward outlet  22 . This shape and the positioning of mouth  70  are advantageous in many situations, as they permit achievement of different closing forces and timing than in existing valves. Depending on the characteristics of pumps which will influence operation of valve  10  and the aquatic environments in which cleaners containing valve  10  will be used, beneficial operations of the cleaners may result. 
         [0033]    Termination of mouth  70  remote from vertex  78  occurs in upper portion  74  of valve  10 . Termination regions  82  and  86  are formed (at least in some respects) as hinges for mouth  70 , flexing as mouth  70  cyclically opens and closes in use. Also present as part of body  14  are semi-circumferential hinging areas  88 A-B. Illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4  as scalloped regions, hinging areas  88 A-B bend as mouth  70  open and closes. Because hinging areas  88 A-B are large relative to corresponding sections of other valves, they distribute the bending force over a larger area than is conventional, lowering flexure stress to which upper portion  74  is subjected. Displacing flexure load to these hinging areas  88 A-B likewise decreases flexure of valve  10  at or adjacent outlet  22 , resulting in less wear of body  14  at the outlet  22  (i.e. where connection to extension pipes occurs). 
         [0034]    Shown especially in  FIGS. 3-5  are teeth  90  and recesses  94 . Teeth  90  preferably are formed on interior surface  30  within first longitudinal portion  98  of body  14 , while recesses  94  are created within interior surface  30  in second longitudinal portion  102  of body  14 . Placement of teeth  90  and recesses  94  correspond so that teeth  90  fit within recesses  94  when mouth  70  closes. This fitting helps reduce any tendency of first longitudinal portion  98  to move laterally relative to second longitudinal portion  102  as the hinges flex, assisting preventing frictional wear that would result should such lateral movement occur. Although six teeth  90  and six recesses  94  (three of each in each of termination regions  82  and  86 ) are depicted in the figures, more or fewer (or none) of such teeth  90  and recesses  94  may be employed instead. 
         [0035]    Formed (preferably) on exterior surface  26  of body  14  is reinforcing material  106  for the valve wall. Material  106  may be harder than the material from which body  14  is made, thus providing greater structural rigidity to portions of the body  14 . Although typically molded onto body  14 , reinforcing material  106 , if present, may be attached or connected to or within body  14  in any suitable way. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments of valve  10 , material  106  has a complex outer shape comprising a generally parabolic section  110  and a generally circumferential section  114 . Vertex  118  of section  110  is placed near vertex  78  of mouth  70 ; by contrast, circumferential section  114  is positioned near the hinges formed at termination regions  82  and  86 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , material  106  preferably is incorporated onto each of first and second longitudinal portions  98  and  102 . To assist molding, exterior surface  26  may include flanges  122  with which material  106  interacts. 
         [0037]    Similar to ribs of the valve of the Kallenbach patent, reinforcing material  106  functions to, among other things, stiffen valve  10  in the axial or longitudinal direction. The stiffness facilitates valve  10  resisting forces acting on it during closure of mouth  70 , reducing likelihood of section  66  collapsing (undesirably) in the vicinity of outlet  22 . Although, as noted above, reinforcing material  106  may be harder than body  14 , it need not necessarily always be so. 
         [0038]    In use, valve  10  typically is deployed within an automatic pool cleaner in fluid communication with the inlet side of a pump. When the pump operates, its generally tends to evacuate the interior region of valve  10 , causing debris-laden water of a swimming pool to pass therethrough. More specifically, operation of the pump produces cyclical opening and closing of mouth  70 , creating water-hammer effect as mouth  70  closes to supply motive force to the cleaner. Those skilled in the art will understand that mouth  70  need not necessarily close completely as it cycles; instead, substantial closure may produce satisfactory results. 
         [0039]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.