Abstract:
A remote control pool skimmer for picking up surface debris, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a pair of elongated buoyant hulls spaced from one another, each hull having a bow and a stern, and at least one cross member interconnecting the hulls to one another, a remotely controlled drive system connected to the pool skimmer for propelling the hulls across the surface of the water in a selected direction and a collection net spanning the space between the pair of hulls, the net being oriented in order to collect surface debris as the hulls move through the water. In terms of weight distribution from bow to stern, the hulls are weighted more toward the stern.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/538,956, filed Oct. 5, 2006, entitled “Remote Control Pool Skimmer”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/731,575, filed Oct. 28, 2005, entitled “Remote Control Pool Skimmer”, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to swimming pool skimmers that are constructed and arranged to collect surface debris from a swimming pool or similar body of water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a remote controlled swimming pool skimmer. 
         [0003]    Swimming pool skimmers have been in use for a number of years as one way to remove surface debris from a body of water. When swimming pools are exposed to nearby deciduous trees and similar vegetation that has a tendency to discharge leaves, seedlings, and other debris, these items can fall into the swimming pool or can be swept into the swimming pool by wind. If not removed promptly, these items of debris typically sink to the bottom of the pool. Debris on the bottom of the pool is more difficult to remove and if not removed, may interfere with the swimming pool filtering system. In the simplest form, such surface debris can be removed from the pool by a net at the end of a long pole. However, this particular approach requires some degree of strength and coordination and constitutes an unpopular chore. While swimming pool services can perform this task for the owners, that comes at an added cost. 
         [0004]    There have been proposals in the past for automatic pool skimmers having some type of buoyant vessel supporting a porous basket. These structures are specifically designed for collecting leaves and other surface debris as the skimmer is propelled through the water, skimming across the surface of the water. However, many of these earlier devices have the disadvantage of having to free themselves when they go into the side of the pool. In addition, some of these prior devices present cumbersome and awkward structural arrangements for removing debris and/or the porous basket. 
         [0005]    While the present invention is described in the context of a swimming pool, the problems and issues described above also exist, at least to some degree, for small man-made lakes and other similar bodies of water where the debris falls along the shoreline. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to providing certain improvements and benefits for such automatic pool skimmers in the form of a device that is remotely controlled, providing another advantage and convenience to the user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A remote control pool skimmer for picking up surface debris, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a pair of elongated buoyant hulls spaced from one another, each hull having a bow and a stern, and at least one cross member interconnecting the hulls to one another, a remotely controlled drive system cooperating with the pool skimmer for moving the hulls through the water in a given direction and a collection net spanning the space between the pair of hulls, the net being oriented in order to collect surface debris as the hulls move through the water. In terms of weight distribution from bow to stern, the hulls are weighted non-linearly more toward the stern. 
         [0007]    One object of the present invention is to provide an improved remote control pool skimmer. 
         [0008]    Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a starboard side elevational view of a pool skimmer. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the pool skimmer in  FIG. 1  showing a debris collecting net in place. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the pool skimmer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the pool skimmer of  FIG. 1   
           [0013]      FIG. 4A  is a partial, fragmentary, perspective view of one pontoon with alternative weighting. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the pool skimmer of  FIG. 1  with the debris collecting net removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the skimmer of  FIG. 1 , showing the debris collecting net in the process of being removed from the pool skimmer. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the  FIG. 1  pool skimmer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , there is illustrated a swimming pool skimmer  10  that is constructed and arranged according to the present invention. Skimmer  10  comprises a pair of spaced pontoons  12  and  14  that are arranged so as to be generally parallel to one another and having tapered bows  16  and  18  respectively. Pontoons  12  and  14  also have sterns  20  and  22 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4 . A cross member  24  extends between pontoons  12  and  14  at a substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis (line  13 ) of each pontoon  12  and  14 . Cross member  24  provides structural interconnection between the pontoons  12  and  14  by way of flanges  12   a  and  14   a  and threaded fasteners  21 . The hollow construction of cross member  24  and pontoons  12  and  14  provides a housing for other components, such as, for example, control and propulsion components. Cross member  24  includes an upper surface  26  and fore and aft side walls  28  and  30 , respectively. Sidewalls  28  and  30  are constructed and arranged to reinforce the upper surface  26 . This construction provides the described hollow interior for receipt and/or placement of control and propulsion components. 
         [0019]    The bow ends  31  and  33  of the pontoons  12  and  14 , respectively, are structurally interconnected by a curved frame member  32  secured to an upper housing  34  of pontoon  12  and an upper housing  36  of pontoon  14  by means of screws  38 . Frame member  32  comprises upper and lower walls  40  and  42 , respectively, having a series of recesses  43  between them to accommodate a plurality of rollers  46 . A series of shafts (not shown) extend between walls  40  and  42  and provide a means for journaling the rollers  46  that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of frame member  32 . The rollers  46  are journaled so that at least a portion of their periphery extends forward beyond the outer circumference  45  of frame member  32 . 
         [0020]    Pontoons  12  and  14  may be formed from any appropriate material such as fiberglass, plastics, metal, and the like so long as the pontoons provide buoyancy for the device  10 . The pontoons  12  and  14  each have lower hulls  48  and  50  which mate with upper housings  34  and  36 , respectively. The lower hulls  48 ,  50  and upper housings  34 ,  36  are fastened together, respectively, by either glue, heat welding or other means to form watertight, buoyant compartments. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown by dashed lines  56  and  58 , weights are incorporated in the aft end of the pontoons for a purpose to be described later. In another embodiment of the present invention, see  FIG. 4A , this “weighting” is achieved by using thicker wall sections  55  and/or by creating added walls or ribs  57  to weight the stern greater than the bow. This weighting is non-linear with a greater proportion of the weight being provided to the stern half of the two pontoons  12  and  14 . 
         [0021]    The back wall  30  of cross support  24  has mounting plates  61 ,  63  forming supports for a pair of propulsion units  60  and  62 , respectively secured thereto by suitable fasteners. Propulsion devices  60  and  62  are electrically operated motors with an internal electrical motor driving propellers  64  and  66  through an appropriate power train. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the propulsion units  60  and  62  can be provided in a number of forms so long as they have the ability to propel the device  10  through the water at a thrust which can be varied both in absolute magnitude and relative to one another. The electric motors and the propulsion devices  60  and  62  are driven by a controller  68  (shown by a dashed outline) positioned and mounted in the hollow interior of structural cross member  24 . As shown herein, propulsion devices  60  and  62  simulate full-size outboard motors with a small fractional horsepower electric motor used as the prime mover. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of motors can be varied and the exact means of propulsion can be varied from open propellers as shown herein, to ducted propellers, to jet drive. Furthermore, although the propulsion devices  60  and  62  are shown as fixed in position and the relative speed of the propulsion devices is varied to guide the boat and control its speed, a single motor may be employed with the ability to swivel and thus achieve the directional capabilities. 
         [0022]    The motors  60  and  62  may also be used in conjunction with a rudder or rudders (not shown) which may be fixed or adapted to pivot so as to guide the boat. Propulsion devices  60  and  62  receive electrical power through lines  70  and  72  (shown herein by dashed lines). These lines extend to the power output section  74  of the controller  68 , also indicated by dashed lines. As shown herein, the controller is from a radio controlled model boat that is used to control the relative current to the motors  60  and  62  to control the speed and the direction of the skimmer  10 . Controller  68  receives power from line  76  connected to a battery pack  78 , both shown by dashed lines. As shown herein, the voltage for the battery pack  78  is 9.6 volts and the battery pack  78  is rechargeable. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that other voltages and other forms of batteries may be employed in the illustrated device. An antenna  80  facilitates reception of signals from a remote control transmitter, not shown in order to provide a more concise description of the present invention. A removable cover  77  provides access for battery pack  78  and a pedestal for a scale size boat pilot  79 . An on-off toggle switch  81  is included. 
         [0023]    The control system and propulsion units are available from a number of outlets including Radio Shack®. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the system of controlling the speed and direction of the device  10  can take a number of forms to direct movement of pool skimmer  10  through the water. 
         [0024]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 2 , the pool skimmer  10  has a skimmer net  82  mounted between pontoons  12  and  14 . Skimmer net  82  comprises a net  84  consisting of an open fabric of appropriate material with suitable porosity to allow flow of liquid but still retain debris of the desired size. Although primarily intended to collect larger natural debris like leaves, the net  84  can be employed to trap smaller items floating on the surface of the water. The net  84  is configured to cover an elongated area between pontoons  12 ,  14 . It is in the form of upper and lower walls  86  and  88 , respectively which are secured to each other around the circumference  90  by appropriate gluing, heat welding and the like. Upper and lower walls  86  and  88  may be a single sheet folded over and secured along two edges where they may be made as separate sheets or as a single unit using appropriate manufacturing technology. The walls  86  and  88 , so configured, form an elongated porous pocket extending between pontoons  12  and  14 . 
         [0025]    Walls  86  and  88  are connected at their forward end to a cross frame  92 . Frame  92  may be molded from a single section to embrace and embed in the ends of the net-like walls  86  and  88 . However, it may be formed from a wide variety of materials. Frame  92  has an integral T handle  97  extending vertically from the upper leg  94  for convenient manipulation of the skimmer net  82 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cross frame  92  is a single piece having an upper leg  94 , a lower leg  96  and curved end sections  98  and  100  to form an open, elongated mouth  95 . As shown particularly in  FIG. 5 , the walls  98  and  100  of frame  92  are received within grooves  102  and  104  formed in support webs  106  and  108 , extending towards one another from the in-board side of pontoons  12  and  14 , respectively. 
         [0026]    When the skimmer net  82  is in place, it is held adjacent the front end of the pontoons  12  and  14  with the mouth  95  of frame  92  facing the direction of movement of boat. The water line of the pool skimmer  10  is selected so that it is approximately half way between the upper wall  94  and lower wall  96  of frame  92 . This is to ensure that the skimmer can capture both the exposed and submerged sections of leaves. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the design waterline can be manipulated up or down to suit particular requirements. 
         [0027]    As noted, particularly in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the propulsion units  60  and  62 , and more particularly the propellers  64  and  66 , do not extend beyond the stern  20  and  22  of the pontoons  12  and  14 . Furthermore, the propellers do not extend below the lower-most section of pontoons  12  and  14  at the aft end of the pontoons. This is done to protect the propellers  64  and  66  when the unit  10  is placed flat on a surface or placed on end by positioning it on stern  20  and  22 . In order to ensure that the propellers  64  and  66  are sufficiently submerged in the water in spite of having their outer diameter at least as high as the bottom of sterns  20  and  22 , the weights  56  and  58  are positioned to provide a weight distribution of  60 / 40  biased toward the aft end (stern) of device  10 . Approximately the same non-linear weight distribution is achieved if the weights  56  and  58  are replaced with thicker walls  55  and/or added ribs  57 . It is also contemplated that smaller weights could be used in combination with the thicker walls and/or added ribs. This non-linear weight distribution causes a slight positive angle of attack, but more importantly causes the sterns  20  and  22  of pontoons  12  and  14  to be sufficiently immersed in the water to allow optimum propulsion from propellers  64  and  66 . It should be apparent that other weight distributions may be used as needed for particular applications. 
         [0028]    In operation, the pool skimmer  10  is placed in a pool, pond, or other body of water to be cleaned and is operated by an operator on shore or at the edge of the pool to direct the skimmer  10  towards the debris on the surface. As the skimmer proceeds through the water, it is aimed at, and collects the debris in the skimmer net  82 . The above pool skimmer does a very effective job of cleaning debris from the water surface. Since the skimmer  10  has the appearance of a model boat and is radio controlled, it is far more entertaining for a person, and particularly children, to use this device to clear a pool of surface debris. 
         [0029]    When the skimmer net  82  is to be emptied, skimmer  10  is brought to the side of the pool or shoreline and the skimmer net  82  is lifted from the grooves  102  and  104  by means of the T handle  97  on the upper wall  94 . Since grooves  102  and  104  are curved, it allows the frame  92  to be easily withdrawn from the grooves by pivoting the side nearest to the water&#39;s edge. This facilitates removal of the debris without the need to remove the entire vessel from the water. 
         [0030]    The curved frame  32  at the bow of the pontoons  12  and  14  not only provides structural interconnection, but allows easy access to the skimmer net  82 . The rollers  46  prevent tearing of vinyl linings in some swimming pools when the pool skimmer is driven into the side. In addition, the rollers  46  allow the pool skimmer to be smoothly guided through a turning maneuver along the side. 
         [0031]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.