Abstract:
A pool caddy for stowing an automatic pool cleaner includes a support tube for providing structural support to the pool caddy. A deck mount disposed on the support tube secures the pool caddy to a pool deck edge. A container disposed on the support tube is configured to hold the automatic pool cleaner. A retainer disposed on the container is configured to secure the automatic pool cleaner to the container and to the support tube. A suction cup disposed on the support tube secures the pool caddy to a pool surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to apparatus for operating pool systems, maintaining pool systems, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for stowing an automatic pool cleaner. 
         [0002]    Some pools utilize automatic pool cleaners to traverse pool surfaces or to skim the water surface to automatically scrub the pool and collect debris. Automatic pool cleaners provide a convenience of clean pools with minimum effort, but include hoses and skimming or scrubbing devices that may interfere with an enjoyment of the pool. Devices do not allow a user to pick up an automatic pool cleaner and quickly stow it to a side of the pool, while allowing the automatic pool cleaner to remain on. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus for stowing an automatic pool cleaner to a pool edge or deck. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a pool caddy comprises a support tube; a deck hook disposed on a top of the support tube; a suction cup disposed on a lower back side of the support tube; a ball catch disposed to the top of the support tube; an attachment disposed on the support tube at a point along a length of the support tube; a support bracket disposed between an end of the attachment and the support tube; an elastic rope; a ball disposed on an end of the elastic rope, the ball operable to engage the ball catch; and a rope hook disposed on a second end of the elastic rope, the rope hook operable to attach to an end of the support bracket. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, a pool caddy for stowing an automatic pool cleaner comprises a support tube; a deck mount disposed on the support tube for securing the pool caddy to a pool deck edge; a container disposed on the support tube for holding the automatic pool cleaner; a retainer disposed on the container for securing the automatic pool cleaner to the container and to the support bracket; and a suction cup disposed on the support tube for securing the pool caddy to a pool surface. 
         [0006]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an oblique perspective view of a pool caddy with a basket attachment in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the pool caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the pool caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a ball catch end cap taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the ball catch end cap with a copping clamp assembled thereto; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a bracket and a suction cup of the pool caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an oblique perspective view of a pool caddy according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an oblique perspective view of a pool caddy according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a detail view of an aspect of the pool caddy of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0017]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0018]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a pool caddy apparatus for stowing portions of an automatic pool cleaner to allow the pool cleaner to be set aside an not interfere with use of a pool. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a pool caddy  10  may include support tube  26 , which may have a wire deck hook  18  assembled thereto, a ball catch end cap  22  on a top end thereof, an end cap  24  on a bottom end thereof, a wire basket  30  assembled thereto, a suction cup  46  assembled thereto, and a support bracket  32  assembled thereto. An elastic rope  38  may have a ball  40  on a first end and an elastic rope hook  42  on a second end thereof. Ball  40  may be configured to engage ball catch end cap  22 , which may be configured to also receive a clamp mount shaft  54  of a stone copping clamp  52 . Ball catch end cap  22  may be a single molded piece or may include a separable ball catch and an end cap element. Elastic rope hook  42  may be configured to engage or hook onto an end of support bracket  32 . 
         [0020]    Support bracket  32  may be secured to support tube  26  by a screw  36  or assembled to support tube  26  by an interference fit (e.g., snap fit), and may include a hose hook or other device that may be capable of receiving or holding a pool cleaner hose  14  thereon. Wire basket  30  may be a basket, an attachment, or a container configured to hold or contain a pool cleaner  12  therein. Wire basket  30  may be secured to support bracket  32  by a bracket  56 , which may be secured to support bracket  32  by one or more bracket screws  58 , and may be configured to allow wire basket  30  to rotate relative to support bracket  32 . A pivot point  28  formed or machined in support tube  26  may engage or receive wire basket  30  and allow wire basket  30  to rotate thereabout. Dashed lines in  FIG. 3  illustrate wire basket  30  in a rotated configuration. One or more deck hook mount holes  48  formed or machined in support tube  26  may engage or receive wire deck hook  18 . Wire deck hook  18  may be configured to hook or grapple on to an edge of pool deck  16 . One or more segments of a rubber tubing  20  may encase portions of wire deck hook  18  or wire basket  30 , to protect surfaces of a pool deck  16 , pool cleaner  12 , a user, or wire deck hook  18  and wire basket  30  themselves from abrasion or snagging. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. A cross member  62  may be connected to support tube  26  at pivot point  28 , and configured to rotate thereabout relative to support tube  26 . Cross member  62  may include side supports  64  that may be connected to a pivot bar  66 . A webbing  50 , which may include a nylon webbing or a rubber strap, may be connected to side support  64  and to elastic rope  38 , wherein webbing  50  and elastic rope  38  may be configured, individually or in combination, to hold or retain automatic pool cleaner  12  in pool caddy  70 . A suction cup  44  may be connected to webbing  50 . One or more end caps  24  may be assembled to distal ends of side support  64  and pivot bar  66 . A hose hook  34  may be attached to support tube  26  at a bottom end thereof. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-9  yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Pool caddy  80  may include one or more side suction supports  68 , which may be connected to pivot bar  66 , and which may have one or more suction cups  44  respectively connected thereto. A distal end of support bracket  32  may have a pin  60  assembled thereto, which may be secured by bracket  56  and one or more bracket screws  58 . Pin  60  may allow support bracket  32  to rotate thereabout relative to cross member  62 . 
         [0023]    According to some exemplary embodiments, support tube  26  may be a rigid metal or polymer tube, rod, or other element capable of providing a rigid structural support for pool caddy  10 , and may be aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other polymer, metal, or a combination thereof, for example. Wire deck hook  18  and wire basket  30  may include drawn and formed metal wire that may be coated (e.g., rubberized) to protect the metal wire from corrosion or environmental elements. Clamp mount shaft  54  may be configured to secure stone copping clamp  52  to ball catch end cap  22  by an interference fit, for example. In one embodiment, clamp mount shaft  54  may be threaded into ball catch end cap  22  or may be a slip bar. Webbing  50  may be a woven webbing (e.g., nylon webbing) or a strap (e.g., rubber strap) that may be in a V-shaped configuration. Webbing  50  may be treated to be UV resistant or chemical resistant. Hose hook  34  may be attached to a distal end of cross member  62 . 
         [0024]    According to some exemplary embodiments, suctions cups  44 ,  46  may be about 2 or about 3 inch suction cups, and may be connected to support tube  26 , pivot bar  66 , webbing  50 , and side suction supports  68  by an interference fit or a fastener, for example. Support tube  26  may be about 24 inches in length. 
         [0025]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.