Abstract:
A pump mount base for a filter/pump assembly in a pool or spa fluid handling system allows a user to adjust the height of the filter/pump assembly and thus its fluid inlets and fluid outlets. This adjustability allows the user to choose from a variety of replacement assemblies rather than being forced to select the same filter/pump assembly previously or originally used in the system. The height of the filter/pump assembly may be further altered by the engagement of shims, which may be positioned by pins in the bottom surface of the shim that engage corresponding apertures formed in an upper support surface of the pump mount base. The shims may be formed integrally with the pump mount base in the molding process by which the base is formed, and/or the shims may be provided separately.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 61/083,376 entitled “Adjustable pump mounting base” filed 24 Jul. 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This technology generally relates to pump mount devices, and more specifically to customizable pump mount devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pumps are used in fluid circulation systems to manipulate the direction and speed of a fluid. For example, pools and spas may use pumps to force water through water heaters, heat exchangers, salt and chlorine generators, and pool filters. In general, a pump includes a fluid inlet for allowing fluid to enter the pump, and a fluid outlet to allow the fluid to exit the pump. 
     Pumps may be designed in a variety of sizes and different pumps may differ in the height at which their inlet and outlet ports are positioned. This variability in positioning of the inlet and outlet height, as well as the variety of sizes and types of fluid circulation systems, may limit the flexibility of a pool system designer in selecting a pump, thus increasing manufacturing and installation costs. For example, a pump selected based on a specific flow rate, price, or size may have inlets and/or outlets that are not ideally positioned for placement in a new or existing system. Therefore, an installer or a pool owner may be forced to select a pump based solely on the compatibility of its ports or construct customized mounting bases, connectors, and/or fluid fittings to integrate the desired pump into the existing fluid handling system. 
     When the inlet and outlets of a desired pump are incompatible with the existing fluid handling system, the installer or pool owner may be required to expend time and money to re-configure the system to accommodate the desired pump. Alternatively, the installer or pool owner may choose to construct a customized base for the desired pump. In the case of customized pump bases, construction requires extra time to create and install the pump into the fluid handling system. In some cases, customized pump bases may not be of the highest quality leading to fluid leakage and pipe or pump failure. These factors are important to consider when selecting a pump, as they may increase the cost, flexibility, and complexity of designing a pump system for a pool. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to is a pump mount base for supporting a pump assembly in a pool or spa fluid handling system. Mounting the pump assembly on the upper surface of the pump mount base elevates the pump assembly off the mount surface so that the height of the of inlet and outlet ports may better match the existing plumbing of the spa or pool fluid handling system. This adjustability may allow the pump to be better aligned with the existing components of the fluid handling system to which the pump is operably and fluidly attached. The height of the pump assembly inlets and outlets may be adjusted further by placing shims on the upper surface of the pump mount base. The shims may be positioned and held in place by pins which may be received into apertures formed on the base. The pump mount base may also include mounting holes to allow passage of bolts, screws, pegs, or other connecting devices through the body of the pump mount base so that the pump may be attached to the pump mount base and possibly to the ground or mount surface. 
     The shims may be formed integrally with the pump mount base during the molding process by which the base is formed and thus supplied with the pump mount base, or they may be supplied separately from the pump mount base. Different thickness shims may offer more fully customized pump height. Before use, the shims are disconnected from the base and utilized as needed. 
     When shims are molded with the pump mount base, the shims may be positioned within and attached to cavities in the pump mount base. Alternatively shims may be attached to the periphery of the pump mount base. 
     Further aspects of the pump mount base described herein will be realized upon review of the specification, drawings and appended claims. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other features, details, utilities, and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following more particular written Detailed Description of various embodiments and implementations as further illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a filter/pump assembly of a pool/spa fluid handling system seated on an implementation of a pump mount base. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the pump mount base with shims detached and located above their respective connection apertures. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the pump mount base with shims as an integrally formed component. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the pump mount base with shims as an integrally formed component attached to the periphery of the pump mount base. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another alternative embodiment of the pump mount base having only two shims mounted within a single large cavity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As an overview, various embodiments of a pump mount base for use with, for example, various filter/pump assemblies for pool and spa fluid circulation systems are described herein. In new installations, a filter/pump assembly would be placed on a solid mount surface and its fluid inlet and outlet connected to the fluid outlet and inlets, respectively, of the spa or pool system. If the existing filter/pump is later replaced, the new filter/pump assembly&#39;s fluid inlet and outlet may not be positioned at the same height as the previous assembly. The currently described pump mount base may be used to raise the new filter/pump assembly so that the fluid inlet and outlet align with the existing system. The current pump mount base is designed to accommodate a variety of pump types. 
     Various implementations of the pump mount base may be used with a filter/pump assembly for a pool or spa fluid handling system and may help raise, and therefore customize, the height of fluid inlets and outlets on the filter/pump assembly above the ground, floor, or mount surface. The pump mount base may also include a plurality of shims that may help further raise the height of the fluid inlet and outlet. The shims may be designed with extensions, or pins, that engage corresponding holes, or apertures, in the upper surface of the pump mount base. 
     Shims may be provided with the pump mount base or as separate components. In some cases, the shims are molded with the pump mount base when it is manufactured and thus are supplied attached to the pump mount base. The shims may be provided in a variety of thicknesses to aid in customization of the height of the filter/pump assembly. The pump mount base may also include mounting holes to aid in fixedly attaching the filter/pump assembly to the pump mount base, the solid mount surface, or both. By allowing customization of the filter/pump assembly height, pool and spa owners, operators, and service persons may have greater flexibility in choosing alternative filter/pump assemblies rather than being forced to replace a broken or aging filter/pump assembly with the identical model. 
     In an example embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the filter/pump assembly  100  includes a motor  112 , a motor cradle  114 , a pump housing  116 , a pump housing foot  118 , a debris trap receptacle  120 , a fluid inlet  122 , and a fluid outlet  123  in fluid communication with the fluid inlet  122 . The filter/pump assembly  100  sits upon and is supported by the pump mount base  124 . The pump mount base  124 , in turn, may sit atop and be supported by a solid mount surface  126 , such as the ground, a floor, shelf, or table. 
     The pump mount base  124  may have a main body, which may take the general form of a T-shape. The pump mount base  124  may further include two portions, a motor base portion  128  and a housing base portion  130 . The motor base portion  128  may be positioned generally below the motor  112 , and the housing base portion  130  may be positioned generally below the pump housing  116 . The pump housing foot  118  may be seated atop and supported by the housing base portion  130  of the pump mount base  124 . Likewise, the motor cradle may be seated atop and supported by the motor base portion  128  of the pump mount base  124 . In some implementations, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the motor cradle  114  may be fixedly attached to the filter/pump assembly  100 , for example, by at least one bolt or screw. In some alternative implementations, the motor cradle  114  may not be fixedly attached to the filter/pump assembly  100 . Further implementations may not have a motor cradle. 
     In some implementations, the filter/pump assembly  100  may be secured to the pump mount base  124 , and/or the pump mount base  124  may be secured to the mount surface  126 , by a fastener, for example, a nut, bolt, screw, peg, or adhesive. In other implementations, the filter/pump assembly  100  is attached to the pump mount base  124 , but the pump mount base  124  is not fixedly attached to the mount surface  126 . In still further implementations, the filter/pump assembly  100  is not attached to the pump mount base  124  and the pump mount base  124  is not attached to the mount surface  126 . 
     The pump mount base  124  may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including, plastic, resin, ceramic, metal, rubber, or wood. In some embodiments, the pump mount base  124  may be manufactured of hard, impact-resistant plastic. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pump mount base  124  without the filter/pump assembly  100 . In this view a plurality of shims  140  are visible, positioned above the pump mount base  124 . As described above, the pump mount base  124  may have a generally “T”-shape, with the motor base portion  128  defining the vertical body of the “T” and the housing base portion defining the horizontal portion of the “T.” The pump mount base  124  may also define a major axis corresponding to the vertical body of the “T” that bisects the pump mount base  124  into two generally symmetric halves. 
     The pump mount base  124  may further include an upper support surface  132 , a skirt  134 , and a plurality of cavities  136  created within the upper support surface  132 . The upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  is generally planar and parallel to the mount surface  126  to provide a flat surface for supporting the filter/pump assembly  100 . At the periphery of the upper support surface  132  may be a lip  138  structure. The lip  138  structure may aid in preventing the filter/pump assembly  100  from moving off the pump mount base  124 . As described in more detail below, the lip  138  may also help to position and secure a plurality of shims  140  seated on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . Other embodiments may not include a lip  138  structure. In still other embodiments, the lip  138  structure may be discontinuous. 
     The upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  may further define a plurality of apertures  156 , channels, and/or cavities  136  within the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . As shown in the present embodiment, two large, generally rectangular cavities  136  may be formed in the upper support surface  132 —one cavity  136  positioned generally in the motor base portion  128  and a second cavity  136  positioned generally in the housing base portion  130 . The cavities  136  may be designed for one or more of the following purposes: to lower the amount of material needed to manufacture the pump mount base  124 , to increase the structural integrity of the pump mount base  124 , or to provide a location for the attachment of shims  140  as described below. 
     The cavities  136  are generally centered within their respective portions of the pump mount base  124 . The long sides of the rectangles may be parallel to the long edges of the motor base portion  128  and housing base portion  130  respectively. The cavities  136  in this embodiment may be defined by cavity walls  142 . The cavity walls  142  may include a proximal wall edge  144  and a distal wall edge  146 . The proximal wall edge  144  of the cavity wall  142  may be at or near the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  and the distal wall edge  146  of the cavity wall  142  may extend downward to contact the mount surface  126 . Alternative embodiments may not include cavities  136 , or may include only one cavity  136  positioned within the motor base portion  128  or the housing base portion  130 , or the only one cavity  136  positioned in both the motor base portion  128  and the housing base portion  130 . Still further embodiments may include more than two cavities  136  in the pump mount base  124 . 
     The upper support surface  132  may also define at least one mounting hole  152  in the housing base portion  130  of the pump mount base  124 . The mounting hole  152  may be in communication with the mount surface  126 . The mounting hole  152  may have a generally circular cross-section designed to allow, for example, bolts, screws, or pegs to pass through the pump mount base  124 . In other embodiments, the mounting hole  152  may be in the form of a channel to provide versatility in the mounting position. In various implementations, the bolts, screws, or pegs may help stabilize the pump mount base  124  and filter/pump assembly  100  or secure the pump mount base  124  to either the mount surface  126  or the filter/pump assembly  100 , or both. 
     A skirt  134  may be formed at or near the periphery of the pump mount base  124 . The skirt  134  may have a proximal edge  14 . 8  and a distal edge  150 . The proximal edge  148  may be positioned at or near the periphery of the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In embodiments with a lip  138 , the proximal edge  148  may be positioned at or near the lip  138  of the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . The skirt  134  may extend generally downward from the proximal edge  148  to contact the mount surface  126  at the distal edge  150 . The vertical distance between the proximal  148  and distal edges  150  of the skirt  134  define a skirt height. The skirt height may define a base height the filter/pump assembly  100  is raised off the mount surface  126  when there is no lip  138  structure. 
     The upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  may further define a plurality of receptacles  154  defined by the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the receptacles  154  include grooved channels within the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In other embodiments, the receptacles  154  may be formed as raised patterns in the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In other embodiments, the receptacles  154  form shallow depressions in the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  such that the plane of the receptacle  154  is lower than the plane of the upper support surface  132 . In still other embodiments the receptacle  154  may be raised from the surface of the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . 
     A pair of receptacles  154  may be positioned on opposite sides of the major axis of the pump mount base  124 . Thus, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a receptacle  154  positioned on one side of the major axis on the upper support surface  132  of the motor base portion  128  may have a corresponding receptacle  154  positioned on the upper support surface  132  of the motor base portion  128  on the opposite side of the major axis. Similarly, if there is a receptacle  154  positioned on the motor base portion  128  then there may be a corresponding receptacle  154  on the housing base portion  130 . In other embodiments the receptacles  154  on the motor base portion  128  may be contiguous with the receptacle  154  on the housing base portion  130  resulting in only one receptacle  154  on either side of the major axis. In further embodiments, the receptacles  154  on either side of the major axis may be connected resulting in only one receptacle  154  on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In further embodiments there are no receptacles in the upper surface of the pump mount base. 
     As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a plurality of apertures  156  may be positioned in each receptacle  154 . The apertures  156  may or may not be in communication with the mount surface  126 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , there are two apertures  156  on either side of the cavity  136  in the motor base portion  128 , and two apertures  156  on either side of the cavity  136  in the housing base portion  130 . Alternative embodiments may have greater or fewer apertures  156  in each receptacle  154 . Still further embodiments may lack apertures  156  or have apertures  156  but no receptacles  154 . This embodiment includes a first aperture  156  in each receptacle  154  with a circular cross-section and a second aperture  156  with a hexagonal cross-section. Varying the shape of the apertures  156  may aid in the orientation and retention of shims  140  as discussed below. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the apertures  156  may be other than circular or hexagonal, for example, the apertures may be octagonal, heptagonal, pentagonal, square, triangular, oval, rectangular, or star-shaped among others. 
       FIG. 2  also shows a plurality of shims  140  positioned above the receptacles  154 . The shims  140  are designed to raise the filter/pump assembly evenly above the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 , and the shims  140  may be intended for use as a set rather than one at a time. The shims may be formed and sized to match a corresponding receptacle  154  and thus the receptacles  154  act as guides for proper placement of the shims  140 . 
     The shims  140  may be generally rectangular shaped and may have a shape similar to the shape of the corresponding receptacle  154 . The shims  140  above the receptacles  154  in the housing base portion  130  define a long edge with a semicircular indentation that allows the shim  140  to engage the upper surface  132  of the housing base portion  130  without covering the mounting holes  152 . Other embodiments include shims  140  of various sizes and shapes. In still further embodiments there may be only two shims  140 —the shims  140  of the motor base portion  128  and the housing base portion  130  may be contiguous and there may be a corresponding shim  140  on the opposite side of the major axis of the pump mount base  124 . In further embodiments there may be only one shim  140  covering the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 , such as, where all four shims  140  of  FIG. 2  are connected. 
     The shims  140  include an upper and lower surface and a plurality of pins  158  designed to aid in securing, positioning, and retaining the shims  140  on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . The pins  158  are positioned on the shim  140  to correspond with the apertures  156  in the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . The pins  158  extend generally down and away from the lower surface of the shim  140 . The shape of the pins  158  may be varied to aid in positioning the shims  140  on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . In some embodiments, the pins  158  may be generally cylindrical-shaped with a circular cross-section. Other embodiments of the pins  158  may have a cross-section other than circular and be designed to fit with particular apertures  156  in the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . For example, with respect to the apertures  156  described above, a shim  140  may have a first pin  158  with a circular and a second pin  158  with a hexagonal cross section cross section to fit within the hexagonal aperture  156  so that the shim  140  may be placed in only one orientation on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . Alternatively, the second pin  158  may also be cylindrical but placed within the hexagonal second aperture  156  to form a tight fit between the two. The pins  158  may be designed to fit tightly into the aperture  156  or the pins  158  and apertures  156  may be designed for a loose connection between the two structures. 
     The upper shim surface and lower shim surface are generally flat and planar. In other embodiments the shims  140  may have grooves or raised ridges that may aid in securing, positioning, or retaining the shims  140  on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . When the shims  140  are seated on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 , the distance between the upper shim surface and lower shim surface may further define the distance that the filter/pump assembly  100  is raised above the mount surface  126 . 
     In various embodiments the shims  140  may have apertures  156  for receiving pins  158  from a second shim  140 . In these embodiments, the shims  140  may be designed to be stacked to further elevate the filter/pump assembly  100  above the pump mount base  124  upper support surface  132 . 
     The shims  140  may be formed in the same mold as the pump mount base  124  and may be manufactured of the same material as the pump mount base  124 . In other embodiments, the shims  140  may be manufactured of material that is different than the material used to manufacture the pump mount base  124 . In some embodiments, the pins  158 , the shims  140 , and the pump mount base  124  may all be manufactured of generally different materials. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the pump mount base  124  as it may be manufactured. As shown here, the pump mount base  124  may be molded with the shims  140  in a single unit. The bottom surface of the shim  140  is molded facing up in this embodiment and is thus visible as are the pins  158  attached to the bottom surface. The shims  140  may be attached to the cavity walls  142  by a plurality of tabs  160 . Where there is more than one shim  140  positioned within the cavity  136  as in the present embodiment, the shims  140  may also be attached to each other by a connector  162 . The tabs  160  and connectors  162  may or may not be made of the same material as the shims  140 , and pump mount base  124 . 
     The shims  140  may be located within the cavity  136  of the portion to which they are designed to engage. For example, the shims  140  attached to the cavity walls  142  in the motor base portion  128  may be designed to engage the upper support surface  132  of the motor base portion  128 , while the shims  140  attached to the cavity walls  142  in the housing base portion  130  may be designed to engage the upper support surface  132  of the housing base portion  130 . In alternative embodiments, shims  140  attached to the motor base portion  128  may be designed to engage the upper support surface  132  of the housing base portion  130 , and shims  140  attached to the housing base portion  130  may be designed to engage the motor base portion  128 . In further embodiments, shims  140  may be interchangeable between the motor base portion  128  and the housing base portion  130 . 
     Before use, the shims  140  may be disconnected from the cavity wall  142  and disconnected from each other. Disconnection may include breaking the tabs  160 , the connectors  162 , or both. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  depict two alternative embodiments of the presently disclosed pump mount base  124 .  FIG. 4  shows a pump mount base  124  with shims  140  attached to the periphery of the pump mount base  124  at the skirt  134 . Alternative embodiments may have shims  140  attached to both the skirt  134  and the cavity wall  142 .  FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment with only two shims  140 . In this embodiment, one shim  140  is placed on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  on either side of the major axis. This shim  140  contacts both the housing base portion  130  and the motor base portion  128 . This embodiment also lacks receptacles  154  in the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . Further, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the shims  140  attached to the cavity wall  142  on one side of the major axis are designed to be placed on the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124  on the opposite side of the major axis. 
     As described above, a pump mount base  124  may aid in raising a filter/pump assembly  100  of a fluid handling system above the mount surface  126  so that fluid connections may be more easily made. Shims  140  with different thicknesses may be selected so that the filter/pump assembly  100  can be raised higher than the upper support surface  132  of the pump mount base  124 . Further, the shims  140  may be provided in varying thicknesses and as integral parts of the pump mount base  124  as provided, or the shims  140  may be separately supplied. 
     All directional references (e.g. upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, inner, outer, vertical, horizontal, clockwise and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of examples of the invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g. attached, coupled, connected, joined and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in a fixed relation to each other. 
     In some instances, components are described with reference to “ends” having a particular characteristic and/or being connected to another part. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to components which terminate immediately beyond their points of connection with other parts. Thus, the term “end” should be interpreted broadly, in a manner that includes areas adjacent, rearward, forward of, or otherwise near the terminus of a particular element, link, component, part, member or the like. In methodologies directly or indirectly set for therein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.