Patent Publication Number: US-2021172188-A1

Title: Multi-function pool skimmer water treatment device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to swimming pool skimmers and more particularly, to a water treatment device for use in a pool skimmer system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most swimming pools employ a system of several skimmers that filter large debris, such as leaves and insects that are floating on the surface of a swimming pool. The water will enter each skimmer from the pool surface, typically spilling over a weir, which receives water from the surface only, to maximize surface water flow speed. 
     A pool skimmer  100 , in accordance with the prior art, is shown generally in  FIG. 1 . Skimmer  100  includes an upper inlet portion  110 , which includes a surface inlet portion  115  that receives surface water from the swimming pool. The water from the pool spills over a floating weir  116 , which insures that only a thin upper layer of pool water enters inlet portion  115  and increases flow from the surface. 
     Skimmer  100  also includes a filter basket receiving portion  120 , which typically includes a removable filter basket  125 . A pool owner or maintenance worker will typically open a lid at a top  111  of upper inlet portion  110  and reach down into filter basket receiving portion  120  and remove basket  125  with the debris trapped therein. Any debris collected in basket  125  can be removed and discarded and basket  125  is replaced back in filter basket receiving portion  120 . 
     Water flowing through and therefore filtered by basket  125  enters a bottom portion  128  of skimmer  100  and then exits skimmer  100  through a bottom drain  130 . 
     While useful for removing large debris from the surface of the swimming pool, pool skimmers do not satisfy their potential for serving a greater role in the overall pool water treatment process. For example, most skimmers are not suitable for providing sanitizer or cathodic protection materials and keeping those materials separate from the debris that needs to be removed from the filter basket. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved multi-function skimmer system, which overcomes drawbacks in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved pool skimmer system is provided, which includes a water treatment device for inclusion in the filter basket receiving portion of a pool skimmer. The water treatment device includes a chemical treatment portion separated from a mechanical filtration portion. The treatment device can include an upper section and a lower section for separating the chemical treatment portion from the mechanical filtration portion. The upper section can include a vertical wall structure, which should be substantially watertight, so that all the water entering the skimmer flows into and through the upper section, then into and through the lower section. The entire device is preferably received in the filter basket receiving section of a conventional pool skimmer, and can take the place of a conventional filter basket. 
     The mechanical filter portion of the water treatment device can include a basket filter, preferably in the upper section, spaced away from the upper walls of the water treatment device, to permit water to flow out of the sides and bottom of the basket to promote high water flow volumes. The basket should be constructed for trapping large debris that had been floating on the surface of the swimming pool and permitting a high water flow through the water treatment device. 
     The lower section of the water treatment device can hold chemical substances, such as water sanitizer or corrosion or cathodic protection materials. The lower section is preferably constructed to promote sufficient residence time of the water with the chemicals, while permitting a high flow of water over the chemical substances and then out of the lower section, into the skimmer drain. 
     Baskets in accordance with the invention are preferably secured to the treatment device and should ensure that all or almost all the water entering the treatment device flows through the basket. It is also preferable that the entire water treatment device can be removed as a single unit, with a single handle or grip structure. The device is preferably constructed to selectively remove the basket only. The water treatment device should be constructed to physically separate the water treatment materials from any debris trapped in the filter basket. Therefore, the filter basket should be easily removable from the treatment device, so that it can be emptied without the need for a user to remove and/or come into contact with the chemicals in the treatment portion. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and the specification to follow and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cut-out side view of a conventional pool skimmer; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a multifunction water treatment device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded side view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 2  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side partial cross-sectional view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of a water treatment device similar to the device of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the basket portion of the water treatment device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a housing for the water treatment device of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals will be used to indicate similar elements. The dimensions are not necessarily to scale. These figures should not be considered as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, by way of example only, and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. 
     Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure. In particular, they are intended to refer to the spatial reference of the display stand in its normal, assembled configuration during intended use. 
     A water treatment device  200  for installation into the filter basket receiving portion of a swimming pool skimmer is shown generally in  FIGS. 2-4 . Water treatment device  200  includes a housing  210  having an upper mechanical filtration portion  220  and a lower chemical treatment portion  250 . A filter basket  230  nests in mechanical filtration portion  220 . Filter basket  230  is spaced apart from a wall structure of upper portion  220  to promote water flow out the sides of basket  230 . 
     The upper rim of upper mechanical filtration portion  220  includes a pair of security tabs  211 . Tabs  211  should be resilient, so that hand pressure can deform them inwardly or outwardly. As shown in the enlarged portion of  FIG. 8 , tabs  211  include a hook portion  212 . The upper surface of hooks  212  is inclined, to serve as a camming surface. 
     Upper portion  220  of housing  210  also includes an open water receiving portion  221  as defined by a substantially watertight cylindrical wall structure, which houses and supports basket  230 . Basket  230  includes an upper rim  235 . Upper rim  235  rests on a shoulder of the pool skimmer that ordinarily supports the filter basket (not shown), to ensure that substantially all the water flowing into the skimmer flows into basket  230 . Rim  235  includes a plurality of open slots  231 . To install filter basket  230  into water receiving portion  221  of upper portion  220 , basket  230  is inserted into water receiving portion  221 , such that open slots  231  fit over tabs  211 . As basket  230  is urged downward into water receiving portion  221 , rim  235  engages the upper surface of hooks  212  and acts to displace them inward, in a camming fashion, until basket  235  clicks in place over tabs  211  and is thereby releasably secured to housing  210 . Other releasable attachment structures are acceptable and would be known to those in the art. 
     Due to the releasable attachment between basket  230  and housing  210 , basket  230  can be easily removed and cleaned out, while the remainder of housing  210  remains in the pool skimmer. Alternatively, the entire water treatment device can be removed as a unit. A handle (not shown) or other gripping structure (not shown) can be provided on basket  230 , housing  210  or both. 
     Referring for example, to  FIGS. 4-6 and 8 , lower chemical treatment portion  250  of housing  210  is located below and separate from basket  230 . An upper end  251  of lower portion  250  is open, and receives water after it flows through basket  230 . In this manner, any debris caught by basket  230  is kept separate from lower portion  250 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 or 4 , lower portion  250  is open, and configured to receive different types of chemical water treatment products. For example, a water treatment device  200 ′ includes a plurality of water treatment tablets  260 . Tablets  260  can provide chlorine, mineral or other treatment to water flowing through the pool skimmer. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a water treatment device  200 ″ includes a porous chemical ball  270 , designed to leach chemicals into the water flowing over ball  270 . For example, ball  270  can include minerals such as zinc or magnesium and provide for cathodic protection to devices coming into contact with the pool water. Such balls, sanitizing chemicals and chemicals providing for cathodic protection are known to those familiar with swimming pool systems. 
     Lower chemical treatment portion  250  includes a plurality of openings  252  and can have the construction of a basket-type structure. In an embodiment of the invention, it is releasably secured to housing  210 . In addition, lower portion  250  includes a plurality of feet  255  to raise the bottom of lower chemical treatment portion  250  off the bottom of the skimmer, to enhance waterflow out the entire bottom of lower portion  250 . 
     A water treatment device in accordance with the invention should be sized and configured to be received in the filter basket receiving portion of a conventional pool skimmer that ordinarily retains the debris collection basket and to ensure that substantially all the water entering the pool skimmer flows through the water treatment device. 
     Rim  235  of basket  230  should have an outer diameter of about 6.5 to 8.0 inches, preferably about 7 to 8 inches, most preferably about 7.1 to 7.4 inches. Basket  230  should have a height of about 4 to 7 inches, more preferably about 5 to 6 inches, most preferably about 5 to 5.5 inches. Basket  230  should have an outer diameter set inward from the inner diameter of the upper portion of housing  210 , to permit water to flow from the sides and the bottom of basket  230 . 
     Housing  210  should fit within the dimensions of the filter basket receiving portion of a conventional pool skimmer. It should have a height of about 9 to 14 inches, preferably about 10 to 12 inches, most preferably about 11 to 12 inches, from the bottom of feet  255  to the top of tabs  211 . Bottom portion  250  should be spaced from the walls of the filter basket receiving portion of a pool skimmer. It should have an outer diameter within the inner diameter of the pool skimmer. The outer diameter of bottom portion  250  should be less than about 5 inches, preferably about 4 to 3 inches. 
     It is also acceptable to switch the functions of the upper and lower portions of water treatment device  200 . For example, it is acceptable to include the section storing the chemical treatment materials in the upper section of the housing and to include the mechanical straining function below the chemical treatment materials. It has been determined that it is advantageous to keep these sections separate. Moreover, as discussed above, it is beneficial to be able to clean out the debris basket, without having to manipulate the chemical materials. Therefore, it is preferred to have the straining portion removably located above the chemical treatment portion, so that it can be removed and cleaned, while leaving the chemical treatment portion in place. 
     Water treatment devices in accordance with the invention are typically made from plastic, polymer and/or other resilient materials. The parts of a water treatment device in accordance with the invention should be strong enough to endure rough handling during removal and installation and should be inert to the various chemicals they may contain or encounter, such as chlorine, zinc, magnesium and various other salts, including seawater. 
     Please note that where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it may be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claim set forth herebelow not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claims. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.