Patent Publication Number: US-2022228390-A1

Title: Pool cleaner with moveable waterway

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Nos. CN201920733644.X and CN201920735873.5, both filed May 21, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention relates to the field of pool cleaners, and in particular to a pool cleaner having a rotatable and releasable hose assembly, and to methods of using the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A pool cleaner may be equipped with a. hydraulic driving assembly. In operation, a flexible water inlet hose may direct water to the hydraulic driving assembly to drive the pool cleaner back and forth across the pool. It may be desirable for the water inlet hose to move relative to a housing of the pool cleaner to avoid entanglement during this back and forth movement. However, providing such movement relative to the housing may inhibit installation and/or removal of the water inlet hose. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a pool cleaner equipped with a joint and a water inlet hose. In a rotatable or use configuration, the water inlet hose is freely rotatable relative to a housing to avoid entanglement. In a locked or non-use configuration, either the joint or the water inlet hose is fixed relative to the housing to facilitate installation and/or removal of the water inlet hose via rotation between the joint and the water inlet hose. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a pool cleaner configured to clean a pool is disclosed, the pool cleaner including a housing having a through-hole, a flexible water inlet hose, a hydraulic driving assembly including a water inlet, at least one traction assembly operably coupled to the driving assembly, and a joint extending through the through-hole of the housing and including an upper end in fluid communication with the water inlet hose and a lower end in fluid communication with the water inlet. The pool cleaner has a rotatable configuration in which the flexible water inlet hose and the joint are coupled together and rotatable together relative to the housing, arid a locked configuration in which one of the joint and the water inlet hose is a locked component that is restricted from rotating; relative to the housing and the other of the joint and the water inlet hose is a rotatable component that is rotatable relative to the housing, wherein the joint and the water inlet hose are selectively coupled together via rotation of the rotatable component relative to the locked component in the locked configuration. 
     In certain embodiments, the joint floats upward in the housing in the rotatable configuration and falls downward in the housing due to gravity in the locked configuration. 
     In certain embodiments, the joint is the locked component and the water inlet hose is the rotatable component in the locked configuration. The water inlet may include at least one locking protrusion, and the joint may include at least one locking slot that is separated from the at least one locking protrusion in the rotatable configuration and engaged with the at least one locking protrusion in the locked configuration. The joint may include a mounting rib, and the water inlet hose may include a mounting hole that is rotatable relative to the mounting rib in the locked configuration to selectively couple the joint and the water inlet hose together. The mounting rib of the joint may include a locking protrusion, and the mounting hole of the water inlet hose may include a locking recess that receives the locking protrusion to secure the joint and the water inlet hose together. 
     In certain embodiments, the water inlet hose is the locked component and the joint is the rotatable component in the locked configuration. The pool cleaner may further include a. rotary sleeve coupled to the joint and configured to rotate the joint relative to the water inlet hose in the locked configuration. The rotary sleeve may be positioned atop the housing. 
     In certain embodiments, the water inlet hose and the joint are threaded together, 
     In certain embodiments, the pool cleaner further includes a bearing positioned between the joint and the housing. 
     In certain embodiments, the pool cleaner further includes a seal positioned between the joint and the water inlet. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a pool cleaner configured to clean a pool is disclosed, the pool cleaner including a housing having a through-hole, a flexible water inlet hose, a hydraulic driving assembly including a water inlet, at least one traction assembly operably coupled to the driving assembly, and a joint extending through the through-hole of the housing and including an upper end in fluid communication with the water inlet hose and a lower end in fluid communication with the water inlet. The joint has a rotatable configuration in which the lower end of the joint is rotatable relative to the water inlet, and a locked configuration in which the lower end of the joint is restricted from rotating relative to the water inlet and the water inlet hose is rotatable relative to the upper end of the joint. 
     In certain embodiments, the water inlet includes at least one locking protrusion and the joint includes at least one locking slot. In the rotatable configuration, the at least one locking slot floats above the at least one locking protrusion. In the locked configuration, the at least one locking slot moves downward and engages the at least one locking protrusion. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a pool cleaner is disclosed. The pool cleaner has a housing, a hydraulic driving assembly with a water inlet, and a joint. The method includes the steps of moving the pool cleaner across a pool by directing water from a water inlet hose, through the joint, and through the water inlet of the hydraulic driving assembly, wherein the joint and the water inlet hose rotate together relative to the water inlet during the moving step, and removing the water inlet hose by restricting rotation of the joint relative to the housing and rotating the water inlet hose relative to the housing and the joint. 
     In certain embodiments, the method further includes installing the water inlet hose by restricting rotation of the joint relative to the housing and rotating the water inlet hose relative to the housing and the joint in an opposite direction as the removing step. 
     In certain embodiments, the joint floats upward during the moving step and moves downward to engage the water inlet during the removing step. 
     According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a pool cleaner is disclosed. The pool cleaner has a housing, a hydraulic driving assembly with a water inlet, and a rotatable joint coupled to a sleeve. The method includes the steps of moving the pool cleaner across a pool by directing water from a water inlet hose, through the rotatable joint, and through the water inlet of the hydraulic driving assembly, wherein the joint and the water inlet hose rotate together relative to the water inlet during the moving step, and removing the water inlet hose by restricting rotation of the water inlet hose relative to the housing and rotating the sleeve relative to the housing, wherein the rotatable joint rotates relative to the water inlet and relative to the water inlet hose during the removing step. 
     In certain embodiments, the sleeve sits atop the housing. 
     In certain embodiments, the method further includes installing the water inlet hose by restricting rotation of the water inlet hose relative to the housing and rotating the sleeve relative to the housing in an opposite direction as the removing step, wherein the rotatable joint rotates in the opposite direction relative to the water inlet and relative to the water inlet hose during the installing step. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a first pool cleaner including an exemplary joint coupled to a water inlet hose, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a hydraulic driving assembly of the pool cleaner of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the joint of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a distal end of the water inlet hose of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the circled area of  FIG. 1 , with the joint shown in a rotatable configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view similar to  FIG. 5 , with the joint shown in a locked configuration; 
         FIGS. 7-10  are elevational, partially cross-sectional views showing installation of the water inlet hose onto the locked joint of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a second pool cleaner including an exemplary joint coupled to a water inlet hose; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the second pool cleaner of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the circled area of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the second pool cleaner of  FIGS. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the circled area of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     I. First Embodiment with Rotatable and Lockable Joint 
       FIG. 1  provides a first embodiment of a pool cleaner  1  configured to clean a floor and/or sidewalk of a pool. The pool cleaner  1  includes a housing  11  that defines a through-hole  111  in its upper surface. The pool cleaner  1  also includes a hydraulic driving assembly  12  including a water inlet  121  adjacent to the through-hole  111 , a water outlet  122 , and an impeller  124  disposed within the housing  11  and in fluid communication between the water inlet  121  and the water outlet  122 . The pool cleaner  1  also includes a filtration assembly  14  disposed within the housing  11  to collect debris. The pool cleaner  1  further includes a transmission assembly  16  operably coupled to the driving assembly  12  and including a plurality of gears. The pool cleaner  1  further includes one or more wheels  18  or other traction assemblies (e.g., tracks) and one or more brush assemblies  19  operably coupled to the transmission assembly  16 . 
     The pool cleaner  1  also includes a joint  2  configured to receive a flexible water inlet hose  3 , illustratively a corrugated hose. The joint  2  passes through the through-hole  111  of the housing  11 . A lower end  26  of the joint  2  has a rotatable or use configuration and a locked or non-use configuration relative to the housing  11  and the water inlet  121 . An upper end  28  of the joint  2  is removably coupled to the water inlet hose  3  via rotation. In this way, the rotatable configuration of the joint  2  allows the water inlet hose  3  to rotate relative to the housing  11  during use, and the locked configuration of the joint  2  facilitates installation and/or removal of the water inlet hose  3  via rotation when not in use. The joint  2  and its operation are described further below. 
     When the pool cleaner  1  is in use, water is directed through a waterway including the water inlet hose  3 , the joint  2 , and the water inlet  121 , across the impeller  124 , and out of the water outlet  122 . which rotates the impeller  124 . The rotation of the impeller  124  is transferred to the brush assembly  19  via the transmission assembly  16 , which causes the brush assembly  19  to rotate and direct debris into the filtration assembly  14 . The rotation of the impeller  124  is also transferred to the wheels  18  via the transmission assembly  16 , which causes the pool cleaner  1  to drive back and forth across the pool. With the joint  2  in the rotatable configuration, the water inlet hose  3  is able to rotate freely relative to the housing  11  and the water inlet  121  during this back and forth movement, thus avoiding entangling of the water inlet hose  3 . 
     The driving assembly  12  is shown in  FIG. 2  The water inlet  121  of the driving assembly  12  includes a cylindrical side wall  1210 , one or more rotation-locking protrusions  1211  protruding radially inward from the side wall  1210 , a base or flange  1212  extending radially inward from the bottom of the side wall  1210  (See also  FIG. 5 ), and an annular retaining wall  1213  that extends upward from the base  1212  in a direction parallel to the side wall  1210  and at a location radially inward of the side wall  1210 . 
     The joint  2  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The joint  2  is a tubular structure including a generally cylindrical side wall  20  that extends between the lower end  26  and the upper end  28 . A flange  21  extends radially outward from the side wall  20  and includes one or more rotation-locking slots  211  positioned along the perimeter of the flange  21 . Below the flange  21 , a foot  25  extends radially outward from the lower end  26  of the side wall  20 . The flange  21  and the foot  25  cooperate to define a groove  23  configured to receive a seal  4  (e.g., a V-ring) ( FIG. 5 ). Above the flange  21 , the joint  2  is configured to support a thrust bearing  5  ( FIG. 5 ). The joint  2  also includes a mounting rib  22  that protrudes outward from the side wall  20  in a circumferential direction and then bends axially at one end to form a stop  24 . One or more locking protrusions  221  protrude axially from the mounting rib  22 . 
     The water inlet hose  3  is shown in  FIG. 4 . A coupling  31  is coupled (e.g., screwed, welded, adhered) to a distal end of the water inlet hose  3 . The coupling  31  includes a cylindrical side wall  310  with a mounting hole  311  that extends through the side wall  310  in a circumferential direction. One or more locking recesses  3111  extend axially into the mounting hole  311 . Along the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall  310 , the coupling  31  also includes a mounting groove  312  that is open at its lower end and includes a side notch  3121  that communicates with the mounting hole  311  (See also  FIG. 7 ). 
     The operation of the joint  2  will now he described with reference to  FIGS. 5-10 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the joint  2  is shown in the rotatable or use configuration, in which the joint  2  is positioned in the pool and floats upward in the water. The flange  21  of the joint  2  is located below the through-hole  111  of the housing  11  and has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the through-hole  111 , thereby limiting, upward movement of the joint  2  in the housing  11  and preventing detachment of the joint  2  from the housing  11 . In this rotatable configuration, the rotation-locking slots  211  on the flange  21  are raised above and separated from the rotation-locking protrusions  1211  of the water inlet  121 , which allows the joint  2  to rotate freely relative to the housing  11  and the water inlet  121 . As noted above, the rotatable joint  2  avoids entangling of the water inlet hose  3  during back-and-forth movement of the pool cleaner  1  ( FIG. 1 ). The seal  4  is captured in the groove  23  of the rotatable joint  2  and contacts the annular retaining wall  1213  of the water inlet  121 , which ensures a water-tight pathway from the joint  2  to the water inlet  121 . Also, the thrust bearing  5  is captured between the flange  21  of the rotatable joint  2  and the housing  11 , which facilitates smooth rotation of the joint  2  in the through-hole  111  of the housing  11 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the joint  2  is shown in the locked or non-use configuration, in which the joint  2  is removed from the pool and falls downward into the water inlet  121  due to gravity. Initially, the flange  21  of the joint  2  may sit atop the upper end of the rotation-locking protrusion  1211  of the water inlet  121 . The joint  2  may be rotated until the rotation-locking slots  211  of the flange  21  align with and engage the rotation-locking protrusion  1211  of the water inlet  121 , thereby fully seating the joint  2  in the locked configuration of  FIG. 6 . The foot  25  of the joint  2  contacts the base  1212  of the water inlet  121 , and the flange  21  of the joint  2  contacts the annular retaining wall  1213  of the water inlet  121 . The foot  25  and the flange  21  have outer diameters larger than the inner diameters of the base  1212 . and the annular retaining wall  1213 , respectively, thereby limiting downward movement of the joint  2  and preventing the joint  2  from falling into the water inlet  121 . In this locked configuration, the joint  2  is restricted from rotating relative to the housing  11  and the water inlet  121 . 
     With the lower end  26  of the joint  2  in the rotationally locked configuration of  FIG. 6 , the water inlet hose  3  may be installed onto and/or removed from the upper end  28  of the stationary or locked joint  2  via rotation. An exemplary installation process is described below with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 . and it is understood that this installation process may be reversed to remove the water inlet hose  3  for cleaning, repair, storage, or another purpose. In  FIG. 7 , the coupling  31  of the water inlet hose  3  ( FIG. 6 ) is positioned onto the upper end  28  of the joint  2 , with the mounting groove  312  of the coupling  31  aligned with the mounting rib  22  of the joint  2 . In  FIG. 8 , the coupling  31  is moved downward to receive the mounting rib  22  of the joint  2  through the open bottom end of the mounting groove  312  of the coupling  31 . In FIG,  9 , the coupling  31  is rotated (e.g., clockwise) to introduce the mounting rib  22  of the joint  2  into the mounting hole  311  of the coupling  31 . In  FIG. 10 , the coupling  31  is rotated further (e.g., clockwise) to tightly capture the mounting rib  22  of the joint  2  in the mounting hole  311  of the coupling  31 . In this position, the locking recess  3111  of the coupling  31  receives the locking protrusion  221  of the joint  2 , which secures the components firmly together. The coupling  31  may contact the stop  24  of the joint  2  to prevent further rotation of the coupling  31 . It is also within the scope of the present disclosure to utilize a threaded or other rotational coupling between the joint  2  and the coupling  31 . 
     After installing the water inlet hose  3 , the joint  2  may resume the rotatable configuration of  FIG. 5  by returning the pool cleaner  1  to the pool. The joint  2  may float upward, thereby freeing the rotation-locking slots  211  of the flange  21  from the rotation-locking protrusion  1211  of the water inlet  121  and allowing the joint  2  to resume rotation relative to the water inlet  121 , 
     II. Second Embodiment with Rotatable Joint and Lockable Hose 
       FIGS. 11-15  provide a second embodiment of a pool cleaner  1 ′ configured to clean a floor and/or sidewalls of a pool. The second pool cleaner  1 ′ is similar to the above-described pool cleaner  1  of  FIG. 1 , with like reference numerals identifying like parts, except as described below. 
     The pool cleaner  1 ′ includes a housing  11 ′ that defines a through-hole  111 ′ in its upper surface. The pool cleaner  1 ′ also includes a hydraulic driving assembly  12 ′ including a water inlet  121 ′ adjacent to the through-hole  111 ′, opposing forward and rearward water outlets  122   f ′,  122   r ′, respectively, and an impeller  124 ′ disposed within the housing  11 ′. The pool cleaner  1 ′ also includes a filtration assembly  14 ′ disposed within the housing  11 ′ to collect debris. The pool cleaner  1 ′ further includes a transmission assembly  16 ′ operably coupled to the driving assembly  12 ′ and one or more wheels  18 ′ or other traction assemblies (e.g., tracks) operably coupled to the transmission assembly  16 ′. 
     The pool cleaner  1 ′ also includes a joint  2 ′ configured to receive a flexible water inlet hose  3 ′. The joint  2 ′ has a rotatable or use configuration that allows the water inlet hose  3 ′ to rotate relative to the housing  11 ′ during use. The water inlet hose  3 ′ has a locked or non-use configuration that facilitates installation and/or removal of the water inlet hose  3 ′ via rotation of the joint  2 ′ when not in use. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the joint  2 ′ is externally threaded and the water inlet hose  3 ′ is internally threaded. However, it is also within the scope of the present disclosure to utilize another rotational coupling between the joint  2 ′ and the water inlet hose  3 ′, such as the rotational coupling described above with respect to  FIGS. 7-10 . 
     The water inlet  121 ′ of the driving assembly  12 ′ is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and includes a cylindrical side wall  1210 ′. An external thread  1211 ′ extends radially outward from the side wall  1210 ′. A lower flange or base  1212 ′, an intermediate flange  1213 ′, and an upper flange  1214 ′ each extend radially inward from the side wall  1210 ′. The intermediate flange  1213 ′ and the upper flange  1214 ′ cooperate to define an internal groove  1216 ′ that is configured to receive a seal  4 ′ (e.g., an O-ring). 
     The water inlet  121 ′ is coupled to a lock nut  7 ′. The lock nut  7 ′ includes an internal thread  71 ′ that engages the external thread  1211 ′ of the water inlet  121 ′. The lock nut  7 ′ also includes an outer edge  72 ′ positioned above the through-hole  111 ′ of the housing  11 ′ and having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the through-hole  111 ′ to prevent the lock nut  7 ′ (and the water inlet  121 ′ coupled to the lock nut  7 ′) from dropping through the through-hole  111 ′. In this way, the lock nut  7 ′ supports the water inlet  121 ′ in the housing  11 ′. 
     The joint  2 ′ is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and includes a generally cylindrical side wall  20 ′ that extends between a lower end  26 ′ and an upper end  28 ′. The illustrative joint  2 ′ tapers in width toward the lower end  26 ′, but this shape may vary. The joint  2 ′ includes an external slot  21 ′ that extends axially along the side wall  20 ′ from an open end toward the upper end  28 ′ to a locking recess  211 ′ toward the lower end  26 ′. Near the lower end  26 ′, the joint  2 ′ includes a flange  22 ′ that extends radially outward from the side wail  20 ′. At the upper end  28 ′, the joint  2 ′ is externally threaded to mate with the internally threaded water inlet hose  3 ′, as described above. 
     The joint  2 ′ is rotatably coupled to a rotary sleeve  6 ′. The rotary sleeve  6 ′ includes an elastic arm  61 ′ with a locking tip  611 ′ that is biased radially inward to engage the joint  2 ′ (See also  FIGS. 14 and 15 ). The rotary sleeve  6 ′ may he coupled to the joint  2 ′ by sliding the elastic arm  61 ′ downward through the external slot  21 ′ until the locking tip  611 ′ snaps radially inward into the locking recess  211 ′. The rotary sleeve  6 ′ is positioned above the through-hole  111 ′, and the outer diameter of the rotary sleeve  6 ′ exceeds the inner diameter of the through-hole  111 ′ to prevent the rotary sleeve  6 ′ (and the joint  2 ′ coupled to the rotary sleeve  6 ′) from dropping through the through-hole  111 ′ and into the water inlet  121 ′, The rotary sleeve  6 ′ is also positioned above the lock nut  7 ′ and is accessible by the user. 
     The joint  2 ′ is shown in the rotatable or use configuration in  FIG. 13 , in which the joint  2 ′ is positioned in the pool and floats upward in the water. The flange  22 ′ of the joint  2 ′ is captured beneath the intermediate flange  1213 ′ of the water inlet  121 ′, thereby limiting upward movement of the joint  2 ′. The seal  4 ′ is captured. in the groove  1216 ′ of the water inlet  121 ′ and contacts the rotatable joint  2 ′, which ensures a water-tight pathway from the joint  2 ′ to the water inlet  121 ′. In this rotatable configuration, the joint  2 ′ is free to rotate relative to the housing  11 ′ and the water inlet  121 ′. As noted above, the rotatable joint  2 ′ avoids entangling of the water inlet hose  3 ′ during hack-and-forth movement of the pool cleaner  1 ′ ( FIG. 11 ). 
     In the locked or non-use configuration not shown), the joint  2 ′ is removed from the pool and falls downward into the water inlet  121 ′ due to gravity. The flange  22 ′ of the joint  2 ′ contacts the base  1212 ′ of the water inlet  121 ′. The flange  22 ′ has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the base  1212 ′, thereby limiting downward movement of the joint  2 ′ and preventing the joint  2 ′ from failing into the water inlet  121 ′. The user may grip the water inlet hose  3 ′ with one hand to restrict the water inlet hose  3 ′ from rotating relative to the housing  11 ′, thereby fixing the position of the water inlet hose  3 ′ relative to the housing  11 ′. Then, the user may rotate the exposed rotary sleeve  6 ′ relative to the stationary water inlet hose  3 ′ with the other hand. Because the locking tip  611 ′ of the rotary sleeve  6 ′ is engaged with the locking recess  211 ′ of the joint  2 ′, this rotation of  - the rotary sleeve  6 ′ also rotates the joint  2 ′ relative to the stationary water inlet hose  3 ′. Such rotation of the rotary sleeve  6 ′ may be performed to attach and/or detach the joint  2 ′ and the water inlet hose  3 ′. 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.