Patent Publication Number: US-2023144420-A1

Title: Animal rescue dome for pool skimmer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application derives priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/247,957 filed Sep. 24, 2021. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pool accessories in general, and more specifically to a rescue dome for animals configured to be placed in a swimming pool skimmer. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Small animals such as mice, frogs and the like sometimes mistake a pool for a pond and they jump in. However, the raised edges prevent them from jumping out. Without assistance they would drown. There are a variety of known solutions to this problem. For example, it is known to attach a rope to the pool edge and float the other end in the water to help animals climb out. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,623 issued in 1995 to J. A. Parr and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,541 issued to Mailhot both disclose apparatus for rescuing frogs from swimming pools. The devices are a small platform attached to the pool ladder or edge. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,121,190 to Douglas issued Sep. 1, 2015 shows a similar animal rescue step for a swimming pool. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,368 to Koerkel issued Jun. 14, 1994 shows a floating rescue island. 
     The foregoing and like devices hang from the side of the pool and are aesthetically and physically obtrusive. What is needed is an animal rescue device that is unobtrusive. 
     It is known to attach animal rescue device in the wells of pool skimmers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,462 to Gouzos issued 20 Apr. 1982 shows a ladder with its lower end situated in the recirculation water and its upper end leading to an exit aperture in the skimmer port through which the animals can escape. 
     United States Patent Application 20090120856 by Meagher published May 14, 2009 shows a helical ramp that leads up through the skimmer cover. 
     Although the foregoing devices are meant for use inside the skimmer well they are relatively complicated, replace existing skimmer parts, and often ineffectual. This is because they provide animals with a single point of exit from the recirculation water. Unfortunately the water inside the recirculation well is typically swirling around in a vortex and it is quite difficult for animals to grab onto the end of a ladder or ramp. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a device for insertion into an existing pool recirculation well or skimmer that provides a raised island approachable by a partially-surrounding ramp that, despite its breadth, does not interfere with the recirculation vortex. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved animal rescue device for use inside a pool skimmer well that provides a raised island approachable by a broad gradual ramp for easier access by entrapped animals. 
     Another object is to provide an animal rescue device as described above that does not interfere with the recirculation vortex, and that assists in catching debris like leaves and other organic material blown into the pool. 
     Another object is to provide an animal rescue device as described above that fits in existing skimmers without replacing existing parts. 
     Yet another object is to provide an animal rescue device as described above that is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     These and other features and benefits are achieved with an improved animal rescue device for use inside a pool skimmer well that comprise a multi-legged vault formed of a pliable mesh material and presenting a gradual ramped crown leading upward to a raised peak. The device is substantially oval or circular and may be inserted into a conventional circular pool skimmer well. Once inserted the mesh sides elevate the ramped crown up from and out of the water vortex. The upper sides of the device are also a surrounding mesh for the swirling animal to grasp. The animal need only grasp the mesh crown or sides and climb to the raised peak to escape. The mesh construction raised above multi-legged (e.g., quadruped) base does not interfere with the recirculation vortex, and the device fits in existing skimmers without replacing existing parts. In an embodiment the device is a unitary molded component and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the remaining specification and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a top perspective view of a pool skimmer  10  with top cover  11  partially removed to reveal the animal rescue device  100  inside. 
         FIG.  2    is a top perspective view of the removed top cover  11 . 
         FIG.  3    is a side perspective view of an animal rescue device  100 . 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the animal rescue device  100  of  FIGS.  1  and  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of the animal rescue device  100  of  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a front view of the animal rescue device  100  of  FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is simple, easy to install animal rescue device for use inside a conventional pool skimmer well.  FIG.  1    shows a typical pool skimmer  10  for a swimming pool with top cover  11  partially removed to reveal the animal rescue device  100  inside, and  FIG.  2    shows the removed top cover  11 . 
     The skimmer  10  has an entryway throat (obscured) leading into a skimmer well with an open top closed by a top cover  11  and a pump outlet port at the bottom. The pump outlet port leads to a recirculating pump and filtering mechanism (not shown) that provides a constant recirculation of the pool water  12  into the pool. The entryway throat is often provided with an upright vertically self-adjusting flap that is hinged to the throat. In addition, a removable strainer basket (not shown) may be disposed within the well, and the existing skimmer portal cover  11  may have open viewing windows  13  for observing debris inside. The water passing through the strainer basket is drawn into the pump outlet port and into the recirculating pump and filtration system. After filtering the water is reintroduced into the pool, typically at the bottom of the skimmer well  10 . The inward/outward flow creates a substantial vortex of water around and above the removable strainer basket that poses a substantial risk of drowning to any entrapped animals that may have fallen into the pool. 
     The animal rescue device  100  according to the present invention is placed inside the otherwise conventional pool skimmer  10  and provides a ramped mesh island that rises above the water level and can be grasped easily from any angle as the animal swirls. The device  100  includes a multi-legged base that supports the mesh island, the latter including a ramped facing that dips beneath the multi-legged base, and progressively rises there from to an elevated peak by which animals can raise themselves above the swirling water, rest, and escape through the skimmer portal. 
     With additional reference to  FIGS.  3 - 6    the animal rescue device  100  comprises a substantially oval or circular free-standing multi-legged vault formed of a pliable mesh material such as perforated molded plastic. The rescue device  100  has a multi-legged lower base  101  that supports an upper section  102  formed as a graduated ramp partially surrounded by a sidewall  103 . The sidewall  103  is arched, partially circumscribing an oval, and of increasing thickness running from a pair of distal cusps to a peak occurring at a symmetric centerline CL ( FIG.  5   ). A ramped surface  107  spans the top of the sidewall  103 , the ramped surface  107  extending at one end from a lip  104  that protrudes below the sidewall  103  to an opposing end elevated to the peak at CL. The lower lip  104  is designed to dip below the sidewall  103  into the water. The rescue device  100  stands on multiple legs  105  that elevate the upper section  102  above the strainer basket and to allow debris to pass through. In total the device  100  is vaulted, loosely dome-shaped, and the combined legs  105 , sidewall  103  and ramped surface  107  create a reinforcing framework sized to conform to the existing removable strainer basket so as to sit there atop. In a preferred embodiment the lower base  101  is a quadruped, with four ( 4 ) legs  105  that elevate the device  100  for unobstructed water flow and so that debris can pass through and into the skimmer  10  below. The legs  105  are broad, flat and spaced at angular intervals around a circle for maximum stability, and angularly oriented about the circle to minimize obstruction to circular water flow within the skimmer  10 . The quadruped legs  105  are arranged in two pair, one pair of legs  105  on each side of the symmetric centerline CL of the sidewall  103 . The legs  105  are equi-angularly spaced around the sidewall  103 , oriented tangent to the sidewall  103 , and preferably flare outward from the sidewall  103  slightly for enhanced stability. The quadruped legs  105  elevate the upper section  102  and sides  103  vertically such that the sides terminate at approximately water level inside skimmer  10 . Thus, the upper section  102 , albeit partially submerged as seen in  FIG.  1   , protrudes like an island above water level, and the mesh material presents a ramped crown gradually angling upward from an angle of approximately 45 degrees at water level, to a shallower angle of about 5 degrees at its peak positioned near the backward end. The lip  104  angles upward from slightly beneath water level, projecting forward and downward from upper section  102 . The entire device  100  may be integrally-formed in this mesh-dome-shape by injection molding. Alternatively, the entire device  100  may be formed from a flat sheet of plastic mesh inserted into a formed compression mold. 
     The device  100  is shaped and sized to sit atop the strainer basket, elevating the upper section  102  at least partially above the water, to provide an arched ramp up to the peak. The peak of upper section  102  is elevated well-above the water vortex, and the surrounding mesh of upper section  102  and sides  103  make it easier for a swirling animal to grasp and climb to the peak to rest, and then escape out through the view holes  13  of the existing skimmer portal cover  11  (larger holes may be cut into the existing portal cover  11  if needed). 
     To accomplish the foregoing, relative dimensions are important. In an embodiment, the upper section is 8.40″ long and spans 7.01″ wide. The peak of the upper section  102  stands 5.59″ high and ramps gradually downward at approximately a 6″ radius of curvature, terminating at the lower edge of lip  104  which stands approximately one third as high as the peak, or 1.87″. The legs  105  elevate the upper section  102  about half as high as the peak, e,g, 2.8.″ Thus, the animal rescue device  100  progressively rises from 1.87″ to the elevated peak of 5.59″, emerging from the water vortex so that animals can raise themselves above the swirling water. The mesh material may be, e.g., perforated molded plastic, and the perforations preferably occupy a majority of the surface area about the entire ramped surface of upper section  102  as well as the surrounding sides  103 . The perforation consumes at least 40% of the surface area, and more preferably within a range of from 45-50% to reduce drag. The legs  105  are symmetrically-spaced on opposite sides of the long axis of the oval to provide a balanced footing against the flat circular rim of the existing skimmer basket. The quadruped legs  105  elevate the upper section  102  above the strainer basket and allow debris to pass through. In addition, the legs  105  are oriented substantially along the diameter of the circular rim of the existing skimmer basket. The angles and spacing of legs  105  minimizes drag from the water vortex. The sidewall  103  and ramped surface  107  remain partially submerged about an inch at the lip  104 , but at the peak CL protrude like an island above water level. Given the foregoing dimensions the peak CL will rise to within an inch of the viewing windows  13  of the portal cover  11 . The surrounding mesh of upper section  102  and sides  103  make it easier for a swirling animal to grasp and climb to the peak to rest, and then escape out through the view holes  13  of the existing skimmer portal cover  11  ( FIG.  1   ). 
     The foregoing dimensions are well-suited for many existing strainer wells and baskets, but there may be need for slightly smaller dimensions. Toward this end the invention includes offset notches  108 ,  109  at the lip and legs which provide the ability for a user to truncate the lip  104  and legs  105  in a coordinated manner to adjust the height. Notch  108  spans the lower lip  104 , and notches  109  span the lower legs  105 , in both cases offset slightly from the distal end. The offset of notch  108  is calculated by Pythagorean theorem based on the offset of notch  109 , as if lip  104  were a hypotenuse. Recalling that the lip  104  should dip below the sidewall  103  into the water, a small offset of notches  108  equals a slightly larger coordinated offset of notch  108 . Notches  108 ,  109  allow a convenient measured truncation of lip  104  and legs  105 . 
     One skilled in the art will readily understand that the device  100  need not have an exactly circular cross-section provided that it functions to sit atop strainer basket and stay out of the way of the gate. This the device  100  may be slightly oval, concave at the front end, or alternately-shaped to serve this purpose. The mesh construction of all sections  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105  does not interfere with the recirculation vortex at all, and the device fits in existing skimmers without replacing existing parts. 
     The animal rescue devices  100  according to the present invention remains inside the otherwise conventional pool skimmer  10  and provides a raised circular mesh island that can be grasped easily from any angle as the animal swirls, and a ramped crown rising to a raised peak by which animals can raise themselves above the swirling water, rest, and escape through the skimmer portal. In addition, the device  100  assists in catching debris like leaves and other organic material blown into the pool and keeps a significant amount of debris from going down into the existing basket and slowing down suction (especially during a windstorm). Since the device  100  is raised on legs with water flow there beneath, debris remains on top. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that components of embodiments of this disclosure can be formed from any mesh materials suitable for the purposes of this disclosure. For example, components of embodiments can be formed from metals, such as aluminum, rubber coated steel; or plastics or resins. Components of embodiments of this disclosure can be manufactured according to any manufacturing technique suitable for the purpose of this disclosure. Components of embodiments of this disclosure can be attached or otherwise joined according to any attachment mechanisms suitable for the purposes of this disclosure. For example, components may be screwed, latched, clasped, clamped, stapled, fused, bonded, glued, welded, and/or compression fit together. 
     Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.