Patent Publication Number: US-2022220759-A1

Title: Pool cleaning device

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 63/136,544 filed on Jan. 12, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The field of the present invention and its embodiments relate to pool monitoring devices that monitor variables such as water level, water pH, and water temperature. Further, the pool monitoring device facilitates removal of the skimmer basket of a pool for cleaning/maintenance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Removing floating debris and monitoring water conditions of a swimming pool is a necessary maintenance task. Water is typically drawn from the pool via an aperture in the wall of the pool and into a filtration device called a skimmer, which traps debris that is removed from the pool in this manner. Contained in the skimmer is a basket that filters the water carrying the debris, thus trapping the debris and preventing the debris from passing through to a pump. Thus, cleaning of the skimmer basket is a necessary and regular task for maintaining proper swimming pool water circulation and clarity. 
     Most skimmers include a lid or cover, which is normally mounted flush or slightly raised with respect to the pool deck to avoid creating a tripping hazard. As a result, a skimmer lid or cover is usually difficult to remove. A lid may include a hole at its center, or a plurality of holes located off center, closer to the edges of the lid. The removal of the lid may require a person to insert their fingers through the holes to grab the lid. In addition, most skimmer baskets include some type of a handle, which can be used to lift the basket from within the skimmer well. A user is required to bend over, reach into the water and/or debris, through the undesirable contents of the basket, to manually grab the handle of the basket. 
     Devices have been designed to assist with the abovementioned maintenance tasks, the majority of which include tools having a single rod and/or a single hook used to engage and lift portions of a skimmer. However, these devices do not provide an effective means for removing a skimmer well lid, in addition to providing for monitoring of water conditions of a pool. 
     Various systems and methodologies are known in the art. However, their structure and means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure. The other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and will be described in more detail herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention and its embodiments relate to a pool monitoring device. The pool monitoring device is multifaceted and can carry on a number of functions related to maintaining a pool. The pool monitoring device can be used to take the place of a lid of a conventional skimmer basket. This allows for the lid to provide some functionality to a user and assist a user in removing the pool monitoring device and further removing the skimmer basket for cleaning as needed. The pool cleaning device further has a tube or tubular member that extends downwards toward the surface of the water. This tubular member houses a number of components related to monitoring one or more conditions of the pool water. At a terminal end of the tubular member, the pool monitoring device has at least one hook to be used to pull up on and remove the skimmer basket for cleaning and inspection. This prevent a user from having to bend over and reach down to pick up the basket which may be cumbersome or have refuse collected therein that is best not touched. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a pool monitoring device having a support plate; a tubular member coupled to the support plate; at least one hook coupled to the tubular member; and at least one water based sensor configured to sense at least one property of water. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention there is a pool monitoring device having a support plate having a display thereon; a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the tubular member being coupled to the support plate at the first end; at least one hook coupled to the second end of the tubular member, wherein the at least one hooks has a plurality of tabs extending therefrom; and at least one water-based sensor configured to sense at least one property of water. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention there is a pool monitoring device having a support plate with a display thereon, wherein the support plate has at least one notch along a periphery of the support plate; a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the tubular member being coupled to the support plate at the first end; an end cap coupled to the second end of the tubular member; two hooks coupled to the second end of the tubular member. wherein the two hooks have a plurality of tabs extending from an outer surface therefrom; and at least one water-based sensor configured to sense at least one property of water, wherein the at least one water-based sensor is a pH sensor, total dissolved solids sensor, and a temperature sensor. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that replaces a conventional pool skimmer lid. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that is lightweight and easy to use. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that monitors one or more conditions of the pool water. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that aids in the lifting and removal of a pool skimmer basket. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that can alert a user to inspect a pool due to one or more detected pool water conditions. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pool monitoring device that is configured to withstand the natural elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 4  shows a sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention being used to remove a pool skimmer basket. 
         FIG. 5A  shows a top view of an additional support plate. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a bottom view of an additional support plate. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is a pool monitoring device  100  comprising generally of a support plate  102 , and a tubular member  106 . Other components/structures include but may not be limited to LED(s)  104 , magnet(s)  110 , float  108 , high water magnet  136 , power source  126 , low water magnet  134 , pH sensor  114 , end cap  112 , total dissolved solids (TDS) sensor  116 , tabs  122 , corrosion anode  120 , U-shaped member  140 , holes or apertures  142 , display  128 , notch(es)  132 , solar panel/array  130 , and temperature sensor  118 . 
     The support plate  102  comprises a generally circular plate designed to replace the cover of a pool skimmer. Accordingly, the exact dimensions and shape may be varied to match the opening to a particular pool skimmer. Along a periphery of the support plate  102  is at least one and preferably at least two notches  132 . The notches  132  are sections of the support plate  102  configured to assist a user in removing the support plate  102  from the opening or access to the skimmer basket. The notches  132  may take varying shapes and dimensions. In use, a user would preferably use at least one finger at each notch  132  and apply a force directed towards the center of the support plate  102 . With a sufficient force being supplied, the user then should be able to easily free and lift the support plate  102  from the access. 
     In one embodiment, further integrated with the support plate  102  is a solar panel  130 , a display  128 , and at least one light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED)  104 . The display  128  may be virtually any type of display (liquid crystal, light emitting diode, etc.) configured to display information associated with the pool monitoring device  100  or the pool itself. The display  128  may be configurable to commonly display certain types of information and may otherwise permit a user to customize or otherwise modify the manner in which information is displayed via the display  128 . Information to be displayed may be, for example, information collected by one or more of the sensors associated with the pool monitoring device  100 . 
     The solar panel  130  may act as a primary or secondary power source for the pool monitoring device  100 . The solar panel  130  may be a conventional collection of solar cells configured to utilize light and store energy therefrom for operating the pool monitoring device. In some embodiments, one may be able to select whether the solar panel  130  is the primary or secondary power source. 
     A light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED)  104  may further be positioned upon or in the support plate  102 . The LED  104  can be configured to communicate (via color, on/off state, variable flashing pattern) the status of one or more parameters associated with the pool monitoring device  100 . For example, each sensor may cause, as an alert, the LED  104  to emit light and each sensor may be assigned its own color of light such that a user can readily differentiate and diagnose a potential issue with the pool monitoring device  100  or the pool/pool water/etc. In some embodiments, a message may be transmitted by the pool monitoring device  100  to an electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, to alert an owner of the phone of a particular status of the pool monitoring device  100  and/or pool. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tubular member  106  is positioned substantially perpendicular to the support plate  102 . The tubular member  106  is at least partially hollow and/or has cavities to house components therein in a watertight seal. Such components may include the power source  126 , printed circuit board and wiring (not shown), high water magnet  136 , and low water magnet  134 . The internal components, particularly the power source  126  may be accessed via the end cap  112  positioned at an end of the tubular member  106  opposite the support plate  102 . The end cap  112  may be attached via conventional means such as threading, friction fit, etc. along with an O-ring or other watertight seal capabilities. 
     The high water magnet  136  and low water magnet  134  may be positionable and “locked” into varying fixed positions along a length of the tubular member  106 . This allows for the float  108  to move upwards and downwards slidably along the length of the tubular member  106 . When the float  108  and the float magnet  110  encounter the high water magnet  136  or low water magnet  134  a circuit is completed sending a signal to the LED  104  or a secondary electronic device to alert a user that the water level of the pool is improper. By allowing the magnets to be repositionable, this can account for varying user preferences as well as differences between pool installations. 
     The sensors of the pool monitoring device  100  may include a pH sensor  114 , a TDS sensor  116 , and a temperature sensor  118 . Each of these sensors are coupled to the LED  104  and collect information pertinent to the pool water environment in which the sensor resides. Each of these sensors may be housed together or separately within a housing or portion of the U-shaped member  140 . The pH sensor is configured to monitor a pH of the pool water and alert a user as to a pH level that is outside of the set parameters whether set by the manufacturer or the user of the pool monitoring device  100 . The TDS sensor  116  measures the amount of total dissolved solids in the pool water environment and is coupled to the LED  104 . This sensor allows a user to understand if the number of dissolved solids reaches an unsafe or undesirable threshold. Lastly, the temperature sensor  118  measures the temperature of the pool water. The temperature sensor  118  is coupled to the LED  104  and is capable of assisting in generating an alert if the pool water becomes too warm thereby allowing harmful bacteria or other organisms to flourish in the water thereby posing a hazard to those who may swim in the pool. 
     In some embodiments, a corrosion anode  120  is further disposed along the U-shaped member  140 . This corrosion anode  120  may be periodically replaced as needed and helps to prevent the corrosion of pool metals (e.g. ladders) that are in constant contact with the pool water. In at least one embodiment, the corrosion anode  120  is a zinc anode. This corrosion anode  120  may be further housed with the sensors described above. 
     As described above, there is preferably protruding from an end of the tubular member  106  a U-shaped member  140  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), that houses a number of the components described herein such as the temperature sensor, pH sensor, TDS sensor, corrosion anode, and the like or some combination thereof. This U-shaped member may have a plurality of holes or apertures  142  in a surface of the U-shaped member. This allows for fluid communication between an outside environment and an interior of the U-shaped member. This further allows for the sensors contained therein to have access to the pool water environment in order to sense properties of the pool water. Further, the U-shaped member  140  may have connecting screws  146  designed to interact with the skimmer basket as shown in the FIGS. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pool monitoring apparatus  100  take the place of a traditional skimmer cover in the pool environment. It is preferably that the dimensions of the support plate  102  in conjunction with the surrounding pool deck allow for the support plate  102  to lay substantially flush with the pool deck  200  thereby limiting and/or preventing injury to patrons of the pool. The tubular member  106  may be sized such that a terminal end of the tubular member  106  opposite the support plate  102  resides below a top level of the skimmer basket  300 . This allows, as shown in  FIG. 4 , for the U-shaped member  140  to be easily engaged with the skimmer basket  300  thereby lifting the skimmer basket  300  from the skimmer apparatus to be examined and/or cleaned. 
     In another embodiment, there is protruding from an end of the tubular member opposite the support plate is the hook and tab structure to assist with lifting a pool skimmer basket from the pool skimmer apparatus. Here, there is at least one and preferably two hooks and a plurality of vacuum tabs. Each of the hooks are sized to assist in engaging and passing at least partially through an opening in the pool skimmer basket. This prevents a user from having to bend down and pull the pool skimmer basket out of the skimmer by hand. The vacuum tabs are disposed along the length of a support structure above the position of the hook(s). The vacuum tabs are small protrusions that engage the skimmer basket to break the vacuum that often holds the basket in the skimmer apparatus. Such tabs greatly increases the ease with which the skimmer basket may be pulled from the skimmer apparatus. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  the support plate  102  may include a removable information lid  502  with a top  504 , a bottom  506 , a hole  508 . and a metal contact ring  510 . In this embodiment, the hole  508  traverses the entire removable information lid  502  from front to back. The metal contact ring  510  is disposed around the edge of the hole  508 . In this embodiment, the pool monitoring device  100  may be inserted through the hole  508 . The metal contact ring may contact a metal portion of the pool monitoring device  100 . In this embodiment, the pool monitoring device  100  may also be an aerator, a chemical dispenser, or other type of pool device. 
     The top  504  may include a display  528 , a solar panel  530 . The display  528  may be any type of display (liquid crystal, light emitting diode, etc.) configured to display information associated with the pool monitoring device  100  or the pool itself. The display  528  may be configurable to commonly display certain types of information and may otherwise permit a user to customize or otherwise modify the manner in which information is displayed via the display  528 . Information to be displayed may be, for example, information collected by one or more of the sensors associated with the pool monitoring device  100 . 
     The bottom  506  may include several sealed wires  512 , a power source  514 , a circuit  516 , and a communication antenna  518 . The sealed wires  512  may connect the metal contact ring  510  to the circuit  516 . The sealed wires  512  may also connect the circuit to the power source  514 , and connect the circuit  516  to the communication antenna  518 . 
     In one embodiment, the power source  514  may be a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The power source  514  may be coupled to the solar panel  530 . The solar panel  530  may be a conventional collection of solar cells configured to utilize light and recharge the power source  514 . The power source  514  may be configured to power the circuit  516 , the pool monitoring device  100 , and the communication antenna  518 . 
     The metal contact ring  510  may be designed to send and receive information from the pool monitoring device  100 , and the metal contact ring  510  may be designed to provide power from the power source  514  to the pool monitoring device  100 . 
     The circuit  516  may be designed to control the information displayed on the display  528 . The circuit may also be designed to control the function of pool monitoring device  100 . 
     The communication antenna  518  may be any form of wireless communication (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). The communication antenna  518  may be able to send information to a smartphone, or other device. The information sent from the communication antenna  518  may be any information associated with the pool monitoring device  100 , the removable information lid  502 , or the pool itself. In one embodiment, the communication antenna  518  may also be able to receive information from a smartphone or other device. The information received by the communication antenna  518  may be instructions for the circuit  516 . These instructions may include changes to the information displayed on the display  528 , and/or information related to the operation of the pool monitoring device  100 . In this way, a user may be able to alter the function of the display  528  remotely from a smartphone or other computing device. 
     The removable information lid  502  may be removably coupled to the support plate  102 . In one embodiment the removable information lid further comprises at least one hole  520  designed to receive at least one screw. In this embodiment, the support plate  102  may contain at least one hole  520  designed to receive the at least one screw. The at least one hole  520  of the information lid  502  may be located on the information lid  502  so a center point of the at least one hole  520  lines up with a center point of the at least one hole of the support plate  102 . In this embodiment, the at least one screw may be inserted into the at least one hole  520  of the information lid  502 , and the at least one hole  520  of the support plate  102 , thereby coupling the removable information lid  502  to the support plate  102 . It is to be appreciated that although the removable information lid  502  is described as being removably coupled to the support plate  102  with at least one screw, the removable information lid  502  may be removably coupled to the support plate  102  with any structure or method commonly known in the art. 
     The main components of the pool monitoring device  100  may generally be formed from any suitable material including but not limited to plastics, metals, composites, resins, and the like or any combination thereof. Plastics used in the apparatus may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate (PC), or any combination thereof. Composites may include but are not limited to fiber reinforced plastics, metal composites, carbon fiber, and Kevlar® and the like. Metals may comprise lightweight metals such as aluminum and other pure metals as well as various alloys. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.