Patent Publication Number: US-7914009-B1

Title: Universal pool skimmer gasket

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a universal pool skimmer gasket. More particularly, the invention relates to a gasket containing extraneous portions which can be selectively removed in order to modify the gasket to accommodate openings of different shapes and sizes. 
     2. Background 
     Pool skimmers contain gaskets which need to be replaced periodically. However, gasket replacement can become unnecessarily complicated because there are several types of pool skimmers which require specific gaskets. For example, some pool skimmers have square openings, and accordingly require square-shaped gaskets conforming to the square openings. Also common, however, are pool skimmers having rectangular openings which require rectangular gaskets. Accordingly, it is often a hassle for customers to buy a gasket, as they may not know which particular gasket fits their skimmer. Also, stores, warehouses, and other businesses are burdened by having to stock many types of gaskets. 
     Previous inventions have addressed the inconvenience of having various similar but incompatible products. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,975 issued to Davis, discloses a filter frame which can be “broken down” in order to accommodate filter mats of various sizes. The invention comprises a grid like frame structure where one or more sections of the frame can be broken off of the structure. The filter frame can be adapted to accommodate any standard filter mat sizes by breaking off the appropriate sections of the grid structure. However, this system is limited in application to filter frames, and does not address the need for universal pool skimmer components. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,564 issued to Cancio discloses a decorative material which can be modified to conform to surfaces of various shapes. Specifically, this invention teaches a method of producing a decorative plastic sheet material which can be torn by hand to an appropriate size to conform to a surface being covered. However, this method is limited to producing decorative materials, and does not address the need for universal pool skimmer components. 
     Thus it is readily apparent that there is a long felt need for a universal gasket which can replace multiple conventional gaskets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a universal gasket which can be adapted to fit more than one opening. The present invention is in the shape of a conventional gasket, but also contains additional members and/or openings. By removing one appropriate set of members, the remaining structure of the gasket will conform to the opening of one variety of pool skimmers. The removed members may be discarded. Likewise, by removing a different set of members, the gasket can be adapted for use in a different variety of pool skimmers. In this way, the present invention can be used in place of at least two types of ordinary gaskets. In one embodiment of the present invention, the extraneous members may be removed simply by cutting them off with scissors. 
     It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a universal gasket which can accommodate more than one type of opening. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a universal gasket which can be modified to fit a desired opening without the use of specialized tools. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to minimize the number of types of gaskets that a store must keep in stock. 
     A further object of the invention is to allow a person to buy a useable gasket without knowing the dimensions or model number device for which it is to be used. 
     Additional objects and advantages will become apparent and a more thorough and comprehensive understanding may be had from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention and the manner in which it may be practiced is further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated view showing a prior art gasket for use with a standard skimmer, and a prior art gasket for use with a wide mouth pool skimmers. 
         FIG. 2(   a ) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the regions that must be cut with scissors in order to configure it for use with a wide mouth pool skimmer having a rectangular opening. 
         FIG. 2(   b ) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of being configured for use with a wide mouth pool skimmer having a rectangular opening. 
         FIG. 3(   a ) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the regions that must be cut with scissors in order to configure it for use with a standard pool skimmer having a square opening. 
         FIG. 3(   b ) is a cut away view of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of being configured for use with a standard pool skimmer having a square opening. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an embodiment being installed in a standard pool skimmer after it has been configured for use in a square opening. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions, or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as may be further described or explained by the entire written specification of which this detailed description is an integral part. The drawings are intended to be read together with the specification and are to be construed as a portion of the entire “written description” of this invention as required by 35 U.S.C. §112. 
     Adverting now to the drawings, with reference to  FIG. 1 , two prior art pool skimmer gaskets are shown. Numeral  100  depicts a prior art gasket for use with a standard pool skimmer with a square opening. Standard skimmer square opening  128  is shaped and sized to conform to the opening of a standard skimmer. Numeral  200  depicts a prior art gasket for a wide mouth pool skimmer having a rectangular opening. Wide mouth skimmer rectangular opening  226  is shaped and sized to conform to the opening of a wide mouth skimmer. 
       FIG. 2(   a ) shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to adapting it to fit the rectangular opening of a wide mouth pool skimmer. The preferred embodiment of the universal pool skimmer gasket  300  comprises an essentially rectangular planar sheet of material with a horizontal top member  302  and a horizontal bottom member  304 , a first and second vertical member,  306  and  308  respectively, connected to the horizontal top member  302  and the horizontal bottom member  304  defining a rectangular first end opening  320 . A third vertical member  310  is connected to the horizontal top member  302  and the horizontal bottom member  304  defining a middle opening  322  in conjunction with the second vertical member  308 . A fourth vertical member  312  is connected to the horizontal top member  302  and said horizontal bottom member  304  defining second end opening  324  in conjunction with the third vertical member  310 . The aforementioned vertical and horizontal members are individually, selectively detachable from the planar sheet of which preferred embodiment of the universal pool skimmer gasket  300  is comprised of to alter the shape of the planar sheet and cause the remaining portion of the planar sheet to form a standard sized gasket for a pool skimmer opening. 
     To fit a rectangular opening, the outer perimeter of the gasket, comprised of members  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  312  is left intact. Two extraneous vertical members  308  and  310  are removed. In our preferred embodiment, the extraneous members  308  and  310  may be removed by cutting them off with an ordinary pair of scissors along the wide mouth skimmer configuration cutting lines  330 . It should be noted that the wide mouth configuration cutting lines  330  are not present on some embodiments. While in other embodiments these lines may be printed on the surface of the gasket, or alternatively, they may be in the form of perforations. Additionally, it should be understood that other embodiments may be adapted to fit a desired opening in other ways, such as by tearing off by hand extraneous portions or otherwise. 
       FIG. 2(   b ) shows the preferred embodiment in the process of being configured for use with a wide mouth pool skimmer having a rectangular opening. The third vertical member  310 , has been removed and may be discarded. The second vertical member  308  is in the process of being removed, and may be discarded once removed. Once vertical member  308  is completely removed, the remaining portion of the universal pool skimmer gasket is now rectangular in shape, and will have a single large rectangular opening  326  which is identical in shape and size to the wide mouth skimmer rectangular opening  226  of a prior art gasket for a wide mouth pool skimmer  200  of  FIG. 1 . Without the extraneous members, the universal pool skimmer gasket is identical in size and shape to the prior art gasket for a wide mouth pool skimmer  200  of  FIG. 1 . As such, it is now ready to be installed in a wide mouth skimmer. 
       FIG. 3(   a ) shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to adapting it to fit the square opening of a standard pool skimmer. To fit a square opening, the second vertical member  308  and third vertical member  310  surrounding middle opening  322  are left intact, while cuts are made along the standard skimmer configuration cutting lines  332 . Making these cuts removes two substantially ‘C’ shaped regions. The first substantially ‘C’ shaped region,  340  of  FIG. 3(   b ) consists of the first vertical member  306 , a portion of the left end of horizontal top member  302 , and a portion of the left end of horizontal bottom member  304 . The second substantially ‘C’ shaped region,  342  of  FIG. 3(   b ) consists of the fourth vertical member  312 , a portion of the right end of horizontal top member  302 , and a portion of the right end of horizontal bottom member  304 . Again, both extraneous substantially ‘C’ shaped regions  340  and  342  of  FIG. 3(   b ) may be removed by cutting them off with an ordinary pair of scissors. However, it should be understood that other embodiments may be adapted to fit a desired opening in other ways, such as by tearing off by hand extraneous portions or otherwise. It should be noted that the standard skimmer configuration cutting lines  332  are not present on some embodiments. While in other embodiments these lines may be printed on the surface of the gasket, or alternatively, they may be in the form of perforations. 
       FIG. 3(   b ) shows a universal pool skimmer gasket in the process of being configured for use with a standard pool skimmer having a square opening. The first substantially ‘C’ shaped region  340  has been partially removed, and may be discarded once it is completely removed. The second substantially ‘C’ shaped region  342  has been removed, and may be discarded. The remaining portion of the universal gasket after configuration for a standard pool skimmer  350  is square in shape, and has a single square middle opening  322  which is identical in shape and size to the standard skimmer square opening  128  of a prior art gasket for a standard pool skimmer  100  of  FIG. 1 . The universal pool skimmer gasket is now identical in size, shape, and configuration to the prior art gasket for a standard pool skimmer  100  of  FIG. 1 . As such, it is now ready to be installed in a standard skimmer. 
       FIG. 4  shows the preferred embodiment being installed in a pool skimmer after it has been configured for use with a standard pool skimmer having a square opening. Installation is identical to that of the prior art gasket for a standard pool skimmer  100  of  FIG. 1 . To install the universal pool skimmer gasket in one variety of standard pool skimmers, the remaining portion of the universal gasket after configuration for a standard pool skimmer  350  is placed between a wall panel  360  and a face plate  362 . A plurality of holes to accept fasteners  370 ,  372 , and  374  in the wall panel  360 , the remaining portion of the universal gasket after configuration for a standard pool skimmer  350 , and the face plate  362  respectively will align with each other allowing fasteners such as screws to pass through. It should be noted that the installation process may vary, and that the present invention is not limited to any one type of installation method. Rather, the present invention may be installed in any appropriate way. 
     Although the invention as been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In this regard, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.