Patent Publication Number: US-2016230407-A1

Title: Pool Skimmer Basket Assembly with Adapter

Description:
STATEMENT OF PRIORITY 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/860,168, titled “Pool Skimmer Basket Assembly with Adapter” and filed Apr. 10, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/794,374, titled “Pool Skimmer Basket Assembly with Adapter,” filed Mar. 15, 2013. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Applicant&#39;s invention relates to filtration devices and more particularly to swimming pool filtration equipment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most modem swimming pools have circulation and filtration systems, one component of which is known as a “skimmer.” A skimmer is a relatively simple structure which involves a skimmer well positioned adjacent to the pool with the top of the well lying slightly below the normal water level of the pool. A conduit (filter opening) extends between the skimmer well wall and the pool wall, and opens, respectively, at points near the top of the skimmer well and near, but just below, the normal water level in the pool. 
     At the bottom of the skimmer well is an orifice (filter passage) through which water in the skimmer well is drawn in by a vacuum pump and returned to the pool in an endless cycle. Over time, all the water in the pool will pass through the skimmer, and, under ordinary conditions, items floating on top of the water will eventually flow into the skimmer well. 
     A highly perforated skimmer basket is sized and shaped to sit within the skimmer well and serves as a strainer to trap leaves or other items which flow into the skimmer. An improved pool skimmer basket having vent means which permit continued circulation of water through the pool skimmer basket, even when all filtration perforations are clogged, is subject to U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,350 to Voss et al, wherein the basket, in its preferred embodiment, exhibits a centrally positioned skimmer “vent tower” which extends from the bottom of the basket to a point at least slightly above the upper rim of the basket. This both reduces the likelihood that debris will obstruct all of the vent tower orifices and allows water to exit the vent tower as the basket is withdrawn from the well to facilitate such withdrawal through the access opening while the vacuum pump is in operation. 
     A frequent problem encountered by pool owners is the variety in sizes and/or constructions of skimmers and, consequently, different sizes of pool skimmer baskets necessary to fit them. This, in turn, causes pool owners to forgo using the existing design of the skimmer vent tower. For instance, if the swimming pool has a different size skimmer and/or requires a different size skimmer basket (than the one disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,350), the pool owner is prevented from utilizing the skimmer vent tower, which leaves him no option but to resort to currently available skimmer baskets without the skimmer vent tower advantage. 
     Thus, there is a need to use the existing design of the skimmer vent tower, such as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,350, on any skimmer basket and/or any skimmer well without requiring modification of either part, thus making the existing design universal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved pool skimmer basket assembly with skimmer vent tower adapter for mounting the skimmer vent tower on a pool skimmer basket which allows for the existing design of a skimmer vent tower to be retrofitted with any pool skimmer basket and/or any pool skimmer design without requiring modifications to either part. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method of separating and removing debris entrained in pool water passing from a pool through a filter passage communicating with a filter opening formed in a wall of the pool, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a skimmer pool basket, said basket sized and shaped for nesting reception within a pool skimmer well, said skimmer basket having a basket bottom portion and the basket peripheral wall portion, said basket bottom portion having an inner bottom portion and an outer bottom portion, said basket peripheral portion extending upwardly from the periphery of said basket bottom portion and terminating as a basket side portion rim, said basket bottom portion and said peripheral wall portion of the skimmer basket defining therein a plurality of perforations in the form of a grid; attaching a skimmer vent tower to said basket by utilizing a skimmer vent tower adapter, said adapter reversibly mounted on said inner bottom portion of said basket; locating said pool skimmer basket in a filter passage; and grasping the handle of said basket and removing the basket outwardly from the filter passage through the access opening for emptying the captured debris from the basket. 
     In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides an improved pool skimmer basket assembly comprising: a pool skimmer basket sized and shaped for nesting reception within a pool skimmer well, said skimmer basket having a basket bottom portion and the basket peripheral wall portion, said basket bottom portion having an inner bottom portion and an outer bottom portion, said basket peripheral portion extending upwardly from the periphery of said basket bottom portion and terminating as a basket side portion rim, said basket bottom portion and said peripheral wall portion of the skimmer basket defining therein a plurality of perforations in the form of a grid; a skimmer vent tower, said skimmer vent tower threadably engaged with an inner surface of a threaded skimmer vent tower adapter, said skimmer vent tower adapter substantially centrally and reversibly attached to an inner bottom portion of a pool skimmer basket by plurality of attachment means, said attachment means secured by plurality of securing means for securing said skimmer vent tower adapter to an inner bottom portion of a pool skimmer basket. 
     In its preferred embodiment, the skimmer vent adapter comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of attachment means for securely attaching said skimmer vent adapter to said inner bottom portion of the pool skimmer basket, said plurality of attachment means further configured to receive a plurality of securing means for securing said skimmer vent adapter to the pool skimmer basket. 
     Furthermore, Applicant&#39;s invention provides in combination a pool skimmer basket and a reversibly attached skimmer vent tower adapter configured to allow a skimmer vent tower to be utilized with said pool skimmer basket of any size and/or design. 
     Applicant&#39;s pool skimmer basket assembly, in its preferred embodiment, exhibits a substantially centrally positioned skimmer vent tower which extends from the adapter to a point at least slightly above the upper rim of the basket. The skimmer vent tower is a hollow structure with small perforations or vent orifices dispersed along its length. At least one such vent orifice must reside slightly above the level of the upper rim of the basket to insure that an orifice lies above the water level in the skimmer well. This both reduces the likelihood that debris will obstruct all of the vent tower orifices and allows water to exit the vent tower as the basket is withdrawn from the well to facilitate such withdrawal. 
     Further, the Applicant&#39;s invention provides a pool skimmer adapter assembly, comprising a skimmer vent tower, said skimmer vent tower threadably engaged with an inner surface of a threaded skimmer vent tower adapter, said skimmer vent tower adapter substantially centrally and reversibly attached to an inner bottom portion of a pool skimmer basket by plurality of attachment means, said attachment means secured by plurality of securing means for securing said skimmer vent tower adapter to an inner bottom portion of a pool skimmer basket. 
     The skimmer vent tower is reversibly attached to the pool skimmer basket through a skimmer vent tower adapter, whereby an open lower end of the skimmer vent tower (the outer external mounting feature/exterior profile) is threadably engaged with the inner surface of the skimmer vent tower adapter, wherein said inner surface of said skimmer vent tower adapter makes conformal contact all along its inner surface with the exterior profile of the skimmer vent tower, and the bottom part of the skimmer vent tower adapter is in direct contact with but reversibly attached to the inner bottom portion of the basket through the attachment means, thus, allowing the skimmer vent tower to be reversibly attached to any size of the skimmer basket. Because there are multiple sizes of swimming pools skimmers and, consequently, skimmer baskets utilized in pool filtration systems, use of the skimmer vent tower adapter greatly enhances the utility of the skimmer vent tower and the improved pool skimmer basket as substantially described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,350. 
     Applicant&#39;s approach to the problem described above is certainly simple, but it is equally unobvious. Applicant&#39;s informal surveys of pool owners reveal a dire need for skimmer vent tower adapters to be used with different pool skimmers so a skimmer vent tower can be utilized with practically any design of skimmer and/or skimmer basket. This, in turn, will alleviate the pervasive problem of broken skimmer baskets (which were broken when straining against the suction of the pool&#39;s vacuum pump when the basket was clogged) and the often resulting unpleasant experience of “fishing” the basket out of the skimmer well. Despite this well-known and long-existing problem, and a readily apparent market for a solution, no one has presented a viable, cost-effective solution such as Applicant here provides. 
     The principals of the invention will be further discussed with reference to the drawing(s) wherein a preferred embodiment is shown. The specifics illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify, rather than limit aspects of the invention as defined in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention, and should not be viewed as an exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s improved pool skimmer basket assembly with adapter. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the skimmer vent tower of the improved pool skimmer basket assembly of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the threaded adapter according to preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s improved pool skimmer basket assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the threaded skimmer vent tower adapter with indications of exemplary physical dimensions according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  is a section view of the inner surface of the treaded skimmer vent tower adapter with indications of exemplary physical dimensions according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the inside bottom of the skimmer basket showing the skimmer vent tower adapter substantially centrally and reversibly attached to the inner bottom portion of the skimmer basket according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the outside bottom of the skimmer basket showing the securing means receiving the attachment means for attaching the skimmer vent tower adapter according to one embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary elevational view of the skimmer well filtration system with an improved pool skimmer basket positioned inside according to the method described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , Applicant&#39;s improved pool skimmer basket assembly with adapter is identified generally by the reference numeral  10 . While most baskets  10  are unitary structures, for discussion purposes, basket  10  can be divided into two primary portions-the peripheral wall or side portion  12  and a bottom portion  14 . Both side portion  12  and bottom portion  14  are perforated by numerous strainer orifices (perforations in a form of a grid)  16 . As with any skimmer basket, strainer orifices  16  allow water as drawn through the pool skimmer ( FIG. 6 ) to pass through the basket  10 , but catch most solids in a strainer-like manner. Basket  10  is removed from a skimmer well using a handle (not shown) which is connected to handle eyes  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , extending upwardly into the interior space of basket  10  from the inner bottom portion  40  ( FIG. 4 ) is a vent tower  20 . Vent tower  20  is a hollow structure formed of an elongate vent body  20 ′ having a first vent tower end, which includes a threaded annulus (the outer external mounting feature for screwing into a threaded hole of a skimmer vent tower adapter  30 )  22  at its bottom end  24 , said bottom end  24  of vent tower  20  opens into the interior hollow of vent tower  20 , and a second vent tower end  26 , said vent tower  20  defining within said vent body  20 ′ and between said first vent tower end  22  and said second vent tower end  26 , a vent tower interior hollow, said vent body  20 ′ having one or more vent orifices  28  extending through said vent body between said vent tower interior hollow and space exterior to said vent tower, at least one of said vent orifices being positioned, whereby, when said first vent tower end is connected with said basket bottom portion  14  through said adapter  30 , said at least one said vent orifice resides at a point lying at a greater linear distance from said basket bottom portion  14  than said basket side portion rim  38  resides from said basket bottom portion  14  when measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vent tower, said first end of said vent tower having an exit orifice  24  which opens to said interior hollow. 
     Vent tower  20 , in the preferred embodiment, is threadingly engaged with skimmer vent tower adapter  30  ( FIG. 3 ) at a threaded inner portion (or surface)  32  of the skimmer vent tower adapter  30 . Of course, any other engagement schemes between the skimmer vent tower and the skimmer vent tower adapter, including bayoneted mounts, snap-fit structures, etc. will suffice. 
     As stated above, vent tower  20  is highly perforated with a number of vent orifices  28 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the top of the second vent tower end  26  may have at least one orifice (not shown). Vent tower  20  should be of a length that it extends above the level of the basket rim  38 , and at least some of the skimmer vent tower orifices  28  should be positioned whereby, they will be above the level of the basket rim  38  when engaged with the skimmer basket  10 . The basis for this is discussed above in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,350. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the skimmer vent tower  20  is removable from basket  10  for allowing the use of certain skimmer accessories (pool sweeper attachments, most notably) which require a flush mating between a plate member and the basket rim  38  of the basket  10 , which mating the vent tower  20  would likely obstruct if left in place. 
     The over-all substantially cylindrical shape of vent tower  20  as shown in the drawings is merely the preferred embodiment-the result of molding efficiencies. Any structure of any shape which provide fluid communication through a plurality of vent orifices between space interior to basket  10  (other than as are positioned on the side portion  12  or bottom portion  14  of basket  10 ) and space outside of basket  10  will satisfy the functional requirements of vent tower  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the skimmer vent tower adapter  30  comprises an inner, threadable surface  32  configured to match the exterior threadable profile  22  of the skimmer vent tower  20  and plurality of openings  34  for receiving attachment means  42  such as screws or pins for securely, yet reversibly attaching the skimmer vent tower adapter  30  to the inner bottom portion  40  of the skimmer basket  10 . Of course, any other reversible engagement schemes between the skimmer vent tower adapter and the inner bottom portion of the skimmer basket, including bayoneted mounts, snap-fit structures, etc. will suffice. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the skimmer vent tower adapter  30  is substantially centrally and reversibly attached to the inner bottom portion  40  of the skimmer basket  10  through a plurality of attachment means  42 , which are further secured (received) by the securing means  52  (e.g. cap nuts) mounted on the attachment means  42  from the outer bottom portion  50  of the skimmer basket  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a skimmer well  60  is positioned adjacent to the pool with the top of the well lying slightly below the normal water level of the pool. A conduit (filter opening)  62  extends between the skimmer well wall and the pool wall, and opens, respectively, at points near the top of the skimmer well and near, but just below the normal water level in the pool. 
     At the bottom of the skimmer well is an orifice (filter passage)  64  through which water in the skimmer well is drawn by vacuum pump, which water is returned to the pool in an endless cycle. Over time, all the water in the pool will pass through the skimmer, and, under ordinary conditions, items floating on top of the water will eventually flow into the skimmer well and the skimmer basket  10 . 
     A highly perforated skimmer basket  10  is sized and shaped to sit within the skimmer well  60  and serves as a strainer to trap leaves or other items which flow into the skimmer. The basket could be emptied by lifting it upwardly through the accesses opening  66 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.