Patent Publication Number: US-4225437-A

Title: Pool skim net with rock scoop

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to swimming pool cleaning equipment and, more in particular, relates to a pool skim net formed with a rock scoop and a magnet, the latter serving to attract metallic objects off the pool surface and onto to the net. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Widely known and used in the application of cleaning swimming pools, are the so-called skim nets or &#34;leaf skimmers&#34; adapted to be manually moved over and along the water surface of a pool to remove undesired, unhygenic and water-fouling floating material. Typically, these skim nets are light in construction and are easy to maneuver and include a frame usually of a more or less oval geometry, and a meshed netting stretched in the frame. Although these skim nets are most satisfactory for skimming purposes, they are, on the whole, unsuitable for the removal of non-floating objects as, for instance, rocks, hair pins, and the like, from the swimming pool surface or bottom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a pool skim net having novel structure to enable easy removal of hard solid matter, e.g., rocks, stones, and the like, from the florr or bottom of a swimming pool. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a pool skim net with means to attract and take up metallic objects from the floor of a swimming pool. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide such a novel pool skim net which is economical to manufacture, simple in its construction, and easy to operate. 
     According to the invention such a novel pool skim net is made of a light-weight plastic material and comprises a frame, a netting stretched in the frame, and a handle attachment of metal or plastic secured to the rearward end of the frame. The frame forward end has a substantially flat, rounded configuration resembling the scoop end of a shovel and thus configured to enable to scoop-up solid matter off the pool floor and deposit same onto the netted area. In addition, the upper surface of the shovel end is provided with a recessed magnet operative to attract metallic objects from the pool floor. 
     These togeth with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skim net for swimming pools, according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the net forward end and through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals index like parts and with attention initially directed to FIG. 1, there is shown a skim net, referenced generally by the numeral 10, incorporating novel structure in accordance with the invention. 
     The net 10, typically is made of a suitable plastic material and of a light-weight construction. Net 10 is seen to comprise a frame 12, a mesh netting 14 stretched in frame 12, and a handle-attachment 16 secured to the frame rearward end 18 in the plane X of the frame, the plane X representing the longitudinal axis of the frame. The handle may be made of any suitable hard plastic material or a metallic. 
     Net frame 12 is of substantially elliptical configuration and includes planar side portions 20, 22, arcuately-shaped front portions 24, 26 intermediate planar portions 20, 22 and the frame forward end 28. The latter end extends in a plane parallel with the transverse axis Y of net 10. 
     Rearward end 18 of frame 12 is part-circular and extending radially outwardly therefrom is an extension 30 formed integrally with the exterior surface of frame rearward end 18. Bonded or secured in any other suitable manner to extention 30 of frame rearward end 18, is the handle attachment 16. Handle attachment 16, as shown clearly in FIG. 2, has incorporated therein two quick connect-and disconnect elements 32, 34, the latter being of the push-button type of conventional construction. A handle 36 is shown as being detachably positioned within handle-attachment 16. 
     Netting 14 may be securred to the inner surface 38 of frame 12 in any suitable manner as, for instance, by injection molding. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, netting 14 is injected into frame, the latter having a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration. 
     Frame sections 18, 20, 22 and 24, 26 have the oval cross-sectional configuration as that shown in FIG. 4. Arcuate sections 24, 26 terminate, at the forward end of the frame into substantially square-shaped forward end 28, FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Forward end 28, at the upper plane thereof, tapers inwardly outwardly from arcuate portions 24, 26. Typically, the frame at point 40 at the frame rearward end has a cross-sectional dimensions of one inch at points 42 3/4 inch, and at points 44, 46 of frame forward end 28 the latter dimension (0.75 inch) is gradually reduced to 3/8 (0.375) inch, point 48, the latter point lying in the axis X of net 10. 
     Extending radially outwardly from frame planar front end 28, typically from points 44, 46, is an extension 48, the latter, in cross-sectional view as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, having upper and lower slanting surfaces 50, 52. The surfaces taper to a radius of 1/16. Typically, in top view, extension 50 is part-circular and, inside view as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, resembles the configuration of the scoop end of a shovel. The front end 28 of frame 12 as well as shovel-shaped extension 50 directed outwardly from front end 28, and due to the reduction in height of these area as compared to the remainder of frame 12, facilitate the scooping of solid materials as for instance, rocks and stones and like hard solids, off the swimming pool floor (not shown) into the net 10. The particular rounded and tapered shape of extension 48 prevents digging into the pool surface and/or ripping of a swimming pool lining. 
     Provided in the upper surface 50 of frame forward end extension 48 is a recess 54, the latter having its center line 56 aligned with the main axis X of frame 12. Recess 54 is of generally rectangular configuration and shallow in depth. 
     Fixed within the confines of recess 54 is a magnet 58. Magnet 58 is operative to attract metallic objects resting on the pool floor or surface. Such objects are attracted and magnetically pulled onto extension 50 and, thence, onto magnet 58, and can be manually removed from these area. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.