Patent Publication Number: US-7214310-B2

Title: Portable pool cleaning system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/424,520 filed Apr. 28, 2003 by Michael Charles Stephenson, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,774. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   FIELD 
   The present invention is related to a pool cleaner and more particularly to a portable pool cleaner for use with swimming pools. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In recent years swimming pools have transitioned from large, community based pools to smaller individual pools. Most communities still provide the “City” pool; however, apartment complexes, homeowner&#39;s associations and many individual homes have permanent, in-ground swimming pools which primarily reserve use of the pools for members of the complex, association or the home owner. As these pools are typically smaller in scale and are not used as revenue generating tools, the costs of pool supporting equipment can become onerous. Pool cleaning systems fall into this expensive category. 
   Pool cleaning systems are typically built as a permanent addition to the in-ground pool. However, as the complexity and costs of these systems increased, swimming pool owners began to request alternatives to these large cleaning systems. To meet this need, portable pool cleaning systems were developed. An example of such a portable pool cleaning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,890 entitled “Pool Cleaning System” which is assigned to the North Broadway Corporation. This patent discloses a portable pool cleaning system for cleaning the surfaces of the swimming pools and the surrounding decks. This cleaning is accomplished without the necessity of draining the swimming pool. The system includes a cart for containing an electric pump and lines, one to a cleaning agent and one to a clean water source. The system implements a wand for scrubbing the walls and base of the swimming pool and the surrounding deck. This system requires the user to clean the pool and deck by scrubbing with the wand and then requires the user to add additional chemicals to the pool to counteract the cleaning agents. 
   In another example, a portable pool cleaning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,174 entitled “Self-Contained Mobile Pool Cleaning Apparatus” awarded to James F. Thiem and Jeffrey L. Scott. In this disclosed system, the cleaning apparatus includes a self-contained pump, filter and driving motor mounted on a hand wheeled truck and housed in a waterproof enclosure. The system further discloses a sweeper head that moves along the bottom and side walls of the pool in the usual manner by a hingedly mounted wand. This system requires the user to clean the pool by scrubbing with the wand. 
   These disclosed systems require the user to manually scrub the bottom and walls of the pool with the wand of the portable pool cleaning systems. Therefore, any advancement in the ability to remotely initiate and complete the cleaning would be greatly appreciated. 
   SUMMARY 
   A portable pool cleaning system for the remote cleaning of a swimming pool including a housing and a base is disclosed. A motor is connected to the housing and drives a high pressure pump. The pump includes both intake and output ports with a first tubing connected to the intake port with the distal end inserted into the swimming pool for the transportation of water from the swimming pool to the pump. A filtration system is attached to the intake port of the high pressure pump or to the first tubing. The filtration system removing foreign materials and debris from the swimming pool water. A second tubing is connected to the output port of the pump with the distal end placed into the swimming pool and attached to a self-propelled cleaning device. The self-propelled cleaning device uses a high pressure water stream from the pump to assist in the scrubbing function. The motor is controlled by a timer which is connected to a power source. The timer initiates the activation and deactivation of the motor and the self-propelled cleaning device. A means for attaching the base and portable pool cleaning system to the periphery of the swimming pool is also included. The means allows for quick attachment/detachment of the portable pool cleaning system to the deck or periphery of the swimming pool while providing a safe and secure environment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further details and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a portable pool cleaning system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a portable pool cleaning system according to the invention installed at the swimming pool; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the swimming pool showing an embedded threaded pipe for attaching the pool cleaning system to the swimming pool; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the swimming pool showing a physically attached secondary base with quick attach connections for attaching the portable pool cleaning system; and 
       FIG. 5  is a back view of the tubing, pump and motor system of the portable pool cleaning system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   In the descriptions which follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , a portable pool cleaning apparatus and system is shown. The portable pool cleaning system  120  includes a base  100  which is temporarily attachable to the periphery or deck  208  of a swimming pool  206 . The attachment may be through a bolt or wing nut  204  through a guide hole  118  in the base  100  or through other quick attachment functions disclosed in more detail herein. A motor  102  is mounted to the base  100 . The motor  102  may include both electric motors such as a 120 volt 20 amp electric motor or may include alternate power motors such as gas or diesel powered motors. The motor  102  is attached to a timer  110  which is also mounted to the base  100 . The motor  102  is attached to the timer  110  through electrical line  112 . The timer  110  is a standard timer known to those skilled in the art which allows for the initiation and deactivation of the motor  102  at either preset times or for a limited specific time period. Power line  114  is connected to the timer  110  and attaches the portable pool cleaning system.  120  to a power source (not shown). A ground fault protection device such as a ground fault interrupter (GFI)  116  may be placed between the power source and the timer  110 . The ground fault interrupter  116  triggers when a ground fault current is greater than a preset threshold value. The trigger disables the ground fault interrupter  116  and thus stops the flow of electrical current from the power source to the portable pool cleaning system  120 . A typical circuit breaker interrupts the circuit at 20 amperes, but it takes only about 100 milliamperes to electrocute a person. The GFI  116  is designed to detect currents of a few milliamperes and trip a breaker at the receptacle or at the breaker panel to remove the shock hazard. Inclusion of the ground fault protection device is desirable as the electrical motor  102  of the portable pool cleaning system  120  is located close to the swimming pool water when in use and prevents accidental electrocution caused by inadvertent contact with the portable pool cleaning system  120 . GFI&#39;s  116  may be required by the electrical code for receptacles in bathrooms, some kitchen receptacles, some outside receptacles, and receptacles near swimming pools. 
   A high pressure pump  104  is connected to and driven by the motor  102 . The high pressure pump  104 , in one disclosed embodiment, is a 0.75 horsepower (hp) booster pump. The pump  104  includes both an intake port which is connected to an intake tubing  106  and an output port which is connected to the output tubing  108 . The intake tubing  106  includes both a proximate end and a distal end. The proximate end of the intake tubing  106  is connected to the intake port of the pump  104 . The intake tubing  106  extends outwardly from the intake port of the pump  104  before turning down and extending into the swimming pool. The intake tubing  106  then allows for the transport of water from the swimming pool  206  to the pump  104 . The output tubing  108  also includes both proximate and distal ends. The proximate end of the output tubing  108  is connected to the output port of the pump  104 . The tubing extends outwardly from the output port  104 . The output tubing  108  extends upwardly from the pump  104  and forms a square or box turn before descending toward the swimming pool  206 . This square or box turn also forms a handle by which an individual may grasp the portable pool cleaning system  120 . The distal end of the output tubing  108  extends into the swimming pool  206 . The output tubing  108  transports water from the pump  104  and returns it to the swimming pool  206 . The intake tubing  106  or the pump  104  may include a filtration system  130  which filters out debris and other particles contained within the swimming pool  206 . The filtration system  130  may be removable and/or cleanable as known to those skilled in the art. The filtration system  130  may be located near or as part of the high pressure pump  104  or may be located on the intake tubing  106 , either above or below the water line. A pool sweep cleaning device  202  is attached to a pool sweep tubing  200  which connects to the output tubing  108 . The pool sweep device  202  is a high pressure cleaner which scrubs the bottom and sides of the swimming pool with high pressured water to remove unwanted debris and particles. In one disclosed embodiment, the pool sweep device  202  requires the presence of a dedicated high pressure pump  104  and motor  102 . 
   The portable pool cleaning system  120  is compact and built of light weight materials and is easily transportable though the efforts of one individual. A variety of swimming pools  206  may be cleaned using this portable pool cleaning system  120 . Such pools include above and below ground pools. In a typical system, around the periphery of the pool is a pool deck made of a variety of materials. The portable pool cleaning system  120  can be placed on the pool deck  208  so that the intake and output tubings  106  and  108  respectively, extend beyond the edge of the pool deck  208  and extend into the water of the swimming pool  206 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show alternate embodiments of the attachment functions of the portable pool cleaning system to the pool deck. Referring now to  FIG. 3 , one disclosed embodiment of the attachment of the system to a pool deck is shown. A prethreaded pipe  300  is permanently inserted into the pool deck  208 . The prethreaded pipe  300  is of sufficient diameter and depth to allow for the portable pool cleaning system  120  to be threadedly attached to the deck  208  and thus secure the portable pool cleaning system  120  during the temporary cleaning use. In this embodiment, the portable pool cleaning system  120  includes a threaded bolt which can then be inserted into the prethreaded pipe  300 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a secondary base  400  is physically attached to the pool deck  208  and remains attached to the pool deck  208  after the portable pool cleaning system  120  has been removed. The secondary base  400  is fixedly attached to the deck  208  thus providing a secure foundation on which to attached the portable pool cleaning system  120 . Quick attach tab slots  402   a  and  402   b  are embedded within the secondary base  400  so that as the portable pool cleaning device system  120  is placed on top of the secondary base  400 , then tab inserts of the portable pool cleaning system  120  (not shown) will engage the tab insert slots  402   a  and  402   b  thus securely attaching the portable pool cleaning system  120  to the pool deck  208 . A wide variety of attachment functions or schemes can be implemented without detracting from the spirit of the invention. The attachment schemes and functions require that the portable pool cleaning system  120  be securely attached to the deck  208  or periphery of the swimming pool  206 . 
   Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification or practicing the disclosed invention. The specification and examples above are exemplary only, with the true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.