Patent Abstract:
A water conservation device is disclosed. The water conservation device includes a membrane and an uninterrupted flange comprising a cross sectional cylindrical shape that is attached to an entire outer edge of the membrane. The membrane is configured to completely cover a top of a swimming pool skimmer access opening and further configured to accept an access lid of the swimming pool skimmer opening over the membrane wherein the access lid holds the water conservation device in place when the access lid is attached to the access opening by which the membrane acts to prevent water from expelling from the access lid.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present embodiments relate to generally to swimming pools and more specifically to swimming pool skimmers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Swimming pools have become popular for both recreation and exercise.  FIG. 1  is an illustration of a conventional above ground swimming pool  10 . Outdoor swimming pools such as above ground swimming pools  10  naturally accumulate a large amount of debris. In order to mitigate the debris from fouling a circulating water system, many pools incorporate a swimming pool skimmer. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of a pool skimmer  20  of a conventional above ground swimming pool  10 . The pool skimmer  20  has a large rectangular opening  28  with a weir door  24  that controls how water enters the pool skimmer  20 . The pool skimmer  20  generally includes a basket (not shown) for catching some of the larger surface debris and a cylindrical discharge cylinder  26  at the bottom of it which connects to filter hoses of a circulating water system. The pool skimmer  20  also includes an access lid  22  that allows access to the basket for removal of debris. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a pool skimmer  20  attached to an above ground swimming pool  10 . A pool skimmer  20  in an above ground swimming pool  10  is attached to the wall  32  of the pool  10  by installing a faceplate (not shown) on the inside of the above ground swimming pool  10  and the pool skimmer  20  on the outside of the swimming pool  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the pool skimmer  20  illustrating water entering the pool skimmer  20 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a pool skimmer  20  in use in an in-ground swimming pool. Water enters the pool skimmer  20  while a pump (not shown) for circulating water is running and the water flows inward, the top of the weir door  24  pulls in a bit and forces more water to enter the pool skimmer  20  more from the surface  42  rather than from below the surface  44 . The weir door  24  floats at the water level, causing a suction action to speed up the water flow and to pull in debris that accumulates at the surface  42 . Greater flow from the surface  42  of the water translates to greater removal of surface, floating debris that would not be taken out as effectively without the weir door  24 , thus, enhancing the debris removal process. This effect is desired in a swimming pool  10  and results in the skimming action of the pool skimmer  20  that removes floating debris (leaves, insects, pine needles, pollen, etc.). 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the pool skimmer  20  that includes the skimmer basket  52  for catching debris. Because large surface debris received by pool skimmer  20  is caught in the skimmer basket  52 , an access lid  22  which opens into an open chamber  56  to allow removal of the skimmer basket  52  for emptying the caught debris. The access lid  22  covers an access opening  54  allowing access to the open chamber  56  into which a quantity of the pool water enters the pool skimmer  20 . Access opening  54  may be, for example, cylindrical in shape to complement a circular shaped access lid  22 . The access lid  22  may include a central hole  58  by which the access lid  22  may be removed to access the skimmer basket  52 . Access hole  58  has the purpose of enabling a user to insert a finger or tool into the access hole  58  to pull access lid  22  up for removal of the access lid  22  and allowing access to skimmer basket  52 . Access lid  22  may be configured with the access hole  58  in alternative configurations other than that shown in  FIG. 5  or access lid  22  may include more than one access hole  58 . 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an example of activity in a conventional above ground swimming pool  10  causing turbulence on the surface of the above ground swimming pool  10 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pool skimmer  20  receives water primarily from the surface  42 . Thus, the increased activity in the above ground pool  10  as shown in  FIG. 6  results in more turbulent water entering the pool skimmer  20 . Consequently, the turbulent water has the result of expelling water from the pool skimmer  20  through the access hole  58  of the access lid  22 . This discharge of excess water can result in the wasteful loss of water and results in more frequent resupply of water. This situation can have a more amplified effect in regions where draughts are frequent and water loss more important to prevent. Such regions also generally experience a high population of swimming pools. 
     Thus, there is a need for a device to prevent the excess loss of water through pool skimmers during times when excessive turbulence leads to a higher loss of water. 
     SUMMARY 
     A water conservation device is disclosed. The water conservation device includes a membrane and an uninterrupted flange comprising a cross sectional cylindrical shape that is attached to an entire outer edge of the membrane. The membrane is configured to completely cover a top of a swimming pool skimmer access opening and further configured to accept an access lid of the swimming pool skimmer opening over the membrane wherein the access lid holds the water conservation device in place when the access lid is attached to the access opening by which the membrane acts to prevent water from expelling from the access lid. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The following figures set forth embodiments of the invention in which like reference numerals denote like parts. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example of a conventional above ground swimming pool; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of a pool skimmer of a conventional above ground swimming pool; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of an example of the pool skimmer attached to the swimming pool; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the pool skimmer in an in-ground swimming pool showing water entering the pool skimmer; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the pool skimmer that includes the skimmer basket; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an example of activity in a conventional above ground pool; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary perspective view of a water conservation device of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an exemplary flange attached to the water conservation device according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cut-away perspective view of an exemplary placement of the water conservation device onto the pool skimmer according to the present embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary operation of the water conservation device according to the present embodiments; 
         FIG. 9A  is an exemplary scenario of the pool skimmer without the water conservation device; 
         FIG. 9B  is an exemplary scenario of the pool skimmer including the water conservation device; 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary perspective view of an alternate shape of a water conservation device of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an exemplary flange attached to the alternate shaped water conservation device according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary cut-away perspective view of a water conservation device in an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an exemplary water conservation device applied to a pool skimmer of an in-ground pool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts and features described herein may be practiced. The following description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known, structures, techniques and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the described concepts and features. 
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary perspective view of a water conservation device  70  in an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is meant as an example only to illustrate an embodiment of the invention but is not intended as a limitation of the present subject matter or its implementation. The water conservation device  70  includes a flexible central membrane  72  which may be made, for example, of a flexible vinyl fabric material. The vinyl fabric material may be, for example, polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate (PVac) or polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), for example. The vinyl material may be, for example, between 16 and 24 mils in thickness. 
     The water conservation device  70  further includes a flange  74  which is encompasses the entire outside edge uninterruptedly and which can be seen in an enlarged view in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an exemplary flange  74  attached to the entire circumference of membrane  72  according to embodiments of the present invention. Flange  74  may be made for example of a durable slightly rigid plastic material. The plastic material may be made of, for example, polyethylene, PVC or nylon. The flange  74  is configured to maintain the membrane  72  in a consistent shape and provide for easy handling. The flange  74  may, for example, have a cross section that is cylindrical in shape where the cylinder may have a cross sectional diameter of ⅛-¾ inches. The flange  74  is attached to the membrane  72  by, for example, a water proof flexible vinyl cement. The water proof flexible vinyl cement may include, for example, Weld-On  66 . In other embodiments, various other water proof flexible vinyl cements may be employed to attach the membrane  72  to the flange  74 . In still other embodiments, the membrane  72  may be attached to the flange  74  through use of a heat application device such as a heat welding gun. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the membrane  72  is circular in shape. However, the membrane  72  may be made in any shape that would provide for the water conservation of the present subject matter. As discussed in further detail below, the access lid  22  is placed over the water conservation device  70  as shown by dotted line  78 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cut-away perspective view of an exemplary placement of the water conservation device  70  onto the access opening  54  of the pool skimmer  20  according to the present embodiments. Water conservation device  70  is placed over the access opening  54  where membrane  72  completely covers the access opening  54 . The membrane  72  is made to completely encompass the diameter of the access opening  54  and further may be formed in a size that is between ½ and 1 inch larger than the diameter of the access lid  22  to allow “play” in the water conservation device  70  in the center of the water conservation device  70  and to permit easy placement under access lid  22 . The “play” in the center of water conservation device  70  is sufficient to allow a user to place a finger or tool in the access hole  58  when necessary to remove the access lid  22  but secure enough so that there is little of the membrane  72  that protrudes from the access opening  54 . A typical access lid  22  of a pool skimmer  20  may, for example, have a diameter of 10 inches. In this case, the membrane  72  may be between 10½ inches and 11 inches in diameter. Because the access hole  58  is required to open the pool skimmer  20  so that the skimmer basket  52  may be removed, the play allowed in water conservation device  70  maintains access to the access hole  58  and thus allows removal of access lid  22  for access to the skimmer basket  52  in the access chamber  56 . Furthermore, water conservation device  70 , due to its unique design may be easily removed when the activity in the swimming pool  10  causes little turbulence or when the swimming pool  10  is vacant. The play in the water conservation device  70  allows easy opening of the access lid  22  through the access hole  58  and easy handling by use of the attached flange  74  for removal. 
     The user may easily manipulate the placement of water conservation device  70  by handling the water conservation device  70  by the flange  74 . Once placed over the access opening  56 , the access lid  22  is placed over water conservation device  70 . The Access lid  22  and the access opening  56  are assembled tongue-in-groove  82  fashion. Water conservation device  70  is placed such that the membrane  72  fits inside the tongue-in-groove  82  of the access lid  22  and the access opening  54  assembly. Again, the play is sufficient to allow a user to place a finger in the access hole  58  but secure enough so that there is little of membrane  72  that protrudes from the access cylinder  56  and the access lid  22 . 
     The swimming pool skimmer  20  may include access opening  54  and access lid  22  that are shaped other than circular. In that case, water conservation device  70  would be configured to compliment the shape of access opening  54  and access lid  22  and membrane  72  would be configured to maintain the dimensions that are between ½ and 1 inch larger than dimension of the swimming pool skimmer access opening  54 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exemplary water conservation device  70  in operation in a pool skimmer  20  of an above ground swimming pool  10 .  FIG. 9A  illustrates a scenario in which turbulent activity in the swimming pool  10  is present and the water conservation device  70  is absent from the pool skimmer  20 , water easily expels from access hole  58 . Water is therefore lost to evaporation or seepage into the soil and must be replenished in swimming pool  10  resulting in needless water loss. 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates the same scenario as  FIG. 9A  except that water conservation device  70  is present in pool skimmer  20 . When placed as described above with respect to  FIG. 8 , the water conservation device  70  completely covers access hole  58 , thus preventing water from being expelled from the access hole  58  when activity causing turbulent water conditions occur. Water in the scenario of  FIG. 9B  thus results in the prevention of water loss from the swimming pool  10 . 
       FIG. 10  is an exemplary perspective view of an alternate shape of a water conservation device of an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , one possible alternate shape of water conservation device  100  is square. Similar to the circular water conservation device  70  shown in  FIG. 7 , the water conservation device  100  includes a flexible central membrane  102  that is square and which may similarly be made, for example, of a flexible vinyl fabric material. The vinyl material may be, for example, between 16 and 24 mils in thickness. 
     The water conservation device  100  further includes a flange  104  which is encompasses uninterruptedly the entire outside edge and which can be seen in an enlarged view in  FIG. 10A .  FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an exemplary flange  104  attached to the entire circumference of the membrane  102  according to embodiments of the present invention. Flange  104  may be made for example of a durable slightly rigid plastic material. The plastic material may be made of, for example, polyethylene, PVC or nylon. The flange  104  is configured to maintain the membrane  102  in a consistent shape and provide for easy handling. The flange  104  may, for example, have a cross section that is cylindrical in shape where the cylinder may have a cross sectional diameter of ⅛-¾ inches. The flange  104  is attached to the membrane  102  by, for example, a water proof flexible vinyl cement. 
       FIG. 11  is a cut-away perspective view of an exemplary alternative embodiment of the water conservation device  70  placed in a swimming pool skimmer  20 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the access opening  54  and the lid  22  include a circumferential tongue-in-groove  116  on the circumference of the outer portion of the access opening  54  and the circumference of the outer portion of the lid  22  (not shown). In this embodiment, the water conservation device  70  is placed over the access opening  54  in which the flange  74  is configured with a circumferential dimension that corresponds to the circumference of the circumferential tongue-in-groove  116  of access opening  54  in order to fit precisely within the groove of circumferential tongue-in-groove  116 . The membrane  72  continues to cover the access opening  54  completely encompassing the diameter of the access opening  54  and further may be formed in a size that is between ½ and 1 inch larger than the diameter of the access opening  54  to allow “play” in the water conservation device  70  in the center of the water conservation device  70  and to permit easy placement under access lid  22  as described above. In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the flange  74  includes a notch  114  corresponding to the notches of the tongue-in-groove  82  of the access lid  22  and access opening  54 . The flange  74  is also configure to have a cross sectional diameter sufficient so that the flange  74  does not interfere with the circumferential tongue-in-groove  116  of access opening  54  and lid  22 . The cross sectional diameter of the flange  74  may be, for example ¼ inches in diameter. 
     Although the above description has been made for above ground swimming pools, the described apparatus can be used for in-ground pools as well.  FIG. 12  is an exemplary pool skimmer  120  for an in-ground pool. Pool skimmer  120  includes a large rectangular opening  122  with a weir door  124  that controls how water enters the pool skimmer  120 . Pool skimmer  120  also includes an access lid  126  covering the access opening  128  of the pool skimmer  120 . Similar to the description above (See, for example,  FIGS. 8 and 11 ), water conservation device  70  is placed over the cylindrical opening  128  and secured by access lid  126 . Thus, water is prevented from being expelled when activity causing turbulent water conditions occurs. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4