Patent Abstract:
A mobile filter for removing solid contaminants from water such as swimming pools. The mobile filter has a handle maneuvered chassis, a powered propeller housed in a propeller housing, which propeller propels water through a removable bag mesh filter installable on the propeller housing. A submersible battery pack is slidably coupled to the handle, and is readily removable therefrom. An electrical conductor spans and connects the submersible battery pack and the submersible electric motor.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/660,330, filed on Mar. 17, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to manually maneuvered, wheeled, powered mobile filters for swimming pools and the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Swimming pools and other water filled structures periodically collect contaminants. In the case of structures open to the atmosphere, particularly outdoors, leaves and trash may settle on the water. Operators of water filled structures must periodically remove such contaminants. 
         [0004]    Mobile filters have been proposed for this task. However, most mobile filters are encumbered with objectionable electrical or vacuum connections, and are hard to maneuver manually. There remains a need for improved mobile powered filters. Notably, in an electrically powered mobile filter, there exists a need for a readily removed and replaced battery pack that resists ingress of water and is readily reconnected electrically after being replaced on the mobile filter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing a mobile filter which is powered, readily maneuvered, and free from the above noted encumbrances. To this end, there is disclosed a mobile filter having a wheeled chassis, a powered propeller contained within a body, and a removable bag mesh filter installable on the body. Notably, the propeller is powered by a submersible electric motor. A submersible battery pack is slidably received on a handle of the mobile filter. The submersible battery pack has a flexible or rigid electrical supply conductor extending between the submersible battery pack and the submersible electric motor. The submersible battery pack is separate and removable from the chassis and other significant component of the mobile filter. Electrical connectors resist ingress by water. The submersible battery pack is slidably received over the handle of the chassis. Locating the submersible battery pack on the handle mitigates objectionable weight of the submersible battery pack, which might otherwise interfere with maneuverability. In addition, the submersible battery pack is designed to work with various sized batteries thereby allowing a user to change the battery pack design and still use the existing mobile filter having a wheeled chassis via the corresponding submersible connector head or an IP65 underwater connector. The battery pack may be adapted to slide along the handle, so that the submersible battery pack is easy to install and remove. This is an advantage when the submersible battery pack is depleted, and must be replaced with a different submersible battery pack, or removed for recharging. The submersible connectors obviously contribute to ease of installation and removal of the submersible battery pack. 
         [0006]    It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0007]    This and other objects will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic environmental side view of a mobile powered filtering appliance, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic top view of the appliance of  FIG. 1 , with a bag filter shown in  FIG. 1  omitted in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side detail view of the lower portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective detail view of a mechanical connection usable with the appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side detail view of an alternative to the mechanical connection of  FIG. 4 , shown partly in cross section; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side detail view of still another alternative to the mechanical connection of  FIG. 4 , shown partly in cross section; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side cross sectional detail view of a manual detent which may be incorporated into the structure shown in, for example,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective detail view of a battery shown at the lower left of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective detail view of the center of  FIG. 1 , with a bag type filter omitted to reveal detail; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative to an electrical conductor shown at the center of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a partially perspective view of a mobile powered filtering apparatus, according to at least one further aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective detail view of a component shown at the center of  FIG. 11 , and is drawn to enlarged scale; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective detail view of an alternative to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a partially perspective view of a mobile powered filtering apparatus, according at least one additional aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a partially perspective view of a mobile powered filtering apparatus, according to at least one further aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a side detail view showing an alternative to the battery connection shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective detail view of  FIG. 16 , with the battery removed from view; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is is a perspective detail view of the hasp and head shown towards the left of  FIG. 17 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a persepective bottom view of the battery partially shown in  FIG. 16 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown a mobile powered filtering appliance  100  for filtering solid objects (not shown) from a structure  10  containing water. Mobile powered filtering appliance  100  comprises a chassis assembly, which in turn further comprises a chassis  102 , a propeller  114  and a propeller housing  104  mounted to chassis  102 , a submersible electric motor  116  drivingly coupled to propeller  114 , and an elongated handle  118  coupled to chassis  102 . A submersible battery pack  120  is separate from and attachable to the chassis assembly. An electrical conductor  122  electrically connects submersible electric motor  116  to submersible battery pack  120 . 
         [0029]    Mounting of submersible battery pack  120  to elongated handle  118  minimizes burden of maneuvering mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . 
         [0030]    In the example of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , electrical conductor  122  comprises a flexible power cord  190 , and therefore is flexible along at least part of its length. 
         [0031]    Electrical conductor  122 , which will be understood to include at least two individual conductors and necessary electrical insulation and jacketing, need not be flexible, although flexibility makes it easier to maneuver electrical conductor  122  for plugging in to submersible electrical connector  188 . Instead, electrical conductor  122  could be replaced or supplemented by an electrical conductor assembly  194  ( FIG. 10 ) rigid along at least part of its length. In further alternatives, electrical conductor  122  could be flexible along only part of its length, could comprise rigid sections having intervening flexible joints, or could comprise more than one flexible power cords, including at least one flexible power cord integral with either or both of submersible electric motor  116  and submersible battery pack  120  (these variations are not shown). 
         [0032]    Submersible battery pack  120  may be a lithium ion type. Lithium ion batteries minimize the weight contribution of submersible battery pack  120 , thereby helping to minimize effort of maneuvering mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . Submersible battery pack may have a nominal voltage rating between 12 and 20 volts. Voltages in this range contribute to inherently safe usage characteristics while still providing sufficient power capacity to avoid requiring frequent battery recharging or replacement. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , battery pack  120  includes two parallel battery compartments  194 A,  194 B mutually communicating at one end  196  of each of the two parallel battery compartments  194 A,  194 B. In the example of  FIG. 11 , electrical conductor  122  exits battery pack  120  at the mutually communicating end  196  of each of the two parallel battery compartments  194 A,  194 B. For the purposes of this disclosure, reference to electrical conductor  122  as exiting battery pack  120  at end  196  will be understood to encompass connection at a terminal, such as submersible terminal  192 . 
         [0034]    Elongated handle  118  may be removably coupled to chassis  102  at a socket  128  ( FIG. 2 ) which may be permanently mounted to chassis  102 . In the absence of socket  128 , elongated handle  118  may be directly coupled to chassis  102 , or as illustrated, may engage socket  128 . In the latter case, socket  128  engages chassis  102 . Mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a flex joint  130  connecting elongated handle  118  to chassis  106 . Flex joint  130  may comprise a universal joint  132  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). As seen in  FIG. 4 , universal joint  132  comprises two perpendicular pivot axes  134 ,  136  provided by axles  138 ,  140  supported in a yoke  142  or the tubular portion of socket  138 , respectively ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0035]    As an alternative to a universal joint, and referring to  FIG. 5 , flex joint  130  may comprise a ball and socket assembly  144 . Elongated handle  118  may be coupled to ball  146  by a suitable detent device, such as a threaded coupling (not shown), a bayonet connection (not shown), a through pin such as through pin  148  of  FIG. 6 , or a deflectable, spring mounted interference finger such as spring mounted interference finger  150  of  FIG. 7 , which will be further described hereinafter. Other types of detent devices (none shown) may be provided if desired. In  FIG. 5 , socket  128  is coupled to chassis  102  by a tang  152 , which tang  152  may be secured by a fastener such as a nut and bolt combination  154 . 
         [0036]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , flex joint  130  comprises a flexible link  156  spanning and connecting chassis  102  and elongated handle  118 . Flexible link  156  may comprise any flexible material, such as stranded metallic or polymeric cable, flexible rubber or plastic, or a chain (not shown), among others. In the example of  FIG. 6 , flexible link  156  may be secured to either or both of elongated handle  118  and socket  128  by a through pin (i.e., nut and bolt combination  158 ,  160 ), by crimping, or in any other suitable way. In  FIG. 6 , socket  128  is coupled to chassis  102  by tang  152  by nut and bolt combination  154 . 
         [0037]    As a further alternative, elongated handle  118  may engage socket  128  by friction fit (not shown). 
         [0038]    In  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 , chassis  102  is depicted as a planar platform, but may of course take other forms, such as for example a skeleton (not shown) having openings which would be visible for example in the top view of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    Propeller housing  104  is depicted as being cylindrical herein. However, propeller housing could if desired take on other configurations, internally, externally, or both. 
         [0040]    Structure  10  may be a swimming pool (only the floor portion is shown in  FIG. 1 ). Propeller  114  is arranged to propel water  12  upwardly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so that water  12  enters filter  112 . Filter  112  is adapted to arrest debris (such as leaves, not shown) in water propelled by propeller  114 . As employed herein, adaptation to arrest debris means that filter  112  is located in the stream of water propelled by propeller  114 , and has sufficiently small mesh size as to entrap commonly encountered contaminants 
         [0041]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , second end  110  of propeller housing  104  is oriented to discharge water  12  upwardly relative to the direction of motion or travel of chassis  102  along structure  10  containing water  12 . Direction of motion of chassis  102  is indicated by an arrow  186 . Discharge of water  12  upwardly will oppose side thrusts which might influence the direction of motion in an unintended way. 
         [0042]    It would also be possible to arrange second end  110  to be directed such that a degree of thrust assists mobile powered filtering appliance  100  to move in the direction of motion (this option is not shown). 
         [0043]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as “upwardly” refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in appliance position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. 
         [0044]    The above is not to imply that mobile powered filtering appliance  100  can only be used with chassis  102  horizontally oriented. It would be possible to operate at an incline relative to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 , particularly since thrust arising from propeller  114  will tend to urge mobile powered filtering appliance  100  in the opposite direction of discharge of water  12  from propeller housing  104 . 
         [0045]    Filter  112  is removably attachable to propeller housing  104 . Filter  112  is a bag type filter having an opening  124  capable of closing over propeller housing  104 . Propeller housing  104  may comprise an outward projection  126  about a circumference of propeller housing  104 . The bag type filter may be retained on propeller housing  104  by tightening opening  124  of the bag type filter on propeller housing  104  between outward projection  126  and chassis  102 . The bag type filter may include a drawstring or elastic ring about the neck of the bag. When constricted by the drawstring or elastic ring, the neck of the bag will be prevented from sliding off propeller housing  104  by interference with outward projection  126 . Outward projection  126  is depicted herein as extending along the entire circumference of propeller housing  104  (see  FIG. 9 ). However, it will be recognized that outward projection  126  may be discontinuous, for example, comprising two or more separated sections or individual outward projections (this option is not shown). 
         [0046]    Elongated handle  118  may be manually removable from chassis  102 . Manually removable signified that no tools need be provided to release elongated handle  118  from engagement with socket  128  or alternatively from direct engagement with chassis  106 .  FIG. 7  illustrated an arrangement wherein elongated handle  118  is manually removable from socket  128 . Interference finger  150  is fixed to a deflectable spring arm  162  fixed to the interior of elongated handle  118 . When holes  164  passing through elongated handle  118  are axially aligned with holes  166  passing through socket  128 , interference finger  150  occupies two holes  164 ,  166  to establish interference preventing elongated handle  118  from disengaging from socket  128 . Spring arm  162  is arranged to bias interference finger  150  into the interference position shown in solid lines. Spring characteristics of spring arm  162  are such that finger pressure is sufficient to move interference finger  150  out of the interference position, as indicated by dashed lines. 
         [0047]    Manual removal of elongated handle  118  enables submersible battery pack  120  to be readily replaced. 
         [0048]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , submersible battery pack  120  is mounted to elongated handle  118 . Submersible battery pack  120  is located between the geometric center point  168  of elongated handle  118  and chassis  102  when submersible battery pack  120  is mounted to elongated handle  118 . This location minimizes adverse effects of the mass of submersible battery pack  120  on maneuverability of mobile powered filtering appliance  100 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , submersible battery pack  120  further comprises a yoke which slidably engages elongated handle  118 , whereby submersible battery pack  120  is slidably mountable to elongated handle  118 . The yoke may take the form of a sleeve  170  which can be slipped over elongated handle  118 . 
         [0050]    Slidable engagement of elongated handle  118  expedites removal and installation of submersible battery pack  120 . It is to be appreciated that the submersible battery pack  120  is adaptable to operate with various sized batteries. It is to be further appreciated that the submersible battery pack  120  can assume different submersible battery pack designs, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 , for example. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the mobile powered filtering appliance  100  is further adapted to cooperate with various battery pack designs by utilizing the submersible electrical connector  188 . 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a plurality of wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  rotatably mounted to chassis  102 . Wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  facilitate travel of mobile powered filtering appliance  100  along solid surfaces such as the floor of structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0052]    The plurality of wheels  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  may include a first wheel  176  and a second wheel  180 , both located on a side  182  of chassis  102  opposite elongated handle  118 . The plurality of wheels  172 , 174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  may be limited to first and second wheels  176 ,  180 . Two wheels located as described above would provide maximal maneuverability if the number of wheels were limited to two wheels (i.e., first and second wheels  176 ,  180 ). 
         [0053]    The plurality of wheels may be increased from two wheels (first and second wheels  176 ,  180 ). To this end, mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may comprise a third wheel  178  located on side  182  of chassis  118  bearing elongated handle  118 . Provision of third wheel  178  further stabilizes chassis  102  as mobile powered filtering appliance  100  traverses structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0054]    The plurality of wheels may be increased from two wheels (first and second wheels  176 ,  180 , or from three wheels (first, second, and third wheels  176 ,  178 ,  180 ). To this end, mobile powered filtering appliance  100  may further comprise a fourth wheel  172  and a fifth wheel  174  located on a side  184  of chassis  102  bearing elongated handle  118 , wherein the track of the first and second wheels  176 ,  180  is greater than the track of the fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174 . Track is the distance between first and second wheels  176 ,  180 , or between fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174 . Fourth and fifth wheels still further improve stability of chassis  102  as mobile powered filtering appliance  100  traverses structure  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0055]    Fourth and fifth wheels  172 ,  174  may be present in the absence of wheel  178 . Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , submersible battery pack  120  comprises sleeves or yokes  170 A,  170 B adapted to engage and be retained on elongated handle  118  (see  FIG. 8 ). In the example of  FIG. 8 , a single long yoke  170  is provided. In the example of  FIG. 11 , the same function is provided by yokes  170 A,  170 B. Referring to both  FIGS. 11 and 12 , chassis  102  and submersible battery pack  120  collectively include a keying arrangement constraining submersible battery pack  120  from rotating about elongated handle  118  when submersible battery pack  120  is in operative position mounted on elongated handle  118 . Operative position is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0057]    One of chassis  102  and submersible battery pack  120  includes a tab  200  and another one of chassis  102  and submersible battery pack  120  includes a clevis or fork  202  configured to surround tab  200  in close cooperation therewith. As seen in the example of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , tab  200  is on chassis  102 . In the example of  FIG. 13 , tab  200  is on battery pack  120 . Fork  202  may be fixed to chassis  102  or alternatively, to support structure  204  for pivotally supporting elongated handle  118 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 , in mobile powered filtering apparatus  100 , submersible motor  116  includes a submersible electrical connector  188  accessible from an exterior of propeller housing  104 . Electrical conductor  122  is integral with submersible battery pack  120  and terminates in a submersible terminal  192  configured to mechanically engage and electrically connect to submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116 . In the example of  FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 , submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116  and submersible terminal  192  of electrical conductor  122  each meet IEC standard IP65.Conformity to standard IP65 both assures reasonable protection of ingress of water to energized electrical components, and also enables use of established or conventional electrical connectors when fabricating mobile powered filtering apparatus  100 . 
         [0059]    Turning now to  FIG. 14 , there is shown a mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  wherein electrical conductor  122  is integral with submersible electric motor  116  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and terminates in submersible electric connector  188 . Submersible battery pack  120  comprises a submersible electrical terminal  192  configured to mechanically engage and electrically connect to submersible electrical connector  188  of electrical conductor  122  of submersible motor  116 . Mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 14  is in other ways the structural and functional equivalent of mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 . In mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 14 , submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116  and submersible terminal  192  of electrical conductor  122  each meet IEC standard IP65. 
         [0060]      FIG. 15  shows a mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  which is an alternative to the implementations of  FIGS. 1 and 14 . In mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 15 , submersible motor  116  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a first submersible electrical connector  188  accessible from an exterior of propeller housing  104 . Submersible battery pack  120  comprises first submersible electrical terminal  192 . Electrical conductor  122  terminates at one end  204  in a second submersible electrical connector  206  configured to mechanically engage and electrically connect to first submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116  and, at another end  208  in a second submersible electrical terminal  210  configured to mechanically engage and electrically connect to first submersible electrical terminal  192  of submersible battery pack  120 . Electrical conductor  122  is removably attachable to first submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116  and to first submersible terminal  192  of submersible battery pack  120 . First submersible electrical connector  188  of submersible motor  116 , second submersible electrical connector  206  of electrical conductor  122 , first submersible electrical terminal  192  of submersible battery pack  120 , and second submersible electrical terminal  210  of electrical conductor  122  each meet IEC standard IP65. Mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 14  is in other ways the structural and functional equivalent of mobile powered filtering apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 16  shows a mobile powered filtering appliance  100  (not shown in its entirety), featuring an alternative connection of submersible battery pack  120 . Chassis  102  includes a rotatable locking head  212 . Submersible battery pack  120  includes a hasp  214  alignable and engageable with rotatable locking head  214  when submersible battery pack  120  is installed on elongated handle  118 . Rotatable locking head  214  can be rotated to interlock with hasp  214  after passing through hasp  214  and to release hasp  214  from engagement therewith. Hasp  214  engages a hinge  216  secured to sleeve  170 A, and can pivot as indicated by an arrow  215 . Because hasp  214  secures submersible battery pack  120  to chassis  102 , sleeve  170 A may be modified from the encircling tubular configuration shown in  FIG. 11  to the semi-tubular configuration shown in  FIGS. 16  and  19 .  FIG. 19  provides a view of submersible battery pack  120 , shown inverted from previous depictions. It may be seen from  FIG. 18  that a slot  218  is configured to pass rotatable locking head  212  with the latter in one position, but to retain rotatable locking head  212  when the latter has been rotated, for example by ninety degrees about an axis  220  ( FIG. 16 ). 
         [0062]      FIG. 16  also shows an optional construction wherein elongated handle  118  comprises a short stub shaft  118 A and a telescoping elongated portion  118 B. Mobile powered filtering appliance  100  of  FIGS. 16 and 17  further comprises axle  222 , yokes  224  securing axle  222  to chassis  102 , and a floating base  226  captively encircling axle  222 . Rotatable locking head  212  is on floating base  226 . Axle  222  not only supports floating base  226 , which is thereby enabled to pivot to a limited degree to facilitate insertion of rotatable head  212  through slot  218  of hasp  214 , but also supports short stub shaft  118 A. A clevis  228  engages axle  222  and straddles floating base  226  when mobile powered filtering appliance  100  is fully assembled. 
         [0063]    Yoke  224  is secured to chassis  102  by suitable fasteners  230 . Hinge  216  is secured to sleeve  170 A by suitable fasteners  232 . 
         [0064]    While the disclosed concepts have been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred implementation, it is to be understood that the disclosed concepts are not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but are intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 
         [0065]    It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
         [0066]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4