Abstract:
Three embodiments of a pool skimmer apparatus comprising various net frame shapes having floats arranged on various selected portions of the net frame and manipulated by poles with two of the embodiments having the alternatives of detaching the nets to attach to a side of a pool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to skimming devices. More specifically, the invention is a set of three differently shaped skimming nets for fixed continuous skimming or hand skimming floating debris from an outdoor pool.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    The relevant art of interest describes various pool skimming devices, but none discloses the instant invention and its versatility. There is a need for an outdoor pool debris skimmer which can be either left in the pool or used by hand. Some outdoor pools are relatively small, but still require skimming of floating debris such as leaves. The pool skimmer prevents the pool filter basket from becoming clogged with debris, such as leaves, branches, and other debris, by skimming pool water before filtering, thereby extending the life of the pool filter. The relevant art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,878 issued on Jun. 15, 1999, to Guido Benevenuto et al. describes a rectangular shaped passive pool skimming net having a T-shaped buoyant stabilizer retained by a strap to the side of the pool. The T-shaped stabilizer consists of two in-line cylindrical styrofoam floats on one side and a single cylindrical styrofoam float on the opposite side to hold the aluminum frame ends together. Another embodiment has two in-line floats on both sides. The device is distinguishable for requiring either one or two T-shaped buoyant stabilizers at the sides of the net frame.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,074 issued on May 16, 1978, to Charles E. Sermons describes a leaf skimmer for swimming pools comprising a triangular floating aluminum framed net having the base ends with circular sponge floats, and the net at its apex forming a pocket. The device is attached to the pool side adjacent a waterline pool drain by a continuous cord passing through a weight on the deck and tied to the base ends. A third float is mounted on a vertical shaft at the apex of the net. The device is distinguishable for requiring the triangular shape with floats attached to each tip.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,109 issued on Jan. 18, 1983, to William F. Edge describes a stationary rectangular skimming net for cleaning floating debris from a swimming pool comprising a net slidably positionable over a polyvinyl chloride tubular pipe frame with a mid support pipe to form a double-sided net which can be tilted at different angles by a quick disconnect assembly provided at the edge of the pool. The device is distinguishable for requiring a net having double sides.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,374 B1 issued on May 7, 2002, to Dominick Splendorio describes a pool skimmer system comprising a buoyant skimmer comprising a polyvinyl chloride telescopic handle with two pivoting joints attached to an elliptical frame and net. The device is distinguishable for requiring two pivoting assemblies and lacking any float support.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,740 issued on Jan. 13, 1976, to Lyle Carter describes an apparatus for collecting surface particles on a body of water by towing, the apparatus comprising two parallel, laterally spaced, longitudinal tracking floats supporting a rigid tubular frame. Two parallel, horizontal hydrofoil bodies are spaced apart to form an intake opening. A funnel-shaped net has its wide opening secured to an intake opening and its narrow end collecting the surface particulate matter. The lower hydrofoil body maintains the intake opening at a predetermined depth below the surface, while the upper hydrofoil body maintains the apparatus to ride over swells. The apparatus is distinguishable for requiring hydrofoils and a towing boat.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,001 issued on Jun. 6, 1995, to Gordon B. Yagoda et al. describes an enlarged pool skimmer with a buoyancy component comprising a tubular polyvinyl chloride frame made of an upper inverted U-shape frame portion and a lower U-shaped frame portion having inclined sides, the two frame portions being joined at the sides by vertical brackets which support a horizontal adjustable height cross pipe filled with a foam plastic. At one side a telescopic bent handle having a trigger is attached to an extended bracket. A fine mesh plastic screen is stretched across the frame. The device is deemed distinguishable for requiring a frame with a median cross-brace, a planar screen, and a telescopic bent handle with a trigger.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,414 issued on Feb. 22, 1994, to Louis Mongiello describes a pool skimming device stably secured to the peripheral structure of a pool so that the hoop and net are situated in a path of the water surface caused by the water input of a pool&#39;s circulation system. The net is configured with an oval shaped frame having a bent handle positioned on a coping bracket of an above-ground pool or a bracket on concrete or wooden decks. The device is distinguishable for not requiring any float material for the skimming of debris.  
           [0012]    U.K. Patent Application No. 2,156,700, published Oct. 16, 1985, describes a skimmer apparatus attached to the side of a pool to remove floating leaves by an immersed covered box weir having a jet ejector pump forcing the surface water to flow over a buoyant weir and sieve basket. In a second embodiment the purified water is fed through a turbine which drives a pump to draw water over the weir and through the basket. The apparatus is distinguishable for requiring pump means.  
           [0013]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a pool skimmer solving the aforementioned problems desired.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The instant invention is a swimming pool skimming device comprising three different forms and embodiments. The first preferred embodiment is a substantially oval debris skimming net having a pair of floats wrapped around the side portions of the frame and removably clamped to a pole for ease in cleaning and storage. The second embodiment consists of an oval framed net having shoulder floats on top, and can have a hinged pole handle attached between the shoulder floats for removing surface debris about the pool. This oval framed net can be attached to a side of the pool in a position to catch debris in the moving current. The third embodiment consists of a rectangular framed net having a roller-form float on its upper rim and attached hinge joints on either side of the frame for attaching one or both sides to a pole or poles for use by one or two persons. Alternatively, this rectangular framed net can be attached to a side of the pool for stationary skimming of surface debris. If debris is on the pool bottom, the embodiments can still be utilized to collect even with or without the floats.  
           [0015]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a set of three pool skimmer nets to remove surface or bottom debris from a swimming pool.  
           [0016]    It is another object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer net having a frame with a removable clamped or hinged pole handle attached on a top portion of the frame with either a single elongated floatation device attached to the frame, or having two spaced apart floating shoulder pads.  
           [0017]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer net, wherein the net may be attached to a side of the pool for use as a stationary skimmer of debris, or attached to a pole for portable skimming.  
           [0018]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a pool skimmer net having a clamp or a universal hinge attached to the frame for attachment of a pole.  
           [0019]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0020]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a first and preferred embodiment of a substantially oval pool skimmer with a portion of a pole attached by a clamp with three pole positions on a frame having floats on the sides of the frame according to the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the frame clamp on a front portion of the pole according to the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the frame clamp of FIG. 2 including a portion of the pole in rotatable positions shown in shadow according to the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective top view of the frame clamp with only a portion of the pole holding element shown according to the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment of an oval pool skimmer with a pole attached for portable skimming of pool water according to the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is an environmental, perspective view of the pool skimmer of FIG. 5 attached to the side of a pool for stationary skimming of pool water according to the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is an environmental, perspective view of a third embodiment of a pool skimmer having at least one pole handle attached for portable pool skimming according to the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is an environmental, perspective view of the pool skimmer of FIG. 7 attached to the side of a pool according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0029]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The first preferred embodiment  42  of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 as a substantially oval framed skimming net  44  held on a pole  46  by a metal clamp  48  integrated with the net frame  50 . The wire frame  50  has a pair of tubular sponge floats  52  which are slit on their sides to attach by fastening to the frame  50  over the net  44 . The frame  50  is adapted with a notched configuration in the clamping region for gripping by the uppermost clamp element  54  and the lowermost clamp element  56 . The uppermost clamp element  54  is welded proximate its lowermost downwardly bent edge  58  to an intermediate clamp element  60  having extending curved shoulders  62  configured to act as the upper clamp edge to hold the net frame  50  along with the lowermost or base clamp element  56 . The two downwardly extending ears  66  of the uppermost clamp element  54  having apertures  68  and the apertured upwardly extending ears  70  of the intermediate clamp element  60  are joined by a crossbar  72  passing through their ears  66  and  0 . 70 . The crossbar  72  supports a spring  74  (FIG. 4) having a U-shaped extension  76  between two coils  78 . The spring extension  76  is pressed against the bottom surface of the uppermost clamp element  54  to urge the closure of clamp  48  over the net frame  50 .  
         [0031]    This preferred embodiment enables the movement of-the pole  46  relative to the clamp  48  and the net  44  as shown via a pivot pin  80  without the upper clamp element  58  for the purpose of illustration in the rear view in FIG. 3. The two projecting small pins  82  on the bottom face of the lowermost clamp element  56  limit the rotating movement of the pole attachment element  84  to points A, B (midpoint) and C. The pole attachment element  84  has a pole clamping portion  86 , an extension  88  and a slidable Teflon (TM) block  90  sized to lock the pole  46  at the midpoint position B in the notch  92  of the lowermost clamp element  56 . Thus, the preferred embodiment  42  enables the positioning of the net  44 , i.e., positions A, B or C, relative to the pole  46  for advantageously manipulating the open face of the net  44  to collect any debris  24  in the pool water  26  (FIG. 5)  
         [0032]    The second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 as an oval framed skimming net apparatus  10  having a net  12  attached to an oval frame  14 . An elongated pole handle  16  is attached to the frame  14  by a universal hinge joint element  18  between a pair of shoulder float elements  20 ,  20 , which can be made of foamed polystyrene and the like, and formed on the frame  14 . In this manner, the skimmer  10  is portable and large swimming pools  22  can be skimmed of floating leaves  24  and the like from the water  26  by a person  28  manipulating the pole  16 .  
         [0033]    Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, if it is preferred to attach one or more of these oval nets  12  alongside the deck as stationary nets  12 , any suitable anchor clamp, such as hook  30  can be utilized to catch the floating leaves  24  when the pool  22  is vacant. Advantageously, the net  12  can be placed to skim the floating leaves  24  and the like debris floating towards it due to a prevailing wind or by pool water circulation caused by a pool pump.  
         [0034]    In FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment  34  of the present invention is illustrated with a different rectangular net  36  having an elongated, cylindrical, roller float  38  disposed on the portion of the frame defining the open mouth of the skimmer  34  on top and attachment fittings  40  affixed on each side and proximate the bottom of the mouth of the net  36  for attachment to one or two poles  16  handled by two persons on opposite sides of a pool  22 . This net  36  can thus be made portable and handled by either one or two persons  28  from the sides of the pool  22  to collect leaves  24  from the pool water  26 .  
         [0035]    Similarly, as in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 depicts the optional attachment of the rectangular frame and net  36  to a pool side by an anchor clamp or hook  30  for stationary use. The open portion of the net  36  is positioned in the direction of oncoming current or wind to catch the circulating leaves  24 . The roller float  38  will maintain the net  36  raised up from the bottom of the pool and the mouth open for skimming the leaves  24 .  
         [0036]    Thus, three embodiments of a simplified and economical pool skimming net utilized with or without a handling pole has been shown as means to remove floating leaves in an outside swimming pool.  
         [0037]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.