Abstract:
A skimmer guard has first and second brackets configured to bear against opposite walls of a skimmer passageway, and a plurality of resiliently deflectable ribs extending between the first and second brackets for blocking objects from passing into the skimmer. The ribs are configured and dimensioned to bias the first and second brackets against the second wall of the skimmer passageway to hold guard in a fixed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to swimming pools and spas, and, more particularly to skimmers used in pools and spas. 
     Conventional pool filtration systems include a skimmer for circulating water through the filtration system and removing larger floating debris from the surface of the water. The skimmer typically includes a skimmer mouth or opening in the pool wall adjacent the surface of the water. The opening is connected to a passageway which extends from the pool wall to a filtration basket which catches large particles such as leaves, thereby removing them from the pool and keeping them out of the water recirculation lines and fine filter media. Water which exits the pool through the basket in the skimmer passageway is drawn into the main filter in order to remove the small particles. The filtered water is then recirculated to the pool through return lines. 
     Due to suction in the skimmer line, large floating objects, such as toys and floating chlorinators, can block the mouth and passageway of the skimmer, thereby decreasing the water flow to the filter. As a result, the pump will be required to work harder to maintain a proper flow of water through the skimmer line, reducing pump life and filtration efficiency. 
     It is an object of the present invention is to provide a novel skimmer guard that will prevent large objects from entering the skimmer passageway. 
     Another object is to provide such a skimmer guard that can be quickly installed and removed without the use of tools. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a skimmer guard that can be installed easily without ancillary hooks or fasteners. 
     A further object is to provide such a skimmer guard that is economical to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a skimmer guard which has first and second brackets configured to bear against opposite opposed walls of a skimmer passageway, and a plurality of resiliently deflectable ribs extending between the first and second brackets for blocking objects from entering the skimmer. The ribs are dimensioned and configured to bias the first and second brackets against the opposed walls of the skimmer passageway to seat the skimmer guard in a fixed position. 
     Each of the first and second brackets usually includes a support leg having an inner surface which supports the ribs and an outer surface configured to bear against the opposite walls of the skimmer passageway. The outer surface of each of the support legs preferably has a plurality of ridges formed thereon that are configured for frictional engagement with the opposite walls of the skimmer opening. Desirably, the first and second brackets each include a positioning leg extending perpendicularly outwardly from the support leg to bear against the face plate or outer surface of the skimmer or the pool sidewall to position the bracket at the inlet end of the skimmer passageway. Thus, the brackets typically have an inverted L-shaped cross section. 
     Usually, the ribs are generally parallel to one another, and have a portion which is curved in the direction opposite to the direction of water flow through the skimmer passageway in order to deflect objects away from the skimmer passageway. 
     The brackets may also have a spacer removably seated on the outer surface of the support legs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pool wall with a skimmer mounted therein, and a skimmer guard embodying the present invention positioned for mounting in the skimmer opening, and a floating object; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the skimmer guard shown in FIG. 1 drawn to an enlarged scale; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the skimmer guard; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a rib taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the skimmer guard; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the skimmer guard with a pair of spacers mounted thereon; and 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a spacer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning first to FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, therein illustrated is a skimmer guard embodying the present invention and generally designated by the numeral  10 . The skimmer guard  10  is snapped into place in the rectangular mouth or opening  12  of the skimmer generally designated by the numeral  8 . The skimmer  8  is mounted in an opening formed in the sidewall  14  of a pool  16  with the water level “L” being maintained between the upper edge  17  and lower edge  18  of the skimmer mouth  12 . The skimmer guard  10  prevents large objects such as a chlorinator  19  from blocking the entry of water into the skimmer mouth  12 . 
     The skimmer mouth  12  is the entryway into a skimmer passageway  20  which extends generally horizontally outwardly from the pool  16  under the pool deck  9 . At the end of the skimmer passageway  20  is a filtration basket (not shown) which collects debris. Beneath the basket, a skimmer suction line (not shown) draws water from the skimmer passageway  20  through the main filtration system (not shown) of the pool and recirculates the filtered water back to the pool through the return lines. The skimmer passageway  20  typically is rectangular in cross section and includes a top wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , and sidewalls  28 ,  30 . A pivoting weir  32  is mounted at its entrance to provide for a flow of water therethrough when the level of water is above the bottom of the skimmer mouth  12 . A rectangular face plate  33  typically surrounds the skimmer mouth  12  and is secured to the sidewall  14  of the pool  16 . 
     The skimmer guard  10  has upper and lower brackets  34 ,  36  of inverted L-shaped cross section to provide secure seating in the skimmer mouth  12 . The length of the brackets  34 ,  36  preferably corresponds to the length of the upper and lower edges  17 ,  18  of the skimmer mouth  12 . A plurality of parallel, serpentine and resiliently deflectable ribs  38  extends between the upper and lower brackets  34 ,  36 . The ribs  38  are contoured in the direction parallel to the direction of water flow through the passageway  20 . Preferably, the ribs are equally spaced from one another and are about 1″ apart forming a grating which, as mentioned above, prevents large floating objects from blocking the skimmer mouth  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the upper bracket  34  includes a flat, bar-shaped support leg  46  which supports the upper end of the ribs  38  and it bears against the upper edge  17  of the skimmer passageway  20 . A perpendicular, outwardly disposed positioning member  48  positions the skimmer guard  10  in the skimmer passageway at the skimmer mouth  12 . Similarly, the lower bracket  36  has a support leg  47  and positioning leg  49 . The outer faces of the support legs  46 ,  47  have a plurality of narrow ridges  52 ,  53  extending along their length in order to promote good frictional engagement of the support members  46 ,  47  with the top and bottom walls  24 ,  26  of the skimmer passageway  20 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, each rib  38  has a central, outwardly curving section  60  when viewed from inside the pool, and upper and lower inwardly curved sections  62 , 64 . This particular configuration has been found optimal for deflecting floating objects away from the skimmer mouth. Ribs having other types of contours could be used provided that they readily deflect. 
     Each individual rib  38  has a T-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 4 to provide a combination of strength and flexibility which enables the skimmer guard  10  to be mounted and removed by snap fitting, thereby rendering unnecessary the use of tools or fasteners for mounting or removal. 
     As is shown in FIGS. 5-7, the upper and lower support legs  46 ,  48  have a pair of apertures  67  formed therein for receiving the lugs  70  of spacers  68 , which are mounted thereon by a snap fit. One or two spacers  68  can be used to increase the effective distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the guard  10  in order to seat snugly within a larger skimmer mouth  12 . Spacers  68  of varying thicknesses can be used. This feature of the invention enables a single skimmer guard to be effectively used in skimmer mouths having openings of various sizes. The lugs  70  are configured to snap in and out of apertures  67  formed in the support legs  46 ,  48 , thereby enabling quick and easy mounting and removal without the use of tools. The outer face  72  of each spacer  68  preferably has a plurality of longitudinal ridges  74  that extend along the length of the spacer  68  in order to promote good frictional engagement of the spacer  68  with the adjacent surface of the skimmer passageway. 
     The skimmer guard  10  preferably is injection or compression molded in one piece from a resiliently deflectable thermoplastic or thermoset material and the serpentine configuration enhances the ability of the ribs  38  to deflect, thus enabling the skimmer guard  10  to be snapped in and out of position in the skimmer passageway  20 . Suitable resins include ABS and polypropylene. 
     To install the skimmer guard  10 , the lower bracket  36  (with a spacer  68  mounted thereon if desired), is engaged in the lower end  18  of the skimmer mouth  12  and the upper bracket  34  (with a spacer  68  mounted thereon if needed), is pushed downwardly and inwardly until it snaps into place against the upper edge  17  of the skimmer mouth  12 . 
     Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed description and attached drawings that the skimmer guard of the present invention provides an effective solution to the problem of skimmer blockage by employing a device which is quickly and easily installed at the inlet to a skimmer passageway. The guard can be readily and economically fabricated and easily mounted in skimmer mouths of a variety of sizes.