Patent ID: 12206358

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now in detail to the drawings,FIG.1Ais a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device10of the invention which includes a housing30having a plurality of legs20comprising a first leg20a,having a hinge21a,a second leg20bhaving a hinge21b,and a third leg20chaving a third hinge21c.Each of these hinges21a,21band21care coupled to the housing30which is in the form of a container. The container can be in the form of a wicker decorative housing which can be used to be in the form of furniture by a pool side. While three legs are shown additional legs can be used as well such as a fourth leg or more.

Disposed inside of housing30is a hose40which can be in the form of a dark colored hose which is configured to absorb the heat from the sun so that the water inside of the hose40can then heat up. There is also a solar panel50which is disposed in a central region of the housing30, and inside of the coiled hose40. Coupled to the side of the housing30is a handle60and a controller100(SeeFIG.2A). Controller100is configured to be disposed inside of housing30. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, the controller100can be positioned outside of the housing30. With at least one embodiment, there is a door for allowing an additional battery door45which is configured to open to allow additional auxiliary batteries to be inserted therein. Thus, with this design, multiple batteries can be used wherein while one is being used another battery can be separately charged and then re-inserted into the housing30.

There is also an indicator46which is configured to indicate the temperature of the water inside of the hose40inside of the housing30. The indicator is positioned on the top surface of the housing so that a user can look down towards this surface and then see what the temperature of the water inside of the hose is inside of the housing30. Furthermore, there is also a USB or other style port47which is configured to allow a user to insert and connect via both power and communication to the internal circuit board100(SeeFIG.5).

An optional speaker48can be coupled to the housing30. Speaker48includes an amplifier so that when a portable music player such as a portable cellular telephone is coupled to the housing30via USB or other style port47the music from the music player can be projected from the speaker48. In addition, the battery door45, the indicator46, the USB connection port47and the speaker48are also shown inFIG.2Aas well.

FIG.1Bis a side view of at least one leg20. This leg20is connected at one end by a hinge21to housing30. In addition, other types of legs can be used as well.

For example,FIG.2Ais a side view of a second embodiment. With this view there is a housing30which has a controller100coupled to it. Legs70aand70bare coupled to housing30. These legs70aand70bare telescoping legs.FIG.2Bshows a side view of a telescoping leg. This leg70includes an outer leg71and an inner leg72.

This inner leg is slidable inside of outer leg71. Thus, with this design, the housing, including the legs is collapsible with telescoping legs sliding inside of each other so that these legs can be stored inside of the housing. In addition, in this embodiment as well as in other embodiments a table top31can be used and placed over the housing such as housing30. This table top31can be a sheet of transparent/translucent material such as glass or plastic which is configured to fit over the housing while still allowing the radiation from the sun to go therethrough and on to the hose disposed inside of the housing. Table top31can be a shaped to match the shape of the housing from the plan or top down view. Thus, table top31serves as a transparent covering over housing30.

FIG.3is a top view of the portable solar powered pool heater100. For example, this design includes a hose40having a plurality of loops42,44which are wrapped around a solar panel50. There is also an outer housing30and an inner housing32which takes the inner loop of the hose40. The solar panel50is positioned inside of inner housing32There are three legs20a,or70a,20b,or70b,and20cor70cpositioned equidistant around the housing30. Because each of these legs20or70are collapsible (foldable or telescoping) inside the housing30it allows the legs to be collapsed inside of the housing30so that the device10is portable.

FIG.4is a side view of another embodiment of the invention12, which shows an outer housing having a handle60. Coupled to the housing30is a leg80. Coupled to the leg80are a plurality of wheels90. Wheels90are configured to allow the device to be rolled along a surface such as a pool surface. Leg80is coupled to a hinge81which includes a lock for locking this leg80in place or in a folded-up position inside of housing30.FIG.4also shows a plurality of quick connect ports53and54which are used to provide quick connections to hoses. For example, port53serves as an input port, while port54serves as an outflow port (See alsoFIG.5).

FIG.5is a schematic block diagram of a controller.100which is connected to a plurality of hoses. Controller100includes a motherboard111having a microprocessor105aand a memory105binstalled on it. Microprocessor105ais configured to perform the steps ofFIG.6, while memory105bstores the values that can be set such as for timing and temperature of the water to be stored in hose40. In addition, there is a hose102having a valve103. This hose102can be coupled to a home garden hose and forms an input into a pump106. Hose102is coupled to hose40inside of housing30. There is a motherboard111which has an on/off switch112, and a pump primer114. There is also a battery116which is coupled to the motherboard111. The battery116is configured to receive power from the solar panels50so that the solar panels charge the battery116. Coupled to the circuit board111is a temperature sensor/timer118. Temperature sensor/timer118is configured to selectively open an associated valve120when a temperature inside of the hose40reaches a pre-determined point. Once the temperature of the water inside of the hose40is sufficiently high, the temperature sensor118is configured to open a valve120to release the water inside of hose40. The water then flows outside of hose40through opening in outflow hose104and into the pool. The amount of water that flows through hose40is controlled by the amount of time pre-set by the temperature sensor/timer118. Thus, if the pre-set amount of time is 15 seconds, once the temperature is reached, it then opens valve120so that heated water would flow out of hose40for 15 seconds, which would approximately correspond to the amount of time it would take to drain hose40of heated water when it flows into an adjacent pool. In at least one embodiment, the valve120is located adjacent to the outflow port54on the housing.

In addition, in this view there is also a quick connect port53which is configured to connect to input hose102. There is also quick connect port54which is configured to connect to an outflow hose104. In addition, there is also shown an additional battery45awhich can be inserted through battery door45(SeeFIG.1A) and which can work in tandem with battery116. This battery45acan be modular can inserted or removed in a quick connecting manner. An indicator46which is positioned on the motherboard111is visible on a top surface of the housing. The indicator indicates the temperature of the water inside of the hose40(SeeFIG.1A) within the housing30.

A USB or electrical port47is shown coupled to the motherboard111wherein this USB port can be for charging external devices such as portable phones or other type devices. One type of external device that can be connected to a USB type port47is an external water temperature sensor49, which can communicate with the motherboard111the temperature inside of a pool. A speaker48is also shown coupled to motherboard111wherein this speaker48is configured to include an amplifier and then project sound such as music from the housing such as housing30. Any device that is connected to USB port47or which is in communication with a transceiver52can then project music or other sound through the motherboard111and be in communication with speakers48. The transceiver52is configured to be a wireless transceiver which can communicate via WIFI, Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless protocol. There can also be an optional plug55for plugging into an outlet of power such as a wall AC power unit to charge or power the motherboard111. When the device is optionally connected to power, it can be used to re-charge the battery116as well as battery45a.Alternatively, battery116and battery45acan be removed from motherboard111and separately charged. Basically, the pump106and the valve120work together to fill up hose40so that it can remain filled with water that is then heated from the sun when the heater is left on a pool deck or other location adjacent to a pool. Once valve120is opened water can be drained from the hose40and new water can be inserted therein via pump106. Because the pump has a timer that is set to import a sufficient amount of new water into hose40, it then shuts down after a pre-determined period of time that is deemed sufficient to fill up hose40again inside the housing30.

FIG.6is a flow chart for the process for heating the water using the portable solar powered heater. For example, in step1the process starts with setting up the portable solar powered heater near the pool. Next, in step2the input and output ports53and54are connected via hoses to the heater. Next, in step3, the input and output hoses such as hoses102and104are inserted into the pool. Next, in step4the portable solar powered heater can be turned on. Next in step5, the pump114is primed wherein the portable solar powered heater to opened and fill the internal hose. The priming of the pump can be through the user pressing a button or remotely activating the pump such as through a remote controller such as a portable smart phone. Because the valve120is biased closed, the water simply fills the hose line such as hose line40first. Next, in step6, temperature sensor/timer118monitors the temperature of the water inside of the housing30/ hose. Next, in step7, when the temperature of the water increases above a predetermined temperature, this then leads to the temperature sensor/timer118determining whether to distribute the water inside of the hose such as hose40. If timer118determines whether to distribute water inside of the hose, then in step8it sends a signal through line119to valve120to open valve120. In addition, in step9, pump106is simultaneously or subsequently activated. Next, in step10a timer in timer118is started for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time is set in timer118so that based upon the flow rate of water, the water is drained from the hose inside of housing30and a new dose of water flows within the hose. Next, in step11timer118resets, valve120is closed so that the new batch of water can then be heated up. Thus, the process restarts again wherein it goes back to at least step6wherein the temperature sensor monitors the water inside of the housing to determine whether it hits a predetermined temperature necessary for a release of the next batch of water. While timer and temperature sensor118is configured to have its own processing and memory, microprocessor105aand memory105bare optional and can also be used to store values memory105b,or control the operation of the device through microprocessor105a.

FIG.7is a plan view of multiple pool heaters comprising pool heater101coupled in series with pool heater107and pool heater108. Each of these pool heaters are coupled in series via lines102aand102b(hoses) which transmit water between the water heaters. In this way multiple water heaters can be coupled together in series to continuously heat up the water. Water heaters107and108have additional hoses102cand102dwherein hose102cfunctions as an intake hose, while hose102dfunctions as an outflow hose. Thus water flows in through intake hose102cinto heater107where the water is heated at a first stage and then passed through hose102ato heater101, where the water is heated at a second stage. Next the water is passed through hose102bon to heater108in a third stage wherein the heated water is then passed into an outflow hose102dand into a pool. With this design, if an initial heater101is not sufficiently powerful, additional heaters can be connected in series so as to add additional heating power to the system.

Thus, with this design, there is formed a portable solar powered pool heater which can be either carried or rolled across a pool deck. The legs can be stored inside of the housing so that the portable solar powered pool heater can be stored easily or moved easily when not in use. In addition, a top can be placed on the portable solar powered pool heater. The top can be in the form of a glass top which allows the sun to shine through the top to the hose so that the hose can still absorb the heat from the sun while still allowing food or drinks to be placed on the surface. Thus, this portable solar powered pool heater is configured to also serve as pool side furniture as well.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke35U.S.C.112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages.