U.S. patent application number 10/866264 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for swimming pool cleaner head mounting ring.
Invention is credited to Stehelin, Etienne.
Application Number | 20050273950 10/866264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35458962 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050273950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stehelin, Etienne |
December 15, 2005 |
Swimming pool cleaner head mounting ring
Abstract
In combination with a swimming pool cleaner having a head
portion with a multi-flange exterior surface defined by alternating
grooved sections formed between the flanges, a device for mounting
a set of two suction wings, respectively, to each side of the head
portion that assist in the accumulation and collection of dirt and
debris and offers stability to the vacuum head as it is moved along
the pool surface. The device, which is generally oval shaped and
flat, is adapted to be deformed and dimensioned for tight fitting
containment and retention within one of the grooved sections. The
device is fabricated from a single piece of material and includes
integrally formed and laterally extending first and second hinged
portions adapted to be replaceably affixed to the suction wings,
respectively.
Inventors: |
Stehelin, Etienne; (Canoga
Park, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Larry F. Gitlin
Rapkin, Gitlin & Beaumont
Ste. 1620
21650 Oxnard Street
Woodland Hills
CA
91367
US
|
Family ID: |
35458962 |
Appl. No.: |
10/866264 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1663
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/001.7 |
International
Class: |
E04H 004/16 |
Claims
1. In combination with a swimming pool cleaner having a head
portion with a multi-flanged exterior surface with alternating
grooved sections formed between said flanges, a device for mounting
first and second suction wings to each side of said head portion
that assists in the accumulation and collection of dirt and debris,
comprising: a mounting ring adapted to be deformed and seated in
tight fitting containment and retention within one of said grooved
sections, said mounting ring having laterally extending and
integrally formed first and second hinge portions adapted to be
replaceably attached to said first and second suction wings,
respectively.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said hinge portions are attached
to said first and second suction wings with a plurality of nuts and
bolts.
3. The device of claim 1 comprised of resilient elastic
material.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said hinge portions enable
bendable vertical movement of said first and second suction
wings.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said hinge portions are integrally
formed with said mounting ring in a fixed angled relationship, with
said first and second suction wings, respectively.
6. In combination with a swimming pool cleaner having a head
portion with a flanged exterior surface with alternating spaces
formed between said flanges, a device for mounting first and second
suction wings to each side of said head portion that assists in the
accumulation and collection of dirt and debris, comprising: a
mounting ring fabricated of a single piece of material adapted to
be deformed and seated in tight fitting containment and retention
within one of said spaces, said mounting ring having laterally
extending and integrally formed first and second hinge portions
adapted to be replaceably attached to said first and second suction
wings, respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
swimming pool cleaners and more particularly, to an improved device
for mounting suction wings used to assist in the accumulation and
collection of dirt and debris.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Swimming pool cleaners are commonplace and are instrumental
in maintaining swimming pools clean of dirt and debris and
relatively sanitary. Although the initial investment to purchase a
pool cleaner may be considerable, over time the total cost is much
less expensive than incurring the expense of a weekly or even
bimonthly pool service. One of the most popular pool cleaners is
sold under the trademark Kreepy Krauly.TM. and includes a head
portion located near the vacuum intake where suction wings are
installed to assist in the accumulation and collection of dirt and
debris.
[0005] Prior art suction wings or just wings, as they are also
called, are integrally formed with a ring employed to mount the
wings to the exterior of the neck portion proximate to the suction
head. The ring and the two wings are normally fashioned from a
single piece of material and include a hinged grooved portion cut
into the material (i.e., scored) where the wings and hinged
portions are theoretically joined. The grooved or scored areas
enable the hinges to be flexible and allow the wings limited
vertical movement as the suction head moves along the various
contours of the pool surface and over and around dirt and debris of
various shapes and sizes. The ring is closed at one end and open at
the other where two arms interlock to fasten and secure the ring
around the neck of the vacuum head. Typically, the scored area
where the hinge is grooved will suffer fatigue and weaken after a
while rendering the suction wings relatively ineffective as a
useful means of accumulating and collecting debris. Similarly, the
interlock arms that secured the ring and wings to the vacuum head
is also an area that eventually will suffer fatigue (the two parts
lose their ability to remain interlocked) rendering the connection
weak and unreliable. If either should occur, the entire assemblage
(not just the mounting ring) requires replacement, and this can
become costly and burdensome over time.
[0006] Examples of prior art are found in the following
disclosures:
1 Issue/ Patent/Publication No. Publication Date Inventor US
2004/0025289 A1 Feb. 12, 2004 Jorge Garcia Virgili, et al. US
2002/0092124 A1 Jul. 18, 2002 Luciano Scian, et al. 3,360,816 Jan.
02, 1968 Nicholas A. Fontecchio 4,023,227 May 17, 1977 Fernand
Louis Oscar Joseph Chauvier 4,152,802 May 8, 1979 Daniel J. V. D.
Chauvier 4,156,948 Jun. 5, 1979 Fernand L. O. J. Chauvier, et al.
4,193,156 Mar. 18, 1980 Fernand L. O. J. Chauvier 4,637,086 Jan.
20, 1987 John Goode 5,014,382 May 14, 1991 Dieter H. F. Kallenbach
5,265,297 Nov. 30, 1993 Robert F. Gould, et al. 5,398,361 Mar. 21,
1995 Kurt N. Cason 5,655,246 Aug. 12, 1997 Paul C. Chang 5,706,540
Jan. 13, 1998 Weislaw Niewiarowski 6,125,492 Oct. 3, 2000 Gary
Craig Prowse 6,226,826 May 8, 2001 Rice et al. 6,298,513 Oct. 9,
2001 Rief et al. 6,379,542 Apr. 30, 2002 Campbell 6,662,394 Dec.
16, 2003 Balint
[0007] However, nothing in the prior art teaches a device or
assemblage of components that combine the features and employ the
improvements of the mounting ring of the present invention.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for the mounting ring of the
present invention to address and resolve the differences and
deficiencies among the devices of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In its preferred embodiment, the present invention provides
in combination with a swimming pool cleaner having a head portion
with a multi-flange exterior surface defined by alternating grooved
sections formed between the flanges, a device for mounting a set of
two suction wings respectively to each side of the head portion
that assist in the accumulation and collection of dirt and debris
and offers stability to the vacuum head as it is moved along the
pool surface. The device, which is generally oval shaped and flat,
is adapted to be deformed and dimensioned for tight fitting
containment and retention within one of the grooved sections. The
device is fabricated from a single piece of material and includes
integrally formed and laterally extending first and second hinged
portions adapted to be replaceably affixed to the suction wings,
respectively.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near
the vacuum head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is
fashioned from a single piece of material and includes laterally
extending and integrally formed hinged portions employed to attach
and secure the suction wings.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved device for mounting suction wings to or near the vacuum
head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is fashioned
from deformable material.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved device for mounting suction wings to or near the vacuum
head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is adapted to
be deformed and dimensioned and seated in tight fitting containment
and retention around and upon the exterior surface of the neck of
the vacuum head.
[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near the vacuum
head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is adapted to
be replaceably affixed to the suction wings to enable the ring to
be more easily removed and replaced.
[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near the vacuum
head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is adapted to
be affixed to the suction wings using a variety of conventional
means.
[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near the vacuum
head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that enables the
wings to maximize their ability to accumulate and collect dirt and
debris along the various contours of the swimming pool surface.
[0016] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near
the vacuum head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that
enables the wings to maximize their ability to stabilize the
swimming pool cleaner and more particularly the vacuum head as it
goes about doing its work.
[0017] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide an improved device for mounting suction wings to or near
the vacuum head of a popular type of swimming pool cleaner that is
easy to install and remove and is cost effective to
manufacture.
[0018] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following specifications when considered in
light of the attached drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of
the invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known prior art automatic
pool cleaner.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting ring in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mounting ring with
suction wings attached to the lateral hinged portions of the ring
in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the device shown assembled in
FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting ring shown
being installed proximate to the vacuum head of the swimming pool
cleaner in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting ring shown
installed and in combination with a popular type of swimming pool
cleaner in accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the mounting ring in FIG. 5
shown installed proximate to the vacuum head of the swimming pool
cleaner in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 2 is a
perspective view of mounting ring 10 in accordance with the present
invention. Mounting ring 10 includes laterally extending and
integrally formed first hinge portion 12 and second hinge portion
14, which have a slightly angled or swept orientation and are
adapted to be replaceably attached to first suction wing 16 and
second suction wing 18, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 3 through
7. Mounting ring 10 is generally oval in shape and flat, though it
is not necessarily restricted to this shape or configuration.
[0027] Mounting ring 10 is utilized in combination with a popular
type of swimming pool cleaner 20, which includes a head portion 22
having a multi-flange exterior surface 24 consisting of a plurality
of flanged sections 26. Between flanged sections 26 are grooved
sections 28.
[0028] First suction wing 16 and second suction wing 18 are mounted
to each side of head portion 22 and extend laterally therefrom
through the application of mounting ring 10, to which suction wings
16 and 18 are affixed.
[0029] In order to install mounting ring 10, ring 10 (usually with
suction wings 16 or 18 already attached), which is elastic, is
deformed to fit around opening 30 at the base of head portion 22
(FIG. 5) and seated conformly into any one of grooved sections 28,
though preferably the grooved section closest to opening 30. The
resiliency and elasticity of the material along with the structural
features comprising mounting ring 10 allows the suction wings
greater vertical flexibility as they are moved along the pool
surface (not shown) to assist in the collection of dirt and debris
and the mounting ring 10, including hinge portions 12 and 14, much
greater longevity than the predecessor devices in the prior
art.
[0030] Replacing mounting ring 10 simply requires deforming the
ring to expand its diameter to slip ring 10 over and off head
portion 22. The means to affix suction wings 16 and 18 to mounting
ring 10 are then removed and, if possible, used again to attach the
wings to a new mounting ring. Typically, a combination of screws 40
and nuts 42 are used to attach the wings to mounting ring 10. A
rigid strip of plastic 44 or some other suitable material is
employed to create a protective buffer between the material
comprising the more delicate wing material and the metal screws and
nuts. Hinge portions 12 and 14 and strip 44 include openings 45 and
46, respectively, for receiving screws 40.
[0031] Mounting ring 10 is usually fabricated of any suitable
resilient, flexible material, such as rubber or any appropriate
synthetic.
[0032] While the invention will be described in connection with a
certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment.
Rather, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *