U.S. patent application number 11/230134 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-27 for swimming pool vacuum hose attachment with relief port for spot cleaning and system incorporating the same.
Invention is credited to Bryan C. Deklinski.
Application Number | 20060085929 11/230134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322683 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060085929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deklinski; Bryan C. |
April 27, 2006 |
Swimming pool vacuum hose attachment with relief port for spot
cleaning and system incorporating the same
Abstract
A spot cleaning device for a swimming pool cleaning system
having a vacuum source and a vacuum hose having an end portion
forming a vacuum inlet. The device includes a releasable connector
for releasably mounting it on the pole and has a hollow body to
which the vacuum hose is coupled and an inlet port which
communicates with the inlet port of the vacuum hose. A vacuum
relief port is provided in the hollow body adjacent the inlet port.
The device is arranged to be positioned adjacent material, e.g.,
leaves, mud, algae, stones, etc., to be removed from the pool so
that when the vacuum source is operated suction at the inlet port
pulls that material directly into the inlet port without creating a
cloud of debris, and with the vacuum relief port preventing the
device from becoming hung up or stuck to a surface of the pool.
Inventors: |
Deklinski; Bryan C.;
(Shamokin, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CAESAR, RIVISE, BERNSTEIN,;COHEN & POKOTILOW, LTD.
11TH FLOOR, SEVEN PENN CENTER
1635 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-2212
US
|
Family ID: |
46322683 |
Appl. No.: |
11/230134 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10972948 |
Oct 25, 2004 |
|
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11230134 |
Sep 19, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7 ;
210/167.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1636
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/001.7 ;
210/169 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/16 20060101
E04H004/16 |
Claims
1. A spot cleaning vacuum head for a swimming pool cleaning system
including a vacuum source and a vacuum hose, the vacuum hose being
coupled to the vacuum source and having a free end, said spot
cleaning vacuum head comprising a body having a free end, said body
comprising a releasable connector, a tubular section, an outlet
port and an inlet port, said tubular section including a sidewall
having a longitudinal axis and terminating in an opening, said
opening having a periphery defining said inlet port, said inlet
port forming the free end of said body and being in fluid
communication with said outlet port, said outlet port being
arranged to be releasably coupled to the free end of the vacuum
hose, said releasable connector being arranged to be releasably
secured to an end portion of an elongated pole to mount said spot
cleaning vacuum head on the pole, whereupon said spot cleaning
vacuum head can be moved by manipulation of the pole into position
within a swimming pool so that said free end of said body is below
the surface of water within the pool and immediately adjacent
material desired to be removed, said spot cleaning vacuum head
being arranged so that when the vacuum source is operated suction
is created at said inlet port to pull the material directly into
said inlet port, thereby resulting in the spot cleaning of the
swimming pool, said tubular section including a vacuum relief port
located adjacent said inlet port.
2. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein vacuum relief
port comprises a recess in said tubular section contiguous with
said inlet port.
3. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 2 wherein said recess is
generally V-shaped.
4. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein said vacuum
relief port comprises a window in said tubular section adjacent
said inlet port.
5. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein vacuum relief
port comprises a plurality of apertures in said tubular section
adjacent said inlet port.
6. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein said tubular
sidewall includes a first slightly conically shaped sidewall
portion which tapers in diameter from said inlet port towards said
outlet port, and a second slightly conically shaped sidewall
portion which tapers in diameter to said outlet port from an
intermediate location between said inlet port and said outlet
port.
7. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein the elongated
pole includes a hollow end portion adapted t be releasably secured
to said spot cleaning vacuum head, and wherein said releasable
connector comprises a trough shaped member extending generally
parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tubular section for
receipt within the hollow end portion of the elongated pole.
8. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 1 wherein said releasable
connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located
between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough
shaped member.
9. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 7 wherein said releasable
connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located
between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough
shaped member.
10. The spot cleaning vacuum head of claim 9 wherein said spot
cleaning vacuum head is an integral unit molded of a plastic
material.
11. A swimming pool cleaning system comprising spot cleaning vacuum
head, a vacuum hose, and a pole, said vacuum hose being arranged to
be coupled to a vacuum source and having a free end, said spot
cleaning vacuum head comprising a body having a free end, said body
comprising a releasable connector, a tubular section, an outlet
port and an inlet port, said tubular section including a sidewall
having a longitudinal axis and terminating in an opening, said
opening having a periphery defining said inlet port, said inlet
port forming the free end of said body and being in fluid
communication with said outlet port, said outlet port being
arranged to be releasably coupled to said free end of said vacuum
hose, said releasable connector being arranged to be releasably
secured to an end portion of said elongated pole to mount said spot
cleaning vacuum head on said pole, whereupon said spot cleaning
vacuum head can be moved by manipulation of said pole into position
within a swimming pool so that said free end of said body is below
the surface of water within the pool and immediately adjacent
material desired to be removed, said spot cleaning vacuum head
being arranged so that when the vacuum source is operated suction
is created at said inlet port to pull the material directly into
said inlet port, thereby resulting in the spot cleaning of the
swimming pool, said tubular section including a vacuum relief port
located adjacent said inlet port.
12. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 11 wherein vacuum
relief port comprises a recess in said tubular section contiguous
with said inlet port.
13. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 12 wherein said
recess is generally V-shaped.
14. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said
vacuum relief port comprises a window in said tubular section
adjacent said inlet port.
15. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 10 wherein vacuum
relief port comprises a plurality of apertures in said tubular
section adjacent said inlet port.
16. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said
tubular sidewall includes a first slightly conically shaped
sidewall portion which tapers in diameter from said inlet port
towards said outlet port, and a second slightly conically shaped
sidewall portion which tapers in diameter to said outlet port from
an intermediate location between said inlet port and said outlet
port.
17. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said
elongated pole includes a hollow end portion adapted t be
releasably secured to said spot cleaning vacuum head, and wherein
said releasable connector comprises a trough shaped member
extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said
tubular section for receipt within said hollow end portion of said
elongated pole.
18. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said
releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section
located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said
trough shaped member.
19. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 17 wherein said
releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section
located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said
trough shaped member.
20. The swimming pool cleaning system of claim 19 wherein said spot
cleaning vacuum head is an integral unit molded of a plastic
material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/972,948, filed on Oct. 25, 2004, entitled
Swimming Pool Vacuum Hose Attachment for Spot Cleaning, whose
disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] "Not Applicable"
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISK
[0003] "Not Applicable"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and
more particularly to devices for spot cleaning swimming pools and
other chambers containing water or other liquids.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,474 (Woodard) there is disclosed a
vacuum head for a swimming pool cleaning system. The head is of the
bristle-type for use particularly on vinyl liners, and the like,
and comprises a wide, substantially shallow structure including an
elongated top, walls and an outlet oriented upwardly from the top
and communicating with the generally hollow interior of the head.
The upright outlet forms a first connection for attachment of a
vacuum hose to the head. A second hose of a diameter smaller than
that of the first hose may be detachably positioned over an adapter
member which is removably fitted within the first hose connection.
Suction control in the form of at least one water by-pass valve is
provided in the head top, enabling water sucked into the head
interior to be selectively released therefrom, thereby preventing
an excessively high suction force in the head intake area and such
a force resulting from too great a build-up of vacuum within the
cleaning system. Fixedly secured to the head top inner surface are
a pair of axially opposed stabilizing weights and a connection for
attachment of a handle or pole is provided at the top outer
surface.
[0006] Other patents relating to devices for cleaning swimming
pools are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,474 (Randall), U.S. Pat. No.
4,376,320 (Linda) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,086 (Goode).
[0007] While the aforementioned prior art devices may be suitable
for their intended purposes they nevertheless leave something to be
desired from one or more of the standpoints of simplicity of
construction, ease of use and effectiveness. For example, some of
such prior art devices when used to vacuum up finely dispersable
debris, e.g., a dead algae pile, frequently create a cloud of such
debris since the vacuum action is itself dispersed. To overcome
that drawback of the prior art, persons cleaning pools have
sometimes resorted to using the pole of a conventional pool vacuum
head system, without the vacuum head, by merely attaching the
distal end of the pole to the open distal end of the conventional
vacuum hose via tape, e.g., duct tape. While such an arrangement
enables effective spot vacuuming, the use of tape is undesirable
and does not provide an elegant solution, e.g., untaping and
retaping is messy, and time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of this invention a spot
cleaning vacuum head is provided for a swimming pool cleaning
system including a vacuum source and a vacuum hose. The vacuum hose
is coupled to the vacuum source and has a free end. The spot
cleaning vacuum head comprises a body having a free end. The body
comprises a releasable connector, a tubular section, an outlet port
and an inlet port. The tubular section includes a sidewall having a
longitudinal axis. The tubular section terminates in an opening
having a periphery defining the inlet port. The inlet port forms
the free end of the body and is in fluid communication with the
outlet port. The outlet port is arranged to be releasably coupled
to the free end of the vacuum hose. The releasable connector
comprises a projecting member extending away from the tubular
section. The projecting member is arranged to be releasably secured
to an end portion of an elongated pole to mount the spot cleaning
vacuum head on the pole, whereupon the spot cleaning vacuum head
can be moved by manipulation of the pole into position within a
swimming pool so that the free end of the body is below the surface
of water within the pool and immediately adjacent material desired
to be removed. The spot cleaning vacuum head is arranged so that
when the vacuum source is operated suction is created at the inlet
port to pull the material directly into the inlet port, thereby
resulting in the spot cleaning of the swimming pool. The tubular
section includes a vacuum relief port, e.g., a V-shaped notch, a
window, at least one aperture etc., located adjacent the inlet
port. The vacuum relief port serves to prevent the spot cleaning
vacuum head from becoming stuck on a surface, e.g., the bottom or a
side wall, of the pool during the operation of the swimming pool
cleaning system in the event that the periphery of the inlet port
engages a surface of the pool to form a seal therebetween.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one exemplary preferred
embodiment of a spot cleaning vacuum head constructed in accordance
with this invention shown connected to a conventional vacuum hose
and a conventional vacuum pole in the process of vacuuming debris,
e.g., leaves, from the bottom of a filled swimming pool;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1, but showing
the spot cleaning vacuum head in the process of vacuuming a pile of
dead algae from the bottom of the filled swimming pool, without
disrupting the algae pile so as to create a cloud of dead
algae;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the
spot cleaning vacuum head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded front elevation view of the spot
cleaning vacuum head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing how the
components of the spot cleaning vacuum head are connected together
and to the conventional vacuum hose;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, partially in section, taken
along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
3;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative preferred
embodiment of a spot cleaning vacuum head constructed in accordance
with the subject invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of still another alternative
preferred embodiment of a spot cleaning vacuum head constructed in
accordance with the subject invention; and
[0017] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of yet another alternative
preferred embodiment of a spot cleaning vacuum head constructed in
accordance with the subject invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein
like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at 20
in FIG. 1 a spot cleaning vacuum head constructed in accordance
with one exemplary preferred embodiment of this invention. The spot
cleaning vacuum head 20 is arranged for use with a conventional
swimming pool vacuuming system including a source of vacuum (not
shown), a flexible, e.g., corrugated, plastic vacuum hose 22 and a
conventional elongated pole 24. The vacuum hose 22 includes a
proximal end, not shown, which is arranged to be releasably secured
to the vacuum source and to some vessel or receptacle (not shown)
for collecting debris that has been removed from the pool. The
distal end of the hose 22 is in the form of a female connector or
collar 22A. Such collars are conventional circular tubular members
whose distal or free end is of either 11/2 inch (38.6 mm) inside
diameter or 11/4 inch (31.5 mm) inside diameter. The pole 24 is
also a conventional device like that used to releasably mount a
conventional swimming pool vacuum head thereon. The pole is an
elongated linear member, formed of any suitable material, such as a
plastic (PVC) or aluminum. The pole is preferably tubular, i.e.,
includes a circular sidewall, in the interest of being light in
weight, yet rigid and strong.
[0019] The distal end of the pole includes at least one aperture
extending through the sidewall of the pole for receipt of a spring
biased extending member or finger (to be described later) of the
spot cleaning vacuum head 20 to releasably mount the head on the
pole (as shown in FIG. 1, and as will be described in detail
later). In fact, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of
this invention, there are two pairs of spring biased members or
fingers forming a portion of the spot cleaning vacuum head. Such an
embodiment makes use of a pole having a distal end which includes
two pair of diametrically aligned apertures spaced longitudinally
apart and located in the distal end portion of the pole. In
particular, one pair of apertures 24A and 24B (FIG. 5) is located
close to the distal end of the pole 24 and a second pair of
apertures 24C and 24D (FIG. 5) is spaced slightly proximally of the
first pair of apertures 24A and 24B.
[0020] The spot cleaning vacuum head 20 basically comprises a
hollow body 26 formed of any suitable material, e.g., PVC piping,
and has a free end 28. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body 26
includes a releasable connector 30, a first tubular section 32 and
a second tubular section 34. As will be described later, the
tubular sections are axially aligned along a longitudinal axis 36
(FIG. 4). The first tubular section 32 has an outlet port 38. The
second tubular section has an inlet port 40 (FIG. 6). The second
tubular section includes a sidewall having a longitudinal axis
extending coincident with the longitudinal axis 36 and terminating
in an opening at the free end 28 that forms the inlet port 40. The
inlet port 40 is located at the free (distal) end of the body 36 to
enable the vacuum head to create a concentrated and directed
vacuum, e.g., a "spot" vacuum, to the debris to be removed from the
pool.
[0021] The second tubular section 34 also includes a sidewall
having a longitudinal axis extending coincident with the
longitudinal axis 36 and terminating in an opening that forms the
outlet port 38. The outlet port 38 is in fluid communication with
the inlet port 40 through the hollow interior of the body 36 of the
spot cleaning vacuum head 20. The outside diameter of the portion
of the second tubular section forming the outlet port is either
11/2 inch (38.6 mm) or 11/4 inch (31.5 mm). This enables it be
readily releasably received in the collar 22A of the vacuum hose 22
as shown in FIGS. 1-3 to mount the spot cleaning vacuum head 20 on
the vacuum hose 22. A circular ridge extends about the periphery of
the second section 34 adjacent the outlet port 38 to form a good
seal when the portion of the second tubular section forming the
outlet port is connected to the vacuum hose 22.
[0022] The distal end of the first tubular section 32 forming the
inlet port is preferably formed of a resilient or soft material,
e.g., it is rubberized. This forms an atraumatic tip for the spot
cleaning vacuum head to minimize the chance that the vacuum head
will damage the pool liner if it is used to clean an above ground
pool. To further ensure that the tip will not damage the pool
liner, the free distal end of the second section contiguous with
the inlet port 40 preferably includes an annular bead 44 extending
thereabout as shown in FIG. 6. As should be appreciated by those
skilled in the art the distal end of the tip can be beaded, like
shown, and be rubberized or otherwise formed of a soft, atraumatic
material, or maybe formed of the same material as that forming the
tubular section 32. In fact, the distal end of the second tubular
section at the inlet may not be beaded and/or formed of an
atraumatic material if desired.
[0023] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of the releasable
connector 30 will now be described. That connector is in the form
of a projecting member extending outward from the body 26. In
particular, the projecting member includes a first portion 46 and a
second portion 48. The first portion 46 extends outward in a radial
direction from the sidewall making up the body 26 and is
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 36. The first portion 46 of
the projecting member 30 is fixedly secured to the body 26. The
second portion of the connector 30 is of an elongated, cylindrical
shape and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 36. In the
interest of weight the first 46 and second 48 portions of the
connector 30 are hollow, e.g., tubular members. The outside
diameter of the second portion 48 of the connector 30 is just
slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the hollow distal end
of the pole 24.
[0024] As best seen in FIG. 5, the second portion 48 of the
connector 30 includes two conventional butterfly-like,
spring-biased locking members 50 and 52 located therein. The
locking member 50 basically comprises a pair of projecting fingers
50A and 50B fixedly mounted on respective ones of a pair of legs of
a V-shaped spring 50C. Preferably the fingers 50A and 50B and the
V-shaped spring are formed as an integral unit of any suitable
material, e.g., plastic or metal.
[0025] The fingers 50A and 50B are biased by the spring 50C to
extend outward through the sidewall of the second portion 48 of the
connector 30 for releasable location within the apertures 24A and
24B, respectively, in the pole 24 when spot vacuum head 20 is
mounted on the pole 24. The locking member 52 is constructed
similarly to locking member 50. Thus, it basically comprises a pair
of projecting fingers 52C and 52D fixedly mounted on respective
ones of a pair of legs of a V-shaped spring 52E. The fingers 52C
and 52D are biased by the spring 52E to extend outward through the
sidewall of the second portion 48 of the connector 30 for
releasable location within the apertures 24C and 24D, respectively,
when spot vacuum head 20 is mounted on the pole 24.
[0026] The securement of the spot cleaning vacuum head onto the
pole is achieved by inserting the second portion 48 of the
connector 30 into the hollow distal end of the pole 24, whereupon
the domed ends of the fingers 52C and 52D of the locking member 52
rides over the free distal edge of the pole to cause the fingers to
move inward and to remain in that inward position as the free end
of the sidewall of the pole passes over them. Continued movement of
the second portion 48 of the connector 30 into the pole 24 causes
the fingers 50A and 50B of the locking member 50 to retract in the
same way as they pass the free distal edge of the pole. When the
fingers 52C and 52D of the locking member 52 to reach the
diametrically aligned apertures 24C and 24D, as the fingers 50A and
50B to reach the diametrically aligned apertures 24A and 24B, the
fingers snap-fit into their respective apertures, thereby
releasably securing the spot cleaning vacuum head 20 on the pole
24.
[0027] Once the vacuum head is so mounted and connected to the
vacuum hose 22, as discussed above, it is ready to spot clean any
portion of the pool. To that end, the user grasps the proximal end
of the pole 24 and submerses the distal end on which the spot
cleaning vacuum head 20 is mounted into the water in the pool so
that the inlet port 40 is located immediately adjacent the debris
or other material to be removed. In FIG. 1 debris is shown in the
form of leaves 10 located on the floor of a pool 12. With the inlet
port 40 of the vacuum head being located immediately adjacent, when
the vacuum source is turned on the vacuum produced thereby is
coupled through the hose and the hollow interior of the vacuum head
20, so that a confined and axially directed vacuum is created at
the inlet port 40. This action pulls the leaves 10 directly into
the inlet port, from whence they are carried through the interior
of the vacuum head and the vacuum hose 24 for collection. The
directed vacuum at the inlet port also tends to minimize the
tendency of the leaves from billowing to form a cloud of dispersed
leaves. The formation of a cloud of dispersed leaves is obviously
undesirable, since it will require further vacuuming to remove
them. In FIG. 2, the spot cleaning vacuum head 20 is shown being
used to remove a pile of dead algae 14 which has accumulated on the
floor of the pool. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art, the ability of the spot cleaning vacuum head of this invention
to direct the vacuum to its distally located inlet 28, is
particularly useful for spot cleaning of algae or other readily
disposable materials, since it is quite easy to create a cloud of
dead algae or other dispersable materials if a more diffused vacuum
head, like those of the prior art is used.
[0028] In FIG. 7 there is shown an alternative embodiment 120 of a
vacuum device of this invention. That device is basically similar
to the device 20 shown in FIG. 1, except that it includes a vacuum
relief port 160 (to be described later), to ensure that the vacuum
head does not become attached or otherwise "stuck" on the surface
of the bottom wall or side wall of the pool, if the periphery of
the inlet port engages that surface so as to form a vacuum seal
therebetween. The device 120 is arranged to be used with the vacuum
hose 22, like that described above, and with a pole 124. The pole
124 is a conventional device like pole 24 described above, except
that it includes only one pair of opposed holes 124A and 124B for
receipt of a pair of spring biased extending members or fingers (to
be described later) of the spot cleaning vacuum head 120 to
releasably mount the head on the pole 124.
[0029] The spot cleaning vacuum head 120 basically comprises a
hollow body 126 formed of any suitable material, e.g., PVC piping,
and has three slightly conically shaped sections. The lowermost
section is designated by reference number 132 and has a lower
circular peripheral free edge 128 forming the inlet opening to the
vacuum head. The uppermost section is designated by the reference
number 134 and terminates at its upper end in a circular opening
defining the outlet port 138. The intermediate section of the
tubular member 126 joins the sections 132 and 134. All of the
tubular sections are axially aligned along a common longitudinal
central axis. The inlet port enables the vacuum head to create a
concentrated and directed vacuum, e.g., a "spot" vacuum, to the
debris to be removed from the pool. The outlet port 138 is in fluid
communication with the inlet port 128 through the hollow interior
of the body 126 of the spot cleaning vacuum head 120. The outside
diameter of the portion of the tubular section 134 forming the
outlet port is either 11/2 inch (38.6 mm) or 11/4 inch (31.5 mm).
This enables it be readily releasably received in the collar 22A of
the vacuum hose 22 to mount the spot cleaning vacuum head 20 on the
vacuum hose 22. A circular ridge, not shown, may be provided to
extend about the periphery of the section 134 adjacent the outlet
port 138 to form a good seal when the portion of the second tubular
section forming the outlet port is connected to the vacuum hose
22.
[0030] The peripheral portion of section 132 forming the inlet port
is may be formed of a resilient or soft material, e.g., be
rubberized, to form an atraumatic tip for the spot cleaning vacuum
head to minimize the chance that the vacuum head will damage the
pool liner if it is used to clean an above ground pool. To further
ensure that the tip will not damage the pool liner, the free distal
end of the second section contiguous with the inlet port 138 may
include an annular bead extending thereabout similar to that of the
embodiment of FIG. 1. As should be appreciated by those skilled in
the art the distal end of the tip can be beaded and be rubberized
or otherwise formed of a soft, atraumatic material, or may be
formed of the same material as that forming the tubular section
132. In fact, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the
distal end of the tubular section 132 at the inlet 138 is not be
beaded and/or formed of an atraumatic material.
[0031] The vacuum head 120 is arranged to be mounted on the pole
124 by means of a releasable connector 130. That connector is in
the form of a projecting member extending radially outward from the
body 126 and terminates in a portion 148 that extends generally
parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the tubular body 126.
The portion 148 of the connector 130 is of an elongated,
semi-circular trough shape. The outside diameter of the portion 148
is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the hollow
distal end of the pole 124. The portion 148 of the connector 30
includes one conventional butterfly-like, spring-biased locking
member 150. The locking member 150 basically comprises a pair of
projecting fingers 150A and 150B fixedly mounted on respective ones
of a pair of legs of a V-shaped spring 150C. Preferably the fingers
150A and 150B and the V-shaped spring are formed as an integral
unit of any suitable material, e.g., plastic or metal. The fingers
150A and 150B are biased by the spring 150C to extend outward
through the sidewall of the portion 148 of the connector 130 for
releasably location within the apertures 124A and 124B,
respectively, in the pole 124 when spot vacuum head 120 is mounted
on the pole 124.
[0032] The securement of the spot cleaning vacuum head 120 onto the
pole 124 is achieved by inserting the portion 148 of the connector
130 into the hollow distal end of the pole 124, whereupon the domed
ends of the fingers 150A and 150B of the locking member ride over
the free distal edge of the pole to cause the fingers to move
inward and to remain in that inward position as the free end of the
sidewall of the pole passes over them. When the fingers 150A and
150B reach the diametrically aligned apertures 124A and 124B the
fingers snap-fit into the respective apertures, thereby releasably
securing the spot cleaning vacuum head 120 on the pole 124.
[0033] Once the vacuum head is so mounted and connected to the
vacuum hose 122, as discussed above, it is ready to spot clean any
portion of the pool. To that end, the user grasps the proximal end
of the pole 124 and submerses the distal end on which the spot
cleaning vacuum head 20 is mounted into the water in the pool so
that the inlet port 138 is located immediately adjacent the debris
or other material to be removed. When the vacuum source is turned
on the vacuum produced thereby is coupled through the hose and the
hollow interior of the vacuum head, so that a confined and axially
directed vacuum is created at the inlet port 138. This action pulls
the debris directly into the inlet port, from whence it is are
carried through the interior of the vacuum head and the vacuum hose
22 for collection.
[0034] In order to ensure that the vacuum head does not become
stuck or otherwise immobilized during its use, such as could occur
if the periphery of the inlet port 38 (of the embodiment of FIG. 1)
or the inlet port 138 (of the embodiment of FIG. 7) engages a
portion of the surface of the bottom or sidewall of the pool to
form a vacuum seal thereat, the vacuum head of the preferred
embodiments of FIGS. 7-9 each includes a vacuum relief port. In the
embodiment of FIG. 7 the vacuum relief port basically comprises a
generally V-shaped recess or notch 160 in the side wall of the
section 132 contiguous with the periphery of the opening or inlet
port 138. Thus, if the periphery of the inlet port 138 should
engage a surface of the pool in a manner that would otherwise tend
to create a vacuum seal thereat, water from the pool could still
enter through the V-shaped notch, thereby preventing the formation
of a vacuum seal. As such the vacuum head is resistant to becoming
stuck or locked up on a surface portion of the bottom or side walls
of the pool.
[0035] In FIG. 8 there is shown still another alternative
embodiment of a spot cleaning vacuum head 220 of the subject
invention. The spot cleaning vacuum head 220 is identical in
construction to the spot cleaning head 120, except for the
construction of the vacuum relief port. Thus, in the interest of
brevity the common components of the embodiments 120 and 220 will
be given the same reference numbers and the details of their
construction and operation will not be reiterated. The vacuum
relief port of the vacuum head 220 basically comprises a plurality
of holes or apertures 260 extending about at least a portion of the
periphery of the tubular section 132. The number, location, size
and spacing of the apertures 260 is a matter of choice.
[0036] In FIG. 9 there is shown yet another alternative embodiment
of a spot cleaning vacuum head 320 of the subject invention. The
spot cleaning vacuum head 320 is identical in construction to the
spot cleaning heads 120 and 220, except for the construction of the
vacuum relief port. Thus, in the interest of brevity the common
components of the embodiments 120, 220 and 320 will be given the
same reference numbers and the details of their construction and
operation will not be reiterated. The vacuum relief port of the
vacuum head 320 basically comprises a single aperture or window 360
extending through the tubular section 132 adjacent the inlet
opening 128. The window 320 is shown being of generally rectangular
shape. That is merely exemplary. Thus, the shape, size and location
of the window is also a matter of choice.
[0037] As should be appreciated from the discussion above that the
subject invention offers the pool owner or cleaner the ability to
utilize a conventional hose to effect spot vacuuming of debris or
other unwanted materials located below the surface of the water in
the pool without creating a cloud of dispersed debris/material and
without the danger of the vacuum head being stuck on or to the
surface of the bottom or side wall of the pool. Among the
debris/materials, the subject invention can be used to pick up are
leaves, rocks, mud, dead algae, etc.
[0038] While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof.
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