U.S. patent application number 12/044931 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for swimming pool cleaning vehicle.
Invention is credited to Fong-man Hui, Wing-kin Hui.
Application Number | 20080295264 12/044931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39542660 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080295264 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hui; Wing-kin ; et
al. |
December 4, 2008 |
SWIMMING POOL CLEANING VEHICLE
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a swimming pool cleaning vehicle including a
housing having an outer shell and defining a hollow interior. The
housing having at least one intake port and at least one outlet
port. The intake port(s) being located adjacent the drive
mechanism. The pool cleaning vehicle includes a drive mechanism
which in different embodiments has pairs of wheels and/or rollers
and various combinations thereof for moving the vehicle. The
vehicle includes a bottom and the bottom is concaved inwardly
toward the interior.
Inventors: |
Hui; Wing-kin; (Hong Kong,
HK) ; Hui; Fong-man; (Hong Kong, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PENINSULA IP GROUP
26150 BUCKS RUN
CORRAL DE TIERRA
CA
93908
US
|
Family ID: |
39542660 |
Appl. No.: |
12/044931 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1654
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/1.7 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/16 20060101
E04H004/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 3, 2007 |
CN |
200710087378 |
Claims
1. A swimming pool cleaning vehicle, comprising: a housing having
an outer shell, and defining a hollow interior the housing
including at least one water intake port on the outer shell and at
least one outlet port on the outer shell; and the housing including
drive mechanism for propelling the vehicle along the pool surface;
and the housing having a bottom, the bottom being concaved inwardly
towards the interior.
2. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1
wherein the bottom is symmetrically concaved inwardly.
3. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1
wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of wheels.
4. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the bottom is asymmetrically concave.
5. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in of claim 4,
wherein the bottom has a lateral and a longitudinal axis and
wherein the bottom is asymmetrical along one of the axis.
6. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1,
wherein deeply concaved inwardly.
7. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in of claim 1,
wherein the intake ports open towards the bottom.
8. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in any of claims
1-7, wherein the water intake port is located proximate the drive
mechanism.
9. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 8,
wherein the drive mechanicism includes at least two pairs of wheels
and wherein the housing has openings for the wheels.
10. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 9,
wherein the bottom includes intake ports and wherein there is an
intake port located at each wheel opening. pg,15
11. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the drive mechanism comprises at least two rollers.
12. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the drive mechanism comprises a combination of wheels and
rollers.
13. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 5,
wherein the housing is asymmetrical on one side of the lateral
axis.
14. The swimming pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 5,
wherein the housing is asymmetrical on one side of the lateral axis
at least one side of the lateral axis and one side of the
longitudinal axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of swimming pool
cleaning vehicles, and more particularly the invention relates to
improvement on its bottom design for preventing the swimming pool
cleaning vehicle from becoming stuck or hung as it runs along the
floor of the swimming pool from various floor obstacles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Existing swimming pool cleaners can be classified by the
means for moving the cleaner along the pool, for example wheel,
roller, belt or hydraulic propulsion type. Prior art construction
is illustrated in FIG. 1 which consists of the following: an
exterior body (100) which forms a hollow interior (110), at least
one intake port (120) located on the said body (100); at least one
filter bag (130) filtering water receiving from intake port (120).
The filter bag is located inside the hollow interior (110) of the
body (100); at least one outlet port (140) located on the body
(100) and at least one water pump (150) placed under the said water
outlet port (140) for pumping water out from the body (100),
creating the partial vacuum and water flow inside the body (100)
required in order to pull up dirt and debris at swimming pool
floor, ensure water with debris could enter the body (100) through
the intake port (120), a filter bag(130) which secured by the
inside edge of intake port (120), filtering the dirt and debris and
cleaning the swimming pool water. Moreover, there are wheels and/or
rollers (160) placed at the corresponding body (100) bottom, the
wheels and/or rollers (160) are driven by motor inside/outside the
body (100) or jet propelled, moving the unit around in a swimming
pool.
[0003] As illustrated in FIG. 1, existing swimming pool cleaner
bottoms are generally flat. The bottom has at least one intake
port. Since swimming pool cleaner has to suck water in through this
intake port, the intake port cannot have floor clearance which is
too high. If it is too high, debris set at swimming pool floor
cannot be picked up by the limited partial vacuum and water flow
generated by the water pump. If it is too low, as illustrated in
FIG. 2 which has the main drain on certain type of swimming pools,
or naturally formed uneven obstacles. For example, a layer up to
2'' thick sand is laid under PVC film liner for water proof purpose
when a new swimming pool is constructed. After this type of
swimming pool is used in a period of time, it will have foot prints
of different sizes by swimming pool users. Swimming pools of such
construction naturally have an uneven pool floor causing the
typical swimming pool cleaner to become stuck or at least not run
normally or cause extra drive motor wear caused because of
slippage, which prevents the swimming pool cleaner from operating
normally, and even running the risk of being hit and damaged,
causing higher defective rate and higher maintenance cost.
[0004] To handle the above mentioned existing problems, known
design raises the floor clearance as illustrated in FIG. 3. By
adding a skirt (300) at the intake port, the segregated dirt is
stirred up when the swimming pool cleaner moves. Such a skirt (300)
is made of elastic material or makes a hinge such as elastic axle
between the skirt (300) and intake port, enabling the skirt (300)
to swing when it meets segregated dirt and stir the dirt without
affecting swimming pool cleaner motion. The skirt actually lowers
the effective floor clearance at the intake port. If the skirt
(300) is lowered too far, it will have the effect of only pushing
the segregated dirt around and therefore segregated dirt will not
be sucked up into the swimming pool cleaner body. One drawback to
such a skirt is that it could be caught by uneven swimming pool
floor. If the skirt remains closed, the cleaner cannot pass dirt
through its filter. On the other hand, a non-closed skirt cannot
limit the water flow and therefore cannot generate enough partial
vacuum and flow rate to bring debris and segregated dirt up to be
filtered.
[0005] What is needed is a swimming pool cleaner, which will clean
the pool floor without getting stuck as it does so.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of this invention is to make a swimming pool
cleaner that overcomes swimming pool floor obstacles as it operates
normally along the pool floor.
[0007] To achieve this objective, the swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with this invention, comprises: [0008] a body
shell including a hollow interior, at least one inlet port on the
body, and [0009] at least one outlet port on the body [0010] means
for moving the vehicle; and [0011] the body having a bottom which
defines a concave surface, directed toward the hollow interior.
[0012] In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the swimming
pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, the bottom is symmetrical
along one or both of its longitudinal and/or lateral axis.
[0013] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the
swimming pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, the means for
moving the vehicle includes a variety of combination of wheels
and/or rollers.
[0014] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the
swimming pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, the bottom is
significantly concave inwards.
[0015] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the
swimming pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, the means for
moving the vehicle is adjacent the water inlet port facing
downwards.
[0016] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the
swimming pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, a water inlet port
is adjacent more than one means for moving the vehicle.
[0017] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the
swimming pool cleaning vehicle of the invention, a water inlet port
is adjacent at each means for moving the vehicle.
[0018] It is an advantage of the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in
accordance with invention to overcome obstacles on the pool surface
while operating without affecting the partial vacuum and water flow
required at water inlet port.
[0019] It is another advantage of the swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with invention to efficiently suck up dirt
and debris into the swimming pool cleaning vehicle filter bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of
the present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and
wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows the existing swimming pool cleaner
construction.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the existing swimming pool cleaner becoming
stuck when it encountering obstacles.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the existing swimming pool cleaner having a
skirt at the water intake port.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the construction of a swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the construction of another exemplary
embodiment of the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in accordance with
the invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the construction of another exemplary
embodiment of the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in accordance with
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] To explain the objects and advantages of the swimming pool
cleaning vehicle in accordance with the invention, the following
description of the drawing and the exemplary embodiments are
provided in detail. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art, the exemplary embodiments are provided to explain the swimming
pool cleaning vehicle in accordance with the invention in detail
and not to be used to limit its scope.
[0028] The swimming pool cleaning vehicle in accordance with the
invention improves the art by providing a swimming pool cleaner
with concave bottom to ensure the vehicle can easily overcome
obstacles found on the pool surface. Additionally, by locating the
water intake port adjacent to the vehicle's drive means, either
using wheels and/or rollers water with dirt and debris is most
likely to be sucked into the swimming pool cleaner interior and
filtered.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates the construction of the swimming pool
cleaning vehicle in accordance with the invention in a first
exemplary embodiment. The first embodiment includes: an outer shell
(400) having a hollow interior (410). Additionally, one or more
water intake ports (420) are provided on the outer shell (400). A
filtering mechanism including one or more filter bags (430) are
provided inside the hollow interior (410) or in another
emobodiement on the outer shell (400) for filtering water from
water intake ports (420) and the filter mechanism traps the
debris.
[0030] One or more water outlet ports (440) are provided on the
outer shell (400). The vehicle includes a water pump mechanism
including one or more water pumps (450) placed under the
corresponding water outlet port (440) for pumping water from outer
shell (400) to outside pool water.
[0031] The drive mechanism of the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in
accordance with the invention includes a certain number of wheels
and/or rollers and various combination thereof. The wheels and/or
rollers (460) (this disclosure assigns 460 on both wheels and
rollers) are located adjacent the bottom (480) of the outer shell
(400).
[0032] If only wheels (460) are provided, the wheel (460) will
comprise 2 pairs located on the bottom (480) of the outer shell.
Quite clearly to those skilled in the art, it is clear that 3 or
more pairs of wheels (460) could be located on the bottom (480) in
another exemplary embodiment.
[0033] If only rollers (460) are provided, the roller (460) will be
generally 2 members, each member located on the ends of bottom
(480) of the outer shell (400). Quite clearly to those skilled in
the art, 3 or more rollers (460) could be located on the bottom
(480) in another exemplary embodiment.
[0034] If a combination of wheels and rollers (460) are provided,
normally one pair of wheels and 1 roller member will be located
oneach end of bottom(480). Quite clearly to those skilled in the
art, more pairs of wheels and rollers (460) could be placed at the
bottom(480) of the outer shell (400) an another exemplary
embodiment.
[0035] The wheels and/or rollers (460) are driven by motor placed
inside or outside the outer shell (400). The pairs of wheels and/or
rollers (460) can also be hydraulically propelled e.g. via water
jet via pressurized water generated by water pump placed inside or
outside the outer shell (400). (Not shown in the illustration).
[0036] In the exemplary embodiment shown here he swimming pool
cleaning vehicle in accordance with the invention runs around the
pool surface without being affected by floor obstacles. The 480 is
concaved inwardly toward the hollow interior. This allows the
swimming pool cleaner easily overcome swimming pool floor obstacles
such as the main drain cover or even steps.
[0037] In various exemplary embodiments, the bottom (480) is
symmetrically concave or asymmetrically concave. In one exemplary
embodiment the bottom (480) has two drive members. In one
embodiment, the drive mechanism includes two pairs of wheels (460).
In another exemplary embodiment there are two roller members (460).
In thiis embodiment, the bottom (480) is a front to back
symmetrical while being concaved inwardly either between front
wheel and rear wheel, or between front roller and rear roller. If
more than 3 pairs of wheel or 3 rollers are used, the body shell
(400) bottom (480) is symmetrical front to back and concaved
inwardly between adjacent wheels or rollers. Furthermore, amount of
the bottom being concave inwardly can be increased to accommodate
greater swimming pool floor obstacles.
[0038] Since the bottom (480) is concaved inwardly, most of the
bottom (480) has a high floor clearance. In order to ensure water
intake port (420) will suck in water with dirt and debristhe intake
port is located adjacent to the the drive mechanism, namely the
wheels and/or rollers or combinations thereof. It will be
appreciated that during operation of the swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with the invention, the floor clearance
remains unchanged.
[0039] In the above exemplary embodiment, the water intake port
(420) is located on the bottom (480) and closely adjacent to the
drive mechanism. Also, as will be appreciated to those skilled in
the art, the required partial vacuum and water flow at the water
intake port (420) remains effective so that dirt and debris are
easily sucked up into the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in
accordance with the invention.
[0040] In one exemplary embodiment, the water intake port (420)
points downwards. In another exemplary embodiment, the water intake
port (420) is located closely adjacent to the drive mechanism.
[0041] It will be appreciated that the number of water intake ports
(420) in other exemplary embodiments varies according to the
cleaning needs. Additional water intake ports are provided as
needed.
[0042] Another exemplary embodiment of the swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5.
In this exemplary embodiment the bottom (480) is asymmetrically
concaved inwardly. The bottom (480) includes a variety of wheel and
roller (460) combinations the bottom (480) is asymmetrically
concaved inwardly between front roller and rear wheel. In another
exemplary embodiment, the bottom is asymmetrically concaved
inwardly between the front and rear drive mechanisms. The
asymmetricly concaved bottom is defined by more than one curved
surface. The water intake port (420) is located on the bottom
(480), and located adjacent the drive mechanism.
[0043] Another exemplary embodiment of the swimming pool cleaning
vehicle in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6.
In this exemplary embodiment, the water intake port (420) is
located on the bottom (480) and directly under the drive
mechanism.
[0044] This location has the lowest clearance between vehicle and
swimming pool floor. The water intake port (42) here allows the
dirt and debris to be sucked up into the vehicle easily. In this
exemplary embodiment the water intake port (420) opening points
downward toward the pool surface, while in operation
[0045] In conclusion, the swimming pool cleaning vehicle in
accordance with the invention includes the vehicle having a
concaved bottom for overcoming swimming pool floor obstacles as it
runs along the swimming pool surface.
[0046] While the foregoing detailed description has described
several embodiments of the pool cleaning vehicle in accordance with
this invention, it is to be understood that the above description
is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention.
It will be appreciated there are also various modifications to the
vehicle that are suitable for use in the exemplary embodiments
discussed above and that there are numerous embodiments that are
not mentioned but within the scope and spirit of this invention.
Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the claims as set
forth below.
* * * * *