U.S. patent application number 13/433029 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for net assembly for pool skimmer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Picnic Products, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is William F. Crowe, Roy E. Greenlees, Kenneth S. Schultz. Invention is credited to William F. Crowe, Roy E. Greenlees, Kenneth S. Schultz.
Application Number | 20130256203 13/433029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49233445 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130256203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schultz; Kenneth S. ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
NET ASSEMBLY FOR POOL SKIMMER
Abstract
A removable skimmer net assembly that securely sits within the
mouth of any conventional pool skimmer to passively collect
floating debris from the surface of the water. The skimmer net
assembly includes a removable pool net and a skimmer mount having a
telescoping column and a T-shaped net orientation connector. The
telescoping column secures the mount within the mouth of the pool
skimmer in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. The net
orientation connector allows the removable net to be properly
positioned within the pool regardless of the orientation of the
telescoping column or the style of skimmer. The removable pool net
is connected to the skimmer mount by a dove-tail joint that allows
the net to be easily disconnected from the mount for cleaning or
when the pool is in use.
Inventors: |
Schultz; Kenneth S.;
(Evanston, IL) ; Crowe; William F.; (Harvard,
IL) ; Greenlees; Roy E.; (Lake Forest, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schultz; Kenneth S.
Crowe; William F.
Greenlees; Roy E. |
Evanston
Harvard
Lake Forest |
IL
IL
IL |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Picnic Products, LLC
|
Family ID: |
49233445 |
Appl. No.: |
13/433029 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/167.19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1254
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/167.19 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/16 20060101
E04H004/16 |
Claims
1. A pool net assembly for removing floating debris from the
surface of water in a pool having a skimmer where the skimmer has a
open skimmer mouth defined by a top wall, bottom wall and two side
walls, the assembly comprising: a skimmer mount; and a removable
pool net detachably connected to the skimmer mount, the skimmer
mount includes a telescoping column adapted to restrictively seat
within the open mouth of the skimmer in a first orientation where
the column extends axially between the sidewalls of the mouth and a
second orientation where the column extends axially between the top
wall and the bottom wall of the skimmer mouth, and a net
orientation connector selectively mounted to the telescoping column
in a first position when the telescoping column is in its first
orientation and a second position when the telescoping column is in
its second orientation.
2. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the pool net includes a
net frame and a net body connected to the net frame, the net frame
having an opening therein defining a mouth of the pool net.
3. The pool net assembly of claim 2 wherein the net frame includes
one of a male connector part and a female connector part, the net
orientation connector includes one of a female connector part
adapted to receive the male connector part of the net frame and a
male connector part adapted to insert into the female connector
part of the net frame.
4. The pool net assembly of claim 3 wherein the male connector part
of the net frame and the female connector part of the net
orientation connector, and the female connector part of the net
frame and the male connector part of the net orientation connector
each form a dove-tail joint.
5. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the telescoping column
includes a center member and a pair of opposed end members
extensibly mounted to the center member.
6. The pool net assembly of claim 5 wherein the net orientation
connector is selectably mounted to the center member.
7. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the telescoping column
includes an integral arm extending therefrom, the arm contacting
the skimmer when the skimmer mount is seated within the skimmer
mouth to prevent movement of the pool net.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for removing floating
debris from swimming pools, and in particular, a net attachment
assembly mountable in the mouth of a pool skimmer.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Floating debris, such as leaves, twigs, grass and other bits
of foliage, as well as insects and other vermin, is a common
nuisance for swimming pools. Floating debris detracts from the
aesthetic value and use of the pool and is problematic for the
operation of the circulation and filtering systems of the pool. A
number of devices and tools have been developed to collect and
remove floating debris from the surface water of swimming pools,
ranging from a manually used net affixed at the end of a pole to
nets that mount to the sides of the pool and passively collect
floating debris. Pool skimmers, which generally form part of the
water filtration and circulation system of the pool, often have
screens that filter floating debris, but these screens are actually
designed more to protect the pump from clogging as a result of a
buildup of debris than for providing an efficient means for
cleaning the pool water.
[0003] The present invention provides a removable skimmer net
assembly that securely sits within the mouth of any conventional
pool skimmer to passively collect floating debris from the surface
of the water. The skimmer net assembly includes a removable pool
net and a skimmer mount, which has a telescoping column and a
T-shaped net orientation connector. The telescoping column secures
the mount within the mouth of the pool skimmer in either a vertical
or horizontal orientation. The net orientation connector allows the
removable net to be properly positioned within the pool skimmer
mouth regardless of the orientation of the telescoping column or
the style of skimmer. The removable pool net is connected to the
skimmer mount by a dove-tail joint that allows the net to be easily
disconnected from the mount for cleaning or when the pool is in
use.
[0004] The above described features and advantages, as well as
others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention may take form in various system and
method components and arrangement of system and method components.
The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary
embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an embodiment of the skimmer
net assembly of this invention shown with the pool net disconnected
from the skimmer mount;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the skimmer mount of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the skimmer mount of FIG. 1 in the
parallel position with portions cut away;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the skimmer net assembly of
FIG. 1 in the parallel position fitted within the mouth of a
conventional pool skimmer;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the skimmer mount being
positioned within the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the skimmer mount being
fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer in the
parallel position;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the pool net seated on the
skimmer mount fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer
in the parallel position; and
[0013] FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the pool net seated on the
skimmer mount fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer
in the perpendicular position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an
embodiment of the removable skimmer net assembly of this invention,
which is designated generally as reference numeral 10. As shown,
skimmer net assembly 10 is designed to sit within the mouth of any
conventional pool skimmer and collect floating debris from the
surface of the water. Skimmer net assembly 10 includes a removable
pool net 20 and a skimmer mount 30. Pool net 20 includes a mesh net
22 and a rectangular peripheral frame 24, which supports the open
mouth 21 of the net. Mesh net 22 is constructed from a fine mesh
nylon fabric and fashioned into a configuration similar to a
butterfly net, which allows water to pass through, but captures
small debris, leaves, sticks and insects. Net frame 22 is generally
constructed of a reinforced polymer plastic or other suitable
material for use in pool water. Net frame 24 includes a handle 26
formed along its top and an integral male dove-tailed flange 28
formed along one side adjacent handle 26.
[0015] Like the net frame 24, skimmer mount 30 is constructed of a
polymer plastic or other suitable material for use in pool water.
Skimmer mount 30 includes an extensible telescoping column 40 and a
T-shaped net orientation connector 50. Column 40 includes a center
member 42 and a pair of extensible end members 44. Column 40 allows
skimmer mount 30 to be securely fitted into the mouth of any
conventional skimmer. Center member 42 has generally cylindrical
body with opposed threaded male ends 43. An integral abutment arm
41 extends perpendicularly from center member 42. Center member 42
has a pair of square notches 47 formed on opposed sides thereof and
a lateral through bore 49 that extends between the square notches
47. It should be noted that abutment arm 41 extends at an offset
angle with respect to bore 49, i.e., generally 3-10 degrees offset
from perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bore 49. Each end
member 44 has generally tubular bodies. The inner wall 45 of each
end member 44 is threaded to receive threaded male ends 43 of
center member 42. Column 40 also includes a pair of locking nuts 48
that can be turned about threaded male ends 43 to abut against end
members 44 thereby locking the end members in place. Pliable end
cap 48 covers the open end of each end member 44 and assists in
providing the holding force to secure skimmer mount 20 within the
mouth of a pool skimmer.
[0016] Net orientation connector 50 has mounting sleeve 52 and an
integral shaft 54. Mounting sleeve 52 has a longitudinal female
dove-tailed slot 53 formed therein for receiving the male
dove-tailed flange 26 of net frame 22. Shaft 54 extends
perpendicularly from a square shoulder 56 that protrudes from the
back of sleeve 52 and a has a threaded distal end 58. Net
orientation connector 50 is connected to telescoping column 40
selectively in either a parallel position (FIGS. 4 and 7) or a
perpendicular position (FIG. 8). When connected to telescoping
column 40, shaft 54 extends through bore 49 and is secured by a
wing nut 60 and held in place by shoulder 56 and a square spacer
block 62 that seat within notches 47.
[0017] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate how skimmer net assembly 10 is mounted
in the mouth 3 of a conventional pool skimmer. As shown, skimmer
mount 30 is positioned within skimmer mouth 3 and end members 44
are manually rotated to extend outward from center member 42 to
abut either the sidewalls or the top and bottom walls of the
skimmer mouth 2. Typically, the end members are extended so that
the water line 9 of the pool is above shaft 54 of the net
orientation connector 50. In addition, skimmer mount 30 is
generally positioned within skimmer mouth 3, such that abutment arm
41 contacts a sidewall of the skimmer in the parallel position to
prevent the skimmer mount and pool net 20 from pivoting or twisting
against the water current within the pool as shown in FIG. 4. In
the perpendicular position (FIG. 8), skimmer mount is positioned so
that abutment arm 41 contacts either the top wall or the bottom
wall of the skimmer to prevent the skimmer mount and the pool net
from pivoting or twisting. Once skimmer mount 30 is seated within
skimmer mouth 2, pool net 20 is connected by sliding flange 28 into
sleeve slot 53. When attached, floating debris collects in pool net
20, which extends from the skimmer mouth into the pool. As shown in
FIG. 4, the lower half of pool net 20 is submersed below the water
line 9. Pool net 20 can be manually removed from skimmer mount 30
to clean and remove debris from the net or when the pool is in
use.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively, net orientation
connector 50 can be connected to column 40 in a perpendicular
position where sleeve 54 is perpendicular to the column or a
parallel position where the sleeve is parallel to the column.
Skimmer mount 30 can be adapted for use in skimmers with both
standard square mouths or rectangular wide mouths, by simply
changing how net orientation connector 50 is connected to column 40
and adjusting telescoping end members 44.
[0019] One skilled in the art will note that the skimmer net
assembly of this invention provides a passive collection mechanism
for floating debris on the surface of a swimming pool. The skimmer
mount is easily installed onto the mouth of the skimmer without
tools or modification of the skimmer mouth. The extensible or
telescoping action of the skimmer mount allows the assembly to be
used in any style or brand of skimmer and can be used in both
square faced and wide mouth skimmer profiles. The locking nuts and
end caps ensure that the skimmer mount is securely seated in the
skimmer mouth. The removable pool net can be removed for cleaning
out the collected debris or when the pool is in use. The sliding
dove tail joint allows the removable pool net to be manually
inserted onto and pulled from the skimmer mount. The pool net is
also sized and shaped to collect a large volume of floating debris,
including leaves, sticks and insects before needing to be
emptied.
[0020] The skimmer net assembly helps remove floating debris,
particularly smaller debris and insects, before it enters the pool
skimmer filter, which prolongs the life of the skimmer's filter
element and reduces the frequency of backwashing of the filter
system to remove collected small debris. Capturing such small
debris prior to its entrance into the skimmer lessen the strain on
the pool filter pump due to the filter element being cleaner thus
allowing the pump to work more efficiently and lessen the time the
pump may run at higher pressure rates due to small debris
collection in the main filter element.
[0021] The embodiment of the present invention herein described and
illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain
the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its
teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *