AU2004205090A1 - Pool equipment - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: JAYMAC DISTRIBUTORS PTY. LTD.

GLEN RONALD ROSE SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 POOL EQUIPMENT Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. 2003904576 Filed: 2 2 nd August, 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1 FC2004-O8-1 7,AA: 6jaymac.file.wpd, I la- TITLE: POOL EQUIPMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns closures for the skimmer box of a domestic swimming pool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The skimmer box is usually housed in a well beside the pool. The box is commonly a cylindrical sleeve like moulding with a smooth wall. A filter basket confined within the 2004-08-17,A:\502jaymac.cap.wpd, I -2box intercepts debris leaving the box outlet. The open top of the box may be closed by a lid. Some lids have a connection to receive pool water from an automatic pool vacuum system. Debris in the pool water remains in the basket as long as the pump continues to energise the vacuum system. When the cartridge filter is backwashed, the pump stops and then reverses the water flow and it is at this stage that any trapped air expands and rises. The trapped air tends to release either through the pump or the skimmer box. The released air pushes the lid off the box and releases debris into the pool. Some pool owners try to prevent this undesirable return by placing a weight such as a brick on the lid. Others fit a lid with an air release valve.

Prevention of floatable debris release and backwash debris release from a skimmer box requires a retro-fitted lid to cope with large displacement forces arising within the box has been a problem made difficult in that the box is devoid of any projections, slots or other surfaces which could anchor the lid and resist upward displacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One apparatus aspect of the invention provides a closure intended for insertion into the open top of a skimmer box comprising a lid and means mounted on the upper surface of the lid which in use urges multiple pads against the wall of the skimmer box to arrest the lid in the desired position.

The means which urges the pads against the box wall may be a handle which is linked to the pads such that handle movement imparts appropriate clamping force to the pads.

The pads may be linked by a lever system.

Alternatively the handle may operate the pads through a mechanical equivalent, such as an assembly of cams or a screw driven device which causes the pads to diverge.

The lever system may comprise an array of generally radially directed legs preferably mounted on the surface of the lid in order to exert an over centre locking action between the box wall and the lid. The legs diverge upwardly from the horizontal lid at an angle 2004-08-17,A:SO2jaymac.cap.wpd,2 -3of 45-65 preferably 50-60'. As the coefficient of friction in the box wall reduces so will the angle.

The handle may move the lever between an inoperative position in which the levers and associated pads lie clear of the wall and an operative position in which they contact the wall under (spring) pressure. It is expected that such lids will be retro-fitted and must therefore suit a variety of skimmer box sizes. To this end a series of annular plates may extend the diameter of the lid as required. Similarly the lever system may have a series of adjustable positions which cause different divergences in the legs. The underside of the lid may have means to removably attach a fabric bag.

A second apparatus aspect of the invention provides a skimmer box lid securing device comprising a bore capable of attachment to the skimmer box lid and means mounted on the base which in use urges multiple pads against the wall of the skimmer box to arrest the lid in the desired position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a poolside skimmer box of known type which is to be retro-fitted with the lid of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the lid.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the lid shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an underneath plan of the lid shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the annular plates which increase the effective diameter of the lid.

2004-08-17,A:5O02jaymac.cap.wpd,3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS In a conventional system the well 2 contains the skimmer box 4 which skims the pool through inlet 6. Basket 8 retains leaves and coarse debris. Lid 10 rests on the box and is removable to give access to the basket. The wall 12 of the skimmer box is smooth.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the closure is made of moulded components.

The dome 14 is of smaller diameter than the box and is brought up to size by an adapter plate namely an annulus 16 which attaches to the circumferential flange 18 of the dome.

The dome has an inlet 20 for connection to a pool vacuum hose (not shown) and an outlet 22 protected by a valve for air release. A vacuum gauge 24 on the dome senses the condition in the water flowing to the pump via inlet 6 (see Figure The centre of the dome has a pair of projections 28 both of which incorporate three possible positions for the arrester bar 30 of a handle 32.

The dome has four radially disposed pivots 34 which support four upwardly diverging cruciform legs 36. Each leg has a foot 38 at the upper end which in use bears against the smooth skimmer box wall. The foot has a rubber pad 40 and a claw socket for a ball 42 extending from leg 36. The legs derive their outward impetus via a pair of stiff horizontal yokes 44 which are pivoted at their extremities to the centre of each leg. The yokes 44 are in turn forced outwardly by a compression spring 46 trapped between the yoke and stop 48 on the ball rod 50 extending downwardly from the ends of the handle.

The hose inlet and valve outlet open into a control zone 52 on the underside of the dome which is surrounded by an ovoid ring flange 54 to which a fabric bag 56 is secured by a bag clip 58.

In use the owner selects from one of several adapter rings 58 (see Figure one which when fitted to the dome renders it a slide fit in the skimmer box. The filter bag is clipped to the underside of the dome and one of the three positions for the handle is selected to suitably compress springs 42 when the dome is inserted into the box.

2004-08-17,A:S02jaymac.cap.wpd,4 In an alternative non-illustrated version, the feet 38 are modified from substantially spherical to the shape of a circular flat pad. The yokes 4 have a screw-in facility. The handle supports 28 are assisted by an upstanding guide which reduces sideways movement.

In a non-illustrated embodiment the dome is replaced by a base of smaller size than the dome but which is adapted to be fixed permanently to the original lid. This embodiment has no vacuum hose inlet or air outlet.

We have found the advantages of the first embodiment to be:- 1. Resists upward displacement when the pump is switched off or reversed to permit backwashing.

2. Allows access to the fabric bag at all times.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A closure for insertion into the open top of a skimmer box comprising a lid and means mounted on the upper surface of the lid which in use urges multiple contacts against the wall of the skimmer box to arrest the lid in the desired position and resist upward displacing force on the lid.

2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means is a manually operable member which is linked to the contacts such that the member movement imparts appropriate clamping force to the contacts.

3. A closure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the contacts are linked by a lever system.

4. A closure as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the lever system comprises an array of radially directed legs which exert an arresting action between the box wall and the lid and the contacts are feet attached to the legs.

A closure as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the lever system has a series of positions which are selectable to cause different divergencies in the legs.

6. A closure as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the legs diverge upwardly from the horizontal lid when in the working position at an angle at 45-65°.

7. A closure as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the angle is 50-60°.

8. A closure as claimed in any one of Claims 2-7, wherein the member is a handle which moves the lever system between an inoperative position in which the levers and the associated feet lie clear of the wall and an operative position in which the feet are urged against the wall and the lid resists an upwardly directed force exerted by released air and water.

9. A closure as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the lid has guides for the handle and a

2004-08-1 7,A:\502jaymac.cap.wpd,6 I multi-position detent for arresting the handle in selected positions in all of which the handle compresses one or more springs arranged to cause the legs to diverge. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the lid is increased by one or more annular plates which is or are attachable to the plate. 11. A closure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the underside of the lid has means to attach a fabric bag. 12. A closure as claimed in any one of Claims 4-11, wherein a ball and socket joint connects each foot to each leg. 13. A closure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the feet have rubber pads with a convex face. 14. A closure for a skimmer box substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17" t day of August, 2004. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR JAYMAC DISTRIBUTORS PTY. LTD. 2004-08-17,A:\502jaymac.cap.wpd,7