CA2266355C - Swimming pool cleaner component - Google Patents

Swimming pool cleaner component Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2266355C
CA2266355C CA002266355A CA2266355A CA2266355C CA 2266355 C CA2266355 C CA 2266355C CA 002266355 A CA002266355 A CA 002266355A CA 2266355 A CA2266355 A CA 2266355A CA 2266355 C CA2266355 C CA 2266355C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
disc
foot
pool cleaner
swimming pool
component
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA002266355A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2266355A1 (en
Inventor
David Seagrave Atkins
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Zodiac Pool Care Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zodiac Pool Care Inc filed Critical Zodiac Pool Care Inc
Publication of CA2266355A1 publication Critical patent/CA2266355A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2266355C publication Critical patent/CA2266355C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04HBUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H4/00Swimming or splash baths or pools
    • E04H4/14Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
    • E04H4/16Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
    • E04H4/1654Self-propelled cleaners
    • E04H4/1663Self-propelled cleaners the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner

Abstract

An integrally-moulded foot (3) and disc (2) for a swimming pool cleaner is disclosed. The disc (2) optionally may include tapering holes (17) at spaced intervals.

Description

14 0~ 1998 SWIMMING POOL CLEANER COMPONENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a component for a suction operated automatic swimming pool cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Several kinds of swimming pool cleaners have been developed which operate on suction generated by the swimming pool filtration plant. Usually these cleaners require a flexible disc to hold the cleaner against the surface being cleaned and a wear resistant foot which nms over the surface. The foot is moulded to have a stepped configuration so that water can pass under the disc and foot carrying detritus into the cleaner body and thence to be caught in a collection trap or the pool filter.
The foot is firmly resiliently engaged on the body and the disc engaged in a peripheral recess around the foot so that it can rotate around the foot. The components are made of different materials and are costly components of the cleaner.
U.S. Patent No. 5,617,606 discloses an exemplary disc for a swimming pool cleaner.
Designed to receive a separate footpad in its central aperture, the disc includes arched protrusions extending upward from its upper surface. In use, the lower surface of the disc is adjacent the surface of the pool or other structure to be cleaned. U.
S. Patent Nos. 4,351,077, 4,642,833, and 4,193,156 illustrate automatic, water-interruption-type suction swimming pool cleaners having flexible annular discs typically mounted near their inlets, with the disc of the latter patent having numerous "concertina-like,"
"circumferentially spaced folds."
AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/EP

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The Applicant has monitored the wear and tear on many cleaners and the object of this invention is to provide a component which will materially reduce the cost of manufacture of the pool cleaner while in no way reducing its efficacy in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
10 According to this invention there is provided a swimming pool cleaner component comprising a foot and flexible disc moulded as an integral unit. In one aspect of the invention, the foot is formed as a central boss part with a base which, in use, contacts the surface to be cleaned, the boss part having a rim for connection to the body of the swimming pool cleaner, and the disc formed as an integral outer annular part 15 surrounding the boss part.
Further features of this invention provide for the foot to be rotatable on and supported by the body of the pool cleaner, for the shape of the foot to generally conform to a truncated conical shape and for the inner edges of the surface engaging parts of the , foot to be more rigid than the outer edges.
The invention also provides for the disc to have a ring of reduced thickness around the foot and to have radially extending ribs of reduced thickness and a series of venturi openings spaced apart from the foot symmetrically there around. The surface of material around the openings in contact in use with a surface being cleaned will preferably be dished to ensure a very thin suction at the opening.
The invention also provides for the upper surface of the foot to provide a series of sand traps facilitating the transport of sand cleaned from the pool through the cleaner.
I S The outer edge of the disc will preferably be of serrated shape with short upward projections extending from the peaks of the serrations.
It is a feature of this invention that the component can be moulded from a polyvinyl chloride composition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of this invention will become apparent from the following description of two examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cleaner component in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a diametral section through the central part of the component;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is an underneath view of the second embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a diametral sectional elevation on section C-C;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial diametral sectional elevation on section B-B;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged diametral section through the central part on section C-C;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged diametral section through the central point on section B-B;
Fig. 9 is a partial sectional elevation showing a hinge detail; and Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a detail of venturi holes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown the component 1 for a swimming pool cleaner is preferably moulded of polyvinyl chloride material. This material is chosen to be cross-linkable to enable wear resistance characteristics to be varied to predetermined degrees. The component is designed so that this material can be used without distorking hoop stresses developing in the component during curing. This is achieved by the construction described below.
The component 1 consists of a peripheral annular disc part 2 integrally moulded with a central boss part forming a foot 3 for the pool cleaner. The foot is of truncated conical shape as indicated at 4. This gives a stability to the structure while allowing the base 5 of the foot 3 to be flexible around its outer edges. The conical section emphasises the ability of the foot to deform at the surface being cleaned and so tend to cling to projections and corners formed, for example, by steps on the surface to be cleaned.
The normally circular opening into the foot can be given different elongated shapes to assist the facility. Gussets 6 are provided symmetrically spaced around the foot 3 extending between the central and horizontal sections.
An annular inwardly facing rim 7 is provided to rotatably engage in a groove provided around the bottom of a pool cleaner body (not shown).
The base of the foot 3 is of stepped configuration with the lower sections 8 providing the parts of the foot engaging the surface being cleaned during use of the pool cleaner.
The indented stepped sections 9 on the bottom surface provide flow openings into the AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/EP
body of the pool cleaner from underneath the foot and disc. The outer part of the surface engaging sections is more flexible than the smaller diameter inner sections.
Further openings 10 through the wall of the base part of the foot 3 allow flow of water above the disc into the pool cleaner body.
The foot 3 is joined to the flexible annular disc 2 by a ring 12 of thin sectioned material which provide great flexibility of the disc 2 relative to the foot 3.
Radially extending upstanding hinge sections 13 of reduced section material are symmetrically distributed across the upper surface of the disc 2 providing both flexibility to the disc and guide paths for sand and other detritus over the top surface of the disc towards the pockets formed between the stepped sections of the foot 3.
These hinge sections also enable the effects of hoop stresses occurring during 1 S moulding and curing to be overcome. Escape holes 14 are provided through the walls _. of the pockets not providing flow openings 10 into the body of the cleaner.
The intention is to allow escape of sand which may otherwise accumulate.
These hinge sections 13 and the ring 12 of reduced sectioned material ensure a flexibility to the dish which enables it to move over or around obstacles encountered during cleaning of a pool and substantially prevents the cleaner from becoming jammed.
The edge 15 of the disc 2 is serrated and short upstanding and outwardly projecting fins 16 extend from the apices of the serrations.
Venturi shaped holes 17 are provided through the disc at spaced intervals. The disc below these holes 17 is dished as indicated at 18 to provide thin edges around the periphery of the holes. These holes improve the flow characteristics of the water over the surface of the disc into the body of the pool cleaner.

It will be appreciated that the construction described above results in a highly flexible and efficient disc and foot combination which has a central part providing adequate support to hold the body of a pool cleaner properly orientated during use. It further provides substantial cost savings in the manufacture of the components by reduction 5 both in the amount of material required and in the kind of material that can be used in the moulding of the combined components.
Refernng to Figures 3 to 10, many features are the same as are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the same reference numerals for these features are used. The description of Figures l and 2 is referred to. No escape holes 14 are provided in this second embodiment. They are not important to have. The venturi shaped holes 17 are so called because they provide a narrowing passage for the radially inward flow of water through the holes, accelerating this flow. Hence the comment that they improve the flow characteristics of the water over the disc into the body of the pool cleaner.
The view of Figure 4 of the underneath of the disc shows a circle 20 which is the position at which the thickness of the disc 2 commences to reduce radially outwardly to the edge 15. Radially inwardly of the circle 20 the thickness of the disc remains constant.

Claims (18)

Claims:
1. For a swimming pool cleaner which consists of a body which has first structure for connection to a flexible suction pipe, second structure for intermittent interruption of a flow of water into the suction pipe and third structure for connection to a foot and flexible disc, a component which comprises:
a foot and a flexible disc moulded as an integral unit, the foot formed as a central boss part with a peripheral base;
the boss part having an upper rim for connection to the third structure of the body part; and the disc formed as an integral outer annular part.
2. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which the foot has a truncated conical shape and the rim is inwardly facing.
3. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which the boss has indented stepped sections which provide flow openings into the body of the pool cleaner from underneath the integral foot and disc.
4. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, which is provided with openings through the wall of the boss part of the foot above the integral disc to allow flow of water above the disc into the body of the pool cleaner.
5. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim l, in which gussets are provided symmetrically spaced around the boss of the foot and the inner part of the foot is less flexible than the outer part of the foot.
6. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ring of sectional material between the disc and the foot which provides flexibility of the disc relative to the foot.
7. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which the disc comprises radially extending upstanding hinge sections symmetrically distributed across the upper surface of the disc, providing flexibility to the disc and guide paths for sand and other detritus.
8. A component for a swimming pool cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer edge of the disc is serrated and short upstanding and outwardly projecting fins extend from the apices of the serrations.
9. A component for a swimming pool as claimed in claim 1, in which tapering holes are provided in the disc at spaced intervals and the material of the disc is dished around the holes to provide thin edges around the periphery of the holes.
10. For a swimming pool cleaner which includes a body which has first structure for connection to a flexible suction pipe, second structure for intermittent interruption of a flow of water into the suction pipe and third structure for connection to a foot and flexible disc, a component which comprises:
a foot and a flexible disc molded as an integral unit, the foot formed as a central boss part with a peripheral base;
the boss part having an upper rim for connection to the third structure of the body part and indented stepped sections which provide flow openings into the body of the pool cleaner from underneath the integral foot and disc: and the disc formed as an integral outer annular part.
11. An automatic swimming pool cleaner for cleaning a surface of a swimming pool, comprising:
a. a body; and b. an integrally-moulded foot and disc, the foot formed as a central boss part with a base which, in use, contacts the surface to be cleaned, the boss part having a rim for connection to the body, and the disc formed as an integral outer annular part surrounding the boss part.
12. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 11 in which the disc is flexible and has an outer edge which is serrated.
13. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 12 in which the disc has an upper surface and a lower surface and at least part of the rim is above the upper surface of the disc when the disc is oriented horizontally with its lower surface adjacent the surface to be cleaned.
14. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 12 in which, in use, the integrally-formed foot and disc can rotate about the body.
15. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 14 in which the disc has an upper surface and a lower surface and at least part of the rim is above the upper surface of the disc when the disc is oriented horizontally with its lower surface adjacent the surface to be cleaned.
16. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 11 in which, in use, the integrally-formed foot and disc can rotate about the body.
17. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 16 in which the disc has an upper surface and a lower surface and at least part of the rim is above the upper surface of the disc when the disc is oriented horizontally with its lower surface adjacent the surface to be cleaned.
18. An automatic swimming pool cleaner according to claim 11 in which the disc has an upper surface and a lower surface and at least part of the rim is above the upper surface of the disc when the disc is oriented horizontally with its lower surface adjacent the surface to be cleaned.
CA002266355A 1996-10-03 1997-09-29 Swimming pool cleaner component Expired - Lifetime CA2266355C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA96/8310 1996-10-03
ZA968310 1996-10-03
PCT/US1997/017631 WO1998014678A1 (en) 1996-10-03 1997-09-29 Swimming pool cleaner component

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2266355A1 CA2266355A1 (en) 1998-04-09
CA2266355C true CA2266355C (en) 2006-12-12

Family

ID=25585925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002266355A Expired - Lifetime CA2266355C (en) 1996-10-03 1997-09-29 Swimming pool cleaner component

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0932736B1 (en)
AU (1) AU728551B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9711848A (en)
CA (1) CA2266355C (en)
DE (1) DE69731761T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2234035T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1998014678A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6463614B1 (en) * 1997-11-26 2002-10-15 Mocani (Pty) Ltd Pool cleaner
AU3486300A (en) * 1999-02-10 2000-08-29 Rice, Chris A Automatic swimming pool cleaner discs
AUPR382401A0 (en) * 2001-03-20 2001-04-12 K.K. Australia Pty Ltd An improved automatic pool cleaner

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4193156A (en) * 1976-08-19 1980-03-18 Daniel Jean Velere Denis Chauvier Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
FR2520421A1 (en) * 1982-01-26 1983-07-29 Puech Frederic Cleaner for swimming pool - incorporates releasable suction brake which causes it to change direction
US4642833A (en) * 1985-03-14 1987-02-17 Coxwold (Proprietary) Limited Valve assembly
US5617606A (en) * 1996-02-29 1997-04-08 Baracuda International Corp. Fluted swimming pool cleaner discs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0932736A1 (en) 1999-08-04
EP0932736B1 (en) 2004-11-24
AU728551B2 (en) 2001-01-11
ES2234035T3 (en) 2005-06-16
AU4660697A (en) 1998-04-24
DE69731761T2 (en) 2005-12-15
BR9711848A (en) 2001-12-04
WO1998014678A1 (en) 1998-04-09
CA2266355A1 (en) 1998-04-09
DE69731761D1 (en) 2004-12-30

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Effective date: 20170929