EP3495587B1 - Swimming pool cleaner - Google Patents

Swimming pool cleaner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3495587B1
EP3495587B1 EP18207706.5A EP18207706A EP3495587B1 EP 3495587 B1 EP3495587 B1 EP 3495587B1 EP 18207706 A EP18207706 A EP 18207706A EP 3495587 B1 EP3495587 B1 EP 3495587B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzle
debris
cleaner
inlet
pool
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.)
Active
Application number
EP18207706.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3495587A3 (en
EP3495587A2 (en
Inventor
Dieter J. Rief
Hans Rainer SCHILTZER
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.)
Hayward Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Hayward Industries 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
Priority claimed from US13/627,637 external-priority patent/US9593502B2/en
Application filed by Hayward Industries Inc filed Critical Hayward Industries Inc
Publication of EP3495587A2 publication Critical patent/EP3495587A2/en
Publication of EP3495587A3 publication Critical patent/EP3495587A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3495587B1 publication Critical patent/EP3495587B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to swimming pool cleaners and, more particularly, to automatic swimming pool cleaners movable along an underwater pool surface for purposes of cleaning debris therefrom. Still more particularly, this invention relates to swimming pool cleaners having the flow of water pumped and/or sucked by remote pumps into and through the pool cleaners.
  • Suction automatic pool cleaners are very successful when there is fine debris or debris that become soft in water. This fine debris is sucked up by the cleaner and deposited into a pump basket, or other debris-collection device, and the really fine debris passes into the pool filter.
  • An example of a suction cleaner is disclosed in commonly-owned United States Patent No. 6,854,148 (Rief et al. ), or US 5,604,950 A .
  • Suction automatic swimming pool cleaners are used in places with much sand and silt. Although suction cleaners can take leafy debris once it has softened in the pool, large debris such and large acorns and hard leafs would plug up a suction cleaner. Suction swimming pool cleaners are also limited to the debris size due to loss of suction if the inlet and/or outlet orifices are widened to accommodate such large debris and the possibility of large debris clogging the pool pipes.
  • pressure automatic swimming pool cleaners are very successful when there is large debris such as leaves and acorns, these large debris are pulled off the pool surface by virtue of a Venturi effect and are placed into a debris-collection device, such as a bag, above the cleaner.
  • a pressure cleaner is disclosed in commonly-owned United States Patent No. 6,782,578 . With a pressure swimming pool cleaner, the limitation is the opposite to the suction cleaner. In removing very large debris from the swimming pool, a pressure cleaner uses a collection bag or other receptacle. Regardless of how fine the walls of such receptacle are, sand and silt can pass through them back into the pool.
  • United States Patent No. 7,168,120 discloses a pressure-fed vacuum swimming pool cleaning robot.
  • the robot of the Habif et al. patent has a structure which extends from a debris-inlet end applied to the swimming-pool underwater surface to an opposite debris-outlet end which is distal from the underwater surface.
  • the suction is always created at the debris-outlet end by either a connection of the debris-outlet end to a suction hose or by creating a Venturi effect at the debris-outlet.
  • the structure of the Habif et al. patent consistently operates as a suction cleaner which successfully removes only fine or very soft debris.
  • This structure is not configured for removal of large and hard debris which would plug up the debris inlet as well as inner passages of the Habif et al. robot. Therefore, as with the Chauvier et al. patent, large or hard debris would have to be removed from the swimming pool by a separate cleaner different from the robot of the Habif et al. patent or by some other means designed for removal of such large debris.
  • variable speed pumps it would be beneficial to have a cleaner which consistently provides an efficient performance with pumps running at lower or higher rates and is successful in removing both fine and large debris from the swimming-pool underwater surface.
  • US 7 378 026 B1 concerns an apparatus and a method for removing particulate matter from a plurality of vessels.
  • AT 5 391 U1 concerns a device for suction of deposits, in particular mud and/or algae from the bottom of a body of water.
  • a swimming pool cleaner in accordance with claim 1. Examples of the following description not falling under the scope of the claims and should be interpreted as examples useful for understanding the invention. Preferred optional features are defined in the dependent claims.
  • This invention is an improved swimming pool cleaner of the type movable along an underwater pool surface to clean debris therefrom.
  • the swimming pool cleaner of the present invention provides an important advantage of substantially strain-free and tool-free assembly.
  • the swimming pool cleaner includes a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet.
  • the swimming pool cleaner may include a segmented skirt which includes a plurality of flap members each of which extends from a proximal end hinged to the body to a distal end which is configured for extending along the pool surface such that the skirt forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet.
  • the body may define an elongate slotted cavity extending between two ends and pivotably holding the proximal ends of the flap members therewithin.
  • the slotted cavity has an openable inlet-adjacent middle region permitting strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity for sliding therealong.
  • the cleaner further includes a nozzle inserted into the debris inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The nozzle may be positioned over the middle region of the slotted cavity retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity.
  • the slotted cavity may be formed by first and second wall portions separated by a slot.
  • a first wall-portion configuration being continuous between the closed side ends, and a second wall-portion configuration being interrupted along the inlet-adjacent middle region permitting strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity.
  • the first and second wall-portion configurations each include a plurality of spaced tabs holding the flap-member proximal ends.
  • the second configuration is lacking the tabs along the inlet-adjacent middle region thereby opening access for sliding the flap-member proximal ends in or out of the cavity for strain-free assembly of the segmented skirt.
  • the cleaner body may also include a frame structure extending laterally from the debris inlet along the slotted cavity.
  • the tabs of the second wall-portion configuration protrude from the frame structure thereby have a reinforced configuration minimizing breakage of the tabs.
  • the nozzle may have two opposite lateral sides and a cavity-adjacent side therebetween.
  • the nozzle includes at least one tab extending from the cavity-adjacent side over the cavity thereby closing the inlet-adjacent middle region and retaining the flap-member proximal ends within the cavity by providing continuity for the second wall-portion configuration.
  • the nozzle is removable from the debris inlet and is configured for engagement with the frame structure which holds the nozzle within the debris inlet.
  • the pool cleaner may include a plurality of interchangeable nozzles each of which having a flow opening which is different in size than flow openings of the other nozzles.
  • Such varying in size nozzle permits easy adjustment of the inlet size to accommodate the size of debris falling into the pool.
  • the nozzle with a larger nozzle opening will allow large debris such as leaves, plant seeds and the like to pass through while the nozzles with a small or medium flow opening may not be able to pass such debris through.
  • the interchangeable nozzles of the present invention consistently provide a required efficient performance of the cleaner with variable speed pumps.
  • the interchangeable nozzles of the present invention consistently provide a required efficient performance of the cleaner. In particular, when the pump runs at a lower rate, the nozzle with the smaller flow opening will provide the required performance. And, when the pump runs at a high rate, the nozzle with the larger flow opening will have the required performance.
  • the pool cleaner may be interchangeably usable as a suction cleaner for removal of fine debris such as sand and silt and as a pressure cleaner for removal of large and hard debris such as large leaves, acorns and stones.
  • the body is adapted at the debris outlet for securement of either a water-suction hose connected to a remote suction system or a debris-collection device entrapping debris and passing water therethrough back into the pool.
  • the cleaner is used as a pressure cleaner, the one of the nozzles which has the larger flow opening is secured with respect to the body.
  • the inlet size can be reduced by installing that one of the nozzles which has the smaller flow opening.
  • the pool cleaner includes a tool-free nozzle mounting.
  • Such tool-free nozzle mounting may include a pair of lateral protrusions each extending from one of the lateral sides of the nozzle and a pair of frame-structure side portions extending laterally from the inlet and each engaging the corresponding lateral protrusion of the nozzle thereby retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet.
  • Each protrusion may have a first surface substantially orthogonal to the nozzle lateral side and a second surface sloping between the first surface and the nozzle lateral side.
  • the orthogonal surface allows pressing on the corresponding side body portion and the sloping surface permits release of the nozzle from the inlet.
  • Each side portion of the frame structure includes a spring-grip inwardly displaceable when pressed by the corresponding lateral protrusion of the nozzle being inserted into the debris inlet. The nozzle is being inserted beyond the spring-grip which resiliently returns into alignment with the side portion thereby locking the nozzle within the inlet.
  • each side portion of the frame structure extends outwardly from the debris inlet thereby forming a tapered surface minimizing entrapment of the cleaner on step-like pool structures.
  • the pool cleaner also includes a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly which supports at least one pair of wheels moving the cleaner along the pool surface.
  • the tool-free wheel-mounting assembly includes each of the wheels having a ball bearing rotatably holding such wheel on a non-rotating shaft extending laterally from the respective side of the cleaner body, each ball-bearing having an interior configuration matching an exterior configuration of the shaft in non-rotating engagement therewith.
  • Each shaft may have a polygonal exterior with each bearing having a polygonal interior matching the shaft exterior in non-rotating engagement therewith.
  • the ball bearing may be a double-race bearing in non-rotating engagement with the respective wheel.
  • each shaft has a hollow interior with an inwardly-facing shoulder therewithin.
  • the tool-free wheel-mounting assembly includes a removable clip inserted into the shaft interior and in a locking engagement with the shoulder.
  • the clip has at least two fingers which extend from an exterior head and terminate with a hook-end within the shaft interior. The fingers are being pressed together upon insertion into the shaft and spreading outwardly into the locking engagement with the shoulder thereby securely holding the wheel on the shaft.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure a non-claimed method for tool-free assembly of the swimming pool cleaner.
  • the nozzle is installed by pressing the spring-grip with the nozzle into the inlet until the nozzle is beyond the spring-grip which resiliently returns to its original orientation thereby locking the nozzle within the inlet.
  • the method also includes the step of hingedly attaching the segmented skirt to the body.
  • the skirt is attached to the body in a stain-free fashion.
  • a proximal end (also referred to as an attaching end) of each flap member is freely places into the open inlet-adjacent middle region of the slotted cavity.
  • the flap members are secured within the cavity by the step of installing the nozzle being positioned over and closing the inlet-adjacent middle region.
  • the tool-free assembly method also may further include a step of tool-free mounting of the wheels by sliding the ball-bearing polygonal interior of each wheel over the corresponding matching polygonal shaft exterior for a non-rotating engagement therebetween.
  • the ball bearing provides wheel rotation. The wheel is securely held on the shaft by the removable clip inserted into the shaft interior and into a locking engagement with the shoulder.
  • FIGURES 1 -21 illustrate exemplary embodiments of aspects of the present invention for an improved swimming pool cleaner 100 of the type movable along an underwater pool surface 2 to clean debris therefrom.
  • FIGURES 1 and 18-20 illustrate swimming pool cleaner 100 including a body 10 having a debris inlet 11 and a debris outlet 12.
  • a segmented skirt 20 includes a plurality of flap members 21 each of which extends from a proximal (or mounting) end 22 hinged to body 10 to a distal end 23 which is configured for extending along pool surface 2 such that skirt 20 forms with pool surface 2 a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into inlet 11, as best illustrated in FIGURE 19 .
  • FIGURES 1-3 , 5 and 18 show body 10 defining an elongate slotted cavity 40 extending between two ends 41 and pivotably holding proximal ends 22 of flap members 21 therewithin.
  • proximal ends of the skirt were clipped into the slotted cavity. Such clipping created stress on the cavity walls and skirt retaining structures which would later easily break later after the exposure to pool chemicals and deterioration of the plastic materials of which the body is made.
  • FIGURES 1-3 show that inventive cleaner 100 has slotted cavity 40 with an openable inlet-adjacent middle region 42 permitting strain-free insertion of flap-member proximal ends 22 into cavity 40.
  • FIGURE 1 shows skirt 20 including forward and rear sets of flap members 21 A and 21B. Each set includes a pair of end flap members 21 which are inserted into middle region 42 for sliding along cavity 40 toward their installed positions at a respective end 41. Each set is also shown to include a pair of middle flap members 21 which are inserted into middle region 42 in their installed position adjacent inlet 11.
  • FIGURES 1-3 best illustrate proximal ends 23 of flap members 21 having a substantially cylindrical shape and cavity 40 being configured to substantially conform such cylindrical shape (see FIGURE 5 ) with a slot 44 being configured and dimensioned to permit pivoting of flap members 21, as seen in FIGURE 3 .
  • FIGURES 2-4 show a nozzle 30 inserted into debris inlet 11 to control debris-laden water flow.
  • nozzle 30 is positioned over middle region 42 of slotted cavity 40 thus retaining flap-member proximal ends 22 in cavity 40.
  • Nozzle 30 is installed over proximal ends 21 of the middle flap members 41.
  • FIGURES 2 and 5 best show slotted cavity 40 formed by first and second wall portions 45 and 46 separated by slot 44.
  • FIGURES 1 and 18 show a first wall-portion configuration 45A continuously between ends 41 which are shown as closed side ends.
  • a second wall-portion configuration 46A is shown as being interrupted along inlet-adjacent middle region 42 to permit strain-free insertion of flap-member proximal ends 22 into cavity 40.
  • Such strain-free and tool-less skirt assembly also permits for easy replacement of worn flap members by the end user without any tools.
  • FIGURES 1 and 18 further show first and second wall-portion configurations 45A and 46A each including a plurality of spaced tabs 17 holding flap-member proximal ends 22.
  • Second configuration 46A lacks tabs 17 along inlet-adjacent middle region 42 thereby opening access for strain-free insertion or removal of flap-member proximal ends 22 in or out of cavity 40 for strain-free assembly of segmented skirt 20.
  • FIGURES 1 , 6-11 and 18 show cleaner body 10 also including a frame structure 18 extending laterally from debris inlet 11 along slotted cavity 40. It is further seen in FIGURES 1 and 18 that tabs 17 of second wall-portion configuration 46A protrude from frame structure 18 thereby being reinforced to minimize breakage of tabs 17.
  • FIGURES 1 , 6 , 8 , 10 and 18 also show frame structure 18 extending laterally and outwardly from debris inlet 11 thereby forming a pair of tapered surfaces 181 minimizing entrapment of cleaner 100 on step-like pool structures.
  • Such angled surfaces give the cleaner an ability to slide off any step or pool ledge, thus minimizing stopping of the cleaner on such pool structures.
  • FIGURE 4 shows nozzle 30 having two opposite lateral sides 31 and two opposite cavity-adjacent sides 32 therebetween.
  • Nozzle 30 includes tabs 33 extending from each of cavity-adjacent sides 32 over cavity 40 thereby closing inlet-adjacent middle region 42 and retaining flap-member proximal ends 22 within cavity 40 by providing continuity for second wall-portion configuration 46A.
  • FIGURES 2 , 3 and 6-11 show nozzle 30 being removable from debris inlet 11 and configured for engagement with frame structure 18 which holds nozzle within debris inlet 11.
  • FIGURES 19 and 20 show body 10 defining a water-flow chamber 13 through which water passes from debris inlet 11 to debris outlet 12.
  • Illustrated swimming pool cleaner 100 is of the type motivated by water flow through it to move cleaner 100 along underwater pool surface 2 to be cleaned.
  • turbine 14 is rotatably mounted within water-flow chamber 13 and has turbine vanes 141 which are moved by the water flow to rotate turbine 14.
  • the improved cleaner of this invention provides excellent power and drive particularly when the turbine is in the highly preferred forms which are the subject of co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,292,970 and 6,854,184 .
  • nozzle 30 allows easy access to chamber 13 through inlet 11 such that the end user may remove any debris entrapped within turbine 14 without any need for opening an upper housing of the cleaner.
  • body 10 can be molded as one standard configuration without the need for sonic welding of threaded inserts onto body 10. This also positively affects storage of body 10 which is a lower body piece for cleaner like cleaner 100.
  • the lower body Prior to this invention, in cleaners with a non-removable nozzle and smaller flow opening, the lower body had to have a separate molding process.
  • Pool cleaner 100 includes a tool-free nozzle mounting which includes a pair of lateral protrusions 34 each extending from one of lateral sides 31 of nozzle 30 and a pair of frame-structure side portions 19 extending laterally from inlet 11 and each engaging the corresponding lateral protrusion 34 of nozzle 30 thereby retaining nozzle 30 within debris inlet 11.
  • Each side portion 19 of frame structure 18 includes a spring-grip 16 inwardly displaceable when pressed by the corresponding lateral protrusion 34 of nozzle 30 being inserted into debris inlet 11.
  • each protrusion 34 has a first surface 35 substantially orthogonal to nozzle lateral side 31 and a second surface 36 sloping between first surface 35 and nozzle lateral side 31.
  • FIGURES 6-9 illustrate installation of nozzle 30 by pressing orthogonal surface 35 of nozzle 30 on the corresponding spring-grip 16 (see FIGURES 6 and 7 ) to pass nozzle 30 toward inlet 11 and beyond spring-grip 16 which resiliently returns to its original orientation in alignment with side portion 19 thereby locking nozzle 30 within inlet 11 (see FIGURES 8 and 9 ).
  • FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate how sloping surface 36 permits release of nozzle 30 from inlet 11 by pressing each side portion 19 inwardly beyond orthogonal surface 34 of nozzle 30 which is then free for removal from inlet 11.
  • Cleaner 100 has a plurality of nozzles 30A, 30B and 30C for being interchangeably used with cleaner 100.
  • FIGURES 12-14 show each of nozzles 30A, 30B and 30C having a flow opening 37A, 37B and 37C which is different in size than flow openings 37 of other nozzles 30.
  • Such varying in size nozzle permits easy adjustment of the inlet size to accommodate the size of debris falling into the pool.
  • Nozzle 30C with larger flow opening 37C will allow large debris such as leaves, plant seeds and the like to pass through while nozzles 30A and 30B with small and medium flow openings 37A and 37B may not be able to pass such debris through.
  • Interchangeable nozzles 30 also accommodate variable speed pumps such that when the pump runs at a lower rate, nozzle 30A with smaller flow opening 37A will provide the required performance. And, when the pump runs at medium or high rate, nozzles 30B and 30C with medium and larger flow openings 37B and 37C will have the required performance.
  • FIGURE 20 illustrates pool cleaner 200 which may be interchangeably usable as a suction cleaner and as a pressure cleaner.
  • FIGURE 20 shows body 10A adapted at debris outlet 12 for securement of either a water-suction hose connected to a remote suction system or a debris-collection device entrapping debris and passing water therethrough back into the pool.
  • nozzle 30C which has larger flow opening 37C is secured with respect to body 10A.
  • the inlet size can be reduced by installing nozzle 30A which has the smaller flow opening 37A.
  • FIGURES 15-18 illustrate a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly 50.
  • FIGURES 18-20 show a one pair of wheels 51 for moving cleaner 100 along pool surface 2.
  • FIGURES 15-17 illustrate tool-free wheel-mounting assembly 50 as including a ball bearing 52 for each of wheels 51 and rotatably holding such wheel 51 on a non-rotating shaft 53 extending laterally from the respective side 15 of cleaner body 10. It is seen in FIGURES 16 and 17 that each ball-bearing 52 has an interior configuration 520 matching an exterior configuration 530 of shaft 53 such that ball bearing 52 and shaft 53 are in non-rotating engagement with each other.
  • Each shaft exterior 530 and each bearing interior 520 are shown in FIGURE 18 as having a polygonal configuration.
  • FIGURE 18 also illustrates other possible shaft exterior and bearing-interior configurations, including polygons with 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 sides.
  • One such configuration may be round with a protrusion on one of the shaft exterior 530 and the bearing interior 520 and a conforming cavity on the other one of the shaft exterior 530 and the bearing interior 520 such that shaft 53 and bearing 52 are locked in non-rotating engagement therebetween.
  • ball bearing 52 is closely fitted over shaft 53 to prevent rotation therebetween.
  • shoulder bolts Prior to this invention, shoulder bolts had to be used for securing wheels to the cleaner body.
  • the shoulder bolts have shown to wear fairly quickly resulting in wheel hubs getting an undesirable lateral movement. Such lateral movement negatively affects a sonic molding of wheel-supporting parts to the body such that the sonic molding is separated and the wheel-supporting parts being removed out of the body.
  • FIGURES 15-17 show ball bearing 52 as a double-race bearing which is in a non-rotating engagement with respective wheel 51.
  • the bearings have shown superior rotating properties and through extended tests exhibited wear and tear as well as their overall performance significantly better than prior wheel-assembly configurations.
  • the tool-less wheel assembly which provided for easy disassembly gives the end used an ability to easily replace bearings in the wheel hubs without the need for any special tools.
  • FIGURES 16 and 17 show each shaft having a hollow interior 531 with an inwardly-facing shoulder 55 inside shaft 53.
  • Tool-free wheel-mounting assembly 50 also includes a removable clip 53 which is inserted into shaft interior 531 into a locking engagement with shoulder 55, as seen in FIGURE 17 .
  • FIGURES 16 and 17 further show clip 56 having at least two fingers 561 which extend from an exterior head 562 and terminate with a hook-end 563 within shaft interior 531. Fingers 561 are being pressed together upon insertion into shaft 53 and then spread out inside shaft 53 into the locking engagement with shoulder 55 thereby securely holding wheel 51 on shaft 53, as illustrated in FIGURE 17 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
  • Sewage (AREA)
EP18207706.5A 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner Active EP3495587B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/627,637 US9593502B2 (en) 2009-10-19 2012-09-26 Swimming pool cleaner
EP13841082.4A EP2900888B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
PCT/US2013/061174 WO2014052234A2 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP17181150.8A EP3266959B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner

Related Parent Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13841082.4A Division EP2900888B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP17181150.8A Division EP3266959B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP17181150.8A Division-Into EP3266959B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3495587A2 EP3495587A2 (en) 2019-06-12
EP3495587A3 EP3495587A3 (en) 2019-06-26
EP3495587B1 true EP3495587B1 (en) 2022-07-06

Family

ID=50389115

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13841082.4A Active EP2900888B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP17181150.8A Active EP3266959B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP18207706.5A Active EP3495587B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13841082.4A Active EP2900888B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner
EP17181150.8A Active EP3266959B1 (en) 2012-09-26 2013-09-23 Swimming pool cleaner

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (3) EP2900888B1 (es)
AU (5) AU2013323858B2 (es)
BR (1) BR112015006816A2 (es)
CA (2) CA2885873C (es)
ES (3) ES2751879T3 (es)
WO (1) WO2014052234A2 (es)
ZA (1) ZA201502687B (es)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9593502B2 (en) 2009-10-19 2017-03-14 Hayward Industries, Inc. Swimming pool cleaner
US10161154B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2018-12-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner with articulated cleaning members and methods relating thereto
WO2014150506A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaning device with wheel drive assemblies
ES2923669T3 (es) 2013-08-30 2022-09-29 Hayward Ind Inc Limpiador de piscina
USD789624S1 (en) 2014-11-07 2017-06-13 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD787761S1 (en) 2014-11-07 2017-05-23 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD789003S1 (en) 2014-11-07 2017-06-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD787760S1 (en) 2014-11-07 2017-05-23 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
US10435903B2 (en) * 2017-04-13 2019-10-08 Forever Vanture Technology Limited Swimming pool cleaning vehicle with adjustable rollers to control water flow velocity and method therefor
US10364905B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2019-07-30 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner check valve
US10774557B1 (en) 2019-02-21 2020-09-15 Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd. Pool cleaner with selective inlet control

Family Cites Families (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4589986A (en) * 1984-01-26 1986-05-20 Alopex Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
US5099535A (en) 1988-02-18 1992-03-31 Daniel J. D. Chauvier Cleaner for submerged surfaces
ES2021813B3 (es) * 1988-08-20 1991-11-16 Pooltec Estab Cabezal de aspiracion para limpiar superficies sumergidas
US5105496A (en) * 1990-10-18 1992-04-21 Arneson Products, Inc. Suction cleaning device
US5604950A (en) * 1995-10-27 1997-02-25 H-Tech, Inc. Anti-clogging, variable throat suction nozzle and suction cleaning device equipped therewith
US6131227A (en) * 1998-10-30 2000-10-17 Poolvergnuegen Suction regulating skirt for automated swimming pool cleaner heads
US6292970B1 (en) 1999-10-12 2001-09-25 Poolvergnuegen Turbine-driven automatic swimming pool cleaners
US6782578B1 (en) 2000-05-26 2004-08-31 Poolvergnuegen Swimming pool pressure cleaner with internal steering mechanism
US6854148B1 (en) * 2000-05-26 2005-02-15 Poolvernguegen Four-wheel-drive automatic swimming pool cleaner
AT5391U1 (de) * 2000-07-07 2002-06-25 Minnova Mineralien Handelsges Vorrichtung zum absaugen von ablagerungen
FR2812015B1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2003-01-24 Jacques Alexandre Habif Robot nettoyeur de piscine a depression alimente en pression , et procede
US6854184B2 (en) 2002-02-26 2005-02-15 Ek Success, Ltd. Blade cover for cutting device
AU2003226015A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-20 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Pool cleaner
US20040074024A1 (en) * 2002-10-19 2004-04-22 H-Tech, Inc. Suction-type cleaning device for submerged surfaces
US7296308B2 (en) * 2003-07-02 2007-11-20 Turner John B Swimming pool water circulator
US7378026B1 (en) * 2005-01-24 2008-05-27 Thompson Bruce A Drill motor operated portable water-tolerant suction cleaner
US8117704B2 (en) * 2005-11-01 2012-02-21 Integrated Pool Products (Pty) Ltd Swimming pool cleaner
GB0526528D0 (en) * 2005-12-29 2006-02-08 Interpet Ltd Submersible vacuum cleaner
FR2925548B1 (fr) * 2007-12-21 2012-08-10 Zodiac Pool Care Europe Appareil nettoyeur de surface immergee comprenant un dispositif de brossage entraine par les organes d'entrainement de l'appareil sur la surface immergee
BRPI0800553A2 (pt) * 2008-02-21 2009-10-06 Helio Carlos Bartolon elementos e disposição de elementos para um aspirador de fundo de piscina
EP2263024A2 (en) * 2008-03-12 2010-12-22 Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. Pool cleaners
FR2929310B1 (fr) * 2008-03-27 2016-06-03 Zodiac Pool Care Europe Appareil nettoyeur de surface immergee a protuberance acceleratrice du flux d'entree
US8341789B2 (en) * 2008-06-12 2013-01-01 Maytronics Ltd. Pool cleaning robot
US8402585B2 (en) * 2009-10-19 2013-03-26 Poolvergnuegen Convertible pressure/suction swimming pool cleaner
US9593502B2 (en) * 2009-10-19 2017-03-14 Hayward Industries, Inc. Swimming pool cleaner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3495587A3 (en) 2019-06-26
AU2013323858B2 (en) 2017-10-26
WO2014052234A2 (en) 2014-04-03
ES2926835T3 (es) 2022-10-28
EP3266959A3 (en) 2018-05-30
WO2014052234A3 (en) 2014-06-19
EP3266959A2 (en) 2018-01-10
EP2900888A2 (en) 2015-08-05
CA3050657C (en) 2021-06-01
AU2017279789B2 (en) 2020-02-06
CA2885873C (en) 2019-09-10
AU2020200411A1 (en) 2020-02-13
AU2017279788B2 (en) 2020-02-06
ZA201502687B (en) 2020-05-27
CA2885873A1 (en) 2014-04-03
BR112015006816A2 (pt) 2017-07-04
ES2655429T3 (es) 2018-02-20
AU2013323858A1 (en) 2015-04-09
EP3495587A2 (en) 2019-06-12
CA3050657A1 (en) 2014-04-03
EP3266959B1 (en) 2019-07-31
ES2751879T3 (es) 2020-04-02
EP2900888B1 (en) 2017-08-23
AU2017279788A1 (en) 2018-01-25
AU2017279789A1 (en) 2018-01-25
AU2022200295A1 (en) 2022-02-10
EP2900888A4 (en) 2016-04-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9784007B2 (en) Swimming pool cleaner
AU2017279788B2 (en) Swimming pool cleaner
US8784652B2 (en) Swimming pool cleaner with a rigid debris canister
US11851908B2 (en) Apparatus for removing a layer of sediment which has settled on the bottom of a large water body
US8402585B2 (en) Convertible pressure/suction swimming pool cleaner
DE102014012377B3 (de) Unterwasser-Reinigungsmaschine
CN213187398U (zh) 一种用于风景园林培育用花卉保护棚体结构
CN220686216U (zh) 一种节能型蓄水供水池
CN220257420U (zh) 一种环保的园林污水处理设备
CN214301942U (zh) 一种海绵城市园林蓄水系统
CN210868644U (zh) 一种园林种植用高效松土装置
CN211328780U (zh) 一种方便处理积尘的空气净化装置
CN220644435U (zh) 一种园林用雨水收集装置
CN211611746U (zh) 一种新型污水处理系统
CN114855985A (zh) 一种城市道路用雨后污水处理管道系统

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 2900888

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 3266959

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: E04H 4/16 20060101AFI20190522BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20191216

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20201103

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20220126

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: SCHILTZER, HANS RAINER

Inventor name: RIEF, DIETER J.

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 2900888

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 3266959

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1502986

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220715

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602013082044

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2926835

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20221028

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221107

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221006

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1502986

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221106

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221007

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602013082044

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20220930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20230411

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20221006

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220923

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220930

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220923

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230401

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221006

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20231002

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20130923

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220706

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20240925

Year of fee payment: 12