Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
  • E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
  • E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
  • E04H4/1618—Hand-held powered cleaners
  • E04H4/1636—Suction cleaners
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
  • E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
  • E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
  • E04H4/1654—Self-propelled cleaners

Definitions

• This invention relates to equipment for use in connection with water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas and more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to equipment, systems, and methods for storing cables on automatic swimming pool cleaners (“APCs”) configured to operate within the vessels.
• APCs automatic swimming pool cleaners
• APCs Numerous cleaning devices capable of autonomous movement within swimming pools and spas currently exist.
• APCs which often are either hydraulic or robotic in type.
• Hydraulic cleaners vary water flow for movement, while robotic cleaners typically employ electric motors to cause motion.
• Hydraulic APCs furthermore, subdivide into “pressure-side” and “suction-side” cleaners, with pressure-side cleaners being fluidly connected to outputs of pumps of pool water circulation systems and suction-side cleaners being fluidly connected to inputs of such pumps.
• the cable may have “length of approximately 10 [meters] or so,” see id., col. 5, 11. 3-4.
• a winder distinct from the APC. In use, the winder may wind the flexible cable onto a reel so as to extract the APC from a swimming pool.
• the cables typically are elongated so as not to impede travels of the APCs within pools. However, the elongated nature of these electrical cables equally makes them difficult to store when not in use.
• an APC includes a body, an electrical cable, and a cable storage system for storing tire electrical cable on, in, or near the body.
• an APC includes a body having a first end and a second end, a plurality of wheels on the body, and a roller supported at the first end.
• the APC is configurable between an operating orientation and a storage orientation, and in the storage orientation, the first end and the second end are arranged in a vertical direction, the APC is supported by the roller and a first subset of the plurality of wheels, and a second subset of the plurality of wheels is vertically above the first subset of the plurality of wheels.
• a method of using an APC having a connected electrical cable and an on-board cable storage system includes (i) connecting the electrical cable to a source of electricity, (ii) causing operation of the APC within a swimming pool, (iii) removing the APC from the swimming pool, and (iv) winding the electrical cable onto the cable storage system.
• an APC includes a body and a cable configured to be stored on, in, or near the body.
• an APC may be configured to balance in a generally vertical position for storage
• an APC includes an on-board cable-storage mechanism.
• an APC includes a cable storage device on a cable of the APC.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an APC with a cable storage system for a cable of the APC according to embodiments and with the APC in an operating orientation.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the APC of FIG. 1 in a storage orientation.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an APC with a cable storage system for a cable of the APC according to embodiments.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the cable and cable storage system of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 schemati cally illustrates an APC with a cable storage system for a cable of the APC according to embodiments.
• APCs with cable storage systems for winding and/or otherwise storing a flexible cable on the APC itself.
• the systems and methods described herein may facilitate storage of such cables and minimize the complete cleaner storage size (e.g., reducing the overall volume needed for storing) compared to traditional APCs.
• the cable stowed on the APC itself using the systems and methods described herein may avoid any need for a separate winder and/or accessories on a trolley for the APC to store the cable.
• the APCs may include a manual or automatic winding assembly for facilitating storage of the cables on the APC.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an APC 10 with a cable storage system 11 according to embodiments.
• the APC 10 generally includes a body 18 with a first end 19 and a second end 21.
• One or more motive elements 30 e.g., wheels 33, tracks, rollers, feet, combinations thereof, etc.
• the APC 10 may also include various cleaning devices or mechanisms such as but not limited to brushes or rollers 34.
• the rollers 34 are pro vided with at least one of the ends 19, 21 and optionally facilitate balancing of the APC 10 in a storage orientation as discussed in detail below.
• the body 18 of the APC 10 may define an interior cavity or housing area for housing various components of the APC 10, including but not limited to a pump, filters, motor block, controller, combinations thereof, and/or various other components or combinations of components as desired.
• a cover 14 may be provided on a top of the body 18 (or any other location on tire APC 10 as desired) such that the housing area within the body 18 may be accessed as desired.
• tire APC 10 includes a cable 26 that may supply electricity to the APC 10 and/or enable a transmission of data to or from tire APC 10.
• An end of cable 26 may be permanently or removably atached to the APC 10.
• the cable storage system 11 may facilitate storage of the cable 26 on, in, or near the body 18 of the APC 10.
• the cable storage system 11 includes a storage device 22 for selectively engaging the cable 26 and facilitating storage of the cable 26 on the body 18.
• the storage device 22 is a hook 23 extending outwards from the body 18.
• the storage device 22 may be other suitable devices or mechanisms as desired.
• a clip may be used in place of or in addition to the hook 23, and the clip optionally extends outwards from the body 18.
• the cable storage system 11 may include any number of storage devices 22 as desired and at various locations as desired.
• a second hook may be provided proximate to the second end 21 and facing a direction opposite of the hook 23 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the storage devices need not be the same type of storage device 22.
• one storage device may be the hook 23 and another storage device 22 may be a clip or clasp.
• Other types of storage devices 22 and combinations of storage devices 22 may be used as desired.
• the hook 23 (or other storage device 22) may be connected to any suitable component or region of the body 18 as desired, and in the embodiment illustrated the hook 23 is provided on the cover 14, As such, while the hook 23 is illustrated protruding upward from the cover 14 and more proximate to the first end 19, it need not be in other embodiments. As discussed in detail below, the hook 23 protruding upward from the cover 14 may facilitate storage of the cable 26 when the APC 10 is an a storage orientation,
• the hook 23 (or other storage device 22) may be permanently attached to the body 18 or component of the APC 10, although in other embodiments the hook 23 may be removably attached using various suitable mechanical fasteners and/or other techniques as desired. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cable 26 may be wound around hook 23 (or other storage device 22) for storage.
• the cable storage system 11 may store the cable 26 when not in use. However, in other embodiments, cable storage system 11 may be used to store all or a portion of the cable during operation of the APC 10 and/or as otherwise desired. As an example, the cable storage system 11 may store a complete or partially floating cable (and may completely or partially store such cable).
• the APC 10 may be configurable between an operating orientation (FIG. 1) and a storage orientation (FIG. 2), In various embodiments, in the operating orientation, the ends 19, 21 may generally be arranged in a horizontal direction 40 and, in the storage orientation, the ends 19, 21 may generally be arranged in a vertical direction 42, In some embodiments, the APC 10 may be in the operating orientation when the APC 10 is in use on the bottom or floor or wall of a swimming pool or spa. In the operating orientation, the motive elements 30 may be in contact with the floor or wall. As an example where the motive elements 30 include the wheels as illustrated in FIGS.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another example of an APC 310 with a cable storage system 311 according to embodiments.
• the APC 310 is substantially similar to the APC 10 except that the APC 310 includes tracks 335 as motive elements 30 rather than wheels 33.
• a profile of the body 318 and cover 314 of the APC 310 is different than the profile of the body 18 and cover 14 of the APC 10.
• the storage device 22 of the cable storage system 311 is a clip 337 having a cable-engagement portion 343 and an APC-engaging portion 345.
• the clip 337 is provided on the cable 26 between an end 339 of the cable 26 connectable to an external device or system (e.g., power source, communication module or system, etc.) and an end 341 of the cable 26 connected to the APC 310.
• the APC-engaging portion 345 may selecti vely engage a portion of the body 318 and/or other component of the APC 310 to store the cable 26 on the APC 310.
• the dip 337 is movable along the cable 26 such that the clip 337 may be at various positions for engaging different portions of the body 318 or other feature of the APC 310 as desired. However, it need not be movable along the cable 26 in oilier embodiments.
• the clip 337 is illustrated on the cable 26, in other embodiments, the clip 337 may be provided on the body 318 and/or other component of the APC 310 for selectively engaging the cable 26.
• FIG. 5 illustrates another example of an APC 510 with a cable storage system 511 according to embodiments.
• the APC 510 is substantially similar to the APC 10 except that a profile of the body 518 and cover 514 of the APC 510 is different than the profile of the body 18 and cover 14 of the APC 10.
• the cable storage system 511 includes a winding system or device 547 as the storage device 22 that is configured to wind up or spool the cable 26 as the winding device 547 rotates about an axis 551 when the cable 26 is not in use.
• the winding device 547 may be an automatic winding device using various devices or mechanisms such as, but not limited to, a spring-loaded device or other suitable actuated device.
• the winding device 547 may be a manual winding device.
• the winding device 547 is provided within a housing cavity 549 defined by the body 518; however, in other embodiments, the winding device 547 may be provided at other locations as desired. While not illustrated in FIG.
• a cable storage system may include the winding device 547 in combination with another type of storage device 22 such as the hook 23, the clip 337, and/or as otherwise desired.
• Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:
• An APC including a body and a cable configured to be stored on, in, or near the body.
• An APC configured to balance in a generally vertical position for storage.
• An APC comprising an on-board cable-storage mechanism
• a method of using an APC having a connected electrical cable and an on-board cable-storage mechanism comprising (i) connecting the electrical cable to a source of electricity, (ii) causing operation of the APC within a swimming pool, (iii) removing the APC from the swimming pool, and (iv) winding the electrical cable onto the on-board cable-storage mechanism.
• An APC comprising a body, an electrical cable, and a cable storage system for storing the electrical cable on, in, or near the body.
• Tire APC according to any one of statements I. - M., wherein the cable storage system comprises a storage device on the electrical cable, wherein the storage device is configured to engage a portion of the body of the APC for storing the electrical cable .
• the APC according to any one of statements I. - P., wherein the body of the APC comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the APC is configurable between an operating orientation and a storage orientation, wherein, in the operating orientation, the first end and second end are arranged horizontally, and wherein, in the storage orientation, the first end and the second end are arranged vertically.
• Tire APC according to any one of statements I, - Q., wherein the cable storage system is configured to store tire electrical cable at least when the APC is in the storage orientation.
• An APC comprising: a body comprising a first end and a second end; motive elements on the body; and a roller supported at the first end, wherein the APC is configurable between an operating orientation and a storage orientation, and wherein, in the storage orientation, the first end and the second end are arranged in a vertical direction, the APC is supported by the roller and a first subset of the motive elements, and second subset of the motive elements is vertically above the first subset of motive elements.
• the APC according to statement V. further comprising an electrical cable and a cable storage system for storing the electrical cable on, in, or near the body.
• the APC according to any one of statements V. - X., wherein the cable storage system comprises a storage device on the body of the APC or on the electrical cable.
• a method of using an APC having a connected electrical cable and an onboard cable storage system comprising: (i) connecting the electrical cable to a source of electri city; (ii) causing operation of the APC within a swimming pool; (iii) removing the APC from the swimming pool; and (iv) winding the electrical cable onto the on-board cable storage system.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Storing, Repeated Paying-Out, And Re-Storing Of Elongated Articles (AREA)
• Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-04-14 US US17/720,454 patent/US20220349200A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-04-14 AU AU2022265443A patent/AU2022265443A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-04-14 WO PCT/IB2022/053528 patent/WO2022229773A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2022-04-14 EP EP22718310.0A patent/EP4330494A1/de active Pending

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