US20160201349A1

US20160201349A1 - Pool skimmer with integrated light

Info

Publication number: US20160201349A1
Application number: US14/954,451
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Lafontaine
Original assignee: Canadian Plastics Inc
Current assignee: Canadian Plastics Inc
Priority date: 2015-01-13
Filing date: 2015-11-30
Publication date: 2016-07-14
Also published as: CA2913988A1; CA2913988C

Abstract

The present invention is a pool skimmer with an integrated underwater light. The skimmer's body has a mouth and a face plate to cover the mouth. The face plate is provided with a cavity below the skimmer's mouth that accommodates a light source element, and this light source element connects to a low voltage power supply means.

Description

This application is based on Provisional application No. 62/102,959 filed on Jan. 13, 2015. The present invention relates to a swimming pool skimmer face with an integrated underwater light. All swimming pools require a skimmer apparatus to remove floating debris such as leaves and insects. A skimmer face is standard equipment in every pool. The present invention is an improved skimmer face that adds advantageous and aesthetic underwater illumination. It is easy to install, and does not require for a pool to be drained for installation.
Underwater illumination is a desirable feature of any swimming pool. It adds value, usability and aesthetics. Most underwater light systems need major modifications to a pool's infrastructure, including draining the pool, drilling holes in the pool wall and installing complicated wiring assemblies adapted for underwater use.
The present invention combines both elements in one simple, unitary panel without the need to drain the pool and drill an extra hole in the swimming pool wall for a light. It also eliminates the need to install complicated, dangerous power wiring for a light. Any skimmer face can be swapped for the present invention, permitting a swimming pool user to install underwater illumination quickly and easily.

BACKGROUND

There exists U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,499 for INTEGRAL LIGHT AND LIQUID CIRCULATION FITTING. There is also known U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,378 for SWIMMING POOL IMMERSED LIGHT FIXTURE. Both these patents are for a return fitting, not a skimmer. A return fitting is the inlet for the water that is returned into the pool through a pump to promote a circulatory current to move debris into the pool a skimmer.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits a swimming pool user to install underwater illumination without drilling holes in the pool wall or installing wiring. This is accomplished by changing a typical swimming pool skimmer faceplate with the faceplate of the present invention. The faceplate of the present invention incorporates a light source below the skimmer's mouth. Alternatively the light could be placed on either side of the face plate or on both sides of the face plate or on all three sides of the face plate.
The faceplate of the present invention has all necessary electric wiring built in and pre-wired, so that the user simply plugs the wiring harness into a power supply outside of the pool wall near to the skimmer, and the swimming pool instantly has underwater illumination. In one alternative, the user can drill a hole in the skimmer's body above the water line to feed the wire. In another alternative, if the user does not want to drill a hole in the skimmer, he can remove a pre-scored notch from the present invention to accommodate the wire over the top edge of the faceplate.
The present invention is an elegant, slim and streamlined alternative to an otherwise expensive and complicated swimming pool addition. Since no additional holes need to be drilled in the pool wall, leaks are averted. Considering all wiring is built into the faceplate of the invention, accidents relating to dangerous electric mal-installations are averted. Changing the LED lights is very easy, as the LED holder is part of the skimmer's faceplate and not hard-wired into the pool wall infrastructure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention installed on a pool skimmer.

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of the light system of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a fragmental top perspective view showing wire-fitting notch.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental front view of a face plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental perspective back view of face plate of FIG. 4 showing barbed prongs of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective back view of FIG. 5 showing light (LED) element before it is inserted into face plate.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective back view as on FIG. 6 showing light element completely inserted into a cavity in face plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention allows a pool to be fitted with underwater lighting for a fraction of the usual cost, and with almost no tools. No changes are necessary to the pool's structure, no electrical wiring needs to be installed, and fitting the underwater lights can be accomplished within minutes.
The present invention uses a feature common to all swimming pools: the skimmer. Instead of a normal skimmer faceplate, the present invention comprises an improved faceplate with an integrated light and hard-wired for low voltage electricity. The user removes the old faceplate and installs the present invention. Once plugged in, the light incorporated into the present faceplate acts as an underwater illumination, adding value and usability to any pool.
Referring now to drawings, the preferred embodiment is described on FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 1 shows the present invention, being a skimmer faceplate 4, incorporated on skimmer 2. Faceplate 4 comprises a substantially square, flat plate, incorporating a LED light 8 at the bottom. The bottom edge of faceplate 8 is of semi-circular configuration. Faceplate 4 also comprises a mouth 6 of substantially rectangular configuration with rounded edges. Mouth 6 is located in the upper portion of faceplate 8. Skimmer 2 comprises a through-fitting 12 accommodating wire 10, with plug 16 being on the distal end of wire 12. As seen on FIG. 4, a cavity 22 is formed in the lower portion of face plate 4 to accommodate light (LED) element 8. A wall 18 (not shown) separates faceplate 4, located inside the pool, to skimmer 2, located outside the pool. Through-fitting 12 is located inside skimmer 2 body, permitting wire 10 to traverse from inside to outside of skimmer 2. LED light 8 is located at bottom of faceplate 4.
FIG. 2 shows the electrical system alone, comprising LED light 8 connected by wire 10 to plug 16, going through through-fitting 12. LED Light 8 is of substantially elongated rectangular configuration, with the bottom edge being semi-circular. FIG. 7 shows how the present invention is installed inside a pool, with wall 18 separating faceplate 4 from skimmer 2. Wire 10 is fed through through-fitting 12, discreetly running inside faceplate 4 to LED light 8. Wire 10 terminates with plug 16, which connects to a power supply (not shown). A hole must be drilled in skimmer 2 to accommodate through-fitting 12 to prevent leaks from inside the pool to the outside, yet let wire 10 pass through. As shown on FIG. 1, through-fitting 12 leads wire 10 from inside skimmer 2 to outside skimmer 2. Faceplate 4 accommodates LED light 8 in an aesthetic and streamlined manner. LED light 8 has an edge 20 that serves as retaining means when light 8 is installed in cavity 22.
FIG. 3 demonstrates an alternative embodiment wherein no holes have to be drilled in skimmer 2 to accommodate through-fitting 12. User simply punches out wire-fitting notch 14 located in the upper rib of faceplate 4, and feeds wire 10 through the resulting opening.
FIG. 4 shows a face plate 4 provided with cavity 22 to accommodate light 8, and has a configuration complimentary to the shape of light 8.
FIG. 5 is a back view of face plate 4 showing at least two barbed prongs 26 extending outwardly from edges of cavity 22. Prongs 26 are proved to securely hold the light element 8 by edge 20 within cavity 22.
FIG. 6 is the back view of face plate 4, as on FIG. 5, showing light 8 being inserted into cavity 22. This figure clearly shows edge 20 formed around light 8 and provided to be held by corresponding barbed prongs 26 shown on FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 shows back portion of face plate 4 where light 8 is completely inserted within cavity 22, and barbed prongs 26 retain edge 20 of light 8 in a secure position.
In operation, in the first embodiment, user snaps light 8 into its cavity 22 inside faceplate 4, clips wire 10 along faceplate 4's inside edge, drills a hole in skimmer 2's body, feeds wire 10 through the resulting hole, installs through-fitting 12, and plugs in LED light 8's plug 16 into a low voltage power supply apparatus (not shown). In another embodiment shown on FIG. 3, rather than drilling a hole in skimmer 2's body, user removes wire-fitting notch 14 and feeds wire 10 through the resulting cavity.
A power converter to convert household current (110V, etc.) to 12-volt is provided to the user with the invention. Other power transmission means are possible.

Claims

1. A pool skimmer comprising:

a skimmer body provided with a mouth,

a face plate adapted to cover said mouth;

said face plated is adapted to accommodate

a light source element incorporated within said face plate,

said light source is provided with an electrical means adapted to connect

said light source element with a low voltage power supply means.

2. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said face plate is provided with a cavity adapted to accommodate said light source element.

3. A pool skimmer according to claim 2, wherein said cavity is located in a lower part of said face plate below said mouth.

4. A pool skimmer according to claim 3, wherein said face plate has substantially rectangular configuration and a bottom portion of said face plate has a semi-circular configuration, said cavity of said face plate has an elongated configuration, wherein a bottom portion of said cavity has a semi-circular configuration and wherein said light source element also has an elongated configuration with a bottom portion having a corresponding semi-circular configuration to accommodate said light source element within said cavity.

5. A pool skimmer according to claim 4, wherein said cavity of said face plate is provided with at least two locking elements, said locking elements are adapted to securely hold said light source element within said cavity.

6. A pool skimmer according to claim 5, wherein said locking elements extend outwardly from an inner edge of said cavity and wherein said light source element is provided with a corresponding groove formed around outer walls of said light source element, said locking elements are adapted to securely lock said light source element within said cavity formed in said face plate by means of said groove.

7. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said electrical means is a wire integrally connected to said light source element, said wire is of a sufficient length to connect said light source element from inside of said face plate to said outside low voltage power supply.

8. A pool skimmer according to claim 7, wherein said wire of said light source element is connected to said power supply by means of a hole drilled in the body of said skimmer, said wire is provided with a through-fitting adapted to prevent water from leaking out of said skimmer when pool is in use.

9. A pool skimmer according to claim 7, wherein said faceplate is provided with a wire-fitting notch formed on said faceplate, said notch provided to feed said wire from said face plate through a resulting opening, thus eliminating a need to drill a hole in said skimmer body.

10. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said light source element is LED light.

11. A pool skimmer comprising:

a skimmer body provided with a mouth,

a face plate adapted to cover said mouth;

said face plated is adapted to accommodate

a light source element incorporated within said face plate,

said light source is provided with an electrical means adapted to connect

said light source element with a low voltage power supply means,

said face plate is provided with a cavity adapted to accommodate said light source element.

12. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said cavity is located in a lower part of said face plate below said mouth.

13. A pool skimmer according to claim 12, wherein said face plate has substantially rectangular configuration and a bottom portion of said face plate has a semi-circular configuration, said cavity of said face plate has an elongated configuration, wherein a bottom portion of said cavity has a semi-circular configuration and wherein said light source element also has an elongated configuration with a bottom portion having a corresponding semi-circular configuration to accommodate said light source element within said cavity.

14. A pool skimmer according to claim 13, wherein said cavity of said face plate is provided with at least two locking elements, said locking elements are adapted to securely hold said light source element within said cavity.

15. A pool skimmer according to claim 14, wherein said locking elements extend outwardly from an inner edge of said cavity and wherein said light source element is provided with a corresponding groove formed around outer walls of said light source element, said locking elements are adapted to securely lock said light source element within said cavity formed in said face plate by means of said groove.

16. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said electrical means is a wire integrally connected to said light source element, said wire is of a sufficient length to connect said light source element from inside of said face plate to said outside low voltage power supply.

17. A pool skimmer according to claim 16, wherein said wire of said light source element is connected to said power supply by means of a hole drilled in the body of said skimmer, said wire is provided with a through-fitting adapted to prevent water from leaking out of said skimmer when pool is in use.

18. A pool skimmer according to claim 16, wherein said faceplate is provided with a wire-fitting notch formed on said faceplate, said notch provided to feed said wire from said face plate through a resulting opening, thus eliminating a need to drill a hole in said skimmer body.

19. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said light source element is LED light.