WO1997029260A1 - Pool skimmer face plate and releasable cover - Google Patents
Pool skimmer face plate and releasable cover Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997029260A1 WO1997029260A1 PCT/US1997/001922 US9701922W WO9729260A1 WO 1997029260 A1 WO1997029260 A1 WO 1997029260A1 US 9701922 W US9701922 W US 9701922W WO 9729260 A1 WO9729260 A1 WO 9729260A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- face plate
- skimmer
- protruding section
- around
- Prior art date
Links
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
- E04H4/12—Devices or arrangements for circulating water, i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment
- E04H4/1209—Treatment of water for swimming pools
- E04H4/1272—Skimmers integrated in the pool wall
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to swimming pools and more particularly to sealing apparatus for closing off the sidewall opening of a skimmer when the swiirirning pool is closed for the winter season, for example. It is common to employ one or more skimmer devices in the sidewalls of swimming pools, hot tubs and the like to permit surface water to be drawn off by a pump, filtered at a remote location and returned to the pool through one or more return ports. When the pool is closed during the winter season, it is sometimes desirable to maintain a level of water in the pool for structural purposes. In such cases, it is necessary to close off the skimmer to prevent backflow of water through the skimmer conduit to the filtration equipment so as to prevent damage to the pipes and filtration equipment due to freezing during the cold winter months.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,913,810 to Jerry Hodak discloses a system for closing off a skimmer opening by providing a cover panel for securement onto an extra gasket frame which is specially fitted between the pool sidewall and the skimmer face plate.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,913,810 it is first necessary to physically remove the face plate from the skimmer and pool sidewall in order to install the special gasket frame therebetween.
- the present invention represents an improvement over U.S. Patent No. 5,285,538 which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the sealing device of the aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 5,285,538 provides an excellent seal around the skimmer opening.
- a problem develops, however, after the winter season when the water level has risen above the skimmer opening. In this condition, the water pressure acting against the face of the sealed skimmer cover forces the cover tightly against the skimmer face plate.
- algae growth over the pool sidewall and skimmer cover usually occurs over the dormant winter period, creating a slippery surface on the cover.
- the skimmer cover of the present invention solves the removal problem discussed above.
- the invention provides a cover made from a flexible plastic material which includes a planar body portion and carries a sealing lip around its periphery.
- the cover may be square or rectangular in shape and includes an outwardly curved or radiused protruding section along one of its flat sides.
- the protruding section is co-planar with the body and also carries a sealing lip therearound.
- a lift tab is integrally molded to the protruding section to provide a gripping means for the user.
- a skimmer face plate has a conventional opening therethrough to permit the flow of pool water into the skimmer.
- the skimmer plate of the invention carries a peripheral flange around its outside edge which extends from its flat outside surface to lockably engage the integral sealing lip of the cover.
- the skimmer plate also has a protruding section which bears against the flat surface of the protruding section of the skimmer cover when the sealing lip of the cover is snapped in place around the flange of the skimmer face plate.
- the lift tab is grasped and lifted in a direction away from the face plate.
- Figure 1 is a plan view of the skimmer cover of the present invention
- Figure 2 is a partially broken away plan view of the skimmer cover and skimmer face plate of the present invention
- Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the lip of the cover and flange of the skimmer face plate of the invention in sealing engagement taken along line III-III of Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the protruding section and lift tab of the skimmer cover and skimmer face plate of the invention in sealing engagement taken along line IV-IV of Figure 2.
- the improved skimmer plate cover of the present invention is shown on the attached drawings and identified as element 2 thereon.
- Figure 1 depicts the cover 2 alone.
- the cover 2 is molded from a thermoplastic material which is tough and flexible, such as injection molded nylon, polypropylene or the like.
- the cover 2 comprises a flat planar body portion 4 which is bounded around its sides by an integral sealing lip 6.
- the lip carries a beveled or raised protrusion 20 thereon to effect a locking engagement with a raised lip 22 of the face plate, Figure 3.
- the cover 2 is square or rectangular in shape and includes an outwardly protruding section 8 along one of the sides.
- the protruding section 8 also carries the integral sealing lip 6' therearound.
- a lift tab 10 is integrally molded to the protruding section 8.
- the skimmer face plate 12 is attached to a conventional skimmer body (not shown) at the sidewall of a swimming pool, spa, hot tub or the like in a known manner.
- the face plate 12 is held in place by a plurality of spaced apart screws 14 which engage threaded holes in the skimmer body positioned on the outside or exterior side of the pool wall.
- the face plate 12 is, of course, positioned on the inside pool sidewall.
- the skimmer plate 12 includes a flat surface or border 13 surrounding a central opening 16 therethrough which permits the flow of pool water into the skimmer body. The water is then recirculated and filtered through appropriate piping pump and filter apparatus for return to the pool in a known manner when the pool, spa or the like is open and in use.
- FIG 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along section line III-III of Figure 2 showing the sealing edge of the cover 2 and face plate 12 in detail.
- the improved skimmer face plate 12 has a frame-like shape and carries a peripheral bead or flange 18 around its outside edge.
- the flange 18 outwardly extends from the flat outer surface 13 of the frame-like border to lockably engage the integral sealing lip 6 of the cover 2.
- the lip 6 of the cover 2 carries a raised bead portion 20 which snaps around a rigid notched or raised portion 22 carried by the flange 18 of the skimmer plate 12.
- the flexible nature of the thermoplastic lip 6 permits this snapping action to take place which locks the cover 2 tightly around the face plate 12 to provide a water-tight seal.
- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line IV-IV of Figure 2 to show in greater detail the area of the protruding section 8 of the skimmer cover 2.
- the improved skimmer plate 12 also has a curved or radiused protruding section 30 which extends outwardly from one side of the skimmer plate, and includes an upper surface which is co-planar and continuous with the flat border surface 13 of the skimmer plate, Figure 2.
- the protruding section 30 has a peripheral flange 18' shown in Figure 4 which lockably engages a sealing lip 6' of the curved or radiused protruding section 8 of the cover 2.
- the flange 18' is continuous with the peripheral flange 18 of the skimmer plate 12 and the sealing lip 6' is continuous with the peripheral sealing lip 6 of the cover 2 so as to insure a continuous water-tight seal around the periphery of the cover.
- the lift tab 10 extends outwardly from the protruding section 8 of the cover and from the periphery of the skimmer plate 12 to overlay the pool sidewall 50.
- a planar portion 4' of the protruding section 8 of the cover is continuous with the planar portion 4 and closely engages the flat surface 30' of the protruding section 30 of the skimmer plate 12 as shown in Figure 4.
- the tab 10 is grasped and moved away from the pool wall 50.
- the lift tab 10 may be about 3 A inch long and about 1 Vi - 1 % inches wide at its joint with the protruding section 8. The length of the tab 10 provides a good lever effect about the sealing lip 6' to permit the flexible lip and protrusion 20' to unsnap from the rigid raised lip 22 of the flange 18' of the skimmer plate.
- the generous width of the tab 10 along the joint area 45 provides adequate strength and prevents tearing or rupture of the thermoplastic material when removal forces are applied thereto.
- the thickness of the lift tab 10 is about 0.064 inch, for example, which also provides suitable strength.
- the overall dimension of the cover may be on the order of 11 inches long by 8 inches wide in the rectangular plan view with the protruding section 8 extending outwardly therefrom about 2 Vi inches. It will be readily appreciated that the cover 2 presents a surface area of about 90 square inches which, when submerged any appreciable depth in water, will require a considerable force to overcome the water loading.
- the snap fit between the sealing lip of the cover and the flange of the skimmer plate produces a very strong union which is difficult to disengage without the aid of the tab 10 and the curved protruding section 8.
- the above-described arrangement also provides a reusable skimmer cover arrangement by virtue of its configuration.
- the curved protruding section 8 and lift tab 10 extend the stresses generated during removal over a large area to prevent tearing of the sealing lip 6. Thus, reuse of the cover 2 for many seasons is possible.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002217456A CA2217456C (en) | 1996-02-08 | 1997-02-06 | Pool skimmer face plate and releasable cover |
US08/930,838 US5937453A (en) | 1997-02-06 | 1997-02-06 | Pool skimmer face plate and releasable cover |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US1135596P | 1996-02-08 | 1996-02-08 | |
US60/011,355 | 1996-02-08 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997029260A1 true WO1997029260A1 (en) | 1997-08-14 |
Family
ID=21750028
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1997/001922 WO1997029260A1 (en) | 1996-02-08 | 1997-02-06 | Pool skimmer face plate and releasable cover |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA2217456C (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997029260A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3424342A (en) * | 1967-08-14 | 1969-01-28 | Monsanto Co | Container |
US4951326A (en) * | 1990-02-06 | 1990-08-28 | Caretaker Systems, Inc. | Return fitting with releasable cap |
-
1997
- 1997-02-06 CA CA002217456A patent/CA2217456C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-02-06 WO PCT/US1997/001922 patent/WO1997029260A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3424342A (en) * | 1967-08-14 | 1969-01-28 | Monsanto Co | Container |
US4951326A (en) * | 1990-02-06 | 1990-08-28 | Caretaker Systems, Inc. | Return fitting with releasable cap |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2217456C (en) | 2002-10-22 |
CA2217456A1 (en) | 1997-08-14 |
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