ZA200608114B

ZA200608114B - Pool skimmer

Info

Publication number: ZA200608114B
Application number: ZA200608114A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Van Wyk Gert Erasmus
Original assignee: Van Wyk Gert Erasmus
Priority date: 2005-07-01
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2007-11-28

Description

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HLR00 E08 114

POOL SKIMMER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pool skimmer suitable for use in the surface cleaning of bodies of water, particularly swimming pools. More particularly, the invention relates to a pool skimmer for use in a pool which does not have or make use of its own integral weir or other surface debris collection device. In particular, the invention relates to a pool skimmer for use in a pool which is not a permanent structure.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

One of the perennial problems faced by owners of swimming pools is the removal of debris falling into the pool. Preferably, such debris should be removed from the surface of the pool, otherwise it tends to sink and be mo re difficult to remove from the pool. Many variations of pool surface skimmers exist, ranging from manually operated nets to weirs built into the wall of the pool at surface- level and connected to a filtration plant of the pool. However, many pools are constructed without such a weir or make use of automatic pool cleaners, which are connected directly to a pump intake, bypassing the weir. This is particularly true of swimming pools which are not permanent structures and are not sunk into the ground. Generally, such pools are erected temporarily and constructed of a wire mesh structure, on which is mounted an impermeable plastics membrane to form a self-supporting pool. Such pools are generally assembled above ground and rest on the ground or other substrate. Such self-supporting pools may be used both for entertainment purposes and for storage of water. Existing skimmers for the removal of surface debris are generally not suitable for use ir such pools. The applicant's RSA Patent No. 2002/4743 discloses a chemical dispenser for the dispensing of pool treatment chemicals and is included herein, in its entirety, by reference. The present pool skimmer has application, particularly, but not exclusively, in combination with the chemical dispenser disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer for use in swimming pools and the like, which will, at least partially, alleviate the aforementioned problems and have the advantages set out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this specification, the phrase “swimming pool” is to be given a wide meaning to include swimming pools, spas and paddling pools, whether these are permanent structures or are erected temporarily as and when required. It will be appreciated

— - on aN AX “IN - granny /08 114 that the invention is not limited to such recreational bodies of water, and that the invention may be used for the surface cleaning of any body of water.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a skimmer for collecting surface debris from a surface of water in a swimming pool, the skimmer including a trap operable to be positioned at the surface of water in the swimming pool and having an inlet for receiving water from the swimming pool and an outlet connectable to a suction device.

The trap may comprise an open-topped container, having a container floor and a surrounding wall adjoining the floor at its edges. Then, the inlet may comprise an aperture defined in the surrounding wall.

Preferably, the trap includes a hinged door operable for displacement between an open position, in which the aperture in the trap wall is open to the surrounding water, and a closed position, in which the aperture is closed to inhibit the movement of water from within the container into the surrounding water of the pool. The trap door may be bottom-hinged. Further, the trap door may be biased towards its closed position.

The outlet may comprise a manifold connected to the suction device. The outlet may be defined in the wall of the trap below the trap door. Instead, the outlet may be defined in the floor of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the suction device includes a constricted portion of a conduit, providing a venturi, a first end of the conduit being connectable to a return outlet into the swimming pool from a filter pump and a second end of which operable to discharge into the swimming pool water, in use, the outlet manifold connecting into the conduit intermediate its first and second ends for fluid communication therewith. Thus, as the swimming pool filter pump is turned on, suction is provided at the outlet of the trap, which empties the water in the trap causing the trap door to open inwardly and pernnitting surface water from the surface of the pool to be drawn into the trap. It will further be appreciated that a flow of water will be created in the pool at the surface, water being drawn into the trap and expelled from the outlet of the venturi and so circulating in the pool. This flow pattern at the surface of the wate r will facilitate the collection of flotsam from the water of the swimming po ol. Once the swimming pool filter pump is turned off, the negative pressure provided by the suction device, no longer exists and the flow stream in the pool is interrupted, causing the trap door to move to its operably closed position, there=by preventing debris already in the trap from exiting the trap into the pool.

The skimmer may include a removable basket receivable in the trago intermediate the inlet and outlet thereof, to trap surface debris sucked into the inlet. Then, the basket may have an aperture in register with the inlet aperture of the trap to receive debris captured by the trap.

Further, the skimmer may include a removable cover, which is attaachable to the basket of the skimmer.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a skimmer and chemical dispenser combination for use in a swimming pool and including a skimmer as hereinbefore described; and a chemical dispenser including a chemical container for receiving a water treatment chemical for dispensing into the water of the swimming pool, the container having an inlet to allow water from the swimming pool to flow into the container and an outlet that is connectable to the same suction device as the skimmer.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for collecting debris from a surface of a swimming pool, the method inc luding positioning a skimmer including a trap at the surface of water in the swimming pool, the trap having an inlet for receiving water from the swimming pool and an outlet connected to a suction device; and operating the suction device to provide a region of low pressure at the outlet, thereby drawing water from the swimming pool through the trap via the inlet.

The skimmer may be as hereinbefore described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a first embodiment of a pool skimmer, in accordance with the invention, connected to a suction device and chemical dispenser,

Figure 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the pool skirmmer, connected to a suction device and chemical dispenser;

Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of the trap of the pool skimrmer of

Figure 2, with cover in place;

Figure 4 shows a three dimensional view of a trap of the skimmer of Figure 2

Figure 5 shows a three dimensional view a basket of the skimmer of Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a three dimensional view of a suction device of the skimmer of Figure 2;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the pool skimmer; and

Figure 8 shows a three dimensional view of the pool skimmer of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a pool skimmer in accordance with the invention.

In Figures 1 to 6, the pool skimmer 10.1 comprises a trap 12 having a floor 14 and surrounding wall 16. The trap 12, in plan view (not shown), has a generally rectangular central portion 18, bounded at a first end 20 by a rounded end portion 22 and having an inlet 24 and outlet 26 at the an opposed second end 28.

The inlet 24 comprises an aperture in the trap wall 16 at the second end 28 of the rectangular portion 18. A trap door 30 is hingedly attached to the trap 12 to pivot about its lower edge 32 between an open position (as shown in Figure 1), in which the inlet aperture 24 is open, and a closed position (as shown in Figure 2), in which the trap door 30 closes the inlet aperture 24. Below the inlet aperture 24, an outlet manifold 34 is mounted on the trap 12 and provides an outlet to the trap 12. A portion 36 of the floor 14 of the trap 12 slopes downwardly towards the outlet 34.

A flotation device, which may be in the form of a polypropylene float (not shown), may be attached to the trap 12 to ensure that it floats at the surface of the water.

Instead, the trap 12 may be held in place at the surface of the water by means of conduits to which it is attached, as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the outlet manifold 34 is attached to a suction device 38 (shown in more detail in Figure 5), in the form of a T-shaped coupling 40, which widens from its inlet 42 to its outlet 44, thereby providing a venturi. The base 46 of the T-shaped coupling 40 is connected to the outlet manifold 34 via a flexible conduit 48 and an elbow joint 50, the base of the coupling intersecting the cross-

member 51 intermediate the inlet 42 and outlet 44 where the cross-member widens at 53.

In Figure 2, the skimmer 10 has a cover 52, which is attached to a basket 54 (shown in more detail in Figure 3). The basket 54 has an open top 56 which abuts the cover 52 and an inlet aperture 58, which, in use, is in register with the inlet aperture 24 of the trap 12. A series of outlet slots 60 is defined in the walls 62 of the basket 54, permitting water to flow out of the basket 54. The basket 54 does not fit flush with the floor 14 and walls 16 of the trap 12, permitting free flow of water through the slots 60, but trapping debris from the surface of the pool.

The inlet 42 of the suction device 38 is connected to an outlet (not shown) into the pool from a pump (not shown) which circulates pool wvater through a filter, and the outlet 44 of the suction device 38 discharges filtered water into the pool, providing a flow stream indicated by the arrows 63 in Figures 1 and 2. In the

Figures 1 and 2, a chemical dispenser 100 dispensing calcium hypochlorite into the water is also attached to the suction device 38, in the form of a venturi, so that a solution of pool treatment chemicals in water is drawn into the flow stream through the coupling 40. The chemical dispenser 100 comprises a container 102 in fluid communication with a further venturi conduit 104 via inlet and outlet connections 106 and 108, respectively. The conduit 104 has an inlet portion 107, a narrower intermediate portion 109 and widens to connect to the coupling 40.

The inlet 106 of the container 102 connects downstream of the wider inlet portion 107, while the outlet 108 connects at 110 to a widening portion of the conduit 104 proximate the coupling 40. Thus, it will be appreciated that water will be drawn into the container 102 and water having calcium hypochlorite entrained therein will be drawn out of the container 102 at the outlet 108 and into the flow stream 63 by means of the well known venturi action.

Once the swimming pool pump (not shown) is turned on, a circulating flow stream is created on the surface of the water between the discharge outlet 44 and the inlet 24 to the trap 12. The reduction in pre ssure in the coupling 40, which is connected to the outiet manifold 34 of the trap 12, causes the water level in the trap 12 to drop and the trap door 30 to fall inwards, allowing water from the surrounding surface of the pool to flow into thes trap 12, as shown by the arrow 65, thereby completing the circulation of the flow stream. Debris (not shown) on the surface of the water is borne into the flows stream and thus into the trap 12, where it is trapped in the basket 54. When these swimming pool filter is turned off and the pump no longer operated, the flow stream is interrupted and equilibrium is attained within the pool, equalizing the surface levels within and outside the trap 12. The trap door 30 then moves to close the inlet aperture 24, inhibiting the release of entrapped debris back into the pool. Entrapped debris trapped in the basket 54 may be removed from time to tirme.

In Figures 7 and 8 a second embodiment 10.2 of the skirmmer is shown and, with respect to Figures 1 to 6, like numerals indicate li ke components unless otherwise indicated. The skimmer 10.2 is shown without its cover.

The skimmer 10.2 is similar to the skimmer 10.1, but its outlet 26 is positioned in the floor 14 of the trap 12. It will be appreciated that the skimmer 10.2 may be used in combination with the chemical dispenser 100 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in like manner to the skimmer 10.1.

By means of the invention there is provided a simple pool skimmer for entrapping floating debris from the surface of the pool, particularly where the pool is not provided with its own weir or where such weir is remdered inactive by an automatic pool cleaner.

Claims

1. A skimmer for collecting surface debris from a surface of water in a swimming pool, the skimmer including a trap operable to be positio ned at the surface of water in the swimming pool and having an inlet for receiving water from the swimming pool and an outlet connectable to a suction device.

2. The skimmer as claimed in claim 1 in which the trap comprises an open- topped container, having a container floor and a surrounding wall adjoining the floor at its edges.

3. The skimmer as claimed in claim 2 in which the inlet compris es an aperture defined in the surrounding wall.

4. The skimmer as claimed in claim 3 in which the trap includes a hinged door operable for displacement between an open position, in which the aperture in the trap wall is open to the surrounding water, and a closed position, in which the aperture is closed to irhibit the movement of water from within the container into the surrounding water of the pool.

5. The skimmer as claimed in claim 4 in which the trap door is bottom- hinged.

6. The skimmer as claimed in claim 5 in which the trap door is biased towards its closed position.

7. The skimmer as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the outlet comprises a manifold connected to the suctior device.

8. The skimmer as claimed in claim 7 in which the outlet is defined in the wall of the trap below the trap door.

9. The skimmer as claimed in claim 7 in which the outlet is defined in the floor of the container.

10. The skimmer as claimed in claim 7 in which the suction device includes a constricted portion of a conduit, providing a venturi, a first end of the conduit being connectable to a return outlet into the swimming pool from a filter pump and a second end of which operable to discharge into the swimming pool water, in use, the outlet manifold connecting into the conduit intermediate its first and second ends for fluid communication therewith.

11. The skimmer as claimed in claim 10 which includes a removable basket receivable in the trap intermediate the inlet and outlet thereof, to trap surface debris sucked into the inlet.

12. The skimmer as claimed in claim 11 in which the basket has an aperture in register with the inlet aperture of the trap to receive debris captured by the trap.

13. The skimmer as claimed in claim 12 which includes a removable cover, which is attachable to the basket of the skimmer.

14. A skimmer and chemical dispenser combination for use in a swimming pool and including a skimmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13; and a chemical dispenser including a chemical container for receiving a water treatment chemical for dispensing into the water of the swimming pool, the container having an inlet to allow water from the swimming pool to flow into the container and an outlet that is connectable to the same suction device as the skimmer.

15. A method for collecting debris from a surface of a swimming p ool, the method including positioning a skimmer including a trap at the surface of water in the swimming pool, the trap baving an inlet for receiving water from the swimming pool and an outlet connected to a suction device; and operating the suction device to provide a region of low pressure at the outlet, thereby drawing water from the swimming pool through the trap via the inlet.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the skimmer is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

17. A skimmer substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

18. A skimmer and chemical dispenser combination for use in a swimming pool, the combination substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2 read with Figures 3 to 6; or Figures 1 and 2 read with Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, the skimmer of Figures 7 and 8 being used in combination with the chemical dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

19. A method for collecting debris from a surface of a swimming pool, the method substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

DATED THIS 29" DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2006 i i INC (JOHN & KERNICK) FOR THE APPLICANT