Portable Swimming Pool Skimmer

[0001] The invention relates to a swimming pool skimmer and a method of cleaning and maintaining swimming pool water.

[0002] Swimming pool skimmers generally work in conjunction with a main pool pump system associated with the swimming pool. When that system is turned off for seasonal reasons (e.g., winterization) or otherwise not working or available, the pool skimmer and the cleaning it performs is not available. It may also be useful to have a swimming pool skimmer that is not dependent upon a main swimming pool pump system for other reasons (e.g., to add filtration capability, to add a main filter capability, to temporarily clean a swimming pool).

[0003] A need exists for a portable swimming pool skimmer that can clean and maintain a swimming pool that works independently of a main pool pump system.

[0004] Preferred embodiments of this invention comprise a portable swimming pool skimmer that is capable of working independently from a main swimming pool pump system. These embodiments comprise several components, including a housing, and can be used in methods for cleaning and maintaining a swimming pool.

[0005] The housing may comprise an interior portion that can be separated in whole or in part by a dividing wall into a first portion and a second portion.

[0006] The first portion of the interior of the housing can contain a water inlet, which is most preferably a weir door. This water inlet can let water into the device from the swimming pool. The first portion of the interior of the housing can also contain one or more filtration components. These filtration components can comprise one or more filter baskets, with or without socks, that collect trash and debris. These filtration components can also comprise one or more screens.

[0007] The second portion of the interior of the housing can contain a pump. This pump is most preferably an electric submersible water pump (e.g., 2,000-8,000 GPH 110 volt pump). This pump is connected to a water outlet. The water outlet most preferably comprises a pipe (or hose) and a valve, as well as other possible components. The water outlet is most preferably positioned so as to create circulation of the water in the swimming pool. This can aid in the cleaning of the pool by moving water with trash and debris towards the portable swimming pool skimmer for filtering.

[0008] Attached to the outside of the housing is preferably a floatation component. This floatation component most preferably comprises one or more brackets that each attach one or more PVC floats to the housing. Also attached to the outside of the housing can be a bracket that can hold the device place in the pool, attaching it to a part of a pool (e.g., a ladder) or something outside of the pool, to thereby hold the portable swimming pool skimmer of this invention in place.

[0009] The portable swimming pool skimmer in certain preferred embodiments operates by floating in a swimming pool using the floats attached to the housing with the brackets. Swimming pool water, which may contain trash and debris, enters the first portion of the interior of the housing through the opening, and most preferably through a weir door.

[0010] The swimming pool water then flows through the filtration components that filter out the trash and debris, passing under (or otherwise through) the housing's dividing wall and into the second portion of the interior of the housing that contains the pump. The pump collects the water and pumps it out the water outlet (e.g., into the swimming pool). Most preferably, the water outlet is positioned to create a current or water travel in the swimming pool that circulates the water in the pool around and back towards the portable swimming pool skimmer, thereby aiding in cleaning and maintaining the swimming pool water.

[0011] The preferred embodiments of this invention largely operate automatically. A user will be required only to empty out the filter components every so often (e.g., 12 to 24 hours), depending on the amount of debris.

[0012] Preferred materials that are used for the components of the portable swimming pool skimmer (including the housing) include non-corrosive materials, such as acrylic, PVC, plastic, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0013] Most preferred embodiments have a remote control on/off switch for the portable swimming pool skimmer that can be turned on and off from a remote location, such as inside a home.

[0014] The filter components may comprise filter baskets that may or may not contain additional filtration (e.g., filter socks) to collect fine debris (e.g., pollen) and/or larger debris (e.g., leaves, insects), depending on the needs of and desires of the user and/or from the type of debris expected at the particular location of the pool.

[0015] In some embodiments of this invention, it may be useful to add weights to the bottom of the housing to help maintain the desired buoyancy. This may be particularly useful when using filter socks, which tend to slow the rate of incoming water versus the displacement rate of the water pump.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of this invention may also include a mounting apparatus for various types of pools (e.g., inground, above ground). Particularly preferred embodiments use quick connects that attach to the handrail, side, or other part of a pool (e.g., near steps).

[0017] The embodiments of this invention operate in swimming pools that contain water and have their own, separate pump system. The embodiments of this invention do not use the swimming pool's pump system to operate and thus these embodiments are self-contained and autonomous units from the swimming pool's own system.

[0021] The invention provides embodiments of portable swimming pool skimmers and methods of cleaning and maintaining a swimming pool.

[0022] In particularly preferred embodiments, portable swimming pool skimmers are provided by this invention. The portable (e.g., carriable by one or two people, weighing less than about 40 lbs without water, self-contained in a housing, about 2 ft by about 2 ft by about 3.5 ft) swimming pool skimmers comprise a housing. This housing comprises an interior. The interior comprises a first interior portion and a second interior portion. The first interior portion is at least partially separated from the second interior portion by a dividing wall (e.g., the dividing wall may have an orifice or it may not go to the very bottom of the interior) and the first interior portion and the second interior portion each have a bottom area.

[0023] In these embodiments, the first interior portion comprises one or more filtration components (e.g., two filtration baskets, that may or may not use socks for finer filtration of finer debris; one or more screens) and a filtration component bracket that holds each of the one or more filtration components in place. This first interior portion further comprises an outside opening (e.g., weir door or flap) that permits swimming pool water to enter into the first interior portion.

[0024] The second interior portion comprises an electric water pump that pumps water from the bottom area of the second interior portion (which water comes from under or through an opening in the dividing wall) through a water outlet (e.g., comprising a pipe or hose and a valve) and into the swimming pool.

[0025] The portable swimming pool skimmer also comprises one or more floats that are attached to the housing to float the portable swimming pool skimmer in the swimming pool (e.g., preferably in a stationary position, held in place by attaching the device to a part of the pool (e.g., a handrail on steps) or nearby surroundings).

[0026] In operation, the swimming pool water enters the outside opening of the first interior portion and into the first interior portion. Next, the swimming pool water flows through the one or more filtration components, filtering out the trash and debris, and into the bottom area of the first interior portion. After that, the swimming pool water flows under or through the dividing wall and into the second interior portion. Finally, the swimming pool water flows through the pump and out through the water outlet and into the swimming pool.

[0027] Advantageously, the water outlet is placed so as to cause circulation of the swimming pool water in the swimming pool as the water is discharged from the water outlet. In addition, the portable swimming pool skimmer is portable and it can be moved by one or two adults. It also does not use the main swimming pool pumping system. It is self-contained and preferably uses a 110 volt electrical cord.

[0028] In other particularly preferred embodiments, methods of cleaning and maintaining a swimming pool are provided by embodiments of this invention. These methods comprise (a) collecting swimming pool water containing trash and debris from the swimming pool into a portable and self-contained swimming pool skimmer; (b) filtering the trash and debris from the swimming pool water using one or more filtration components contained in the portable swimming pool skimmer; (c) discharging the filtered swimming pool water from the portable swimming pool skimmer through a water outlet and back into the swimming pool using an electric water pump; and (d) circulating the water in the swimming pool by positioning the water outlet to create a water current in the swimming pool that moves water towards the portable swimming pool skimmer.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a rear view of an embodiment of this invention 1. The device comprises a housing 10 for its components and connections. The housing 10 is preferably formed of ¼ inch acrylic sheets, stainless steel sheet or a similar material that is capable of being wet without degrading of various sizes, shapes and thicknesses.

[0030] Attached to the side of the device housing in this embodiment is a weir door inlet 11. A weir door inlet 11 assists in skimming by inputting and/or creating a current or water flow into the skimmer device from the pool water. It allows water and debris to flow into the device. It also may help distribute the flow of water more evenly, reducing the risk of clogs in the strainer (e.g., filter) baskets. Such clogs may lead to poor water circulation through the device and even cause damage to its pump and thus a weir door inlet 11 is a helpful component.

[0031] In some embodiments of a weir door, as the pool water is pumped from the skimmer, the weir door self-adjusts (drops or otherwise opens), allowing an amount of pool water to flow across or under the weir and into the strainer baskets.

[0032] The weir door inlet 11 can be attached to the housing by hardware. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 uses stainless steel hinges 12 with machine bolts and nylon locknuts 13. Other hardware can be used for weir door hardware (e.g., a single piano-like hinge, multiple hinges, one or more rubber-like or flexible plastic flanges acting as a hinge).

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a pump 23 in the embodiment that is connected to a water outlet 14 and pipe or tubing. The water outlet 14 controls circulation as the pump 23 collects water from the bottom of the device and pumps it out the water outlet, in the direction of water flow shown 15. The pump 23 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the bottom of the device by hardware (e.g., bolts, screws). The pump 23 draws water from the bottom of the device that has passed through one or more strainer or filtration baskets. The strainer baskets may be held in place by a basket support plate 16 (or filtration component bracket) made of a suitable material (e.g., stainless steel, acrlyic), which in some embodiments is removable for easier cleaning.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is also a bracket 17 on each side of the device for attaching one or more floats 18 (e.g., PVC). These PVC floats 18 permit the device to float in the swimming pool at the appropriate height for the device to perform its skimming function. In this embodiment, the bracket 17 is comprised of ⅛ inch by 1 inch stainless steel. Other materials, sizes and shapes for such a bracket and a float can be used. The purpose of the bracket and float, or other components that can be substituted for them in other embodiments, is to hold the device in the swimming pool at the correct height and with enough stability so that it can float in the pool and perform its skimming functions. Any components that can be substituted for this bracket and float combination can thus be used.

[0035] On the rear view that is shown in FIG. 1, a portion of a bracket component 19 can be seen for a free flotation system. The bracket component 19 holds the device 1 in place and allows it to float to the correct height set by the floats. In this embodiment, this portion of the bracket 19 is on the right side of the figure and it is shown as a ½ inch diameter stainless steel pipe that is attached to the housing. The attachment can be by stainless steel bolts, screws or other hardware and the pipe can be made of other materials (e.g., plastic) than stainless steel.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the right side view of the same embodiment 1 of this invention as FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the rear of the device shown in FIG. 1 is on the left side.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a bracket 19 for a free flotation system comprised of two pipes (e.g., ½ inch stainless steel) and two flat bars 20 (⅛ inch by 1 inch stainless steel) attached to the device housing. The attachment hardware can be stainless steel bolts, screws, and other hardware. The bracket itself can be made of other materials, shapes and sizes.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows that the interior of the housing has a divider wall 21 that separates a first portion of the housing interior containing one or more strainer baskets 22 and a second portion of the housing interior that contains the pump 23. The strainer baskets or other filter device can be held in place by the basket support plate 16, shown in FIG. 1, that in some embodiments is removeable for easier cleaning.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows that water flows 24 (generally from left to right in the figure) through the weir door inlet 11, or other suitable opening, into the device, and into the first portion of the housing, The water then flows through the strainer baskets 22 to the bottom of the device, passes under the divider wall 21, or through some other orifice or passage in the divider wall 21, and into the second portion of the housing and then into the pump 23. The pump 23 then pumps the water to the water outlet 26 (e.g., and back into the swimming pool).

[0040] In this embodiment, the water outlet 26 comprises 1 inch PVC pipe with a 1 inch full port ball valve to control the rate of water flow. This embodiment also shows that an electric pump is used with a 20 foot 110 volt power cord 27. Other water outlets, pipes, valves, and pumps can be used.

[0041] FIG. 2 also shows that the housing may have hand holes 28 or handles located near the top of the device to aid one or more persons in lifting and carrying the device. FIG. 2 also shows two plugs 29 (e.g., 1 inch or another size made of plastic, metal or other material) that can help drain or fill the device with water.

[0042] FIG. 2 also shows embodiments of brackets 17 for the PVC float 18 also shown in FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The rear of the device shown in FIG. 1 is on the left in the figure, and the right side of the device is shown at the bottom of the figure. FIG. 3 shows the floats 18 on the right, left and front sides of the housing (e.g., 4 inch PVC float).

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the water inlet (e.g., through a weir door inlet 11) on the left side of the figure, and the filtration components in this embodiment that comprises two standard seven inch strainer baskets 22 and a three inch screened water inlet 30, each attached to (e.g., sitting in) the basket support plate. The divider wall 21 is seen separating the first portion of the housing interior with the filtration components from the second portion of the housing interior that contains the pump 23 (e.g., a 5300 GPH 110 electric submersible pump with a 20 foot 110 volt cord 27) that is attached to the water outlet 26.

[0045] Advantageous of this and other embodiments of this invention will be apparent to a person of skill in the art that practices this invention. The device can be used to clean and maintain a swimming pool independent of a main pool pump and circulation system. Thus, if the main pool pump and circulation system has been winterized, shut down for the season, or otherwise is not working, this portable swimming pool skimmer of this invention can be used to clean and maintain the pool. The pool may then not need to be covered, which may be beneficial because such covers can have an unattractive appearance, and the cover can blow off, get dirty (e.g., collect trash, debris and algae), making start-up for the net season more difficult, and have other disadvantages.

[0046] The device is portable and self-contained, easy to move and store when not in use, and it relies on only 110 volt electrical power. It is adaptable to any swimming pool configuration, shape and size and it can be used with inground and above-ground swimming pools as free floating or attached to the side or in one place with brackets or other hardware.

[0047] When the water outlet is set up properly, the device can be held in place and the pool water circulated with its debris to the portable swimming pool skimmer of this invention, thus automatically skimming the pool without the need for manual labor or constant supervision (e.g., the user can walk away and check the filter baskets only every 12-24 hours or as needed depending on the debris load). The only manual tasks needed are to turn the device on and off (which can be done remotely in some embodiments) and to empty out the filter components when full.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described with reference to teaching, examples and preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain its essential characteristics, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are encompassed by the scope of the present invention.