Skimmer

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of skimming devices for enclosed water bodies such as swimming pools or spas and includes a novel combination of a float which functions as a weir and a foraminous strainer basket pivotally connected to the float, the float and basket being positionable in operative relation through the front of the housing, and withdrawable without the necessity of tools.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Skimming devices are frequently incorporated into enclosures or receptacles for bodies of water such as swimming pools and spas for the purpose of facilitating removal of floating debris. In general, such skimmers include a weir device which is located inside the skimmer to create a movement of water across the pool or spa. The weir causes a differential water level which results in a positive skimming action across the surface of the pool, and a strainer basket is employed to collect debris before it can pass through to the pump system.

Previous installations, however, have generally required that the skimmer unit be partially disassembled to remove the basket for cleaning or replacement. Generally, this meant loosening a locking screw on the top of the unit and lifting the strainer basket out through the top.

The present invention provides an improved skimming device which is arranged to be received in tight-fitting engagement within a wall of an enclosure for a body of water. It includes a housing which is preferably composed of an inert synthetic resin material of one-piece construction insertable into an opening in a wall which can have raw or unfinished edges. The housing defines a horizontal inlet chamber having an opening therein which is arranged to be positioned in open communication with the body of water. The housing further has a downwardly extending vertical discharge chamber whose entrance opening is of lesser cross-sectional area than the opening to the horizontal inlet chamber. A strainer or foraminous strainer basket is proportioned to be received through the opening in the horizontal inlet chamber and is arranged to be seated in the vertical discharge chamber. A flange about the basket provides a self-seating capacity to hold the basket properly oriented with respect to the vertical discharge chamber. Spaced below the flange on opposite sides are tabs affording snap-in cooperation with adjoining lugs in the housing walls, thereby to retain the basket against flotational displacement.

A float which acts as a weir is pivotally secured to the strainer basket and is also proportioned to be received through the opening in the horizontal inlet chamber. The float fits only in the horizontal inlet chamber and is too large to be caught in the vertical discharge portion. the strainer basket and the float are pivotally secured to each other as by providing pins on the end portion of the float which are received in apertures carried by ears extending from the peripheral flange about the strainer basket. Thus, the basket is snapped into seated relation in the vertical discharge opening while the weir is floating in the horizontal inlet chamber. The float has an enlarged hollow portion toward the rear thereof which increases the buoyancy thereof. Consequently, the floating weir passes a thin sheet of water which provides a skimming action on the water with which the weir comes in contact. The float also forms a cover for the basket so the removal of the weir and basket simultaneously is facilitated by this arrangement, requiring no tools to accomplish the same and the risk of spilling the accumulated trash back into the water is minimized.

A further description of the present invention will be made in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, partly exploded, illustrating the skimmer assembly of the present invention and in particular the manner in which the float and basket assemblies are removed;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the float and basket assembly in operative position within the housing, the parts being partly broken away to illustrate the retaining means;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the skimmer assembly during operation;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the skimming device employing a vacuum hose attachment; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the pivot arrangement between the basket and the float.

As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 has been applied generally to an improved skimming device of the present invention, which in the illustrated form is received in tightly fitting engagement within a shell of a spa, swimming pool, or other enclosed body of water. The skimming device includes a front flange 12 behind which there is a mounting flange 13 (FIG. 3), and a gasket 14. Optionally, a rear-mounting flange 11, and a second gasket 16 may be provided. It should be understood that the skimmer of the present invention could be connected directly to a tub wall. Bolts 17 or screws may be used to hold the mounting flanges against the wall of the enclosure 15 by means of nuts 18 in the type of connection shown in the drawing.

One of the features of the present invention is that the skimmer housing is an integral unit opening through the sidewall of a receptacle, whether it be a pool, tub or spa, and the opening need not be specifically sized to a fine tolerance. On the contrary the wall opening may be a so-called raw opening O which is unfinished. The front flange overlies the edges of the opening O thereby concealing any unfinished rough surfaces.

The housing for the skimmer assembly is generally indicated at reference numeral 19. It is composed of an inert synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, and is in the form of a one-piece construction. At the forward end of the housing 19 there is an opening 20 which communicates directly with the body of water in the enclosure. The opening 20 leads to a horizontal inlet chamber 21 which is defined by a horizontally extending base wall 22 and a rounded rear wall 23 of the housing. The horizontal inlet chamber 21 terminates into a downwardly extending vertical discharge chamber 24 defined by sidewalls 25 and having an inlet opening 26 as seen in FIG. 1. The inlet opening 26 is of lesser cross-sectional area than the inlet 20 leading to the horizontal inlet chamber 21. A discharge plate 27 is adhesively secured to the sidewalls 25 and provides a circular discharge neck 28 about which a discharge conduit 29 is received, which may be rigid or flexible as a matter of choice. Water circulated through the skimming unit is withdrawn through the conduit 29, passes through a pump 30, a filter 31 (if necessary), and then through a nozzle 32 to be recirculated into the main body of water.

The water entering through the opening 20 and exiting through the drain conduit 19 is strained to remove debris by means of a foraminous basket 33 which preferably takes the configuration of a frusto-pyramid. The open end of the basket 33 has a peripheral flange 34 of sufficient dimensions to overlie the opening 26 of the chamber 24 as best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The flange 34 thereby seats the basket 33 in an operative straining position.

At opposite sides of the basket spaced below the flange 34, there is provided a tab or lug 44 which is integral with the basket and made of the same plastic material as the basket so that it is slightly resilient.

Each tab or lug 44 is aligned with a corresponding interference abutment 45 formed on an adjacent wall of the housing 19. As the basket assembly is inserted into the housing 19 the tabs or lugs 44 coact with the adjoining interference abutments 45 to provide a snap-in fit. By virtue of such provision, the detent means formed between the basket and the housing keeps the basket retained in place and the basket will not be inadvertently displaced by flotation or buoyancy forces due to the low density of the basket.

The float F of the present invention preferably takes the form of a blow molded hollow synthetic resin material including a relatively flat forward portion 35 and an enlarged hollow portion 36 which increases the buoyancy of the float. A finger-engaging, raised protuberance 37 is provided on the front face of the float to enable the float to be readily manipulated. The forward end of the float is provided with a pair of pins 38 extending from its front end portion and arranged to be received in apertures suitably provided in ears 39 which constitute vertical extensions of the flange 34 of the basket. Thus, the float assembly is free to pivot about the pins 38 as the water level within the housing increases or decreases.

The float F is in essence a floating weir which passes a thin sheet of water thereover, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Debris D floating on the surface of the water is thus effectively skimmed off the surface and finds its way into the strainer basket 33.

Removal of the float and strainer basket assembly is accomplished with ease. The user merely places his hand through the opening 20, unseats the peripheral flange 34 from the mouth of the vertical discharge chamber 24, and lifts the strainer basket and float out as a unit. Preferably, the debris collected in the strainer basket is retained by virtue of the float F acting as a cover for the strainer basket (as in FIG. 2).

The skimming assembly of the present invention is also adapted to be used in conjunction with a vacuum system for cleaning the floor of the pool or other enclosure. For this purpose, there is provided a vacuum plate 40 (FIG. 4) to which an elbow 41 is fixedly secured. Connected to the elbow 41 is a flexible hose 42 which is connected to a vacuuming device 43. As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is not necessary to remove the strainer basket 33 in order to use the vacuum plate assembly.

The skimming assembly of the present invention provides a convenient mechanism for incorporation into swimming pools, spas, or other enclosed bodies of water. The housing is of one-piece construction, but it is readily insertable to the inside of any receptacle. The hollow weir structure has a smooth outside surface providing a clean appearance, and is easily cleaned. The weir allows sheeting action to occur, but still allows a passage of large objects by additional pivotal movement. The float-basket assembly is easily removed in one motion through the front opening of the housing for cleaning. The design of the float is such that it traps debris in the basket during removal, thereby providing better cleaning since less debris is lost into the plumbing.

It should be evident that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.