Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – With cleaning means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-17
2001-10-16
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
With cleaning means
C239S204000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301723
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention is concerned with improving the performance and reliability of pop-up water delivery nozzles employed in swimming pool cleaning systems.
BACKGROUND ART
A number of pool cleaning systems have been devised utilizing strategically placed pop-up nozzles which are intermittently supplied with pressurized water. In repose, or inactive, each nozzle is retracted into a body so that its top surface is flush with the pool surface. When activated with pressurized water the nozzle rises above the pool surface and directs a stream of water across the surface to dislodge deleterious material from the surface and place it in suspension so it can be removed by the pool filter. Typically, such nozzles are caused to rotate a small amount about their axes with each activation so that a different area of pool surface is swept with each activation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,860, granted Apr. 6, 1982 to Henry D. Gould for “Pool Cleaning Head with Rotary Pop-Up Jet Producing Elements” discloses such a pop-up nozzle. The mechanism for retracting and rotating the Gould nozzle employs a spring and cams and cam followers which are susceptible to breakage in use.
The same lack of reliability can be attributed to the nozzles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,994 granted Feb. 8, 1983 to Lester R. Mathews for “Rotational Indexing Nozzle Arrangement”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,343, granted Oct. 12, 1993 to John M. Goettl for “Swimming Pool Pop-Up Fitting”.
Somewhat simpler nozzles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,005 granted Jul. 5, 1983 to John M. Goettl for “Apparatus for Cleaning Swimming Pools”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,095 granted Dec. 20, 1988 to Paul J. Pristo et al. for “Buffered, Fluid Dispensing Nozzle Unit”, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,797 granted Jul. 10, 1990 to John M. Goettl for “Water Delivery Assembly for Cleaning Swimming Pools”. All of the nozzles disclosed in these patents rely on metal weights to retract the nozzle. However, these nozzles are susceptible to jamming from debris and also there is the possibility of fatigue of plastic components.
There continues to be a need for a more reliable delivery system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Although the water delivery system of this invention has many features which contribute to its performance and reliability, the feature stressed in this application has to do with simplifying replacement of a malfunctioning nozzle stem-retainer assembly.
In systems of this nature a cylindrical body is permanently mounted in pool floor. The retainer, which holds and guides the nozzle stem is detachably connected to the stationary body. In accordance with this invention the detachable connection between the retainer and the body is a bayonet-type connection.
There are provided a plurality of lugs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the body and a corresponding plurality of lugs projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the retainer. The upper surfaces of the lugs on the body are non-planar as are the bottom surfaces of the lugs on the retainer. Thus, when the retainer nozzle stem assembly is dropped into the body the opposing lugs come off of each other allowing the retainer to drop in place so the retainer can be turned to move its lugs beneath the lugs on the body.
A related feature of the invention relates to dissipating the shock delivered when the weighted nozzle stem is forcibly elevated by pressurized water is first delivered to the system. In accordance with the invention the weight on the nozzle contacts the base of the retainer which acts as a stop. The stop is immediately beneath the lugs on the retainer. The shock force is then transmitted through the lug chain to the body which is surrounded by and adhered to a delivery pipe which reinforces the body and absorbs some of the shock force. Importantly, none of the shock force is transmitted through the nozzle stem.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4322860 (1982-04-01), Gould
patent: 4371994 (1983-02-01), Mathews
patent: 4391005 (1983-07-01), Goettl
patent: 4792095 (1988-12-01), Pristo et al.
patent: 4939797 (1990-07-01), Goettl
patent: 5251343 (1993-10-01), Goettl
Cahill Sutton & Thomas P.L.C.
Paramount Leisure Industries, Inc.
Phillips Charles E.
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