Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Separating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-01-30
Popovics, Robert (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Separating
C210S167150, C210S238000, C210S242100, C210S470000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06180017
ABSTRACT:
In the pool industry, much attention has been given to the problem of capturing and removing bugs, leaves, and other debris floating on the surface of the water. One common and generally effective means for combating this problem involves the use of a filter passage, or skimmer passage, formed in a side wall of the pool and having an inlet adjacent the water level. The skimmer passage communicates with a water pump which draws water from the surface of the pool through the passage inlet and through a skimmer basket where the waste debris is separated from the pool water.
The skimmer basket has a handle, an open top, a cylindrical body, and a bottom formed with the body. The body and bottom define a rigid grid-like structure with openings that allow free passage of water through the basket, while capturing debris inside the basket. A pivoted skimmer weir located at the passage inlet operates to prevent any back flow of debris into the pool.
In order to maintain its effectiveness, the skimmer basket must be periodically removed and emptied. To facilitate this, convenient access to the basket is provided through an opening formed in the surface of the pool deck. According to one prior art skimmer basket, the handle is attached at the top perimeter of the basket and extends laterally over the basket opening. Thus, in order to remove the basket, the pool cleaner must insert his hand downwardly into the debris-filled water and feel around for the handle. This can be an especially unappealing task given the variety of bugs, snakes, frogs, and other creatures that are commonly trapped in the skimmer passage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pool skimmer basket assembly which includes a buoyant handle that floats to the top of the water level in the filter passage for convenient access to the pool cleaner.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer basket assembly that can be removed and emptied by the pool cleaner without substantial contact with debris in the filter passage.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer basket assembly with a handle that will not readily break off when removing the basket from the filter passage.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer basket assembly with a handle that does not obstruct the flow of debris into the basket.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a pool skimmer basket assembly for being submerged in a filter passage. The filter passage communicates with a filter opening formed in a wall of a pool. The basket assembly operates to separate and capture debris entrained in pool water entering the filter opening and moving downstream through the filter passage. The skimmer basket assembly is accessible through a user access opening communicating with the filter passage, such that the skimmer basket assembly is readily removable by a user for periodic emptying and cleaning. The skimmer basket assembly includes a basket defined by walls and having an open top arranged for receiving pool water. Filter means is provided for separating debris from pool water flowing downstream through the filter passage and through the open top of the basket. An extendable handle means is attached to the basket for being grasped by the user to lift and remove the basket outwardly from the filter passage through the access opening. A float is attached to the extendable handle means for locating the handle means in a position within the filter passage for ready access by the user.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter means includes one or more basket walls having a grid structure defining openings sufficient to permit passage of pool water therethrough while capturing debris entrained in the pool water.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the extendable handle means is a generally U-shaped handle having a horizontal member for being grasped by the user, and first and second opposing vertical members secured to the basket.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the basket includes first and second opposing sleeves for slidably receiving respective first and second vertical members of the handle. The horizontal member of the handle is thus movable relative to the basket between a lowered position adjacent the open top of the basket and a raised position spaced-apart from the open top of the basket.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second vertical members of the handle have respective free ends bent to form respective stoppers adapted for engaging the sleeves of the basket to prevent removal of the handle from the basket.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the float is attached to the horizontal member of the handle.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the float is attached to at least one of the vertical members of the handle.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle means is a handle having spaced-apart top and bottom horizontal members, and first and second spaced-apart vertical members interconnecting the horizontal members. The top horizontal member is adapted for being grasped by the user and the bottom horizontal member is adapted for engaging a bottom of the basket when the basket is lifted and removed from the filter passage.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the basket includes first and second opposing sleeves for slidably receiving respective first and second vertical members of the handle. The top horizontal member of the handle is movable relative to the basket between a lowered position adjacent the open top of the basket and a raised position spaced-apart from the open top of the basket.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the float is attached to the bottom horizontal member of the handle.
In another embodiment, the invention is a pool skimmer basket assembly for being submerged in a filter passage communicating with a filter opening formed in a wall of a pool. The skimmer basket assembly operates to separate and capture debris entrained in pool water entering the filter opening and moving downstream through the filter passage. The skimmer basket assembly is accessible through a user access opening communicating with the filter passage, such that the skimmer basket assembly is readily removable by a user for periodic emptying and cleaning. The skimmer basket assembly includes a basket defined by walls and having an open top arranged for receiving pool water. A filter means is provided for separating debris from pool water flowing downstream through the filter passage and through the open top of the basket. An extendable handle means is attached to the basket for being grasped by the user to lift and remove the basket outwardly from the filter passage through the access opening.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a biasing means is provided for normally urging the handle means in an extended position within the filter passage for ready access by the user.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the biasing means is a compression spring.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of separating and removing debris entrained in pool water passing from a pool through a filter passage communicating with a filter opening formed in a wall of the pool. The method includes the steps of locating a pool skimmer basket in the filter passage. The basket is defined by walls and has an open top arranged for receiving pool water. The basket includes filter means for separating debris from the pool water flowing downstream through the filter passage and through the open top of the basket. An extendable handle is attached to the basket. The handle has a grip portion adapted for movement between a lowered position adjacent the open top of the basket and a raised
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Popovics Robert
LandOfFree
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